Category: NBA

LeBron James’s free agency continues as he decided not to reveal any decision at his scheduled events at Fanatics Fest this weekend.

While LeBron didn’t make any announcement at Fanatics Fest, other players in attendance this weekend were asked about the possibility of James joining their team. One of those was Cleveland Cavaliers point guard James Harden.

“That’s the goal, that’s the plan,” Harden said when asked by ESPN Brazil if he could envision a trio of himself, Donovan Mitchell, and LeBron. “Hopefully, we’ll see [that] in the next few days.”

LEBRON JAMES NOS CAVS? 👀😱 James Harden falou sobre a possibilidade de um Big 3 com ele, Donovan Mitchell e Lebron James jogando pelo Cleveland Cavaliers!#NBAnaESPN#NBA#LeBronJames#Cavs#JamesHardenpic.twitter.com/CIt2OVS8vS

— ESPN Brasil (@ESPNBrasil) July 19, 2026

“I hope he comes to Cleveland,” Harden said in a separate interview about James this weekend. “It’s a perfect storybook finish. He’s at home for his last year. But you know, he’s going to decide. He’s smart enough. I don’t think anybody’s pitches are going to move him.”

Harden comes across as quite confident in both clips that James could be returning to Cleveland. In many ways, it felt reminiscent of how head coach Kenny Atkinson and Mitchell have handled questions about LeBron in the last week.

That said, the Cavs are hardly the only team that seems confident about LeBron signing with them. Gilbert Arenas mentioned at a live recording of his podcast that he talked about the possibility of James signing with the Miami Heat with Giannis Antetokounmpo, saying, “They’re thinking in Miami that they’re getting him.”

Additionally, the Philadelphia 76ers are pulling out all the stops to let James know they would love to add him to their team. It’s been reported that Sixers owner, Josh Harris had a “brief, friendly conversation” with LeBron during Fanatics Fest this weekend.

We’ll see how this plays out. LeBron is reportedly getting much closer to a decision. Whether or not we get an announcement of that in the coming days remains to be seen.

After meeting in the NBA Finals five years ago, there are, strangely, many parallels between the Suns’ and Bucks’ journeys since that point, the main one being that both teams ended up trading their star player without having the fallback of owning their own picks. Granted, Giannis being traded at 31 years old—as opposed to Durant at 36—meant he had significantly more value, which meant the trade return was superior and gave the Bucks a much better opportunity to reshape their roster with young talent in the fashion of a typical rebuild.

And honestly, credit to Phoenix, who traded Durant and proceeded to have maybe the most feel-good season of any team last year. They hired an excellent coach in Jordan Ott, made shrewd roster moves around the edges, and won many more games than anyone expected them to, qualifying for the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference. Their play was excellent, but most importantly, their vibes were high. The expectation that I had, at least, was that the Suns would keep the same group together and continue to tread water whilst they climb another season out of the significant pick debt they are under.

The number one thing I wouldn’t have done? Trade another future pick!

Well, that’s exactly what Phoenix did, dispensing of their unprotected 2033 pick. I mean, before I even get to who they traded for, just moving that pick should have been off limits solely on principle. As the saying goes, “if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” And then you consider that they had dealt it in exchange for Miles Bridges, who—not even getting into his off-court issues—is barely even a needle mover! Congratulations, you went from the eighth-best team in the West to the seventh-best. Bravo. All the analyses I saw of this deal—every single one—panned the Suns, and rightly so.

Milwaukee needs to learn from this fatal flaw. As I mentioned, they are in a very similar position to Phoenix overall, but unlike the Suns, they have been able to build a young nucleus—let it grow! Let the broth simmer, and those flavours develop; add a secondary ingredient here and there, but don’t alter the whole recipe. To me, there should be little consideration given to trading a first-round pick for at least the next two years. Getting your head back above water in terms of pick equity should be a long-term goal here. The sugar rush of improving rapidly is enticing, but if that move doesn’t bring real, tangible results for a long time, you’re right back to square one.

Having said all of this, if the Bucks do trade a future pick (or picks), that player had better fit the age demographic. Of course, this is relevant given the team’s reported interest in Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson. Look, I remain mostly against such a deal, but Watson does fit into that aforementioned age demo, so I’d be able to stomach it if that came to fruition. It’s trading for guys who are closer to 30 than 20 that I’m staunchly against.

Patience is a virtue.

Despite narrowly missing out on the Summer League playoffs due to a point-differential tie-breaker, the Toronto Raptors are scheduled to play their final contest against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST on NBA TV Canada and ESPN2.

Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the Summer League finale.

