Category: NBA

LeBron James remains a free agent, and the Minnesota Timberwolves still appear like one of the finalists in his sweepstakes.

The Wolves’ ability to contend over the last couple of seasons, with Anthony Edwards leading the charge, could be enough to woo LeBron in free agency. Minnesota has been busy this offseason, acquiring point guard LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst wonders if that deal will hurt Minnesota’s chances at signing LeBron in free agency.

“With Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, the Wolves have elite perimeter play and rim protection. Edwards and James played together on the Olympic team, so there’s familiarity between the two, and Jaden McDaniels would provide James cover by guarding opponents’ top wing scorers,” Windhorst wrote.

“LaMelo Ball is a wild card; his style of play would test James’ patience, but having James on the court with shooters such as Ball, Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu provides what has always been a successful formula.”

Adding LeBron would change Minnesota’s offense completely, but it could be for the better. Even at 42 (he turns 42 in December), he still has a strong impact that could alter a team’s ceiling and the Wolves should be excited at the possibility of signing him at the veterans minimum.

Ball’s role in the offense would change drastically if LeBron were to come to Minnesota, but the Wolves have to make those changes if they can sell LeBron on a winning situation.

The Wolves originally brought Ball in as someone who can take some of the pressure off of Edwards to create in the backcourt, but utilizing him as the sharpshooter he is could yield stronger results, which could be what Minnesota needs to get over the hump in the Western Conference.

Canis Hoopus community, how do you feel about LeBron’s fit with the Wolves? Chime off in the comments section below.

The Milwaukee Bucks are looking for a new direction after trading out Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster deal.

While Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez, among others, represent a building block, the Bucks are going to need more than just that to get back on their feet. Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale listed the Bucks as an option for Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga in free agency.

“The Milwaukee Bucks should be in full-on experimental mode after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Jonathan Kuminga fits neatly into that second-draft (third-draft?) mold,” Favale wrote.

“… Aside from needing to stagger Kuminga from Nate Ament and maybe Kyle Kuzma, the logistical pretzel-twisting is minimal. That’s more than you can say for many of the other fits. And with ample wiggle room beneath the tax, the Bucks can afford to use part (or all) of their $15 million mid-level exception on a stab-in-the-dark signing.”

The lack of risk makes this potential deal for the Bucks very rewarding. Kuminga came into the league as a lottery pick, thrown into a situation where he had to fall in line as a role player with the contending Golden State Warriors. While he won a championship in his rookie year, he never got to completely spread his wings in his four years in Golden State.

Anger about his role led him to request a trade, which was granted in the middle of last season, sending him to the Atlanta Hawks for Chris Tapp’s Porzingis. Kuminga averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Hawks, but it wasn’t enough for Atlanta to consider re-signing him.

Now that he is a free agent, Kuminga is looking for a home where he can establish some roots. A team like Milwaukee fits that like a glove.

Brew Hoop community, how do you feel about the possibility of signing Kuminga in for agency? Let us know in the comment section below.

July 1, 2024, was a triumphant day for the Philadelphia 76ers. Their year-long plan of preparing cap space had paid off by landing Paul George, the top free agent in his class, to play with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in a renewed effort to dominate the Eastern Conference. Two years to the day, George was shipped out of Philadelphia in the most unexpected way possible.

The disastrous start to George’s tenure in Philly was more predictable than many Sixers fans had realized at the time. An injury in his first preseason game kicked off a year one that never got off the ground. George was never able to get his body right, he was constantly rushing to get back on the floor to aid an Embiid who was also struggling with just being available to play.

After just the first year, George’s contract was widely regarded as one of the worst in the league and a massive anchor around the Sixers’ future. That fact wasn’t helped when George suffered another injury in the offseason, and would once again miss the first few weeks of the regular season.

When he was on the floor in 2025-26, he looked more like the Paul George the Sixers thought they were signing. Just as he and the team were gaining momentum it was again halted, as George got hit with a 25-game suspension for drug use.

The time off was certainly a detriment to the team’s seeding — they would end up having to fight through the Play-In tournament to secure a playoff appearance. The 25 games away was just the refresher the 36-year-old needed, though. In the last 10 games of the regular season he averaged 21 points and 5.7 rebounds a game shooting 47% from the field and 41% from three-point range.

That strong play extended into the postseason. In their round one series win over the Boston Celtics, George averaged 17.4 points per game shooting 55% from three-point range while playing stout defense on the likes of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

He was so productive for the Sixers there was hope they wouldn’t have to attach too many assets to dump George’s contract. The Sixers weren’t just able to do that, they were able to get an All-NBA player in return for George in the form of Brown himself.

The acquisition for Brown is so exciting and such a win on paper that it’s easy to write off George’s time as a Sixer entirely. He’ll go down as one of the biggest reasons the Sixers had to transition out of this Joel Embiid-centric era. He’ll be remembered as the guy whose attempts to quit podcasting were ultimately useless in saving the 24-win season of 2024-25.

He can also be remembered as a key cog in the Sixers’ most exciting playoff win in over four decades. He can be remembered as a guy who helped end an era of Celtics basketball and kickstart a new one for Philly in the process.

It’s tough to remember a guy as instrumental in the Sixers’ worst season of the decade fondly, but it’s also tough to look on anyone who helped a 3-1 series comeback harshly. George’s legacy in Philadelphia should be as complicated as parsing through his production with the Sixers. The swing taken on him in 2024 sure as hell didn’t work out, but at the end of the day, it got them Jaylen Brown.

LAS VEGAS — Joe Mazzulla sits back in his chair at the corner of practice as music blasts. It’s Celtics Summer League, and a new crop of players are beginning their journey to the pros.

Some, like first-round draft picks Hugo Gonzalez and Chris Cenac Jr, come in with plenty of expectations and fanfare. Others are hoping to break through, to make some sort of name for themselves, to get their dream opportunity.

As the 16-player Summer League squad wraps up practice, Neemias Queta is partaking in a rigorous workout with the Celtics assistant coaches. The Portuguese center is just a few days removed from signing a life-changing contract, a 4-year, $56 million extension that is the result of years of tireless work.

Fittingly, as he walks into the gymnasium, he shakes nearly every reporter’s hand. We each shower him with congratulations. After all, it’s not every day that a player who jumped around from two-way contract to two-way contract gets that kind of long-term payout. Just two years ago, Queta was a Summer League player himself, hoping to one day become an impactful rotation player.

Outside of Queta’s entrance, it feels like a normal day of practice: Mazzulla is in the background, chatting with some staff members. Queta is working on his post moves with assistant coach Tony Dobbins. A smattering of assistants work with players on their skill development.

But the reality is that it’s been anything but a normal couple of weeks for the NBA’s most storied franchise.

Just over a week ago, the front office made the difficult and highly-scrutinized decision to trade Jaylen Brown, the team’s longest-tenured player, the Finals MVP who over the years became a staple in the Boston community. It’s a decision that Brad Stevens fielded dozens of questions about in a 40-minute press conference earlier in the week.

“This is the decision we came to,” Stevens said, “and obviously, in many circles that’s not popular, and we understood that coming into it.”

But lost in the shuffle of the Brown trade was everything else that took place over the last few weeks — the Celtics signed veteran free agents Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley, acquired Paul George, and extended Neemias Queta and Ron Harper Jr long-term, two tenacious players who began their tenures with the organization in the G-League.

They also drafted two rookies — Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell — whose additions to the franchise got buried amid all the trade hysteria.

