Category: NBA

For those paying particularly close attention to the Lakers during the LeBron James era, there was a clear inflection point.

Riding high after a title in 2020 and feeling hard done by due to injuries the following season, the Lakers front office and LeBron had a harmonious relationship. Looking for an offseason shakeup, the franchise offered up two trades to LeBron: one for Buddy Hield and one for Russell Westbrook.

Fans know how things played out from there and it took the team many years to recover from acquiring Westbrook. When a deal plays out that disastrously, multiple figures are to blame.

Rob Pelinka, now President of Basketball Operations, deserves a lion’s share of the blame, particularly for even offering up the decision to a player on the team. But LeBron doesn’t escape unscathed, either, as he did offer his input.

As it turns out, that moment fractured the relationship between LeBron and the front office so severely that it never recovered, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported in his article on Thursday.

There was more of a disconnect between James and the organization, sources said, one that started during the doomed 2021-22 season following the Russell Westbrook trade and never fully recovered.

The shift in how the two sides collaborated after that move was evident. Originally, Pelinka freely shared that he consulted with LeBron and Anthony Davis on roster moves. After the Russ trade, the same synergy didn’t exist.

LeBron, in a calculated move, distanced himself from the front office and any decision-making that happened from that point forward. Similarly, Pelinka said he was the sole decision-maker as well.

That the relationship between the two sides never recovered from that moment isn’t particularly surprising. It’s a cloud that will hang over the post-title tenure for LeBron and Pelinka. It was a huge mistake that backfired in the worst way possible.

Even if the Lakers had modest success after that, it’s a defining moment in both their times with the Lakers and one that, understandably, changed the dynamics between the player and franchise.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Free agency is upon us and the Dallas Mavericks have begun making moves, adding Santi Aldama to the roster on Wednesday night with the possible addition of Marcus Sasser forthcoming. As the roster begins to take shape, we are now hearing reports that the coaching staff is as well.

Marc Stein is now reporting that Willie Green will be joining the ranks as a top assistant to Dusty May.

The Mavericks, I’m told, are expected to secure former Pelicans coach Willie Green as a top assistant for Dusty May’s first NBA coaching staff.

The Warriors hoped to bring him back for a second stint on Steve Kerr’s staff but May’s jump to the NBA gave Green two strong options. https://t.co/mt2oGpsYQ2pic.twitter.com/7GxtzxT0ZY

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2026

After putting together a 12-year playing career through 2015, Green got his first coaching stint with the Golden State Warriors as an assistant in 2018. He rode that first job on the sidelines all the way to the NBA Finals where the Warriors came up short, then moved over to the Phoenix Sun as an assistant for two years before becoming the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. He held that position up until this past season when he was dismissed in mid-November after a dismal 2-10 start to the season. As a head coach, Green has a win-loss record of 150-190. The .441 winning percentage may not be the most stellar number, but considering the lengthy injury absences to key players, some of that is understandable. Green took the Pelicans to the Playoffs on two occasions, going 2-8 overall including a sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had two winning seasons over the five total seasons he was at the helm.

Although he didn’t have the most successful run in New Orleans, Green is generally considered to be a defensive-minded, player-friendly coach who could be a nice fit next to May. His ability to make genuine connections with players could serve both him and the team well, as the Mavericks build around young star Cooper Flagg, newly drafted Morez Johnson, Jr. and a developing roster that is likely to get younger. Nothing is official yet, and the Golden State Warriors are rumored to be in the mix for his services, but it seems a strong possibility he will be in Dallas alongside May.

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

Mike Gansey isn’t done yet.

The Sixers have agreed to terms with free-agent Anferenee Simons, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal is for two years and $12.3 million.

Just in: Free agent guard Anfernee Simons has agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, with a player option in second season, sources tell ESPN. Simons chose the 76ers over other suitors believing his fit is perfect with the revamped 76ers roster. pic.twitter.com/RUbhPzxxxp

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026

If Simons has any type of success in Philadelphia, he’ll likely turn down that player option and elect free agency. While we don’t know for sure, it seems like Simons’ contract will take up the rest of the Sixers’ tax-payer mid-level exception. The bulk of that is going to Dean Wade. This also makes it likely that Ariel Hukporti’s slightly-above-minimum deal will be part of the team’s bi-annual exception.

