Category: NBA

The Lakers have added a wing to their team by reportedly signing Ziaire Williams, but they continue to look for more depth at the position.

Jonathan Kuminga has been linked to them for weeks now, but he remains a free agent. With the summer continuing and a need for more wings remaining, the Lakers are now also reportedly interested in Matisse Thybulle.

As a defensive-minded wing, Thybulle would be a good pickup for the Lakers. As currently constructed, LA’s perimeter defense appears to be a weakness, and Thybulle can help address it. He has made All-Defensive Second Team twice in his career and remains a solid defender.

Last year Thybulle put up modest numbers with the Blazers. He averaged 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, so don’t expect massive production from him if he joins the purple and gold.

However, he is a pretty good outside shooter. Thybulle shot 39.8% from 3-point range last season. And on a Luka Dončić-led team, having a defensive wing who can knock down open threes is ideal.

It’s good that the Lakers aren’t just locked in on Kuminga. He’s likely the best wing option available, but he’s unrestricted and could end up elsewhere.

So, LA has to keep options open. The top priority has to be adding a player to the wing position. If that happens to be Thybulle, that would be a solid pickup. He is a good perimeter defender and can spread out the defense due to his threat as a shooter.

Whether it’s Thybulle, Kuminga, or another player, it seems pretty clear the Lakers are continuing to search for more wing options.

This deep into the offseason, things might move a bit slower in free agency. Certain big names are still out there and players looking at smaller deals don’t have to rush to sign.

So, don’t be surprised if it takes some time for the Lakers to add a wing. At this point, though, it seems most likely that they will add one to the main roster before training camp begins sometime in September.

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

When Yaxel Lendeborg lays in bed at night imagining his future, there’s so much that excites him. 

He’s going to throw assists to Steph Curry, the greatest shooter of all time. He’ll be in a defensive stance alongside Draymond Green, who has made a Hall of Fame career out of bottling up opposing teams’ stars. 

When asked which scenario most often plays through his mind as he falls asleep, he didn’t hesitate. 

“I’d probably say lockdown defense next to Dray,” Lendeborg told The California Post. “I have a lot to learn. He’s such a great defender, such a versatile defender. That’s something I’ve always wanted to improve on. So being able to learn from him is something I’m very excited to do.”

For the Warriors, Lendeborg is the Swiss Army Knife they need. 

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward can play small-ball center, handle the ball and shoot 3s. He’s also a lauded defender who can guard positions 1 through 5. 

The 23-year-old Lendeborg, whom Golden State selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is expected to make an immediate impact for the Warriors, especially with Jimmy Butler (torn right ACL) and Moses Moody (torn left patellar tendon) out for the start of the season. 

As for Lendeborg, he was on pins and needles during draft night, hoping the Warriors would select him.   

“They showed me a lot of love,” Lendeborg told the Post, referring to a private, pre-draft workout he had with the team June 11. “They were pretty much giving me the game plan of how it was going to go. I was super happy the entire time. They made me feel wanted as soon as I stepped in. There was no place I wanted to be other than that.”

Lendeborg is at least 3 years older than all 10 players who were drafted ahead of him. That’s something that has historically given teams pause, considering the overwhelming value placed on youth and untapped potential. 

But for a Warriors team that’s in win-now mode trying to extend the 38-year-old Curry’s championship window, acquiring a player who could plug in immediately was of paramount importance. 

“We got the guy we were looking to get,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob said last month during an announcement for a new jersey patch.

Knows how to win

Lendeborg led Michigan to an NCAA championship last season, averaging 15.1 points on 52% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals. He was a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. 

For the Warriors, Lendeborg was their biggest offseason acquisition in what has otherwise been a very quiet period for a team that missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons. 

But that could change. 

The Warriors are still in the race to acquire LeBron James.

For an incoming rookie, sharing the court with arguably the greatest player of all time would be surreal. 

