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Top 15 most interesting players at 2025 NBA Summer League: Cooper Flagg, Yang Hansen, Reed Sheppard

LAS VEGAS — Summer League is a lot of things: Part celebration of young NBA talent, part NBA convention, part networking event, part owners meetings, part party…

And there's basketball. A lot of basketball. It's the first chance for many fans and media members to get a look at the top draft picks in person and see how their games translate in a quasi-NBA setting. It's also a chance to see how players who have been in the league for a year or two have improved.

Here are the 15 most interesting players I saw in Las Vegas, broken down by category. This is an incomplete list and only includes players I saw in Las Vegas. That means guys such as Ace Bailey are not on here (he has yet to play in Vegas).

The Big Names

Cooper Flagg

The No. 1 pick lived up to the hype.

What makes Flagg such a promising prospect is that his floor is high — on nights his shot is not falling, he remains an elite defender and shot blocker, he runs the floor hard, makes smart passes, and he can be a secondary shot creator. That's what happened in his debut.

Flagg struggled with his shot in his first game (5-of-21) and there are going to be moments like that during his rookie season. His ability to create and consistently knock down shots is the only real question about his game entering the league, and consistency with that will take some time to develop. That said, Flagg bounced back with 31 points in his second outing, showing off his ability to drive and finish with either hand.

While Flagg looked good with the ball in his hands, he looked better playing off it, and that will be more of his role in Dallas where D'Angelo Russell in the short term and Kyrie Irving long term (once healthy), not to mention Anthony Davis, will facilitate the offense most of the time.

Dylan Harper

Spurs fans had to wait to see the No. 2 pick, he didn't play in the California Classic games or in the Spurs' Las Vegas Summer League opener due to a groin issue. When he did take the court, he impressed, showing flashes of his athleticism and putting up highlights — and not just on the offensive end.

Harper was smooth on offense, showing control of his pace to get into the lane and the ability to finish with either hand at the rim, or hit a little floater. He finished in Vegas averaging 16 points a game, but shooting 35.7% from the floor — there is some work to do, but Harper impressed with how he played and his body control. He's going to be special.

VJ Edgecombe

After creating a buzz by dropping 28 points in the Salt Lake Summer League, Edgecombe's Las Vegas debut was delayed until Tuesday night due to a thumb injury. When he finally got back on the court, he impressed with a couple of athletic defensive plays in transition to take away scoring opportunities, and his drive-and-dish game was on. What was not on was his shot. Edgecombe shot 0-of-7 from the floor in the first half, but he wasn't making excuses.

"Simple, I was just missing shots. Ain't nothing I can say about that," Edgecombe said.

In the second half, he started to get downhill to the rim more, and with that, he found his shot, hitting 4-of-7 on his way to finishing with 15 points. Forget the shooting struggles, plenty of promising rookies have them at Summer League, it was the way he did everything else that makes us think Edgecombe is going to get plenty of run in Philly this season.

Yang Hansen

Yang's style of play is infectious — it had the other Trail Blazers in Las Vegas playing hard and cutting off him, knowing he could find them with a pass. It was also infectious for the crowds, who turned out in large numbers to see the Chinese star play. He didn't disappoint them.

Yang's passing skills are as advertised, he sees the court and makes passes that few big men can. He's also got a nice 15-foot jumper, and he can bully his way to the paint in a mismatch. There is a lot to like about his game. There is also a long way to go — his defense is unimpressive (especially away from the rim) and he's going to have to get a lot stronger. Still, there was plenty to like about the Trail Blazers' surprise first-round pick.

Bronny James

Summer League is a benchmark for young players — it's not the raw numbers we see from second-year players, it's how much they improve season over season. Are we seeing growth?

With Bronny James, the answer is a clear yes. His defense has always been good, but his handles and decision-making came with a lot more confidence this year.

"His passing out of the pick and rolls and really seeing," Lakers Summer League coach Lindsey Harding said of Bronny's improvement. "And it's not just the pass to the big rolling, it's if the low man comes over, he sees the man in the corner. Right? It's the whole floor. And I think it's easy to see one read, but, like, he's developing everything else. Understanding where everyone else is on the floor and where their defenders are coming from."

Bronny's shot is still a work in progress, and if he wants to be a regular rotation player that has to become consistent, but he looks like a guy who can handle a few more minutes for the Lakers this season.

