At this stage, James has all the information he needs from teams and is weighing his options, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on the specifics of James’ thinking. As a result, a decision could be imminent.
James, 41, is a player who has unparalleled stature in the NBA. As such, he’s calculated and deliberate about his decision making and is able to decide his future on his own terms. James has earned that right, and he’s being intentional about his decision.
James, a 22-time All-Star and four-time champion, has played a record 23 seasons in the NBA and wants to compete for another championship.
On one hand, given James’ tenure and stature in the league, the Cavaliers and Heat would appear to make the most sense; James has played for both before and has helped deliver championships to each franchise.
Cleveland selected James first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, and he’s from Akron, Ohio. In fact, if James were to join the Cavs, he would be playing in his third different stint with the team. James willed Cleveland to its first championship in franchise history at the 2016 NBA Finals, when the Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 series deficit to win. James would be joining a Cavs team that got swept in the Eastern Conference finals but features star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
In Miami, James played arguably the best basketball of his career, winning Most Valuable Player in two of his four seasons there. The Heat also won two Finals, and the system, coaching staff and front office are mostly the same from when James played there, from 2010-14. The Heat just recently acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he and James would making an intriguing pair of fastbreak threats, alongside Heat captain Bam Adebayo.
And while it may appear to be an odd fit for James to join a new team at this stage of his career, each of Philadelphia, Golden State and Minnesota present interesting options.
Although he turned 41 years old in December, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games this season. James owns a number of all-time records, including points (43,440), games (1,622), postseason points (8,521) and postseason games (302).
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks goes up for the rebound during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2025-26 Boston Celtics were an elite regular season team last season because they dominated on the margins. Low turnovers and dominating the glass were the foundation. By signing Mitchell Robinson, the Celtics are deepening their belief in that idea.
No, Mitchell Robinson does not shoot threes and no, Mitchell Robinson will not become a three-point threat once he starts playing for the Celtics. Mazzulla Ball is not all about shooting threes. Are there still people who really still believe that?
Mazzulla Ball is about dominating the margins — winning the possession battle and taking more shots than your opponent plays a big part of that and winning the rebounding and turnover battle are the best ways to win the possession battle.
Well, who better to add than the best offensive rebounder in the NBA?
Robinson had the best offensive rebounding rate in the NBA last season, rebounding 21.2% of Knicks misses, according to Cleaning the Glass. The Celtics were 5th in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate last season at 31.8%. Robinson will make the Celtics even better at something they were already very good at.
Robinson also took a big leap as a defensive rebounder a season ago. Entering last season, Robinson’s career high in defensive rebounding rate was 18.2% in 2023. Last season, that number jumped to 23.1%.
After struggling at the beginning of last season due to rebounding, the Celtics shored up their defensive rebounding, they were 2nd in the NBA in defensive rebounding rate from December 1st on. The addition of Robinson and return of Jayson Tatum should boost them even higher in that regard.
Speaking of Tatum, the two man game between Robinson and Tatum should be elite. According to Basketball University, since 2016, Robinson is the most efficient roller in the NBA.
— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) July 7, 2026
One thing the Celtics did not do a great job of last season was forcing turnovers. They ranked 23rd in opponent turnover percentage. Both big Celtics additions, Robinson and Paul George, will help with that.
Robinson was 10th in the NBA among big men last season in steal percentage, at 2%. Robinson, in fact, is one of the best defensive players in the NBA.
An elite rim protector, Robinson is also very good when he switches, as seen by his steal percentage. He can move his feet extremely well, which allows for teams to switch more than they typically would. This can allow Boston to use Derrick White as their roamer and have Robinson guard centers.
Robinson does have his weak points. First is health; Robinson has missed games throughout his career and didn’t play in back-to-backs last season, something that I would expect to carry over into this season. Secondly is the free throw shooting.
I feel like we all know Robinson is a really bad free throw shooter. It was hard to miss the “worst in NBA history” graphic during the Finals.
