BOSTON - 1990: Isiah Thomas #11 of the Detroit Pistons passes against Larry Bird #33 and Dennis Johnson #3 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1990 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1990 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve talked a lot about Larry Bird in this space, largely because Bird had a genius for basketball that is exceedingly rare. A lot of people think that Bird was too slow and couldn’t jump, and that he wouldn’t be able to play today.
People like JJ Redick, for one, who really should know better (Redick said that he didn’t think Bird was a top-five all-time three-point shooter).
Redick was born in 1984, so he was too young to see Bird in his prime, and may not have watched him much in his later years either to understand why he was such a feared shooter. That’s hard to know. However, the idea that Bird would struggle in today’s game is ludicrous, and this video partially demonstrates why.
You’ll see several things repeated here. For one, Bird on several occasions is on the floor and nonetheless still delivers pinpoint, lethal passes.
You’ll also see him make several passes to players behind him that he cannot possibly see. Nonetheless, he knows where they will be and delivers perfect passes for easy baskets, sometimes with 2-3 defenders in the way.
You’ll also see plays where he just touches the ball long enough to direct it to a teammate. It’s not exactly a pass; it’s more like a redirection.
As the narrator notes, Bird has superb situational awareness, and perhaps the best hand-eye coordination in the history of the game. But he also played as hard as anyone, and with an amazing amount of self-confidence.
This is a guy who said that he knew, on his third day of practice as a rookie, that he would dominate the NBA.
There are Larry Bird trash talking videos out there on the YouTubes, where he told his defenders exactly what he was going to do, and then did it.
And then there’s this: Bird played in an era when guys sometimes tackled each other in the open court and pulled each other down like they were in WrestleMania, not the NBA.
In this era, where you can’t defend physically as you could in the 1980’s, no one could have stopped Bird. He might have averaged 40 points in the modern NBA.
James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul addressed the ongoing standstill in his client’s free agency on the latest episode of his “Game Over” podcast with co-host Max Kellerman, which released Monday.
“We’re not going to be rushed,” Paul told Kellerman. “We’re not going to be rushed. It’s his choice to make and when he makes the choice, he’ll make it.”
Paul added that teams have circled back with him, asking if there is anything they can do to improve their standing in the race to sign James, to which the agent assured them his client has all the information he needs to make a decision.
“There’s been several people to call and say, ‘Hey, Rich, is there anything more we should be doing? We could be doing?'” Paul said. “And my answer is, ‘No. We don’t need you to go above and beyond about anything. We understand it. It’s clear. All the messages have been sent.’ “
While some have likened the spectacle surrounding James’ suspenseful free agency this summer to his free-agent experiences in the past, Paul clarified that the lengthy, ongoing wait for the 41-year-old’s decision this time around is not an intentional effort to generate attention.
“I think it’s important for people to understand: We’re not making this about attention and a spectacle,” Paul clarified. “It’s not about a ‘Decision’ or anything like that. He has a choice to make. He has a business choice to make. We’re not going to sit here and decide or allow someone else to decide when he makes that decision. … It’s a business choice that he’s making. And I think as an athlete, why is it that an athlete has to rush his choice?”
With teams like Golden State still needing to fill multiple roster spots at this point in the offseason, Paul urges those front offices to go about their business and do so as they wait for James’ decision.
“There’s roster spots that’s not filled,” Paul added. “If they want to fill their roster spots, we’re not saying don’t fill your roster spots.”
While some NBA insiders, and even former players, are reporting that James’ decision is imminent, Paul poured cold water on the notion that anyone knows what his client will do.
“These people don’t know anything,” Paul said. “I don’t know when his choice is going to be made, but it could be 48 seconds [from now]. It could be 48 minutes. I don’t know. Again, you can’t make somebody know something that they don’t know.”
Until we hear it from James himself, it is safe to assume his decision on where he will play his 24th NBA season, and perhaps longer, will remain a mystery.
Yaxel Lendeborg helped the Warriors to the Summer League Final. Photograph: John Locher/AP
1) The top four are as good as advertised
The hype heading into this year’s draft was tremendous, and through the small sample size of 10 or so days in the Las Vegas summer heat, this year’s class has lived up to its billing.
AJ Dybantsa, now a Washington Wizard, looked every bit the No 1 overall pick in his Summer League debut, where he bested the player drafted directly behind him, Darryn Peterson. This was notable, as Peterson had won the pair’s previous head to head matchups, and the noise was starting to swell that perhaps the Wizards had made the wrong selection with the No 1 pick. But Dybantsa showed his high ceiling, looking every bit the crafty and athletic offensive engine he has been touted as. Peterson, to his credit, also had a solid Summer League outing, especially in the California Classic (the mini version of the league that takes place before the big shebang in Las Vegas), showcasing his excellent shot creation skills.