One of the Sixers’ greatest weaknesses last season was their bench. They lacked scoring punch as Quentin Grimes struggled for much of the second half of the season and postseason. Simons, 27, is a terrific scorer and shooter. Splitting last season between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, Simons averaged 14.3 points in 24.9 minutes per game. He hit 38.5% of his threes on an extremely healthy volume, attempting nearly 10 triples per 36 minutes.

That shooting becomes especially important after the Jaylen Brown trade. Say what you want about Paul George, but his elite three-point shooting was much needed on a team that lacked outside shooters. This will also allow rookie Labaron Philon Jr. to come along slowly and not be forced into big minutes for a team who is suddenly all-in.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Utah Jazz have reportedly agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Lakers in which the Lakers will get Walker Kessler on a brand-new four-year, $130m deal with a player option after year three. In return, the Jazz will receive two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 as well as two pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, sources tell ESPN. Kessler will sign a massive four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/rt8b17fEQZ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026

Walker Kessler is a good young player with plenty of room to improve. This move undoubtedly makes the Utah Jazz a worse team in 2026-27. Still, it is hard to imagine a more perfect center to start next to Jaren Jackson Jr. than Walker Kessler. So why do the Jazz make this move right now? Are they going to waste Jaren and Lauri together? Let’s dive in.

The Jazz are finally operating as if they are an actual NBA team competing to get better and win a championship. For many years during the dark ages of rebuilding and acquiring talent, decisions like this didn’t really matter nearly as much because the Jazz weren’t really trying to win basketball games. Now that the Jazz have acquired the talent they tanked for so long to obtain, like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Darryn Peterson to join guys like Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, and Keyonte George, they are tasked with evaluating which players and contracts best open the biggest window into contention possible.

Let’s be honest: with or without Walker Kessler, the Jazz probably weren’t beating the Thunder or Spurs in a seven-game series next season. The future is bright, but openly acknowledging that is okay. Both teams have the luxury of elite, all-NBA-level talent on rookie-scale, team-friendly contracts. The Jazz simply do not possess that same level of flexibility.

So… What does any of that have to do with the Jazz not bringing Walker Kessler back? Bringing back Walker Kessler at that number, quite frankly, would have forced the Jazz into a difficult space roster-building-wise. I still think the Jazz were willing to do it because they are a better team with Walker Kessler than they are without him, but that extension makes it very difficult to extend Keyonte George and keep a guy like Lauri Markkanen. But when a desperate Lakers team offers two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, you don’t overthink it. You pick your jaw up from the floor, and you make that deal without hesitation. Those picks are so far into the future that there is no telling what the Lakers roster could look like at that point.

Draft picks in the NBA are currency. Draft picks are the means by which big-time deals get done. I do not anticipate that the Utah Jazz made that deal for Walker Kessler with the expectation of actually making the draft selections in 2031 and 2033. By making that deal, the Jazz have unlocked the assets to pursue virtually any trade they want. They also preserve the financial flexibility to keep Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen together for longer if they choose. Now, the Jazz window opens and overlaps just as the two top dogs in the Western Conference lose flexibility. Victor Wembanyama is in the last year of his rookie contract, and will surely get a massive payday from the Spurs. Stephon Castle is also likely to be paid handsomely within the next two years when his rookie contract ends. The Oklahoma City Thunder are already starting to feel the effects of decreased salary flexibility, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to make $20m more following the 2026-27 season. Can you see where this is headed for Utah?

The Jazz undoubtedly are a worse basketball team today than they were yesterday. I still expect them to compete for a playoff spot in 2026-27, but it isn’t as sure as it would have been had we retained Walker Kessler. That said, it is hard not to be ecstatic about the flexibility the Jazz now have with both their salary cap and draft picks. The Jazz took a small step back in the short term to put themselves in line to take a giant step forward, right as their fellow Western Conference giants are having to come back to the pack a little bit themselves.

