Category: NBA

On the day that Gary Trent Jr.’s new deal with the Bucks was officially announced by the team, reports also state that the league will investigate it for possible salary cap circumvention.  

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, “The NBA is probing the signed $64 million free-agent deal for Gary Trent Jr. with the Milwaukee Bucks, per a league spokesperson.” Marc Stein reiterated the news, stating, “The Bucks officially announced the deal today and the NBA now says it is being looked into after Trent played the past two seasons on a sub-$4 million salary and dipped statistically in 2025-26.”

Yes, it seems it was too lucrative after all. And now, after all the good that has happened this offseason, we the Bucks have to navigate the summer with this cloud lingering over their heads.

Regarding the deal itself, Jake Fischer reported that it “is fully guaranteed. Year-to-year salary breakdown, per sources: $15.2 million for 2026-27, jumps up to $16.4 million for 2027-28 and 2028-29, then back down to $16 million in Year 4.”

Of course, the deal stunk the moment it was reported and there’s reason rumours of it surfaced long before it was officially reported.

For one, Trent’s play with the Bucks last season was arguably the worst of his career. After exploding in the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers in their 2025 first-round series, averaging 18.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and a league-leading 2.6 SPG, while shooting 52% from the field and 50% from three (on 8.8 attempts per game), Trent came into the 2025-26 season with high expectations and a starting role. But, after starting the season’s first 12 games, he quickly found himself relegated to the bench, where he would stay for much of the season. Overall, Trent’s 2025-26 campaign saw him average career lows across the board (excluding his rookie season where he played just 15 games): 8.1 points (on .387/.360/.769 splits), 1.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.5 SPG.

Two, following the trade that sent Giannis to the Miami Heat and the NBA Draft, the Bucks are loaded at the guard positions. Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and AJ Green were already ahead of Trent in the rotation and now, with Tyler Herro, Brayden Burries, and Kasparas Jakučionis also on board, Trent doesn’t figure to even sniff the hardwood. Throw in two-way guards Cormac Ryan, who showed out down the stretch last season, and Kam Jones, who’s had himself a solid Summer League, and there really is no on-court justification to keep Trent—especially at that price and on a deal of that length.

But there is something to say about keeping your word. And by following through with any “handshake agreement” they had, Jon Horst and his team have sent a message that the Bucks are an organisation that honours its word and looks after its players. Of course, Burries, like Trent, is a Klutch Sports Group client too. So, all of this could pay dividends down the road—or even in the short term, should the Bucks wind up with another Klutch client, Peyton Watson.

Still, at least for the time being, this is a bad look for the Bucks and if the Kawhi Leonard Aspiration investigation is anything to go by, it will linger.

---

Bucks fans, where do you sit on the spectrum from “Meh” to “The house is burning down!”? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

The Miami Heat officially unveiled their new star.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, acquired June 23 in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, held his introductory press conference Thursday, July 16 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Later, in a photo shoot, the Heat showed off Antetokounmpo wearing his new uniform.

One difference is his jersey number. With the Heat, Antetokounmpo will wear No. 7, which is a departure from the No. 34 he wore with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo explained the reason for the switch, saying he initially picked No. 34 because his mother was born in 1963 and his father was born in 1964. Now, with Miami, he opted to take the final digits of those two years and add them.

The jersey reveal y’all have been waiting for… pic.twitter.com/j50dAQEx04

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 16, 2026

“I felt like 34 holds so much weight and has so much history,” Antetokounmpo said during the press conference. “Out of respect to the organization that drafted me and that I played for 13 years, I decided to leave that number there and start a new chapter. Hopefully I can leave my mark here in Miami and make No. 7 as legendary as No. 34. But it’s almost like having closure for me, mentally and emotionally, just to have a closure from that number, because it meant a lot to me.

“No. 7 looks good, it’s fresh, it’s clean. I saw some kids running in the street with it. I’m excited to create more moments with that number.”

Clocking in for the first time ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/jMKcBo9yii

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 16, 2026

Here are some other notable things Antetokounmpo, Heat president Pat Riley and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday:

Pat Riley hints at pursuit of LeBron James

Though he didn’t mention LeBron James by name, Riley spoke openly about the team’s pursuit of the 41 year old icon, who is an unrestricted free agent.