Mitchell Robinson's free throw percentage in the playoffs is the worst in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/CwnaAbiQTB
The good news for the Celtics is they don’t ever get to the line, so they don’t spend much time in the bonus, which means teams can’t play Hack-a-Mitch.
Mitchell Robinson is an awesome player who is going to fit in beautifully with the Celtics next season as they look to get back to the Finals. Also, if someone says “Mazzulla Ball is all about threes,” just ignore them because they don’t know what they are talking about.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz and AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards walk on the court during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 9, 2026 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA Summer League is in full effect, and we’ve gotten an incredible showing from each of the first four draft picks: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, and Caleb Wilson.
Yes, it’s only summer league, but we’ve seen that all four of these prospects have the potential to have incredible careers. More than likely, these four will be connected for their entire careers because of this draft. How many titles they win, All-NBA selections they receive. And that’s what brings us to this latest NBA Reacts question. Who do you think will have the best career of the top-4 rookies?
When all is said and done, this draft could go down as one of the greats, like the LeBron James draft in 2003 or the Michael Jordan draft in 1984. Those drafts were loaded just like this with multiple Hall of Famers. No question, this draft has that possibility, you just hope that your team came away with the best potential player.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the investigation into Clippers star Kawhi Leonard's endorsements is nearing its conclusion and should wrap up before next season tips off. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver reiterated Tuesday night after the Board of Governors meeting that the investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by funneling money to Kawhi Leonard for an endorsement deal he allegedly never fulfilled still is not completed.
Silver said his “timeline remains this summer” to make his findings known after high-powered New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz wraps up its investigation and presents the findings to the NBA.
The investigation centers on a $28-million endorsement deal to Leonard from a company called Aspiration that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $60 million into.
With the investigation being about 11 months old, Silver was asked about a timeline for the NBA to announce the results.
“As you know, I am not conducting the investigation, nor is the league office,” Silver said. “It’s being conducted by the Wachtell law firm, independent of the league. Of course, as I have said previously, we all have an interest in wrapping this up and as I most recently said in an interview, that I’m hopeful that it will wrap up this summer so that will continue to be the goal here.”
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a pick swap and two second-round picks. Leonard, who spent the last seven seasons with the Clippers, led the Raptors to the NBA championship in 2019. The Raptors then decided to put the trade on hold until the investigation is over.
“And I just want to clarify, so everyone understands, the league did not pause the trade,” Silver said. “The parties that did the trade made the decision not to go forward given that the investigation would remain open and the possible impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known and so they chose not to live with that uncertainty. But, that was well-known before the trade was proposed and I didn’t think there was any reason for people to believe that the status of Kawhi Leonard would change merely because he was traded. The investigation needs to run its course.”
The Clippers have consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding the investigation.
Because of the probable length of the report, Silver was asked about reading such a voluminous amount of information and if things would be resolved before the start of next season.
Silver also didn’t talk about whether Leonard is being investigated for any other side deals.
“I don’t know specifically what will be in the report,” Silver said. “To the best of my information, the report is not done. I do get regular updates from our general counsel, who is Rick Buchanan, and he deals with on a weekly basis on who they are talking to and what they are finding on a preliminary basis. But my understanding is that Wachtell is now in the process of going through the information they’ve gathered and drawing conclusions from that information. And I think, yes, it is realistic to think that this can be wrapped up, and I would say needs to be wrapped up before the beginning of next season.”
The Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors remain at a standstill regarding the proposed trade that would bring Kawhi Leonard back to Canada.
Leonard’s seven-year tenure with the Clippers ended after he was traded to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, June 30, for forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap.
Both teams have since put a halt to the trade, citing the ongoing investigation surrounding Leonard, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, and Leonard's uncle/advisor Dennis Robertson. All three men were allegedly involved in a “no-show” agreement with a company, Aspiration, to funnel extra compensation to the player as part of a salary cap circumvention.
There’s a belief that both sides are still willing to go through with the deal with the assumption that there will be limited consequences for the parties involved.
"My timeline remains this summer," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said when talking to reporters on Thursday, July 14. "... I'm not conducting the investigation … as I've said previously, we all have an interest in wrapping this up, and I most recently said in an interview that I am hopeful it will wrap up this summer and that will continue to be the goal here."