Is Allen Graves legit?

The Allen Graves experience has fully delivered on what the analytics predicted. Even without the luxury of true offensive gravity to occupy the defence’s attention, Graves demonstrated how his complementary game can benefit the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes.

Through four contests, Graves is averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.3 stocks (steals and blocks) while shooting 50 per cent from the perimeter. Beyond the statistical output, Graves has also seemingly elevated the average fan’s awareness of the nuanced contributions that an elite role player provides.

Graves’ uncanny ability to warp 50-50 balls into scenarios that greatly favour him and his knack for consistently knocking down open shots will mesh perfectly with the Raptors’ dynamic duo of Leonard and Barnes, particularly in the post-season.

While it wouldn’t be surprising if Graves is limited against the Nuggets, should he play meaningful minutes, it would be encouraging to see him attack the rim. Outside of a near-perfect start to his career, Graves’ lone blemish is his lack of free-throw attempts.

Grab both centres?

Collin Murray-Boyles’ absence has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While many hoped to see Murray-Boyles dominate Summer League in his own signature way, the sophomore’s finger injury created additional opportunities for Nate Bittle and Jamarion Sharp.

Bittle, a seven-foot centre, has consistently impressed onlookers through four Summer League games. The 23-year-old big man went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, but has made the most of his opportunity with Toronto. It’s easy to envision Bittle coming off the bench – and even playing extended minutes should Poeltl miss games – on a Raptors team desperate for centre production. Bittle is a perimeter threat, protects the rim, rebounds the ball at a decent rate, and has touch on his passes that Head Coach Darko Rajakovic will certainly love.

Sharp, a seven-foot-six centre, may not have the finesse and shooting touch that Bittle possesses, but instead leverages otherworldly size and motor skills that can’t be taught. He’s a cheat code of a lob threat and easily erases shots at the rim. The reigning G League Defensive Player of the Year may have earned a training camp invite with how efficient he’s been off the bench in Summer League.

Worrisome guard play?

It’s no secret that Raptors fans were clamouring for a guard in the first round of the draft. When they didn’t get that specific archetype, attention was turned to the Raptors’ Summer League roster. Headed into the opener, two guards who stood out were Chucky Hepburn and 2026 second-rounder Jaden Bradley.

Unfortunately, neither improved their stock ahead of pre-season.

Hepburn, in his second year in the Raptors’ system, began Summer League with a slight advantage. His reputation as a tenacious two-way guard is something Toronto could use on its bench. Regrettably, Hepburn had a Summer League to forget. In two games, Hepburn averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.0 turnovers. The six-foot guard struggled with efficiency, averaging 23.8 per cent from the field 8.3 per cent from deep in 29 minutes of action.

After undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in January, the Raptors seemingly removed Hepburn from Summer League action.

For Bradley, it’s been a bit of an awkward debut. It’s nonsensical to draw serious conclusions about a second-round rookie in Summer League. Still, it’s been confusing to see Bradley play without the confidence that carried him through his four years at Arizona.

In four games, Bradley is averaging 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 turnovers in just under 20 minutes a game. What’s more worrisome is that he’s struggled immensely with his shot, averaging 29.6 per cent from the field. He’s also only attempted three shots from the perimeter and has converted zero. In his final year with the Wildcats, Bradley averaged 46.3 per cent from the field and shot 39.4 per cent from deep on nearly two attempts a game.

Hepburn and Bradley will likely need additional reps with the Raptors 905, but there’s a potential spot on the main roster up for grabs, even if it’s just in stretches. How these two guards develop will help determine whether either of them is considered.

Would you believe I went to sleep in Spain thinking the Knicks had landed the last piece of the puzzle as they submitted an offer sheet for Mavericks big man Moussa Cisse…

…and I woke up to P&T’s Michael Zeno informing me the Mavs had matched the Knicks’ two-year, $4.7 million offer, updating his story on it, and killing my hopes of New York’s putting an end to this third-string-center saga? Cold world, links and notes.

• In all honesty, and while Cisse isn’t a world beater, the move was shrewd and one for a kid coming on the cheap and with huge upside — definitely something better (given the role he’d have taken on) than signing Jonas Valanciunas or any other dodderer. Nick Richards remains out there, but the Knicks’ front office keeps showing us they can come up with out-of-left-field moves at any moment.
• SNY’s Ian Begley noted that if the Knicks sign a third center, as it looks to be the intention following Saturday’s developments, they simply will not have enough space to give rookies Tyler Nickel or Jack Kayil a standard contract for next season. A third center would fill the 14th roster spot, and there would only be one left for one of Nickel or Kayil, who would need to sign a two-way deal. That inevitably points to Nickel staying and Kayil going back to Germany, as explained here.

