There’s one hard and fast rule when it comes to evaluating player performance at NBA Summer League: it’s only okay to overreact if it strengthens your pre-existing beliefs and narratives. There are worse ways to spend one’s time in Las Vegas than searching for confirmation bias on the frantic courts of summer league.

In reality, the only universally agreed upon summer league truth is that it’s a very bad sign if second and third-year players are struggling as former first-round picks. For everyone else, what happens in Vegas should be taken with a grain of salt yet enjoyed to its fullest because it’s awesome to have NBA basketball back in July even if it’s only JV teams duking it out for a couple weeks.

Summer league is mostly about watching the NBA’s recent draft picks, but it’s always nice when young veterans show they might be taking a leap for the upcoming season. A year ago, Ajay Mitchell was on my too good for summer league list and then proceeded to have a breakout year for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here are the players who look too good to be in Las Vegas this summer.

Will Riley, G, Washington Wizards

Riley measured above 6’8 barefoot at the combine ahead of the 2025 draft, and he’s reportedly gotten even taller since then. Now standing around 6’10, the 20-year-old wing showed off his deep bag of scoring moves with fearless takes to the rim, spot-up threes, and solid rebounding for his position in Las Vegas. Riley is really slippery off the bounce to beat the first line of the defense, and his long strides and extension finishes help him finish at the basket even with his thin frame. His shooting tends to run hot-and-cold, but he has real utility in his three-point shot both off the dribble and on spot-ups, and there’s no doubt he has NBA range on his jumper. Riley is just a really fluid athlete for his size with real shooting upside, and he has the awareness to relocate off the ball to put himself in a better position to score. There are suddenly a lot of mouths to feed in Washington, but Riley seems like a walking bucket who is just starting to scratch his long-term upside.

Jalen Slawson, F, Indiana Pacers

Jalen Slawson cuts to the rim for the SLAM 💥

Pacers/Sixers in NBA Summer League action is live on Prime! pic.twitter.com/JbS21SwF0t

— US/UKsportsHQ (@GOsisike) July 11, 2026

Slawson was a 2023 NCAA tournament hero for helping lead Furman to a first-round upset over Virginia, which helped him get selected No. 54 overall by the Kings. He’s bounced around the G League in his first few years as a pro with only 13 NBA games under his belt, but he’s coming off an excellent season for Pacers’ G League affiliate. Slawson is proving he deserves a real shot at an NBA roster spot with a fantastic showing in summer league that has displayed his downhill athleticism and defensive playmaking as a 6’8 forward. He had five blocks in the SummerPacers’ Vegas opener in a win over the Cavs, then turned up the heat on offense by scoring 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting in Indiana’s next game against the 76ers. Slawson’s defense will have to be his calling card to earn a roster spot, and he has all the tools you need at that end with a strong frame, a near 7-foot wingspan, and good instincts to both play the passing lanes and rotate for supplemental rim protection. Offensively, he’s best when he has a clear lane to the basket as a cutter or in transition. The three-point shot remains his swing skill, but after making 34.5 percent from deep in the G League last year, it’s clear he’s making progress. This summer league run has been another step forward.

Egor Demin, G, Brooklyn Nets

It’s time I fill out an apology form on Egor Demin. Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, I named Demin one of the most overrated prospects in the class, and gave the Nets a D for his selection at No. 8 overall in my instant grades. My main arguments against Demin were that I didn’t think he could score efficiently inside or outside the arc, and I didn’t think he had the frame to play through contact on either end. Well! Demin massively improved as a shooter as a rookie, going from 27 percent from three and 69 percent from the foul line in college to 38.5 percent from three and 83.1 percent on free throws as a rookie. A year in an NBA strength and conditioning program helped his body quite a bit too, and he continues to show the gains he’s made during summer league. Demin scored 20 or more points in all three of his summer league games this year on 61 percent true shooting. He looks improved attacking the basket off the bounce, and he’s showing he can hit the defensive glass, too. The Nets have done a really good job developing Demin’s frame, and it’s paying off on both ends. Demin deserves a lot of credit himself for putting in the work to improve his jumper. I’m happy to be wrong about this one because Demin is a cool player with a fun skill set who should be a nice piece in Brooklyn’s rebuild for a long time.

Joan Beringer, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

🇫🇷 Joan Beringer pour ses débuts en @NBASummerLeague ! ☀️

18 POINTS
11 REBONDS
4 CONTRES

Victoire des @Timberwolvespic.twitter.com/8H8anyo1RN

— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) July 10, 2026

Beringer didn’t play much as a rookie after being the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 draft, but he’s in line for a bigger role this season after the Timberwolves traded away Julius Randle. The 6’11 big man only needed one summer league game to show off his spectacular athleticism and skill set improvements that should have Minnesota fans very excited for his sophomore season. Beringer runs the floor incredibly well for a center, and he has crazy bounce when he gets near the rim. It feels like a lock that he’s going to have a few of the NBA’s most impressive dunks this season, but his shot-blocking will be just as valuable backing up Rudy Gobert. The most surprising thing about his summer league performance might be the development of his handle: he looked comfortable attacking off the dribble far away from the hoop, showing good footwork and enough ball control to get to the basket. The Wolves need some big bodies to help protect Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball this season, and Beringer is showing he can be a contributor.

Tre Johnson, G, Washington Wizards

The Wizards vs. Jazz opener in Las Vegas was hyped as the first meeting between A.J. Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, but Johnson was the best player on the floor. The No. 6 overall pick from the 2025 draft showed what he could do in a high-usage role, splashing shots from deep, attacking off the dribble, and keeping constant pressure on the opposing defense with his gravity. Johnson’s ability to self-create threes off the dribble is going to be huge for his scoring utility as teams load up to stop Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis. If you crowd his dribble, Johnson has the quickness and the handle needed to beat his man to the cup and get the defense rotating. His playmaking and defense still needs some work, but he should take a step up after a decent rookie year in Washington.

Khaman Maluach, C, Phoenix Suns

Khaman Maluach's second straight double-double in Vegas

☄️ 15 PTS
☄️ 15 REB
☄️ 2 BLK
☄️ 2 3PM
☄️ 1 STL pic.twitter.com/gGCFw8fZFS

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 12, 2026

Maluach essentially got a redshirt in his rookie season in Phoenix, but the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft seems poised for a breakthrough this year. The former Duke center is absolutely gigantic at nearly 7’1 barefoot, 252 pounds, with a nearly 7’7 wingspan and 9’6 standing reach, and he looked like a man amongst boys in summer league. It’s impossible to keep Maluach out of deep post position on offense, and all it takes is a quick turn to the basket for him to be in position to dunk the ball. His length is even more effective on the defensive end, and he looked quicker to the ball with his ground coverage in Las Vegas. The thing that makes Maluach really exciting is his potential to shoot threes, and he continues to take and make them in summer league. His hands and passing are still a question offensively, but Maluach is so big with a rapidly rising skill level that he still has tons of upside for the Suns even after a quiet rookie year.

