Clarke was pronounced dead by authorities on May 11 after being found unresponsive in his bedroom, according to Friday's announcement. A deputy medical examiner conducted an examination of Clarke at the DME’s Forensic Science Center on May 12 and the cause and manner of death were certified Aug. 7.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office stated that its report will be available at a future date. Clarke was 29 years old.
Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga and enjoyed initial success in the league, earning all-rookie honors while averaging a career-high 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with Memphis in 2022.
Clarke's sudden death happened almost six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies.
Clarke allegedly led Cross County Sheriff's Office deputies on a miles-long chase on April 1, with speeds reaching over 100 mph, and was found with over 230 grams of kratom in his possession, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Memphis Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Clarke's career had been derailed in recent years by injuries. He played in just six games during the 2023-24 season due to a torn Achilles and missed all but two games this past season due to calf and knee ailments.
Monta Ellis has been named the general manager of the Alcorn State men's basketball program, the school announced on Friday, August 7.
The position will include overseeing basketball operations, devising recruiting strategies, handling NIL opportunities and transfer portal decisions and mentoring the student-athletes. The statement said that the Mississippi-based HBCU "expects" the 12-year NBA veteran and Mississippi native "to raise the program's profile on the national recruiting trail."
"Today marks the beginning of an incredible new chapter, and I'm truly honored and excited to be named the General Manager for Men's Basketball at Alcorn State University," Ellis said in the statement. "Alcorn isn't just a university. It's a place built on history, tradition, excellence, and a legacy that has impacted generations."
Ellis entered the NBA straight out of high school as a second round pick in the 2005 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. He spent six seasons there and was named the 2006-07 Most Improved Player. He also spent time with the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks before finishing his career with the Indiana Pacers.
Known as the "Mississippi Bullet," Ellis starred at Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi, 75 miles east of Alcorn State in Lorman. He had 29 points in the 2005 4A basketball championship victory and was a McDonald's All-American. He is also the founder of the Ellis Elite Basketball Academy in Coppell, Texas.
The Braves have won 17 regular season conference championships, seven SWAC tournament championships and have six NCAA tournament appearances. Last season, under first-year coach Jake Morton, Alcorn State went 9-23 overall and 7-11 in the conference.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 12: Taelon Peter #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 12, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs are filling out their roster for training camp. Today, the Spurs announced they’ve signed former Indiana Pacer Taelon Peter to an Exhibit-10 contract, meaning he’ll join the Spurs for training camp but isn’t a guarantee to be on the regular-season roster.
Peter played in 38 games for the Pacers last season, averaging 12.6 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, while shooting 38% from the field and 32.8% from three. Peter is a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Liberty University who was drafted 54th overall in the 2025 draft. While he hasn’t found his three-point stroke in the NBA so far, he was a 45.3% three-point shooter during his senior season at Liberty.
The second-year guard played well in the NBA Summer League just a month ago, averaging 9.5 points on 57.1% shooting from the field, according to RealGM. His play there may be why San Antonio decided to extend Peter a training camp invite.
He will have stiff competition for an NBA deal with the Spurs. San Antonio has already filled its two-way roster spots with second-round picks Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown, and returning two-way player David Jones-Garcia. Even with an open 15th roster spot, Peter will likely need to beat out one of those three players to make the team.
With the Peter signing, San Antonio has 18 players on its training camp roster. The team can carry 21 players during training camp but must cut the roster down to 18 players when the regular season starts. Training camp begins on September 29th.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 05: The Nike basketball shoes Tre White #78 of the Miami Heat during their 2026 California Classic Summer League game at Chase Center on July 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thien-An Truong/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 17, 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks’ two second-round picks remain without NBA contracts, but each appears to have a clear path forward. The first, Jack Kayil, announced Friday that he’ll spend the 2026-27 season with Alba Berlin rather than join New York immediately.
“I’m staying”
— Knicks 2nd-round pick Jack Kayil announces he’s staying in Europe with his team Alba Berlin on a new 5-year deal
“The NBA remains my big dream – and Alba is just the right place for me to continue on this path” pic.twitter.com/etJtrd09Hv
As reported by Ian Begley (SNY), the move had long been viewed as the most likely outcome, as the Knicks’ second-apron salary constraints made signing the 20-year-old guard difficult. A larger role in Europe should give Kayil valuable developmental minutes while New York retains his NBA rights.
Tyler Nickel, meanwhile, remains unsigned. Although recent reports suggested he could return to college under the NCAA’s new eligibility rules, Begley reports that league sources expect Nickel to begin his professional career. Because the Knicks are tight against the second apron, signing Nickel to a standard NBA contract could complicate their search for a veteran third center, making a two-way deal the most logical outcome.
Begley reports, “In recent weeks, the Knicks have also been in touch with several free agent centers who could fill the third center role. Logic tells you that if they wanted to sign one of these centers on a guaranteed one-year deal, the Knicks would have done so already.”
With Kayil staying overseas, the Knicks have 13 players on standard contracts and all three two-way spots still available as training camp approaches.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 30: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors looks on from the bench against the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 30, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Lakers have been hard at work rebuilding their roster during this summer of optionality, they are still missing a starting-level wing.