It is hard not to be excited as a Jazz fan right now… The Jazz may have taken a small step backward today, but they are positioned to take a much larger step forward in the not-so-distant future. Our ceiling has never been higher.

LeBron James is searching for his next NBA team and the highly-anticipated decision could have implications for his son, Bronny James.

James has reportedly already narrowed down his search to two finalists, but he won’t rush into anything. The four-time NBA champion informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would not return for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday.

James seemingly calculated the timing of his announcement to the organization as Bronny’s $2.3 million contract with the Lakers became fully guaranteed the day before, making the third-year guard eligible to be traded.

Now, it appears James’ new destination could also signal the end of Bronny’s tenure with the Lakers. NBA insider Dave McMenamin reported a subsequent move could be made with Bronny once James joins a team.

“LeBron has spoken at length about how meaningful it has been to be teammates with his son, and those feelings only grew late last season when they shared the court in competitive games.

“It’s easy to think the James family would want that connection to continue,” McMenamin writes.

If Bronny doesn’t leave LA, he would continue to develop under head coach JJ Redick and glean from the Lakers’ star-studded trio in Luka Doncic, Walker Kessler and Austin Reaves.

James and Bronny became the first-father son duo to play together in an NBA game, first sharing the court as Lakers teammates in October 2024. The pair also became the first father-son pair to take the court in an NBA playoff game.

Bronny has always been evaluated under the microscope of being James’ son, which may be a factor into whether he stays under the bright lights of Hollywood or joins his father via trade.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Bill Simmons wasn’t coherent. He’d just woken up from anesthesia. 

But when his wife picked him up from his colonoscopy Wednesday, she revealed news to her husband that he couldn’t believe: Jaylen Brown was traded to the 76ers for a package including Paul George. 

“I think I’m dead. I think I died. The anesthesia killed me,” Simmons said on his self-named podcast Thursday of what he said in the moment. 

“I was just trying to process it. … it’s like I had the head injured.” 

Bill Simmons describes hearing about the Jaylen Brown trade from his wife picking him up from a colonoscopy:

“I think I’m dead. The anesthesia killed me. Are there more first round picks?

When this trade happened I had a camera in my ass, and I had Paul George rammed up my ass” pic.twitter.com/sSZLVujEga

— The r/BillSimmons Podcast (@rBillSimmonsPod) July 2, 2026

Simmons’ wife told him their daughter, a major Brown fan, was extremely upset due to the trade. 

The Ringer founder was stumbling out of the hospital when the trade happened Wednesday afternoon.

“When this trade happened, I had a camera up my ass, and I had a Paul George rammed up my ass. That’s how I’m going to remember July 1, 2026,” Simmons said of his reaction to the trade. 

After spending 10 years with the Celtics, Brown was traded to the 76ers on Wednesday for George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. 

The first-rounders are for 2028 and 2031, while the second-rounders are for 2028 and 2030.

The Celtics’ decision to move on from Brown comes shortly after he was rumored to be the centerpiece in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. 

Antetokounmpo ultimately went to the Heat, but Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens still remained non-committal on Brown’s future with the team. 

ESPN insider Shams Charania also revealed that the Celtics were asking for at least four first-round picks in a Brown trade, but that never materialized. 

During a decade with the Celtics, Brown left no stone untouched, winning Finals MVP in 2024 and averaging more than 20 points per game every year since the 2019-20 season. 

George will have major shoes to fill this upcoming season after averaging 17.3 points per game with the 76ers last year.

The NBA is looking to speed up the flow of the game, and is tentatively planning to take a page out of the NBA G-League’s book to make it happen. The NBA made an announcement on Thursday that it would test out the “one free throw rule” during the 2026 Summer League, gauging whether or not it should become a staple of the NBA.

This might sound extremely confusing at first glance, so let’s break down how this would work. During the passage of a normal game (i.e. not in the final two minutes or overtime) all free-throw opportunities would be condensed into one shot, awarding points equal to the number of shots previously attempted in the past. So, a basic foul on a missed shot attempt would reward one free throw worth two points. If a player was driving, getting the bucket and the foul (the And-1), then it would result in one shot worth one point. If a player was fouled in the act of attempting a three, then they would receive one shot worth three points.