Cedric Coward, F, Memphis Grizzlies

Coward solidified his meteoric rise from DIII to lottery pick in his first season in the NBA by earning All-Rookie First-Team honors. The No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 draft is a long (7’2 wingspan) and strong swingman who locks down on the defensive end, shoots an easy ball from three, and adds value as a rebounder. It would have been easy for Coward to skip summer league after such a strong rookie year as a soon-to-be 23-year-old, but instead there he was defending full court, crashing the glass, and trying to add new elements to his game with pull-up threes. Coward feels like the perfect connective tissue between Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey in the Memphis frontcourt, and these early reps playing with Boozer could help jumpstart their chemistry next season. Memphis’ rebuild already looks promising, and Coward is a big part of it.

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings

Raynaud might have been the best second-round pick of last year’s draft, going from the No. 42 overall selection to All-Rookie Second-Team honors for the Sacramento Kings. The Stanford product has a diverse offensive game with impressive post moves inside, an easy shooting stroke from three, and the ability to make plays for teammates in dribble-handoff actions. He should be a true stretch five in time, but he needs to up his volume from behind the arc, and that shouldn’t be a problem after he again showed off his deep touch in Las Vegas. The real questions for Raynaud come on the defensive end, where he’s just not a very strong rim protector. The Kings are going to need to find playmaking defensive wings to insulate Raynaud on that end of the floor, but his offensive game is good enough to demand minutes for a Sacramento team that continues to rebuild.

As the Phoenix Suns tipped off their third Summer League game against the Milwaukee Bucks, a rolling monsoon made its way into the Valley of the Sun. Dust, wind, rain, lightning, thunder. ’Twas the first big storm of the summer, and it coincided with the storm brewing on the court in Las Vegas.

For the first time this summer, the Suns looked cohesive and connected in the opening quarter, scoring 19 points after totaling only 22 first-quarter points in their first two games combined. From there, the aggression and pressure continued. And as I watched, I could feel the overreactions boiling inside of me.

Because how can you not be excited about how comfortable and mature Khaman Maluach looks? How can you not be impressed with the way rookie Koa Peat demands the ball and makes a beeline toward the cylinder? How can you not be thankful that Koby Brea was knocking down three pointers? How can you not be pleased with how Rasheer Fleming’s defensive acumen appears to have progressed?

When the regular season arrives, the minutes for these players will most likely dwindle. Players ahead of them on the depth chart will receive more opportunities, and that’s fine. That’s what makes what the Suns are doing right now so impressive. They have a deep roster with a talented starting five and legitimate position battles behind it.

The youth movement on display in Vegas felt as impressive and mighty as the storm rolling across the desert Monday night. And like the rain, sometimes you have to wait for it. This was the first measurable rain in 100 days. It might be a couple of years before these young players truly make their impact in Phoenix. But if they continue to progress, they’re going to force the organization’s hand. They’re going to force some decisions.

And that’s where the excitement lives. Not in Summer League wins or stat lines, but in the pressure these players can create within the organization. Development changes timelines. Competition changes rotations. Young players who demand opportunities eventually receive them. The Suns don’t need Maluach, Peat, Fleming, or Brea to arrive tomorrow. They need them to keep pushing. Keep progressing. Keep making the decisions ahead more difficult. Because when that happens, the forecast in Phoenix begins to change.

Summer Bright Side Baller Standings

Two games. Two Bright Side Baller awards for Khaman Maluach. And you know what? I wouldn’t want it any other way…

Summer Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 3 against the Bucks. Here are your nominees:

Khaman Maluach
21 points (5-of-10, 1-of-4 3PT), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocks, 1 turnover, +18 +/-

Koa Peat
19 points (8-of-15), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +18 +/-

Koby Brea
19 points (6-of-12, 6-of-11 3PT), 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +16 +/-

Darius Brown II
14 points (4-of-6, 4-of-5 3PT), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -7 +/-

Rasheer Fleming
9 points (3-of-7, 3-of-5 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, -12 +/-

Corey Camper Jr.
2 points (1-of-5, 0-of-2 3PT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 turnovers, +10 +/-

---

Vote away!

Bruce Thornton has us acting like Bart Simpson at a whiteboard:

“I will not overreact to Summer League. I will not overreact to Summer League. I will not…”.

OK, fine: I might overreact to Summer League. Through two games, Thornton is averaging 22.0 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.0 steals in two games.

Sure, he’s shooting 37.1% from deep. That’s where we should – you guessed it – not overreact to Summer League. He’s had one efficient game, and one inefficient one.

Bruce Thornton will not be the Houston Rockets’ starting point guard in 2026-27. That’s obvious. Still, he may be forcing his way into the rotational conversation. It raises a larger question:

What is the team’s point guard rotation even going to look like?

Rockets point guard rotation worth keeping an eye on

Fred VanVleet is the presumptive starter, but whether he’ll be the player he used to be is an article in itself:

And wouldn’t you know it, I already wrote it.

That was before VanVleet gave an interview and explained, in medical language, that his knee had kabloomed into a bazillion pieces. He’ll likely be on the floor when the opening buzzer sounds for the 2026-27 season, but his grip on the starting position feels tenuous.

The obvious heir to his throne would be Reed Sheppard, but Ime Udoka could have other plans. Whatever you think of Udoka’s defensive leanings, he may have a point.

If you’re deep enough into Rockets lore, you’ve probably seen the DataBallr stats. When Sheppard shares the floor with Alperen Sengun and without Amen Thompson, the Rockets are -3.9. With all three on the floor, they’re just +0.3. When Sheppard is with Thompson and without Sengun, they’re +12.4, and when he’s without either of his star teammates, the Rockets are +14.5.

The prevailing assumption is that Sheppard and Sengun can’t defend together. That’s not actually what the data shows, as it’s their Offensive Rating that drops. Still, this could be a case of noisy numbers. The broader point would be that, as of now, Sheppard and Sengun, for whatever reason, don’t seem to mix.

The Rockets were a jarring -9.7 when Sengun was without either Thompson or Sheppard, so maybe he’s the root of the problem. In any case, he’ll be the starting center for game one, even if we can’t speak to Game 42.

So maybe Marcus Smart is the best option.

There’s a bit of an uncomfortable tension (understatement) surrounding the conversation about Sengun. His most devout followers will tell you that he needed a quality point guard in 2025-26, and that’s why he had a bit of a rough season.

Only, he was less efficient around the rim next to Fred VanVleet the year prior. More broadly, if Sengun is a play-finishing big who needs a star point guard to succeed, what’s his purpose? Isn’t he the star playmaker? If he’s a star player, shouldn’t he thrive next to a floor spacer who can make a simple entry pass without activating him in the pick-and-roll?

Smart meets the criteria. If Sengun can’t succeed with him, there are bigger conversations to have about his viability as a star player. He’s also the perfect point-of-attack defender to offset his limitations on that end of the floor:

Should he be the starter in 2026-27?

Rockets must explore all backcourt options

It’s going to be a committee, and that’s perfectly fine.

VanVleet has earned the initial nod. The Rockets should see who he is in 2026-27 before making systemic changes.

If he isn’t the man he used to be, it’s fair to assume Smart is next in line. It’s probably more optimal to maximize the minutes Sheppard spends piloting the second unit. His minutes will ideally increase in 2026-27, but a higher spike in his usage would be more significant.

If he’s wildly successful in that role, he should be starting by the end of the year. Sheppard is, above all else, confounding. One would like the third overall pick to be starting at the beginning of his third season, but painful as it is to accept, Sheppard is a tremendous defensive liability. He’ll likely have to be a top 5 shooter in the NBA to be worth starting, so that’s the bar he should be looking to clear with the second unit to begin the season.