This deep into free agency, the best player available at that position is Jonathan Kuminga. While the Lakers have been linked to him all offseason, a deal has yet to be reached and the five-year wing remains on the market.
“The opportunity appealed to Kuminga, but the sign-and-trade contract offer (years, money, package going back to Atlanta) didn’t satisfy all sides. The Lakers remain interested in him, league sources said, but movement toward a deal has remained stalled for weeks.”
It’s been reported before that talks with LA and Kuminga have stalled. So, it’s no surprise that this stalemate continues. The Lakers, as Slater has reported, have remained interested. They have continued calling about the talented wing.
While this Kuminga free agency has been long and tiring for fans, it’s all part of the negotiations.
Until all parties can agree, this will continue to drag on. Ultimately though, this is Kuminga’s decision.
While a trade would give him the most money, he is an unrestricted free agent and can select his destination. The information on what is possible will likely remain the same at this point, and he has to decide what he wants to do.
The Lakers can provide Kuminga with the opportunity for a starting position on a team with title aspirations. If he plays well in a purple and gold uniform, it could do wonders for his stock around the NBA.
It’s been a long odyssey here in the Kuminga sweepstakes, but so far the Lakers have done the right thing. They’ve been patient, remained interested, but haven’t done anything desperate or foolish to acquire him.
In the best-case scenario, Kuminga is a Laker, but that’s his decision to make now. Hopefully, he comes to a conclusion soon so this can all come to an end.
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 15: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors smiles during the game against the LA Clippers during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Wizards and Anthony Davis have agreed to postpone contract extension talks until the regular season.
The Golden State Warriors have made it clear they intend to run it back next season after keeping most of their roster intact. So, with this emphasis on continuity, the organization will have to rely on internal improvement from its current players, specifically 23-year-old guard Brandin Podziemski as he enters his fourth NBA season.
After jumping into a full-time starting role late in the 2025-26 season, Podziemski finished the year averaging 13.8 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range. His continued development has not only raised expectations entering next season, but also sparked discussions about what his next contract could look like.
According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Podziemski’s next contract could carry an average annual value between $22 million and $24 million. However, Siegel also reports the Warriors would likely prefer a deal in the $15 million to $18 million range.
In terms of what a new deal for Podziemski could possibly look like, it is likely that the AAV would be between $22 million and $24 million. While the sweet spot for the Warriors would be a deal somewhere between $15 million and $18 million, Podziemski and his camp would want to exceed this in their asking price due to his contributions as a starter and improved production during the 2025-26 season.
Siegel also noted there is no urgency for Golden State to reach an extension with Podziemski before the start of the season, particularly with Stephen Curry’s contract situation being a higher priority. As a result, Podziemski could ultimately play out the final year of his rookie contract before becoming a restricted free agent next offseason.
With Curry (38), Draymond Green (36), and Jimmy Butler (36) all in the latter stages of their careers, Podziemski’s youth and durability are becoming increasingly important to the Warriors’ long-term outlook. Whether that ultimately costs $18 million or $24 million per year is up for debate, but it remains clear he has emerged as a key piece of the franchise’s future.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, August 7th:
The rationale for such stagnation traces back to GM Mike Dunleavy’s belief that last year’s issues weren’t so much roster-related as they were a result of injuries and general sloppiness. Additionally, in a vacuum, the free agents available weren’t much more appealing than the internal options, and making a move just to make a move isn’t necessarily a good process. Melton is as valuable as, say, Anfernee Simons (if not more).
Even if the rationale might be sound, the ceiling is low.
What does the best-case scenario look like for running it back?
“Do we need to get better roster-wise? I think so,” the GM acknowledged in May. “But we didn’t get to a point where we played a team where the roster is better than ours. For that reason, we were more focused on the stuff that we can control.
“We’ll always look to be better, talent-wise, roster-wise, all that. But . . . the discussions weren’t really about that. It was more with the team that we have. How can we be better? And what are the things we need to do to build on for long-term success?”
Dub Nation had been warned. The priority was internal development rather than external additions. Do not expect gifts in July.
One source told Charania that this gives both sides the first 20 or so games to marinate over a potential extension and see how the early part of the season goes for the Wizards and for the 10-time All-Star.
Davis became eligible Thursday to sign a contract extension for up to four years and $275 million. The first year of the extension would replace a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
“I think it was something that we could have fought over, but it wasn’t worth fighting over,” Green said, as transcribed by NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think if the Warriors want to trade me at some point in the season, they want to trade me. I’ve never been a guy who wants to stay somewhere where I’m not wanted.”
A post to end the week:
Yaxel Lendeborg puts on a show at his childhood park 😮💨
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Alondes Williams #31 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have signed Alondes Williams to an Exhibit-10 contract, sources told to Bullets Forever. Chris Haynes first reported the agreement.
Free agent guard Alondes Williams has reached an agreement on a deal with the Washington Wizards, his agent Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports tells me. Williams scored a career-high 25 points for Wiz last season. pic.twitter.com/YPcCHtrVVW
The deal, which doesn’t count toward Washington’s 15-man roster, allows Williams to participate in training camp with the Wizards while the team secures his G League rights. The 27-year-old has exhausted his two-way eligibility, so Washington can either sign him to a standard contract or a G league contract following training camp.
