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The Hawks try to take their Las Vegas Summer League record to 3-0 against the Boston Celtics today.
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Location: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV
Start Time: 6:00 PM EDT
TV: N/A
Radio: N/A
Streaming: Prime, Fubo
The Lakers are still working to land a starting wing in Jonathan Kuminga via a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, but in the short term, they have added some depth and defense.
The Lakers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Ziaire Williams, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. This deal would be for the minimum of $2.9 million.
Williams comes in with the reputation of a versatile, switchable defender, something the Lakers need. What has always held him back were concerns about offense and efficiency.
Williams has spent five years in the NBA, his first three in Memphis and his last two in Brooklyn. In 56 games last season for the Nets, he averaged 10.2 points a game, shooting 42.5% overall and 34.2% from 3-point range. How big a role he might have in the Lakers' rotation would come down to improving that offensive efficiency (which is what Brooklyn was hoping for a season ago.
Signing Williams does not change the Lakers' desire to complete a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. However, that has a ways to go: The Lakers and Hawks are well apart on what the trade package should be; and the Lakers and Kuminga's representatives are reportedly not close on what his next contract should look like (he reportedly wants around $25 million a season, the Lakers offered two years, $20 million total).
Surviving your slog through the heat of mid-summer? Tired of the deluge of World Cup corruption? Weary of watching the Summer League Knicks struggle to score 50 stinkin’ points? You need a P&T mailbag, STAT.
And you’re in luck! Here’s one now.
1) How will you feel watching Mitchell Robinson ply his trade as a leprechaun? Good, bad, indifferent or something else?
— Ariel Hukported
Terry Pendleton was my first moment of heartbreak as a childhood sports fan. Darryl Strawberry signing with the Dodgers a year later was the second. But the first real “Et tu, Brute?” instance was Xavier McDaniel signing with the Celtics after being the Knicks’ second-best player that postseason. If you ever wondered “Would X have really have made any difference over Charles Smith?”, check out 2:35 in this clip.
I love Mitch. I really do. I wondered how long it’d take me to offer a hearty “Fuck Dolan” after Game 5, and it didn’t take long.
Still. Not the same. Not even close.
X-Man was, after Patrick Ewing, the biggest reason the Knicks were able to push MJ & The Jordanaires farther than they did in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1996. There may never have ever an answer for how to stop Jordan, but X had a PhD in Scottie Pippen. Losing him back then would be like if last year’s Knicks lost in the Finals, then Karl-Anthony Towns or OG Anunoby signed with San Antonio. Uuuiiiii!
I won’t have any problems watching Mitch or rooting for him, for the same reason I won’t care if Mike Brown starts the year 4-18, or if — as I’m expecting — OG, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges combine to miss 50 or more games. Or if Jalen Brunson misses that many on his own. Or if Herb Williams, Chris Smith or Taj Gibson are on the roster at some point
BECAUSE THE KNICKS ARE THE ****ING NBA CHAMPS!!!!!!
Mitch is one of the greatest Knicks this century and one of their all-time top big men. He came to New York as a project with no experience balling beyond high school; he leaves as the greatest offensive rebounder in franchise history and a two-way terror critical to closing out Games 2 and 5 in the Finals. He’s a lovable dude.
He’s also nearing 30, often injured and so bad at the free throw line he makes Chris Dudley look like Allan Houston. The Knicks got into the Mitch business at the right time, stuck with it all the way to a championship and are now out of the Mitch business. If Mitch had never heard of Instagram, or shot free throws granny-style, I’d miss him more.
I think the owner’s reasons for cheapening out are bullshit. I appreciate those of you who think I’ve never read how the second apron works, and who believe Dolan when he says it’d be “suicidal” to do the same thing Cleveland did before somehow acquiring James Harden and looking to add LeBron (does “suicidal” mean “Able to add multiple HOFers”?). It’s honestly cute.
If Leon Rose had said it, or Brock Aller or Walt Perrin, maybe I’d believe it all boiled down to roster flexibility. Given how many reporters close to the Knicks have said the front office was as blindsided by the news as many of us were, and that paying Mitch would have meant a bigger luxury tax penalty, I believe the owner is full of shit. Speaking of which . . .