If VanVleet is good to go, or Sheppard breaks out, it shouldn’t affect Smart too much. He’s probably a natural two, and he can even play the three. Smart can get in where he fits in.

Then, there’s Thornton. Pencil him in for the Aaron Holiday role – for now. With his unique weight and strength for his height, Thornton plays bigger than 6’1″. By the end of the year, he may be making a case for a bigger role in 2027-28:

Although we’ve only seen him in two Summer League games so far.

Lowry’s legacy is bigger than himself, and every basketball fan should know that

7. 7. is for #7

Kyle Lowry calls it a career, and he couldn’t have asked for a better ending to it. The franchise legend signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors seven days ago, capping off a storied career in the most poetic way possible. His resume speaks for itself. Lowry is the franchise leader for assists, steals, triple-doubles, and three-point field goals, and to top it off, he’s a champion.

Despite his accolades, some fans think that he still falls short of the highest recognition in basketball — a Naismith Hall of Fame induction. A netizen commented on X, “Not quite an NBA Hall of Famer but a Raptors legend,” while another fan stated, “He’s not a HoF, but he’s a hell of a ball player,” on a video clip from Sportsnet where Lowry is greeted by a round of applause as he bids farewell in the ceremony.

Discussions like these may feel reductive for a Raptors great among Toronto fans, but comments such as these also subtly indicate what it is that makes us consider him a potential Hall-of-Famer that others may overlook. 

Vince put Toronto on the map, but Lowry elevated them to a winning territory

The 2010s saw a mediocre expansion team become the fourth-winningest franchise in the decade, and Lowry was an instrumental piece to that turnaround. In hindsight, no one saw this coming. The Raptors were just four seasons removed from their last playoff contention in 2008. Their star power forward, Chris Bosh, left in free agency to join the superteam in Miami. The Raptors thought they had found a franchise saviour in Bosh — someone who could finally get them over the hump, especially after Vince Carter left on estranged terms.

Carter was the Raptors’ first superstar. He and a rookie Tracy McGrady filled the seats not just in Toronto, but in visiting cities as well because of their high-flying dunks and electrifying playing style. During his stint, however, the Raptors didn’t see much post-season success, with the second round being the farthest they have gotten. Vinsanity made the Raptors a spectacle, which barely translated into winning basketball.

Fast forward to the 2012 off-season, and the Raptors took a chance on a journeyman guard whose reputation shadowed his upside. Lowry got traded from the Houston Rockets after growing frustrated with his backup role. Lowry’s growing pains persisted for a while, as he tried to get used to head coach Dwane Casey’s system while playing second-fiddle to Jose Calderon. Instead of allowing himself to stunt, Lowry brought the same defining characteristic he had to practice to win the starting job — his tenacity.

Coach Casey recalled, “Kyle would come in on a mission every day in practice and kick Jose’s butt… Kyle was on a mission to prove that ‘hey, I’m better than Jose Calderon,’ which it turned out he was, and the rest is history.” The following season, the Raptors secured a postseason berth for the first time since 2008. The Raptors have made the playoffs in each of the next six years, but the same critique always stuck with this team, especially Lowry — the inability to deliver when games finally matter.

The height of his slump came against the Washington Wizards in the 2015 playoffs. Despite holding home-court advantage, the Raptors got swept by the Wizards. Lowry was held to a playoff-low 12.3 points on a 31.6 per cent shooting from the field and 21.7 per cent from deep. Lowry also faced major criticism after his 0-point performance in the playoff opener against the Orlando Magic in the 2019 playoffs.

Reducing Lowry based on these playoff woes discredits the improvements he has made to be able to contribute to a winning team. In his postseason appearances with the Raptors, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, with consistent shooting percentages across three levels. In the biggest game of his career, Lowry put up 15 points on 5-6 shooting (a perfect 4-4 from three) to build a sizeable advantage for the Raptors in the first frame, setting the tone for the title-clinching game of the 2019 NBA Finals. 

Lowry was never the 1A on the Raptors, but for many, he’s the greatest to have ever worn their colours. Lowry understood his role on the floor — a point guard who sets plays for teammates to put them in the best possible position to score. While scoring is not his main priority, he also has a knack for it when the defence allows him. On the other end, Lowry took on a scrappy, “bulldog” persona, and Raptors fans know this play all too well. Lowry was willing to put his body on the line to draw charges, and Toronto came to embrace him for it. As great as he is on the floor, his body of work transcended his playing career. His teammates, past and present, reflect the legacy Lowry has had as a basketball player, as they continue to grow in their respective careers.

“Those guys are my little brothers (…) they’re making me proud every single day”

When asked about getting the chance to play with eventual stars, Lowry credited their work ethic and expressed his delight at seeing them flourish on the court. “They worked hard (…), but those guys were [also] talented, and they wanted it,” said Lowry. Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet were all named All-Stars at some point in their careers. While not having earned an All-Star nod himself, OG Anunoby is the only 2x champion from that crop. While known for his team-first mentality, Lowry was not shy about taking responsibility in player development, considering the work ethic he and former running-mate DeMar DeRozan displayed on the court.

A place in basketball history

NBA history wouldn’t be complete without each of the 30 teams that have competed for the past 75 years. For the Raptors, many chapters have been written about them. From its early years with Vince, to being stuck in mediocrity, to finally bringing a title back to the country where basketball was invented, Toronto always has its place in basketball history.

During the press conference, GM Bobby Webster announced that number seven will be hung in the rafters, immortalizing the career and legacy of arguably the Greatest Raptor of All-Time. While his name doesn’t scream the likes of Vince Carter, Kawhi Leonard, or even his former teammate, DeRozan, Lowry made the Raptors a winning franchise, not as its alpha, but as an impactful player who settled for a role that his team needed him to fill. Through his strong work ethic, Lowry also inspired a crop of would-be stars, who continue to prosper with their respective teams. 

His story does not belong to just Raptors fans. Lowry left an indelible mark on Raptors history. For that, he deserves to be memorialized in the Hall of Fame.  

The Summer Sixers have gotten off to a hot start in the desert, winning their first two games against Detroit and Indiana. Two more wins and they’ll be on their way to the Summer League semifinals, in search of the organization’s first Summer League title since Hollis Thompson and Casper Ware were doing their thing in Orlando back in 2014.

Encouragingly in the big picture sense, this squad’s success has been led by the two Sixers under standard NBA contracts. Rookie guard Labaron Philon has averaged 21.0 points and 6.5 assists across the two games, and despite some inefficiencies inside the arc, is very much looking the part of a three-level scorer. Meanwhile, second-year big man Johni Broome is also averaging 21.0 points per game, along with 12.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. I understand the notion of wanting to see Broome do it against NBA-level competition, but you can only play the opponent in front of you, so it’s at least an encouraging sign for a better sophomore season from the 2025 35th overall pick.

The Houston Rockets are 1-1 in Las Vegas, topping Denver in their opener before losing to the Raptors. Here’s a look at Houston’s group for Summer League action:

Sights on Vegas 🎰 pic.twitter.com/0s03Bqe9nH

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 3, 2026

Bruce Thornton is a guy to keep an eye on this afternoon. The 31st overall pick out of Ohio State exploded for 27 points in the opener against Denver, and chipped in 17 points and five steals against the Raptors. 6-foot-6 guard Quadir Copeland is on a two-way contract with Houston after going undrafted out of NC State.

