Category: NBA

Warriors not among teams in LeBron James' free-agency hierarchy, per Shams originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When NBA free agency opened earlier this month, the Warriors widely were viewed as one of the premier contenders to land superstar free agent LeBron James.

However, as more time has elapsed in the James sweepstakes, Golden State seems to have less momentum. Not only have there been talks of them pivoting to a pursuit of DeMar DeRozan, but ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania confirmed on Tuesday’s “Stephen A. Smith Show” that they are no longer among the teams in the mix for the 21-time All-NBA selection.

“The teams that keep popping up for me when I’m talking to teams are Cleveland, Miami and Philly,” Charania said. “It was Golden State at various points, and it still could. LeBron is taking a period of time here that has now allowed the Warriors, if they want to engage the Wizards on an Anthony Davis trade, to bring LeBron and AD as a package deal. They have a window for that, but the price is going to be steep.”

What might that price be? Well, it would center around Golden State star Jimmy Butler, and it could also impact the Warriors’ ability to build through the draft for the foreseeable future.

“You’re looking at Jimmy Butler and a plethora of draft picks, and if you’re the Wizards now, you have the leverage in these conversations. So, if you’re the Warriors, are you really going to part with multiple first-round picks, multiple swaps and multiple seconds to go get AD and then also get LeBron? Is that worth it? That’s something the Warriors have to sift through.”

Considering a report surfaced on Monday that the Cavaliers are viewed as the expected landing spot around the league, the Warriors would likely would need some sort of assurance from James that he’d sign with them before they part with any assets to make a move for Davis.

James, 41, is coming off a season that saw him make the NBA All-Star team for the 22nd consecutive season and proved he still can be a key part of a team’s offense. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game en route to helping the Los Angeles Lakers clinch the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.

Unlike in 2010, when ESPN aired “The Decision” on national television, which saw James leave Cleveland for Miami, there is no set date for when he will decide. So, it appears James and his team will keep things under wraps until he truly has made a final decision.

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The draft is done. Free agency is pretty much done, at least for the Phoenix Suns. So the next mile marker on the calendar arrives this Friday at 8 p.m., when the Suns’ Summer League team makes its debut in Las Vegas against the Portland Trail Blazers.

There are numerous storylines to follow, especially for an organization that has emphasized development and moved up in recent drafts to acquire prospects it believes in. Summer League matters to this organization, even if we have to temper expectations and avoid overreacting to the results. That’s easier said than done.

Personally, I don’t put too much stock into Summer League. But with nothing else happening in the basketball world, we tend to place a little more weight on it than we probably should. That being said, the Phoenix Suns have several second-year players participating in Summer League, and expectations for them will naturally be higher this time around.

Khaman Maluach was taken 10th overall in last summer’s draft and quite possibly could be the last lottery pick the Phoenix Suns make for quite some time. He is still only 19, not turning 20 until September 14, and we know it typically takes big men longer to develop at the NBA level. That being said, the expectation is that we see progress. Sharper decision-making, better basketball IQ, and an improved understanding of how to utilize his unbelievably long frame to be effective on the basketball court.

Rasheer Fleming might have been a second-round pick, but he was selected 31st overall last summer and was the rookie who appeared to pop a little more as the season progressed. So what does he look like during his second summer in Las Vegas? It’s been reported that he has added muscle, so how does he carry that extra weight as he moves around the court? What does his three-point shot look like? Does he attack the interior with more ferocity and frequency?

Lastly, there is Koby Brea, who returns on a two-way contract after being selected 41st overall last summer. He’s another player the Suns moved up to target and acquire, and while there still isn’t room for him on the big league roster, what does his progression look like? How crisp is his three-point shot, and how often is he taking it during Summer League? More importantly, how effective is he in other aspects of his game?

There are plenty of storylines to monitor with the Suns’ sophomore class, and that is the subject of this week’s Suns Reacts poll.

Who do you need to see the most improvement from this year in Las Vegas, and what is driving that need for improvement? Is it about seeing progress from one summer to the next and building upon what we saw at the end of last season? Or is it about showing improvement toward what could ultimately be that player’s ceiling? Please take the time to vote in the poll, then let us know in the comments below why you voted the way you did.