“That would be great,” Lendeborg told the Post. “Being able to learn from him. He plays the same position as me. We’re pretty much built kind of the same. He’s obviously a lot stronger. Being able to learn how he’s kept his body intact, the workouts he’s done, what he did to increase his game IQ. [That] is something I’m very excited to learn from [him]. Hopefully it all works out.”

Lendeborg has one concern, though. 

“Hopefully he doesn’t take away my minutes, either,” Lendeborg added, flashing a smile. “But I’d be very excited either way.”

No lack of confidence

Lendeborg is ready to make an impact.

He raised eyebrows during his post-draft interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, proclaiming, “I’m excited to start another Warriors dynasty.” 

The Warriors won four championships in eight years from 2015-2022, but they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since. Lendeborg believes he can help turn that around. If summer league is any indication, he may not be wrong. 

In the team’s first two games in Las Vegas, he averaged 17.5 points on 48.1% shooting from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.

But he needs to improve his conditioning, something he quickly realized over the last few weeks. 

Luckily for him, he can study Curry, whose intense offseason workouts became NBA lore as he famously tortured defenders by never stopping moving.

“He’s the most conditioned player in NBA history,” Lendeborg told the Post. “Just learn those habits.”

Lendeborg has already had some fun back-and-forths with his new teammates. 

He told reporters on draft night that he “used to hate Steph Curry” because he was “a big Kyrie [Irving] guy.” Curry responded in an Instagram comment, writing,  “Let’s go! Welcome to the Bay! I’m going to work hard to be your new favorite player.”

Meanwhile, Green carved out time on his podcast to address Lendeborg’s claim that he hadn’t texted the rookie back. “You f–king liar,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show,” adding that he replied “the next minute.”

“We’re not really a team very big on rookie hazing,” Green said. “… But we can pick that back up.”

Lendeborg hopes that’s not the case.

“I’m kinda nervous thinking about it,” Lendeborg told the Post. “But I hope he takes it easy on me and gives me a nice warm welcome that doesn’t involve any hazing.”

Emotional night

Despite stirring the pot a bit, this much is for sure: Lendeborg is deeply grateful he’s going to share the court with Curry and Green, who turned the Warriors into the league’s modern-day dynasty. No team has won back-to-back titles for eight years since the Warriors won championships in 2017 and 2018.

“I’m very excited to play [with] those guys,” Lendeborg told the Post. “They’re all historically good players. They’re all going to be in the Hall of Fame. They’ve won at the highest level multiple times. There’s so much to learn and so much to be.”

That’s why he was so worried on draft night. 

The Warriors had their highest pick in five years. Several other players were rumored to be on their radar, including Brayden Burries, who was selected one spot ahead of Lendeborg at No. 10, as well as Aday Mara, whose name was called immediately after his at No. 12. 

“I was a little nervous the entire time because you obviously don’t know where you’re going, and it didn’t seem like I was going to have the opportunity to play there,” Lendeborg told the Post.  “But God brought me here, and I’m super happy to be here.”

After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed Lendeborg was heading to Golden State, his joy was palpable.

Emotions poured out of him as he hugged his mother, Yissel Raposo, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 appendix cancer when he played for the Wolverines last season.  

She used to call him every draft night. She wanted to make sure he was watching. She needed him to believe he could one day be on that stage.

Now she was wiping his tears as she choked back her own.

His dream had come true, which meant hers had, too.

“There’s nothing better than being able to give this gift to my mom,” he said. 

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Jack Kayil has impressed the Knicks with his play in Summer League. 

The rookie had 19 points, three steals and four assists earlier this week against the Pistons. Kayil added 12 points and three assists in his Summer League debut last week against San Antonio. 

Not bad for a 19-year-old taken with the 39th pick in the NBA Draft. 

If you’re watching these games, you may be surprised by Kayil’s play so far. But those who have followed him closely overseas are not.  