We’ve seen a pair of entertaining games so far from the Summer Sixers. Let’s hope TJ Dileo has the guys ready to play once again to keep the undefeated stretch in Vegas intact.

Game Details

When: July 14, 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus, Prime Video
Follow: @LibertyBallers

While the official start to offseason free agency is less than a month old, teams are beginning to slow down with their roster maneuvering after a flurry of opening-week moves. With the dust settling, the team dove into the Pistons’ offseason so far.

1. The offseason is far from over, but it seems the Pistons’ offseason is near completion. Where do you think the Jalen Duren negotiations land?

Brady Fredericksen: I don’t see a world where he isn’t back. The FO likes him, Cade Cunningham likes him — it’s going to come together… just not as Duren or his agent envisioned. I’m guessing he lands a deal in the $35 million a year range over 3-4 years, which is likely $10-15 million less than he wants and more than the Pistons want to pay him. I could see him talking a shorter deal to get another swing at that max-level contract sooner, though.

Wes Davenport: I’ll guess a 4-year, $150M deal with a player option at the end of it. At this point, I just can’t imagine he turns down a contract to take the QO, so his camp pushes for a player option to save face.

Justin Lambregetse: The Pistons will split the difference with Jalen Duren and come to an agreement on a contract for $40 million a year in the next week or two. I don’t think they let this drag out into August.

Robbie Bettelon: He gets 5-years, $180 million. It’s basically the same total any other team can offer him ($177m), but over five years instead of four. This feels like a fair middle ground ($36m AAV) for both sides.

Brennan Sims: He’ll be back in Detroit on an Alperen Şengün-type deal ($185M/5Y). Maybe even a little less. I don’t see another ending to this story. Duren was phenomenal in the regular season, but the playoff woes were enough to pump the super-max brakes, especially in the second apron era.

Austin Flores: The Pistons probably want to keep it close to $30 million annually, and I think that would be fair given the totality of last season for Duren. There are only a select few big men in the league who are really worth a significant percentage of a team’s cap, and we’ve seen several teams make the mistake of overpaying bigs that don’t fit that mold. That’s not to say Duren isn’t a contributor to winning and can’t get better at 22, but with his limitations as a creator on offense, it’s hard to justify.

Max Sturm: I think they land somewhere in the middle, like others have said. The Pistons have some things going for them here. There doesn’t seem to be any other serious suitors for Duren at this stage in the game. The second apron continues to spook teams into making large commitments to guys who aren’t top 15 players. If Boston wanted out of the Jaylen Brown business, why would they want to turn around and max Duren? People forget that restricted free agency often goes into the late summer. I’m not sweating this…yet.

2. What is your favorite move this offseason and least favorite (or lack thereof) move?

Brady: Isaiah Joe is my favorite add by far. He’s one of the great shooters in the NBA, and we saw how valuable those types are. OKC and Philly were both oodles better with him on the floor. He’s a winner. The Pistons’ spacing was a hell of a lot better when they had two 3-point aces in Malik Beasley + Tim Hardaway Jr. As for my least favorite move, it’s related: the lack of an established, off-the-bounce scorer. Joe fills a big need, but I’m not ready to give the keys to Ebuka Okorie as the other outside scorer/creator yet.

Wes: My favorite move is probably the rookie, Okorie. We had Stephen Gillaspie on the Pindown before the draft, and he really solidified my already high opinion of Okorie. He has a high ceiling and offers something the Pistons plainly do not have — the ability to create a half-court paint touch at will in isolation. My least favorite would have to be losing Tobias Harris to the Spurs. Both because I’ll miss Harris’s game and locker room leadership, and because he went to the Spurs.

Justin: I really love the Joe trade. I think he’s better and cheaper than any shooter the Pistons could have gotten on the market this year, and only trading 2 seconds is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

Robbie: My favorite move is getting Joe for two seconds as I expect him to start and have a career year next to Cad. I also enjoy the archetype of John Collins at power forward for this team over the Tobias archetype, but I have some frontcourt depth concerns. One Jalen Duren sprained ankle means a center rotation of Paul Reed and Tolu Smith with no true backup PF.

Brennan: It hurts to lose Tobias from a shot-making and leadership perspective, but Collins is more comfortable sitting in the corner acting as a spacer. That could help the offense and clear the lane a bit for the core three. He’ll need to up his volume and remain efficient from deep to be a true spacer, but the pickup is interesting. He’s a great lob threat for Cade when he does cut. Detroit hasn’t addressed the creation hole on their team in a major way. Maybe Okorie can prove that wrong.

Austin: We may look back at gaining Joe for just 2 second round picks as one of the bigger steals Detroit has made in a while. I think he has a lot more to give than what he showed in OKC, and that’s probably not a secret. He certainly fills a much-needed role for this team in the short term, with potential for maybe being a part of larger plans if things break right for him. But for next season, Joe undoubtedly makes them better.

Max: My favorite move by far was the Joe trade. For the first time since drafting Çade, the Pistons can surround him with 2-3 elite shooters in each lineup. This team can trot out lineups like the ones the Cavs and Lakers surrounded prime LeBron with. Cade has shown he is that special. Losing Isaiah Stewart stings, as he was a massive part of the culture shift and defensive identity in Detroit. With Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland and Daniss Jenkins sticking around, plus J.B. Bickerstaff still manning the sidelines, there should still be enough there for this team to be a top 10 defense. 

3. Assume the Duren situation plays out how you expect, grade Trajan Langdon’s third offseason in Detroit.

Brady: The lack of a real difference-making addition puts me at about a C-minus. The whole thing is “I guess.” I wanted more this summer and, though I’m not oblivious to the circumstances around a lot of their reported targets, I just don’t think the team is better suited to win the East. It’s about what it was last year, except it makes more sense offensively. The lack of a true sidekick scorer outside for Cade is glaring, and their status in a much-improved East will make for an extremely interesting trade deadline.

Wes: C-plus, expectations are a b****. If you told me, when the season ended, this would be the offseason, I would have been happy, though bummed to lose Harris and Stew. But as the rumors started to swirl, from Herro to Kawhi to Murphy III and even Reaves, the idea of that big swing became more tantalizing. Ultimately, the price was too high. That bit of disappointment from what could have been holds back a stronger grade.

Justin: I’d give him a B. I like going all in on adding shooting if the price for getting a secondary creator is too much. I like the John Collins signing in a vacuum, but losing Tobias in the process does worry me a bit. Add that on to also losing Stew and you are really banking on Cade and Ausar (and Duren) to take on the mantle as the culture setters. I think they are ready for it and will all get better, but not being able to get a secondary creator does leave me worried come playoff time.

Robbie: I’ll give this offseason a B-minus. I was hoping Murphy III was going to be the prize catch this summer, but the idea of getting a bunch of 40% three-point shooters to surround Cade/Ausar/Duren has grown on me. This roster seems constructed to give additional playmaking duties to Ausar and Duren in the starting lineup while being able to make that bigger move at February’s deadline. I’m on board for seeing how Detroit’s Big 3 operate with the most spacing they’ve had yet.