“(Heat executive vice president of basketball operations) Andy (Elisberg) called me and said we have a deal,” Riley said of the moment when Miami and the Bucks agreed to the Antetokounmpo trade. “We both sort of screamed out loud and said, ‘Yeah, we landed the plane.’ Now there’s another one we have to land.”

Riley was not-so-subtly referencing James, who played four seasons with the Heat from 2010-14 and who led the franchise to two NBA titles. Later in the press conference, when asked to clarify whether the comment about the other plane referenced James, Riley once again declined to name him specifically.

LEBRON JAMES DECISION: Latest rumors on when star chooses next team

“As far as the 24-year veteran, that is something that would happen organically,” Riley said. “I hope I’m not talking out of both sides of my mouth here, but you never know that you’re ever going to win a title until you win one. But you’ll never win one if you don’t have the talent and the coaching.

“We’re not here guaranteeing anything. But we want to win,” Riley added. “This is the team that we have right now, and I’m happy with it.”

Antetokounmpo says Heat is best path to another title

Antetokounmpo did not shy away from everything being new and uncertain, but he cited the culture at Miami as being a primary draw for him.

“It was a no-brainer,” Antetokounmpo said. “I wanted to be here. I’m excited to be here, and I want to get to work.”

Now with Heat captain Bam Adebayo, Antetokounmpo and Miami will try to compete in the Eastern Conference after the Heat have languished in the play-in picture for the past couple of seasons. While the Heat may struggle to shoot the ball from the perimeter, they project to be formidable on defense, with Adebayo, Antetokounmpo, forward Andrew Wiggins and point guard Davion Mitchell in the starting lineup.

“Obviously, I’ve accomplished a lot of things in my career, but one of my goals is to win another championship,” Antetokounmpo said. “I feel like this is the best route for me to do that."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heat welcome Giannis Antetokounmpo with new jersey. Could LeBron James be next?

The NBA free agent news of the summer was LeBron James informing the Los Angeles Lakers he would not return for the upcoming season.

Now, the world is watching and waiting for James to make a decision on where he’ll sign next.

The 41-year-old made his first public appearance since leaving the Lakers at Fanatics Fest in New York, where he made an appearance on the “Mind the Game” podcast.

During his appearance, James took the time to thank the Lakers organization, specifically governor Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka.

“Shout out my former team. I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers… That was an unbelievable ride and I am looking forward to what comes next as I wind down my journey. It’s going to be fun wherever I land,” James said.

LeBron James thanks Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka and everyone from the Lakers, then says of his free agency: “looking forward to what’s next as I wind down my basketball journey….it’s going to be pretty fun wherever I land.” He asks the crowd their opinion. hears Warriors, Heat… pic.twitter.com/pSEHpENsfF

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 16, 2026

James also spoke with Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton and interacted with fans, who were curious to know what’s next for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

The LeBron era in LA ended earlier this summer and many wondered as to why. James, according to his agent Rich Paul, is pursuing complete basketball happiness in the twilight of his career.

It appears he couldn’t find that with the Lakers as the veteran continues to weigh his options in free agency. There is speculation the strained relationship between the Lakers and James began with the Russell Westbrook trade in the summer of 2021.

Regardless, both sides have seemingly moved on.

James and his camp have been extremely tight-lipped about the looming decision, but the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and the dark horse Golden State Warriors are reportedly the finalists in the highly-touted sweepstakes.

At Fanatics Fest, James also revealed he’ll make a decision soon.

Only time will tell where he’ll land next.

The Dallas Mavericks had an early game Thursday, taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Summer League play at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Arena. Dallas grabbed their second win of the summer, 97-87 after pulling away in the third quarter. Here are a few stats to know from what proved to be a fun game.

!!: Dunks off lobs

Ok, “!!” is not an actual number, but it was the best representation of the lob show Dallas put on throughout the game, without having the official stat count at the time of publication. Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu led the way with a seemingly endless supply of highlight reel slams, many of which came on the receiving end of beautiful lobs. One such lob came from just inside half court and he finished the job while falling out of bounds with most of his body behind the backboard.

13: Mavericks’ made 3-pointers

Along with the plentiful dunks this game, the Mavericks also rained in three-pointers at will. The left corner in the first half was a particularly lethal weapon for Dallas. John Poulakidas found his stroke after looking a bit rusty in the first three games, ending the night shooting 5-for-12 from deep. The Thunder eventually caught up with Dallas in this department, but it was too little too late.