“If the Knicks sign a third center, they wouldn’t have enough financial wiggle room to offer Nickel or Kayil a standard NBA contract. With Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet all on the roster next year, having Kayil stay overseas would make the most sense. Nickel could be in line for a two-way contract.”

• SNY’s Rafael Canton dropped a piece sharing the four main takeaways from the SummerKnicks run in Sin City. Mohamed Diawara’s Summer League was described as a “failure to launch.”
• Fellow SNY scribe David Vertsberger put together an “offseason development wish list” in which he discussed what all players under contract should improve at heading into the 2027 season. Here’s an example:

“Mikal Bridges – Pick-and-roll and isolation playmaking

“Bridges was invaluable and hilariously efficient in New York’s playoff run, but at times it felt he had a little more to give when Brunson was being pressured, and the Knicks needed an extra dose of ball-handling.

“He stepped up with his shooting as others like Jose Alvarado took over more ball-handling duties, but this could be an area for Bridges to tap into more.

“ His mid-range game is so effective; being comfortable using a screen or developing some kind of go-to dribble move that creates some space when he’s out on the perimeter could take his game to another level — it would also make defenses second-guess giving him a favorable matchup.”

• Jalen Brunson was asked at the Fanatics Fest whether he had recruited LeBron James to New York, and described his job nicely.
• Jose Alvarado spoke at the ESPY Awards ceremony about being the only native New Yorker on the championship roster. “It’s cool,” Jose said, among a few other things, including his foodie preferences.
• No offseason for Andre Drummond.
• Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns returned to Madison Square Garden on Saturday, this time as part of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. You can check out JB’s cameo and KAT’s table-breaking performance in full, if you’re into it.

Jalen Brunson.

The King of New York.

Madison Square Garden. pic.twitter.com/cX2fonTtCG

— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2026

• Tyler Kolek, at the ESPYs, said he would approve of Timothee Chalamet playing him in a movie about the Knicks’ championship season, while Kolek himself could probably play Chalamet’s role in the joint.
• Kolek, for one, is already getting his acting reps.
• Trae Young embarrassed himself in a very public and sad way.

I can’t even imagine John Harbaughs reaction to seeing this LOL pic.twitter.com/hCfiCvwCxV

— WyattzWorld (@WyattzWorId) July 18, 2026

With Hugo Gonzalez, Chris Cenac, and Dillon Mitchell on the bench for Game 5, we got a good look at Amari Williams, Milos Uzan, Tucker DeVries, and John Tonje in Boston’s finale against Orlando — all players either directly or tangentially related to the Celtics. Williams will again be on a two-way contract and split his time in Maine and Boston; he’ll be eligible to play 50 games with the big club. Uzan and DeVries have Exhibit 10 deals for training camp in October and will most likely join the G League affiliate in Maine. Tonje is effectively a free agent after he was traded to the Celtics last season in the Chris Boucher deal and his option was declined.

To make it to the bigs, role players have to have at least one portable NBA skill. Think Sam Hauser and his three-point shooting or Jordan Walsh’s lockdown defense. They can build out from there, but for anybody showcasing their talents at Summer League, unless you’re a lottery pick expected to be a face of the franchise, you’re working to be a complementary player.

With that in mind, in Boston’s 103-97 loss to the Magic in their Sin City finale, the Celtics got a good look at some of those players.

Williams is such an interesting prospect because of his unique ability to be an offensive hub in the high post. Unless you’re Nikola Jokic, it’s not a skill that most teams will try to develop with their bigs, particularly one so far down on the depth chart. With Williams, the Celtics seem dead set on trying to make that happen. He has definitely shown a willingness to work outside of the restricted area and use his 6’11 frame as a watch tower in the half court over the last week in Vegas. Here’s a nifty find on the back cut for the hockey assist. 

Mo lays it in 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/bLnn1yewig

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 18, 2026

There’s a long way between “Amari loves to pass” and “Mazzulla can rely on Williams to be a playmaker above the break,” but the team will have another year to see if this is a real development in his game.

With Uzan, there’s no question he can play. Even with the short turnaround of putting together a Summer League roster, getting a few practices in together, and developing chemistry with his teammates, it’s obvious that he’s got the skills to run point on a team. He averaged a tidy 9-4-4 through five games and finished with nine points in 17 minutes on Saturday.

Milos starting off hot 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dH0BzE35PL

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 18, 2026

Depending on whether Mitchell signs a standard deal or gets put on a two-way, Uzan’s future with the franchise is still up in the air, but at least expect him Maine green. 