If Williams is waived by the Wizards and later signs with their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, he can earn a bonus of up to $75,000.
Williams appeared in four games with the Wizards last season and scored 25 points in a win over the Pacers.
BREAKING: The Wizards are signing Alondes Williams (Via @ChrisBHaynes)
Williams returns to the Wizards after impressing on a two-way last season ⬇️
INGLEWOOD, CA - January 14: Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards, Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards, and Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on January 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have released their 2026-27 preseason schedule, which features four games in October.
Washington opens preseason play at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 at Madison Square Garden against the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks.
The Wizards then return home for two contests at Capital One Arena. The first is against the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10, followed by a 7 p.m. tilt on Oct. 12 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Washington concludes the preseason at 8 p.m. on Oct. 16 against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 31, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 118-96. 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 Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LA forked over two first-round picks and two swaps to the Utah Jazz for the just turned 25-year-old Walker Kessler. Known primarily as an elite defensive anchor, the 7’2” five-man brings a level of stability and structure to an offense fully leaning into its explosive backcourt.
Today’s NBA is full of pick-and-roll maestros with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves leading the charge as a duo in total possessions. Both operate at high volume while staying uber-efficient, placing in the 90th and 81st percentiles, respectively. The productive on-ball guards are now set to receive a dangerous dance partner.
The foundation sits on Kessler’s wide base as an excellent screener, making it difficult for defenders to chase around his frame. He blends size with superior feel. Once his primary defender is initiated with the guard, he zips to the rim or open area.
In the clip shown below, he sets up for a dribble handoff with his now fellow Laker teammate Collin Sexton. The on-ball pick obliterates his defender, rendering him completely helpless in the play. He dives in line with his ball handler to collect a bounce pass, leading to the finish at the rim.
Kessler possesses a good understanding of when to set or slip the screen early. The Auburn product leverages his spatial awareness to sneak behind unsuspecting help defenders, commonly finishing with reverse dunks under the rim.
He’s a massive, unmissable target, serving as a useful release valve when guards find themselves in trouble. When he’s not an on-ball screener, he parks himself around the dunker spot and must be accounted for.
During his latest healthy year in the 2024-25 season, Kessler finished 73.6% of his attempts in the restricted area. That ranked sixth among all centers who attempted at least five per game, ahead of players like Jalen Duren and even Nikola Jokić.
Kessler doesn’t possess the same quick-twitch trampoline as the prototypical lob threats, but is effective nonetheless as a vertical spacer. His 9’5” standing reach means his catch radius is infinite. What seem to be dangerous lobs like the one below from near half court are in his wheelhouse where a back screen creates a second of indecision, opening up the alley-oop.
Listed at 245 pounds, Kessler brings a bully ball element that’s been missing from LA’s big man rotation. While not someone commanding a high frequency of post touches, teams can’t needlessly switch their perimeter players onto him. He uses a mix of finishes with either hand and nice touch around the basket to take advantage of smaller defenders.
This really materializes on the glass, where Kessler has a case as the best offensive rebounder in the league. His 4.6 offensive rebounds per game led the league the past two seasons.
When teams switch their bigs out on the perimeter or have them come over for a weak side rotation, Kessler cleans up on the glass every time, as shown in the clip below. Anthony Davis is switched out on the perimeter, leaving Kessler unattended and being boxed out by smaller wings. He easily gobbles the offensive rebound for a putback.
As a play finisher and screener, Kessler will plug in instantly with it easy to envision him next to Luka and Reaves in all their pet actions. On top of that, he’ll add extra possessions on the boards.
The potential of him and, in turn, the team hinges on his continued development on that end. While playing only five games last year, he flashed real growth in skill adds.
He showed the possibility to be an offensive hub, a look more teams are moving towards, by flashing some high-low action passes and nifty bounces to cutters like the one below.
The biggest question mark is whether the 3-point shooting can be real. While only playing five games last season, Kessler hit six of his eight attempts from behind the arc, matching the total from the previous season where he played 58 games.
He’s already said he’s open to taking more shots outside the arc in head coach J.J. Redick’s offense, and it would make him one of the more valuable players in the league. It would give the team a unique five-out look without sacrificing size on the opposite end.
The offense isn’t perfect, as his short roll offense is in question without a real in-between game. Elite defenses will test his ability to make quick, high-level reads outside a Utah situation that aggressively chased losses for most of his tenure. Chemistry with the guards will need tweaking throughout the season, but on a team with so much firepower, it doesn’t need to be perfect.
The Lakers desperately needed a stylistic fit at center who would open the path for the guards to be their dynamic selves. With Kessler, they got it.
LA’s newest big man will no doubt earn the bulk of this four-year contract on the defensive end, raising the floor for wins, while his offensive fit and trajectory determine the ceiling of this locked-in core.
A Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office spokesperson confirmed on Friday, Aug. 7 to USA TODAY Sports that King died June 7 of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which is a complication of long-term high blood pressure. Obesity was also cited as a contributing factor.
King died in his home in River Forest, Illinois. He was 59.
After his death, tributes poured in from all corners of the basketball world.
In the Chicago neighborhood of Logan Square, which is northwest of downtown, a mural was painted to honor him.