The third overall pick, Cameron Boozer, who many trendy media folks picked to go first, showed exactly why he’s attracted so many fans while leading his team to the NBA Summer League Final: he’s not particularly flashy or exciting, rather more of a high level metronome. Boozer is a super smart, strong, and mature offensive hub who may not put butts in seats, but he really understands how to play basketball at an NBA level.
And Caleb Wilson, drafted fourth by the Chicago Bulls, may have seen his stock rise the most of the four during his time in Vegas. He scored a scintillating 35 points (with seven threes) in his Vegas debut, and if that shooting can hold up in the NBA, his athleticism, shot creation and swagger make him a bona fide franchise cornerstone, the kind of guy who can finally poster dunk the Bulls out of mediocrity.
2) Yaxel Lendeborg is NBA ready
Before Lendeborg was an NBA Summer League champion and Summer League Finals MVP with the Golden State Warriors, who drafted him with the 11th overall pick this year, he was winning an NCAA championship with the Michigan Wolverines. Simply put, the guy is a winner. With his size (6ft 9in, with a 7ft 4in wingspan), skillset (a swiss army knife with a high basketball IQ) and personality (not afraid of the big moment, swagger for days), he most likely would have gone even higher had he not been 23 years old at the time of the draft in June. In some ways, though, his age is an asset; especially for a team as win-now (or, rather, win-yesterday) as the Warriors. Lendeborg is ready for the NBA fresh out of the box, he’s smart and savvy and the epitome of plug and play. On top of all of this, he’s a walking pull-quote: he told ESPN’s Ben Golliver of the Grizzlies’ blown lead in the championship game: “Man, their butts got tight. They puckered up, you know what I mean? Some of us are built for the moment and some aren’t.”
3) The Lakers may have in-house solutions
The most glaring roster hole after an aggressive summer of moves for the Los Angeles Lakers (all five starters from game one of their first round series against the Houston Rockets this playoffs are gone) is at the wing/forward. While rumors are still aflutter in regards to players like the Hawks’ Jonathan Kuminga and Dallas’s PJ Washington, the Lakers’ time in Las Vegas showed heartening signs that they may have rotation-caliber wings at home. To start with, Cameron Carr, who fell to Los Angeles all the way down at No 24 in this year’s draft, looks like he may be a steal who should have gone in the lottery. He showed athleticism and shooting that the Lakers have lacked, and seemed right at home in pseudo NBA level competition. Adou Thiero, the freak athlete 2025 draft pick who spent most of his rookie campaign recovering from injury, also seemed to be making substantial strides.
But the surprise of the week was Arthur Kaluma, who spent last season with the Lakers’ G-League affiliate. He had a 34-point game against the Mavericks, and generally seemed prime to emerge as the 3 & D wing the Lakers are looking to shore up their rotation with. While the team fell short of making the Summer League Final, they have to be feeling pretty good about what they have in-house. They went 4-1 in Vegas, only losing to the ultimate champion Warriors in the semi-finals.
4) The Bucks reset is off to a good start
Milwaukee have had a rough go of things in recent years, to say the least. Their fence-swing for Damian Lillard went about as poorly as it could have, culminating in an achilles tear and the decision to waive and stretch his contract. Then came the somewhat inexplicable decision to throw the bag at center Myles Turner. Another year of Giannis Antetokounmpo injuries later, and it was finally time to face the music: the Bucks traded the Greek star to the Miami Heat, who had long courted him. As much as it hurt to break up with their multi-time MVP sweetheart, it was for the best for all parties. Hope that there are sunnier days ahead came in the form of guard Brayden Burries, who the Bucks selected No 10 overall in this year’s draft. He was one of the standouts in Vegas, averaging 23.5 points (with 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists), and putting a cherry on top of his outing with a game-winning bucket in his final game. Burries looks like he could end up being the best of what was a crowded guard class in the mid lottery, scoring efficiently and showing poise in his time in the desert.
5) Meleek Thomas may have been the steal of the draft
At the time of writing, the jury is still out on whether or not one LeBron James, the best thing to ever happen to sports in the Cleveland metro area, will be back for a third rodeo in a Cavaliers uniform. But regardless of that outcome, there are silver linings to be found for Cavs fans this July. Thomas, a guard out of Arkansas, was the surprise standout of the week, averaging just over 27 points (!) at 50% (!) from the field. He may struggle to find substantial rotation minutes on the Cavs next year, as they just gave Donovan Mitchell a tremendous amount of money and are allegedly planning to bring back James Harden on a more team-friendly contract, but Thomas was the best player on the floor in several of his contests in Vegas, and for the 34th overall pick, that’s pretty damned remarkable. Thomas didn’t look out of place among his higher drafted peers; if anything, he was often the most confident among them. We may well look back on the 2026 draft and wonder how Cleveland snagged such a gem in the second round.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after Boston's 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On June 7, 1998, Brigadier-General Ansumane Mané attempted to oust João Bernardo Vieira, the president of Guinea-Bissau, a small African nation of about two million people about half as large as Massachusetts. Vieira had served as president of the nation since 1984, and was not especially popular.
