LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers rebounds against Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wizards shored up their center position for next season by acquiring DeAndre Ayton from the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s yet another trademark Will Dawkins trade — the price for Ayton was a guard they didn’t want and a couple second round picks. Add this move to a list that include paying nothing the team wanted to obtain Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks, and paying a modest price for Anthony Davis.
The Washington Wizards made a smart move in trading for big man DeAndre Ayton. | Getty Images
This isn’t a franchise-altering move, but it’s a smart one nonetheless. While multiple teams have given up on Ayton, including the Lakers, who just paid a heavy price to acquire Ayton’s replacement, he’s not a bad player, and he will upgrade Washington’s backup center spot next season.
Last season, Ayton’s individual production was solidly above average (144 PPA — in PPA, 100 is average and higher is better), though the Lakers were only “about the same” on both ends when he was in the game. That goes for regular season and playoffs.
After spending heavily to acquire Walker Kessler, the Lakers needed to offload Ayton’s relatively modest $8.1 million salary to create financial flexibility for other moves, and get back some future draft resources. That they dealt him for a player they don’t want and a couple second round picks is a bit of an indictment of the former No. 1 overall pick — a guy selected ahead of players like Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Still, a guy one team doesn’t want can still have value to another. For Washington, Ayton checks a few boxes. At full health, he’ll be the primary backup center — slotting into a three-big F/C rotation with Alex Sarr and Davis. With Ayton in the fold, Davis won’t have to spend much time as the titular center. Figure the team will start and finish halves with Davis and Sarr up front and play combinations of the three in between.
Ayton also provides some injury insurance in the likely event that Davis or Sarr gets hurt. Both have injury histories. Sarr is currently recovering from a broken foot suffered during an offseason workout. Both are expected to be ready for training camp, but it’s still wise to have some coverage.
Ayton also provides some flexibility in case Dawkins and Michael Winger change their minds and agree to trade Davis to Golden State or elsewhere. Ayton is no long-term answer in the middle, but neither is Davis. With Ayton, the issues are quality and attitude — he’s not The Guy and hasn’t exhibited the willingness to do the work necessary to be The Guy.
With Davis, the issues are age, health, and expense. When healthy, he’s been terrific.
The move will give Washington an $8.1 million trade “exception” in the form of Ayton’s expiring contract. They’ll also create a $6 million exception because, as suggested by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, they’ll use their existing trade exception for Kelly Olynyk to bring in Ayton — which was set to expire July 9 if they didn’t use it.
Again, nothing about this transaction significantly alters the franchise’s trajectory. Ayton improves their reserve center spot and gives them some flexibility. He’s a temporary solution that fits a current need, and it didn’t cost future assets with significant value. That’s solid work from the front office.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The sneakers worn by Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 25: New Dallas Mavericks player Morez Johnson Jr. holds a jersey during a press conference at American Airlines Center on June 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Johnson was selected ninth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks announced their Las Vegas Summer League roster on Friday, and there are several fun additions to the group.
Ryan Nembhard, John Poulakidas and Tyler Smith are some existing Mavs that fans might remember from last season. Nembhard, who busted onto the scene at Summer League last year alongside Cooper Flagg, will likely run a lot of point for the Mavericks early on in the summer. Poulakidas came on later in the season last year, and has earned another go with the Mavs this offseason. Tyler Smith, who also joined the Mavericks late last season, is also in for Summer League.
DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 25: New Dallas Mavericks player Morez Johnson Jr. responds to a question during a press conference at American Airlines Center on June 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Johnson was selected ninth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The fun here is in the rookies that the Mavericks selected in last month’s NBA Draft. Ninth overall selection Morez Johnson Jr. will debut for Dallas in Summer League, and he will be flanked by 25th overall pick Sergio de Larrea. The Spainard was last seen winning the ACB title with Valencia and is coming over to join not just the summer Mavs, but the actual Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed first-round pick Sergio De Larrea.
Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Mavericks second round selections will also be joining the squad. Tobi Lawal is the extremely athletic forward from Virginia Tech. I can almost guarantee he will do something incredible in Summer League, whether it be a dunk or a block. And perhaps the most shocking development, Russian prospect Vsevolod Ischenko will be joining the Mavs in Vegas. Ischenko is a 6’8” guard that is an interesting dart throw for the Mavs. Now, don’t get your hopes up immediately, as he will likely be stashed in Europe again this year, but it will be fun to see exactly what they’ve got in him right now.
Overall, there is a strong international flavor on this roster. Three Spainards, a Russian, a Canadian, a Nigerian and an Englishman will all be in Vegas. Should at least be an entertaining watch! Be sure and follow along with us here at Mavs Moneyball as we take you through the Las Vegas Summer League.
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 10: Dorian Finney-Smith #2 of the Houston Rockets arrives to the arena before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 10, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Rockets have traded Dorian Finney-Smith to the Charlotte Hornets for…nothing. In fact the Rockets sent Smith and three second round picks to the Hornets to make sure DFS made it to IAH, or HOU, I’m really not fussy.
I will admit that I was a fan of the signing, and many of you were as well. DFS, at the time, seemed like he might give the Rockets about 75% of Dillon Brooks. As it turned out, he gave the Rockets about 7.5% of Dillon Brooks. This could well be the fault of the ankle injury that sidelined him for most of the season. In fact he only started looking like the player the Rockets thought they were getting sometime in the series with the Lakers. Which was, as it turned out, too little, too late.