14: Sergio De Larrea Assists

De Larrea has looked better every game. His shot was way off (1-for-8 overall), but the rest of his game looked significantly more comfortable than it did going back to the start of Summer League. His handle was better (three turnovers) and his court vision was on display as he found teammates again and again.

Coming into Thursday’s game, he was averaging seven assists per game in Summer League and outdid himself in this one by doubling that number up. He ended the afternoon just three assists shy of the Summer League single-game record (17), which is … wow.

10: Total number of blocked shots

Dallas turned away shots time and again with a long and rangy lineup throughout the game. Led by Jorge Diaz-Graham (three), the Mavericks had six players (of nine that played) record at least one block.

Overall, Dallas basically killed it at the rim, from beyond the arc, and defensively against the Thunder. Despite missing Morez Johnson, who again sat with ankle soreness, Dallas put together a great game that was surprisingly fun to watch.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Summer Suns had a successful run. We do not know if they will play more games or not yet, but we do know which players will not be playing regardless.

According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, Phoenix will shut down Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat for the rest of the Summer League.

After a highly successful four games in the Summer League the Suns will shut down Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat. They won't play in any other Summer League games.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 16, 2026

The trio showed us just about everything we needed to see in four games. Maluach was dominant throughout. Peat looked comfortable immediately. Fleming has started slower, but still had some flashes and ended with a bang yesterday.

The Final Numbers

Khaman Maluach: 4 games, 19.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG (2.3 offensive), 1.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG on .532/.400/.684 shooting splits, 2.5 TOV in 27.4 minutes per game

Maluach showed up everything we wanted to see. Physicality. Aggression. Crashing the glass. Contesting shots. Knocking down threes efficiently. He did it all.

Koa Peat: 4 games, 16.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG on .510/.000/.625 shooting splits, 3.0 TOV in 27.2 minutes per game

Peat has looked steady throughout the Summer League. The playmaking flashes combined with his strength and ability to create and absorb contact are impressive. He could wind up being the steal of the draft regardless of whether the three-point jumper develops or not.

Rasheer Fleming: 4 games, 12.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG on .474/.421/.500 shooting splits, 1.8 TOV in 26.7 minutes per game

Fleming had a bit of a slower start than the other two, but went out with a bang after dropping 22 points and 8 rebounds with 4 threes in his SL finale against the Pistons. This environment isn’t really built as much for 3-&-D wings to showcase their value, but he still had some jaw-dropping plays. He’ll be ready to make an impact in the NBA next season.

The take I have from this is to not overreact one way or the other to Summer League. But it sure is a lot sweeter when you see what you want to see from your young prospects.

There could be some positional battles that are greatly expedited this training camp if the momentum carries over.

The Knicks continue their NBA Summer League schedule tonight, facing the Golden State Warriors at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. New York’s young core, including Mohamed Diawara, Pacôme Dadiet, Tyler Nickel, and Dillon Jones, will use the reps to continue their development, while the Warriors are headlined by highly regarded rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Your correspondent is far afield in the wilds of Canada, so enjoy it without me, fans.

Tip-off is 7 pm EST on ESPN2. This is your game thread. This is Golden State of Mind. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, everybody. And go Knicks!

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation filed a defamation lawsuit on July 16 against Wired Magazine over an article published last week that claimed the midtown Manhattan arena used surveillance to track celebrities’ race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

According to the Wired article, published on July 9, celebrities and other dignitaries who have attended home games at Madison Square Garden were assigned "risk" scores, ranging from "low risk" to "DO NOT HOST." The article also alleges the database labeled nearly 100 people as “LGBTQIA." There are nearly 40,000 entries in the “talent” database, each with specific labeling designations.

The lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY Sports and filed in New York State Supreme Court also names Wired contributing editor Noah Shachtman, co-author Maddy Varner, and Wired Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond as defendants and alleges that the article was "unethical and inflammatory." MSG alleges in the lawsuit that Wired and the article's authors continued to promote the piece in the days following publication "without concern for the truth and with the intent to cause maximal public impact."

"Wired combed the dark web, obtained data stolen from MSG by an extortionist hacking group, and cherry-picked fragments of that data to manufacture a false narrative portraying MSG as targeting the LGBTQIA community for discriminatory purposes," the lawsuit reads.