Mané had been suspended earlier that year for dereliction of duty. Weapons belonging to the Guinea-Bissau military had been found in the possession of separatists that were waging a campaign for independence in neighboring Senegal. For his part, Mané claimed innocence and accused other members of the defense ministry of trafficking in arms with the Casamance separatists.
The day after his official dismissal on June 6th, Mané and his allies within the Guinea-Bissau armed forces seized control of critical infrastructure and demanded the ouster of Vieira, to be followed by free elections in July.
Guinea-Bissau had been a Portuguese colony, and in response to the fighting that broke out, they dispatched a detachment of marines to enforce a cease-fire and to protect Portuguese nationals as well as helping them repatriate.
The rebels eventually ended up controlling 99% of the country, at which point in time, an end to hostilities was negotiated.
As it turned out, Mané was exonerated from accusations of trafficking in arms with the Casamance separatists, while Vieira’s presidential guard were heavily involved in the trade.
The truce allowed Vieira to remain in power, but when he apparently refused to allow his personal guard to be disarmed in May of 1999 another coup took place and Vieira surrendered unconditionally, bringing an end to a civil war that had displaced about four hundred thousand residents at various times.
Refugees from the Guinea-Bissau civil war ended up in a variety of places. According to the UN high council on refugees (UNHCR), about four thousand ended up in camps in neighboring African states. Over four thousand also ended up in Portugal.
Two of those refugees were Mica and Djaneuba Queta. They fled first to Cape Verde, an island archipelago off the coast of Africa, and from there to Portugal. The two had a son around a year after the civil war started.
Neemias Queta was born in Portugal on July 13, 1999.
He was raised in Vale da Amoreira, a small town across the Tagus River from Lisbon that is a haven for African refugees and immigrants.
When he was ten years old, his older sister was invited to try out for what was, essentially, her high school basketball team, the Sports Group of the Secondary School of Santo André. Neemias tagged along and caught the attention of one of the coaches of the local club, Barrierense.
Like many European basketball clubs, as opposed to American professional teams, Barrierense does not just field a team that plays in the first division of the Portuguese basketball league; they also sponsor youth teams, and at age ten, Neemias was invited to join one of those teams.
He would play for the Barrierense youth teams right up until he began his college career.
But before he started college, he put on a clinic at the FIBA U20 tournament in Europe. He averaged a double-double for the tournament, and recorded a near triple-double against the Netherlands, a game in which he tallied twenty points, fourteen rebounds and nine blocks.
Utah State was looking overseas for talent in 2018, and Eric Peterson, an assistant to head coach Craig Smith, was put in charge of the task. Peterson asked some of the guys he knew overseas for tips on who to recruit. According to Eric, “there was one name on every single text message and it was Neemias.”
Fortunately for Peterson, the Aggies already had a Portuguese player on the roster, Diogo Brito, who knew Queta. Brito helped recruit Queta from Portugal to Logan, Utah, a medium sized city between the Bear Range and the Wasatch Mountains near the Idaho border.
Peterson has nothing but praise for Queta’s work ethic. “Neemi made himself a pro. It takes a lot to show up every single day. Some kids you coach, you have to say, ‘Hey, let’s get in the gym’ or ‘hey, do you want to get in the gym today?’ Nemi was just constantly, ‘Coach, you got film for me?’ ‘Coach, can we shoot this morning at 7am?’”
After a single standout season in the Mountain West Conference, Neemi participated in the NBA draft combine, but did not hire an agent, which at the time, was an irrevocable step that would terminate college eligibility.
Queta was not ready for the pro game. Peterson, who accompanied Neemias to the workouts, relates that his first challenge was going up against future Celtic legend Tacko Fall. According to Peterson, Queta got his “butt kicked,” and knew that he needed to continue to work on his game.
Mar 19, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Utah State Aggies center Neemias Queta (23) controls the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Marcus Santos-Silva (14) during the first half in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
After two more seasons of accumulated accolades, including a school record for most blocks and a Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year award, Queta was ready for the NBA Draft.
He officially declared in 2021, and was taken by Sacramento as a second round pick, the 39th overall. He thus became the first Portuguese player selected by an NBA team.
Sacramento has been bad for a very long time; this has resulted in a succession of high picks that they have principally used on overrated players, or on players that they have failed to develop. Queta fits into the second category.
Queta spent a lot of time playing for the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate, but appeared in 15 games for the parent squad his rookie year. That number dropped to five in his sophomore season. Neemias played these seasons on two-way contracts, which, unlike standard NBA contracts, allow players to be assigned to the G League for an extended period of time.