DeVries again showed that he’s capable of contributing from beyond the arc. He hit 3-of-6 against the Magic and finished his summer slate making 9-of-27. Of all the niche skills, shooting will always be a premium that teams will look for on the edges of their salary cap, especially with today’s collective bargaining agreement. DeVries was a 36% three-point shooter in five years at the college level, but if he can hit Hauser’s over-40% watershed mark, he’ll find a job somewhere in this league, if not in Boston. 

The curious case is Tonje. The shooting is real. He averaged 14.2 points per game in Vegas at a high efficiency rate (51% from the field, 45% from 3) with 14 points in the finale on 6-of-9 shooting. Another year in the G League could lead to a promotion like Ron Harper Jr.

Here’s CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell on Tonje’s improved defense and John shouting out his development coach.

John Tonje gave a shoutout to his player development coach, Nana Foulland, for helping him improve on the defensive end:

“I gotta give a special shoutout to a coach named Nana who’s actually standing right here in front of me. All summer, we’ve been focused, trying to get… https://t.co/FX8319sRb8pic.twitter.com/8yyx7xIjGm

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) July 19, 2026

And as much of a revelation as some of the players were, this summer’s sensation was also the premiere of Amile Jefferson as a head coach. Here’s a snippet again from from Noa’s profile on the 33-year-old coach:

“On a regular day-to-day basis, you just see me walking around – I’m very calm, very smiley, just easy to be around,” Jefferson told CelticsBlog in an exclusive conversation. “But, as a player, or when I’m coaching, that side gets unlocked, and then I get super competitive, and I’m a totally different person.”

Near center-court, Jefferson emphatically clenches his fist when Hugo Gonzalez sinks a three-pointer.

“That’s a foul, ref!” he belts each time he believes the whistle should have been blown.

“I’m trying to let them know that I’m in the fight with them, that they’re not alone,” Jefferson said. “And making sure they can hear my voice, making sure they know that I can help them be organized, making sure that they know that I got their back. And whether it’s screaming out a call or coverage, or whether it’s just giving an encouraging word, when I’m out there, I’m locked in – and probably am a little bit of a different person.”

Make sure to check out that piece at CelticsBlog.

Earlier in the week, we ran a basic poll question, asking you all which player you most enjoyed watching in the NBA Summer League held out in Las Vegas. One guy cleared the question easily.

First round pick Sergio De Larrea ran away with the vote, getting 63% of the vote. And why was obvious if you were able to watch more than the opening game. In four contests, De Larrea averaged just under 30 minutes, while putting up 8 points, 8.8 assists, five rebounds, a steal, and a block. While those numbers may underwhelm some, it was clear watching him in the third and fourth games when he had 12 assists in a win over the Grizzlies and 14 assists in a win over the Thunder that this guy has something.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Morez Johnson Jr. had a great debut but he played just two games and the second one was against a Lakers team full of try-hards, and Dallas looked flat-out asleep. Vsevolod Ishchenko was a surprising delight, but his lows were a bit lower than De Larrea and he didn’t play as consistently. That said, he’s an obvious future hardcore fan favorite once he makes the transition to the NBA.

Sergio is the guy we’re going to talk about all summer. If the Mavericks get wild and play him at the starting point position immediately (unlikely, but let a man dream for now), we could be in for a fun ride. And look, if you want to get top-notch value for him, on our partner FanDuel, he’s a +25000 to win Rookie of the Year. How can you NOT take that bet?

He needs to continue to work on his shot, but the playmaking and vision were really something. If his outside shot can fall consistently, even from just a catch-and-shoot situation, then we the Mavs might have a stew going.

Some Atlanta Hawks fans may tell you that the team hasn’t made many moves this offseason, but if you check the transaction list, you’d see several things they did. No, it was Jaylen Brown, or trying for LeBron James, but they’ve made moves that will keep them financially flexible, while also competitive now and in the future.

One of the several moves they made that may have gone under the radar was acquiring Devin Carter and a second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.

Carter is going into his third year in the league after being selected with the No. 13 pick by the Kings in the 2024 NBA Draft. At the time, the pick was seen as a good move for Sacramento, but through two seasons, it’s obvious things just didn’t work out. With the recent selection of Darius Acuff Jr., one of their several guards was going to be on the outside looking in, and it happened to be Carter.

He didn’t see many minutes until the final two months of this past season, and he showed that when given the opportunity, he can make an impact.