The mural depicts a close-up of King’s face against a black background. To his right, a silhouette of the Bulls logo wears a crown, in homage to King’s last name.
One of King’s broadcast catchphrases – “Too big, too strong, too fast, too good” – is captioned to the left of the mural.
King played eight seasons in the NBA from 1989-97, five of which came with the Bulls. The sixth pick out of Oklahoma in the 1989 draft, King was a 6-foot-11 big man who won three NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in his first five seasons in Chicago.
He later played stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
King averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists across his 438 career games.
After his playing career ended, he joined the team’s broadcast crew in 2006 and became its color commentator. He was the voice that a generation of Bulls fans grew up hearing, even the reason some tuned in at all during a lot of lean years.
"Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said June 7 in a statement. "His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans."
A source told Torre, "It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap" and that the Clippers "were technically kind of funding it." Daktronics does not have a history of celebrity endorsements, and it's unclear what, if anything, Leonard may have done for the company, but it doesn't even do traditional consumer-facing advertising. The company's PR firm told Torre, "Daktronics doesn't have a deal with Kawhi right now." It said the league had contacted it about its ongoing investigation.
Through all of this, the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer have denied any wrongdoing and say they have nothing to hide. While they have yet to comment on this specific new allegation, here is part of the statement the Clippers gave to NBC Sports last month when the Leonard trade to Toronto was put on hold pending the conclusion of the investigation:
"For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff."
The Daktronics angle is a second offshoot of the league's investigation into Leonard's endorsement deal with Aspiration, a former Clippers sponsor. Aspiration was a green bank company that has since gone bankrupt, and its founder, Joe Sanberg, has been convicted of defrauding investors and is spending 14 months in prison for his crimes. The law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is conducting the investigation.
Clippers owner Ballmer was one of the investors in Aspiration. As previously pointed out on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration, and not long after, Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement deal with the company (he also signed a four-year, $176 million extension with the Clippers). Ballmer and the Clippers have said they introduced Leonard to Aspiration, but that was the extent of their involvement.
The initial focus of the investigation was on that $28 million endorsement deal (which later grew to include now-worthless stock options). Multiple former Aspiration employees told Torre this was a "no-show" endorsement designed to funnel more money to Leonard and circumvent the NBA salary cap. There is no evidence Leonard did any promotional work for the company (while photos of Leonard for a marketing campaign were found, there is no evidence those were used, nor did he make any public appearances or post anything on social media about Aspiration). It's worth noting that this kind of no-work endorsement was something that Leonard's adviser, business partner and uncle, Dennis Robertson, reportedly had requested of the Raptors and other teams during Leonard's 2019 free agency.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied all of this. From their statement to NBC Sports last month:
"At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison."
There is no word from the league on when the investigation will conclude, but once it does, the NBA's CBA with the players union requires it — and any potential punishments — to be reviewed by an independent arbitrator, who will have a say over whether the punishments proposed by the league match the evidence. The arbitrator's ruling can be appealed.
Which is to say, there is a long way to go in this process (unless the Clippers and league reach a kind of plea bargain deal).
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 8: Mike Gansey speaks as the Philadelphia 76ers introduce him as their new President of Basketball Operations on June 8, 2026 at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A new executive always generates buzz. During his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mike Gansey was part of a front office that made notable additions like Dean Wade (now with the Sixers), Craig Porter and Jaylon Tyson. But you don’t truly know if an executive is the real deal until they’re in the driver’s seat.
Well, it turns out Gansey might be exactly that — the real deal. His first free agency oversaw one of the wildest offseasons in recent NBA memory: trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James to a minimum contract. And that’s just the headliners. Between the draft, trades and free agency, the Sixers brought in seven new faces.
Now that free agency has settled, how did Gansey perform in his debut? We’ll break down every new free agent addition, from the two-way contract players to LeBron himself, analyzing each one, and assigning proper grades based off of team and marketplace context.
Rayan Rupert (two-way)
Starting things off with the first two-way contract is Rupert. For those unfamiliar with him, he was the 43rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Rupert spent his first three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers where he saw very little use and playing time. He joined the Memphis Grizzlies via 10-day contract, eventually earning a two-way contract last season. There he saw an uptick in playing time. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals on 42.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.8 percent shooting from three in 16 games (30.9 minutes per game). Solid production, albeit on a small sample size.
Rupert’s game, to this point, is mostly a hypothetical due to the low sample size and young age. But what can you actually expect when he does play? Rupert boasts a tremendous frame at 6-foot-7 with a 7-3 wingspan to pair with it. Not only does he have true wing size, but he also has a stellar motor and legitimate basketball IQ. He’s the type of player you can throw out in the regular season at the end of the quarter to get a stop. If you believe in his Memphis tape, you have the makings of a coveted two-way player if the offense can catch up.
Now, he’ll take his talents to Philly. He’ll look to join the pipeline of two-way players who get extended run and earn his way onto a fulltime contract. Despite being in the NBA for multiple seasons, Rupert is still quite young at 22 years old.
Grade: B-
You simply cannot have enough defense and length alongside Tyrese Maxey and friends, and that’s exactly what Rupert is now. Two-way contracts are as low risk as it can be. There’s evidence to suggest Rupert’s best days are ahead of him. Some of the stuff he brings now can help this team too, even for a fringe signing. We’ll wait and see if the offensive skills can develop, but this is a solid, low-risk bet.