In August of 2023, the Kings signed Queta to a standard contract, and then promptly waived him a month later on September 12.
The Celtics snapped him up a week after he was cut, signing him to a two-way contract, and making him an NBA champion when the Celtics secured Banner 18 the following summer.
That summer the Celtics signed Queta to an NBA contract, and unlike the Kings, they did not waive him a month later. Instead, Queta saw his role increase during the 2024/25 season. After appearing in just 28 games in the previous campaign, Neemias saw action in 62 contests.
With the departure of veteran Celtics bigs during the summer of 2025, Neemias ended up being the Celtics’ starting center going into a season where everyone but the team itself seemed to have low expectations.
Queta made a solid case for the league’s Most Improved Player, starting 75 of 82 games while averaging 1.3 blocks per game, to go with 10.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, in a surprising 56 win campaign that saw the Celtics finish with the second best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.
He was rewarded with a four year, $56 million contract.
His progress would not surprise Eric Peterson, who recruited him to Utah State because he fit the type of player they were looking for. “We want guys that are not done getting better, that have their best basketball ahead of them.”
The Warriors ended the 2025-26 NBA season as the league’s oldest team at 29 years, 199 days on April 12, per SportRadar.
After the team re-signed Al Horford (40 years old) and Kristaps Porziņģis (30), along with their likely re-signing of Draymond Green (36) paired with the potential to land LeBron James (41), that designation likely will remain true when next season starts.
Add that to the 36-year-old Jimmy Butler and 38-year-old Steph Curry, the “unc” label given to Golden State is fitting. But NBA title-winning coach Doc Rivers doesn’t necessarily think the Warriors’ age is a bad thing.
“I think, yeah, they’re older players but the whole team’s not old,” Rivers told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the American Century Championship. “And I think if you mix with the right guys.”
Rivers says he believes having the veteran presence on the team paired with younger talent – for the Warriors, names like Yaxel Lendeborg, Moses Moody, Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski – is the right recipe to winning a title.
“I thought when we won it in 2008, we had the perfect mix,” Rivers told Poole. “We had the old guys at the front of the team and then we actually had the really old guys at the back of the team and then we had the young guys in the middle. It was like a push-pull thing. The old guys would just pull the young guys along, the young guys would push the old guys every day in practice and I think it’s a good mix and that’s what you have to have.”
The Warriors’ championship pedigree also shouldn’t be overlooked with Curry, Green and coach Steve Kerr already the proud owners of four NBA championships, Horford winning a title in 2024 with the Boston Celtics and Jimmy Butler infamously carrying the Miami Heat to the brink of a title in 2020 and once again helping the team reach the Finals in 2023.
Whether or not James joins the Warriors, it’ll be interesting to see if the team can put together that same recipe that helped Rivers and the Celtics hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Fans always have a difficult time seeing their favorite players skip town for a new team, new beginning or more money. And even more so when their favorite player is a four-time NBA champion such as Klay Thompson.
Thompson was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He went on to help them capture four titles on his way to becoming known as one of the greatest shooters in the history of the game, alongside Stephen Curry, as the two formed the "Splash Brothers" duo.
A sour taste was left in fans' mouths as Thompson left the Bay for the South, joining the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract via a six-team sign and trade on July 6, 2024.
And although Thompson has since played games at Chase Center as a visitor, he still routinely received cheers from the fans in San Francisco proving he's beloved in the Bay.
So when a fan met Thompson for an autograph signing event, the guy could only speak his mind and ask whether the 36-year-old wanted to return to the Warriors.
"Are you going to go back to the Warriors anytime?" a fan asked Thompson.
Thompson gave an honest reply that's got rumor mills buzzing.
"Shoot I don't know," Thompson said. "I got one year on my deal. It'd be nice to end it in Golden State.”
Fan: “Are you going to go back to the Warriors?”
Klay Thompson: “Shoot I don't know. I got one year on my deal. It'd be nice to end it in Golden State.”
On one hand Thompson seemed sincere. But sometimes, you have to give the fans what they want to hear so you're not clipped to social media in a character-smearing fashion.
So if Thompson wants to go back home to where his career started would be a conversation starter. The Mavericks could look to move on from Thompson as they try to get younger.
A reunion to close Thompson's career is a storybook ending that Warriors fans desperately desire, whether or not they can land LeBron James. And for Thompson, it could be the closure he needs.
In his 13-year career, Thompson has averaged 18.6 points on 44.8% field goal, 40.9% 3-pointers and 85.8% free throw shooting splits. He became a five-time All-Star with Golden State and holds two NBA regular season records: most points scored in a quarter (37) and most three-pointers made in a game (14).
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 01: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on March 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s not even been three whole weeks since Jonathan Kuminga was first linked to the Lakers early in free agency, but it sure feels like this saga has dragged out forever.
