Category: NBA

After a victory that ended with a game winner in double overtime on Sunday, the Lakers are back at it on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs. This marks the finale of the California Class tournament for Los Angeles.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs

When: 4:30 p.m. PT, July 6

Where: Chase Center

Watch: ESPU, League Pass, Prime Video

It’s only been two games since the Lakers began their summer campaign and suffice it to say that Cameron Carr has already won over the fanbase. After putting up 19 points in his debut on Friday, the 24th pick from Baylor University followed that up with 26 points and eight rebounds on 7-16 shooting on Sunday.

What stands out about Carr’s performance thus far isn’t just the impressive statistics but how he’s accumulating them. The 21-year-old forward has shown that he can shoot — he’s 9-20 so far from 3-point range this summer — get in the paint at will, utilize his size and athleticism to his advantage and move his feet very well on defense. He’s been carrying the team from start to finish just like what star players usually do.

It’s likely that Carr’s impressive run will continue for a while, or at least until the Lakers decide to shut him down for the summer. That’s because this team needs his firepower to win games, but in fairness to the squad, they had better contributions across the board in Sunday’s victory.

Adou Theiro played a more controlled and efficient game, Anton Watson scored the game-winner and Chris Mañon, Zhaire Smith and Peter Suder had their fair share of buckets. An all-around contribution from the team, along with defense and controlling the paint, should be their MO moving forward.

On Monday, it would be nice to see the Lakers defeat the Spurs, who also played on Sunday and were blown out by the Golden State Warriors. It will serve as a confidence booster for them before they head to Las Vegas, where they will face more competitive opponents. How this Lakers team performs in this one will tell a lot about their character, especially since they’re on the back end of a back-to-back and coming off a game where they played in two overtimes.

This Spurs team has yet to win in the California Classic tournament, so there’s a good chance that they’re going to go hard in this one. The purple and gold should be prepared and look to conclude the tournament on a positive note. Let’s see if Carr and co can do just that on Monday.

Notes and Updates

As of now, there are no injuries to report on the purple and gold side.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

With the NBA’s moratorium period officially over, the Milwaukee Bucks have finalized their trade to send franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, along with fan favorite and former “Mayor of Milwaukee” Bobby Portis. Due to first-apron restrictions, with Miami hard-capped at the first apron after using more than 100% of the traded-player exception, this trade couldn’t be completed until today, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

All three Bucks owners, Wes Edens, Jimmy Haslam, and Jamie Dinan, issued a statement in the team’s official announcement of the trade, expressing how much Giannis meant to the team and the city at large. Bucks general manager Jon Horst, who has known Antetokounmpo since he was drafted back in 2013, also reflected on the move:

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, made for what is best for the future of the Bucks and for Giannis. On a personal level, Giannis and I have shared this entire journey together, and he has been an exceptional partner, friend and inspiration. All of us at the Bucks have been impacted by his presence and influence and are deeply grateful for everything he and his family have given. We wish them continued success and are excited to see them soon.”

Horst also mentioned Portis, the other Bucks staple included in this trade:

“From the moment Bobby arrived, he embraced what it means to be a Buck and quickly became a fan favorite through his passion, competitiveness and unwavering commitment to winning. Bobby played a vital role in helping our franchise capture the 2021 NBA Championship, and his performance throughout that historic playoff run will forever be part of Bucks history.”

Regarding the deal itself, somewhat surprisingly nothing has changed from what Shams Charania first reported. The Bucks are still receiving a package of Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Nate Ament (courtesy of the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft), a 2030 first-round pick swap, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), and a 2033 second-round pick. In his statement, Horst emphasized his enthusiasm for the four newest members of the Bucks:

“We’re excited to welcome Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez and Kasparas Jakucionis to Bucks basketball. Each brings talent, versatility, competitiveness and a team-first mentality that builds our culture and identity.

We’re confident in the foundation we’re establishing under Coach Jenkins and excited about the opportunities ahead. Our team will compete, play together and get better.”

According to reports, the Bucks had been looking to trade Herro, with Marc Stein and Jake Fischer stating that they were already in talks with the Detroit Pistons in the immediate aftermath of the reported trade. They can still trade Herro; they couldn’t reroute him as part of this initial deal.