The first thing that stands out about Carter is his athleticism and his ability to get to the rim. His upper body is sturdy, and he uses that to his advantage when attacking the rim against smaller opponents, or even stronger defenders. Either way, he’s shown that he has a knack for being physical, and that’s special at the guard position.

The closest person that the Hawks have at guard who can get to the rim with his type of skill is Dyson Daniels, and Quin Snyder has always praised his ability to get two feet in the paint. If Carter can do that, he’ll be a good piece off the bench if they need him.

Before coming into the league, Carter’s 3-point shot was something that seemed promising for his career. Through two seasons, he’s shooting a combined 27.4% from the 3-point line, and he shot 26.3% this past season. Whether it’s a change of mechanics or simply needing to improve, Carter is going to have to get that part of his game fixed, especially on a Hawks team that loves to shoot 3s.

The good news is that he showed a little more consistency down the stretch of last season, and the hope is that he can carry that into the upcoming season. The best way to put him in the best situation to succeed is by surrounding him with shooters when he’s on the floor.

Just like Carter uses his athleticism and frame to make plays on offense, that’s what he uses on defense as well. For a guard, he also rebounds better than most, which shows he isn’t afraid of doing the dirty work when he’s on the floor. His energy on that side of the ball could be what the Hawks need off the bench.

Carter isn’t seen as a primary ball handler, so putting him on the floor alongside someone like CJ McCollum or Kington Flemings would be key. He may still have a long way to go as far as playing time, with several Hawks being interchangeable, but if Carter brings the energy that he showed at the end of last season, things could look good for him.

If things don’t work out, the Hawks can say that it was a low-risk, high-reward move, and it didn’t cost them much to see if he could pan out on the team

I.

Ralph Sampson showed up in 1979, along with Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and James Worthy, while Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing came along in 1981.

Also arriving in 1981, but with far less fanfare, was Hakeem Olajuwon at Houston.

In that era, international players were just beginning to show up in the U.S. Part of this story we can verify, but not all:

One of the guys who first saw Olajuwon’s potential was named Chris Pond, a native of Raleigh. His brother, Nick, was a sports anchor for WRAL in North Carolina’s capital city.

Reportedly, Pond recommended Olajuwon to NC State coach Norm Sloan, who was not interested, and he ended up a Houston Cougar, after some ugly, cold weather when he arrived in New York persuaded him to pass on St. John’s and to look south.

Olajuwon was not an immediate star for Houston. As a freshman, he was somewhat uncertain, but his talent and footwork were clearly exceptional.

By 1984, Olajuwon had emerged as a huge star, and would meet Ewing in the NCAA championship.

Here are some highlights from that game. They would have many more battles in the NBA, and are now both Hall of Fame members. However, most people would say that Olajuwon had the better overall career.

Bit of trivia: According to Olajuwon, apparently there was a proposed trade before the 1984 draft that would have sent Sampson to Portland for Clyde Drexler and the #2 pick in the 1984 draft.

If it had happened, Houston would have had Olajuwon, Drexler, and probably Michael Jordan, all under the age of 23. It might have taken a few years to get that group up to NBA championship speed, but it would have been astonishing.

Now imagine if, in the 1986 draft, the Rockets had had the foresight to take Georgia Tech’s Mark Price with the #20 pick (Price ended up being the first pick of the second round).

It’s inconceivable to go undefeated in the NBA, but a team with Olajuwon, Drexler, Jordan and Price might have won 75 regular season games.

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Hugo González is picking up right where he left off after his rookie season with the Boston Celtics, and his progress isn’t going unnoticed this summer.  

González logged his final Summer League appearance this past Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings and his finale ended up being his best performance in Las Vegas. González scored a game-high 24 points while tallying 10 rebounds and five assists in Boston’s 82-76 victory.

Those around the organization aren’t surprised by González’s offseason growth, which began well before the Celtics reconvened for their final games in Las Vegas.

“He’s a pro,” Celtics assistant Amile Jefferson told reporters Saturday, per CLNS Media, “and I think he’s actually just a bigger guy. You saw it last season, putting him on team’s five, play him one through five, just whoever the best player is, because he can not only be physical, but he’s very mobile.”

Last season, he quickly established himself as one of Boston’s most elite defensive threats. González tackled every assignment thrown at him — including 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo in March — and didn’t disappoint. Mindful of his role approaching what’ll be a major opportunity for the second-year pro, González emphasized his strength.

Returning to the court for competition began early for González this summer. He joined the Spanish national team and suited up during the FIBA qualifying battles in July, scoring 16 points against Denmark. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla even made the trip down to pay González a visit and catch a glimpse of the results of González’s offseason work in live action.