Silver will be responsible for deciding on any potential discipline after the law firm conducting the investigation delivers its findings to him.
Silver stated that he expects the investigation to be concluded this summer.
“I want to clarify that the league did not pause the trade,” Silver said. “The parties involved in the trade decided not to move forward, given that the investigation remained open and any potential impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known, so they chose not to live with that uncertainty.”
The commissioner also mentioned that it was well known before the trade was proposed that Leonard’s potential status or repercussions from the investigation wouldn’t change because he was traded.
“I can’t comment on the specifics of the investigation, but what I can say is we did not do what we are accused of doing,” said Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of basketball operations, on June 23. “The investigation has had no impact on how we go about our business. We just continue to go about our business as normal.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The battle of LA, Summer League edition, ends with the Lakers beating the Clippers,99-85, on Tuesday night. They are now 3-0 in Las Vegas Summer League play.
It was the Chris Mañon show early, as his defense forced a Clippers turnover right after the opening tip, leading to a layup. He also drained a triple, giving him five points. Cameron Carr got his first points of the night, knocking down a 3-pointer. Kobe Sanders was leading the Clippers with four points.
Mañon continued to dominate, pushing his point total to 10. He was the first player from either team in double figures. The young Lakers were having a nice night from behind the arc, shooting 55%.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by eight.
Las Vegas Summer League Lakers: The kids can play!
Carr started the second period with a jumper for the Lakers. Both teams were shooting at a high level in the quarter. The Lakers made all six of their first shots, and the Clippers made five of their six attempts. Sean Pedulla and Jahmyl Telfort combined for eight points for the Clippers.
Adou Thiero got on the board, converting on a layup. After a small scuffle between the teams, a few techs and a flagrant foul were given.
The Lakers continued to play well offensively, building their lead to 15. Their defense was also great, forcing the Clippers into difficult shots. Carr was now in double figures with 11 points.
At halftime, the Lakers were up by 16.
The Lakers are steamrolling the Clippers, leading 54-38 at the half. Chris Mañon, Cameron Carr and Arthur Kaluma are all in double figures. Two-way player AK Okereke is right behind them with eight points. Another half like this and the Lakers will stay undefeated in Las Vegas.
Sanders scored on a jumper for the Clippers to start the third period. The Clippers had a hot start, with Sanders and Pedulla both draining triples. They were on an 8-0 scoring run. Mañon converted on a free throw for two points.
The Clippers cut their deficit to nine. Offense had become a struggle for the Lakers, as they made just one of their first five shot attempts. Thiero converted on a much-needed three-point play.
Carr ignited for the Lakers, scoring eight points and pushing his point total to 19. The Lakers were up by 23 at the end of the third.
Carr started the final frame with a free throw. The Clippers were actually shooting better than the Lakers in the quarter, 45% to 37%, but the Lakers were still in full control with their big lead.
Thiero put the finishing touches on a great win with an emphatic dunk
Key Player Stats:
Carr ended with 23 points and two assists. Mañon finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Arthur Kaluma pitched in with 15 points and four assists.
Thiero had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. AK Okereke had 11 points in 14 minutes of play.
The next Lakers Summer League game will be against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at 3:00 PM PT.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Thursday afternoon for the show where DBB’s own Robbie Bettelon will join the show to discuss the Pistons’ offseason, Summer League and more. When will the Jalen Duren saga end? How do you think Ebuka Okorie will contribute to the roster next season? Is Ron Holland in for a leap?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
LAS VEGAS — Nets general manager Sean Marks said Brooklyn will have extension talks with Michael Porter Jr., but there is no rush.
“I’m sure we’ll have those discussions. I think we’ve got time. There’s no immediate hurry right now with Mike. We value him a lot. He had a terrific year last year, arguably his best year as a pro. I give him a lot of credit for that,” Marks said. “It’s been great to see what Mike’s done for us. I look forward to having those discussions, and seeing what Mike can do the rest of the summer and the rest of the season.”