“With him, it’s always basketball. He has a conviction and commitment on trying to be the best possible player he can be,” said Himar Ojeda, the sporting director for Kayil’s team in Germany, Alba Berlin. “He put a lot of effort in trying to take care of himself physically, mentally – sometimes even too much for a young kid. …you know, he’s 19 and he acts like a veteran in certain routines. But that's why he's been successful.” 

The Knicks obviously thought highly enough of Kayil to select him in the second round of the draft. Both Kayil and fellow rookie Tyler Nickel have impressed team personnel in Las Vegas. 

If their early play in Vegas is an indication, both players could have a future with the Knicks. New York needs to find young players and sign them to team-friendly contracts in order to navigate the NBA’s second apron rules. It would be an organizational win if both Nickel and Kayil play their way on to New York’s NBA roster. 

It’s only Summer League, but it seems as if the Knicks have found two promising young players in Nickel and Kayil. Can they earn a spot on the 2026-27 roster?

New York is currently $3.3 million below the second apron with 13 players and with room for one more minimum. Owner James Dolan said in June that the team would not exceed the NBA’s second apron in team salary. 

New York still needs a third center. If the club signs a center to a veteran’s minimum contract, New York would not have enough room under the second apron to sign either Nickel or Kayil to a contract via the second round exception.

Entering free agency, the plan for Kayil was to spend next season with his overseas club. The Knicks can obviously alter those plans by offering him an NBA contract, but as noted above, they are limited by the second apron.

New York could offer Kayil or Nickel a two-way contract for next season. But in this scenario, New York would be prohibited from paying Kayil’s buyout from his German club. The buyout has to be executed between the player and his overseas team. The Knicks can offer Nickel a two-way contract without this limitation.

In the two-way scenario, the Knicks could convert either Kayil or Nickel to a standard contract once the pro-rated amount fits under the second apron.

Whatever happens from here, it’s safe to assume that both Nickel and Kayil will have an opportunity to play for the Knicks in the near future. For Kayil, the only question is whether he is with New York in 2026-27 or in a subsequent season.

Whenever Kayil gets his chance, the guard will come to New York with some qualities that are precursors to NBA success.

“He can play defense and he can shoot the ball. Normally, for a point guard, it limits you if you don’t have these capacities and he definitely has them,” Ojeda, who previously served as Director of International Scouting for the Atlanta Hawks, says. “He's also mature in the sense that he has been a clutch player for us this season (in Kayil’s first year in the Bundesliga, the most senior league in Germany). He’s the one that wants to have the ball in his hands and he's not afraid to take the last shot.”

Case in point: Kayil struggled early in the do-or-die Game 5 of Alba Berlin’s championship series against traditional powerhouse Bayern Munich. But he wasn’t scared to have the ball in his hands late – and he delivered. Kayil scored 10 crucial points in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter as Alba Berlin came back from down 20 points at halftime to win.

Ojeda, who has known Kayil since he was "a little kid," was impressed by Kayil’s mentality late in games.

“I've known him since he's very, very young, but this is still something that surprises me. So yeah, this is Jack Kayil,” Ojeda says. “It shows that he’s a competitor and (has) a brave mentality.

“Here, every game counts. It’s not like you can try three, four times to take the last shot (and miss the shot while expecting another opportunity). No, no. We need to win the games. Of course, maybe (you miss a big shot) one time. But it’s not as if you can take that shot three times and miss.

“So when he came back and still wanted to redeem himself and he (played well in the fourth quarter of the decisive championship game), that was a big thing.”

Kayil’s mentality was probably one of the qualities that kept him on New York’s radar ahead of the draft. If things continue to go well, it will be one of the reasons Kayil earns a bigger opportunity with the Knicks.

Draymond Green reveals number he'd wear if LeBron James joins Warriors as No. 23 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One under-the-radar aspect of the Warriors’ chase for LeBron James is who would get custody of the No. 23.