The Rockets recent signings all come with one watch word, and that word is flexibility. The signings all expire, more or less, when the deal for Kevin Durant expires. Finney-Smith’s deal had a player option in 28-29, as well as a guarantee for this season, and next. Now he’s going into the Hornets salary exception.
The Rockets traded their Memphis second round pick next season (which should be a good one), and their own 2028, and 2033 second rounders (who knows?). So that was the price to get out of the DFS is CFS experience. Honestly, even if he plays well for Charlotte, this is for the best. It’s unlikely he’ll break out of his career norms, and more likely that at 33 he’ll continue to decline.
While I haven’t loved the Marcus Smart and BogBog deals, I like this one. It’s a fairly cheap way to get out of a mistake, and second round picks are now pretty much the grease for the wheels of NBA commerce at this point.
The deal gives the Rockets a little breathing room this season, and who knows what they might do? Perhaps they’ll sign another older, not especially good player. With the new contract for Tari Eason it makes sense to move on from DFS for any number of reasons.
Dorian Finney-Smith, we hardly knew you. Good look in North Carolina.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 01: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two former Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball stars are heading east.
The Los Angeles Lakers on Friday traded center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. Ayton recently opted in to the second year of his contract with the Lakers, which will now transfer over to Washington. Ayton will be paid $8 million next season.
Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bAEtSFpTNi
Ayton averaged a career-low 12.5 points and 8 rebounds with the Lakers last season. He started 72 regular season games, his most games played in a season.
Ayton joins a Wizards front court that includes Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. Washington drafted BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the top pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
Also on Friday, Caleb Love signed a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, as first reported by Charania.
Love was a free agent after playing his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. In 49 games with Portland, Love averaged 10.4 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds.
Love will join former Arizona forward Dalen Terry in Philadelphia. Terry, who was traded to the 76ers last season, appeared in 14 games with Philadelphia, playing mostly mop up minutes.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 1: Trey Lyles #41 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 1, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Friday, the Wolves signed ten-year NBA veteran Trey Lyles to a one-year contract, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Krawczynski also reported that this signing does not take the Timberwolves out of the LeBron James sweepstakes and is just a signing to add depth at a position Minnesota did not currently have on the roster.
Last season, Lyles played in the EuroLeague for Real Madrid in Spain, averaging 12.6 points per game while shooting 42.1 from beyond the arc across 61 games. Before that, Lyles played 10 seasons with the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, and, most recently, with the Sacramento Kings.
The Wolves are now down to two open roster spots, at least one of which they are required to fill. Without a cost-cutting trade, they project to have less than $4 million in space under the second apron, which is Minnesota’s hard cap due to the Julius Randle and LaMelo Ball trades being combined.
Assuming the Lyles signing is at the minimum, here is where the Timberwolves' cap sheet stands
They have just under $4 million in space under the second apron. If they were able to make a cost-cutting trade, it would open up them up to use the full $6 million taxpayer mid-level pic.twitter.com/RfI74PQiIx
Given the lack of financial space, the Wolves’ options for the 14th and likely final roster spot are slim. Free agent Rui Hachimura would be a perfect fit, but would likely demand a contract far greater than the Wolves in their current state could offer.
The Wolves could also decide to make one more depth signing, assuming LeBron James does not choose to come to Minnesota, and roll with both Ayo Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels in the starting lineup until a better option for a starting-caliber power forward makes itself available.
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 29: The Dallas Mavericks Introduce Dusty May as Head Coach Press Conference on June 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the offseason and free agency in full swing, the Dallas Mavericks have begun to reshape their roster with the additions of Santi Aldama and the likely addition of Marcus Sasser once the league-wide moratorium on signings ends on July 6. Newly minted head coach Dusty May is also rumored to be adding former New Orleans Pelicans head coach, Willie Green to his staff for the upcoming season. There will undoubtedly be more tweaks to come, all of which will shed light on what the Mavericks will look like come October – and by extension, their play style.
Removing some of the guesswork is none other than May himself. In a recent sit-down with Mavericks’ Chief Communications Officer, Gina Miller, May detailed exactly what his expectations are for the team going forward.
There were three specific comments that indicate the foundation the new-look Mavericks will be built on.
“I want us to play with top-five pace”
This should be music to the ears of Mavs’ fans. The Dallas offense often looked dysfunctional last season, and while some of that was due to injuries and personnel changes, there is no disguising the fact the Mavs could barely participate in a critical part of modern NBA basketball – the three-point shot.
The Mavericks were ranked 26th in the league in three-point percentage at 34.4% (just 0.4% above last place) and 27th in the league in three-point attempts per game at 31.9 (fewer than two attempts per game above last place). The Mavs ranked 23rd in points per game with 114.1.
Dallas is clearly looking to get younger, more athletic and versatile with the additions of Aldama and Sasser, along with rumors of interest in Anfernee Simons, so it’s becoming clear how the roster moves align with May’s vision.
“Defensively; to be incredibly competitive”
A renewed interest in defense will be a welcome sight in Dallas. The Mavs showed flashes last season, but far too often were exposed repeatedly. It wasn’t necessarily for lack of trying or interest, but once again injuries played a part along with personnel that were not always up to the task.
The Mavericks gave up 119.6 points per game, ranking them 23rd in the league with only a single 30-win team ranking below them. Everyone else they outpaced had a win total in the 20-game range, except for two teams with win totals in the teens. It was not good company to keep.