Guys too good for Summer League

Matas Buzelis

The Bulls' Buzelis is getting the chance to run an offense in Las Vegas and show he is ready for more. His first game was a little rough around the edges (17 points on 4-of-14 shooting with four turnovers), but in his second outing he reminded everyone he is better than just about every other player in Vegas. He can run an offense, and he is too good to be here.

Reed Sheppard

Reed Sheppard was a standout a year ago at Summer League, but that didn't buy him consistent run during last season on a deep Rockets team. Back in Las Vegas, Sheppard has looked impressive again and just too good for this level, averaging 23 points a game. What should make coach Ime Udoka happy is that Sheppard just looks stronger and seems more comfortable with the physicality of the game, something he needs if he's going to get into the Rockets rotation as expected this season.

Ajay Mitchell

Ajay Mitchell re-signed with the Thunder for three years, $8.7 million this summer... so what is he doing in Las Vegas? Getting the reps and run he can't get on a championship roster. He's averaged 20 points a game, shooting 51.4% overall, with six rebounds and 4.3 assists a night, and is handling Vegas just fine (after three years of college parties in Isla Vista, before going pro, Vegas' party scene isn't going to faze him).

Kyle Filipowski

Filipowski is the leading scorer in Las Vegas, averaging 29.3 points a game on 56.1% shooting, including 39.1% from beyond the arc, plus 7.7 rebounds a game (in 28.6 minutes a night). Filipowski came on in the second half of last season in Utah and has taken a step forward from there. Utah shut him down after three games in Vegas (plus a couple in the Salt Lake City Summer League).

Guys Who Caught My Eye

Joan Beringer

Rudy Gobert is still an elite defender, but he is 33 and expensive, the Timberwolves might need to move on from him in a couple of years. It's just a few Summer League games, but one can envision Beringer, the French center that the Timberwolves took at No. 17, sliding into that defensive center role. He impressed with his athleticism and defense — recording Beringer 11 points, eight rebounds and six blocks in his Summer League debut. He's averaged 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks a game in Las Vegas.

Noah Penda

The No. 32 pick in June's draft has shown a real versatility for the Orlando Magic (who traded some seconds to get him). He's averaged 11.3 points a game on 56.7% shooting, including 40% from beyond the arc, and has initiated the offense while playing point forward and even some stretch five. Most importantly, the French player has a high IQ game and is going to find a spot in the NBA.

"He's just got a knack for where to be on the floor, his instincts are phenomenal. I thought his rebounding for us was huge today. His ability to pick up things on the fly," Magic coach Ameer Bahhur said. "We played him at the five today, which he had never done before.... His versatility allowed us to use him as another ball handler to relieve pressure and bring the ball up the court. And he did a great job, whether he was at the four, whether he was at the five, he got us into what we needed to do and he helped us run our offense."

Daniss Jenkins

The former St. John's star emerged from Rick Pitino's world to earn a two-way contract with the Pistons — he should get at least that this season, maybe more. With Detroit in Vegas, he is playing fantastic defense — he's the reason Reed Sheppard had a relatively tough first night — and he's averaging 17.3 points a game while shooting 58.3% in 3-pointers. He can just flat-out play.

Ryan Kalkbrenner

He was a defensive anchor at Creighton, and that has translated nicely to his role for Charlotte in Summer League — he is a strong defender in the paint, averaging 2.3 blocks a game in Las Vegas. He's also scoring 8.7 points per game, although his rebounding and ability to be a stretch big need some work. Still, the potential is there, which is why Charlotte locked up the No. 34 pick with a four-year, $9.9 million contract.

Yuki Kawamura

Everyone loves Yuki — somebody give that man a two-way deal. He was on a two-way contract with Memphis and has earned at least another one of those from someone while playing for Chicago this summer.

Ryan Nembhard

The brother of Andrew Nembhard went undrafted because he was considered too small and there were a lot of questions about his shooting. What he showed in Las Vegas is that the former Gonzaga star knows how to run a team and be a strong floor general, and his shot is better than advertised, averaging 11.3 points a game. Nembhard is on a two-way contract with Dallas and will have the opportunity to prove his worth.