Caleb Love (two-way)
Moving onto their next two-way is one of the bigger names currently on a two-way contract in Love. For those who don’t know Love, he was a a notable draft prospect not that long ago in the 2024 draft. He had an extensive NCAA career, playing three years at North Carolina, later transferring to Arizona. Despite one of the more decorated NCAA careers, Love went undrafted in 2024, later joining the Portland Trail Blazers via two-way contract.
Unlike most undrafted, two-way contract first year players, Love put together a stellar rookie campaign that saw some heavy usuage. The Blazers used up all of his two-way elibility, heavily featuring him in the rotation. In 49 games, including one start, he averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 38.8 percent shooting and 31.8 percent from three.
At 6-foot-3 (without shoes) with a near 6-foot-9 wingspan, Love has good size for a guard. He’s capable of pulling up from anywhere on the court and scoring in bunches. What’ll make or break his career (and tenure here) will primarily be tied to his efficiency. The base numbers leave a lot to be desired, but if he can pull those numbers up there will be no shortage of teams that could use his floor spacing and scoring ability. The Sixers included.
Grade: A
There’s a legitimate argument Love is now the best player on a two-way contract. And if he isn’t the best, he’s for sure in the conversation. He brings a lot of skills that rookie Labaron Philon and Anfernee Simons also provide, but having a reserve guard in your back, back pocket to space the floor and provide volume shooting is fantastic work on the margins.
Ariel Hukporti
Hukporti’s arguably the most controversial add of the offseason, which says a lot about the offseason Gansey had rather than Hukporti himself. The Sixers inked him to a one-year deal relatively early in the free agency period. The controversial part wasn’t necessarily Hukporti, but rather the way they signed him. After corresponding moves, the Sixers chose to dip into their bi-annual exception to ink him to a $3.4 million deal. This exception, as the name suggests, is granted every two years after it’s used, meaning the Sixers won’t have access to it next offseason. Albeit a small exception, the Sixers used most of it on Hukporti.
Hukporti, a late second-round draft pick, has had an extensive career overseas, eventually signing with the New York Knicks and filling their third-string center role behind Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Hukporti wasn’t utilized much — in fact he played less than 500 minutes total last regular season. As expected, there were mixed results. Hukporti was efficient, rebounded at a high rate (per-36 numbers show 11.5 rebounds per game) and played within his role. However, he racked up quite a few fouls despite playing in limited time. Some of that comes from the role (teams don’t care about backup backup bigs fouling when need be), but it is a legitimate area to watch as the Sixers, presumably, deploy him into a larger role here.
The risk side of this is relatively low, but factoring in the context of the BAE is important. If this signing doesn’t pan out, the Sixers will have burned one of their limited financial resources on a signing that didn’t help. However, you can make the argument that this is exactly the type of bet they should be taking: a low number, short-term deal with a player under the age of 25. We also have to factor in the Sixers’ scouting success of the past in identifying talent in other situations. Gansey has shown he has an eye for finding diamonds in the rough, and Hukporti might not be an exception.
The back-up big market was surprisingly competitive, with several players widely considered reserve bigs inking some massive deals. There’s plenty of fluctuation in length, non/partial guarantees, etc., so I’ll keep things simple here by comparing AAV (average annual value) with Hukporti and a few names to come below:
Jusuf Nurkic: 2 years, $22 million ($11M AAV)
Day’Ron Sharpe: 2 years, $20 million ($10M AAV)
Moe Wagner: 2 years, $19 million ($9.5M AAV, mutual option in year 2)
Al Horford: 2 years, $13.9 million (~$7M AAV)
Jaxson Hayes: 2 years, $12 million ($6M AAV)
In particular, I’m a fan of Sharpe’s deal the most out of this group. While all of these players are established NBA talent, if you told me Hukporti could have a better season than a lot of these names, I don’t think it would be crazy. Nurkic and Horford are aging, and Wagner is coming off a pretty serious knee injury. Hayes has been a nightmare off the court.
Grade: C+
For now, Hukporti remains unproven, and Gansey is banking on increased opportunity and development to justify this signing. It’s a fine marginal gamble. The addition of LeBron James should help neutralize most of Hukporti’s weaknesses, allowing him to settle into a defensive-first, low-usage lob threat role. This will be an interesting one to revisit mid-season.
Dean Wade
The first and largest signing of the Sixers’ free agency period was a familiar name for Gansey: Wade, one of the players he helped grow into a surefire NBA player. Wade inked a four-year deal worth $39 million — $30 million of that is guaranteed, with most of the final year in 2029-2030 not guaranteed ($1.6 million of it is guaranteed). The average salary for this deal is just a hair under $9.7 million.
Wade, for those who aren’t familiar with him, has made a career out of embracing the “dirty work” of basketball. He frequently took the hardest perimeter assignment on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the base rebounding numbers looking low, I’d argue he’s an above average rebounder, and those numbers should trend up here in Philadelphia as he’ll play a lot more of the “power forward” position (unlike Cleveland, where he was used more as a “small forward”).