A stellar performance from Hugo González leads the Celtics to an NBA Summer League win!

☘️ 24 PTS (game-high)
☘️ 10 REB (team-high)
☘️ 5 AST (game-high)
☘️ 3 3PM pic.twitter.com/Fkbbmu4CZB

— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2026

González finished 13th in All-Rookie voting for the league’s rookie class with five votes for the Second Team. And while his scoring wasn’t up to par with the likes of fellow newcomers Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and V. J. Edgecombe, González remained as impactful as any other rookie — and for a Celtics team that won 56 games and secured a No. 2 seed finish in the Eastern Conference.

Reports suggested González’s value within the organization became evident in Boston’s trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks centered around Giannis, as Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens refused to include González (and more) in the team’s offer for the Greek Freak.

So this upcoming season, the bar is raised for last summer’s first-round selection (28th overall).

“In the summer, I think he’s worked on all facets of his game,” Jefferson continued. “That’s on and off the court, and that has to do with his body. So I think everyone has seen his improvements.”

González averaged 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists with 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks in 14.6 minutes off the bench last season for Boston. Those figures did no justice to González’s impact as a sparkplug, always ready to uplift the team’s energy at any given moment.

Teammates and coaches quickly formed a positive impression of the youngster, and it only improved as the season progressed.

That began during training camp when Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman spoke highly of González, highlighting his work ethic for a then-first-year pro.

For González, shot efficiency is the most notable need for improvement. He shot 36 percent from 3-point range last season and often struggled to create his own offense off the dribble. This upcoming season, with Jaylen Brown gone and a greater need for depth contribution all across the board from the roster, González will need to take a significant leap with 74 NBA appearances already under his belt.

He’s also gotten started on building the team’s morale amid its 3-2 Summer League run.

“He’s one of the loudest guys in the room, if not the loudest,” guard John Tonje added, per CLNS Media. “He brings a lot of energy. He’s fun, he’s fun to be around, especially during the World Cup. Spain has been doing well, so he’s talking a lot.”

Safe to say González will have his eyes glued on Sunday’s matchup with the team officially done with Las Vegas, rooting against Lionel Messi.

Just a guess.

And that’s a wrap from the 2026 Summer League in Vegas! Thanks for following along with us at Bright Side.

The Phoenix Suns finish Summer League with a 3-2 record and a +8 plus-minus as a team across the five games.

Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat all sat the finale out, leading to more opportunity for Koby Brea, Javonte Cooke, and others. Koby Brea had another uninspiring game where he deferred and sort of faded in the background. Cooke and Askew were the two standouts.

• Koby Brea — 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2-5 FG in 20 minutes
• Javonte Cooke — 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 6-15 FG in 27 minutes
• Devin Askew — 15 points, 4 steals, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 7-13 FG in 26 minutes

They were also down Darius Brown II (rest), who impressed during the first 4 games of the Summer League.

Suns starters vs. Spurs

Devin Askew
Koby Brea
Corey Camper Jr.
Javonte Cooke
Jake Stephens

OUT: Khaman Maluach (rest), Rasheer Fleming (rest), Koa Peat (rest), Darius Brown II (rest) and CJ Huntley (right hamstring) #Suns

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 19, 2026

Game Flow

First Half

Phoenix started the game ice cold from deep, going 2 for their first 14 from three-point range. The Spurs jumped out to an early 16-11 lead after a bucket from Miles Barnstable.

FUEGO 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LOaO4j0rz3

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 19, 2026

Jameer Nelson Jr. led the Suns’ attack with 7 points in the opening quarter on 3-4 shooting from the field.

The Spurs led 23-16 after one. It was about as sloppy as it looks, which was expected with the key trio sitting out.

Tramon Mark drilled two quick threes early in the second quarter to push Phoenix back into the mix, giving them a 29-28 lead, which led to a Spurs timeout.

Former Arizona Wildcat Andre Iguodala interviewed Koa Peat during the second quarter on the set, which was a cool full-circle moment for both Iggy and Koa, I’m sure.

Koa on learning from Book:

"Just learning from him, obviously he's one of the best players in the league. He's a legend so just learning from him I think is going to help my game for sure." pic.twitter.com/rxI2Escvda

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 19, 2026

A pair of sloppy turnovers got the Spurs kick-started, and they went on a 9-0 run to retake the lead, 36-28. Javonte Cooke quickly went on a personal 8-0 run to get the Suns back in it, going back and forth as you’d expect in this environment.

Phoenix ended on a positive note, retaking the lead, 43-39 at the half. Cooke had 10 points, and Nelson Jr. had 9 points to lead the Suns. Hyunjung Lee paced the Spurs with 9 points on 3-3 shooting from deep.