Carter Bryant

That other guy the Spurs drafted in the lottery (No. 14) turns out to be a defensive terror on the wing — he bothered Cooper Flagg more than any other player defending him in Las Vegas. You can see where he fits in San Antonio if he can develop a respectable offensive game, something that we have not seen in Las Vegas, where he is shooting 12.5% through three games. Still, the thought of a Spurs opponent struggling to drive past Bryant on the wing only to run into Victor Wembanyama in the paint is potentially terrifying.

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Damian Lillard reportedly to reunite with Trail Blazers on three-year contract

Damian Lillard reportedly to reunite with Trail Blazers on three-year contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Damian Lillard is headed back to Portland.

Just two years after a blockbuster deal that made him teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Lillard reportedly is set to be a Trail Blazer again, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.

The reported pact between Lillard and Portland is for three years and $42 million.

The nine-time All-Star will have a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause as part of the deal, Charania added.

Lillard then made an announcement on social media following the reports.

Lillard had been waived by the Bucks earlier in the offseason following a torn Achilles suffered in the first round of the playoffs. He had two years and $113 million left on his contract, which the Bucks stretched out over the next five years in order to create cap space. That allowed the team to bring in center Myles Turner after losing Brook Lopez.

Charania added that Lillard and the Blazers both “deeply cared” about the comeback in recent weeks, with multiple meetings held to proceed on a deal.

Lillard reportedly also had multiple mid-level exception and minimum offers from NBA contenders. The Athletic had reported in early July that the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers all made calls.

The 34-year-old Weber State product will most likely be out all of 2025-26 to recover from his Achilles tear.

In 2023, Portland traded Lillard to Milwaukee for Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara, among other assets, before flipping Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and other assets. On June 23, Portland re-acquired Holiday from Boston for Anfernee Simons and now have two star veteran guards.

Portland is still a rebuilding team and will hope Lillard can return to form after averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists on a 44.8/37.6/92.1 shooting split this past season.

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Damian Lillard reportedly to reunite with Trail Blazers on three-year contract

Damian Lillard reportedly to reunite with Trail Blazers on three-year contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Damian Lillard is headed back to Portland.

Just two years after a blockbuster deal that made him teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Lillard reportedly is set to be a Trail Blazer again, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.

The reported pact between Lillard and Portland is for three years and $42 million.

The nine-time All-Star will have a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause as part of the deal, Charania added.

Lillard then made an announcement on social media following the reports.

Lillard had been waived by the Bucks earlier in the offseason following a torn Achilles suffered in the first round of the playoffs. He had two years and $113 million left on his contract, which the Bucks stretched out over the next five years in order to create cap space. That allowed the team to bring in center Myles Turner after losing Brook Lopez.

Charania added that Lillard and the Blazers both “deeply cared” about the comeback in recent weeks, with multiple meetings held to proceed on a deal.

Lillard reportedly also had multiple mid-level exception and minimum offers from NBA contenders. The Athletic had reported in early July that the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers all made calls.

The 34-year-old Weber State product will most likely be out all of 2025-26 to recover from his Achilles tear.

In 2023, Portland traded Lillard to Milwaukee for Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara, among other assets, before flipping Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and other assets. On June 23, Portland re-acquired Holiday from Boston for Anfernee Simons and now have two star veteran guards.

Portland is still a rebuilding team and will hope Lillard can return to form after averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists on a 44.8/37.6/92.1 shooting split this past season.

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Warriors will ‘blow it up' midway through 2025-26 season, Channing Frye predicts

Warriors will ‘blow it up' midway through 2025-26 season, Channing Frye predicts originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In sports, nothing is left off the table.

Anything can happen at any time, and Channing Frye believes that could be the case for the Warriors during the 2025-26 NBA season.

When “Road Trippin’ ” host Allie Clifton asked Frye for a hot take for the upcoming season — anything at all — he shared an extremely bold prediction about Golden State.

“I hate doing this. I’m not being a troll. The Warriors blow it up halfway through the season,” Frye said. “I do think that team will be good. But look at the trend of where the NBA is going. OKC is a very tall team. The Cleveland Cavaliers are a tall team. Boston is a big team. Denver’s a big team. Minnesota’s a tall team. Houston is extremely tall. Golden State is still playing small ball — and I don’t know if that works anymore.