Defense is where Wade has made his calling card, but he’s also very capable offensively. He shoots well from the perimeter and makes smart reads. In particular, his assist-to-turnover ratio is stellar, albeit on small usage. The stats show Wade is a capable rotation player who should be able to hang on both ends of the floor.
Wade will bring defense, length, and good decision making behind the Sixers’ plethora of offensive options. In a vacuum, it’s a good signing from a fit perspective. But how does it stack up against some of the other bigger contracts handed out to forwards in this free agency class? There’s no shortage of names to compare:
John Collins: 3 years, $51M ($17M AAV — two of his three years have guarantee triggers)
Tobias Harris: 2 years, $31M ($15.5M AAV)
Rui Hachimura: 2 years, $28M ($14M AAV)
Sandro Mamukelashvili: 4 years, $52M ($13M AAV)
While all of those players differ from Wade in a variety of what they bring and offer to a team, it sure makes Wade’s contract look good in comparison. And you can make the argument that Wade is the best defender out of that group. Factoring in the top of the talent pool, the Sixers got the best fitting forward on the lowest number — which makes this signing look very strong on paper from a production standpoint.
Grade: A-
Wade might not be as talented as the players mentioned above, but the fit is undeniable. With an abundance of top-end talent, you need guys like him who embrace the dirty work, play defense, and fill the gaps. Evidence suggests Wade should scale up nicely, and he’ll get that opportunity in Philly. Four years is a long commitment for a player like Wade, but it effectively functions as a three-year deal. So even if it doesn’t work out, the Sixers converted a good chunk of their MLE into a legitimate need. The contract is also tradeable if necessary. That said, Wade could end up playing more rotation minutes than most expect. The Sixers will need his defense and corner-three shooting ability on a nightly basis.
Anfernee Simons
Wade was one of the easier signings to predict, so we’ll take things over to Simons who was one of the bigger surprises they’ve added this offseason. Using the rest of the mid-level exception, they inked Simons to a two-year, $12.2M deal. The second year is a player option that is worth $6M.
Simons had one of the more under-the-radar seasons last year. Some of that might’ve been because of how it actually went down. Simons started the season on the Boston Celtics and played well there, averaging 14.2 points while shooting 44% from the field and 39.5% from three on high volume in 49 games for the Celtics. He was a big reason behind their early season success playing in a supercharged sixth man role. So, what happened?
Simons, on an expiring deal, was shipped out at the trade deadline for two reasons. The first of which was to get under the luxury tax. The second of which was to bulk up their center position ahead of the postseason. So the Celtics sent Simons to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic. Simons would play out the rest of the season on the rebuilding Bulls, who to that point had a true glut of guards post-deadline. He would play a handful of games before being shut down, after re-aggrativiating a wrist injury he suffered in training camp with the Celtics. In a way, his season was forgotten cause he didn’t finish the year with a Celtics team that exceeded expectations. Make no mistake though, he was a big part of their early season success.
Simons is an intriguing add, strictly for offensive needs. He’s a gifted scorer and shooter — in fact, he’s one of the better floor spacers and high volume shooters in the NBA. His gravity metrics test strongly, and for a team that was in the basement on three point makes he’ll fill a clear need.
Anfernee Simons' top 10 stats showcase his 1v1 play, 3-point shooting, and the attention he's drawing from defenses this season.
Ranks and percentiles are among 2025-26 rotation players.
Defensively, I wouldn’t expect much, if anything, from Simons. His defensive numbers are some of the worst in the league. That said, he shouldn’t be asked to do too much defending here. And during his time in Boston, he did try on that end, which does count for something. It wasn’t for a lack of effort.
Comparable reserve guards who received contracts this offseason include the following:
Gary Trent Jr.: 4 years, $64 million ($16M AAV) – nothing to see here, NBA!
Quentin Grimes: 4 years, $60 million ($15M AAV)
Collin Sexton: 2 years, $19 million ($9.5M AAV)
Marcus Smart: 2 years, $13 million ($6.5M AAV)
Jose Alvarado: 3 years, $14 million ($4.7M AAV)
Some of those sure stick out… but let’s not get off track.
For a hair over $6M per season, I think the Sixers did well here. The rest of the market backs that up. In particular, it matches well with what Smart got in Houston. He’s a different player, obviously. Smart is more of a defensive minded guard than anything, and Simons is the opposite of that. But both of these guys are skilled on one end of the floor, and ended up getting almost the same amount of money. There’s an argument to make that Simons is the best player on this list, yet he’s missing an extra zero.
Grade: A-
The only thing holding me back from giving this a straight up ‘A’ would be the questionable fit alongside rookie Philon. Both fill a similar need, and have similar strengths and weaknesses. That could make this addition redundant. However, for the price point, the Sixers locked up a proven high volume shooter. He should also ease any early growing pains with the Sixers’ rookie.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a top theoretical Sixer for as long as I can remember, ranging from the days of balloon contract debates involving JJ Redick and himself, all the way through a few summers ago when the Sixers had an abundance of cap space. Now, KCP will actually join the Sixers, coming off a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. While Memphis might be paying him almost $20 million, the Sixers will only be paying him the minimum this season on a one-year deal.