It’s that final element which is most fascinating, because it creates a significant advantage for elite shooters from beyond the arc who are also fantastic free-throw shooters. For example, the rule effectively does nothing to someone like Steph Curry, who shot 39.3% from three and 92.3% from the free-throw line last season, but it could have a big effect on someone like Anthony Edwards, who shot 39.9% from three and 79.6% on free throws.

While it’s certainly unlikely that we’re going to see some mammoth shift in fouling because of this, having an all-or-nothing approach to free throws is fascinating, because it will add significant pressure on players who already aren’t the best shooters from the charity stripe.

This isn’t the only change being proposed to NBA rules, because the other comes from innovations to the basketball itself.

The connected basketball will be tested at the upcoming NBA summer leagues.

The basketball contains an embedded sensor that detects contact with the ball. The sensor does not materially affect the ball’s weight, feel or playability.

Data collected from the ball will support… pic.twitter.com/VqGMpIuC6j

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 2, 2026

Adding more technology here isn’t a bad thing and should eliminate some bad calls in the process. It seems like a win-win, so long as the technology works.

It didn’t take long for the Phoenix Suns to find a replacement for sharpshooter Grayson Allen, whom they dealt to the Charlotte Hornets to acquire power forward Miles Bridges. In the first hours of NBA Free Agency, the team agreed to a two-year $13 million deal with sharpshooter Luke Kennard, who is set to fill the bench role that Allen gave the Suns the past few seasons.

When they were at Duke together, here’s how the two teams’ games compare to each other.

---

Attributes/Intangibles

Grayson Allen

Height: 6’3”

Age: 30

Weight: 198 pounds

Contract: Going into the third year of a 4-year $70 million contract he signed back in 2024

Years in the NBA: 8

Games played: 454

Luke Kennard

Height: 6’5”

Age: 30

Weight: 205 pounds

Contract: Just signed a two-year, $13 million deal

Years in the NBA: 9

Games played: 538

Some extra tidbits

Despite Allen being the older player, Kennard is the one who’s been in the league longer. Allen played four years at Duke, while Kennard spent just two seasons there. Kennard has played roughly a full season more of games and 10 more playoff games, but Allen has one more playoff appearance after making them in five out of his last six seasons.

Career Averages

Grayson Allen

Points per game: 11.2

Rebounds per game: 3

Assists per game: 2.2

Shooting Splits (FG/3PT/FT): 44.3/40.3/85.7 shooting splits

Last season’s averages: 16.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on 40.3/34.9/85.7 shooting splits in 51 games played with the Phoenix Suns.

Luke Kennard

Points per game: 9.6

Rebounds per game: 2.8

Assists per game: 2.8

Shooting Splits (FG/3PT/FT): 46.6/44.2/88.5 shooting splits

Last season’s averages: 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 53.3/47.8/91.3 shooting splits in 78 total games with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers.

Some extra tidbits

Allen had his best season last year, but lower-body injuries required him to miss 31 games. Allen has typically played more minutes with his teams than Kennard has, and scores slightly less efficiently. Both take more threes than twos. Kennard has never started more than 25 games in a season, while Allen has played the role of reserve and starter almost evenly throughout his career. He started in 74 games his first season in Phoenix, only seven the next, and in 53% of his games during the 2025-2026 campaign.

Playstyles

Grayson Allen

A shooter mostly to start his career, Allen has developed his playmaking and passing abilities in recent seasons. He had his two highest assist seasons with Phoenix, and when Bradley Beal and Devin Booker endured injuries in the 2023-2024 campaign, he was thrust into numerous ball-handling and point guard duties. In February of 2024, when Booker and Beal missed time, Allen averaged 4.1 assists per game and had a career-best 14-assist game against the Utah Jazz, playing point guard.

This past season, taking the most shots of his career (he took 13.1 per game, his second-most is 9.1), Allen’s efficiency dipped as he became more of a volume scorer and someone Phoenix relied on to create offense. He got to the line more than he ever has per game, which coincided with more shot attempts and turnovers. Additionally, he’s become more of a defensive playmaker, diving for loose balls, and was second on the team in steals per game last year.