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

The most successful NBA player that Louisville basketball has ever produced is well on his way to becoming the most financially successful former Cardinal this side of Junior Bridgeman.

Donovan Mitchell has agreed to a new 4-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers that will reportedly earn him $273 million. Mitchell could have waited until next summer to add an additional season worth an extra $80 million on the deal, but instead chose to re-up with Cleveland on the first day he was eligible.

A three-time NBA All-Star, Mitchell has averaged 26.7 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game in his Cavs tenure. He’s led the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons in Cleveland, most recently taking them to the Eastern Conference Finals where they were swept by eventual World Champions New York.

“I love it here. I don’t know how else to say it. I have no doubt these guys can get there. We have unfinished business,” Mitchell said after the sweep.

And now he’s backed up those words by committing to Cleveland for the next four years … and giving them a little bit of extra wiggle room to bring in some help.

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The Utah Summer League wraps up tonight, with the hometown Jazz trying to complete a 3-0 run at Jon M. Huntsman Center.

They'll face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the late tip, on the heels of a matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies — and all eyes will be fixed on what kind of workload the big-name rookies receive after playing yesterday.

Here are my NBA Summer League picks ahead of the July 7 action.

NBA Summer League predictions for July 7

Pick
Jazz moneyline	-144
Hawks moneyline	+156

Today's Summer League Picks

Jazz moneyline (-144 at Kalshi)

How carefully will the Utah Jazz manage Darryn Peterson’s minutes in tonight’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder? That’s the biggest question looming over this clash, with Peterson scoring 53 points across his first two summer outings.

I still like the Utah moneyline even if Peterson and Cody Williams are just spectators here. Max Abmas and Jonas Aidoo have had some nice moments off the bench, and Blake Hinson is a steady starter at this level.

After starting the Summer League schedule with an ugly blowout loss, the Thunder were more competitive in yesterday’s loss to the Hawks, but the same availability questions apply to rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, who were a combined 7-for-23 last night.

I’ll bank on the home crowd giving the Jazz backups enough juice to grind out a win. 

Hawks moneyline (+156 at Kalshi)

This pick counts on the Memphis Grizzlies deciding they’ve seen enough of the talented Cedric Coward-Cam Boozer duo and shelving them for Vegas. In that world, Memphis would be relying on a bench that was run out of the gym last night against Utah.

While the Atlanta Hawks may reach a similarly cautious decision with their bigger names, rookie Kingston Flemings could give the underdogs some extra zip in this contest.

If Atlanta rolls with a cast of reserves, both Devon Higgs and Keshon Gilbert shot the ball well in yesterday’s loss to the Thunder, and the Hawks held OKC to just five made 3-pointers.

In what could descend into an end-of-the-bench rock fight, I’ll take the plus odds with an Atlanta squad capable of pulling off an upset.

Tuesday’s NBA Summer League parlay

Jazz moneyline

Hawks moneyline

+334 at Kalshi

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In the summer of 2024, Jaylen Brown was on top of the NBA world.

He was named Finals MVP as the Boston Celtics secured their historic 18th championship. He was a two-way force, helping slow down the ever-dangerous Luka Doncic as the Celtics dispensed of the Dallas Mavericks in five games. It cemented his legacy for a legendary franchise.

Brown, who isn’t even 30 yet, boasts a resume that will likely have his No. 7 hanging in the rafters of TD Garden one day. He’s a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA pick and, of course, a champion — with both NBA Finals and Eastern Conference Finals MVPs.

It’s amazing how quickly the narrative changes.

Since his stunning blockbuster trade to the Sixers last week, those accomplishments have faded to the background. Suddenly, the argument is Boston’s accomplishments were almost despite Brown. As if he were just along for the ride as the Celtics enjoyed as much success as any NBA team during his tenure.

Brown isn’t perfect. Adjustments will need to be made as he joins forces with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe.

But the spin from the NBA media, painting Brown as an albatross Boston untethered itself from, is approaching insanity.

What’s funny is nothing even needs to be referenced here. If you’ve been following along since news broke that the Sixers were shipping Paul George, two first-rounders and two second-rounders to Boston for Brown, you’ve seen this odd smear campaign against Brown.