2) Quentin Dolan — after seeing him get keys to the city, and hearing that he’s running the hockey team, should we be worried? Is he a capable guy? Or nepo-baby, as they say? Will he eventually be handed the keys to the Knicks too?
— SayAgainSayAgain
He is a nepo baby. As was his father. And pro’ly his father’s father before him.
For the uninitiated: Dolan’s son Quentin, 32, has been given the keys to the New York Rangers as their new alternate owner, president and chief operating officer. As a Blueshirts fan, I don’t care either way. The Rangers biggest problem is that Chris Drury doesn’t know what he’s doing, but whereas Glen Sather was the Broadway Blues’ Isiah, Drury is more their Steve Mills — a dope absent any evidence that he has a clue how to run a sports franchise. Yet the dipshit who makes those decisions is passing the team on to the literal closest thing he has to a genetic successor. What could go wrong?
I doubt Lucky Sperm Jim would’ve given the keys to the Rolls to Lucky Sperm Q if he were worried the lad intended to drive it any differently. But it doesn’t sound like Quentin taking over the Rangers has yet to cause upheaval, even with a team sorely in need of one. So while Son of Dolan may indeed do the double and take over the Knickerbockers someday too, there’s no way to know how he’d rule.
3) Did it make sense for the Knicks to take such an austere approach in the draft this year? Or should they have tried to resolve an easily anticipated problem by drafting one of the big men who was available?
— PolyphonicSpreewell
Let me open with an admission: I’m a 100% dummkopf when it comes to evaluating draft abstinence. No matter how many times the Knicks treat draft night as performance art, continually flipping a hamburger today for two hamburgers next Tuesday, and no matter how often it suits their needs, I’m a basic bitch. I root for people. Not assets. Not flexibility. I always wanna see new faces added to the side.
So on draft night, yes, I was hoping the Knicks would draft a center. Or an upgrade on Tyler Kolek. Or any one of a half-dozen dudes linked to them in various pre-draft rumors. I was not hoping their bounty would boil down to a handful of second-round picks and/or the draft rights to a draft-and-stash European as likely to ever set foot in this country as Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
But I get it. I think.
The Knicks are all and entirely about competing for another championship next year (other than letting their indispensable back-up center leave). It may not be long before Tarris Reed Jr. is a better big than Andre Drummond, but what are the odds Reed is by next year’s postseason? The Spurs drafted Reed (and Jayden Quaintance) hoping to get more from them than they did from Luke Kornet. Those odds are shorter.
I’m not bothered by the Knicks being entirely driven to win whatever they can now, and to blazes with the short-term future. The rules are different when your title drought is older than the majority of your fan base. I watched the Rangers break a 54-year title-less drought in 1994. By 1998 they were kicking off seven straight seasons of missing the playoffs. Was it fun? No! Hearing “Bobby Holik” still gives me the shakes. Did it even hold a candle to what winning it all felt like? What it still feels like? Come on, man.
Another way to think of it: if drafting someone 24th meant losing Deuce McBride, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson or Mo Diawara, would you prefer that? If New York were entering year 54 of their own dry spell, maybe I’d care more about the future, or more aptly worry about putting all your eggs in a basket that always comes up short. But this basket was the winning basket. The basket we always wanted. Entering year one of a title defense? [Bleep] them kids.
4) Who will we face in the ECF?
— Double Double Dutch
Short answer: Indiana.
Longer answer: Detroit got no second banana; Cleveland’s dream is risking it all on two guys turning 37 and 42; Boston just traded Pippen for X-Man; Toronto doesn’t even know if Kawhi Leonard is theirs; Philadelphia saw how miserable Jaylen Brown was not being first violin and added him to a team where none of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and LeBron (if they get him) are looking to play second fiddle.
So yeah. Indiana.
5) What will the Knicks record have to be in January to hear calls to fire Mike Brown?
— cynickfan
For those who think this question absurd: the Knicks have had three peak seasons during James Dolan’s reign. In 2013, Mike Woodson led them to their first 50-win season and playoff series victory in 13 years. 11 months later he was canned, having held the job about as long as Isiah Thomas and Jeff Hornacek.
In 2025, Tom Thibodeau was at the helm as New York won their most games in a season since Woodson’s squad and reached the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. Within 72 hours, Thibs was fired.