James has switched between the Nos. 6 and 23 throughout his long NBA career, but he returned to the latter in 2023 after the NBA retired Bill Russell’s No. 6 league-wide.

On the other hand, Draymond Green has donned the No. 23 for the entirety of his 14-year Warriors career.

So, who would budge first? Well, apparently Green already has as part of his pitch for James to join Golden State.

On Thursday, Green received a reply on Threads asking what number he would switch to if James took No. 23 with the Warriors.

Green’s replacement plan was pretty simple: Add those two digits together, and you get No. 5.

Seems like Green already has put some thought into it. Does that mean he knows something we don’t about James’ next destination? It certainly is possible.

For those interested, the last Warriors player to wear No. 5 was big man Kevon Looney from 2017-25; Marreese Speights, Baron Davis, Tim Hardaway (just during his rookie season) and Guy Rodgers are other notable players to wear that number in franchise history.

Perhaps Green will join that list soon.

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The King is looking for a new home court.

Following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in June, LeBron James reportedly has all the information he needs from teams and is now weighing his options, according to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes.

A free agency decision now appears to be imminent. The favorites to land the 41-year-old's services include familiar names like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, but don't count out the possibility of James closing his career with a new team such as the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets.

As the NBA world waits for James to announce where he will write the closing chapter on his storybook career, here's the latest we're hearing on where things stand on The Decision 3.0:

New York City will be the host to this weekend's Fanatics Fest, which will bring some of the world's biggest names in sports and entertainment to the Big Apple.

Billed as the world's No. 1 fan festival, the Fanatics Fest will take place from Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in midtown Manhattan and will also feature the second annual Fanatics Games, in which 50 fans compete alongside celebrities for a share of a $2 million prize pool.

Most of the athletes appearing at the Fanatics Fest are already in town as the annual ESPY awards show took place at Lincoln Center on July 15. Other talent scheduled to appear include Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Jay-Z, Shaquille O'Neal and members of the NBA champion New York Knicks.

Boswell is starting to ball.

After three straight games coming off the bench, Kylan Boswell earned his first start in the NBA Summer League. The former Illini has continued to improve throughout the summer.

Boswell finished the game with 11 points on 4-7 shooting and went 3-5 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed 7 rebounds, despite being 6-foot-1. Boswell was the second-leading rebounder in the game.

After playing 14 minutes and not scoring in his first game, Boswell has been a reliable bench piece for the Hornets. In the next game, he had 8 points, 4 boards and 7 assists in 15 minutes, while shooting a perfect 3-3. The following game, Boswell had 4 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 11 minutes, making two of his three shots.

There’s one more scheduled game for the Hornets Summer League squad. Boswell will likely start the season with the G-League affiliate, as he’s on a two-way contract.

Players, especially when entering free agency, want to be wanted.

The Lakers made it clear how badly they wanted Walker Kessler this offseason by executing an all-in trade to acquire Kessler, sending out multiple first-round picks and giving him a four-year, $130 million deal.

In a piece by Khobi Price in the California Post, Kessler expressed his appreciation for the Lakers’ investment in him and his desire to play for the franchise.

“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said on Monday during his first media availability since joining the Lakers. “And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life and it definitely makes it a lot easier to go out there and compete for a team.”

Kessler has the backing not only of the Lakers but also of their franchise player, Luka Dončić. He reportedly wanted the Lakers to pursue Kessler and is happy with the offseason moves.

But how good the summer of optionality for the Lakers is viewed will largely depend on Kessler’s play. He is the marquee piece, so he’ll have the attention and pressure that comes with it.

Kessler’s “run through a brick wall” attitude should be music to Lakers fans’ ears. Pressure can create diamonds or bust pipes and Kessler seems ready to shine in LA. He is now healthy after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury, so he should be available and working alongside his new teammates once training camp begins.