His usage rate this past season ballooned to 36.2% as star teammate Jayson Tatum missed most of the season while recovering from a torn Achilles. With that, Brown didn’t have his most efficient season at 57.3% true shooting. To be fair, that’s also not bad efficiency at that usage rate. Many have pointed to Brown’s on/off splits with the Celtics. It’s true — over the past few seasons, Boston has outscored opponents by a bigger margin with Brown off the floor than on.

Brown’s on/off splits were in the 24th percentile in 2025-26, according to Cleaning the Glass. While Tatum’s splits were elite to start his career, they’ve fallen off a bit over the last few seasons. Ironically, in 2023-24, a campaign where Tatum finished sixth in MVP voting — like Brown did this past season — Tatum’s on/off splits were in the 42nd percentile. There were no character-limit pushing social media posts about Tatum’s inefficiency after that season.

This isn’t to discredit Tatum. He’s a great player. It’s just to show how imperfect on/off splits and analytics can be — and how they can be used to fit agendas at times. If you want to make the argument the Tatum-Brown duo had run its course, that seems like the fairest one to make. Both players could be characterized as tough shot-makers who take a lot of tough shots. If you want to make the argument Brad Stevens was getting ahead of a potential future financial crunch, that’s also fair. George has only a player option remaining on his deal after this season, meaning his contract could be moveable and be used either to acquire another star-level max player or split up to acquire more depth.

The eye test does still matter, though. Analytics are a tool. Much like Brown, they’re not perfect.

Brown is a physical specimen at 6-foot-6 and 223 pounds. He plays with rare physicality and force on the wing that most at his position don’t possess. He gets to his spots and can make difficult shots. He needs to be accounted for when he has the ball in his hands. His scoring gravity alone should help the other four players on the floor. And, again, we all saw how that physical presence helps defensively when he was going up against one of the game’s most gifted offensive players in Doncic. All of these attributes — physicality, iso scoring, on-ball defense — lend themselves best to postseason basketball.

As with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Brown has his deficiencies. He’s an improved but still below-average passer. He’s never been particularly good at limiting turnovers, a big demerit in the analytics community. He continues to be right-hand dominant, despite improvement there as well. While his on-ball defense can be elite when he’s locked in on an assignment, he’s prone to off-ball lapses.

Maybe his salary should be more reserved for MVP-level players under this current CBA; how can Brown be blamed for that? Stevens and company had no issues doling out that deal back in 2023. Brown hit the benchmarks required to earn such a contract. The Sixers choosing to pay Brown over the 36-year-old George feels like a no-brainer.

Perhaps Stevens, who initially dangled Brown as part of a trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo, saw potential financial pain with Brown’s contract in the future. He had a player who contributed significantly to the franchise, but whose max deal could push his payroll too close to the dreaded second apron for comfort — and the analytics backed such a decision.

Perhaps Mike Gansey simply saw an All-NBA performer who plays his ass off every night, wants to win and has won — analytics be damned.

There’s only one way to find out who’s right.

As Brown enjoys saying, throw the ball up.

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Brooklyn made a splash in the 2025 NBA Draft by taking five first-round picks, the most first-round picks ever taken in one Draft. It’s only been one season (and now our second Summer League) with these guys, and we’re trying to get a grasp on what the five got.

• Egor Dëmin is the star and leader among the five. No doubt.
• Nolan Traore was announced out for the summer after getting a scope on his knee.
• Drake Powell didn’t look comfortable at the California Classic.
• Ben Saraf showed flashes in California… but nothing more.
• Danny Wolf did not play in Cali.

We aren’t trying to make Summer League sound like the NBA Playoffs. They aren’t. But the Nets have a chunk of players they selected together and one of them is consistently growing. What about the rest?

We’re asking who has the most to prove out of the five — this summer, training camp, and preseason. Leading up to Opening Night: Who has the most to prove to coach Jordi Fernandez?

💬 Discussion

Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

You tell us!

The Los Angeles Lakers are still looking to add to the roster after a busy first few days of free agency.

General manager Rob Pelinka quickly made additions to the roster after half of the starting lineup departed, including four-time NBA champion LeBron James. The deals were headlined by center Walker Kessler’s four-year, $130 million contract.

Though the Lakers were quick to add, there is still speculation surrounding how the new acquisitions will jell on the court.