Knowing defense will be a priority is a meaningful positive, but it’s going to take the right players to do the job and we can already see that in the roster that is taking shape. Drafting Morez Johnson, Jr., trading for seven-footer Aldama and being rumored to be looking at Sasser (somewhat undersized, but Kelvin Samson-taught), while bringing Green onto the coaching staff, all demonstrate that the front office and May are on the same page with how they want the team to play.
“I want us to be the best passing team in the NBA”
This may be the most intriguing of the bunch. The Mavs had a patchwork back court last year, with rookie Cooper Flagg opening the season as the point guard. From there, the likes of Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams took up plenty of minutes as the Mavs operated without Kyrie Irving.
Dallas ranked 22nd in the league in assists per game at 25.3. They were just better than half an assist out of 29th overall. It was a major concern, to say the least.
The return of Irving will be a significant boost to the Mavericks being able to successfully orchestrate their offense, but they will need all the help they can get. If Sasser lands in Dallas, it could spell the end of Brandon Williams’ tenure. Irving, Sasser and Nembhard can all distribute, and that says nothing for some of the other players the Mavericks drafted. Sergio de Larrea is a long, tall guard, and May’s desire to be the best passing team correlates with Dallas’ move up in the draft to select him. That’s not to suggest de Larrea will be playing a significant role right away, but as with each of the other tenets May is building around, they clearly are informing the personnel decisions being made.
If May can see his vision through, the Mavericks should be an exciting team to watch, and ultimately a successful one. There is still plenty of time remaining in the offseason, and likely more roster shaping to come, but it’s terrific to see May has a clear vision and is being supported by the front office to get the players needed to fulfill that vision.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) tries to get to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Kicking off in full gear
The last 48 hours feel more like a week has passed, even though NBA Free Agency just started a couple of days ago. The Raptors have landed the central piece that opens themselves a new championship window, and this time it won’t be on a one-year rental — the Klaw will stay in Toronto for the foreseeable future. However, Kawhi Leonard’s return was not the only news that had just recently headlined this year’s free agency. Somewhere 500 miles down the road, a new Big Three had just formed in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Boston Celtics just shipped disgruntled star Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and a couple of future second-rounders, shaking up the landscape in the Eastern Conference, as the 76ers emerge as a new powerhouse to rival their division co-contenders up north.
The Celtics, themselves, have also added another big man to bolster their front court by snatching center Mitchell Robinson from the defending champion New York Knicks, who, barring this move, have dealt new contracts to players with expiring deals to keep their championship roster intact. Further south in South Beach, the Greek Freak just joined the Miami Heat, who, alongside Bam Adebayo, will surely be an immovable force in the paint for any opposing team.
The Raptors’ trade for Leonard indicates that the front office sees a path towards winning a second championship. While he will surely elevate the team on both ends of the floor as one of the best two-way talents in the league, Toronto still has a glaring gap to fill, as other Eastern Conference teams are acquiring talent and front-court depth.
The Raptors’ search for a center
Well, this cannot be overstated, but it’s a sentence that has been echoing for the better part of last season. I may now sound like a broken record by saying this, but look around — other Eastern Conference teams are stacking up their front court with size and strength that works strongly against the Raptors’ style of play. Don’t believe me? Let me take you to the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Toronto loves to play up-and-down basketball. As a matter of fact, the Raptors led the league in fast-break points with 18.6 ppg. The Cavs’ twin-tower duo in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen not only possess incredible rim-protecting prowess, but both are also agile enough to get back on defense to prevent the Raptors from having a clear lane to the hoop. Hence, the Raptors had to grind out most of the series with half-court sets that they struggled to convert on.
With most of the Raptors’ offense operating off of slashers, namely Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, the Cavs pack the paint with rim-protectors, like Allen and Mobley, to force them to settle for perimeter shots that have not been consistent. Raptors’ starting center Jakob Poeltl’s inability to stretch the floor also plays to the Cavs’ favour in maintaining this defensive scheme. Besides his lack of outside shooting and a nagging back injury, Poeltl is also an easy target on switches, with quicker guards flying past him through their speed, while athletic big men such as Allen and Mobley can also beat him on offense. Hence, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic prefers to play an undersized Collin Murray-Boyles at the five, which comes with disadvantages.
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) tries to get to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
While Murray-Boyles is a versatile defender, which makes him a more viable option to guard the pick-and-roll, he is also not much of a perimeter threat like Poeltl, which clogs driving lanes for Barnes and Barrett on offense. As I mentioned, he is also undersized, which warrants double teams with other Raptors forwards when either Mobley or Allen is in the painted area, and allows more explosive guards like Donovan Mitchell to attack him off the dribble and use his aggressive defensive style against him to draw fouls. Murray-Boyles also gives up a good amount of size in the interior, which the Cavs took full advantage of for easy putbacks, touch passes, free throws, or extra possessions.
What does this search mean in matching up with the rest of the East?
With Philly’s addition of former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, the 76ers form an offensive juggernaut with three individuals who can score at all three levels. While the Raptors will bank on versatility and switchability to contain Brown’s shotmaking and Tyrese Maxey’s bursts of speed, they won’t be able to match up with Embiid’s size and skill down low. They will either give up easy points, foul him, or double him and leave a man open on the perimeter. A touch pass from Embiid will collapse the defense, forcing players to scramble and cover ground quickly, and that will lead to closeouts that Brown and Maxey could blow past by to the rack.