It’s hard to believe that the Giannis era in Milwaukee is now officially over. How fortunate we were to have 13 years of watching a skinny Greek kid turn into one of the greatest players the league has ever seen. Giannis finishes his Bucks tenure as the franchise’s all-time leader in points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484), blocks (1,088), and several other major statistical markers. His impact on the franchise is something we’ll likely never see again. And for this, we are forever grateful.

For more of our thoughts on the trade, check out Episode 247 of Deer Diaries, where Jack Trehearne, Finn Kuehl, and I look back on Giannis’ career in Milwaukee.

As things stand, the Bucks now oficially have 16 players on standard contracts after they waived Pete Nance on Friday and signed former second-round pick Bogoljub Markovic. They also filled out their final two-way slot after signing former Marquette Golden Eagle Kam Jones on Saturday. Milwaukee can carry up to 21 players through the offseason, and only needs to trim the roster to 15 standard contracts by opening night. The only player who still needs to be signed is the 13th overall pick, Nate Ament.

Now that this trade is official, what are your final thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

While the Lakers have been certain to appease Luka Dončić this summer, it doesn’t appear they abided by his every wish.

Luka and the Lakers appeared to be in lockstep on a number of ideas heading into the offseason. Luka wanted to continue playing with Austin and the Lakers reached an agreement on a four-year contract with him.

Next, Luka wanted a top-tier center after a season-and-a-half of underwhelming options. The Lakers agreed and traded for Walker Kessler before signing him to a four-year deal.

However, while Luka apparently wanted a Rui Hachimura back, the Lakers balked. On Monday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Rui would be signing with the Clippers on a two-year deal. According to Law Murray of The Athletic, Rui was among the players Luka wanted the team to bring back.

The Lakers very recently ran into issues with LeBron James having input on roster decisions, so you can understand why they might be hesitant to go all-in on the next superstar’s requests. Fulfilling two of Luka’s three wishes feels like enough.

There’s also a decent basketball argument for letting Rui walk. The Lakers do have a hole at the forward position, but his skillset isn’t a perfect fit, necessarily. Rui is a terrific 3-point shooter, but not a great rebounder, defender or passer. The Lakers need many of those things from that forward position, as well as some athleticism, another thing not associated with Rui’s game.

So, the Lakers are looking elsewhere for a wing option instead of bringing back Rui. The good news for Luka, and likely Austin, is that Rui, who they seem to have built a strong bond with off the court, will remain in Los Angeles.

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

The Los Angeles Lakers lost another free agent Monday when Rui Hachimura signed a two-year, $28 million deal with their crosstown rival.

The forward sent a heartfelt message to Lakers fans following the news of the Los Angeles Clippers’ signing.

“Thank you Lakers Nation for the past three years. We had some great moments and I will always remember the memories we made together,” Hachimura said in a statement posted on Instagram.

Hachimura spent parts of four seasons donning the purple and gold. The forward was traded to the Lakers by the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.

He is coming off a 2025-26 performance where he averaged 11.5 points per game, 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists while shooting 51.4% from the field and 44.3% from three. During his time with the Lakers, Hachimura emerged as a solid three-point shooter and displayed his dominance from beyond the arc in the playoffs.

The 28-year-old finished the postseason averaging 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting over 50% from three.

Now, Hachimura joins a projected Clippers starting lineup featuring Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler, Brandon Ingram and Brook Lopez.

The Lakers have likely concluded a majority of their free agency moves this offseason, but fans are hoping general manager Rob Pelinka is still putting the finishing touches on the roster.

LA has limited financial flexibility, but two glaring needs.

While there was speculation Hachimura would fill the role as versatile wing defender, it’s evident he won’t return for the upcoming season. The Lakers have also been linked to free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, but the team will need to free up cap space in order to ink a deal.

Moreover, the Lakers need a backup center after trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards. Hachimura’s signing is only evidence of the Lakers’ remaining tasks before the season begins.

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The Golden State Warriors remain one of the potential teams that LeBron James might sign with in free agency this offseason.

However, while the Warriors were seen as one of several favorites to sign LeBron about a week ago, their chances of landing him appear to decrease every day.

The most recent update regarding this from ESPN’s Anthony Slater will not inspire optimism among Warriors fans. In a July 6 article, Slater wrote that sources within the Warriors’ organization have a, “low level of optimism” that James will choose Golden State as his next (and final) NBA destination to conclude his career.