So while it may seem difficult to imagine Mike Brown departing the MSG coil anytime soon, is it really? How secure was he when the Knicks trailed the Hawks 2-1 in the first round? If they’d lost that series, you think he’s still in charge today? If they’d lost in the Finals, you think Brown would go into next season with the organization 100% behind him?
Let’s allow that it’s unlikely Brown does anything to get sacked by midseason, but run with the thought experiment anyway. What would have to happen for Brown’s job status to be in jeopardy?
If the Knicks were 20-20 after 40 games, would that do it? Would the nature of their struggles matter? If they’re .500 and half the team is out injured, would Brown receive any grace? Unfortunately there isn’t much precedent for what happens with Knick championship coaches. Red Holzman is the only person besides Brown ever to win it all in New York, surviving eight seasons after his last New York title run in 1973 despite failing to win a playoff series the last seven. I’m confident Brown won’t last until 2033-34. Hopeful Dolan doesn’t.
The Lakers are rolling the dice on a buy-low option on the wing.
After having his team option declined by the Nets, Ziaire Williams has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Lakers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Considering the Lakers are over the cap, have no other mechanism to sign a player and Shams loves to inflate contract numbers as favors to agents, this is almost certainly a veteran’s minimum contract. Williams will make $2.8 million, but it will only count as $2.4 million toward the Lakers’ cap.
A 6’9” wing who is still just 24 years old, Williams was always a teammate of Bronny James at Sierra Canyon in high school. Last season in Brooklyn, he averaged 10.2 points per game in 56 contests, shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from three.
Williams’ jumper is a work in progress as that mark was the best of his career. Across five seasons in Memphis and New York, Williams has shot 32.2% from the field. However, he is a wing with athleticism and size, two things the Lakers currently lack. He did shoot 43.2% from range over the final 22 games of last season, but that was also immediately preceded by a stretch of 5-24 (20.8%) shooting as well.
Ironically, one of Williams’ best games of the season last year came against the Lakers when he scored 17 points on 7-11 shooting in a loss to the purple and gold in LA. In that contest, he shot 3-6 from three as well.
The team was linked with Williams early in free agency. His fit always made sense as a buy-low candidate. The team has minutes available on the wing, giving Williams a chance to earn some playing time next season.
With this signing, the Lakers have a full roster. However, the expectation is for moves to still be made, but it solidifies that the team will have to trade away players to add more to the roster. This has been the expectation, particularly with Jonathan Kuminga, should he decide to join the Lakers.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
It’s the second ring of Landry Shamet’s summer.
Fresh off of helping the Knicks win their first championship in 53 years, the sharpshooter has sparked engagement rumors as his partner Cameron Aimonetti was pictured in photos obtained by The Post with some new jewelry on her ring finger.
The couple was pictured relaxing on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, with Aimonetti wearing a large rock on her left hand.
Shamet and Aimonetti, who have been dating since at least September 2024, were not previously known to be engaged and she didn’t have the diamond on her finger after the Knicks clinched their title over the Spurs on June 13.
As the couple left the beach to board a boat, Aimonetti reportedly appeared to remove the ring from a case before putting it back onto her finger.
The duo looked to be in good spirits as they lounged on the boat and shared a kiss in one photo. Shamet also had a camera with him and took some pictures of his partner.
Following the Knicks’ decisive Game 5 win over the Spurs, Aimonetti penned an emotional tribute to Shamet, who played a vital role in the team’s championship run.
“CHAMPION 
“The mental strength and discipline it took to reach this moment is hard to put into words…You’ve earned every bit of this. What a journey. World champion
Shamet gave the Knicks quality minutes off the bench in the playoffs, as he played 16.3 minutes per night, scored 6.0 points and shot 47.5 percent from deep.
He was particularly impressive in the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers as he made 11 of 12 3-point attempts.
Shamet was then rewarded with a long-term deal following the Finals, as the Knicks gave him a $24 million deal over four years.
Apologies for a belated game thread to discuss the Detroit Pistons vs. the New York Knicks in game three of Summer League action. I think we can safely say where things are landing for the Pistons after watching them for two games (where they have gone 1-1). The roster is a bit of a mess with only a few impactful players and a host of bigs and wings who struggle to do much with the ball in their hands.