As was mentioned, the Celtics add another tall and strong frame in Robinson, who proved to be crucial to the Knicks’ title run with his incredible offensive rebounding and reliable rim protection. Meanwhile, the Knicks pose the same threat as those previous teams, and now boast a championship pedigree. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat will also be a match-up nightmare for teams that rely on points inside the paint.
The realistic solution
Poeltl is still locked up to the Raptors for four more years after opting in to his $19 million player option last summer. Besides him, Murray-Boyles is the only serviceable option at the five, but is a tad undersized for the center position. Toronto will have limited cap room to work with after the Kawhi trade and will only be able to offer a veteran minimum for another backup big. With limited trade flexibility on Poeltl’s contract because of his injury history, the Raptors hope that he will remain healthy and regain his form so that Murray-Boyles can slide back up to the four, as the Raptors try to keep up with the rest of the East.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tim Connelly and the Minnesota Timberwolves have already made their summer splash, and it was not exactly a toe-dip into the pool.
Acquiring LaMelo Ball from Charlotte was the kind of move that immediately changes the way everyone has to think about this roster. The direct cost was steep: Naz Reid, the 2033 first-round pick, multiple swaps and second-rounders. The indirect cost was Julius Randle, who had to be shipped to Brooklyn in what was essentially the salary-clearing first domino that made the bigger move possible and opened the door for an Ayo Dosunmu signing. Put the two transactions together and the Wolves have dramatically reshaped themselves in the span of a week, moving away from the big-body, frontcourt-heavy identity that defined the last few seasons and into something faster, flashier, younger and, potentially, more dangerous.
The Wolves now have one of the most electric backcourts in the league. Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, the No. 1 and No. 3 picks from the 2020 NBA Draft, are about to enter their primes together. If you are a Wolves fan who has spent the past few years watching half-court possessions occasionally turn into a clogged sink, this is the kind of pairing that makes your basketball brain start lighting up like a Christmas tree. LaMelo’s passing should take pressure off Edwards. His pace should create easier looks before defenses get set. His creativity should unlock Jaden McDaniels as a cutter, Rudy Gobert as a lob threat, and Ant as the most terrifying off-ball weapon he has ever been allowed to become.
There is only one problem. The Wolves now have a power forward-sized hole in the middle of their roster.
For years, Minnesota’s identity was built around size. They had Gobert, Naz, and Randle. Before that, they had Karl-Anthony Towns. The Wolves were a team that walked into the gym and immediately made opponents feel smaller. Now, after the LaMelo trade and the Randle salary dump, the frontcourt looks awfully thin. Gobert remains, Joan Beringer is waiting in the wings, and McDaniels can slide up in certain lineups. But if Minnesota is serious about contending for a title, there is no way around it: the Wolves need a real answer at power forward.
Which brings us to the weirdest and most surreal possibility on the board: LeBron James.
Earlier this week, James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would not be returning, a decision that felt less like a shocking divorce and more like the inevitable ending of a marriage that had quietly been sleeping in separate bedrooms for six months. The Luka Doncic trade changed everything in Los Angeles. Once Luka arrived, the Lakers’ future was no longer centered around LeBron. Austin Reaves then inked a massive $185 million max contract, further confirming that the franchise had pivoted into its next era.
LeBron was no longer the sun around which the Lakers orbited. He was still important, but no longer the organizational center of gravity. Once the team was no longer his, once the money was no longer flowing his direction, and once the Lakers looked more like a team hoping to survive the first round than one built to win the whole thing, it made perfect sense for LeBron’s loyalty to evaporate.
So now comes the question that always follows LeBron when a chapter ends: Where does he take his talents next?
The obvious answer is Cleveland, and honestly, it is probably the correct one. If LeBron is thinking about legacy, sentimentality, and the perfect final act, going home makes all the sense in the world. Return to the franchise that drafted him. Return to the city he already delivered a championship to. Bookend the greatest career in modern basketball history where it all began. It would be clean. It would be poetic. It would give every NBA producer exactly the kind of montage material they dream about.
But if this is about basketball fit? If this is about competing for one more championship without simply stapling himself onto a ready-made machine? Then the Minnesota Timberwolves make almost too much sense.
That sounds ridiculous at first, mostly because the phrase “LeBron James should sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves” still feels like something you would hear from a guy calling late-night sports radio. But before you dismiss the idea, first strip away the market-size reflex, the weather jokes, and the decades of Timberwolves dysfunction, and look at the actual basketball situation. Minnesota has the exact positional need LeBron fills. Minnesota has a superstar in Anthony Edwards who is ready to win now but still young enough to benefit from LeBron’s leadership. Minnesota has a gifted playmaker in LaMelo Ball who could absorb more basketball knowledge from LeBron in one season than most players get in a decade. Minnesota has defensive infrastructure in McDaniels and Gobert that could cover for some of the natural defensive slippage that comes with LeBron’s age. Minnesota has a roster that would not ask LeBron to be the franchise savior, but would absolutely need him to be a central piece.
That distinction matters. If LeBron joined Oklahoma City, San Antonio or New York, it would look like coattail riding. Maybe that is unfair. Maybe at this stage of his career he has earned the right to do whatever he wants. But perception matters, especially when your legacy is already being argued in every barbershop and television studio in America. Joining the defending champion Knicks or attaching himself to Victor Wembanyama’s rocket ship in San Antonio would not carry the same weight as going somewhere like Minnesota and finishing the job for a franchise that has never touched the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
That is the part that should intrigue him. The Wolves are not some prebuilt dynasty begging for a luxury attachment. They are a talented, hungry, flawed contender with a superstar, a new elite playmaker, a defensive spine and one obvious missing piece. LeBron would not be along for the ride. He would be part of the reason the ride works.