Realistically, this should have always been the expectation with Kuminga and his agent, given how things played out with Golden State last season. It could also be seen coming with the most recent report that his free agency was going on pause until LeBron James made a decision.
Even if things are on pause now, though, it didn’t seem like the Lakers and Kuminga were making much headway on a deal. Pair that with everything coming to a halt and, as written by Dan Woike of The Athletic, the momentum on a deal has come to a grinding halt.
The Athletic has reported on the Lakers’ interest in free agent Jonathan Kuminga since late June, but it appears that momentum has stalled with the sides far apart on terms and L.A. not overly motivated to push significant draft capital into sign-and-trade scenarios. Still, he appears to be the biggest upside play left on the table, and could re-emerge as a target if his market remains tepid. Cleveland, according to league sources, is the team most-often connected to Kuminga other than the Lakers.
The Lakers are now in a spot where a consolidation trade is necessary after the signing of Matisse Thybulle. While the team was always going to be in a position where they were going to have to make a trade to acquire Kuminga, they’re now in a spot where they have to trade two players to open up a roster spot.
Does that change whether the team has interest in Kuminga? It certainly makes it more difficult to add him to the roster, on top of being far apart on terms. If it’s starting to feel like a deal for Kuminga is feeling less and less likely, you’re not alone.
The market for him is going to have to really remain dry and Kuminga and his agent are going to have to face some harsh realities to lower their asking price quite a bit.
And if this is all starting to sound like déjà vu all over again with Kuminga’s last foray in free agency, you’re also not alone.
After being one of the best performers during summer league, Arthur Kaluma is being rewarded with a roster spot on the Lakers.
The Lakers have agreed to terms with Kaluma on a two-way contract, a source confirmed to the California Post on Monday after ESPN first reported the addition.
The franchise will have to open up a two-way slot to make room for the signing of Kaluma.
After being one of the best performers during summer league, Arthur Kaluma is being rewarded with a roster spot on the Lakers. NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Lakers have agreed to terms with Kaluma on a two-way contract, a source confirmed to the California Post on Monday after ESPN first reported the addition. NBAE via Getty Images
Manon, who spent the 2025-26 season with the Lakers on a two-way contract after going undrafted from Vanderbilt in 2025, re-signed with the franchise on another two-way deal on July 3.
Suder, who a signed two-way deal with the Lakers after going undrafted last month, is “likely” to be waived to make room for Kaluma, a source told the Post Monday night.
Kaluma averaged 17.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in the six summer league games he played, shooting 55.1% from the field and 38.9% on 3-pointers.
At 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds with a 7-foot ½ wingspan, Kaluma has the size and tools to be an impactful professional player.
Multiple front office personnel told the Post during summer league Kaluma had two-way talent.
Multiple front office personnel told the Post during summer league Kaluma had two-way talent. NBAE via Getty Images
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 18: Arthur Kaluma #47 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Malevy Leons #33 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League semifinal game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2026 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. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a standout Summer League campaign, the Lakers are locking up Arthur Kaluma.
On Monday evening, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Lakers signed Kaluma to a two-way contract. A corresponding move will have to be made as the team has all three two-way spots accounted for.
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing F Arthur Kaluma to a two-way NBA deal, Todd Ramasar and Mike Simonetta of Life Sports Agency tell ESPN. Kaluma, who spent 2025-26 in Lakers G League program, averaged nearly 19 points, 61% shooting and 50% on 3s in Las Vegas summer league.
Across seven games this summer, Kaluma averaged 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 55.1% from the field and 38.9% from three. His averages were boosted by a 34-point outing against the Mavericks in Las Vegas.
While this summer was his breakout, Kaluma is not new to the Lakers. He played with the Lakers in Summer League last year, averaged just 4.5 points in four games. He then spent the season with the South Bay Lakers, playing in 40 games and averaging 13.8 points in 24.4 minutes. He shot 54.9% from the field and 37.6% from three during his time in the G League.
The Lakers will have to waive a player to make this signing official. Teams have three two-way spots and, heading into Summer League, the Lakers had Chris Mañon, AK Okereke and Peter Suder. Of the three, Suder is the most likely as he was the only one not to play at all in the team’s semifinal loss to the Warriors.
Considering the lack of depth the Lakers have as things stand at the forward position, there could be actual minutes available for Kaluma this year if he can parlay his Summer League success into training camp success.
The Summer League team could see many players turn their strong showings into potential roles. Both Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero had strong summers and could find their way into the rotation. Along with Kaluma, Mañon had a strong showing as a two-way player and, given his skill sets as well, he, too, could play his way into minutes this season.
For Kaluma, it’s quite the jump from last summer when he wasn’t getting much action or even from his G League campaign.
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) reacts to his score against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks are still riding the high of winning the NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs last month.
The offseason has brought difficult choices for the team to make, despite ending a 53-year championship drought. The team said goodbye to Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year contract with the Boston Celtics. Because of this, CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn gave the Knicks a C-plus for their offseason grade so far.