But there are a few standouts to keep an eye on. Ebuka Okorie has shown some great things in both games, though he struggled more in Game 2 than in Game 1. It’ll be nice to see him continuing to attack and figuring out how to use that ability to get by defenders to his advantage as a scorer, foul-drawer, and distributor. Second-year player Chaz Lanier decided he needed to start hitting shots starting in Game 2, and he’s barely missed since. He is 3-of-3 from deep as I type this. Isaac Jones is doing Some Stuff. Brice Williams is hitting Some Shots. Everyone else, well, it’s pretty meh, to be honest.
When: 4 p.m. ET
Where: The Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch: Prime Video
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A trade first reported on June 28 is now officially complete. The Phoenix Suns have sent Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Miles Bridges, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.
In a statement from the team:
“Miles has established himself as a highly productive player whose game continues to evolve,” said Suns general manager Brian Gregory. “His elite athleticism, strength and versatility allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. He embodies the grit, competitiveness and work ethic that fit our identity, and we’re excited to welcome him to Phoenix.”
“We also want to thank Grayson and Royce for the impact they made in Phoenix,” added Gregory. “Both played important roles in helping us build our foundation, and we appreciate everything they brought to our team. We wish them and their families all the best.”
There was a bit of a holdup because several other transactions had to be completed before the Suns and Hornets deal could become official. The entire sequence ultimately came down to one player, Mouhamadou Gueye. Gueye signed with the Chicago Bulls on April 9, which meant he could not be traded until six months after his acquisition. That date is today, July 9.
Here is how the dominoes fell.
The Timberwolves, Nets, and Bulls agreed to a deal that sent Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (Joshua Jefferson), to Brooklyn. In return, Minnesota acquired the No. 33 pick (Isaiah Evans) from the Nets and Mouhamadou Gueye from the Bulls. Chicago received Nic Claxton.
The Hornets also agreed to send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.
Both transactions were put on hold because of Gueye’s trade restriction. Once eligible to be moved, Minnesota completed its deal, which opened the financial pathway to acquire Ball and Green from Charlotte. That, in turn, cleared the way for the Hornets to acquire Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale from Phoenix.
From the Suns’ perspective, this was about more than simply acquiring Miles Bridges. By sending out Allen and O’Neale, who combined to make $29 million, and bringing back Bridges at $22.8 million, Phoenix reduced its payroll by approximately $6.2 million, $6,173,913 to be exact. Before the trade, the Suns carried a payroll of roughly $215 million, placing them about $6 million above the first apron. They needed to create room if they wanted access to the mid-level exception.
The Bridges trade accomplished exactly that.
Phoenix now sits at approximately $208.1 million in team salary, seeing as Jamaree Bouyea’s contract is not guaranteed until January 10. The first apron is $209 million. What did that create? Hello, Luke Kennard. The Suns will be able to use the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Kennard to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with a player option in the second season. It’s a pretty impressive bit of cap gymnastics by the front office. And to think, the entire sequence was delayed because the Bulls signed Mouhamadou Gueye last April.
So now it is official. Miles Bridges is with the Phoenix Suns. A player the organization has had its eyes on for the past couple of years. Will it work? We’ll find out next season.
Shake off those Monday blues, there’s basketball to be played! The Knicks continue their NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas this afternoon as they square off against the Detroit Pistons at the Cox Pavilion. After getting blown out twice, the exhibition continues to shine a spotlight on player development (Pacome Dadiet, Mohamed Diawara) and recent draftees (Tyler Nickel, Jack Kayil). The young Knicks squad will have their hands full physically against a tough Detroit frontcourt.
Tip-off is 4 pm EST on Prime Video and MSG. This is your game thread. This is Detroit Bad Boys. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, everybody. And go Knicks!
After a rough debut in the Clippers’ first Summer League outing, many fans began writing off top-five draft pick Keaton Wagler, prematurely labeling the guard as a bust.
He didn’t write back though.
The nerves caught up to Wagler during his debut in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, where he tallied seven points on 1-for-7 shooting.
But three days later, he shook those nerves off and showcased the poise he played with as an Illini to lead the Clippers to a blowout win over the Utah Jazz. Wagler led the Clips in scoring with 23 points, going head-to-head with the No. 2 pick in the draft, Darryn Peterson, who also racked up 23 points.
“That second game, all the nerves were out the way,” Wagler said postgame. “I was just playing freely and shots were falling.”