A starting five of LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, LeBron James and Rudy Gobert would immediately become the best starting group in the NBA. That is not homerism. LaMelo orchestrating. Ant detonating. McDaniels defending the toughest perimeter assignment. LeBron manipulating matchups, organizing the floor and punishing teams that overload on Edwards. Gobert protecting the rim and cleaning up everything behind them. You would have passing, athleticism, defensive versatility, size, star power and enough collective basketball IQ to make every opponent miserable.
More importantly, the roles actually make sense. LeBron would not need to carry a franchise for 82 games. He would not need to be the nightly engine the way he was for so many years. Ant would remain the alpha scorer. LaMelo would handle a major share of the creation. Gobert would anchor the defense. McDaniels would take the toughest wing matchups. LeBron could conserve energy, pick his spots, punish mismatches, quarterback the offense in big moments and become the veteran adult in the room that this team has often lacked when games require maturity.
And let’s be honest, the Wolves have not been a shining example of maturity. They have talent. They have explosive upside. But they have also had stretches where composure evaporates, the offense gets sticky, and the team looks like it needs someone to walk into the huddle and remind everyone how championship basketball actually works. LeBron would bring that instantly. He would bring the kind of veteran authority that cannot be manufactured by a coaching staff or created through a team-building retreat.
For Edwards, it could be transformative. Ant is already one of the league’s best players, but he is still learning the full responsibility of being the face of a championship team. LeBron has lived that burden longer than anyone. If Edwards is truly going to become the player who brings a title to Minnesota, spending a year or two next to the greatest basketball mind of his generation could accelerate that process in ways that are difficult to quantify.
The same goes for LaMelo. For all his gifts, Ball has never been in a winning environment like this. He has never had to organize a team with title expectations. He has never had to make every possession matter deep into May and June. LeBron would not just help him on the floor. He would teach him what winning basketball actually demands.
Of course, there are reasons to be skeptical. LeBron is old by NBA standards, even if he continues to treat aging like an optional side quest. The Western Conference is brutal. Minnesota is not Los Angeles. It is not Miami. It does not offer sunshine and glamour. There is also the very real chance that LeBron simply wants the cleanest storybook ending, and Cleveland provides that in a way no other team can.
But if he means what he says, if the contract is secondary, if market size is secondary, if weather is secondary, if the goal is genuinely to find the best basketball fit and compete for one more championship, then Minnesota should be near the top of the list.
Maybe at the very top.
Because the fit is almost too perfect. The Wolves need a power forward. LeBron needs a team where he can still matter deeply without having to drag everyone across the finish line himself. Minnesota needs leadership. LeBron needs one more meaningful swing. The Wolves need someone who can elevate Edwards and LaMelo. LeBron needs a situation where winning a title would add something real to his résumé rather than simply confirming what everyone already knows.
Winning in Minnesota would matter.
It would not be dismissed as ring chasing. It would not feel like joining the machine. It would be a risk, and that is exactly why it would carry weight. If LeBron James came to the Timberwolves and helped deliver the first championship in franchise history, that would not be a footnote. That would be one of the great final chapters in NBA history.
Will it happen? Probably not.
This is still the Timberwolves. We are still talking about LeBron James. Common sense and Minnesota sports rarely find themselves sitting at the same table for very long. But for once, the crazy idea is not actually crazy because of the basketball. The basketball makes sense. The roster fit makes sense. The need makes sense. The legacy argument even makes sense.
So maybe it is wishful thinking. Maybe it is offseason fever. Maybe we are all just staring at the power forward depth chart and talking ourselves into the most dramatic possible answer. But if LeBron is really searching for the best place to compete, contribute and chase one last title in a way that still feels meaningful, there may not be a better option on the board than the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That might be the strangest sentence of the entire offseason.
The Minnesota Timberwolves currenlty sit at +2700 odds to win the NBA title at FanDuel Sportsbook. If they ever did land LeBron, those are going to be the best odds you’ll see all season!
LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul set the record straight regarding the narrative that the NBA record-breaker only intends to play one more year before retiring during a July 3 episode of his “Game Over’ podcast with Max Kellerman.
He later added: “No one said this is going to be his last year. No one said that. Also, once he got the green light from Savannah and Zhuri — cause they’re the only ones left in the house — once he got the green light, you can do whatever you want to do.”
Hearing this might come as a surprise to many, given that James is 41 years old and will be turning 42 in the middle of next season, and has made it clear that whichever NBA team he signs with in free agency this offseason will be the final team of his legendary career.
Rich Paul and Max Kellerman speaking on a podcast. Instagram/@SwishculturesLeBron James has made it clear that whichever NBA team he signs with in free agency this offseason will be the final team of his legendary career. Getty ImagesPaul dispelled rumors that the NBA record-breaker only intends to play one more year before retiring AP
Last week, James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning to the franchise after spending the past eight seasons with them. This has sparked a ton of interest in speculating about where the NBA’s arguable GOAT might end up.