I sat down with Mazzulla to talk through it all: through the defining move that sent Jaylen Brown to the rival Philadelphia 76ers, through the offseason additions he hopes help the team ultimately achieve its loftiest goals, and through his own journey as, believe it or not, one of the NBA’s longer-tenured coaches.

This is the first in a two-part series diving into the Celtics coach’s mindset on the heels of a disappointing playoff exit, his thoughts on the team’s newest additions, and much more.

Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics coaching staff looked inwards

The reality is that the Jaylen Brown trade came on the heels of a season that ended in undeniable disappointment. The Celtics held a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, but lost three straight games, becoming the first group in franchise history to blow a 3-1 lead.

As such, he and his coaching staff have been handily criticized all summer.

When I ask about that flood of criticism — a sharp departure from the flowers they received during an unexpected 56-win campaign — Mazzulla interrupts me.

“As we should be,” Mazzulla said. “That’s deserved criticism. One, you don’t end your season on a loss. Two, you’re up three games to one. You have to be able to win a game, and we don’t. So that starts with me.”

The Celtics notably have the exact same coaching staff back for a third consecutive year. That staff, headlined by coaches like Sam Cassell, Dobbins, DJ MacLeay, Matt Reynolds, and others, has been working tirelessly this summer to figure out where things went wrong in the playoffs, and how they can grow from there. It’s a process that began almost immediately after the playoff exit.

“It starts with me,” Mazzulla said. “Where can I get better? Where did I fail in the last two postseasons? Where do I have to be better? And then it trickles down to asking them the same questions.”

“You have to be honest with yourself. You have to have people who are honest around you, and I don’t think I’ve ever been around a group of guys who are more honest with each other. And we argue constantly. The most important thing is getting to the right answer.“

Aside from the self-reflection, the Celtics coaching staff had a busy summer of their own, with several emerging as finalists for NBA head-coaching jobs. Dobbins was a finalist for the Dallas Mavericks head coach job, and fellow assistant coach Tyler Lashbrook was a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers job, among others.

Mazzulla welcomed it all.

“We had four coaches have head coaching interviews this summer, and two other guys have interviews at other jobs,” Mazzulla said. “And so I think those are little affirmations that the process of what we’re doing is good.”

Joe Mazzulla emphasizes Jaylen Brown’s competitiveness

Mazzulla smiled when I asked him about Brown, whom he worked with for four seasons as head coach. Together, they won almost 300 games and ultimately hoisted the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy.

More than anything, Mazzulla credits the five-time All-Star for making him better. Speaking to a group of reporters just a few minutes earlier for the first time since the trade, Mazzulla shared how difficult the trade was and stressed that Brown made him a better coach: “I know that for a fact.”

“Something like that is going to be difficult,“ Mazzulla said. “But I think if you could just get through it and act as if nothing happened, then that’s when I think that you’re not in it for the right reasons.”

As we later sat on the gymnasium sidelines, I asked Mazzulla to elaborate on the notion that Brown made him better.

“The biggest thing was just his competitiveness,” Mazzulla said. “He wasn’t afraid to push you. That was for teammates. That was for me. That was for people. He wasn’t afraid to hold you accountable to a higher standard. And when you have the opportunity to coach guys like that, it just makes you better.”

What does Mazzulla hope Celtics fans don’t miss when they reflect on Brown’s tenure in Boston?

There’s the well-chronicled off-court work that will forever define his tenure. There’s the 2024 championship, in which Brown raised nearly every aspect of his game to its best version.

There’s the 2025-2026 season, in which he built a legitimate MVP case for the first time in his career.

“I really hope people saw the competitiveness,” Mazzulla said. “I hope people saw the leadership. The leadership jump that he took this year… I hope people [were able to] see that.”

“What you see is what you get from Jaylen: it’s competitiveness, it’s respect. And he wants to win.”

Making the most of the Celtics’ offseason additions

With Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia, the Celtics coaching staff has been tasked with figuring out how to get the most out of players like Mitchell Robinson and Paul George.

Brown isn’t going to be replaced — that’s not the goal — but Mazzulla’s job is to figure out how to get the most of the players they did add.

“You’re getting rid of strengths [in Jaylen], but you’re bringing in new strengths,” he said. “And that’s the part that we have to leverage as a staff and as a team.”

“Bringing in the strength of Paul George, bringing in the strength of Mike Conley, guys that have beaten us in games, and guys that have played high-level basketball for a long time. Bringing in the strength of Mitchell Robinson, who has been one of the most impactful players when he’s on the floor. And so we just have to have an understanding of what those guys’ strengths are, and how do we give them an opportunity to make us better?”

Robinson is the Celtics’ marquee free agency signing; the longtime New York Knicks center is a historic rebounder who has long been a thorn on the Celtics’ side.

When the Knicks and Celtics faced off in the 2025 playoffs, Joe Mazzulla ordered his players to routinely send Robinson — a notoriously poor free-throw shooter — to the foul line to try and get him off the court. Regardless of that strategy, the Knicks outscored the Celtics by 46 points in Robinson’s minutes that series.

So, when it came time to offer Robinson a contract last week, it was a full-circle moment. In that free agency call, the two discussed Mazzulla’s Hack-a-Mitch approach.

“I told him [the fouling] was a compliment,” Mazzulla said. “He was so effective when he’s on the floor. We had to do what we could to take him off the floor. So, now we have to be able to use his effectiveness to make us better. And I think it gives us a ton of depth at the center spot where two guys have done so many great things for us, Neemi and Luka [Garza]. And now we have another guy that can help us.”

Neemias Queta, Ron Harper Jr. see their work get rewarded

For Celtics fans, some of the best news of the offseason came when Queta signed his extension, and Ron Harper Jr. signed his own 4-year, $14 million contract.

It’s something that was gratifying to Mazzulla, too.

“They put their head down, and they work,” he said. “And I think it’s a testament to the front office for finding guys that can impact winning, and then it’s a testament to the player development staff, and then it’s a testament to the players with how hard they work.”

There were distinct moments in which it became clear to the Celtics head coach that Queta and Harper Jr. had what it took to make it in this league. For Harper Jr., it was the way he was able to crash the glass and defend in a February road game against the Houston Rockets in which he was tasked with guarding Kevin Durant.

For Queta, it was the way he embraced the illustrious responsibility of being the Celtics’ starting center from the get-go.

“They both just showed moments,” Mazzulla said.

Now, both players will be Celtics long-term.

On top of those additions, the Celtics added two rookies via the draft: Chris Cenac Jr and Dillon Mitchell. They weren’t projecting Cenac would be available at pick No. 27, but he had slipped through the first round.

“Obviously, didn’t expect to get him at this point, and I think that’s the conversation that you have with Chris of like, ‘Hey, you’re here for a reason,’” he said. “One, you need to find out why you got to us, and you need to use that as leverage, and you need to use that as information to become the best player that you possibly can.”

Mazzulla pointed out that Cenac and Mitchell come to him after being coached by “high-level” coaches: Cenac was led by Kelvin Sampson at Houston and Mitchell by Rick Pitino at St. John’s. He expects that will make their adjustment to the NBA’s intensity a little smoother.

“I think that really helps guys at the next level, when you’ve been coached by great coaches,” Mazzulla said. “I think it makes it easier for them.”

Looking ahead at Year 5 in Boston

As Mazzulla prepares for his fifth season as head coach of the Celtics, he feels more gratitude for the job than ever before.