Wagler sank 4-of-7 from 3-point range and showcased his signature step-back to nail his final triple of the night. He also dished out four assists.
Late in the fourth quarter, he even did something that Illini fans had never seen him do in orange and blue: dunk the basketball. If anything, that’s a sign that he’s already adapting to the NBA.
Boston Celtics (2-0) vs Atlanta Hawks (2-0)
Monday, July 13, 2026
6:00 PM ET
Summer League Game #3
TV: NBCSB, Prime Video
Cox Pavilion
Both of these teams are undefeated so far in 2 games in Summer League. Atlanta beat Brooklyn 83-76 and then beat San Antonio 93-66. They have 10 rookies on their team along with 1 3-year player, 2 2-year players, and 3 1-year players. The Hawks scoring has been spread out across their players with no player dominating. The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games while the Hawks have had off since Saturday.
The Celtics are coached by Amile Jefferson. Jefferson was named Director of Player Development for the Duke Blue Devils in 2021. He was promoted to assistant coach at Duke for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, Jefferson became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Jefferson played with Jayson Tatum at Duke and he played for the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract before being hired as an assistant coach.
The Hawks are coached by Sanjay Lumpkin. Lumpkin was a video coordinator for the Utah Jazz in 2020-22. He then served as the Jazz Player Development coach for the 2022-23 season. He has been an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2023 until present.
The Celtics are averaging 42.5 rebounds per game while the Hawks are averaging 37.5 rebounds per game. The Celtics need to continue to crash the boards and beat the Hawks to rebounds. The Celtics are turning the ball over 15.5 times per game while the Hawks are averaging 17.5 turnovers. It’s not unusual for Summer League teams to turn the ball over a lot but the Celtics should try to take better care of the ball.
Neither team is shooting the ball very well, but both teams have been able to play enough defense to get wins in both games. The Celtics are shooting 42.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Hawks are shooting 37.5% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to continue to play good defense while improving their shooting.
The Hawks also played in the Salt Lake City Summer League. They played 3 games and went 2-1 in that competition. They lost 103-102 in overtime to the Utah Jazz. They then won their last 2 games, winning 82-77 over the Oklahoma City Thumder and 96-82 over the Memphis Grizzlies. They shot 40.7 from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc over those 3 games. They will have the advantage in chemistry after playing the extra 3 games together.
Celtics Summer League Roster
Mohammad Amini #54 R
Chris Cenac, Jr #12 R
Tucker DeVries #41 R
Hugo Gonzalez #28 1
Caleb Grill #37 R
Curtis Jones #26 R
Kyle Mangas #43 R
Dillon Mitchell #20 R
Hank Morgan #51 R
Nick Pringle #40 R
Day Day Thomas #38 R
John Tonje #8 R
Milos Uzan #29 R
Chauncey Wiggins #50 R
Alondes Williams #46 3
Amari Williams #77 1
Head Coach
Amile Jefferson
Starters in 1st 2 games
Curtis Jones
John Tonje
Hugo Gonzalez
Dillon Mitchell
Amari Williams
Celtics Players to Watch
Hugo Gonzalez – Hugo was the 28th pick in last year’s draft. In last year’s Summer League, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season. His +11.9 rating was the highest for any rookie that played at least 100 minutes. So far in Summer League he is averaging 15.5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game while shooting 23.1% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc. He shot better in Game 2 than Game 1 but still needs some improvement in that area.
Dillon Mitchell – Mitchell is a 4 year college player who was drafted with the 40th pick. He is 6’8″ with a 6’10” wingspan. He is a super athlete, good finisher, rebounder and defender. He averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game over 37 games with 25 starts last year. He was named to All Big East 3rd team and Big East All Defensive team. He is an excellent defender but weak on offense. He shot just 19.3% on 3’s and 48.8% on free throws in college. He showed some promise on offense against the Hornets, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games, he is averaging 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 2 blocks while shooting 46.2% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
John Tonje – Tonje came to the Celtics as a 2-way player from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade at last year’s deadline. At the end of last season, his contract was converted to a standard contract. His option wasn’t picked up this season but the way he has played in Summer League, he is earning at least a 2 way contract again. He is averaging 18.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 61.5% from beyond the arc.