After this comment from Rich Paul, the question isn’t just where James will land, but how long he’ll be playing there before calling it a career. The prospect of him potentially playing several more seasons also means he could be interested in fielding more potential teams, particularly ones that aren’t all about winning immediately.
That being said, James naturally still wants to chase a championship, and whichever team he signs with will surely be a championship contender both next season and in the years to come.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a photo during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 16, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We are one week away from Summer League tipping off in Las Vegas, and with it comes our first look at Suns basketball since late April, when the team’s season ended with a first-round sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Granted, Summer League is a much different environment. But it’s exciting nonetheless, especially when you have a collection of young players you hope will one day play meaningful roles in the direction of your franchise. The Suns have made it clear that development is one of the organizational pillars they’re trying to build around, and Summer League provides the first real opportunity to put that philosophy into action.
With that in mind, the Phoenix Suns have officially released their Summer League roster, and there are plenty of notable names on it.
Sophomore draft picks Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming headline the roster, as the expectation is that both will see significantly larger roles with the Suns next season.
Fleming appeared in 55 games as a rookie, averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game. Maluach, whom the Suns selected 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, played the fewest minutes of any player chosen in the top 10 of that class. He logged only 411 total minutes across 46 games. The next lowest total among the top 10 picks belonged to Collin Murray-Boyles, who played nearly three times as many minutes for the Toronto Raptors.
Also on the roster is Koa Peat, whom the organization traded up to select with the 30th overall pick out of the University of Arizona. This will be our first opportunity to see him wearing purple and orange. Peat helped lead the Wildcats to their first Final Four appearance since 2001, averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game as a freshman.
The roster also features two players who spent last season on two-way contracts, Koby Brea and CJ Huntley. Brea appeared in 12 games for the Suns, knocking down 13-of-30 from beyond the arc in limited action. With the Valley Suns, he averaged 15.0 points per game while shooting 36.5% from three on 9.8 attempts per game. Huntley saw action in only four games with Phoenix, totaling 12 points in 40 minutes. But in 29 games with the Valley Suns, he averaged 16.0 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 62.3% from the field.
A couple of other intriguing names on the roster are Sam Hoiberg and Corey Camper Jr., both of whom signed Exhibit 10 contracts with the organization. Hoiberg earned All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors during his senior season at Nebraska, averaging 9.3 points while shooting 38.1% from beyond the arc. Camper finished his collegiate career at Nevada, where the 6’5” guard averaged 16.6 points while posting 45, 40, 80 shooting splits for the Wolf Pack.
Tramon Mark from the University of Texas, a player the Suns brought in for a pre-draft workout, finds himself playing for the Summer Suns. Mark spent six seasons in college after entering as the No. 75 ranked high school recruit in the 2020 class, and he averaged 14.0 points for the Longhorns last season. Another notable name is Jameer Nelson Jr., the son of Jameer Nelson, who played 14 seasons in the NBA and earned an All-Star selection in 2009.
A pair of notable omissions from this year’s Summer League roster are Oso Ighodaro and Ryan Dunn. It appears the minutes they would have occupied are instead being allocated to other young players the organization wants to evaluate, including Rasheer Fleming, Koa Peat, CJ Huntley, and Khaman Maluach. That makes sense. The Suns already have a strong understanding of where Ighodaro and Dunn are in their development. This year’s Summer League is an opportunity to accelerate the growth of the next wave of young talent.
What else stands out from the Summer League roster? Last season, Khaman Maluach was listed at 7’1” on the Suns’ Summer League roster. This year, he’s listed at 7’2”. Koby Brea has also added size, going from 202 pounds to 215. Perhaps the most eye-opening change belongs to Rasheer Fleming. A year ago, he was listed at 190 pounds. He’s now listed at 240.
When the Suns released their Summer League roster a season ago, Rasheer Fleming was listed at 190 pounds. This season, he's listed at 240! 😲
Koby Brea was 202 and is now 215, and Khaman Malauch was 7'1" and is now listed at 7'2". pic.twitter.com/PqOnewTvmH
Whether those measurements are perfectly accurate remains to be seen, but they certainly reflect what the organization appears to be emphasizing: getting bigger and stronger as these young players continue to develop.
The Suns tip off their Summer League schedule next Friday, July 10, at 8 p.m. on ESPNU against the Portland Trail Blazers.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on December 30, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 108-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James is leaving us all hanging in suspense while his agent, Rich Paul, adds fuel to the fire. Paul (via his podcast Game Over) recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at their process in finding a new home for James. This includes a whiteboard with the Cleveland Cavaliers listed as one of the strongest landing spots.
Rich Paul’s white board for LeBron’s next team with realistic destinations 👀
First, we can see that the Cavs are not alone on this list. Other teams in the inner circle include the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and Denver Nuggets. The Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks are either directly listed or referenced on the outer edges of the board.
Paul says that the board wouldn’t even exist if New York hadn’t won the title this summer. James would be a member of the Knicks. Looks like we dodged a bullet in that regard.
Let’s go over the main takeaways for Cleveland.
Rich Paul on LeBron’s interest in the Cavs:
Brandon Weems (current assistant GM) is a ‘brother’ to James
Dan Gilbert, Grant Gilbert and Koby Altman listed as positives
James ‘loves’ Darius Garland; Paul considers the James Harden trade a negative
Paul says Evan Mobley was never going to be traded to Boston
Notably, the Cavs are the only team that has multiple pros and cons written on the board.