Porter is on an expiring $40.8 million deal, and on July 6 became eligible for a four-year, $234 million extension. The Nets clearly won’t give him that much, but how much would they be inclined to pay? And how much urgency do they have to get a deal done sooner rather than later?
“No, any time you’re in a hurry, that’s when people make mistakes,” Marks said. “We’ve got a well-thought-out plan here over not only the last couple of years but the couple of years ahead. We’re gonna try and find who the next Nets are gonna be. I don’t think we wanna do anything hastily or in a rush here.
Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after scoring during the third quarter against the Bulls. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“As I said before, I love Mike, the guy, the person, the player, and I hope he is part of this team. But we’re just gonna have to have those discussions between the two of us and our representatives and go from there.”
After trading Nic Claxton for Julius Randle (and Joshua Jefferson), the Nets still have about $11 million in cap space. That doesn’t include their agreement with Moritz Wagner, whom they can neatly fit into the mid-level exception.
One option suggested by ESPN insider Bobby Marks and Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron was to use cap space to renegotiate and extend Porter. Brooklyn could give him a raise up to the 30 percent max for this season (to $49.5 million), and then up to a 40 percent pay cut in the first year of the extension, 2027-28.
Having Porter with a smaller cap hit — say, $30 million to start — would help the Nets’ team-building by the time they start to actually contend. Marks did acknowledge it as a viable option.
“There’s going to be a lot of things on the table for us. That would certainly be something we’re going to have that optionality that we have not only with MPJ, but with a lot of our guys,” Marks said. “And I like the fact that a lot of our guys are playing with a chip on their shoulder and have something to prove, not only the guys we acquired in our trades but the guys we’ve signed here.”
Nets general manager Sean Marks. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Porter joined Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown as the only players to average 24 points and seven rebounds this past season, even after a slow finish and a hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old has stated a desire to re-sign, saying, “I’d love to spend many years in Brooklyn, make this my home and build and watch this franchise take off.”
Brooklyn smothered Sacramento 115-83 in summer league action Wednesday. They forced 28 turnovers that they converted into 41 points.
Egor Dëmin had 22 points, eight assists, four steals and zero turnovers. Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. added 16 points, five assists, two steals and a block. He also told the coaches he wanted to guard Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr.
“Yeah, coming into the draft, people were like, ‘Defense, can he deal with the physicality, can he guard at a high level?’ Where I come from, man, if you’re the one getting picked on, you ain’t supposed to be on the court,” Brown said. “So that’s just my mentality going into every single game.”
Acuff had 26 points but five turnovers and finished minus-15.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Tre Carroll #77 of the Washington Wizards boxes out during the game against the Chicago Bulls on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards had their NBA Summer League record blemished for the first time Tuesday in a 99-87 loss to the Chicago Bulls at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The undermanned Wiz started the game off strong, racing to a 9-0 lead against a Bulls squad on the second night of a back-to-back. With no AJ Dybantsa, Will Riley, or Tre Johnson, it was Chris Livingston who picked up the scoring slack throughout the night.
The Kentucky alum led Washington with seven points, giving his team a 21-15 lead in a sloppy first quarter that featured 13 fouls and 13 turnovers. Juju Reese also brought some energy with his board work with 4 points and 4 rebounds.
Livingston stayed hot with five quick points to start the second quarter to extend the lead back up to nine. But the Wizards allowed the Bulls to get back in with the three-ball. Chicago connected on four triples and a three-point free throw from Caleb Wilson to overtake Washington 37-36 at the half.
The third quarter saw Felix Okpara flash some of his potential. He rolled his way to the rim for a couple of dunks and even showed off a midrange jumper. He’ll become an instant lob threat for Trae Young if he’s able to scratch out a few minutes in Brian Keefe’s rotation.
An Okpara free throw for two points tied the game at 57. That marked the beginning of the end for the Wizards, as turnovers and shoddy transition defense allowed the bulls to go on a 23-6 run extending to the fourth quarter.
Washington had almost as many turnovers (6) as shot attempts (7) during that stretch, as Chicago cruised to the 12-point victory.