The magazine also reported in April that security staff for New York Knicks owner James Dolan tracked a transgender woman's movements using that surveillance and spying on her for the better part of two years. A class-action lawsuit filed against MSG claims that this private data leak was a direct byproduct of owner Dolan’s surveillance operations after The ShinyHunters collective, a hacking group, released 45 GB worth of data on June 16.

Wired says it stands by its reporting and will "vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit."

"We look forward to continuing our coverage of MSG, and on billionaire James Dolan's use of technology across his entertainment empire," Wired said in a statement. "It's one part of our wider mission and the critical job of journalists, now more than ever: holding power to account."

Madison Square Garden's lawsuit says that the implication that the company maintained a database with a sexual orientation field for exclusionary, discriminatory, security, or risk-based purposes is "a lie" and that Wired constructed a false narrative drawn from a standard customer relationship.

"Defendants knew there was no nefarious “list” of gay celebrities, and Defendants knew that the stolen data contained dozens of fields per customer—including mundane fields such as address, phone number, and dietary restrictions—used for relationship management purposes, not discrimination," the lawsuit says.

In the 40-page lawsuit, MSG is seeking a jury trial, along with compensatory, presumed, special, and punitive damages; a correction or retraction of the false and defamatory statements and implications; and attorney's fees.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Madison Square Garden sues Wired over article alleging celebrity 'risk scores'

The Dallas Mavericks (2-2) controlled Thursday afternoon’ Summer League game agains the Oklahoma City Thunder (0-4) at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Arena, 97-87, and this one had something for every sicko.

Dallas really looked connected and cohesive as the game went further and further along, which is rare to see in a Summer League game. Does it give you hope for the future? Not necessarily, because not all of these players are going to remain with the team longer than a few more days.

But in identifying the real connectors, you can see where Dallas may have found a diamond or two in the rough. Dallas built a 22-point lead in the second and third quarters behind six scorers in double figures, but then gave some of it back in the fourth.

The Thunder put together a late 13-2 run to cut the Summer Mavs’ lead to seven points midway through the fourth, but let’s not pretend like any of that matters. We’re just here for wild projections.

Here are some of the highlights.

Eyes on Larry

THE MAN CAN FLY 🚀 https://t.co/aGTe1pfD18pic.twitter.com/ssE0pdau8i

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 16, 2026

After Monday’s 16-point, 12-assist eyebrow-raiser against the Summer Grizzlies, all MFFL eyes were on Sergio de Larrea to see what he might do next. Just like all three of the Summer Mavs’ previous games, he started slowly from the field, but did a great job of finding open teammates with creative passing.

His lob passing continues to be incredibly impressive. He threw another beauty to second-round pick Tobi Lawal with seven minutes left in the third quarter. He had 11 assists before the third quarter was over, but at that point he was also just 1-of-6 from the field and 0-of-4 from 3-point range.

BIG MAN JAM 👀 pic.twitter.com/FlHUNTtv6U

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 16, 2026

His 12th dime was even prettier than the rest, on a spinning dribble move to Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu as crunch time neared. He threw a 13th to Akobundu-Ehiogu on the baseline with 2:25 left, forcing the broadcast team to remind us all that the NBA Summer League record for assists in one game is 17. He finished with 14 (and nine rebounds), and we are officially in love. He’s making us think ridiculous thoughts — like — is there a universe where, in December, de Larrea is the best guard in this year’s rookie class aside from Darryn Peterson?

We’ve seen enough. He’s got great touch and great feel. The shot will come. Rest, young man.

That finish THOOOO 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/F6hxLC2gI2

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 16, 2026

Seva’s turn

As the sleepy Mavericks offense found its footing early on, Vsevolod “Seva” Ishchenko made some nice plays to keep Dallas afloat. He hit the team’s first bucket of the game on a clever drive to the hoop before finding John Poulakidas on a cross-court pass for a 3-pointer that made it 9-7 Thunder with six minutes left in the first. He may not look 6’8” out there, but he plays like it. He does the things that a 6’8” body needs to do on the basketball court, but he also makes plays like a guard at times.

He’s got a nice game. He found Akobundu-Ehiogu for an incredible highlight alley-oop later in the first quarter. He and de Larrea played off one another well on a pick-and-roll action that provided de Larrea room to throw Akobundu-Ehiogu another of his three first-quarter lob finishes.