“The gratitude [grows] the longer you get to stay, because you know there’s so much turnover,” he said.

He’s not wrong: remarkably, only seven NBA coaches have been with their franchise for longer than Mazzulla has.

As such, he’s been studying veteran coaches like Erik Spoelstra, Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr — decorated coaches who spent their entire coaching careers with one organization — as well as New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who has moved around a few times, but found success wherever he’s gone.

What’s allowed them to be effective for so long?

“It’s not supposed to go one way,” Mazzulla said. “You just have to get better, and you have to be around great people. And I’m fortunate enough to do that here.”

The second part of my exclusive conversation with Joe Mazzulla will be out on Monday — a deeper dive into the unique way the Celtics head coach has spent his offseason.

As our focus shifts to next season, the Knicks enter unfamiliar territory as they prepare to defend a championship. While visions of championship celebrations will forever live on in our minds, New York’s front office continues navigating the realities of a salary cap and that second apron nonsense. The most notable casualty of that reality is Mitchell Robinson. The longest-tenured Knick now plays for the Boston Celtics, leaving New York with a massive void at backup center. To fill that spot, Leon Rose traveled the veteran, low-cost route, bringing aboard Andre Drummond.

It is tempting to view this particular roster movement as a simple one-to-one replacement of a traditional backup center. In a conversation with media personality Mika Ortiz on X, Drummond openly stated he brings a “similar talent” and “similar energy” to the floor. However, if you take a statistical deep dive into both centers, the picture becomes a bit more complex. Swapping Robinson for Drummond fundamentally changes the Knicks’ offensive spacing, rebounding approach, and defensive geometry.

Rebounding is a key component of New York’s identity. However, how they secure rebounds is about to change. Robinson’s primary value is his ability to generate offensive possessions. He did not just secure rebounds; he dismantled defensive schemes. A matchup from last season that demonstrates this best is a game against the Indiana Pacers in March. In 31 minutes of action, Robinson recorded 22 total rebounds and registered a remarkable Offensive Rebounding Percentage of 29%. For those of you wondering, this means that while Robinson was on the floor, he recorded nearly a third of his team’s offensive rebounds. His ability to create second-chance opportunities bailed out inefficient possessions and was one of the reasons the Knicks won Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Fitting that the last thing Mitchell Robinson did for the Knicks was secure the greatest offensive rebound in franchise history to secure the championship 🫡 🏆 @23savage____pic.twitter.com/DYLOTJ3Nzl

— The Knicks Wall (@TheKnicksWall) July 1, 2026

Drummond is equally dominant on the glass. His impact is largely on defensive rebounds. While Robinson’s focus is on possession extension, Drummond’s is on possession elimination. During a high-usage contest against the Clippers in November, he secured 18 rebounds and registered a phenomenal 30% Defensive Rebounding Percentage. While his greatest value lies in ending opposing possessions, he is still a highly talented offensive rebounder, even posting a 22.2% Offensive Rebounding Percentage against the Knicks this May.

Replacing Mitchell with Drummond makes the strategic trade-off clear. New York is sacrificing elite second-chance creation for an equivalent in second-chance prevention. Although they may suffer a similar fate, opponents will take on many one-and-done possessions.

The structural changes become even clearer on the offensive end. Robinson is a low-usage backup. His Usage Rate rarely went over 15% and often dropped into the single digits. Also, he provides no floor spacing whatsoever and never takes any three-point shots. Serving simply as a lob threat and putback specialist, Robinson does not require any plays designed for him. Though this kept the ball in the primary creators’ hands, it shrunk the floor, allowing defenders to collapse into the paint.

Drummond, on the other hand, can be deployed as a high-usage backup. This past season, his usage rate showed much higher peaks than Robinson, even logging a 23.7% in a postseason tilt against the Knicks. While Robinson is not a threat from the perimeter, Drummond does take the occasional three. He commands the ball more frequently and operates from various areas. Defenses must respect Drummond a bit more, altering the spacing geometry for guards.

Andre Drummond three-pointer 👀 pic.twitter.com/eDxrBKOGf8

— Sports Notes (@TheSportsNotes) April 16, 2026

Of course, increased usage means more responsibility. Drummond, dissimilar to Robinson, serves as a far more active passing option. With a practically non-existent Assist Percentage, Robinson is essentially a playmaking vacuum. When he catches the ball, his action either results in a dunk attempt or a reset to a guard. Drummond brings a completely different dynamic. Typically recording an Assist Percentage around 7%, he can operate out of the high post or the short roll. Consequently, this opens the playbook up a bit more while he is on the court. Still, just because Drummond is more of an asset in passing, his playmaking comes with a liability. When Drummond’s usage increases, his ball security almost always plummets. In games when asked to facilitate more regularly, his Turnover Percentage climbed, going as high as 35.3% in a contest against the Pistons.

In Drummond, the Knicks gain a center who provides opportunities for more diverse offensive sets. On the flip side, they are incurring a turnover risk that did not exist with Robinson.

As Knicks fans, we cannot complete any comparison involving Robinson without discussing free throws. Everyone knows the “Hack-a-Mitch” tactic, but Drummond has historically been targeted with intentional fouls as well. Yet, when it comes to foul shots, Drummond has a slight edge. Of course, anyone familiar with Robinson’s work should not be overly shocked by this. Mitch is a severely awful free throw shooter. Drummond is no Reggie Miller, but he can connect at a higher efficiency, especially when his opportunities are less frequent. Drummond is still a liability from the line and will likely face a few “Hack-an-Andre” moments. He is not on Robinson’s level of horrendous.

Defensively, action around the paint will look very different. Providing consistent disruption with blocks and steals, Robinson is a traditional vertical rim protector. Though Drummond matches Robinson’s effectiveness in passing lanes, he is far less of a blocking threat. Drummond relies on clogging the lane, grabbing errant passes, and grabbing rebounds.

Replacing Mitchell Robinson with Andre Drummond is not a lateral move. The Knicks are transitioning from a specialized vertical anchor to a playmaking center who eats up space and creates more offensive variety. The floor spacing is set to shift, the turnover margins will change, and the rebounding will have a much more eliminating-than-creating philosophy. As Mike Brown and company prepare for a title defense, adjusting the half-court offense and defensive rotations to maximize Drummond’s skill set will be a fascinating tactical storyline to follow.

All advanced stats are courtesy of Cleaning the Glass.

When the Dallas Mavericks hired Masai Ujiri, Mike Schmitz, and eventually Dusty May, it felt like the franchise had finally turned a corner.

For the first time in years, there appeared to be a clear plan. Nico Harrison was gone; one of the league’s most respected executives was running basketball operations; one of the NBA’s best talent evaluators joined him; and Dallas hired arguably the hottest coaching candidate in basketball. Considering everything the organization had gone through over the previous year, it finally felt like competent basketball people were making basketball decisions.

Then the roster-building started.

And honestly, it’s been difficult to figure out exactly what the Mavericks are trying to become.

The roster already entered the offseason with obvious flaws. Dallas had almost no reliable guard play outside of Kyrie Irving, an abundance of wings who all occupy similar roles, several centers with lengthy injury histories, very little draft capital, and one of the most important roster-building windows in franchise history beginning around Cooper Flagg. That context matters because the Mavericks don’t have the luxury of experimenting. They only control a handful of future first-round picks during Flagg’s rookie contract, meaning almost every major move carries significant weight.

Which makes the direction they’ve chosen even more confusing.