He might’ve had an inkling the Lakers liked him, given the rumors linking him to the franchise, but now, Kessler knows unequivocally that the Lakers believe in him. They spent a ton of money and their most valuable assets to acquire him. Now it’s up to him to prove he was worth it.

So far, it sounds like he can’t wait to do that this fall.

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

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There's no shortage of NBA Summer League action today, with seven games in Las Vegas, but there might be a lack of competitive matchups due to depth advantages.

Three of the deepest teams in Sin City — including the Golden State Warriors — take the court today and headline our NBA Summer League picks for Thursday, July 16. 

NBA Summer League predictions for July 16

Pick
Warriors moneyline	-233
Hawks moneyline	-156
Raptors moneyline	-127
💰 All three parlayed	+319

Today's Summer League picks

Warriors moneyline (-233 at Kalshi)

Backing the Golden State Warriors tonight is as much about believing in their depth as it is about not believing in this New York Knicks NBA Summer League roster. 

The defending champions have been among the worst teams in Vegas, averaging just 66.7 PPG and shooting 32.4% from the floor. With a lineup that has few NBA-rosterable players, New York's lack of offense should continue against Golden State.

The Warriors are putting up 96.7 PPG and shooting 37.6% from behind the arc due in large part to a lineup that includes lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg (50 points in 81 minutes) and last year's undrafted breakout player, LJ Cryer (42 points in 74 minutes).

Golden State also has depth with players like Graham Ike, Will Richard, Lajae Jones, Chance McMillian, Lachlan Olbrich, and Nick Boyd. 

Hawks moneyline (-156 at Kalshi)

No team has been better than the Atlanta Hawks in Las Vegas. Atlanta is one of two undefeated teams and leads Summer League behind a lineup that includes a mix of rookie talent and players with NBA experience.

Rookie Kingston Flemings, the eighth overall pick, has been a strong facilitator for the offense, averaging the third-most APG (6.5) in Las Vegas and helping Atlanta average the most APG as a team (23.0).

It's not just Flemings, though, with Kobe Johnson (58 points in 61 minutes), Henri Veesaar (40 points in 59 minutes), Zuby Ejiofor (25 points in 51 minutes), and Asa Newell (19 points in 48 minutes) all shining as scorers. 

As for the Memphis Grizzlies, their defense has been iffy, allowing 92.3 PPG to opponents on 47.8% shooting. And it wouldn't be a surprise if Cameron Boozer sees only limited minutes tonight.

Raptors moneyline (-127 at Kalshi)

The Toronto Raptors have lost just once in Las Vegas, and it came in overtime to a strong Boston Celtics Summer League roster. Beyond that, they've looked like one of the best teams because of a deep, well-rounded lineup.

The Raptors are the only team in Summer League averaging at least 42 rebounds and 20 assists per game, and they're one of only five teams averaging at least seven steals and seven blocks per game.

Rookies Allen Graves (44 points, 21 rebounds, 10 combined steals and blocks) and Nate Bittle (26 points, 20 rebounds, eight blocks) have been forces on both ends, while veterans Seth Lundy (61 points in 81 minutes) and Tyreke Key (41 points in 54 minutes) have shot the lights out.

The Miami Heat don't have that same depth and lack rookie talent due in part to the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.

Thursday’s NBA Summer League parlay

Warriors moneyline

Hawks moneyline

Raptors moneyline

+319 at Kalshi

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.

NBA champion Landry Shamet is having the summer of a lifetime.

The Knicks shooting guard and girlfriend Cameron Aimonetti, a real estate agent, announced their engagement with two joint posts on Instagram on Tuesday.

Shamet popped the question on a boat trip in Lake Como, Italy.

View this post on Instagram

The post revealing the engagement featured a carousel of photos of the happy couple drinking wine, swimming and getting cozy on the boat.

There is even a photo of Shamet looking behind him and pointing at Aimonetti’s ring while driving the boat.