Our intrepid correspondent Tyler Edsel posited in his latest post that he didn’t think Ischhenko was ready to be on the NBA roster yet, and that may well be the case. But there’s some there there with Seva. He filled it up in the first for six points, three rebounds and a pair of assists before finishing with 12, seven and a pair of steals for the game.

Dusty May interview

First-year Mavericks head coach Dusty May was interviewed in the second quarter of Thursday’s game on the Amazon Prime broadcast. Here are some of the high points.

On where he’s at with his team at this early juncture:

“I’m still trying to learn our roster and get to know these guys and analyze what they do well. I’ve done a lot more observing than teaching or talking. Hopefully the learning curve will be small because of that.”

On this team’s defensive potential:

“You’re not going to be a championship level team at any level if you’re not playing well on both sides. Obviously, when you have a PG like Kyrie [Irving], we’ll be able to score quickly, but we have a switchable team and a good base of guys.”

On Sergio de Larrea:

“Sergio has been amazing. When you win at the level they won at with Valencia, we knew there was something to him. He’s finding his voice — learning how to lead. When he gets stronger and gets the jump shot right, he’s got a bright future in the NBA.”

On how to best deploy Cooper Flagg:

“Last year [Flagg] played a lot of point, and that expedited his growth. I foresee us playing him anywhere from 1-4. He’s one of those guys who can get 15-20 [points] without running a play for him. He runs the floor, he’s on the offensive glass, he’s competitive. I think he’ll shoot more 3-pointers. We have to get him more space.”

What to make of Akobundu-Ehiogu

Is Akobundu-Ehiogu benefiting from de Larrea’s passing, or is his own athleticism enough to make him worth a look this season? He was at the rim all afternoon once again against the Thunder, shooting 5-for-8 from the field for 12 points and five rebounds in the win.

Kao scored 16 on Monday in a similarly high-flying performance. It will be interesting to see what the Mavericks do with him after a pleasantly surprising Summer League stretch.

To the frustration of many, LeBron James didn’t announce where he was going to play next season at his live recording of the Mind the Game podcast at Fanatics Fest on Thursday afternoon. James did, however, mention in a separate interview with Rich Kleiman that he is inching closer to a decision.

“I won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” James said on Thursday.

LeBron James discusses the family aspect of his decision with Rich Kleiman:

“I have a 22-year-old son who is now a former teammate of mine … which is hilarious” pic.twitter.com/l4X6DRRteN

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2026

More importantly, James detailed the factors that would influence his decision about where to play next. What’s best for his family, especially his 12-year-old daughter, Zhuri, will play a crucial role in what he decides to do.

James detailed that he pulled his daughter aside to tell her that he wouldn’t be playing for the Los Angeles Lakers next season. And because of that, he wouldn’t be home all the time, and wanted her input on the situation as an example of how much the family fit matters.

“The family portion is a big thing too,” James said. “My daughter, my wife, things of that nature. I’m a big family guy. So it’s a lot of things [that factor into this]. People are like, ‘Hurry up and make a goddamn decision Bron.’ It’s not just about the team.

“[There’s] so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now. Not only what best fits me as a player, but what fits me as a person, my happiness, and also my family as well. … The family portion of it is huge to me.”

It’s easy to see these comments and read this as meaning LeBron is going to come back to Cleveland. He still has plenty of ties to this area, and it’s a place his family has a lot of familiarity with. From that perspective, it seems like this is just setting up for a final reunion in Cleveland.

However, LeBron also seemed to indicate that the family may not be going with him to his next destination. If Los Angeles is still the home base, places like Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia aren’t exactly close by. Maybe the Golden State Warriors are more appealing in that situation — even though it seems like they’re currently behind the Cavs in that race.

We’ll see how this all unfolds soon enough. If we trust LeBron at his word, we hopefully won’t have to wait “too much longer” to find out where he’s planning on playing next season.

General manager Rob Pelinka has retooled the Lakers roster this summer, but it appears he’s looking to make two more moves before calling it complete.

It’s common knowledge that the Lakers are targeting free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. The 23-year-old has expressed interest in donning the purple and gold, but Kuminga isn’t willing to take the current Lakers offer.