“The Knicks will have to figure something else out at center. They don’t even have a third big yet. Maybe they find someone at training camp. Maybe they trade for someone during the season. They tried an offer sheet for Moussa Cissé that got matched, but as Dallas currently has 15 other players with guaranteed contracts, the Knicks may be hoping that the Mavericks simply waive him before the season so they can pick him up then,“ Quinn wrote.
The only teams with better grades compared to the Knicks were the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Knicks responded to Robinson leaving for the Celtics by signing another regional rival in Andre Drummond who played with the Philadelphia 76ers for the past two seasons. Ultimately, the Knicks could have avoided replacing Robinson, but at least they have a plan rather than just winging it.
The Knicks could have also let go of several of their free agents, but Robinson was the only one that didn’t re-sign. Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Muhammad Diawara and Jordan Clarkson are all returning to the Knicks in hopes of winning another championship.
While the Knicks haven’t dominated the offseason, they have taken care of their own as much as possible while staying underneath the second apron, which is very difficult to do. That’s why I would amend this grade and give the Knicks a B.
Posting and Toasting community: what grade would you give the Knicks for their offseason? Let us know in the comment section below.
A warmup jacket worn by Wilt Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA Finals that was bought by a teenager for $3.07 at an Oregon thrift store sold for $89,600 at auction on Monday.
Quinn Brown had been eyeing a massive bin of clothes at a Goodwill store outside Portland in January when he saw someone toss a Lakers jacket with Chamberlain’s name on it back on the pile.
Brown, who resells used clothes online, quickly grabbed it.
A warmup jacket worn by Wilt Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA Finals that was bought by Quinn Brown was sold for $89,600 at auction on Monday. Getty Images
The jacket was auctioned by Sotheby’s, which had estimated its value between $150,000 and $250,000 before bidding closed Monday.
It received a total of 48 bids, according to the auction house.
Described on Sotheby’s website as an “extraordinary piece of memorabilia,” the short-sleeved yellow warmup jacket was worn by Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA finals, in which the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks.
“I didn’t even think that finding something like this was possible,” Brown said.
“I got very, very lucky.”
Chamberlain, an NBA Hall of Famer viewed as one of the all-time greats, played in the league from 1959 to 1973.
He won two championship rings — one with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967, and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.
Quinn Brown purchased the jacket at a Goodwill store in Portland, Oregon, for $3.07. Instagram/@quinn.c.brown
He holds the record for most points scored by a player in a single game, netting 100 points in a 1962 match.
For the past three years, Brown has been reselling clothes online after finding them in thrift stores.
The most expensive item he had sold previously was a T-shirt of Sub Pop Records, the indie label that signed Nirvana in 1989 and released the band’s first album. It went for $250.
After buying the Chamberlain jacket back in January, Brown searched online to see if it was worth something.
He found a picture on Google of Chamberlain wearing such a jacket and compared it to the one he had.
Sotheby’s sold Chamberlain’s iconic jacket that he wore during the 1972 NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers, as the auction house reported that the item received 48 bids. 10.29.96
In examining the Lakers patch on the front, he noticed certain small stitching details that matched the photo.
He also looked up the measurements of a different jersey worn by Chamberlain, a towering figure at 7 feet, 1 inch (2.2 meters) tall, and discovered that they nearly aligned.
“I really just wanted to make sure, because it was so hard to believe at the time,” he said, adding that he had only ever read about such serendipitous thrift findings.
When he posted a photo of the jacket on social media, Sotheby’s contacted him about consigning the jacket to the auction house. Brown agreed, and an armored van came to pick it up.
Sotheby’s then did its own photo verification and determined that the jacket was worn by Chamberlain during the 1972 Finals, in which he was named the Finals MVP.
“Photomatching a piece of game-worn clothing to a specific Finals series, for a player of this era, is genuinely exceptional,” Sotheby’s website says.
“As photomatched items worn by Chamberlain become exceedingly rare, this jacket is a piece of sports history.”
It is not the first Chamberlain item from the 1972 finals to fetch a hefty sum under the hammer: A game jersey he wore during the series sold for $4.9 million at Sotheby’s in 2023, the fourth most expensive NBA jersey ever sold by the auction house.
As for his thrifted find, Brown said: “That was as good as it gets.”
P.J. Tucker weighed in on where he thinks LeBron James will land this offseason.
Tucker made a guest appearance on the “Club 520” podcast this past weekend at Fanatics Fest and said he believes James will be going to Golden State, alongside his former teammate, Anthony Davis.
During the semifinal and gold medal game, Curry was on fire, nailing 16 of 26 three-pointers, and finished the tournament shooting 47.8% from the three-point range.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
PJ Tucker believes the Warriors will sign LeBron James and Anthony Davis this offseason. Getty Images for Fanatics
On the Warriors’ wishlist this offseason, it includes pairing James alongside Davis, as the two were former Los Angeles Lakers teammates from 2019-2026.