Pelinka’s efforts to make up for the many departures were noble, but the Lakers have limited cap space with two glaring needs. LA is missing a versatile wing defender.

Jonathan Kuminga could be the solution and he is reportedly interested in signing with the Lakers this summer.

While the Lakers are actively pursuing Kuminga, they have yet to make a sufficient offer the forward and his camp deem worthy. According to ESPN insider Anthony Slater, Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick have met with Kuminga virtually.

However, the meeting took place prior to the Lakers signing Kessler, Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton. Kuminga and his agent are reportedly still exploring options as other teams have expressed interest in the 23-year-old.

Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three last season for the Atlanta Hawks. At 23 years old, the forward would infuse youth into the roster and has the potential to develop into a two-way player for the Lakers.

In order for a deal to transpire, the Lakers would need to get creative in freeing up cap space to acquire a player like Kuminga. Currently, the Lakers only have the ability to sign a veteran to the league minimum salary.

Signing Kuminga would require the Lakers to either execute a trade or stretch and waive Jarred Vanderbilt’s contract (among others). The team freed up approximately $2.1 million in cap space by trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jaden Hardy and future draft compensation.

With Rui Hachimura joining the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers have no clear backup candidate to sign if the Kuminga deal doesn’t pan out. That’s a scary thought for a team that also needs a backup center after trading Ayton.

The Kuminga deal hinges on some creativity by Pelinka, but could later be seen as a turning point for the Lakers depending on what transpires. If the Lakers land Kuminga, they’re one step closer to contending.

If the Lakers fail to sign a versatile wing defender, the squad goes into the 2026-27 season with an incomplete roster.

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Summer League basketball is a great time for young players to get a chance to play live basketball against real competition in an effort to show NBA teams why they deserve a chance. Everyone’s playing for an invite to try and make a team or at a minimum a chance to make a G League team — which in turn gives them a chance to play for the big club if an injury happens during the season.

There are three main Summer Leagues: California, Utah, and the big one Las Vegas. With the California Summer League wrapping up Monday night, lets look at how former Tar Heels did with their teams.

RJ Davis, San Antonio Spurs

Davis, playing in his second round of Summer League (last season for the Lakers), had two really good games sandwiched around a stinker for the Spurs, who went winless in the California Summer League. In Davis’s first game, he scored 15 points in 18 minutes coming off the bench for the Spurs. He shot well from behind the arc, hitting three out of five, and also had three assists and no turnovers to lead the team in +/- with a +16.

In his second game, Davis came off the bench again but only had two points in 21 minutes. He also had three turnovers, though he did have four assists, and missed all five of his three-point attempts. In the third game, Davis started for the Spurs and scored 18 points in 29 minutes. He only hit two of his seven three-point attempts, but was the Spurs best player per +/- with a +11. Davis’s strong start should bode well as he heads to Vegas.

Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets

Like Davis, Powell is playing in his second straight Summer League. Unlike Davis, Powell isn’t fighting for a roster spot, as he was one of the Nets first round picks last year. Powell’s stats in his two games (for some reason he didn’t play in the team’s second game) don’t look really good. In two games, Powell had one field goal on 17 attempts including going 0 for 9 from three. Powell did do some other stuff though, as he finished with 12 rebounds, but also had five turnovers. Hopefully he will play better in Las Vegas.

Cormac Ryan, Milwaukee Bucks

Ryan is playing in his third straight summer league and his second with the Bucks. However, he only played in one of the team’s three games, starting in the opening game before sitting out the next two for undisclosed reasons. Ryan played well in his lone start, scoring 13 points in 19 minutes. Hopefully, Ryan will get more playing time in Las Vegas and that will lead to more opportunities with a Bucks team in transition after trading away their franchise star.

Kyle Lowry made two significant announcements on Tuesday, June 7 in Toronto, where he won an NBA championship.

The veteran point guard signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors and announced his retirement from professional basketball. The Raptors will make Lowry’s No. 7 just the second jersey that they have ever retired, joining Vince Carter’s No. 15. Widely called by Toronto fans as the GROAT — Greatest Raptor Of All Time — Lowry is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (4,277), steals (873) and 3-pointers made (1,518).

“This is home, and Toronto will always be home. Together we built something special here, and together we became champions,” Lowry said in a statement. “I always said I would retire as a Raptor, and to be able to do that today means everything to me.”