So what can Sixer fans expect? KCP has built a long, successful career as a coveted 3-and-D player. The base numbers aren’t glamorous, but you’re getting a guy who knows exactly what his role is and plays within it.
After several productive years in Denver, recent memory hasn’t been kind to KCP. He signed a three-year deal with Orlando, which yielded mixed results. He underwhelmed and was shipped to Memphis the following summer in the deal that brought Desmond Bane to Orlando. With the rebuilding Grizzlies, his numbers have continued to decline. He went from 40.6 percent from three in Denver, to 34.2 percent in Orlando, to 31.6 percent in Memphis over the span of the last three seasons.
Some of that decline can be attributed to age, but I also think both environments were just offensively limited. Orlando hasn’t ranked in the top 10 offensively in years, and Memphis rarely had a consistent star or offensive gravity during KCP’s time there. The Sixers have no shortage of talent, and that gravity should open up cleaner looks for him off the catch.
It’s hard to quantify defense with any advanced metrics, but I reviewed some of his defensive film in Memphis, and the eye test looks better than I expected. That team wasn’t playing for anything apart from draft positioning, but I think KCP can still hold his own defensively and won’t get completely embarrassed on the tougher assignments the Sixers will throw his way. I don’t think he’s completely washed in that regard.
Grade: B
KCP’s best days very well might be behind him, but this is a good bet for the Sixers to take at minimum salary. He has proven success with LeBron and has been a quality player alongside elite talent elsewhere. Similar to Wade, the Sixers need low-usage defensive guys, and if KCP can hit shots at the rate we’ve seen before, it’ll be hard to keep him off the court.
LeBron James
The Sixers signing King James has marked one of the worst days of my life…
…is what I’d say if I needed more clicks on this.
In all seriousness, the Sixers made what could be the biggest free agent signing in all of our lives, signing LeBron to a veteran’s minimum contract in a 1+1 structure, with a player option and 15% trade kicker.
Despite being 41 years old, LeBron is still a very good NBA player and should fit well with this group. In particular, he should help Maxey considerably by getting him off ball much more and into catch-and-shoot situations, which statistically should elevate his averages. LeBron also fits well with the starters: Maxey, Edgecombe and Brown, all of whom ranked towards the top in transition points. The Sixers should get plenty of run-out opportunities and have no shortage of options when running. He’ll also alleviate plenty of pressure off Embiid.
There will be an adjustment period for sure, but LeBron will come here to operate in a point guard role offensively. He will make life considerably easier for Maxey and Edgecombe. There are some fit and defensive concerns with this group as a whole, but betting on talent and the Sixers’ newfound depth to fill the gaps is a good bet.
Grade: A+
There’s a case that every single contract LeBron has taken has been an underpay in terms of production, name brand, and championship pedigree. So if that’s an underpay, what does it make LeBron on a minimum contract?
This signing took the Sixers from an already great team on paper and made them surefire contenders for the upcoming NBA season. This group has to put it together, and there will be growing pains from time to time. But if LeBron wants to sign with your NBA team, let alone for a minimum contract, you do it and don’t think twice. Anything less than an A+ for this would be frankly outrageous.
The final report card
For the most part, this is the type of report card you’d want to bring home to your parents. Gansey’s additions are mostly A’s and B’s, with Hukporti representing the lone C+ you can justify.
I didn’t have high expectations for Gansey in his first year as an executive. I wanted this team to get younger and look toward the future. In a way, they did that, adding Philon through the draft, along with Hukporti, Love and Rupert, all under 25. The Sixers worked with limited resources, primarily the mid-level exception, which they converted into two proven rotation plays in Wade and Simons. Then they added LeBron James, which speaks for itself.
This was one of the strongest debut seasons we’ve seen from an NBA executive. Most front offices evaluate whether their team got better, stayed the same, or got worse. For the Sixers, the answer is unquestionably yes. They got significantly better with Brown and LeBron, but Gansey did excellent work on the margins — an area I’ve been wanting to see addressed for a long time.
The team has to execute and things have to translate on the court, but it’s clear: Gansey’s first free agency was a massive success.
Kawhi Leonard attends a news conference July 7 when former teammate Kyle Lowry signed a one-day contract to retire as a Toronto Raptor. (Chris Young / The Canadian Press via AP)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had a second lucrative undisclosed sponsorship agreement with a company doing business with the team, Pablo Torre reported Thursday night on his podcast.
Scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics, which built the $100-million video board at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome, hired Leonard to a multi-million-dollar endorsement deal, according to Torre. The podcast host found no evidence that the All-NBA forward did any work for the company.
The details are similar to the $2- million endorsement deal Leonard had with Aspiration, a now-defunct environmental banking company that had a 23-year, $300-million sponsorship deal with the Clippers. Steve Ballmer, the team’s owner, invested $60 million into Aspiration, triggering allegations that the payment to Leonard circumvented the NBA salary cap.
That deal is at the center off an ongoing, almost year-long NBA investigation. Requests Friday for comment from Leonard’s agent and the Clippers were not immediately answered.
The salary cap limits what teams can spend on player payroll to ensure parity and prevent the wealthiest teams from outspending smaller-market teams to acquire the best players. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has called attempts to circumvent it a “cardinal sin.”