“Big, big x-factor, Brandon Weems is basically LeBron’s brother,” said Paul. “That is a big feather in the cap [for Cleveland].”
The connection to Weems is one of the strongest aspects of this. Weems is reportedly seen as the favorite to replace former Cleveland GM Mike Gansey (now the 76ers GM) as the Cavs’ newest general manager. That’s something that sweetens the deal for James to return to Cleveland.
James apparently having a positive relationship with Gilbert and Altman is also a good sign.
The final two bullet points are where things get interesting.
“The negative is, no knock to James Harden, but no Darius Garland,” said Paul. “LeBron loves Darius Garland so much just like LeBron loves Tyrese Maxey.”
Paul famously told Garland, whom he represents, that last year would be his final season with the Cavaliers. However, this can be interpreted as Paul reading the writing on the wall rather than pioneering a trade for Garland on his own. You can decide that for yourself.
I’d also keep in mind that Paul is a professional salesman who will take every opportunity to praise one of his clients. Rightfully so.
It’s possible that Paul informed Garland to make a decision that would be in his best interest — even if that negatively impacted the view that James would have of Cleveland’s roster. Those things are not mutually exclusive, and Paul ultimately has a responsibility to represent all of his clients equally.
Finally, Paul strongly denies that Cleveland had any intention of trading Mobley to the Celtics in exchange for Jaylen Brown.
“They weren’t giving up Evan Mobley, you don’t have to worry about that,” said Paul.
This is as firm a stance as you can take, and it implies that Mobley is safe from the trading block this summer.
That tracks with common sense. Mobley is one of the best defenders in the NBA and a vital part of a Cavalier defense that is hanging on by a thread. I can’t see why James or Paul would advocate for taking that building block off the roster. Trading Mobley feels like the type of risk that could knock down the house of cards before James even arrives.
As always, the more smoke, the better. James has taken the first step towards returning by announcing that he won’t be back with the Los Angeles Lakers. Everything since then has felt like a gradual pull back home. Only time will tell, but Paul’s comments on Cleveland are encouraging to me.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nearly 48 hours after the Sixers agreed to trade Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown, the consensus appears to be that the Sixers made out like bandits.
However, that opinion isn’t universal. Liberty Ballers’ own Josh Grieb expressed his reservations with the deal, and to be completely honest, I also flinched when the news first hit my timeline. (Granted, that was before I realized that one of the two first-rounders they gave up was in 2028 rather than 2033.)
Chalk it up to Markelle Fultz PTSD if you must. Maybe you’re an analytics nerd who’s overly concerned about Brown’s on/off splits in recent years. That’s ignoring the context in which the Sixers made this trade, though.
Look up any recent ranking of the worst contracts in the league. George routinely appeared toward the top of the list. Even rankings that featured Brown had George ranked higher.
George has one fewer year left on his contract and will not be commanding anything close to a 35 percent max on his next deal, sure. Brown very well might be overpaid relative to his production, both now and moving forward.
But this was a risk that the Sixers had to take.
So long, Sixers apathy
As of midday Wednesday, apathy would likely be the best way to describe how most fans felt about the Sixers.
Adding Dean Wade was fine in a vacuum. Signing Ariel Hukporti to an above-minimum contract was eyebrow-raising, and not in a good way. Adding Wade and Hukporti while losing Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. hardly moved the needle, particularly as other Eastern Conference teams were taking huge swings by adding the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard.
With Brown in tow, the Sixers can think bigger again. They dropped from +6000 to +2000 to win next year’s title after the deal, according to ESPN’s Doug Greenberg, which puts them behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder (+270), the San Antonio Spurs (+270), the reigning champion New York Knicks (+850) and, ironically, the Celtics (+1300).
It’s unclear whether the Brown trade directly contributed to the Sixers landing Anfernee Simons with what figures to be the remainder of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but it appears to have helped. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Simons chose the Sixers over other suitors because he believes “his fit is perfect with the revamped 76ers roster.”
The Sixers might not be done there, either. It’s still a long shot—particularly since they have only a minimum contract left to offer—but the Sixers have “entered the mix” for LeBron James and “are attempting to pitch him,” according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Even if the Sixers don’t land LeBron, the fact that it’s even a possibility is absurd given where they were a few days ago. On The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said it likely would have cost the Sixers at least one unprotected first-round pick just to dump George alone.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst then asked him, “So, did they get Jaylen Brown for free?” Marks replied, “Essentially.”
So, why did the Celtics part ways with Brown at that price?
“It wasn’t that the league doesn’t think Jaylen Brown is a great player or an excellent player,” Windhorst said Thursday on NBA Today. “It’s that the league doesn’t value what he produces at his salary slot. At $57 million, what he produces. And that is why he was traded, and that is why he was traded for relatively so little.
“As the Celtics evaluated where they were as an organization and evaluated where they have to operate in this new world of aprons and basically hard salary caps and everything like that, they said they had to move off of a player of his production level at that salary number, and the other teams out there didn’t disagree.”
That’s a reasonable conclusion for the Celtics to reach. They already have Jayson Tatum heading into the second season of a five-year supermax contract. They’ve spent the past year tearing down their championship roster in fear of a $500 million payroll and luxury-tax bill. After losing in the first round of the playoffs (ironically to the Sixers), they might not have seen a path back toward title contention with Tatum and Brown gobbling up roughly 70 percent of the cap every year.
The Sixers didn’t have much of an alternative.