“They have to make another move for me to be confident. [The Jonathan Kuminga situation] lingers. And who’s their starting center? I just don’t think you can be successful playing small ball anymore. You need to have a legit big man. Maybe they go get [Nikola Vučević]. Maybe they get somebody. But who’s their shot blocker? Who’s their rim threat? Who’s their lob threat? They used to have those things.”

Frye and the rest of the “Road Trippin’ ” crew mentioned Golden State’s quiet offseason, which has left the Warriors as the only NBA team yet to add or re-sign a player in free agency thus far.

The Warriors have been tied to 39-year-old center Al Horford and a reunion with guard De’Anthony Melton, per multiple reports, but they remain at a standstill as they await a solution to the Jonathan Kuminga situation.

While the Warriors fully plan to move forward with their core around Steph Curry, 37, Jimmy Butler, 35, and Draymond Green, 35, Frye could see them taking a different direction halfway through the season.

Crazier things have happened.

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Warriors are only NBA team not to add, re-sign player in free agency thus far

Warriors are only NBA team not to add, re-sign player in free agency thus far originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have been patient this offseason.

As they wait to see how the Jonathan Kuminga situation plays out, and how the dominoes will fall thereafter, they remain the only NBA team not to add or re-sign a player in free agency (h/t ESPN).

On the flip side, they have had to say their goodbyes to fan favorite Kevon Looney after the 29-year-old center signed a two-year free-agent contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

That now leaves a massive hole for Golden State, which, per multiple reports, plans to fill it with Al Horford.

Another player repeatedly linked to the Warriors is guard De’Anthony Melton, who was with the Warriors for less than two months before getting injured and being traded to the Brooklyn Nets last season.

But on the 18th day of free agency, it’s been crickets and tumbleweeds for Golden State.

On this post shared to Instagram by ESPN and NBA on ESPN, young Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski shared choice words in the comments.

“Why everyone worried about us,” Podziemski wrote.

Last week, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy addressed Golden State’s quiet offseason in an interview with ESPN’s Katie George during halftime of the Warriors’ summer league matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers.

“So far, so far. We’ve got a ways to go here,” Dunleavy said. “I consider the offseason kind of from the time the season ends all the way to training camp, so we’ll give ourselves that buffer to add to our roster. … We’ve got the whole summer to do it.”

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3 observations after Sixers beat Mavs, win 2nd straight summer league game

3 observations after Sixers beat Mavs, win 2nd straight summer league game  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As their 2025 summer league run nears its end, the Sixers have their first winning streak. 

The team picked up its second straight victory Wednesday night, notching a 90-82 win over the Mavs and improving to 2-2 in Las Vegas. 

Johni Broome had a 22-point, 14-rebound double-double. Mark Armstrong posted 22 points, three assists and two steals.

VJ Edgecombe, Adem Bona and Justin Edwards sat out the second night of the Sixers’ back-to-back. 

The Sixers’ fifth and final game in Las Vegas will be Friday at 6 p.m. ET vs. the Nets. Here are observations on their win over Dallas:

Plenty of Broome jumpers

Broome kept rolling as a shooter, draining a pair of three-pointers in under four minutes. 

He cooled off after that and ended the night at 4 for 11 from long range, but there was zero wrong with Broome’s approach. While he was eager to shoot, the 22-year-old rookie made sensible decisions and certainly wasn’t selfish.

The sample size is obviously not massive, but Broome’s summer league shooting has been encouraging overall, especially considering that he didn’t start taking threes until his junior season at Auburn and was 27.8 percent beyond the arc last year. He’s shot 10 for 22 (45.5 percent) in Las Vegas play. 

Armstrong catches fire

The Sixers use five men off the bench in Armstrong, Jalen Slawson, Saint Thomas, Andrew Funk and Stefan Todorovic.

Armstrong had a breakout performance. He canned three first-quarter triples and racked up 13 points in the opening period. 

Armstrong’s ultra-confident attacking as the Sixers’ backup point guard was quite impressive. One strong night won’t dramatically change the general perception of his shooting ability — Armstrong went 28.2 percent from long distance last season — but it’s absolutely a major positive as he looks to build his professional career. 

Vets get Sixers over the finish line

Hunter Sallis (nine points, five rebounds) started Wednesday at shooting guard. He drove baseline and flushed a big and-one dunk early in the third quarter.

The 6-foot-2 Armstrong showed off his burst and bounce later in the third, hammering home two slams. 