However, Lowry intends to remain involved with professional basketball in Toronto. It was also announced on Tuesday that he and his wife are joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA expansion franchise currently playing its first season.

“We are a huge basketball family and have been big supporters of the WNBA since day one,” Ayahna Cornish-Lowry said in a statement. “This feels like a true full circle moment to announce our ownership in the Tempo. We’re excited to help build something special in Toronto, inspire the next generation of athletes and fans, and support the continued growth of women’s basketball in Canada.”

More: Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey drops 53 points, tying WNBA record

The King of New York is reportedly on the mend. Thankfully for the Knicks, it doesn't appear to be serious.

NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Jalen Brunson, who led New York to its first championship in 53 seasons, is undergoing left wrist surgery, according to ESPN, though the outlet is reporting that Brunson is expected to return to basketball activities later in the summer. ESPN also reported that Brunson played through an injury during the playoffs, though the Knicks never officially listed him on the injury report with any wrist injury designation.

Brunson did play with his left wrist bandaged at times, though his production in the playoffs did not waver; he averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 19 playoff games this season. He was particularly impactful in the Finals, when he led the Knicks past the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win New York's first Finals since 1973.

The Washington Wizards released their Summer League roster, which features three first-round picks from the last two NBA Drafts.

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, headlines a talented Wizards roster that opens Summer League on July 9 against the Utah Jazz.

Tre Johnson and Will Riley, Washington’s 2025 first-round picks, will join Dybantsa in Las Vegas. Jamir Watkins and Felix Okpata, the team’s previous two second-round selections, will also participate in Summer League.

Here’s a reminder of the Wizards’ Summer League schedule:

July 9: vs. Jazz (Darryn Peterson)

July 12: vs. Kings (Darius Acuff)

July 14: vs. Bulls (Caleb Wilson)

July 15: vs. Clippers (Keaton Wagler)

Game 5: TBA

Here’s a quick breakdown of the roster:

Tre Johnson

Johnson was the Wizards’ No. 6 selection in the 2025 draft. The sharpshooting 20-year-old averaged 12.2 points on 35.8% 3PT during his rookie season.

He averaged 19.5 points on 46% 3PT in two Summer League games last year. 

Will Riley

Riley emerged toward the end of his rookie campaign, averaging 16.1 points and 3.7 rebounds over the final two months of the season.

The Illinois product averaged 10.5 points and 58.3% FG across two games at last year’s Summer League.

Jamir Watkins

Watkins, Washington’s 2025 second-round pick, averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 50 games last season.

The 25-year-old wing dominated defensively during last year’s Summer League. He averaged 11 points, five rebounds and 4.2 steals across five appearances.

AJ Dybantsa

Perhaps the biggest name on Washington’s roster, Dybantsa enters Las Vegas with all eyes on his performance. His first test comes against his rival, Peterson, who scored 28 points in his Summer League debut.

The Wizards’ previous top-three pick, Alex Sarr, missed all 15 of his shot attempts in his 2024 Summer League debut. So the bar is quite low for Dybantsa to surpass that performance.

Dybantsa’s debut is easily the most anticipated Wizards Summer League contest since John Wall tallied 24 points and eight assists in his 2010 debut.

Felix Okpara

The Wizards traded two second-round picks — No. 51 and No. 60 — to acquire Okpara with the No. 46 pick in the 2026 draft. The 6-foot-11 forward averaged eight points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game at Tennessee.

Okpara uses his athleticism and impressive vertical to deny shots and deter others around the rim. He will likely start the season on a two-way deal.

Julian Reese

Maryland fans rejoice. Reese will have another opportunity to dominate the glass in Las Vegas this summer.

Washington signed the 6-foot-9 forward to a two-way contract and even started him 10 times over the final stretch of last season. Reese averaged 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, including a 26-point, 17-rebound showing against the Jazz.

Seth Trimble

If you witnessed North Carolina’s iconic buzzer beater to knock off No. 4 Duke in February, Trimble’s name rings a bell because the 6-foot-3 guard drilled the corner triple that sent Chapel Hill into a madhouse.

Trimble guard averaged 14.0 points and 3.8 rebounds on 47.8% FG during his senior season. He’s a solid perimeter defender and another ball handler on a squad littered with them.