George and Joel Embiid were going to consume roughly 70 percent of their salary cap for the next two years. The Sixers could have chosen to ride those years out and preserved their assets for the eventual Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe era. But how would Maxey take to the Sixers lighting two years of his prime on fire in the hope that George and Embiid could stay healthy throughout the regular season and the playoffs?
Maxey is already heading into the third year of the five-year, $203.9 million max contract that he signed in July 2024. By the time George’s contract expired, Maxey would be going into the last year of his deal. And if today’s NBA has taught us anything, it’s that teams are almost always on the clock with their star players.
Flipping George, who played only 78 total games across the last two seasons combined, for Brown, who played 71 games last year and has yet to miss more than 20 games in a season across his 10-year NBA career, could help the Sixers in multiple ways, analytics be damned.
The Sixers shouldn’t have to play Maxey a league-high 38.0 minutes per game again this year, particularly after signing Simons in free agency and drafting Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 overall pick. Ensuring that Maxey and Edgecombe don’t run out of gas in the regular season is key to the Sixers’ hopes of going on a deep playoff run.
As long as Brown continues to avoid catastrophic injuries, he should also help uplift the Sixers more than George did in the games that Embiid misses. Brown finished sixth in the MVP race this past season, while George’s production plummeted upon his arrival in Philly two years ago.
George’s scalability is what made him an attractive option when the Sixers signed him two summers ago. He could shift down into a No. 3 option alongside Embiid and Maxey—and his off-ball shooting ability made him a strong fit for that role—but he theoretically could scale up whenever Embiid or Maxey missed time. However, that didn’t come to pass.
George admitted after the season that he felt like his explosiveness “wasn’t there this year,” and he planned to spend the offseason trying to figure out how (if at all) he could get it back. That won’t be a problem with Brown, to say the least.
There are undeniably questions about how Brown will fit with this Sixers roster, and whether he can live up to both his current contract and his next deal. He might very well be miscast as a No. 1 option. Luckily, he doesn’t have to be that in Philly.
The alternative to the Brown trade was running out the clock with George—and risking Maxey starting to eye an exit from Philly in the next year or two. From that standpoint, this was absolutely a risk worth taking, no matter what the Sixers’ recent transaction history with the Celtics might suggest.
Life moves fast in the NBA, and after the much-hyped draft and a flurry of offseason moves, Summer League is already here.
Attention turns to the California Classic today, with the San Antonio Spurs battling the Miami Heat before the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors Blue squad, and it’s a first opportunity to see some of the late first-round rookies in action.
Let's dive into my NBA Summer League predictions and free NBA picks for Friday, July 3.
NBA Summer League predictions for July 3
Pick
Spurs moneyline
-127
Lakers moneyline
-108
Today's Summer League Picks
Spurs moneyline (-127 at Kalshi)
Although none of the San Antonio Spurs’ young core will be in action at Chase Center tonight, that clears the way for Tarris Reed Jr. and other members of the San Antonio rookie class to ball out.
Reed Jr., the No. 26 pick, averaged 14.7 ppg and 9.0 rpg last season at UConn, and I expect him to seize this opportunity to make a case for bench minutes next season behind Victor Wembanyama.
Though Jayden Quaintance will miss out for the Spurs, second-round picks Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Mailq Brown should get minutes here, and San Antonio’s serious approach to summer action could be seen in its 5-3 record last year.
While the Miami Heat can turn to Myron Gardner — who appeared in 45 NBA contests last season — the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves Miami with fewer young pieces for a Summer League run.
Of course, the Heat specialize in discovering undrafted gems, but they face an uphill battle in this California Classic opener, and I’m taking the Spurs up to -140.
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Lakers moneyline (-108 at Kalshi)
The Los Angeles Lakers have been busy undergoing roster reconstruction over the past few weeks, and now attention turns to the end of the bench, where spots are up for grabs. L.A. enters as a major underdog against the Golden State Warriors, but I’m expecting an upset in California.
Golden State can unleash rookies Yaxel Lendeborg and Alex Toohey alongside sophomore Will Richard, but don’t sleep on this Lakers squad, with Cameron Carr — the No. 24 selection in last month’s draft — running the offense and Adou Thiero looking to boost his stock.
Thiero had some promising flashes during last season’s injury crisis in Lakerland, and there’s a 3-and-D role within reach if he catches the eye in Summer League.
Meanwhile, a rookie-heavy roster will get a jolt of experience from Zhaire Smith, with the 27-year-old former first-round pick auditioning for L.A. this summer.
Friday’s NBA Summer League parlay
Spurs moneyline
Lakers moneyline
+244 at Kalshi
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Drummond’s played in 152 games over two stints with the Sixers and averaged 6.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He shared backup center minutes with Adem Bona the past two seasons and took pride in being an active mentor to the ultra-athletic 23-year-old.
Drummond enjoyed expanding his game to include regular three-pointers last season. He went 32 for 90 (35.6 percent) beyond the arc. Entering the year, Drummond had made just 18 threes in his NBA career. The transformation wasn’t as dramatic, but Drummond also set a new career high in free throw percentage, making 63.1 percent of his foul shots.
“There’s a lot of work that I’ve put into it, not only this year but throughout my entire career,” Drummond said on April 15 of his outside shooting. “I’ve worked countless hours … and the work is showing. Shoutout to (Sixers head coach) Nick Nurse for giving me the green light to shoot those shots.”
Spurs moneyline 
Lakers moneyline