Brennan: A solid B seems fine. Detroit needs shooting and creating around their superstar. Joe, Taurean Prince and Collins were good shooting additions, and Duncan Robinson should be back next year. You wanted to see Detroit snag a more established creator, but there weren’t a ton of guys available and willing to come to Detroit who fit that bill. Murphy III was supposedly available, but the Pelicans’ asking price was a bit rich. I understand the hesitancy. 

Austin: If a Duren (and possibly Ausar) signing is truly the end of this offseason, I’ll give it a C-. It’s been reported that Langdon tried to get Cade as his running mate but fell short of his top options. At this point, it makes sense to play out the first half of the season and try to get a Robin during the deadline when the asking price is lower. But even with some of the additions I like, they not only missed out on finding a secondary scorer but also lost their best one from last season in Tobias. Collins brings a unique skillset, but he’s not the type of player you can run an offense through like we saw with Harris in the playoffs. Not to mention losing their best front-court defender, and did nothing to really supplement that. They improved in some areas like shooting, but if Detroit doesn’t at least find a serviceable/seasoned player to get buckets before the season starts, I’d be concerned.

Max: I’ll give them a B-. The team got loads of shooting around Cunningham, which should help them maximize his skill set. But this iteration has less secondary creation and scoring than last year’s team did, and that is a major concern. It’s been rumored that the team went after Kevin Durant and Murphy III, but it ultimately takes two to tango, and Langdon can’t be faulted there. If Ausar shows that he can consistently do more with the ball in his hands or Jenkins takes a step as a scorer/creator, maybe this turns into a B+ or A-. But as it stands, losing Tobias hurts as he was the only other guy who could routinely get his own shot beyond Cade. I’d love to know who Detroit was bidding against for Kevin Huerter’s services. I would have much rather seen the team bring back Luke Kennard or Tim Hardwaway, Jr. as both inked shorter and cheaper deals than Huerter. That move alone makes a B feel generous. 

—

As always, play along and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

1. The offseason is far from over, but it seems the Pistons’ offseason is near completion. Where do you think the Jalen Duren negotiations land?

2. What is your favorite move this offseason and least favorite (or lack thereof) move?

3. Assume the Duren situation plays out how you expect, grade Trajan Langdon’s third offseason in Detroit.

It looks like the Knicks finally woke up from their month-long title-winning dream.

And what better moment to do so than on Monday, just in time to beat Motown.

Here’s the latest from Sin City and elsewhere.

You went to the parade

We watched summer league warmups at 3:51 on a Monday

We are not the same pic.twitter.com/9a6j34uCdH

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 13, 2026

Pacome Dadiet

On what he needs to improve entering his third NBA season:

“[Become] more efficient at the 3-point line and play harder.”

On understanding the Knicks’ expectations after two years of proving nothing:

“I have a better feeling of what the expectations are. So trying to put that into my workouts. Also, I know when to take time off [and] when to work; feeling more experienced.

“It’s more like playing hard [and being] somebody who can make shots, [make] open shots, play defense.”

On learning from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby:

“I’ve been watching them a lot. I know [playing off the ball] is important to our schemes, so just try to be better.”

"Push & improve the team as much as I can…Do the invisible things you see happen in a championship run, that lead to playoff basketball…put those on display…bc that's really what matters at the end"

–– 2x NBA champ Dillon Jones to @CassidyHubbarth on his summer league goals pic.twitter.com/75PlxIybwH

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 13, 2026

Dillon Jones

On his Summer League play:

“Me, personally, I just want to be able to push the team as much as I can, make the others around me better as much as I can. You know, being your third one, it seems like it slows down a little bit.

“Maybe not as productive at times, but you do the invisible things that you see happen in the championship run and things that lead to playoff basketball, and you try to put those on display as much as possible because, really, that’s what matters at the end.”

On Jack Kayil:

“Very talented kid. Super gifted. One thing I appreciate with him — obviously, he wasn’t available early in summer league but when he came in the group, he knew what was going on, he understood what was going on. I think that speaks to his upbringing and coming up in Europe. Very talented kid. He’s not going there trying to overshadow. He’s got a bright future.”

On Mike Brown seeking and implementing his advice during the NBA Finals:

“With coach, honestly, it speaks a lot to just him more than me and whatever I had to say. The fact that he would even approach me and have a conversation with me or even ask me to help in any way. … I just think it speaks to him more than me — his humility to hear everybody out in the building. And I’m just glad I was able to help the team in any way.”

On how he helped Brown tweak his system to beat the Spurs:

“Nothing specific. Just conversations me and coach had. And we were just talking about different things, and it came up in an organic conversation. It wasn’t like I was just sitting home plotting on what to say or anything like that. … These things — you try different things all the time. You never know what works and what doesn’t. I’m glad I was able to help the team.”

Patrick Ewing opens up to The Post about leaving Knicks for Wizards bench as coaching bug 'hasn't left' https://t.co/RDPU4gKYqupic.twitter.com/7Fe56K0VxF

— New York Post (@nypost) July 13, 2026

Patrick Ewing

On leaving his Knicks ambassador role to become a Wizards assistant coach:

“I take my hat off to the Knicks. Both Leon [Rose] and World Wide Wes and Mr. [James] Dolan have done a great job in terms of what they’ve done in making all of us feel like we’re all a part of everything that’s going on.

“But their [assistant] bench was already stacked. So I think they have some great guys there. I enjoyed being around them, learning from them, picking their brains. So there was not an opportunity there for me. And one was here.”

On returning to coaching with the Wizards:

“I still have the coaching bug. It was a great run for us last year in New York, being able to win a championship, get to the Eastern Conference finals the year before. But this opportunity came up and I came on board.

“I know [Wizards executive] John [Thompson III]. … I know the D.C. area. I still live there. I was going back-and-forth from New York when I was with the Knicks. I thought it was a great fit here. Being able to work with the guys I’m working with and to continue my coaching tree.”

On the Wizards’ young talent and future:

“We do have a lot of talent. You can’t predict the future. All you can do is just — you have the talent, now you got to work with the talent. We haven’t started practicing yet — just with these [Summer League players]. But I hope our future will be bright and be able to make some noise in the Eastern Conference.”

On why he continues to pursue coaching gigs:

“That [coaching bug] hasn’t left yet. I enjoy it. I enjoy teaching. I enjoy trying to give back to a lot of these young kids.”

On watching the Knicks win the championship:

“All of that was great. Seeing Jalen doing his thing. Putting on his cape and carrying us on his back. [Karl-Anthony Towns] doing the things that he was doing. Mikal Bridges. The whole entire team did what they needed to do to help us to get to this party.”

“[The K​​nicks] figured something out. We pushed them to the limit”

CJ McCollum reflects on the Hawks’ series loss to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs with @termineradio, @jumpshot8, and Ryan McDonough.

Hear our Summer League coverage:https://t.co/jnEcXNELrspic.twitter.com/bLe95lmkom

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 12, 2026

CJ McCollum

On predicting during the series that the Knicks could win the championship:

“I wasn’t surprised they won. I actually told OG [Anunoby] at the free-throw line, ‘I think you guys can win the championship.’

“Looking at their roster, how they were playing, meshing, and their focus and intensity, I saw a team capable of making a deep run.

“[The Knicks] figured something out. We pushed them to the limit. I’m sure they appreciated the fact that we tested them and got them ready.”