The topic was raised on Torre’s podcast by a person identified as an “anonymous high-level source under contract for Intuit Dome.” The person alleged in an interview that the sponsorship deal was “1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap. It was funneling money from the Clippers through Daktronics back to Kawhi.”
The investigation into the Aspiration allegations has grown in scope, the Athletic reported three weeks ago. In addition to attempting to determine whether Aspiration’s payment to Leonard violated NBA salary-cap rules, the probe conducted by high-powered New York law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz is examining Leonard’s deal with Daktronics.
If the NBA determines that a salary-cap violation occurred, the Clippers could be fined and stripped of first-round picks. Ballmer also could be penalized and Leonard’s contract could be voided. He has one year and $50.3 million left on a three-year, $149.5-million deal he signed before the 2024-25 season.
The endorsement deal with Daktronics raised suspicion because the company doesn’t do business with the general public and doesn’t need prominent athletes or celebrities to pitch its products.
“Daktronics was conservative to a fault for the 20-plus years I was there,” a former employee told Torre. “I remember asking early on why we didn’t do more traditional advertising and promotion to increase brand recognition. I was told that since it’s B2B and not a consumer product, it didn’t make sense to advertise that way.”
Asked whether Leonard had an endorsement deal, Daktronics pointed Torre to a crisis management firm whose spokesman told Hunterbrook Media, “My understanding is Daktronics doesn’t have a deal with Kawhi right now.” Asked for clarification, the spokesman said, “I don’t know what the company wants to say, or can say, given the Wachtell investigation and all that.”
Daktronics is a leader in designing, engineering and manufacturing digital LED display technology and audio systems. Nearly 600 clients are listed on the company website, including numerous NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL teams. Other clients include several airports, and Daktronics built the LAX Time Tower, a 72-foot, four-sided interactive digital media structure located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a slew of draft picks, but the teams put the deal on hold pending the outcome of the investigation.
Leonard would not talk about the allegations during the 2025-26 NBA season because the investigation was ongoing. He brushed it off during media day last September.
“None of us did … wrongdoing and, yeah, that’s it,” he said. “We invite the investigation.”
Almost a year later, the investigation continues. Silver has expressed a desire for a resolution, saying in June that it “needs to be wrapped up before next season.” The NBA regular season will begin in October.
Salary-cap circumvention first surfaced with Leonard during his free agency in 2019 after he led the Raptors to the NBA championship. Negotiations with the Lakers ceased when Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, requested a house, the use of private aircraft, guaranteed off-court earnings and an ownership stake in the team, according to Dan Woike of the Athletic. The Lakers informed Leonard’s representatives that those requests violated the NBA collective bargaining agreement and Leonard eventually signed with the Clippers, where he played the last seven seasons.
“I didn’t know how it was going to go,” Gansey said Thursday after Brown’s introductory Sixers press conference. “(James) obviously had a lot of great options. I didn’t know what he was going to decide. But I thought maybe after Jaylen, we had a better chance. I guess that was all we needed.
“And our players were obviously the biggest recruiters. … Our ownership is obviously great with that as well. I think after the Jaylen (trade), I don’t want to say it got real, but at least we had a chance to be in the mix.”
Gansey was glad to pounce on his opportunities to assemble a star-filled lineup. He noted that the Sixers now have two former NBA Finals MVPs (Brown and James) and two former regular-season MVPs (Joel Embiid and James).
“It’s just crazy in this NBA,” he said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. For me, it’s just, ‘Hey, I’m going to pick up the phone. I’m going to try to get involved in everything I possibly can.’ See what’s out there and be aggressive and be creative. Fortunately for us, this is where we landed.”
While Gansey is eager to watch the Sixers in action, he highlighted that the team is 0-0 and will require time to gel. Brown struck similar notes in his press conference.
“I’ve been around a long time,” Brown said, “long enough to know that what you have on paper doesn’t really mean (anything). It can if you put the work in, but if you allow distractions, if you allow the media to get into your locker room, if you allow certain things and the personalities don’t work, it could be a detriment.
“So I’m aware that it could go either way. It just takes an amount of work, and the transparency and leadership can really guide this thing or not.”
Gansey still clearly has valid reasons to believe that the 2026-27 Sixers have enormous potential.
“I think we have great (top-end) talent,” he said, “but also getting Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, (Ariel) Hukporti, having Dominick Barlow, getting Labaron (Philon Jr.) in the draft. I’m just excited to see how it looks — the combinations, the lineups, the versatility we have. When you have the talent, it’s exciting, and then trying to figure it out is the hard part. But I’m excited to see what’s ahead.”
Gansey also views Embiid’s summer as a major source of optimism.
“He’s just been himself, man,” Gansey said of Embiid. “I remember when I got the job, I went over there and he was like, ‘I want to have a great year. I want to play a lot of games. I want to be All-NBA Joel.’ He’s talked the talk and now he’s walking the walk. He’s lost some weight; you saw the pictures. He’s been in the gym. He’s doing all the right things and he’s super motivated.”
Of course, Embiid is not the only Sixer itching for the start of the season.
“Talking to (head coach Nick Nurse), he’s excited,” Gansey said. “It’s just like a kid in a candy store. He’s like, ‘How are we going to put this thing together and see if works?’”