The ninth pick was supposed to answer Dallas’ biggest question

Coming into the draft, most people assumed Dallas would target a guard.

Not because guards are inherently more valuable than forwards, but because of Cooper Flagg.

Flagg just completed one of the best rookie seasons we’ve seen in years. He proved he can score at every level, defend multiple positions, create for teammates, and function as the offensive engine of a franchise. The next step isn’t finding another version of Cooper Flagg.

It’s finding the players that maximize Cooper Flagg.

That’s why so many people viewed the ninth pick as an opportunity to find his long-term backcourt partner.

Instead, Dallas selected Morez Johnson Jr.

To be clear, this isn’t really about Johnson as a prospect. I actually like Morez Johnson Jr. He plays incredibly hard. He’s physical, athletic, rebounds everything, protects the rim, and still has legitimate upside. He was also coached by Dusty May at Michigan, giving Dallas a level of familiarity that very few prospects could match. If you’re drafting the best player available, I completely understand the selection.

But if you’re drafting specifically for this Mavericks roster, I still struggle to understand the fit.

The fit is where the confusion begins

The Mavericks didn’t draft a bad basketball player.

They drafted another player whose best position overlaps with their roster’s strengths.

Dallas already has Cooper Flagg. PJ Washington is still under contract. Naji Marshall remains one of the team’s better rotation players. Caleb Martin is still on the roster. Now they’ve added Morez Johnson Jr., another forward who wins with physicality, energy, and interior play.

Those players all have different strengths and bring different skill sets.

But they’re still competing for many of the same minutes while Dallas’ biggest weakness remains exactly what it was before draft night.

Guard play.

Free agency has only made the questions louder

The draft wasn’t necessarily the end of the world.

Brayden Burries was really the only guard many considered worthy of the ninth pick once Dallas was on the clock, and free agency presented several opportunities to address the backcourt afterward. That’s why patience initially made sense.

To the Mavericks’ credit, they have actually done a good job preserving flexibility. Rather than locking themselves into bad long-term money, they’ve accumulated sizable trade exceptions that can be used at virtually any point this offseason. Those exceptions are valuable tools. They give Dallas the ability to absorb contracts, facilitate trades, and improve the roster without being backed into a financial corner.

The problem is that flexibility only matters if you eventually use it.

So far, the Mavericks haven’t.

Yes, they drafted Sergio de Larrea, but he’s widely viewed as a long-term developmental prospect who is unlikely to contribute immediately.

They’re also reportedly adding Marcus Sasser. I actually like Sasser. He’s a capable shooter, competes defensively, and has shown flashes as a secondary creator in limited NBA minutes.

But that’s exactly the point.

Sasser isn’t the type of player who fundamentally changes the offense. Like Kyrie Irving, he’s probably better playing off another creator than running everything himself. He helps the roster, but he doesn’t solve the roster’s biggest problem.

The one meaningful veteran addition has been Santi Aldama, whom Dallas acquired by using one of the few tradable first-round picks it controls over the next several years. Aldama is a good player. He spaces the floor, moves the ball well, and gives Dallas another versatile frontcourt option.

But once again, it’s difficult to understand the positional priorities.

The Mavericks used one of their most valuable trade assets to acquire another forward while the roster’s biggest weakness remained untouched. Aldama can absolutely help this team, but he doesn’t answer the question that has followed Dallas since the season ended.

Who is going to organize the offense?

Creators win the modern NBA

This is where the offseason starts becoming genuinely frustrating.

I want to make something very clear.

Kyrie Irving is absolutely capable of playing point guard.

For the 30 to 50 games he’ll likely play this season while returning from his Achilles injury, he’ll probably be very good. Watching Kyrie and Cooper Flagg share the floor should be one of the most entertaining parts of next season.

But asking Kyrie to function as your primary offensive organizer in 2026 misses what makes him special.

Throughout his career, Irving has been at his best when he can score, attack tilted defenses, and play off another creator.

The same thing is true for Cooper Flagg.

Flagg can absolutely initiate offense, but his ceiling becomes even higher when someone else can organize possessions, get him the ball in advantageous situations, and allow him to attack instead of creating every action from scratch.

That’s why this roster construction feels backward.

The Mavericks don’t just need a point guard because they don’t currently have one.

They need one because it maximizes the value of their two best players.

The modern NBA isn’t won by one creator anymore.

It’s won with multiple decision-makers who can handle, pass, score, and keep defenses constantly rotating. Look around the league. Nearly every serious contender has multiple players capable of organizing offense.

Dallas currently doesn’t.

The clock is already ticking.

This also isn’t a rebuilding team with unlimited assets. With already limited draft assets, and a league where building around expensive superstars is harder than ever, and the Mavericks having a player who has a chance to be a true superstar on the cheapest contract of his career, they have to prioritize at least building a brand around Cooper Flagg.

Dallas owes its 2027 first-round pick. There isn’t much incentive to lose games anymore. This season is supposed to be about taking the first real step toward building a playoff team around Cooper Flagg.

Instead, it feels like the Mavericks are building on top of Flagg instead of around him.

Maybe the Mavericks are simply waiting for the right opportunity.

Maybe those trade exceptions are being saved for a move that hasn’t materialized yet.

Maybe Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz know exactly which guard they’re targeting, and they’re refusing to rush into the wrong deal.

I hope that’s the case.

Because if this roster is anywhere close to what Dallas opens training camp with, it’s fair to wonder what the overall vision actually is.

No matter how you spin it, the answer feels the same.

Whether you’re thinking about Cooper Flagg’s long-term development, Kyrie Irving’s short-term fit, or simply trying to win basketball games in today’s NBA, the Mavericks need another legitimate playmaker.

A real one.

Someone who can organize offense, create advantages for others, and lessen the burden on both Flagg and Kyrie.

The flexibility is there.

The trade exceptions are there.

The front office has the resources to make another move.

Now they have to use them. And yes, there is a LOT of time left in this summer for things to change.

However, if the Mavs do not start to build SOMETHING, what began as one of the league’s most promising offseasons from a leadership standpoint could quickly turn into a very long winter on the court.

Amidst the uncertainty of the latest chapter in the Kawhi Leonard saga, the Toronto Raptors have a Summer League circuit to tackle. Game one tips-off against the Boston Celtics on Friday at 9:00 p.m. EST on NBA TV Canada.

Here are three storylines worth your attention ahead of the matchup.

Will Allen Graves make an immediate impact?

It was like clockwork. Allen Graves is the latest Raptor rookie to be greeted by a combination of resistance, indifference, and disappointment. But after the success story that Collin Murray-Boyles authored last season, there’s a reality that Raptors General Manager and Vice-President Bobby Webster strikes gold for the second year in a row.

Assuming Murray-Boyles plays with a minutes or game restriction, expect the Raptors to lean on Graves to play the roles of defensive savant and offensive Swiss Army knife. The 19-year-old has similar defensive instincts to Murray-Boyles, but Graves can also deploy his reliable jump shot on the offensive end.

The mystery that shrouds Graves’ game can begin to dissipate based on how he fares against elevated athleticism and speed. While the Celtics were among the slowest teams in pace last year, expect their Summer League roster to get out and run.

Stat line prediction: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

The rest of the youth movement

When Leonard was traded to the Raptors in 2019, he was surrounded by budding stars and elite role players. During Toronto’s championship run, Head Coach Nick Nurse often turned to youngsters like OG Anunoby (21), Fred VanVleet (24), Pascal Siakam (24) and Norman Powell (25).