@Money23Green I see some things just don’t change. lol. You was on sucka shit four years ago when you swung on Jordan Poole and you on sucka shit now. 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, 3 or…

— Udonis Haslem (@ThisIsUD) July 13, 2026

Udonis Haslem

On Draymond Green commenting on the reported Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro fight:

“I see some things just don’t change. You was on sucka s–t four years ago when you swung on Jordan Poole and you on sucka s–t now. First of all Bam is 28. Tyler is 26. Neither one of them got it all figured out yet. Anyone who knows Bam knows he’s strong as baby bear. If he would’ve unloaded on Tyler 100% it’s over. You fired off on that young boy like it was a club punch and you never met him before in your life.”

On his relationship with Green:

“Ion really vibe you and I think you know that. 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!”

On enforcing standards within the Heat organization:

“Call it Heat Culture or whatever you want. But before I let one player disrespect [head coach Eric Spoelstra] in front of the squad, cut his legs out and disrupt what 15 other guys tryin to get accomplished, I’ll kick his ass.”

Kevon Looney

On choosing Los Angeles in free agency:

“I knew I was going to be a free agent. I looked at the landscape of free agency and where there was an opportunity where I could play. A few teams called looking for a backup big. LA is a place that I come to all the time. I’m here a lot of the times. I got a lot of friends and family. So to have the opportunity to join the Lakers, I couldn’t turn that down.”

"The way that the Knicks went on this historic run, … that to me puts [Jalen Brunson] over the top."@VinceGoodwill is taking Brunson as athlete of the year 👏 pic.twitter.com/JiMGG6mayK

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 13, 2026

Vince Goodwill

On why Jalen Brunson deserved the ESPY for Best Athlete in Men’s Sports:

“[Ending] that 53-year drought, winning MVP in the Finals with a 45-point finish [in Game 5], also [winning] Eastern Conference MVP. He won every trophy that there was to win, with the exception of Most Valuable Player in the regular season.

“I think the enormity of what he did in New York, the way that the Knicks went on this historic run before getting to the NBA Finals … that to me may put him over the top.”

Tony Allen says Hasheem Thabeet used to EAT hotdogs and hamburgers 35 mins before NBA games. 😭

"I said, 'Big fella… you can't be eating hotdogs and hamburgers with 35 on the clock.'"

"He looked at me and said, 'Says who?'" 🤣

"He wasn't hearing none of that."

"He started… pic.twitter.com/DIkwWdJQ6z

— Tsoj (@TsojBall) July 13, 2026

LAS VEGAS — Dillon Jones logged zero minutes in the NBA Finals but made his contributions to the title as a pseudo-adviser to coach Mike Brown.

As a member of the 2025 championship Thunder, Jones offered experience in how to deal with the circumstances.

Brown not only sought his young player’s counsel, he implemented at least one suggestion by making the Knicks rewatch their Game 3 loss to the Spurs.

The Thunder did something similar for motivation a year prior when Jones was a reserve guard.

“With coach, honestly, it speaks a lot to just him more than me and whatever I had to say,” Jones said Monday after he helped the summer league squad defeat the Pistons 86-75. “The fact that he would even approach me and have a conversation with me or even ask me to help in any way. … I just think it speaks to him more than me — his humility to hear everybody out in the building. And I’m just glad I was able to help the team in any way.”

Jones said the idea to rewatch Game 3 came up in “organic conversations” with Brown.

“Nothing specific. Just conversations me and coach had,” Jones said. “And we were just talking about different things, and it came up in an organic conversation. It wasn’t like I was just sitting home plotting on what to say or anything like that. … These things — you try different things all the time. You never know what works and what doesn’t. I’m glad I was able to help the team.”

Jones is now fighting for a training camp invite.

---

Mohamed Diawara (left ring finger injury) and Pacôme Dadiet (right foot soreness) both sat Monday, but the Knicks didn’t miss them — riding rookie Jack Kayil to their first summer league win.

Kayil, a second-round pick who played last season in Germany, dropped a team-high 19 points with three steals in 29 minutes.

“Very talented kid. Super gifted,” Jones said. “One thing I appreciate with him — obviously, he wasn’t available early in summer league but when he came in the group, he knew what was going on, he understood what was going on. I think that speaks to his upbringing and coming up in Europe. Very talented kid. … He’s not going there trying to overshadow. … He’s got a bright future.”

Kayil arrived late to summer league because of a contract dispute with his German club. He said he doesn’t want to be stashed overseas this season.

---

Another free agent center is off the board.

Or is he?

Jonas Valanciunas appeared to push back on an overseas report that he finalized a deal to sign with Lithuanian squad BC Zalgiris, posting on social media with laughing emojis, “You wake up and see that everything has been decided for you, don’t need to do anything myself. Thank you, reporters.”

Still, Valanciunas’ signing with Zalgiris — while maybe not finalized — remains expected, according to BasketNews.

Valanciunas, 34, is a free agent after being waived by the Nuggets. He’s reportedly targeted by the Knicks, who are thin at center with only Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond on the roster.

A 10:30 NBA Summer League tipoff is for the real sickos.

Did you decide to be a normal person and go to bed instead of watching the Minnesota Timberwolves second to last Las Vegas affair? No problem.

With Joan Beringer sitting out his second consecutive game with back tightness, it was another game in which the production was going to need to spread out among a couple guys that could vye for some minutes at the end of the bench this upcoming season. Because of that, there are a handful of things I kept an eye on in this game.

1.) Can Rocco Zikarsky show me anything? The 7’4 sophomore had an extremely disappointing Summer League heading into Monday. Lacking presence defensively at the rim and shooting 27% from the field (14% three), it would be easy to head into the season feeling discouraged about where Zikarsky is at, even though he isn’t in line for consistent minutes.

2.) Could Isaiah Stewart see a few go down? One of the best shooters in the draft, Stewart had a rocky debut, going 0-9 from deep. He joined the Wolves quite literally on the fly (he was unable to practice with the team until the trade that brought him to Minnesota was approved), so perhaps some comfortability could make him seem a little more at home in his second game.

3.) Zyon Pullin has been the Wolves best player by a mile, outside of perhaps the sole game Beringer was a part of in which he shined. Is he able to stay consistent and further cement himself as the emergency point guard on the bench for the Wolves this season?

---

Zikarsky went on to answer the call in the early stages. Finally finding his stroke from deep. he hit his first two threes and was able to free himself up rolling to the basket. Showing some of his offensive potential, it’s abundantly clear he still has a long way to go defensively. Finishing the first half with a team-high 10 points, he also struggled mightily to rebound the basketball, even while being he tallest person on the floor. Facing off against a big in Portland’s Yang Hansen, someone perhaps a little closer to getting consistent NBA minutes, Zikarsky was a team-low minus 20 in the first half. He ended the game with 18 points on 13 shots, and would do him to well to stack a couple of these perofrmances.

Stewart continued his struggles, following up his 0-fer performance from deep on Saturday night without registering a field goal on Monday (finished with two points coming at the free throw line). It’s impossible to bury Evans with how little time he has had to understand the Wolves’ offense, but an assertive performance in the Summer League finale would go a long way. He’s getting nice looks and moving well without the ball…now he just needs to see a couple go in, as many young players do in order to find some confidence.