Starting point guard Judah Mintz also played well Wednesday, recording 14 points and four assists. Mintz has largely played like a veteran in his second summer league. He’s totaled 16 assists and four turnovers in Las Vegas. 

Keve Aluma scored in double figures for the second night in a row, adding 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting, four rebounds and three assists. Twelve of Aluma’s points came in the fourth quarter.

At 26 years old, Aluma has significantly more professional experience than the average summer leaguer. He’s had bright moments in Vegas for the Sixers the past two years.

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Knicks' Josh Hart undergoes procedure on finger; will resume basketball activities this summer

Knicks wing Josh Hart underwent a procedure on his right ring finger due to an injury suffered during the playoffs, the team announced Wednesday.

Hart said he dislocated the finger during New York's Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted.

Luckily, the 30-year-old isn't expected to miss much time and will resume basketball activities later this summer, the Knicks said.

Hart averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals over a career-high and league-leading 37.6 minutes per game across 77 games (all starts) last year for the Knicks.

He then averaged 11.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals over 18 playoff games (14 starts), helping New York reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.

With a majority of the team returning for the 2025-26 NBA season, Hart is expected to continue his role as the glue guy for New York under new head coach Mike Brown.

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Warriors rookie Will Richard shares wholesome reaction to meeting Steph Curry

Warriors rookie Will Richard shares wholesome reaction to meeting Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

They say don’t meet your heroes — unless your hero is your new teammate, that is.

Will Richard experienced that firsthand when he met Steph Curry for the first time this summer, and it was a memory the Warriors rookie certainly will remember forever.

“For me, I mean, [Curry] was my favorite player growing up, him and Klay [Thompson], so that was definitely a top three moment in my life, and just how it happened,” Richard said Tuesday during an appearance on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs.” “We were at the first Cali Classic game; I wasn’t able to play because the trade hadn’t gone through yet, and fans, they were calling me to go sign autographs, so I had to walk past [Curry]. And, you know, he’s Stephen Curry. You don’t want to go up and intrude on what he’s doing. So I went up past him by the fans and signed some autographs.

“When I was coming down the steps, he came up to me, shook my hand and was like, ‘Welcome to the Bay. We’re happy to have you, and I’m excited to work with you.’ So for me, that meant a lot. It was definitely some motivation, because you’re hearing that from a guy that you grew up watching, grew up loving, grew up wanting to be like, so it was definitely some motivation.”

The Warriors traded up to select Richard at No. 56 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft last month, acquiring a former Florida guard who helped the Gators win their first national championship since 2007 last season. Unsurprisingly, hoisting the NABC National Championship Trophy was right up there with meeting Curry in Richard’s list of top three life moments.

“I would probably say winning the natty, and let’s go with being born,” Richard told “Willard and Dibs” when asked to round out his top three. “It’s been a good few months, for sure.”

Richard is proving his worth so far for the Warriors during NBA Summer League play, averaging 12.4 points on 44-percent shooting with 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 2.0 steals across five starts.

While it remains to be seen exactly when or if Richard will join Curry on the NBA roster this fall, it’s nice to know the Warriors star already is well acquainted with his team’s latest draft pick. And for the 22-year-old rook, the time Curry took to speak with him meant everything.

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Clippers to land Bradley Beal after Suns buy out his contract

FILE - Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Bradley Beal will be leaving the Phoenix Suns to join the Clippers after he clears waivers following an agreement to have his contract bought out. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

The Clippers will add scoring punch to their lineup by acquiring three-time All-Star Bradley Beal after he clears waivers following a contract buyout from the Phoenix Suns, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed to The Times.

Beal has agreed to a two-year, $11-million deal that includes a player option for the second season. He was owed $110 million over the next two seasons.

Beal, in effect, replaces Norman Powell in the Clippers' lineup. Powell was traded in a three-team deal recently that allowed the Clippers to acquire forward John Collins.

In 13 seasons — the first 11 with the Washington Wizards and the last two with the Suns — Beal has averaged 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 46.4% from the field, 37.6% from three-point range and 82.1% from the free-throw line.

Beal, though, missed 58 games because of injuries the last two seasons, when he averaged 17.6 points on 50.5% shooting, 40.7% from deep.