Livingston paced the Wizards with 21 points scored in a variety of ways. He drained a couple of threes, finished several strong drives to the rim, and even showed off some counter moves when the defense cut him off in the lane.
Okpara finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and a block. Kadary Richmond and Seth Trimble combined for 24 points, but only shot 6-for-19 from the field.
The Wizards have a quick turnaround with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night on the same floor.
“The sky is the limit,” Ball said. “I’m just going to show up and try to learn and do the best I can.”
Ball will be paired alongside franchise superstar Anthony Edwards.
“I’ve known Ant for a minute,” Ball said. “We’ve been talking, and everybody is excited. We’re ready to get to work.”
Ball made more than $35 million a year in each of the last two years after signing a contract extension in 2023. He remains under contract, making more than $40 million, for each of the next three years. Minnesota paid a hefty price to acquire the guard.
“I feel like we could do a lot,” Ball said. “It means a lot when someone values you.”
The Hornets traded Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks.
“It gives us a point guard and gives us great size in the West,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. “You need to have a big backcourt and we learned that through the playoffs.”
Finch also believes that Ball will have the ability to help elevate the offense.
“He can unlock (Rudy Gobert) to another level at the rim,” Finch said of what Ball can offer the team. “We’ve got to find a way to generate more catch-and-shoot 3-point shots for Anthony (Edwards), who is elite at that and take some of the burden of handling and creating off his hands.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Seth Trimble #55 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against Boo Buie #20 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards will play the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow night in the NBA Summer League. Let’s preview this one.
Game info
When: Wednesday, July 14 at about 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas
How to watch: ESPN, Monumental Sports Network
What to watch for
The Wizards are 2-1 in NBA Summer League action after losing to the Chicago Bulls just a few minutes ago. They will play against the Clippers, who will begin play the Los Angeles Lakers as of the time I’m writing this. LA is 1-1 before the Lakers game. Keaton Wagner is the No. 5 overall pick in the NBA draft but he won’t play against AJ Dybantsa, who is sitting out the rest of Summer League.
This game is effectively a chance for the reserve Summer League Wizards players to make a final impression before training camp contracts and potential Capital City Go-Go offers come out.
Still, I’d like to see the Wizards finish their first four games with a 3-1 record.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards walks on the court during a break in the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Utah Jazz at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wizards fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week’s SB Nation Reacts survey is simple. Which rookie of the 2026-27 season will have the best NBA career? Vote below!
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns blocks the shot during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Coming into Phoenix Suns Summer League, there were conversations about the potential concern that would exist if, by this time next year, we hadn’t seen meaningful progression from second-year lottery pick Khaman Maluach. After three games in Las Vegas, I don’t think there’s much reason to worry about a lack of progression anymore.
Yes, this is Summer League, and it’s easy to overreact. But if we’re looking at this simply through the lens of progression, evaluating whether a player is displaying better physical tools and a stronger mental understanding of where he needs to be on the court, how he should attack offensively, how he should defend, and how he can become more effective, it feels like Maluach has passed this segment of the test. If you have two eyes and a heartbeat, you can’t help but get excited about what we’ve seen thus far in Las Vegas. Maluach is averaging 18.3 points, 12 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. Oh, and he’s shooting 40% from deep on five attempts per game.
And it’s not only the counting stats that look nice. It’s the manner in which he’s playing the game. He’s doing so with an energy and fervor that are palpable. He’s yelling at players after denying their shots at the cylinder. As a back-line defender, he’s communicating with his teammates, directing traffic and letting them know where they need to be.
When it’s all said and done, after playing a tough, gritty, physical game, Maluach remains insightful in his observations and thoughtful about where he stands relative to his progression.
“It’s really important, by taking care of every rep and not taking any rep for granted,” Khaman said after his performance in the Suns’ 95-88 win over the Bucks on Monday night. “It’s a process, my time eventually will come, and I just gotta be ready for the opportunity that I don’t have rather than having an opportunity, and I’m ready for it.”
He’s 19, man. Damn, that was eloquently put. Forgive me as I take a few moments to gameplan how I am going to repair the wall I just ran through.