The only obvious takeaway from this game is that Pullin is the only borderline rotation player on this team. He continues to show a pretty complete skillset as a guard, but could play with a bit more pace and have a little more confidence in his jumper. That said, his willingness to get downhill is something the organization clearly likes about him.

too tuff, Z. 💪 pic.twitter.com/P4TmItxD7T

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 14, 2026

Pullin wrapped the game with a 16 point double double and finished with a positive plus-minus. He also showed good effort defensively and looks to be someone that the Wolves development staff can continue to mold should his number be called at some point if needed. He came into Monday night as a top 10 scorer so far in Las Vegas, and did nothing to slow his confidence.

One for the Road

Trey Kaufman-Renn was impressive, and someone you could tell was a four-year college player. His floater was extremely effective, and made him a good pick and roll partner with Pullin. His physicality down low allowed him to rebound the ball well too, and he flashed some ability to playmake from the posts. It’s not inevitable, but I could see him in an NBA rotation eventually with some of the already-baked traits he has, while having a clear ceiling.

that's niiiiice, Trey. 🤌 pic.twitter.com/uivKtRDQlx

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 14, 2026

Up Next

The Wolves will wrap up Summer League on Wednesday with a date with the Indiana Pacers. It remains to be seen if Beringer will be held back for precautionary reasons in the finale, or make it a pair of appearances in Las Vegas to go with his excellent first game of the Wolves tour.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wolves fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Former Arizona Wildcats Brayden Burries and Koa Peat faced off for the first time as competitors in the NBA Summer League on Monday night.

Peat and the Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 95-88 in Las Vegas. Burries led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Peat was second in scoring for Phoenix with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting. 

DUB 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/7N5zQxLshk

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 14, 2026

At the half, both players were already in double figures with Burries scoring 12 and Peat 11. Phoenix now stands at 2-1 in the summer league and Milwaukee is winless at 0-3.

In Burries’ first game he scored 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He followed it up with a 26-point performance in the next game on 9-of-16 shooting and went 4 of 5 from behind the arc. 

The level of concentration here from Brayden is elite. pic.twitter.com/mh4WX0d21y

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 14, 2026

Peat scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and four assists in his first game. A 12-point performance followed in his second game.

KOA PEAT ARE YOU SERIOUS?????? 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/LtoQVPTKO1

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 14, 2026

Burries was taken No. 10 overall by the Bucks in last month’s 2026 NBA Draft, while Peat went taken 30th overall to the Suns. Before becoming pros they helped get Arizona back to the Final Four for the first time since 2001 and showed why they were selected in the first round. They were the sixth and seventh players drafted from Arizona in the Tommy Lloyd era.

This is the only scheduled matchup of former Wildcats facing off during Summer League play, though depending on final overall records there could possibly be another matchup down the road.

POSTER 🖼️ pic.twitter.com/DcQYYw3lZE

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 14, 2026

Back-to-back tuff buckets from Brayden. 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/y77l0pb4SZ

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 14, 2026

Show 'em, Koa 🤏😤 pic.twitter.com/sKtgHe70dl

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 14, 2026

Brayden Burries takes the contact plus the foul. pic.twitter.com/R3buoQKvm0

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 14, 2026

CJ McCollum “wasn’t surprised” by the Knicks’ first championship in 53 years.

The Hawks guard says he told OG Anunoby they could win it all during the first round of the playoffs, despite Atlanta winning the first two games of the series.

“I wasn’t surprised they won. I actually told OG [Anunoby] at the free-throw line, ‘I think you guys can win the championship,’” McCollum said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

“Looking at their roster, how they were playing, meshing, and their focus and intensity, I saw a team capable of making a deep run.”

McCollum said the entire Hawks team realized how good the Knicks were during the series, highlighting their shot-making and Jalen Brunson.

Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds across 19 games in the 2026 playoffs.

McCollum, who became a Knicks villain during the series, continued, saying the Knicks made perfect adjustments offensively to combat the Hawks, which was a valuable lesson to take out of a first-round matchup.

“We pushed them to the limit, I’m sure they appreciated the fact that we tested them and got them ready,” McCollum said.

He said sometimes teams can glide to the later rounds of the playoffs because of their talent, but crumble once they face a team of equal skill.

“[The K​​nicks] figured something out. We pushed them to the limit”

CJ McCollum reflects on the Hawks’ series loss to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs with @termineradio, @jumpshot8, and Ryan McDonough.

Hear our Summer League coverage:https://t.co/jnEcXNELrspic.twitter.com/bLe95lmkom

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 12, 2026

The Knicks certainly did not glide through the first round, fumbling their homecourt advantage with a Game 2 loss to the Hawks at the Garden.

Then, they fell behind in the series 2-1, when McCollum drained a clutch jumper in Atlanta.

The Knicks were forced to make the adjustments for Game 4, but three straight wins propelled them into a historical playoff run.

They went on to win the NBA Finals with just one loss in the final three rounds.

“I’m not saying this is the greatest team ever. If they win these next two games, this is one of the greatest runs in playoff history,” Charles Barkley said on “Inside the NBA” before the Knicks beat the Spurs. “It’s one of the greatest runs. You have to give them their props.”

Vegas has not been kind to Utah before their game against Chicago, and their game against Chicago was not kind to those who decided to tune in and watch. This is the stat to best exemplify the struggle it was to get through this game – there were 54 fouls combined between both teams in 40 minutes of gameplay, which is 1.35 fouls every single minute, or a foul about every 45 seconds (although I am rarely heralded for my skills as a mathematician). This isn’t even an indictment on the officials – I couldn’t complain about most of the calls themselves as much as I could complain that the players were acting so recklessly. When the teams weren’t fouling, they were turning the ball over or missing shots; there were 39 turnovers between the teams, and they shot a combined 32% from the field.

While I just shifted some of the blame for the stinted gameplay away from the officials, it wasn’t just the players contributing to the tough watch – it was easy to tell that both the referees and even the announcers were going through an auditional Summer League as well. Erroneous flagrant reviews and long-winded conversations about horoscopes, combined with the obviously poor basketball, made it clear this game was a learning period for everyone.

However, no matter the ugliness of the gameplay and presentation, the Jazz finally came away with a win. They outscored the Bulls in each of the 4 quarters, and it never did feel too close. Utah was able to maintain consistent momentum by incessantly stealing the ball from Chicago – Hayden Grey and Trey Alexander ended the game with 4 and 6 steals, respectively.

The story of the day was obviously intended to be the battle between the #2 and #4 overall picks, but with Darryn Peterson resting on the bench, Caleb Wilson was set to star. He was largely a disappointment for the first 3 quarters of the game – his free throws weren’t dropping, his defensive motor waxed and waned (I think his 5 blocks overstate his defensive impact by just a bit), and he struggled to make his presence felt consistently on the offensive end. In the 4th quarter, however, he began to catch fire, scoring the majority of his points which were emphasized by the arena-electrifying dunk below.

CALEB WILSON OH MY GOODNESS pic.twitter.com/rSCuxwHvfN

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 14, 2026

Jonas Aidoo continued to impress on both ends for this Jazz Summer League squad. He’s clearly the best defensive anchor on the team, even if he did get detonated upon by Caleb Wilson. Additionally, he really impressed me with his hands on a few of his catches today – a lot of the offense is based upon a simple screen-and-roll, and he was able to take advantage by grabbing some genuinely difficult pocket passes. I wouldn’t hate a reallocation of our two-way contract spots that gives Aidoo a spot on the regular season team in 2026-2027. While he likely isn’t the level of player Jaxson Hayes or Mo Bamba are right now, the difference might be marginal and, with the younger Aidoo, there is still some room for improvement.