By the start of this season, these will be the current Raptors aged 25 or under who are expected to play rotational minutes:

• Scottie Barnes (25)
• Jamison Battle (25)
• Allen Graves (20)
• Collin Murray-Boyles (21)
• Jamal Shead (24)
• Ja’Kobe Walter (22)

Jaden Bradley (23), Alijah Martin (24) and Chucky Hepburn (23) will also battle for minutes, with their journey beginning in the Summer League opener.

Leonard doesn’t have much time left before he sunsets into retirement. The Raptors moved off rotational pieces like Jonas Valanciunas, CJ Miles and Delon Wright in 2019, and fans can expect the front-office to do the same with this group if the correct vision doesn’t manifest early.

The evaluation process begins now.

Celtics’ chaotic energy present challenges

The Celtics are 43-29 all-time in Summer League action. Boston’s deepest run occurred in 2021, when the team reached the Summer League finals before losing to the Sacramento Kings.

Raptors fans are familiar with sophomore Hugo Gonzales.

Gonzales became the second-youngest Celtic to record a double-double when he finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 112-96 win over the Raptors last season. The energetic forward also recorded two steals and one block. Expect Gonzalez to have the green light to wreak havoc, especially in a Summer League environment.

After falling to the bottom of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Chris Cenac Jr. has the rest of his rookie season to prove skeptics wrong. The idea of Cenac is far more alluring than what he currently is or realistically projects to be. Cenac has the physical tools and mindset of a dynamic big man who thrives in the modern NBA. Unfortunately, the shooting touch and development are behind where they should be.

Celtics Summer League roster:

G Mohammad Amini (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
F/C Chris Cenac Jr. (6’11, drafted 27th in 2026 by Celtics)
F Tucker DeVries (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
G/F Hugo Gonzalez (6’6, drafted 28th in 2025 by Celtics)
G Caleb Grill (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for the Windy City Bulls in 2025-26)
G Curtis Jones (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for the Grand Rapids Gold in 2025-26)
G Kyle Mangas (6’4, undrafted in 2021, played for Austin Spurs in 2025-26)
F Dillon Mitchell (6’8, drafted 40th in 2026 by Celtics)
F Hank Morgan (6’5, undrafted in 2025, played for the Maine Celtics in 2025-26)
F Nick Pringle (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
G Day Day Thomas (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
G John Tonje (6’4, undrafted in 2025, played for Main Celtics in 2025-26)
G Milos Uzan (6’3, undrafted in 2026)
F Chauncey Wiggins (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
G Alondes Williams (6’4, undrafted in 2022, played for the Capital City Go-Go in 2025-26)
C Amari Williams (6’11, drafted 46th in 2025 by Orlando Magic)

For teams interested in signing LeBron James via free agency, they have a chance to contact him indirectly to make their pitch for the four-time NBA MVP.

James has not met with any teams in person, so the pitch will have to be made another way.

According to a report from ESPN.com, Rich Paul, James' agent, has made it easier for executives to pitch by sending James a voice note. That note will be sent to Paul, who then will pass it on to his client.

Bob Myers, a Philadelphia 76ers executive, even appeared on the "Game Over" podcast with Paul and co-host Max Kellerman to make his plea to James.

"If you're talking about the Sixers, if he was here, I would say, 'I honestly believe this is your best chance to win.' You have to decide all the other things, that are equally important, because it's his life," Myers said. "He has to play, he has to face the scrutiny of his decision. Half the people will say, 'You should have done this, you should have done that.' Criticize him, or whatever, which is his life, so he's been through all that."

It is not known how many teams have actually sent James a voice memo, as he will enter his 24th and possibly last season in the NBA.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA teams courting LeBron James via voice memos to agent, per report

As is well documented, the Bucks have a lot of guards on the roster. One might think that having a lot of guards—many of whom need the ball in their hands to be the best versions of themselves—would hinder the development of key future pieces of this team. Therefore, for the latest Reacts survey, we asked fans if Bucks GM Jon Horst needs to cull the guard room and create a more balanced roster. A solid majority agreed.

For last week’s poll, we asked fans whether the Bucks should embrace youth or champion veteran influence; 73% wanted to embrace youth. So with that in mind, it makes sense that 63% of fans want the guard room cleared out so that key members of this aforementioned youth—such as Brayden Burries—get the minutes they need to properly develop.

Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.

Former Illinois big man Morez Johnson Jr. dominated in his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday night. Johnson Jr. finished with 27 points and eight rebounds, shooting an impressive 12-for-17 from the field in 32 minutes.

The Mavericks fell to the Warriors, who were led by Johnson’s former Michigan teammate Yaxel Lendeborg. Lendeborg and Johnson Jr. picked up right where they left off in college, with both scoring more than 20 points for their new teams.

It surprised many when the Dallas Mavericks selected former Illinois and Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He climbed draft boards more than almost anyone after a stellar performance at the NBA Draft Combine.

Morez reunited with his former coach, Dusty May, at Michigan following the Wolverines’ historic season. Michigan finished 37-3 while winning both the Big Ten regular-season title and the NCAA National Championship.

The Mavericks selected Morez in the lottery and expect him to become an important piece of their future. He was one of the best defensive players in college basketball last season, and that ability appears to be translating quickly to the NBA. In his Summer League debut, he added three steals and two blocks while making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.

At just 20 years old, Johnson still has plenty of room to develop offensively. Against the Warriors, he attempted four three-pointers and knocked down one of them. He also finished with three assists, showcasing the versatility that made him such an intriguing NBA prospect.

Although Johnson and the Mavericks couldn’t get past Lendeborg and the Warriors, he looked every bit like a player capable of contributing in Dallas sooner rather than later.

Morez Johnson Jr. in College

It comes as no surprise that Morez Johnson Jr. looks ready for the next level after the season he put together at Michigan. He earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors and was named Second Team All-Big Ten while helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds across 40 games.

Before transferring to Michigan, Johnson spent one season at Illinois. The Harvey, Illinois, native committed to the Illini early in high school and arrived in Champaign with lofty expectations after winning Illinois Mr. Basketball and playing in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit. His lone season with the Illini didn’t unfold the way he had hoped, as he was looking for a larger role.

Johnson started eight games and averaged 17.6 minutes per contest as a freshman.

“I just didn’t think that was a place for me in my development,” Johnson said.

Believing Illinois was no longer the best fit for him, Johnson transferred to Big Ten rival Michigan. He was booed inside the State Farm Center and faced criticism from Illini fans on social media throughout the season. By the end of the year, however, he had helped Michigan win a national championship and turned himself into a lottery pick.

For Illinois fans, there will always be a sense of “what could have been” with Morez Johnson Jr. But he’s now in the NBA, and after an outstanding Summer League debut, he’s already showing why the Mavericks made him a top-10 selection.

In case former Spurs announcer Jacob Tobey is seeking advice on his next move after being fired for an alleged affair with a player’s sister, the law office of Colin Cowherd is here to help.

“I learned something new today, that you can get fired in America for cheating on your girlfriend. I had no idea that was legal. That literally happened, it was a big story,” Cowherd said Thursday on his self-named show regarding the scandal. “You can get fired in America for cheating on your — not your wife, a girlfriend. Feels like he should hire an attorney, that is a crazy story. Um, whatever.”

Cowherd’s overview of the situation hits on some of the points, but leaves out the major detail that the alleged affair happened with a San Antonio’s player’s sister.