To see this progression is heartwarming for multiple reasons. First, he’s the kind of player you root for. Ever since the Phoenix Suns drafted him 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, it was clear that he was an intelligent, insightful, interesting human being. He’s the kind of player you want to see succeed because you want to see the character he displays as a person rewarded on the basketball court.
Second, the Suns have a dire need for a big man. It’s been five years since we’ve seen any semblance of dominance on the interior, dating back to that stretch when Deandre Ayton displayed his potential, if only for a fleeting moment. Alas, the motor wasn’t there. Certainly not in the same capacity that Maluach has displayed thus far this summer. And when you see opposing Summer League teams gameplan specifically to stop him, you ponder when the last time we witnessed that. Shaq?
As we slowly begin looking toward the horizon and wondering who the cornerstones of this organization could be five years from now, having a dominant big man would sure be nice. That’s why this progression matters. If Maluach is ever going to reach cornerstone status, he has to start crossing lines of demarcation along the way. What he’s doing in Las Vegas thus far feels like one of them, and it aligns with the potential we’ve been waiting to see.
What the future holds remains to be seen, and one thing to be cognizant of is that the Suns are not a center-centric offense schematically. What Maluach is doing in Las Vegas should not be expected to immediately translate to the big league club. When opportunities arise next season, he’ll operate within a different role, one where his ability to rebound and defend will be more valuable than his ability to score. Perhaps that’s what has made this run in Las Vegas so enjoyable. We’re getting a glimpse of the offensive potential he possesses within a system that’s allowing him to flourish.
The Phoenix Suns coaching staff is certainly taking note of what he can do, and perhaps, when the time is appropriate, they’ll adjust aspects of the system to better accommodate Maluach’s abilities.
Watching him in the Summer League has been an absolute joy. Because of the way he plays. Because of how hard he plays. Because he’s putting up impressive counting stats, but more importantly, because you can see the impact he has on the court and on his teammates. He’s 19 years old and already appears to possess leadership qualities that are difficult to teach. As for any concerns relative to his progression? At this point, I have none.
Perhaps that’s an overreaction fueled by the excitement I’ve felt watching Maluach play in Summer League. But right now, he’s hitting the checkpoints I hoped to see, and he’s passing this segment of the test with flying colors.
The future appears bright in Phoenix based on the organization’s recent drafts. The real challenge begins when the regular season arrives and the Suns have to find minutes for these young players, giving them opportunities to continue their upward trajectories while balancing the need to remain competitive. That’s why Jordan Ott gets paid the big bucks. I simply write about what he does.
However, James doesn’t appear to be in any rush. This was shown by a golf outing that he had on July 14, alongside Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green and world-class comedian Kevin Hart, both of whom are close friends with James.
Steve Stoute’s Instagram Story post of him golfing with LeBron James and Kevin Hart. Instagram/@stevestoute
Green and James were recently in Puerto Rico together, which is why it’s surprising to see them golfing so soon after that. There were reports that Green was using that vacation to recruit James to the Warriors, which, “have left [James] giving even stronger consideration to the idea [of joining the Warriors in free agency] than before,” according to a July 13 article from ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.
But there didn’t seem to be much recruiting happening during Tuesday’s golf outing. Instead, several Instagram Story posts from Steve Stoute (who was at the golf event with James, Hart, and Green) show that jokes were being cracked between the trio.
One post showed James and Hart sitting in a golf cart together. The 22-time NBA All-Star was joking about a poor shot Hart had made, with Hart claiming that it was too early to claim that he was having a bad day on the course.
There was some competition between James and Hart: At one point, James told Hart, “I’m up 3–0. I’m cooking you. You know how many teams came back from 3–0? None!”
James and Hart joking around on a couch together. Instagram/@stevestoute
LeBron James: “I’m up 3-0. I’m cooking you. You know how many teams came back from 3-0? None!”
Kevin Hart: “That’s not true. Didn’t you come back?”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets is guarded by Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It took a few extra days, but we finally got our Mikel Brown Jr. vs Darius Acuff summer showdown. It was Nets as a unit, however, who delivered the box office production.