Amari Williams – Amari was the 46th pick in last year’s draft. He spent most of last season on a 2-way deal but was converted to a standard contract at the end of last season. He averaged 1.4 points, and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes with Boston last year. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 blocks with Maine last season. He has already been signed to a 2-way contract for this season. He is averaging 14.5 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3 blocks while shooting 64.3% from the field with no 3’s.
Atlanta Hawks Roster
RayJ Dennis #0 2 years
Kingston Flemmings #4 R
Kobe Johnson #12 R
Henri Veesaar #13 R
Asa Newell #14 1 year
Jacob Toppin #15 3 years
Kobe Knox #19 R
Zuby Ejiofor #20R
Game Madsen #22 R
Devon Higgs #26 R
Isaac McKneely #27 R
Cameron Horhen #28 R
Eli Ndiaye #30 1 year
Zeke Mayo #39 R
Isaiah Wong #45 2 years
Keshon Gilbert #51 1 year
Head Coach
Sanjay Lumpkin
Hawks Starters for Both Games
Kingston Flemings
Isaac McKneeley
Gabe Madsen
Asa Newell
Zuby Ejiofor
Hawks Players to Watch
Kobe Johnson – Johnson played 2 years in college at USC and UCLA. He went undrafted in 2025. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract in 2025 with the Hawks but was waived before the season. He played last season with the College Park Skyhawks in the G-League. His older brother, Jalen, plays for the Atlanta Hawks. He is averaging 14 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field and 25.3% from beyond the arc.
Zuby Ejiofor – Ejiofor was the 23rd pick in this year’s draft. He played 1 year at Kansas and 3 years at St Johns in college where he averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2/1 blocks per game in his senior year. He was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and Big East Player of the Year. He is averaging 12.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc.
Henri Veesaar – Veesaar is an Estonian player who played 3 years at Arizona and 1 year at North Carolina. He was the 52nd pick by the Clippers in this year’s draft and was traded on draft night to Atlanta. His senior year, he averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He has signed a 4 year contract with the Hawks. He is averaging 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 61.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Kingston Flemings – Flemings was the 8th pick in this year’s draft. He played 1 year of college ball at Houston with Chris Cenac, Jr. He was 2nd team All American and 1st team All Big 12. He started 37 games and averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc. In Summer League, he is averaging 7 points, 4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1 block while shooting 33.3% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Date: July 13th, 2026
Time: 10:00 PM CDT
Location: Thomas & Mack Center
Television Coverage: Prime Video
The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their first loss of Summer League on Saturday night, falling by 19 points to the Denver Nuggets in a game that technically offered Denver a chance to avenge its first-round playoff elimination at Minnesota’s hands. Well, provided everyone agreed to ignore the minor detail that Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and almost every other player who made that postseason rivalry compelling was nowhere near Cox Pavilion.
So yes, Denver got its revenge. It was just the least satisfying version imaginable. That does not mean there was nothing worth watching. Summer League has never been about the stakes attached to the final score. It is about searching for evidence, however incomplete, that a young player may eventually become useful when the games matter. It is the NBA’s annual Rorschach test, only with more missed jumpers and significantly worse transition defense.
Minnesota entered the game without the player Wolves fans were most eager to monitor. Joan Beringer, who opened Summer League with an encouraging 18-point, 12-rebound performance against New Orleans, was held out because of back tightness. In a normal July game, losing one prospect should not completely alter the outlook. For this particular Wolves roster, however, Beringer’s absence mattered because he represents one of the few internal options Minnesota has to address its suddenly depleted frontcourt.
Beringer’s development has taken on more urgency than anyone would have expected a few months ago. He is no longer just an intriguing young big who can be allowed to develop quietly at the back of the rotation. The Wolves need evidence that he can eventually contribute, and possibly sooner than anticipated. His debut against New Orleans supplied some early optimism. His absence against Denver left Minnesota short-handed and removed one of the team’s most natural sources of rebounding, interior activity, and defensive size.
The result was not particularly inspiring. Denver controlled the game, Minnesota struggled to mount a meaningful response. The Wolves did not look especially cohesive, and never found the combination of energy and execution required to cut into Denver’s advantage.