"You can get fired in America for cheating on your girlfriend. I had no idea that was legal…Feels like he should hire an attorney" – Colin Cowherd https://t.co/xxkT52Q6gSpic.twitter.com/GECQKWEOdK

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 9, 2026

Tobey is accused to have cheated on his girlfriend of six years with Loren Waters, the sister of reserve guard Lindy Waters III.

The accusations came to light earlier this week when an Instagram Story purportedly showing Tobey dancing with his girlfriend of six years with the caption: “This is my girlfriend of six years. But I cheaterdon her with Loren waters. @lorenkwatrs so feel free to continue following me if you really think I’m a good guy because I’m not. :)”

Another Instagram Story showed printouts from a camera booth that showed Tobey and a woman — said to be Waters — kissing, with the caption: “Me and the new girl LorenKWaters :).”

Tobey has since changed his Instagram account to private, and Waters’ account is also private.

An alleged screenshot from a woman claiming to be his ex-girlfriend on Wednesday claimed she found out about the purported affair while staying with Tobey and his family recently.

Spurs broadcaster Jacob Tobey via IG:

“This is my girlfriend of six years. But I cheated on her with Loren Waters. So feel free to continue following me if you really think I’m a good guy because I’m not. :)”

What’s going on???#GoSpursGo#PorVidapic.twitter.com/PMkL5EbiDj

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) July 7, 2026

Front Office Sports then reported Thursday that Tobey would no longer continue as the team’s play-by-play man after two years in the role.

Tobey said in June he signed a two-year deal to remain with the organization.

Spurs games are typically aired on FanDuel Sports Network Southwest and local CBS 5, according to cabletv.com, although FanDuel will not be the broadcast home for the 2026-27 season, per Yahoo.

Before calling games for the Spurs, Tobey also worked for Fox Sports, 9NEWS in Denver, Pac-12 Network, the Mountain West Conference and the NBA G League, per his biography.

Summer League basketball begins tonight for the Phoenix Suns, and with it comes the annual exercise of managing expectations. We want answers, we want progress, and we want to believe that the young players the Phoenix Suns are sending to Las Vegas will return looking a little more comfortable, a little more confident, and a little closer to becoming the players this organization needs them to be.

Personally, I’m most interested in Rasheer Fleming. He will almost certainly see an increase in minutes this upcoming season, which makes his progression important to the overall health of this roster. I want to see him look more comfortable on the floor, be more decisive, and more aware of where he needs to be and what he needs to do when he gets there.

I’m tempering expectations because, ultimately, these games don’t count. That doesn’t mean they don’t matter. Development is a pillar of this organization, and progression is paramount. When you’re trying to build something sustainable, the growth of your young players becomes one of the most important variables in the equation. And the cheapest. You must have quality youth to be competitive in the Apron Era of the NBA.

I’m not surprised that the majority of the community believes Khaman Maluach is the player who needs to showcase the most improvement. 64% of the Bright Side community believes this is true. After all, he’s a lottery pick. Quite possibly the last lottery pick the Suns will make for nearly half a decade. With that comes the weight of expectations, whether people are comfortable admitting it or not.

That became a topic of conversation on the infamous Suns Twitter this week. Dave Burns of Arizona Sports 98.7 said that by this time next year, we need to know that Khaman Maluach can provide quality NBA minutes, or it might be time to panic.

“I need Khaman Maluach to play more than he did,” Burns said of Maluach. “I think it’s imperative that Khaman Maluach, by the end of the season, you can see it. You can start to see it happening with him. And if it hasn’t happened by the end of the season, brother, it is panic time.”

"If you're not seeing NBA-quality minutes out of Khaman Maluach, something went horribly wrong and a mistake was made," says @Burnsy987.

What do you need to see out of the young Sun this year?

Full @BurnsAndGambo segment: https://t.co/sDJYeJIGvfpic.twitter.com/NcPoPyyHwe

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) July 7, 2026

Of course, the comment section is ridiculous. I’ll get to that shortly.

Panic? I’m not sure I’d go that far. Concerned? Absolutely. If we’re sitting here one year from now and Maluach hasn’t progressed, hasn’t demonstrated that he can contribute, and hasn’t begun turning his physical tools into productive NBA basketball, there should be concern. And again, for those who wonder how a path to opportunity exists to provide a platform for development, I’ve covered that.

As I see the responses and reactions to someone simply stating that plateauing in year two is not a good thing, I feel it. I feel a rant coming on. And you know what? I haven’t had a good rant in a while, so why not? Let’s stand on the podium for a few paragraphs and let off some steam that is surely fueled by the festing rage only the Arizona heat can bring out of someone in July.

Apparently, saying out loud that a year in which Khaman Maluach does not show improvement is a cause for concern is controversial. Sections of Suns’ Twitter immediately went on the defensive. The local media was “being negative”. The expectations were “unfair”. “Why are we attacking a young player?”

I find the reaction strange. Maybe it’s a product of a broader cultural shift in which criticism is interpreted as cruelty and expectations are seen as unfair pressure. Everything is expected to be positive, comfortable, and affirming. Disagreement is mistaken for hostility. Accountability is viewed as negativity. Maybe it’s the product of gentle parenting. Everyone gets a sticker, nobody keeps score, and pointing out deficiencies makes you the bad guy.

I’m not interested in gatekeeping how anyone chooses to be a fan. Root however you want. But I reserve the right to find some of these reactions bizarre.

Maluach turns 20 in September. He hasn’t played basketball for very long and his development will require patience. All of that is true. And that is precisely why progression is so important. If he’s plateauing after two years inside an NBA development system, that’s a red flag. It doesn’t mean the Suns should abandon him. It doesn’t mean he’s a bust. It means you should be concerned about the trajectory. Apparently, even acknowledging that possibility is too aggressive for some people.

We’ve lived this before in Phoenix, haven’t we? Marquese Chriss. Dragan Bender. Josh Jackson. After two seasons, the warning signs were there. Development had stalled. Progression wasn’t occurring at the rate the organization needed. Concern crept in because that’s what happens when expectations collide with reality.

Yet somewhere along the way, it became taboo to say these things out loud. To admit that you’re worried about a player. To establish expectations and acknowledge that failing to meet them would be disappointing. Maybe I’m the old guy yelling from the lawn now, wondering how we reached the point where the media is considered harsh for observing that professional athletes have expectations attached to their performance.

Criticism isn’t inherently negative. It’s part of analysis, part of accountability, part of sports. And if you think Phoenix media is brutal, spend a week following a team back east. We’re playing with Nerf guns out here.

Social media has complicated the relationship between fans, media, and players. It provides direct access, or at least the illusion of it. Too many people crave that interaction. They want the follow. The reply. The acknowledgment. They want to be liked. They need to be liked. And criticism threatens that possibility.

If you say something negative about a player’s performance, perhaps he won’t interact with you. Maybe he won’t repost your work or acknowledge your existence. So criticism becomes something to avoid. Every performance needs an excuse and every concern needs a qualifier. Every uncomfortable observation is dismissed as negativity because telling the truth might jeopardize the possibility of that idyllic affection.

I have news for you. Being critical allows you to see the entire picture. It forces you to examine strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, progress and regression. That’s what analysis is supposed to be. Being balanced doesn’t make you a hater. It makes your praise carry more weight because people know you’re willing to acknowledge the flaws as readily as you celebrate the accomplishments. And in the long run, balance is what earns respect.

I agree. Good talk Voita

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) October 17, 2025

Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.