Brooklyn leapt out to a 22-6 advantage to the begin the game, forcing eight Sacramento turnovers in the contest’s first six minutes. Joshua Jefferson, who struggled in his first appearance as a Net over the weekend, got in on the action right after coming in off the bench.
Brown Jr. personally didn’t do any scoring to help to build that run, but facilitated on a few buckets. Despite having no points to match Acuff’s six in the first, he did come up with two assists.
His backcourt mate had him covered, however. Egor Dëmin led everyone with 16 first period points, shooting 3-3 from the field and 4-4 from the line. The sophomore, who’s starting to look a bit too good to be out there, had a near-perfect frame even outside of his shooting figures, pitching in three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and zero turnovers in 10 minutes.
Then, Brown Jr. started to get going. Acuff picked his pocket on the second period’s first possession, though Brown Jr. got back in time to block his subsequent shot in transition. MBJ walked the ball down the court right after, shook Acuff with a crossover, and dropped in a buttery midrange jumper. He finished with five points and two more assists in the period.
But while it was good to see Brown Jr. win round two, Drake Powell experienced a far larger and more cathartic redemptive arc. After beginning the summer 1-28 from the field between the California Classic and Vegas, he started the game 4-5 from three and a +11 at halftime.
Drake Powell continuing to cash in on the basketball gods' summer debt to him.
He started the SL 1-28 on FGs between Vegas and Sacramento. He's now 4-5 from deep today. pic.twitter.com/8PDr2cr5aJ
Brooklyn eventually waltzed its way to a 56-34 lead at halftime, and it would’ve been even messier than that if not for Emanuel Sharp. The 45th overall pick out of Houston also went 4-5 from deep in the first half to lead his team with 14 points. Nobody else on Sacramento had more than eight at that point.
Dëmin, who put up a 20-piece last time out vs New York, had the same amount today by halftime while shooting 5-9 from the field. He continued to have Brown Jr.’s back all the way until the first half horn…
Egor Dëmin picks up the Mikel Brown Jr. miss and his third dunk of the first half right before the buzzer.
The dunking didn’t stop there, nor did the deposing of the Kings. The Nets continued to force Sacramento turnovers that led to easy points the other way. Brooklyn ended up earning 41 points off 28 Sacramento giveaways by the end of the night. About halfway there, Johnson, Dëmin, Brown Jr., and Wolf collaborated on what has to be the play of the summer so far for the team…
Nets level….
Major highlight for the Nets. Starts with Chaney Johnson hustle. Finishes with a Danny Wolf poster on Maxime Raynaud. pic.twitter.com/DFLqHkpusy
Helped by that sequence, Brooklyn went on a 13-0 run in the heart of the third to open up a 30+ point lead, and while that was enough to excuse Dëmin for all but one random possession in the fourth, Brown Jr., Powell, and a few others played on.
The former got a few points back on Acuff before sitting a few sequences later. Acuff still finished the game with the higher scoring total, although he had sacrifice his efficiency to get it. MBJ finished with 16/5/2, and four turnovers while shooting 6-11 from the field and 2-5 from deep. Acuff ended with 26 points, five assists, and five turnovers while shooting 9-18 from the field and 2-6 from deep.
Mikel Brown Jr. hits a three over Darius Acuff, flashes a smile on his way back down the floor. pic.twitter.com/v4sVySGm2I
The Nets did get a bit too rowdy in the that third period, picking up three technical fouls between the bench, Dëmin, and Powell, who got caught hanging on the rim for a tad too long after finishing off an alley-oop. Normally, you’d rather avoid seeing that. But hey, its summer. And again, you saw the Powell numbers before this one. He finished with 18 points, two steals, and a block after shooting 6-10 from the field and 4-7 from deep.
For the most part, the bench plus Johnson and Wolf took us the rest of the way. Sacramento never put any pressure on the lead as Ben Saraf’s methodical game and Johnson’s dominance on the glass kept the Kings on a leash anytime they tried to string together quick points. Saraf bounced back with 11 points, five assists, four steals, and zero turnovers on 3-4 shooting in 20 minutes played. Johnson, a game high +31, nabbed 13 points and nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal after shooting 5-7 from the field.