Luke Kennard

For the entirety of his career, Kennard has been a marksman. He holds the highest three-point percentage out of any active player, including the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made, Steph Curry.

Playing alongside dynamic playmakers such as Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Ja Morant, he’s at his best when he’s being set up for shots, which is why one of the best games of his career came in Games 1 and 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs this year against the Houston Rockets when he scored 27 points and 23 points respectively as James was looking for him to find open shooters.

Unlike Allen, Kennard hasn’t been thrust into a main scoring role recently. He hasn’t taken more than 10 shots per game or averaged more than 26 minutes a game since his third season, and his role in Phoenix projects to be no different.

---

While the Phoenix Suns are getting a cheaper, arguably better shooter, Luke Kennard is not the offensive nor defensive playmaker that Grayson Allen has become, but they filled a hole that they created when they acquired Miles Bridges.

The Los Angeles Lakers have completely revamped the roster ahead of the 2026-27 season, headlining the offseason by signing center Walker Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal.

Kessler, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Utah Jazz, turned down a five-year, $140 million contract extension from the organization. Instead, the 24-year-old chose to join the Lakers on a more lucrative contract.

But is that really the case?

As a state, Utah has a flat individual state income tax rate of 4.45%, meaning there are no income brackets or top marginal rates. Because it’s a flat tax, all taxable income is taxed at the same rate regardless of the total amount and the state does not have any additional local income taxes.

By comparison, California’s notorious top state income tax rate reaches 13.3%; the highest in the nation. The actual rate is 12.3%, but the state also imposes a 1% surcharge for mental health services as well. Add in the 1.2% State Disability Insurance tax California requires everyone to pay, and Kessler is expected to lose 14.5% of his paycheck to California taxes.

Kessler accepted Los Angeles’ four-year, $130 million contract over the five-year, $140 million offered by the Jazz. While many within the league believe the Lakers massively overpaid a player who has yet to make an All-Star or All-NBA team — his only accolade is being named first-team all-rookie — it turns our Kessler’s actual take home will be less than what he would’ve received in Utah.

Kessler’s AAV (average annual value) in Los Angeles will be $32.5 million, which means he’ll lose $4.7 million in taxes in California, making his take home amount $27.8 million per season. Over the course of his four-year contract, Kessler is expected to lose $18.8 million and bring home $111.2 million.

If Kessler had stayed in Utah on that deal, his AAV would’ve been $28 million per season. He would’ve lost $1.3 million in taxes every season, making his take home amount $26.7 million. Over the course of his five-year contract, Kessler was expected to lose $6.5 million and bring home $133.5 million.

That means the price of playing alongside Luka Dončić is going to cost Kessler $22.3 million over the course of his contract.

This would directly conflict with reports that Kessler rejected the Jazz’s offer because he wanted more money. There were, however, other reports that the center was frustrated with Utah and the handling of his contract.

The strained relationship likely opened the door for the Lakers to trade for Kessler and ultimately sign him to the four-year deal. This summer marks a new era for the purple and gold.

Earlier this week, LeBron James informed the Lakers he would not return for the 2026–27 season, officially ending his tenure with the team after eight seasons.

Now, the Lakers are embarking on the next stage of the organization with Dončić, Austin Reaves and Kessler at the forefront.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Summer League has become a particularly special time of year for Nets fans over the past two seasons. Last summer, Brooklyn’s 2025 No. 8 pick, Egor Dёmin, headlined a roster packed with rookies. This year, No. 6 overall pick Mikel Brown Jr. leads a squad with even more young pieces to get excited about.

The action kicks off against Sacramento and Darius Acuff Jr., whom the Nets passed on in the lottery. It’s a matchup that’s already fueling heavy debate across sports talk shows. It’s all in fun and they’re all exhibition games. Enjoy!