While Pelinka is working to create an enticing deal for the forward, he’s also looking to add another wing player to the fold.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are targeting free agent wing Matisse Thybulle.

The Lakers have again broadened their search for perimeter defense, league sources say, registering interest this week in free agent Matisse Thybulle.

They have already added Ziaire Williams while also continuing to pursue Jonathan Kuminga.

More NBA: https://t.co/mNpuuR3uFhpic.twitter.com/8kIkm2jULS

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 16, 2026

Thybulle would bring the Lakers the perimeter defense the squad has lacked in recent years. He’s spent the last parts of four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, but has only played in a combined 132 games because of injuries.

It is important to note that Thybulle has played in over 70 games in a single season only once. During the 2025-26 campaign, Thybulle played just 30 games.

Nevertheless, Thybulle is widely recognized as an elite and disruptive defender on the court. Health is the biggest factor in Thybulle’s success as he could very well emerge as the Lakers top perimeter defender.

Thybulle has earned All-Defensive Second Team twice throughout his career.

He also has proven lethal from beyond the arc offensively. Despite a career .349 shooting percentage from downtown, the last two seasons has seen Thybulle drill triples at 44% and 40%, respectively.

The 29-year-old appears to be a great fit for the Lakers, but that would require the team to find additional money to sign Thybulle.

There are several questions surrounding the Lakers roster heading into the upcoming season, but adding Kuminga and Thybulle would certainly put some doubts to rest.

Now, it’s up to Pelinka to cement a championship roster.

The hopes for Toronto to come away with a Summer League championship briefly diminished after their first game but have been holding steady over the last few days. Two teams remain undefeated (with one game left each), four teams clinched a 3-1 record, and six more (including Toronto have the chance to make it 3-1. From there, ranking will be based on point differential. Some matchups are among the top teams though, so those still in the running for a spot will drastically drop before the night is over.

At this point, a few stars have to align, including not only taking home a win tonight, but also setting up a significant point differential. Brooklyn’s (2-1) is 17 at the moment, so it would be tough to overtake them, unless they lose their matchup. The fourth spot would be a bit more manageable, but still hard to tell with so much basketball left to play. 

So far, after the disappointing loss in the first game, the summer squad had followed up with two solid victories, prompted by strong performances from rookie Allen Graves, as well as Seth Lundy (GAME-SEALING BLOCK???) and Tyreke Key. Nate Bittle has had great minutes as a starter, seeing double digits in both points and rebounds and may be working his way into a roster spot. While final roster decisions aren’t clear, this will be everyone’s last chance for a showing that could earn them an NBA contract. Without all of the sophomore players, Toronto is giving lots of court time to the younger guys still hoping to earn a roster spot with them, or someone else by October.

SETH LUNDY GAME-SEALING REJECTION 🚫

His clutch swat caps his 22-point night as Toronto picks up the win at @NBASummerLeague! pic.twitter.com/CIoWsy2tNJ

— NBA (@NBA) July 13, 2026

Miami so far is 1-2 in Summer League, lacking in rebounding and sitting in the middle of the pack in pretty much every statistical category. They don’t turn the ball over much, ranked first among SL teams but their defence is efficient at forcing their opponents to cough up the ball. 

Toronto will have to focus on keeping the ball secure by making good passes and not forcing possessions and giving them up. They’ll also need to be active on the glass and try and earn second chances that way to gain extra possessions. At their best, their defence will force Miami to make tough shots and the Raptors can come away with the rebound.

With any luck, they can follow that game plan to the buzzer and wait to see how other teams do, hoping for that top four spot. 

Tune in on LeaguePass to catch the action at 9pm ET and see if Toronto is able to find a way into the championship game.

late night hoops tonight 🏀

Game 4 tips off at 9:00PM EST pic.twitter.com/m54dqQtYs6

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) July 16, 2026

For the Knicks, winning the title already was tough.

Defending it will be even harder.

“It will be different, for sure,” star Jalen Brunson admitted Thursday at the event WSJ Sports: The Next Sports Economy. “Obviously, for the first eight years I went through disappointment, obviously losing at the end of the season. And now winning, I think it’s an even bigger challenge. Now, it’s a target on your back. Now, players and teams have changed, they’ve gotten better.