Still, the most important development of the evening was not the 19-point margin. It was Isaiah Evans finally making his debut. Minnesota selected Evans with the 33rd pick in the draft, but he was unable to participate in the Summer League opener while the organization completed the transactions connected to the LaMelo Ball trade. Saturday offered Wolves fans their first real look at the team’s top selection from this draft class, and it would be fair to say that the introduction did not unfold the way Evans probably imagined it during the weeks leading up to Las Vegas.
He struggled to find his shot, never appeared fully comfortable, and looked like a young player trying to adjust to the speed and physicality of a higher level of basketball. That is also completely fine. This is precisely what Summer League is supposed to be for. Evans is a second-round rookie playing his first game in a new environment after being forced to wait for the trade machinery to stop moving before he could even step on the floor. The jury on Evans should therefore remain exactly where it belongs: completely undecided.
He will get more opportunities, beginning Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, to settle into the offense, regain his shooting touch, and display the skills that convinced Minnesota to use its first selection of the draft on him. The important thing is not whether he immediately dominates. It is whether he responds, looks more comfortable, and begins stacking together positive possessions that provide some evidence of future value.
The same applies to the Wolves as a whole. The organization is trying to evaluate Beringer’s readiness, determine whether Roko Zikarsky can provide useful frontcourt depth, get its first meaningful look at Evans, and identify any other player capable of forcing his way into a training camp conversation.
Monday’s game against Portland offers the next set of clues. Monday’s game tips at 10 p.m. Central, which is not ideal for anyone with a normal sleep schedule, a morning job, children, or even the mildest interest in functioning like a responsible adult. Summer League has a way of testing a fan base’s devotion, and staying up past midnight to evaluate second-round picks in July may be the purest version of basketball fandom available.
For the Wolves fans willing to make that sacrifice, Canis Hoopus will have the comments section open and ready.
The stakes remain low, the tip time is unnecessarily late, and the conclusions should remain temporary. But Timberwolves basketball is on television again. For the middle of July, that will have to be enough.
There are 99 questions about LeBron James’ life, but his whereabouts over the weekend were not one.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star — who’s being wooed by several teams following his breakup with LA — paused his hunt for his next NBA destination on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to take in Jay-Z’s shows in New York.
The 22-time All-Star pulled up to Yankee Stadium for the trio of concerts, and he certainly seemed to enjoy getting his mind off free agency by rocking out to some of Hov’s biggest hits.
One video circulating on X shows James was particularly moved by Jay-Z’s performance of “Public Service Announcement” Sunday — as the future Hall of Famer was seen dancing and singing along to the tune in front a crowd of people.
In another clip he shared to his Instagram Stories, James could be seen throwing up the Roc as Jay-Z crooned on stage.
James was hardly the only A-lister in attendance, as the 25-time Grammy-winning rapper brought out multiple stars throughout the weekend, including Beyoncé.
Eminem, Rihanna, and Usher also joined him on the mic — while celebs like Kevin Hart, Megan Thee Stallion, OG Anunoby, Michael Rubin and a host of others scored tickets to the stadium.
It’ll be back to the search for his next roster soon, but it’s clear James is enjoying an Empire State of Mind for a bit before that quest resumes.
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The Golden State Warriors may have just added a defensive specialist, a championship voice and a small piece of LeBron James bait all in one move.
Golden State has agreed to hire former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel as associate head coach under Steve Kerr, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Vogel fills the vacancy left by Terry Stotts, and is expected to take on a major role in the Warriors’ defensive game-planning after Jerry Stackhouse and Chris DeMarco previously helped lead that side of the staff.
On basketball terms alone, it is an easy hire to understand.
Vogel has long been respected as a defensive coach. He helped turn the Indiana Pacers into one of the Eastern Conference’s toughest teams during their battles with James’ Miami Heat; then coached James and the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship inside the bubble.
Vogel’s arrival gives Golden State a chance to restore some of the defensive structure it has struggled to consistently find since Mike Brown left Kerr’s staff in 2022. The Warriors still have Draymond Green’s ability to quarterback a defense, but their identity on that end has not been as sharp or reliable in recent years.
Vogel should be able to give them a clearer blueprint, more creative ways to build around Green’s strengths and a better chance to pull consistent defensive buy-in from the rest of the roster.
But the James angle is impossible to ignore.
The record-breaker played three seasons for Vogel in LA, and while that partnership ended with Vogel’s firing after a disastrous 33-49 season in 2021-22, James publicly praised him on the way out.