---

Full Schedule & TV Info

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	Broadcast / Streaming Platform
Sat, July 4	Sacramento vs. Brooklyn	5:00 PM	Gotham Sports App
Sun, July 5	Milwaukee vs. Brooklyn	3:00 PM	Gotham Sports App
Mon, July 6	Golden State vs. Brooklyn	8:00 PM	Gotham Sports App
Fri, July 10	New York vs. Brooklyn	6:00 PM	Gotham Sports App
Sat, July 11	Atlanta vs. Brooklyn	8:00 PM	Gotham Sports App
Tue, July 14	Sacramento vs. Brooklyn	6:00 PM	YES Network & Gotham Sports App
Thu, July 16	Houston vs. Brooklyn	4:30 PM	YES Network & Gotham Sports App

Full Roster

#	NAME	POS	HT	WT	DOB	COLLEGE/PRIOR	EXP
34	Tyler Bilodeau	F	6’7”	227	04/17/04	UCLA	R
42	Duke Brennan	C	6’9”	259	04/06/03	Villanova	R
0	Mikel Brown Jr.	G	6’4”	190	04/03/06	Louisville	R
33	Dion Brown	G	6’3”	180	05/26/03	Saint Louis	R
44	Dain Dainja	F	6’9”	255	07/16/02	Sioux Falls Skyforce	R
8	Egor Dёmin	G	6’9”	212	03/03/06	Brooklyn Nets	1
12	Ben Humrichous	F	6’7”	227	07/28/02	Illinois	R
31	Chaney Johnson	F/C	6’7”	240	06/20/02	Brooklyn Nets	1
26	Dwight Murray Jr.	G	6’0”	181	01/31/00	College Park Skyhawks	R
16	Grant Nelson	F/C	6’11”	230	03/18/02	Brooklyn Nets	1
4	Drake Powell	G	6’6”	211	09/08/05	Brooklyn Nets	1
55	Hunter Sallis	G	6’4”	187	03/26/03	San Diego Clippers	1
77	Ben Saraf	G	6’6”	210	04/14/06	Brooklyn Nets	1
10	Aaron Scott	F	6’7”	200	07/11/03	Maine Celtics	R
7	John Ukomadu	F	6’5”	208	10/30/01	Motor City Cruise	R
2	Danny Wolf	F	6’11”	260	05/05/04	Brooklyn Nets	1

Drake Powell missed last year’s Summer League so he’ll be making his debut in this area. On the flip, Nolan Traore is out after the Nets announced the Frenchman had a scope on his knee.

Since I’ve had the pleasure of covering games and being around the team for this illustrious blog, I’ve felt proud in my ability to divorce myself from the fandom of the team I grew up with. It’s been easier than I thought it would be to leave those feelings at the door, and that’s only gotten easier over the course of five seasons.

The Sixers trading for Jaylen Brown somehow invoked an extremely negative response that can only be attributed to an irrational fan. The more time that’s passed since Shams Charania broke the news, I’ve come back to Earth a bit, but the vibes of this trade reeks to me in a way I haven’t been able to get over.

Let’s start with why this thought process feels irrational. Brown is a much better basketball player than Paul George at this stage of their careers. That’s before even factoring in George having one of the least appetizing contracts in the league.

Brown solves the most immediate issue for the Sixers’ roster. He isn’t just a star that can carry the team through the slog of an 82-game season, but he’s proved to be one of the most durable stars in doing so. It’s been flat out difficult to parse through the draft compensation the Sixers are sending to Boston in this deal, but the protections are a lot better than just giving the 2028 LA Clippers unprotected pick to the Celtics.

So, why don’t I like this trade?

The biggest reason might be straight up cowardice. The Sixers have had transactions where it’s looked like they’ve pulled one over on the Celtics, only for it to turn into an abject disaster. Stealing Al Horford away killed a season of Joel Embiid’s prime, and nearly cost the Sixers their shot at VJ Edgecombe in the process of unloading his contract.

Markelle Fultz was a slam dunk No. 1 overall pick in a loaded draft class, and the Sixers only had to cough up one extra middle-of-the-first-round pick to get him. Nine years later, Fultz’s NBA career looks over while Jayson Tatum racks up All-NBA team appearance after appearance.