“So, how are we going to evolve as a team? How are we going to figure out what’s the next step for us? And that’s going to be a really big, important question coming in the training camp: How are we going to be better? How are we going to literally look at the trophy, know that was last year and then forget about it? And so, it’s going to be a very interesting training camp to see where our mind’s at. But I’m excited for the challenge.”

Brunson captained the Knicks to a thrilling NBA Finals victory over the Spurs, helping them end their 53-year title drought. As challenging as that was, he knows defending that crown will be even tougher, with the league now in an era of parity.

New punitive financial restrictions, like the second apron of the luxury tax, have led to eight different winners in the last eight years. Though the Western Conference is loaded with San Antonio and Oklahoma City at the top, the East has gotten tougher around the Knicks.

For the reigning champs, standing still could mean falling behind. They’ve already lost center Mitchell Robinson, but they can’t afford to lose their edge as well. Between their truncated offseason, and being toasted and feted and told how great they are, that can be a challenge in its own right.

“Absolutely,” Brunson said. “You definitely lose a lot of time — obviously for the right reason; we got it done — to be able to go through the summer and realize, ‘All right, there’s a lot on your plate now.’

“How are you going to remain hungry? How are you going to remain focused? How are you going to push the envelope for you to be better the next time? So, those are all questions that I believe I have the answers for. I feel like I know what I’m doing to push myself. But only time will tell.”

Brunson is a founding member of the JPMorganChase Athlete Council, which helps athletes handle their finances. The All-Star famously took less money in his extension with the Knicks to help them build out their roster.

It paid off. Once they got back to the Eastern Conference finals — where they’d lost the previous year to the Pacers — Brunson said he knew they had a real shot at breaking through. They put those hard-learned lessons to use, and their series of comeback victories against the Spurs in the NBA Finals closed the deal.

“I think once we got to the conference finals — obviously we lost there a season ago — just getting back there, back to where we were, we understand what we did last time and how can we change that,” Brunson said.

“I think once we started to continue to win there, [I knew] we [would] actually have a chance. But it was I think the best part about it: We just kept chipping away the entire season and just kept chipping away, chipping away. You just never knew when things were going to break through. And having that mindset, then once they actually did, it was kind of a sigh of relief.”

Now, Brunson said he’ll enjoy some downtime with his family, recover from surgery on his left wrist and forearm and then turn his eyes toward a title defense — even if it is with Robinson playing for rival Boston.

“First and foremost, I love Mitch. I’m happy for Mitch. I will always love Mitch except those four times we play him,” Brunson said. “But, that’s my brother. I’m super excited for him. It’s a great opportunity for him. And, yeah, I’m happy … except for those four times.”

It’s all of our biggest fear. Could LeBron James duck another return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in favor of the Golden State Warriors?

ESPN’s Shams Charania seems doubtful.

In what has been an endless loop of reporting, Charania provided yet another update on James’ desires for his next team. The latest? James is still favoring a handful of teams over the Warriors.

“[The Warriors] are, to my knowledge, behind other teams such as Miami, Cleveland, and Philadelphia,” Charania said on ESPN today.

This tracks with what we’ve previously heard. It was reported earlier this week that multiple Western Conference execs believe LeBron is headed East. Marc Stein says that many of these execs feel that Cleveland is the ‘scenario to beat’ in chasing LeBron.

That should speak for itself.

Joining the Warriors would be the most controversial thing James could do this summer (in terms of basketball). There is no other team in the association that has been a bigger rival or cost him more titles. Choosing to end his career with the franchise that will be remembered as his greatest foe would be quite the decision.

There’s natural interest in teaming up with Stephen Curry. The two were a dynamic duo in the 2024 Olympic Games and would be finishing their careers with a bang. Yet, that scenario feels like something you’d accept in NBA 2K. Not real life. Most fans outside of California would feel conflicted watching James in a Golden State jersey.

James wouldn’t face much backlash if he joined any other team. He already has a relationship with Miami and there’s relatively zero animosity between him and Philadelphia. Both fan bases would welcome him with open arms, and neutral fans would mostly accept his decision.

Of course, Cleveland is the overwhelming favorite from a narrative perspective. Call me biased — but I don’t see how a final homecoming can be topped by any other scenario. This is the storybook ending that’s been discussed for years.

We won’t know the answer for some time still. Though James recently promised that he wouldn’t leave us hanging much longer. Until then, we can only scroll social media and wait for more updates.