Second Half

The second half started with the teams continuing to trade shots. In the opening 5 minutes, the teams were deadlocked at 8 points each. Then, the Spurs took over on both ends as the Suns’ offense sputtered.

Jameer Nelson Jr. exited the game with an injury, which made matters worse.

Spurs led 61-53 after three quarters of action. They outscored Phoenix 22-10 in the third. It was ugly.

The rooks incoming sophomores had some fun on the mic as well!

Khaman & Rasheer on the mic🎤 and the vibes are high! pic.twitter.com/QzA0W4iOOH

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 19, 2026

After falling behind again, the Suns went on a run to make things interesting late, cutting the lead to two points with just a few seconds left, but then a foul before the inbounds led to a free-throw and a re-inbound and another foul, and the Spurs knocked all three FTs down to secure the five-point win.

San Antonio outscored the Suns by eight in the 2nd half after a promising second quarter. And that was all she wrote.

Final from Vegas pic.twitter.com/2UKwDAVUzt

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 19, 2026

Up Next

Training camp! We’re done here.

The Dallas Mavericks remain the home of Ghanian center Moussa Cisse, an undrafted free agent from the 2025 NBA draft. ESPN insider Shams Charania was the first to report the news.

“The Dallas Mavericks have matched the New York Knicks’ two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet on restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, Yann Balikouzou and Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tell ESPN. The 6-foot-11 center signed the Knicks sheet earlier Saturday but Dallas matches well before 48-hour Monday deadline,“ Charania tweeted.

The news comes after the Knicks signed him to an offer sheet earlier on Saturday. The Mavericks had 48 hours to make a decision, but their swiftness with the decision shows how much the team values Cisse as a prospect. Cisse’s contract is partially guaranteed for the first season, but non-guaranteed in the second year.

Cisse, 23, played in 38 games with the Mavs during his rookie year, averaging 4.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the team. At 6-11, Cisse provides a lot of size to the Mavs’ frontcourt, giving them another option at the center position.

Cisse will compete for playing time alongside Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Santi Aldama, who was acquired earlier in the offseason from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade. He

Mavs Moneyball community, how do you feel about Dallas’ decision to retain Cisse for the upcoming season? What do you think his role will be with the Mavericks moving forward? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were given a warm welcome at the Garden on Saturday — but this time was not for basketball.

The two Knicks stars made WWE appearances during WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Brunson, sporting sunglasses and a brace on his left wrist, was met with a booming roar from the crowd as he emerged from the tunnel alongside Roman Reigns at about 10:00 p.m. for the final event of the night.

Fireworks shot off in the arena as the two pointed up, a reference to the wrestler’s iconic “The One” gesture.

The three-time All-Star was then showered in “MVP” and “Jalen Brunson” chants once the intro concluded.

Brunson was then gifted a custom blue and orange WWE championship belt as the crowd chanted “you deserve it.”

Following the entrance, however, Brunson was greeted by Knicks villain Tyrese Haliburton as Seth Rollins hit Reigns with a sneak attack.

With help from Brunson, Reigns ultimately tossed Rollins out of the ring, and he and Haliburton left the stage.

The Knicks’ Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy was then brought into the ring, with Reigns holding it in the air as Brunson donned the wrestler’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt.

Brunson, who is still recovering from surgery on his left wrist, largely stayed to the side as the two wrestlers duked it out.

Acknowledge GREATNESS.

What a night at Madison Square Garden!!@WWERomanReigns | @jalenbrunson1pic.twitter.com/epwWG0uGY9

— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2026

Towns, who took the stage earlier in the night, was a bit more physical. He helped Danhausen — known for “uncursing” the Knicks after going down 2-1 against the Hawks in the first round — defeat JD McDonagh after making a surprise entrance late in the match.

The Knicks’ center made his entrance in epic fashion, walking out of a smoke-filled container titled “cloning machine box.”

Then during the match he choke-slammed McDonagh before doing the same to Dominik Mysterio through a wooden table.

IT'S KATHAUSEN!!!

Karl-Anthony Towns is here to backup @DanhausenAD!! @KarlTowns | @nyknickspic.twitter.com/1Ve4YNweDZ

— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2026

Danhausen then finished off McDonagh with a “Triple D” for the win.

Towns linked up with Danhausen before the event, with the two meeting before Fanatics Fest on Wednesday.

When Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin introduced the two to each other, Towns immediately payed his respects to the wrestler for good karma to the Knicks during their finals run.

“Do you know who this is?” Rubin asked Towns.