“I respect Frank as a coach and as a man,” James said after Vogel was fired. “Our partnership that we’ve had over a few years here has been nothing but just candid. Great conversations. He’s a guy that gives everything to the game. Prepared us every single night along with his coaching staff as well. You’ve got to give those guys a lot of credit, too.”
Vogel’s firing had as much to do with a broken Lakers roster as anything else.
Injuries, poor construction and the failed Russell Westbrook experiment turned a title team into a lottery-level mess, and Vogel became the easiest person to move on from.
Now, he lands in Golden State at an uncannily convenient time.
The Warriors are still chasing Cleveland in the James sweepstakes, but the latest Polymarket odds suggest they have closed the gap with Miami for second place. As of this writing, Cleveland remains the favorite at 45%, while Golden State has climbed to 11 points and is now neck-and-neck with Miami.
If the Cavaliers still have the strongest familiarity pitch, the Warriors appear to be trying to close that gap in other ways. Playing alongside Stephen Curry remains the obvious headliner. Vogel gives Golden State one more familiar face from James’ past.
Vogel is not going to be the reason James chooses the Bay Area, but if the Warriors are building a pitch around comfort, championship experience and a stronger defensive identity, he certainly helps the case.
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Udonis Haslem claps back at Draymond for comparing Bam-Herro fight to Poole originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green officially has Udonis Haslem’s attention.
Green called out Haslem on his latest podcast while discussing the recent Las Vegas altercation between Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo and the guard they traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, Tyler Herro — and Haslem didn’t like it one bit.
In a lengthy X post, Haslem addressed Green directly after the Warriors star accused the retired Heat big man of lacking the “same energy” for the fight between his former teammates as he had when Green punched Jordan Poole in October 2022.
“I see some things just don’t change. lol. You was on sucka s–t four years ago when you swung on Jordan Poole and you on sucka s–t now,” Haslem wrote. “I usually don’t engage but since you went so far left to get my attention here it is!!!
“If you think your big 32-year-old, three or four rings at the time having ass swinging on a 23-year-old Jordan Poole at the time is the same then you are even more delusional that I thought. First of all Bam is 28. Tyler is 26. Neither one of them got it all figured out yet. Maybe I was giving you too much credit at the time cause I thought you did so that’s why I commented.”
On his podcast, Green said he was “bothered” by Haslem’s comments when the incident with Poole occurred.
““I remember when I got into it with Poole … I remember one person when the Jordan Poole incident happened with me who was really, really outspoken about it and it really bothered me was Udonis Haslem,” Green said. “I saw UD get into it with guys on teams that was younger than him before, à la Jimmy Butler. Then he came out like, ‘That’s ridiculous. You get into it with your young guy, I would never. I can’t believe you did that.’ What is it, ‘Heat Culture’ or ‘Heat Way?’ Maybe they don’t have fights.
“So when I first saw this, I was like damn. This is two guys Udonis Haslem raised. If you raised this young guy in the light of what you was saying about me, and now he punches this other young guy, that y’all kind of co-raised, are you going to have that same energy? Reality is I don’t want him to have that same energy because I love Bam. That’s my brother, my dog… Tyler Herro, who’s from MIL, like Jordan Poole, has a lot of bravado as a young guy, probably said some very disrespectful things like Jordan Poole.”
Draymond Green wants to know if Udonis Haslem will keep the same energy for Bam punching Tyler Herro, that he did when Draymond punched Jordan Poole 👀
“I remember when I got into it with Poole… I remember one person when the Jordan Poole incident happened with me who was… https://t.co/anVIicUvljpic.twitter.com/LboTSIJymy
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 12, 2026
Haslem went further in dismantling Green’s argument that the two incidents were similar in his response, claiming Adebayo didn’t use his full strength un Herro while Green “fired off on that young boy like it was a club punch and you never met him before in your life.”
After defending his own actions in the past with Jimmy Butler, stating he “checked his ass,” Haslem concluded with a parting message for Green.
“[I don’t] really vibe [with] you and I think you know that, so unless it’s me on Prime talking hoops I won’t mention you at all,” he wrote. “You brought me into this and I am retired and out the way. I suggest you keep it pushing cause I ain’t giving out no more hall passes bra!”
We have a feeling this won’t be the last time Haslem hears from Green.