John Camden

Camden is the definition of a stretch forward. The 6-foot-8 sharpshooter knocked down 40% of his triples across five collegiate seasons with Memphis, Virginia Tech, Delaware and California.

Camden, 24, is unafraid to shoot from distance, launching nearly seven threes per game at a 39.5% clip last season.

Kadary Richmond

At 6-foot-6, Richmond uses his frame to out-muscle opposing guards when driving to the hoop.  Richmond averaged two points and three rebounds in two Summer League contests with Washington last summer.

The St. John’s product spent last season with the Capital City Go-Go and later played three games for the Wizards while on a 10-day contract. Richmond recorded seven points, six steals and four assists in Washington’s 131-118 win over the Indiana Pacers.

Here’s what Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino said about his former player: “Someone will get a great one with Kadary Richmond. You will be shocked how good he is on and off the court!”

Reece Beekman

The Virginia product is a stout on-ball defender at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. He spent last season with the Orlando Magic’s G League affiliate after playing 34 games with the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriars during the 2024-25 season.

Beekman owns an unpolished offensive game and struggles with his jump shot, which he made at just a 20.5% clip from 3-point range last year.

Norris Agbakoko

At 7-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Agbakoko is a bruising presence. He spent the 2025-26 season with Alba Berlin of the German Bundesliga, averaging 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds.

Agbakoko, 26, adds size to Washington’s roster behind Reese and Okpara.

Tre Carroll

Carroll played three seasons at Florida Atlantic before transferring to Xavier for his senior campaign. He’s a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 17.8 points and 5.8 rebounds as senior.

Carroll shot 50% from the field and 33% from 3-point range while starting 32 games last season.

Chris Livingston

Livingston spent one season at Kentucky before the Milwaukee Bucks drafted him No. 58 in the 2023 draft. He spent two seasons in Milwaukee before spending last year with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 20.4 points on 58.4% FG across 16 games with the Capital City Go-Go before his stint with the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate.

Damari Monsanto

Monsanto, 25, is a 6-foot-6 guard who played five collegiate seasons at Eastern Tennessee State, Wake Forest and Texas at San Antonio. He spent last season with three teams in the G League, notably playing four games for the Go-Go in which he averaged 6.3 points on 43.8% 3PT in 15 minutes per contest.

Monsanto was a career 39.5% 3-point shooter in college, so expect him to launch several triples in Las Vegas.

RJ Nembhard Jr.

Nembhard, 27, is an older guard who spent time with the Go-Go during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons as one of his four G League stints. He averaged 16.3 points and 4.6 assists last season with Valley Suns.

Nembhard gets his buckets around the rim and intermediate areas and is a capable defender.

The Dallas Mavericks aquired the 2023 draft rights to Tarik Biberović in their trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for forward Santi Aldama. According to a report from Marc Stein, the Mavericks will sign Biberović to a deal at some point today.

Today was the deadline for Biberović to inform Fenerbahçe that he would be leaving the club, which results in a $2 million buyout that the Mavericks can only contribute $900,000 towards.

Reports have circulated for days, largely from European sources, that Biberović was leaving Fenerbahçe and would sign a two-year deal with $14 million over two years with a team option for year two. This reported 2 year, $6 million deal looks to be a fantastic gamble for the Dallas Mavericks.

Biberović is a 6’6” guard with a strong outside shot. According to various videos I’ve seen (one linked below), he’s improved his movement shooting a great deal. He brings strong positional size to a Dallas backcourt that could use the depth. He’s played with Fenerbahçe for 8 seasons, so one can assume he’s a seasoned professional at this point.

This is the kind of low-risk, high-reward gamble that Dallas Mavericks fans should be thrilled about. The Mavericks have somewhat limited options between draft capital and free agency options, so securing the rights to a fantastic European shooter is a fun dart throw.

Is he any good? I have no idea. His previous club is a consistent powerhouse, so playing at that level from an early age speaks to why he was drafted in the first place. Maybe he won’t get much time, or maybe he’ll be a key factor if Dallas makes a run for a play-in spot before the playoffs.

All in all, this isn’t a bad way to kick off a Tuesday morning. We Mavs fans love getting over invested into our role players.