The Nets nabbed their second win in Las Vegas. The were five points shy of tying the league record for the most points scored in a Summer League game.
Final: Brooklyn Nets 115, Sacramento Kings 83
Sean Marks Speaks
Midway through the second period, Sean Marks also joined the broadcast for a brief interview where he touched on the the team’s young pool of talent., Julius Randle, and Jordi Fernández.
“Very excited about this group,” Marks said. “I mean, they’re young but they’re out there competing. They’re playing hard. They’re playing the right way. You see the ball moving around. These guys are competing — diving on the floor for loose balls. They want to compete for something, so that’s exciting.”
Marks later spoke specifically on Mikel Brown Jr., even giving us a bit of an idea of what he and the Nets look for in draft prospects.
“Obviously watching him, going back from from my days, watching him at the Hoop Summit, and then obviously Louisville, you see how he played there, and just how he approached his teammates,” Marks said. “I know he missed a few games, but then even in the games he was out, it was like, just watch him on the sidelines. Who’s interacting with? What do the coaches say about him? He’s a very cerebral player. He’s incredibly competitive, so that’s obviously going to translate to our level.”
It’s similar to what he said shortly after the Nets selected Brown Jr. last month.
“And what we’ve seen so far, not only in the California Classic Summer League, but in Vegas here, is just how he’s got those leadership characteristics, taken a lot of the guys under his wing, and spent time with them away from the court as well, which is really unique for a young man like that,” he added. Those things will translate to a really, really positive career.”
Marks also praised the borough of Brooklyn as a platform to raise up prospects like Brown Jr. He called it a “melting pot” before acknowledging its salt-of-the-earth reputation.
“It’s such a diverse borough that, to me, is exciting,” he said. “It’s a working-class borough. That’s that adds something to the culture of the locker room like we experienced with the Spurs. So, to me, that’s great. Everybody has their own story, and that’s it’s a worldly game now, which is what we’re just seeing right now on the on the court.”
He also shouted out Fernández and his coaching staff in that same regard.
“One of the things that’s really shined from Jordi and how he’s approached his first few years here has been just how honest he is with players,” Marks said. “Nobody ever questions, ‘Well, where do I stand? What are my expectations? What am I supposed to do?’ Jordy lets everybody know right off the get-go and and owns it. He’s honest with it, honest about himself, honest about the mistakes that he makes, and I think that takes a lot. That’s a special leader, and he’s been absolutely tremendous in these first couple years.“
Marks wrapped up things up soon after that, but not before sharing what he expects Julius Randle to bring to the Nets this season. Randle also shared his thoughts on coming to Brooklyn in a different Summer League game a few days before.
“I look at how enthusiastic Julius is about coming back here and you know being in New York again, and so forth. I think he’s he’s been on winning franchises. He understands what it takes. He’s a pro’s pro. He’s a powerful player — that’s something we’re looking for. We need a downhill player that can play in that position, which we didn’t have, so I think him being able to take some of these young guys under his wing, show what it means to be a real pro at this level, and lead flags out will be great. That’s exactly what we’re excited about with Julius.”
Erik Slater of ClutchPoints also caught up with Marks during the game to ask about a potential Michael Porter Jr. contract extension. He indicated there won’t be any news on that soon.
Asked Sean Marks whether the Nets feel urgency to get an extension done with Michael Porter Jr. as he enters the final year of his contract:
"No. Any time you're in a hurry, that's when you make mistakes… We don't wanna do anything hastily or in a rush here. I love Mike… and… pic.twitter.com/9ip1LvxzqG
Brooklyn will take a day off before playing in its final “regular season” Summer League game on Thursday afternoon vs the Houston Rockets. That’ll tip off at 4:30 p.m. EST. Depending on how the standings shake out, they’ll either move onto a four-team playoff or play one consolation game after that either on July 17, July 18 or July 19th.