---

Summer League begins tomorrow, and hopefully we begin finding answers to some of these questions. Development isn’t linear and Maluach doesn’t need to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds to prove he’s progressing. He doesn’t need to be the guy who moves the FanDuel win total up three wins next season. Fleming doesn’t need to dominate every possession. Koby Brea doesn’t need to look like a finished NBA product.

What do I define as progression? I want to see confidence, court awareness, basketball IQ, and execution. I want to see young players process the game faster than they did a year ago, making quicker decisions, understanding where to be defensively, and recognizing opportunities offensively. The goal should be to turn mistakes from last season into lessons they no longer need to learn twice.

Whether those improvements translate into counting statistics is secondary. Progress isn’t always found in the box score. Sometimes you have to watch closely enough to see it. And that is what I’ll be watching for when the Phoenix Suns take the floor at NBA Summer League 2026.

The NBA offseason still has a long ways to go, but the picture at the top and bottom of the league is already starting to solidify for the 2026-2027 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks feel like they’re in a class of their own as an elite tier of contenders. Who’s the fourth best in the NBA right now? Your guess is as good as mine.

The NBA’s new anti-tanking rules mean there are no more free wins on the schedule this season. Still, some teams are likely to be very bad, starting with the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls. This year’s draft lottery features a “relegation zone” which lowers the odds at a top pick for the league’s three worst teams, though it also comes with the added benefit of falling no further than the No. 12 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. Every other team could slide all the way to No. 16.

A second wave of offseason player movement is likely coming after LeBron James finally makes his free agent decision. There’s still hoops to talk about until then, so here’s our way-too-early look at the league power rankings for 2026-2027 in mid-July.

30. Sacramento Kings

No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff is going to get a long leash to run the show in Sacramento, but he just doesn’t have much help. Will Domantas Sabonis or Zach LaVine still be on this roster come opening night? The Kings have a decent collection of young talent starting to form with Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Alex Karaban, and the goal of this season should be developing them alongside Acuff.

29. Milwaukee Bucks

The Giannis era is over, and the Bucks are left with a funky roster that will probably be pretty bad. Will Tyler Herro actually play for Milwaukee this season, or get flipped closer to training camp? Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. actually looked pretty good last season, and Kel’el Ware is an exciting young big man coming over from Miami in the big trade. Most of the attention will be on how the Bucks’ two lottery picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament develop.

28. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are going to be fun, but still project as an Eastern Conference doormat. Chicago’s two first-round rookies Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain should get plenty of reps, and it will be fascinating to see if last year’s lottery pick Noa Essengue can make an impact after a lost rookie season due to injury. A Matas Buzelis leap in year three would be huge for the Bulls’ long-term outlook.

27. Washington Wizards

A.J. Dybantsa is the star of the show after going No. 1 overall, and he’ll have a weird roster around him. Trae Young is on a new max contract for some reason. Anthony Davis is here for now, but maybe not for long. Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson are two former top-10 picks who need to develop around Dybantsa for Washington’s future to look bright.

26. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers got great value back for Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, but this season could be ugly. Rookie No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler has a lot riding on his shoulders long-term, and it will be interesting to see how he meshes with Darius Garland in the backcourt this year. There are still some solid vets here in Brook Lopez, Brandon Ingram, and Derrick Jones Jr., but I’m interested to see how youngsters Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Isaiah Jackson develop.

25. Brooklyn Nets

I think Brooklyn is going to surprise some people this year, and wouldn’t be surprised if they push for a play-in spot. New addition Julius Randle joins Michael Porter Jr. as the leaders of this team, and it’s possible Egor Demin can take a leap in his second season. Jordi Fernandez is an elite head coach and will get the most of this group.

24. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans haven’t done a single thing this offseason yet. Alright, man. There’s some talent here with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears, but new head coach Jamahl Mosley has his work cut out for him to mold this into a functional team.

23. Golden State Warriors

Steph Curry is still elite, but the team around him is lackluster at this point. It’s too bad Jimmy Butler will miss most of this season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Is this the year we start to hear real Curry trade speculation?

22. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are young, but the talent is real. Cameron Boozer is a future superstar, Zach Edey could be awesome if he can ever stay healthy, and Cedric Coward complements the two frontcourt stars well as a long 3-and-D wing. I actually like the guard collection quite a bit too with Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Cam Spencer all poised to make an impact.

21. Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets punted on LaMelo Ball, and in doing so killed their chances for this season. This team should still be pretty decent with Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White launching threes around one of the league’s best offensive rebounding teams, but it’s hard to imagine they can make real noise without injuries to several other East teams.

20. Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg, meet Dusty May. Dallas welcomes back Kyrie Irving from a torn ACL this season, and I like the trade for Santi Aldama. Can Dereck Lively II return from injury? I will be interested to see how Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz continue to put their stamp on this team, because it feels like a lot of these players could be flipped around Flagg.

19. Phoenix Suns

The Suns feel like a classic high floor, low ceiling team. Devin Booker has some good role players around him in Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Mark Williams, and Oso Ighodaro. Miles Bridges is here now too to complete Mat Ishbia’s Michigan State dream. I’m mostly interested in how last year’s No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach develops in the middle.

18. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are ready to make a big leap. Darryn Peterson will be an instant impact rookie, and he joins a talented veteran core led by Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Keyonte George. If Will Hardy is as good as a head coach as everyone believes he is, this team should push for the playoffs.

17. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta gave the Knicks their toughest playoff series in the first-round last season, and they continue to build out their future talent pool. Rookies Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor could be instant contributors, and picking up Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder for nothing was a nice move, too. Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum feels like a high floor, low ceiling group for this season, but the Hawks continue to move in the right direction.

16. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers are going to be fascinating with the return of Damian Lillard and the trade for Ja Morant. That seems like a poor fit to me, but at least Portland gave up absolutely nothing to get Morant from Memphis. Donovan Clingan and Scoot Henderson are the two most important players on the roster for the future of the franchise, and both could take a leap this season. The defense should be really good, and Deni Avdija will continue to be a battering ram off the bounce, but I don’t know if this team has enough of a ceiling to build on last year.

15. Orlando Magic

Sean Sweeney is the new head coach tasked with getting the most out of a talent Magic roster. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner just haven’t worked as well as expected together, and this might be their last chance with a massive payroll looming. If Sweeney is good and Jalen Suggs can actually stay healthy, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Orlando ends up much better than this.

14. Miami Heat

Pat Riley finally landed his next superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the supporting cast needs work. The front court should be elite defensively with Giannis joining Bam Adebayo, but the offensive spacing will be a question mark. The backcourt has almost no shot-creation, but Erik Spoelstra is better than anyone at developing diamonds in the rough. He’s going to need to do it again for this team to win a playoff series.

13. Houston Rockets

The Rockets have been strangely quiet this summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a big move coming before the season opens. For now, the main thing to get excited about is the return of Fred VanVleet. Houston’s young core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. remains enticing, and it feels like all of them can still go up another level this season.

12. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are loaded with top-end talent after the stunning Jaylen Brown trade, but it’s hard to say how it will all fit together. Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe is a great foundation even before you get to Joel Embiid, whose uncertain health hangs over every Sixers season. I’m concerned about the depth and the defense of this team, especially when Embiid inevitably misses half the season.