Now, the Sixers have acquired Brown when his trade value was reportedly reaching a low point. It’s honestly great process for Mike Gansey and company to jump on this opportunity, but the fact that it’s a deal with the Celtics has me waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can’t help but feel the Celtics are cooking up something diabolical for next summer using George’s expiring contract, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

A big reason for this feeling is the fact that it was the Sixers that caused this Celtics tailspin in the first place. Their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit had Brad Stevens saying the team needs major changes while Brown was rushing to Twitch to defend his performance in that series. Now it feels harder to laugh at the situation with Brown a big part of this Sixers roster.

If it was any other team that made this trade with the Celtics, my gut reaction would probably be that they got fleeced, but I can’t get this boogeyman feeling out of my head. It’s exacerbated my concerns about Brown as a star-level player, also to an irrational degree.

For as bad as George’s contract is, he looked really good in that Boston series. The caveat that he had much less of a burden to carry is necessary, but George outplaying Brown for prolonged stretches is a big reason why the Sixers pulled off that comeback.

Speaking of contracts, another thing that gave me pause was the idea of giving Brown an extension. George may be one of the most overpaid players in the league, but that deal comes off the books in two years. Even being a younger, better player, Brown’s current contract is looked at as a team-building constraint by many under this current CBA. It sucks for Brown and many other players of his caliber, but the maximum contracts are harder and harder to justify giving out to a non-top-five player in the league.

That’s harsh to a guy like Brown, who is a perennial All-NBA candidate himself. To slow things down a little, Brown is under contract through the 2028-29 season. The Sixers don’t need to be in any rush to hand him a new deal. Whether they do so will have a big impact on if I still feel this negatively about this trade.

Your appetite for this trade probably varies a lot on what you think the Sixers timeline is or should be. I’m personally of the mind that their best path forward is waiting for VJ Edgecombe to age into his prime and wait for bad money to come off the books.

Because I prefer the longer-term approach, this trade reminds me a lot of the Sixers trade for Jimmy Butler in 2018 — in good ways and bad. That trade drastically accelerated the windows of Embiid and Ben Simmons, throwing them into the fires of immediate title contention in just their second trip to the playoffs. At the same time, Butler fit so well with Embiid they nearly beat the team that would eventually win the Finals that year.

With Tyrese Maxey currently in his prime, this Sixers team might be better equipped to absorb a star like Brown and go for it again. If Embiid is correct in the confidence he had in his left knee after this past season ended, they’ll really be cooking with gas.

Embiid’s health will always be a huge if though, too uncertain for me to make any big short-term risks at the moment. I’m probably overthinking this. Even as each hour since the trade has been broken, I feel I’ve come back to Earth on this more and more. Besides, the only people who seem to dislike this trade more than me are Celtics fans.

While the Lakers have addressed their strongest need by reportedly trading for Walker Kessler, they still have gaps to fill in their roster.

Specifically, at the wing position. As currently constructed, the team lacks wings and needs more perimeter defense. Many players are already off the board, but there are still some quality wings on the market.

In a Wednesday night report, Dan Woike of The Athletic mentioned Jonathan Kuminga as a player the Lakers could acquire this offseason.

The team, according to league sources who were granted anonymity to freely discuss the Lakers’ offseason moves, is still seeking a young wing to help its perimeter defense. A high-upside swing receiving significant consideration, per league sources, is former Golden State Warrior and Atlanta Hawk Jonathan Kuminga, whose $24.3 million team option was recently declined by Atlanta.

The Lakers reportedly called the Warriors about Kuminga last offseason, so it’s no surprise they are still interested in his talent. Kuminga is an example of how quickly free agency can change.

The Hawks declining his team option was a surprise, and it doesn’t appear that Atlanta wants to agree to a smaller deal. So, he’s now one of the most intriguing unrestricted free agents.

Kuminga is a player with a ton of potential. So far, it hasn’t materialized into him becoming the best version of himself. His saga with the Warriors was exhausting, and when he got his fresh start in Atlanta, they clearly didn’t see enough to want to retain him.

Still, he’s a young wing and in need of some redemption. If he comes to the Lakers and has a breakout season, it could alter the trajectory of his career.

Besides his respectable defense, Kuminga is an all-around solid player. Last year, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. That level of production is hard to find in unrestricted free agency.