The official announcement confirmed swirling rumors after The Post obtained photos of the couple in Italy where a diamond ring was visible on Aimonetti’s left ring finger.

The couple have been together since at least September 2024, and have been pictured together dating back to July 2019 at the ESPYs.

Several of Shamet’s Knicks teammates and their significant others congratulated the two on the engagement in the post’s comments, including Jordan Clarkson, Ali Brunson, Josh and Shannon Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns’s fiancé Jordyn Woods.

Aimonetti penned a tribute to her now-fiancé after he played a critical role in the Knicks’ first championship since 1973.

View this post on Instagram

“CHAMPION…Nothing (I truly mean nothing) was going to stop you from getting here and seeing this through. The mental strength and discipline it took to reach this moment is hard to put into words…You’ve earned every bit of this. World champion,” she wrote.

Shamet will call the Knicks home for the foreseeable future.

After becoming an NBA champion, Shamet was rewarde with a new four-year, $24 million contract, meaning one of the Knicks’ most reliable shooters off the bench will be back to defend the title.

Shamet’s biggest impact came during the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers, where he shot 11-of-12 from beyond the arc en route to a sweep.

His game-tying 3-pointer in Game 1 provided one of the team’s top postseason moments.

In his discussion with reporters two days ago, Sean Marks painted a positive picture of the Brooklyn Nets situation with Michael Porter Jr. who after being traded from the Nuggets had his best year of his seven-year NBA career, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 52 games before being shut down on April 3 with a hamstring strain.

“I’m sure we’ll have those discussions. I think we’ve got time. There’s no immediate hurry right now with Mike. We value him a lot. He had a terrific year last year, arguably his best year as a pro. I give him a lot of credit for that,” Marks said. “It’s been great to see what Mike’s done for us. I look forward to having those discussions, and seeing what Mike can do the rest of the summer and the rest of the season.”

So, no urgency?

“No, any time you’re in a hurry, that’s when people make mistakes,” Marks added. “We’ve got a well-thought-out plan here over not only the last couple of years but the couple of years ahead. We’re gonna try and find who the next Nets are gonna be. I don’t think we wanna do anything hastily or in a rush here.

“As I said before, I love Mike, the guy, the person, the player, and I hope he is part of this team. But we’re just gonna have to have those discussions between the two of us and our representatives and go from there.”

Porter is entering the final year of a five-year, $179.3 million contract with Denver, earning $40.8 million this season. He’s been eligible for an extension since June 19. Although the Nets could sign him to a four- year, $234 million extension, taking him through age 32, most analysts think a deal worth somewhere in the four-year $160 million range is more likely. Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron has suggested the Nets could give Porter an immediate $9 million raise and sign him to an extension at a lower rate, starting in the thirties. The Nets have favored similar arrangements in previous talks with Nic Claxton and Cameron Johnson.

Now, Chris Haynes, senior analyst for TNT, suggests that if the Nets and Porter — and his media-friendly agent, Mark Bartelstein — can’t come to an agreement, a trade might be in the works.

“Michael Porter Jr’s agent…is scheduled to meet with the Brooklyn Nets…towards the tail end of summer league or at the end of summer league to begin dialogue on an extension,” said Haynes on NBA TV’s “The Association” Wednesday. “If it becomes apparent early on that an extension is not in play, then I do believe the next step will be the Brooklyn Nets and Michael Porter Jr potentially parting ways and potentially looking to move him.”

Haynes’ comments weren’t detailed and were loaded with caveats — “potentially” being used twice — the chief difference between Marks comments and his is the degree of urgency, Marks suggesting there’s plenty of time, Haynes saying things could move quickly once Summer League is over next week. That reflects both the normal distance in bargaining points between teams and players in contract talks … and Marks reputation for holding off until the last moment, whether in trades or contract talks.

They do, however, renew speculation that an MPJ trade could bring the Nets future assets, although with the league’s most draft picks (35), most first round picks (14), most tradeable firsts (10), most first round swaps (two) and a record number of seconds (21), the Nets would seem set in that category and instead may want something more tangible, more creative … IF indeed something evolves.