“Of course, the man who got us the chip,” Towns responded.

After Danhausen’s remarks in during their first round series, the Knicks proceeded to win 15 of their next 16 games en route to their first NBA Finals championship in 53 years.

Despite the acknowledgement, Danhausen felt that he needed something in return from Towns.

“Give me your watch,” Danhausen jokingly told Towns. “Yeah, I need the watch. Shoes, too.”

The Lakers lost just two times this summer. Unfortunately, the same team that handed them their first loss also gave them their final defeat.

In the semifinals of the Las Vegas Summer League on Saturday, the Lakers fell to the Warriors, 92-88. Golden State handed LA a far more unceremonious loss to open the summer at the California Classic.

It was an evenly matched contest throughout with 18 lead changes and neither side holding a double-digit lead the entire game. Each team led in the second half and fourth quarter, but Golden State grabbed the lead early in the frame and held it for the remainder of the game.

LA made a late run to close the deficit to one point, but a pair of turnovers in the final minute looked costly. A late foul on a Mañon 3-pointer gave the purple and gold a chance to tie the game, but the guard converted two of three to keep them down one. One last costly turnover with under 10 seconds remaining sealed the result.

Chris Mañon was once again the main man in getting the offense going early for LA, scoring the first four points for the Lakers. Will Richard knocked down a triple for Golden State. At the 5:44 mark, the Warriors were up by one. 

It was a fast-paced, back-and-forth game with both teams playing hard and battling. Adou Thiero joined Mañon with four points, including a fastbreak dunk. 

Steal ✅
Tomahawk DUNK ✅ pic.twitter.com/VPqvpCrYiD

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 19, 2026

Jon Elmore provided a spark off the bench again with five points. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by two. 

Cameron Carr knocked down a midrange jumper to start the second period. Arthur Kaluma put Los Angeles in the lead with a pull-up jumpshot.

LA had a very balanced offensive attack, with almost all players scoring. Kaluma drained his first 3-pointer of the half, giving him a team-leading seven points.

After an awkward fall led to Cameron Carr exiting the game with an apparent elbow injury, he returned shortly after looking no worse the wear.

At the 5:58 mark, the Lakers were up by two. LA had gone up by five until a 3-pointer from Chance McMillian made it a two-point Golden State deficit. 

At halftime, it was a tie game. 

Zhaire and AK finishing through contact 💪 pic.twitter.com/CJhigiTDuc

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 19, 2026

Malevy Leons began the scoring in the third period with a triple for the Warriors. Anton Watson scored on the other end for Los Angeles with a layup.

Thiero was having a strong quarter defensively before throwing down another monstrous dunk and converting on a three-point play. 

At the 5:54 mark, it was once again a tied game. The Lakers were 3-8 from the field, while the Warriors were 2-8. It was a continued, evenly matched affair between the teams.

Carr and Thiero were the only Lakers in double figures with 12 and 11, respectively. 

Adou with the LEFT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/MwHgBqrN5n

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 19, 2026

The Warriors went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, but Los Angeles responded with four in a row to go up by three at the end of the third. 

Golden State started the final frame on an 8-0 scoring run to go up by five. Carr responded with a triple. Yaxel Lendeborg answered with a 3-pointer himself to extend the Warriors’ lead once more. AK Okereke then knocked down a 3-pointer for LA. 

LJ Cryer responded with a triple to give Golden State a five-point lead with 6:36 left. Thiero started to come alive with five points, but the Warriors still had the momentum. 

Kaluma converted on a layup to make it a four-point game. Los Angeles had 2:29 left to keep their Summer League championship hopes alive. 

Leons scored on a layup, giving the Warriors a cushion on their lead. Kaluma was fouled and only converted on one free throw. With 1:31 left, Thiero made it a one-possession game. 

Carr was fouled and knocked down both free throws to make it a one-point game with 1:12 left. A series of turnovers eventually led to the Lakers trailing by three in the final seconds. 

Mañon was fouled while he attempted a 3-pointer and converted on two of three free throws. McMillian was fouled and converted on both free throws to put Golden State up by three with 8.3 seconds left.

The Warriors stole the ball on the ensuing inbound. Will Richard was fouled and drained one free throw to clinch the win for Golden State.

Key Player Stats

Thiero scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Carr notched 17 points in 28 minutes of play. Elmore pitched in with 10 points off the bench. 

Kaluma finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Mañon tallied with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Zhaire Smith logged seven points in 14 minutes as a reserve. Okereke had eight points. 

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

The finale is here. Game 5 of the Summer League for your Suns.

Let’s do this!