As usual, this will come down to money.

The Lakers have reportedly spent a ton by trading for Kessler and adding Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili. However, if they can agree on terms, Kuminga would be a great pickup.

The Lakers need exactly what he can provide, and playing well here could lead to a bigger payday in the future. Malik Monk and Dorian Finney-Smith followed this path to success, and Kuminga could do the same if he so chooses.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Boston Celtics trading former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers dramatically impacted NBA Finals odds at sportsbooks and NBA prediction market prices.

Key Takeaways

• The 76ers are fifth in odds to win the NBA Finals at BetMGM.
  
  
• Kalshi and Polymarket bumped the 76ers from 1% chance of winning the title to as high as 6%.
  
  
• Reports suggest Brown wore out his welcome in Boston.

Brown, who spent his first 10 years in Boston was traded for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-rounders Wednesday.

BetMGM shared with Covers that the 76ers were only +6,600 (1.5% implied chance) to win the Finals before the trade. They vaulted to +2,000 (4.8% chance), which is fifth on the board.

BetMGM also noted 35% of bets and 40% of money wagered in the NBA Finals futures market -  both highest amounts - were on the 76ers. That represented roughly a 13-hour period from approximately 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday through 7 a.m. on Thursday.

.@sixers odds to win NBA Championship at @BetMGM

Before Jaylen Brown trade: +6600

After: +2000 ⬆️

40% of money (most) is on 76ers to win the NBA title since the trade pic.twitter.com/IKcen9N6MP

— BetMGM News (@BetMGMNews) July 2, 2026

A similar trend emerged in the Eastern Conference futures market. The Sixers moved from +2,000 (4.8% chance) to win the conference pre-trade to +700 (12.5% chance), drawing 54% of bets and 68% of the handle during the period after the trade was reported.

The Celtics did not enjoy the same surge in NBA championship odds. They fell from +700 (12.5% chance), the third-shortest amount and shortest in the East to +1,400 (6.7% chance). They also lengthened from +260 (27.8% chance) to +450 (18.2% chance) to win the conference.

The Sixers now have the second-largest share of tickets to win the title (8.8%), only behind the Golden State Warriors (15.7%). They’re also third in handle (9.4%), trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder (32%) and Warriors (12.5%).

Prediction markets adjust to trade

Just like sportsbooks, NBA prediction markets underwent significant changes after the Brown trade was reported.

Market data from Polymarket shows the Sixers jumped from 1.1% to 5.7% by Thursday morning, peaking as high as 6%. The Celtics dropped from 8% to 6%. 

The Thunder (21%) and San Antonio Spurs (17%) are the obvious market leaders, followed by the defending champion New York Knicks (11%). The Celtics are still fourth, although the Sixers and Miami Heat (5.8%) are just behind.

Kalshi’s markets went through a similar adjustment. The Sixers went from 1% to 6% by 8 a.m. on Thursday, although they dropped back down to 4% during the two ensuing hours.

Kalshi also dropped the Celtics from 10% to 7%, which, like Polymarket, is fourth on the board.

The 2027 Finals are still about a year away, but Kalshi and Polymarket already reported approximately $10.5 million in total combined trades in their next champion markets.

Rivalry renewed

The Brown trade will add another chapter to the Celtics-76ers rivalry. The two teams will meet the customary four times during the regular season.

The 76ers recovered from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last year. Brown went on a livestream the following day and said Sixers star center Joel Embiid was a flopper.

"Flopping has ruined our game."

Now Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid are teammates 👀

(via fchwpo/Twitch) pic.twitter.com/ctIl1dmzwJ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2026

Sources told The Herd's Colin Cowherd that Brown has a “disease” which made him think he was always the smartest in the room, leading to strained relationships in Boston.

NBA sources believe Jaylen Brown thinks he’s the smartest person in the room, per @colincowherd

“I had two NBA sources … two people in the league, one an executive, one a scout, say that Jaylen Brown has — it’s a disease. He suddenly thinks he’s the smartest guy in every room… pic.twitter.com/aBhgNSfXiF

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 2, 2026

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.