The teams most mentioned as possibilities for a Porter deal at last February’s trade deadline were two contenders, the Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons. Both currently have other issues to deal before discussing such a big move as adding MPJ, the Warriors with the continuing mystery of where LeBron James will end up and the Pistons with their unpleasant negotiations with free agent Jalen Duren who Haynes said “doesn’t want to be there,” and is considering taking the qualifying offer … which seems unlikely.

While the Nets may seem done or close to done with their summer duties — having traded Claxton for Julius Randle and a first, signed Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott to (reasonable) extensions, drafted Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau, and reached agreements with free agents Keon Ellis and Moe Wagner — they still have some cap space and a $9.4 million MLE to play with and have yet to sign Wagner to that two-year, $19 million deal.

Moreover, Porter appears to be all in on continuing his tenure in Brooklyn, having repeatedly and effusively praised the organization, Jordi Fernandez and the team’s strategy while happily assuming a role he never had in Denver … mentoring the team’s younger players. Back in late May, he hosted four of the team’s rookies on a mini-vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks in his home state of Missouri and this month he led a contingent of Nets veterans to cheer on the young players at the Summer League games. The Nets also had his young brother Jevon Porter in for a pre-draft workout.

Meanwhile, things might begin to clear up league wide in the next two days with James expected to make his latest pronouncement on his future.

• Report: Nets, Michael Porter Jr. to talk contract extension soon – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
• Michael Porter Jr. trade could be on horizon following Sean Marks’ extension comments – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

It’s no secret that former UNC star Caleb Wilson is a winner. We’ve knew that before he committed to UNC, we knew that while he was at UNC, and now he is proving it at the next level. Setting aside the Chicago Bulls win/loss column in the NBA Summer League (seriously, you don’t want me to go down that rabbit hole), Wilson has shocked fans, media personalities, and the Bulls organization as a whole. Everyone knew he’d be good, but nobody knew that he’d be this good.

Through three summer league games, Wilson is averaging 24.3 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks per game while shooting 48% from the three-point line. While the three-point shooting has been the most shocking development, what’s also been impressive is Wilson’s energy, defensive intensity, and selflessness. During the Bulls’ third game specifically, he made all the right plays to get his teammates involved. His three assists may not seem like much, but if you go back and watch the film you will see him finding teammates in the corner when he drives to the basket, tossing difficult passes when he’s double-teamed, and giving up ill-advised shots that we’ve seen other players try to force this summer in order to make the better play.

While all of this sounds incredible, Wilson has also been winning the press conference game. For example: he was asked about not getting to play AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson after they both were shut down for the Summer League season, and here’s what he had to say:

“I feel like I’m different than all of them. I can’t say they don’t enjoy basketball but I enjoy basketball. I love this shit.”

“As long as I don’t have an injury, I’m going to play every time”

When asked about his summer plans and whether or not he would take some time off, here’s what he had to say:

“Hell no. I’m not taking no time off…it’s my rookie year, and I’m ’bout to go back to Chicago and get to work.”

Several walls may or may not have human-sized holes in Chicago.

Wilson is willing to put in the work that is required to be one of the better players in the NBA, and so far it is paying off. Just take a look at his stat line during Summer League play compared to his peers:

Wilson’s entire bag is playing the game that he loves and proving everyone wrong, and so far he has done those two things masterfully for Chicago. A lot of media personalities are starting to claim that he could win Rookie of the Year, which is amusing when you think about it, because from November until the NBA Draft we mostly heard about the Big 3. Whenever Wilson was mentioned, it was usually followed up with a limerick about how he cannot shoot. Now that his post-UNC bag has been revealed, it’s clear that Chicago has a special one in the former Tar Heel, and his teammate Matas Buzelis seems to think so as well.