Hayden Gray also really impressed me, even if the box score was less-than-exceptional. Only 2 points and 5 assists, but it was clear that the offense ran much cleaner when he was the one at the top of the court running the show. Additionally, he was game-changing on the defensive end, where his 4 steals were LOUD – it seemed that the announcers couldn’t stop talking about how proactive Gray was in the passing lanes, and their praise was justified. While I’d like a more experienced third string ball-handler, Gray has shown me enough on both ends to the point that I wouldn’t hate keeping him around.

The mood of the win was dampened near the end of the 4th quarter. After what seemed to be an ordinary and completely commonplace foul by Caleb Wilson on a drive to the hoop, Trey Alexander collapsed behind the basket and had to be stretchered off the court in a neck-brace. I can’t see how his neck could’ve been injured on this play (video linked below), so if there are any doctors who regular SLCDunk, please explain below what might’ve happened to Utah’s newest two-way player. The play is especially scary due to the fact that it’s hard to diagnose with the naked eye, so prayers up for Trey.

Trey Alexander injury summer league jazz nba pic.twitter.com/DsD33o6WWM

— Moonball (@moonball30) July 14, 2026

The Jazz next play Wednesday at 7:30 MST against the Spurs. While a win is a win, let’s hope this next game is a more pleasant viewing experience.

With some key guys out, the Milwaukee Bucks undoubtedly played their best game thus far in Vegas but lost 95-88 to the Phoenix Suns. Yet again, Brayden Burries starred for the Bucks with 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while Khaman Maluach led the Suns with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap

I expected a bunch of guys in street clothes for this one, given it was a back-to-back—and there were some in Cormac Ryan and Kasparas Jakucionis—but luckily, Brayden Burries and Nate Ament suited up; Kam Jones also got his first minutes in Vegas. The first quarter was low-scoring and even throughout. Koa Peat was throwing his big body around for the Suns, while Burries and Pete Nance were doing most of the work early for the Bucks. Milwaukee went on a 5-2 run to close the quarter via a Burries three and a majestic layup by my fellow countryman Luke Travers to grab a 22-19 lead after one.

The Suns had a great start to the second quarter, with the 7’2” second-year man Khaman Maluach asserting his dominance on the interior; before long, Phoenix had grabbed a 30-26 edge. The Bucks tried to make Ament more of a primary ball-handler, and it wasn’t pretty, as he turned it over a few times after getting outmuscled. Koby Brea—who had been struggling mightily through Summer League—nailed his second three to extend the Suns’ lead to nine, 35-26, about halfway through the second, but that was immediately matched by a transition bomb from Ament to open his account. The Bucks made a few charges to reduce the deficit to ~six points, but the Suns’ Darius Brown made two timely threes to stretch it back out each time. Finally, the run stuck, with Markovic and Burries leading an end-of-quarter sprint to have the Bucks down just one, 45-44, at the half.

Both teams were trading blows early in the second half, with Burries nailing a step-back three over his college teammate Koa Peat to open the third—joking with Peat after he made it—followed by another Darius Brown triple. Then, the floodgates finally opened for Bogi, who nailed his third and fourth triples of the game after struggling all week—Bucks up 53-51 in the opening minutes. Some great flashes by Ament followed: he took the first bump from the more experienced Brea but powered through to get fouled under the hoop; then, he nailed his second transition three of the night a possession later, followed by a strong drive to the hoop to draw another foul; Bucks up 60-57 with six minutes left in the third. The next few minutes were very uneventful, but with Burries, Bogi, Jones, Nance, and Ament all off the floor to end the quarter, the Suns closed on a 12-0 run to lead 69-60 after three.

BJ Boston’s personal 5-0 run to start the quarter, followed by a Kam Jones’ and-one, had the Bucks down just four in the early stages. Minutes later, Boston answered Brea’s triple with another bomb of his own, Nance nailed the floater, and we were all tied up at 75 with just over six minutes left. The Suns went on a 6-0 run, but the Bucks answered right back with a 5-0 run. Blow for blow. Rasheer Fleming nailed the roll-replace wing three, and Burries came down for the fancy and-one around Maluach. Some great on-ball pressure from Ament forced Peat into a turnover, leading to a transition Euro-step by Burries to put Milwaukee up 1 as Phoenix called a timeout; the Bucks were hyped. Unfortunately, the Suns responded with an 8-2 burst—including two massive threes by Brea—to take a 92-87 lead late, and that was the game.

Stat That Stood Out

Koby Brea’s six triples really hurt the Bucks. Brea had struggled mightily before this game, and they let him feel good about himself.

The Lakers (2-0) aim to keep their undefeated run in Las Vegas going as they take on the L.A. Clippers (1-1) on Tuesday.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers

When: 7 p.m. PT, July 14

Where: Thomas & Mack Center

Watch: Prime Video

---

The Lakers have now played two games at the Las Vegas Summer League and have proven one thing: This is the best summer squad assembled since 2017 when the team won the championship courtesy of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and crew.

This year’s team began its campaign by dominating the first two games, winning by a total of 33 points. The best part about their run — dating back to the California Classic tournament — is that multiple players have shined in the process. In Friday night’s impressive victory against the Mavericks, it was Arthur Kaluma.

Arthur Kaluma had a big night in @NBASummerLeague action!

34 PTS (11-16 FGM)
5 REB
6 3PM

The Lakers picked up the win against the Mavericks!
pic.twitter.com/0uVo5bBZPI

— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2026

Kaluma, who is currently signed under an Exhibit-10 contract, made a loud case for a two-way deal. It’s ironic that the members who have stood out on this year’s Summer League roster are the 3-and-D guys, the exact type of players the parent team could use.

In Lakers post game interview, Arthur Kaluma said he considers himself a 3&D. He said he got hot but prides himself on the defensive end.

I also noticed that he said the team has great camaraderie who wants everybody to succeed. Hopefully, that culture carries on to the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/i0q8SdFxir

— Devin ☀️ (@DevDock) July 12, 2026

That said, one great performance isn’t enough for these aspiring players to seal their fate. They’re going to have to keep balling out as the stakes continue to rise. The best way for the Lakers to do that is to keep winning games or, better yet, go all in for the Summer League championship.

The Clippers are coming off a commendable 104-82 victory against the Jazz. Led by Keaton Wagler — their No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — this team is composed of Summer League veterans like Cam Christie and Kobe Sanders. If they’re active for the game, expect these three to lead the way. The Lakers will have to match firepower with firepower.

Ideally, the purple and gold shouldn’t have a problem doing just that given the fact that that’s how they’ve won their last two games in dominant fashion. That and a collective effort on defense have been their key to success. Let’s see if they can keep that going and go up 3-0 with a win against the Clippers on Tuesday.

Notes and Updates

• Besides Kaluma, Adou Thiero and Chris Mañon also played very well in the absence of Cameron Carr last game. Thiero and Mañon deserve a ton of credit for their consistency over the last couple of games.
• Current two-way signee Peter Suder also had his best performance yet with 14-points off the bench.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.