Los Angeles’ crosstown rivalry reignited Tuesday about 300 miles away from their respective arenas.

A potential highlight transition dunk from Adou Thiero turned into a hard foul, deemed reckless enough to be upgraded to a flagrant. Some extra pushing and shoving followed, resulting in technicals.

Thiero and the Summer League Lakers brushed off the mini scuffle and went on to win their fifth straight game, including three in a row to remain undefeated in Las Vegas. The purple and gold’s 36th overall pick from a year ago finished with 13 points, six rebounds, a steal and a block in 27 minutes.

As has been the case all summer, the numbers don’t do justice to the impact of his athletic force on both ends of the floor. With the Lakers roster clearly devoid of athletic wings, it gives way for Thiero to make his case for a real potential spot on the floor.

Even while entering only 25 games last year due to injuries, Thiero has played 100 more minutes than the next-closest player on the Summer League roster. In this summer exhibition environment, experienced second-year players are relied on to lead their teams.

On offense, there’s not much coloring outside the lines. It’s a simple but effective diet of relentless drives to the basket as he’s determined to get downhill with force at any opportunity. Without many playmakers to accompany him, Thiero is relied on as a main creator to manufacture paint touches and kickouts. In Vegas, he’s second on the team in assists.

He’s oscillated between being a screener and operating in the short roll and running actions as the ball handler, as shown below. Watch as he gets a ghost screen from fellow summer standout Cameron Carr. A bump of the shoulder sends his defender flying before he dips into his bag for a hard gather crossover finish at the basket.

These drives and paint touches collapse the defense, creating ample opportunities to be a playmaker. After a few rough games in the California Classic while getting his feet under him, Thiero’s shown much better poise on his drives. Rather than force off-balance shots at the rim, he opted to find teammates for kick-out threes or cutters at the rim.

His downhill force and highlight-dunk finishing ability have teams walling off the paint against him. Watch below as he comes off a screen action in the corner, splits the defense with an under-control spin and flings the pass back out for a wide open 3-pointer.

Where he’s unstoppable is on the break and it’s not hyperbole to say Thiero is the best transition athlete currently on the Lakers. Listed at 6’5, 220 pounds, he walks around with a trampoline to launch from for lobs and thunderous dunks.

Watch below as the Lakers force a turnover and Thiero acts as the trailer in the play. Once he gets momentum going downhill, the seas part and he finishes with a powerful slam.

As with any young player on a team hoping to be in contention, Thiero’s minutes will be determined by his ability to lock in on the defensive end. Projecting him into the Lakers’ rotation, his potential as a predator on defense is an enticing fit.

His five steals in Vegas leads the team, picking players from behind with great hands and turnovers with ball pressure. Offensive players have even chosen to avoid attacking him, moving the ball or calling for a screen to switch to a different defender.

The Arkansas product has used his athletic powers to recover for some impressive chase-down blocks. Watch below as the offensive player hears footsteps and gets engulfed at the apex of his jump. Thiero goes up with two hands, prepared for the takeaway on either side.

His three blocks in Vegas are second behind center Anton Watson.

Thiero is still a very raw prospect in many aspects, evidenced by his refusal to take any shot outside the paint. The drives toe the line between force and recklessness, showing a clear need for development in reading the defense and improved spatial awareness. Athletic advantages won’t be as pronounced against NBA competition, and, as with most young players, his defensive focus on and off the ball can fade in interest.

With all that being said, the Lakers are starved for uber-athletic wings to pair around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, as proven by reports of interest in potentially adding Jonathan Kuminga and signing Ziaire Williams to a minimum contract.

Barring a carryover of health issues from last season, Thiero’s two-way athletic profile provides a hopeful road map to a run at minutes next season in year two.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu.

Well, that was fun! The Nets absolutely dominated on Tuesday with a 115-83 victory against the Kings. It was arguably the best we’ve seen the Flatbush Five play together, and certainly the best Brooklyn has played this summer. And that’s saying something.

They’ll move onto face the Houston Rockets in their final pool play match of Las Vegas NBA Summer League. There are 12 teams competing 12 for four semifinal spots, meaning the might or might not be the last game for another 3+ months. Enjoy!

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📺 Watch

• Watch: YES Network, Gotham Sports, ESPNU
• Who: Nets vs. Rockets
• When: Tip after 4:30 PM

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