That being said, Slater also noted that the Warriors will keep roster space open for LeBron until he makes his final decision.

This is a wise choice, because things can change very quickly in free agency. There’s a chance that James could wake up tomorrow morning and decide that Golden State is where he wants to be, and the Warriors would be ensure that if he does have this change of heart then they’re able to move on him quickly.

But this could also be a crutch for the Warriors. Free agency is happening fast, and Golden State might miss out on signing other key players in the hope LeBron takes his talents to the San Francisco Bay Area. And if he doesn’t, this would likely amount to a lost offseason for an aging Warriors squad that clearly needs more pieces if they’re to contend for a championship.

The NBA’s landscape is sure to shift once LeBron chooses his next team. And the Warriors probably won’t like where they sit once this shift happens and James isn’t on their roster.

Congratulations are in order for Bucks center Myles Turner and his girlfriend Aysia Janelle.

The two-time NBA blocks leader announced their engagement in Italy in a carousel post on Instagram, which included photos taken by Josh Sobel, a photographer and videographer based in New York and Miami.

“The Chosen One Naboo ,” Turner wrote. “With You I Am Truly On Top Of The World To My Muse.

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“You Make My Heart Explode And Now We Sail Off Into The Sunset Because…The Prophecy Has Been Fulfilled.”

Turner proposed to Aysia at Villa del Balbianello, one of the most iconic and visited villas overlooking Lake Como.

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It was used as the setting for major film productions, including scenes from “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” and the James Bond film “Casino Royale” with Daniel Craig.

Turner appeared to recreate scenes from the Palace of Naboo in the “Star Wars” films.

Taking to her Instagram, Aysia showed a close-up of her stunning diamond engagement ring.

“Life update. ,” she wrote. “Genuinely the most beautiful day. My heart is so full because of you. I love you!!!!!!!! @turner_myles.”

Turner shared an image of a hotel room in the French Riviera that was decorated for their engagement on his Instagram Story.

There was champagne and heart-shaped balloons set up on the bed with a lit sign that said, “Engaged.”

The couple went public with their relationship in 2023.

According to her LinkedIn page, Aysia currently works as a marketing manager at Alphaeon Credit, a financing company that works with healthcare providers to help patients. She is also a freelance content creator.

Her full name is Aysia Janelle McCloud, according to reports.

The couple are founders of the Casper Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting cats and shelters.

Turner signed with Milwaukee last July after 10 seasons with the Indiana Pacers.

Former Wisconsin Badgers point guard Nick Boyd was signed by the Golden State Warriors as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NBA Draft, and he’s already in action as summer league began last week.

Boyd, playing on the Warriors Blue team, has started at point guard for Golden State’s first two games, where we’ve seen some mixed results. In his first career action, Boyd had 11 points, good for second on the team, but on 2 of 10 shooting and 1 of 5 from three-point range. He also added three assists, two steals, and two turnovers, while being a -9 in the box score.

But, one day later on Sunday, Boyd fared better in a 91-85 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Playing 27 minutes, which ranked second on the team, the point guard put up 11 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, while turning the ball over three times.

He was the team’s third-leading scorer behind Jacksen Moni (18 points) and RJ Nembhard Jr. (17 points). Boyd was also a -1 in the box score.

Boyd will be back in action in the California Classic one last time on Monday evening, as the Warriors Blue Team faces the Nets. Then, it’s off to Las Vegas for the remainder of Summer League, with the next game coming on Thursday.

Given his high minute count so far, Boyd should get plenty of opportunities as Summer League goes on.

The Sacramento Kings are waiving DeMar DeRozan, a decision made collaboratively by both sides, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.

The Kings explored trade options for DeRozan, but came up empty. The six-time All-Star now emerges as a top free agent this summer.

The moves free up significant cap space for Sacramento, since the team is stretching and waiving DeRozan’s partially guaranteed $25.74 million salary.

The forward joined the Kings in the summer of 2024 via a three-team sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. The Kings reunited DeRozan and former Bulls teammate Zach LaVine at the trade deadline in 2025.

However, the duo’s tenure in Sacramento was short-lived as the Kings missed the playoffs that season.

DeRozan is now considered a solid option for teams as a fallback plan for teams in pursuit of LeBron James.

Teams that strike out on James are expected to pursue DeRozan. The 36-year-old averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists while shooting 49.7% from the field and 32.0% from three. The forward, who is entering his 18th NBA season, remains a reliable scorer in the league.