In 2020, James and Davis worked hand in hand in helping deliver the Lakers their 17 Championship in franchise history.
The Warriors are likely hoping that James and Davis still have some juice left in the tank to help them win one more title before Curry retires.
LeBron James at a recent Time 100 event.
Both James and Curry are nearing the tail end of their careers and are both looking to get their fifth ring.
James will turn 42 in January, while Curry turns 39 in March, signaling that Father Time is quickly catching up to them.
Apr 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs general manager Brian Wright before game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The Spurs had a rather boring offseason. They loaded up on size at the draft, they retained Harrison Barnes and Jordan McLaughlin, and their biggest addition was 34-year-old Tobias Harris. Victor Wembanyama got a no-brainer of a max contract, and that was it. A solid offseason for a young team coming off a Finals run, but not one filled with major decisions and big swings.
This will likely be the last summer when the front office will get the privilege of not having to make sacrifices, deal with potentially contentious negotiations, and have to make plays for the future. By next offseason, San Antonio might find itself dealing with the type of problems the Thunder and, to a lesser extent, the Knicks and Celtics dealt with this year.
For those who might not be aware, the tax and the second apron really complicated the team-building abilities of several contenders. The Thunder had to salary dump some of their proven deep bench guys in Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, which wouldn’t have been that impactful on their contention odds. But they also had to drop Luguentz Dort to get under the tax at the behest of ownership, if Sam Presti’s press conference is to be believed. They picked up some second-rounders in the process, but lost one of their starters, a champion and one of their longest-tenured players on what their general manager called “a financial decision.”
In the Eastern Conference, the reigning champions and one of their biggest threats also had to make decisions that weren’t based on what made sense basketball-wise. The Knicks refused to cross the second apron, a decision seemingly spearheaded by their owner, and lost Mitchell Robinson in the process, replacing him with a lesser version of the same archetype, Andre Drummond. The Celtics traded Jaylen Brown for many reasons, according to reports, but his massive contract was apparently one of the biggest drivers for the move. Mind you, Robinson was essential for New York in several postseason runs, and Boston won a title with the Brown-Jason Tatum duo as their core.
Back to San Antonio. While Victor Wembanyama’s potential discount should help with cap balancing, tough decisions loom. First, Stephon Castle will become eligible for an extension next summer. Assuming he continues to improve as a player, he’ll want the max. The Spurs would surely love it if he took less and will have the threat of restricted free agency, which gives them control of Castle’s destiny, as a bargaining tool. The issue with wielding that weapon is that it could damage the relationship with Castle, who was a starter on a Finals team. If the front office thinks he’s a part of the untouchable core going forward, keeping him happy and feeling important will be paramount. Can they do that without offering the 25 percent max?
A Castle extension wouldn’t kick in until the 2028/29 season, so it wouldn’t have an immediate impact on the cap, but it would condition who the Spurs can and can’t afford in the future. San Antonio is so close to the tax line this offseason that a veteran’s minimum would push them over it. The main reason is De’Aaron Fox’s 30 percent max that will pay him $49.5 million this year. Eventually, Fox will get traded (more on that in a second), but there might be a more immediate casualty than Fox to balance the cap. Keldon Johnson is eligible for an extension but has not received one. Once Wembanyama’s extension kicks in next offseason, the Silver and Black will only have around $10 million to spend on three players if they want to stay under the tax. They could carve up some more space while waiving Luke Kornet, but bringing Johnson back could be hard to achieve.
Of course, all these estimates are made with Fox’s contract on the books at least until next season. The Spurs could be looking to move him now, but they made it clear that they won’t do that, which makes sense. Despite the struggles in the Finals and the postseason in general, Fox is one of the best players on the team, and certainly the best game manager. Moving him would likely represent taking a step back in terms of talent, since his current perceived value doesn’t come close to matching his massive salary. But eventually, he’ll have to go, unless the franchise prefers him over Castle and Dylan Harper, which seems extremely unlikely. So if not this season, when is Fox being salary dumped? There’s time until Castle’s extension kicks in to do so, but it might make more sense to do it next offseason, if there’s a buyer, to avoid having to deal from a position of extreme weakness.
We could continue looking towards the future and consider what a potential Harper extension would mean, but it’s too far down the line and too close to a possible CBA change. What’s clear right now is that the incredibly successful rebuild the Spurs have put together will very soon run into the limitations that the punitive repeater tax and the aprons put on team building, which has already forced other contenders to lose talent.
This offseason was a quiet one for San Antonio, leaving no need to veer from continuity and allowing the front office to keep the team that made the Finals together while adding some young, cheap pieces. It wasn’t the most exciting of summers, but soon enough, as the tough decisions become unavoidable and change the team, Spurs fans might find themselves looking back and hoping things could be as simple as they were in 2026.