11. Indiana Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton is back from a torn Achilles, and the entire league will be wondering if he can pick up where he left off from Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The team around him is mostly pretty similar save for swapping out Myles Turner for Ivica Zubac, which should be a big upgrade. Indiana might be the most interesting team entering the season.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

I expect LeBron James to sign here, but we can’t bake that in yet. The Cavs are pretty good without him coming off a conference finals appearance. Donovan Mitchell is locked in long-term, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen return in the front court. I just can’t count on a James Harden team (he’ll re-sign soon) to break through at this point.

9. Toronto Raptors

I love the Raptors’ playoff ceiling after the Kawhi Leonard trade if he can stay healthy through an entire postseason run. That’s a huge if. Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Leonard should be an elite defensive trio. Getting anything from Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl this year would be a big boost.

8. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons did some tinkering to the rotation, but it still feels like they have a lot of the same problems as last year. Cade Cunningham is awesome, and gives this team a high floor by himself. Jalen Duren should re-sign soon, and he’s better than he showed during the playoffs. Ausar Thompson might be the best wing defender in the league, and Ron Holland could make an impact there too if either of them could improve their outside shooting a little bit. Swapping out Tobias Harris for John Collins is … fine. Detroit could make the NBA Finals, but they have real pressure to at least make the conference finals this year.

7. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets haven’t done anything this summer as they wait out Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency. It definitely feels like they could make cost-cutting moves on the margins before the season starts, but we can’t factor those in yet. Denver looked old and slow last year, but they still have Nikola Jokic, who remains a top-3 player in the world. I can’t see the Nuggets falling too far as long as Jokic is around.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers went for broke to build around Luka Doncic this summer, and it better work. LA paid a ridiculous price for Walker Kessler, but he is exactly the type of defensive-minded center a team led by Doncic and Austin Reaves needs in the middle. My big hangup here is the lack of wing talent. I love Adou Thiero as much as the next draft guy, but it doesn’t feel great that the Lakers are legitimately counting on him to take a leap this year.

5. Boston Celtics

The Celtics are still going to be really good after trading Jaylen Brown. Boston is essentially replacing Brown with a full year of Jayson Tatum while adding Mitchell Robinson and Paul George. I’m buying a Payton Pritchard leap this year. The Celtics are going to launch threes, crash the offensive glass, and try to avoid turnovers, which is usually a great formula for the regular season.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

The LaMelo Ball trade will define this franchise for the next few years at least. I think Ball is a highly impactful star guard, but his constant injury issues have a chance to derail this entire experience. If Ball can stay healthy, his elite handle, pull-up shooting, and passing vision feels like a perfect fit next to Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels. This team really needs Gobert to fight off father time. I’d like this group more if they had a bigger player in Ayo Dosunmu’s spot.

Championship favorites

3. New York Knicks

The Knicks only won 53 games in the regular season before finding magic in the playoffs on their way to one of the most dominant championship runs in recent league history. The bulk of this team is back minus Mitchell Robinson, who was a sneaky important piece off the bench. The key for the Knicks is going to be avoiding any decline by Jalen Brunson, and keeping Karl-Anthony Towns locked in to the best version of himself. If that happens, another trip to the NBA Finals could very well happen.

2. San Antonio Spurs

How will Victor Wembanyama respond to his crushing NBA Finals loss? Wemby would be wise to pace himself during the regular season, but it doesn’t seem like it’s in his nature to do it. The De’Aaron Fox question hangs over this franchise, because there’s no doubt Dylan Harper is ready to take over as their lead guard. Harper and Wembanyama will be showtime, and the supporting cast around them is improved. I like adding Tobias Harris at power forward in free agency, and I think Stephon Castle could benefit from transitioning from guard to wing. San Antonio will be very, very good around Wembanyama for the foreseeable future.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder may have gone back-to-back if not for untimely injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Williams essentially lost the entire season with soft tissue strains, and the Thunder desperately need him back playing at his top level given how big his cap hit is now. Oklahoma City did a nice job keeping their core in place even as they trimmed some salary by trading away Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. Will Lu Dort be on this roster opening night? Can Chet Holmgren shake off his horrific Western Conference Finals and regain his status as one of the league’s best bigs? The Thunder have an oustanding formula with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot creation and an elite defense. They remain the team to beat until further notice.

The NBA Summer League is underway in Las Vegas, where six former Arizona men’s basketball players are looking to make positive strides over the next 10 days.

Five members of the 2025-26 Arizona team are competing in Las Vegas, as well as San Antonio Spurs second-year forward Carter Bryant.

Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks, got a head start in summer league action, as he participated with the Bucks at the California Classic Summer League.

Koa Peat, the No. 30 pick to the Phoenix Suns, makes his professional debut on Friday when Phoenix takes on Portland. Burries and Peat have both signed four-year rookie contracts.

Jaden Bradley, who went No. 50 to the Toronto Raptors, also makes his debut on Friday as Toronto faces Boston. Bradley is on a one-year, two-way contract.

Tobe Awaka is on one-year, two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls. Awaka joined the Bulls as an undrafted free agent. Chicago plays Friday against Memphis.

And Anthony Dell’Orso is competing for the Sacramento Kings on a summer league contract. Dell’Orso did not play in the Kings’ first Vegas Summer League game on Thursday night.

Bryant, meanwhile, is getting in some extra reps with the reigning Western Conference champion Spurs. Bryant averaged 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game as a rookie. In Bryant’s first Summer League action Thursday, he struggled from the field, shooting 4 of 13 including 1 of 7 from three-point range.

Here is the schedule of when Arizona players will be taking the court. All times PST. (credit to Arizona Athletics).

Friday, July 10 

1:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Miami

5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Memphis

6:00pm (ESPN) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Boston

8:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Portland

Saturday, July 11 

3:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. New York

6:30pm (PRIME) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Houston

Sunday, July 12 

12:00pm (ESPN2) Phoenix (Peat) vs. New Orleans

5:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Washington

6:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Milwaukee (Burries)

Monday, July 13 

1:30pm (ESPN2) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Indiana

6:00pm (ESPN) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Utah

7:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Phoenix (Peat)

Tuesday, July 14 

3:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Brooklyn

5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Washington

Wednesday, July 15 

3:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Detroit

4:30pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Charlotte

5:00pm (ESPN2) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Boston

6:30pm (PRIME) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Utah

Thursday, July 16 

3:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Los Angeles Lakers

6:00pm (ESPN2) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Miami

Good morning Washington Wizards fans.

In this week’s survey, we asked you to grade the Wizards’ coaching staff changes for the 2026-27 season. They dealt with shuffling of assistant positions, NOT Brian Keefe. Anyway, about half of our respondents gave a B grade, which is solid. The As and Cs were nearly identical.

Here are the results from this week’s Wizards SB Nation Reacts survey pic.twitter.com/FTsyxUhots

— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) July 10, 2026

The promotion of Adam Caporn was not unexpected given that David Vanterpool has moved into the front office. The surprise for the Wizards is the return of Patrick Ewing, who coached for Washington in 2002-03 where he developed a reputation of being one of the top post development coaches in the NBA.

Does coaching news potentially change the perception of a sports team’s future? Not really. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, as of July 10, 2026, the Wizards have +25000 odds of winning the 2026-27 NBA championship. That’s better than eight teams. What does this roughly imply? It’s that Washington is no longer expected to be a doormat in the NBA. But they’re still not expected to make the playoffs either. Even with AJ Dybantsa making a great first impression last night in his Summer League Debut. Even with Ewing possibly developing Alex Sarr into a beast in the post.

Hopefully, the odds will change once Dybantsa is playing actual regular season games. Let us know your rationale for the grades in the comments below.