DeRozan is also a durable player, appearing in at least 70 games in each of the past five campaigns. He missed just five games last season.

In his career, DeRozan has averaged 21.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists across 47.1% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc across 1,264 games.

After two seasons with the Kings, this summer marks the start of a new chapter for DeRozan.

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The Los Angeles Lakers have completely revamped the roster this offseason.

Rui Hachimura became the latest Lakers free agent departure after signing a two-year, $28 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers Monday.

Every player from the Lakers’ Game 1 starting lineup versus the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs is officially gone.

Head coach JJ Redick went with an alternative lineup in the series opener due to the injuries of Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić in the postseason. Redick deployed Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton in Game 1 against the Rockets.

The Lakers defeated Houston 107–98 with those starting five, all of whom have left the team this summer.

While there have been many departures in LA, the Lakers have also added a number of free agents on the market. General manager Rob Pelinka is under immense pressure to improve the roster and made several signings in the first few days of free agency.

The Lakers signed Walker Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal. The contract is considered an overpay, but it answered Luka Doncic’s request to give the team an elite rim protector.

Guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton as well as big man Sandro Mamukelashvili will wear the purple and gold for the 2026–27 season. Despite the roster overhaul, many believe the Lakers’ moves aren’t enough to make the team legitimate contenders.

The Lakers’ biggest needs remain a versatile wing defender and a backup center after Ayton was traded to the Washington Wizards last week.

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Warriors reportedly ‘will look into' DeMar DeRozan as LeBron James alternative originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are preparing for Plan B if their attempts at luring LeBron James to Northern California end King-less.

Golden State already has discussed the idea of signing recently waivedDeMar DeRozan, ESPN’s NBA insider Anthony Slater reported Monday.

“The Warriors, I have already been told it’s a guy they will look into at some point in the coming days, especially if they do not get LeBron James,” Slater said on SportsCenter.

Slater also mentioned teams like the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors as other potential DeRozan suitors – the latter two being more due to their “heartwarming” nature.

The 17-year veteran is from Compton, Calif., just 20 minutes away from Inglewood, where the Clippers play and played his first nine seasons with the Raptors after being drafted No. 9 overall by Toronto in 2009.

DeRozan will turn 37 next month, but has proven the last two seasons with Sacramento that he’s still a bucket-getter.

“The reality is he should be coming at such a bargain that really any team in the league that just needs some bench scoring should be looking at him,” Slater said.

The six-time All-Star averaged 18.4 points per game with the Kings last season and proved to enjoy his mentorship role for the young players as the team’s mentality shifted from contending to rebuilding during his tenure.

In 2025-26, DeRozan’s points per game were the lowest for his career since the 2012-13 season, but that was largely because of the team’s shift and his minutes per game (31.2) and usage percentage (22.8) being reduced to the lowest since his rookie season in the NBA.

While James remains the Warriors’ top target, adding an efficient scoring wing doesn’t seem to be too bad of a fallback.

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LeBron James seems to be near a decision.

If the latest update on his free agent sweepstakes is true, James will sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers after leaving the NBA on its toes since he informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would be leaving the franchise.

Teams reportedly interested in the four-time NBA champion aren’t optimistic about their chances of landing James, according to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst.

“I’ve talked to people in Philly, and I’m like what do you think? Everybody I talk to is like, ‘we’re afraid it’s Cleveland,'” Windhorst said on the Pardon My Take podcast.

“Nobody seems like they have optimism.”

Returning to Cleveland was always the storybook ending for James since he began his career with the Cavaliers.

At 41 years old, James is still a productive player as he is coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He shot 51.5% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc in 60 games with the Lakers.

The 2025–26 campaign marked the first time James had missed opening night for the first time in his 23-year NBA career because of a sciatica injury. Despite missing the start of the season, James played a crucial role for the Lakers down the stretch after Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sustained injuries in the final weeks of the regular season.

James spearheaded the Lakers’ postseason run, which ended in the second round of the NBA playoffs after the Oklahoma City Thunder swept LA in four games.

The Game 4 loss to OKC marked James’ final game in a Lakers uniform.

Now, it appears the next chapter for James may be a poetic one as Cleveland appears to be the winner of his free agency sweepstakes.

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