Moments after Yaxel Lendeborg led the Golden State Warriors to an NBA Summer League Championship, the No.11 pick of the NBA Draft wasn’t shy to call out his opponent.
During his postgame presser, Lendeborg threw the Memphis Grizzlies under the bus and said they weren’t ready for the moment.
“Man, their butts got tight. They puckered up, you know what I mean?” Lendeborg said, “Some of us are built for the moment, and some aren’t.”
Yaxel Lendeborg on their fourth quarter comeback to win against the Grizzlies:
“Man, their butts got tight, man. They puckered up, you know what I mean? Some of us are built for the moment, some aren’t. So when you get those opportunities like that and you go attack the moment,… pic.twitter.com/SvIFNCjDs3
Yaxel Lendeborg doesn’t hesitate to say the Memphis Grizzlies aren’t built for the moment. Getty Images
Lendeborg was crowned the NBA Summer League Championship game’s MVP after leading the Warriors back from a 12-point deficit entering the fourth quarter. The Warriors eventually defeated the Grizzlies, 94-40.
The former Michigan Wolverine finished the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals, while putting up nine points in the fourth quarter to help wipe away the deficit. He out-dueled Memphis’ third overall pick, Cameron Boozer, who had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Rick Barry presents the 2026 NBA Summer League Championship trophy to the Golden State Warriors
Following Sunday’s championship game, Lendeborg said, “I’m just very proud of this moment. I’m glad we got to win this. For the Warriors, what a great way to start.”
Performing on the championship stage isn’t an unfamiliar sight for Lendeborg, who scored 13 points in Michigan’s win over UConn to win the National Championship. The New Jersey native was hobbled with an injury, but gutted it out to help the Wolverines win their second title.
Sunday’s Summer League MVP trophy is another one for Lendeborg to add to his trophy case as he was crowned the Big Ten’s Player of the Year last season.
Yaxel Lendeborg could be a crucial piece for the Golden State Warriors this season. NBAE via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the NBA Summer League officially coming to a close yesterday, as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies to capture the Summer League championship, it’s time to take one final look back at what unfolded in Las Vegas.
By this point, the league has typically announced its All-Summer League First and Second Teams, but we’re still waiting for the official selections. The last Suns player to earn that honor was Jalen Smith back in 2021. There’s little doubt Khaman Maluach will end that drought.
In four appearances, Maluach averaged 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds, recording a double-double in every game he played before the Suns shut him down for the remainder of the event. His dominance has made him one of the clear favorites to earn All-Summer League recognition whenever the league announces the team.
While we’re still waiting on the official announcement, that hasn’t stopped national writers from putting together their own All-Summer League teams and standout lists. Across the board, the reviews of Maluach have been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing what Suns fans watched over the past two weeks. The rest of the basketball world appears to have noticed, too.
Maluach was one of the best sophomores at the event. After playing only limited minutes as a rookie, Maluach showed why he’s ready for a massive Year 2 jump. He showcased an ability to stretch the floor on offense while also disrupting shots at the rim on defense.
With the celebrated and wildly anticipated 2026 draft class largely living up to the billing, rookies are unsurprisingly well represented on this first team.
But credit Suns sophomore Khaman Maluach, last summer’s 10th overall pick, for ensuring this wouldn’t be a freshman-only outfit.
Phoenix slowplayed the 7-footer as a rookie, which made sense given how raw he appeared coming out of college. That option might be off the table already, though, given the apparent magnitude of the growth in his game.
Besides pumping in 19.5 points on 53.2 percent shooting and grabbing a Vegas-best 12.8 boards per game, Maluach showcased his unicorn blend of shot-blocking and floor spacing. In four games (all double-doubles, by the way), he actually had an identical number of blocks and triples (eight apiece), plus a 40 percent splash rate from long distance.
What does it mean? On the surface, not much. Summer League is a proving ground, but at the end of the day, you’re still playing Summer League competition. It can serve as an important mile marker on the road to development, and that’s ultimately how this experience should be viewed for the Phoenix Suns.
We did our best throughout the event to remind everyone not to overreact. As the days fall off the calendar and Las Vegas fades into the rearview mirror, reality sets in. The roles these players were asked to fill in Summer League are not the roles they’ll occupy once they rejoin the Suns. The offense they ran in Las Vegas won’t be the offense they’re playing in when the regular season begins.
That said, I’d much rather be discussing the results we saw than the alternative. I’d much rather watch Khaman Maluach perform the way he did, both from a statistical standpoint and through the intangibles he displayed, than spend the summer wondering why he underperformed or looked disengaged. He embraced the moment. He played with confidence. He led with his energy.
The future is bright for the young center. Perhaps we’ll look back on the summer of 2026 as the launching point for everything that followed.