Make no mistake about it, the Chicago Bulls are still in rebuild mode, but their path to competitiveness looks a lot better now that Caleb Wilson has entered the building. Making big predictions on how players will turn out based off Summer League performances can be difficult, but here’s one that feels pretty safe: Wilson will be a star for the Bulls, and as long as they build around him properly, the sky is the limit.

In the absence of a SummerKnicks game, ESPN gave Knicks fans some content to enjoy with their annual ESPY Awards ceremony. I know nobody watched, so here’s your links and notes related to that and more.

• Jalen Brunson won three ESPYs on Wednesday night: Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance, and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports. The Knicks also won Best Team, while OG Anunoby’s Game 4 tip-in earned Play of the Year. Five Knicks-related awards in one night. Sweep!
• Don’t miss OG’s speech.
• Back to Brunson, he finally opened up on his left wrist/hand postseason surgery. As ridiculous as it sounds, JB started to feel a “weak wrist” during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals and went on to knock a silly 7-1 record after that.
• Finally, the Anti-Decision is over as Jonas Valanciunas is officially going back to Lithuania.
• Do you remember Trey Jemison III? SI’s Kenny Kluska does. Here’s a tease, more following the link:

“Many have talked about adding Jonas Valanciunas (waived and stretched by the Nuggets) or Nick Richards to the team. Is there a possibility that the Knicks instead sign Trey Jemison III to a standard deal after he spent all of last season on a two-way contract?”

• Sean “Bad Luck” Sweeney offered an interesting explanation for why San Antonio lost the Finals to the Knicks, lights-too-bright take included. Full quotes in today’s Bulletin.
• LeBron James will tape a special live “Mind the Game” podcast episode at 1.15 p.m. EST alongside Tyrese Haliburton. Public decision time?
• Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart will overshadow all that with their own live taping of a “Roommates Show” episode at 4:15 p.m. EST with special guest Aaron Judge.
• No tampering, so Steph Curry pitched Bay Golf to LBJ.
• No tampering, I wrote, because the Warriors already landed LeBron.
• Kawhi Leonard’s situation keeps getting uglier, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting the possible punishment could range from a lengthy suspension to his contract being voided. Meanwhile, the Clippers and the Raptors keep waiting to know who has to build a No. 2 LEONARD locker room.

The Milwaukee Bucks are fresh off of a 32-50 season that saw them part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks traded Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat for a plethora of players that should get Milwaukee started on their rebuild. The haul they got for Antetokounmpo should set the Bucks up to be competitive for the upcoming season in terms of trying to finish with a better record than they did this past season.

“Antetokounmpo managed to trim his landing spots to one by telegraphing his feelings on where he’d re-sign following a trade, so four first-round assets and a quartet of useful young players is a solid haul,” Bleacher Report contributor Andy Bailey wrote.

“Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis and Jaime Jaquez Jr. will join Ryan Rollins, Myles Turner, AJ Green and a pair of exciting rookies—Brayden Burries and Nate Ament—to make the Bucks a relatively interesting and competent team in 2026-27.”

The Bucks have an entirely new core and a new head coach in Taylor Jenkins, which should mix things up in Milwaukee. Given that Antetokounmpo only played 36 games for the Bucks this past season, there is an argument to be made that the Bucks have a better roster than they did last year.

The Bucks were 17-19 when Antetokounmpo was on the floor and 13-33 when he wasn’t. If you look at the haul the Bucks got for Antetokounmpo compared to the Giannis-less team that took the floor most of the year in Milwaukee, one would argue that the team has improved.

If Tyler Herro can stay healthy, he should be the leading scorer for the team, and the ancillary pieces added to surround him could be strong fits for the Bucks in terms of trying to build something.

This isn’t to say the Bucks will finish with a better record than they had last year, but the gap might not be as wide as many think.

Brew Hoop community, how many games do you think the Bucks will win next season? Let us know in the comments.