The Clippers' retooled roster includes 7-foot veteran center Brook Lopez, who they added during free agency on a two-year deal.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Phoenix Suns, Bradley Beal agree to buyout, guard will sign two-year contract with Clippers

The worst-kept secret in the NBA finally became official on Wednesday: The Phoenix Suns and Bradley Beal have agreed to a buyout that will allow the Suns to waive-and-stretch the remaining money on Beal's contract, making him a free agent. Beal will sign a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, with Shams Charania of ESPN officially breaking the news.

This had been anticipated for weeks but was on hold because Beal was set to receive a $13.4 million payment from Phoenix on July 15, a 25% advance payment of his salary for the upcoming season. Once that was completed, the transaction moved forward.

Beal has to give up an estimated $13.8 million of his contract for the Suns to be able to waive and stretch him (thanks to a little-discussed provision of the CBA that only allows 15% of a team's salary cap to go toward buyouts, and the Suns already had a couple of smaller ones). Beal ultimately was willing to do that to essentially buy his freedom to sign with the team of his choosing.

That team is the Clippers. The Clippers are using the $5.4 million remaining from their mid-level exception to sign Beal (with a $5.6 million player option for next season. This signing leaves the Clippers hard-capped at the first apron, which they are about $3.5 million below, (expect them to add one more veteran minimum deal).

Beal is going to get heavy minutes in Los Angeles, being asked to step into the role Norman Powell played for the team last season. Powell was a borderline All-Star as a sharpshooting, ball-handling wing playing next to James Harden and running the second unit (he was traded to Miami, a move seen around the league as a precursor to Beal becoming a Clipper). Beal may start next to Harden or come off the bench behind the more defensive Kris Dunn. That Clippers second unit could also include John Collins (unless Collins starts and Derrick Jones Jr. comes off the bench), Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Brook Lopez. Beal joins a team with championship aspirations that won 50 games last season and may be better this season (if Kawhi Leonard stays healthy). While there are always playoff questions surrounding Harden, the Clippers are a top-six team (and possibly a top-four team) in the West.

The Suns receive more short-term financial relief, as Beal's salary drops from $57.3 million to approximately $19 million — a move that aligns with the pattern of short-term thinking prevalent in Phoenix since Mat Ishbia purchased the team. The Suns now have $19 million in dead money serving as an anchor on their books for each of the next five years. The Suns will have to work around that as they retool the team around Devin Booker, and in a tax apron world, that dead money is going to hamper future moves. However, in the short term things definitely get less expensive, and the Suns have some options as the roster undergoes a major shift.

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Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga decision key to ‘bleak' NBA future, per Zach Lowe

Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga decision key to ‘bleak' NBA future, per Zach Lowe originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are constructed to win now, but what does that mean for the team’s future?

 While the situation surrounding restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga remains at a standstill, Zach Lowe shared his thoughts on Golden State’s future.

“The other depressing thought about the Warriors as currently constructed,” Lowe said. “Depressing but also like the most likely outcome by far to the end of a dynastic era, is that the two timelines thing has not happened.

“And the post-Steph future, despite all the talk about it, all the careful planning for it, several savvy picks like [Brandin] Podziemski, looks like a good pick for where he was drafted.”

Brandin Podziemski averaged 11.7 points per game last season and shot 44.5 percent from the field. It was a solid effort from Podziemski along with several other young role players, but the main focus continues to be on Kuminga.

“Even a guy like [Trayce] Jackson-Davis looks like a good pick for where he was drafted,” Lowe continued. “Despite all of that, the post-Steph future looks incredibly bleak. The Kuminga transaction, whatever it is, to me is maybe the single most important franchise-building transaction that’s coming in the next two to three to four months in the NBA.

Kuminga averaged 15.3 points per game last season on 45.4-percent shooting from the field. The 22-year-old missed 31 games last year due to a sprained right ankle.

The former No. 7 overall pick has shown spurts of greatness, but high-level consistency has been the issue.

“And I just don’t see a world in which that transaction sets the Warriors up for a happier post-Steph future,” Lowe added. “Because I don’t think that’s going to be, we re-sign Kuminga and he’s a breakout star for us. I think it’s going to be a sign-and-trade in which the return is slightly underwhelming.”

Mike Dunleavy has a tough decision to make this offseason on whether or not Kuminga will be a Warrior next season, and it could shape the franchise for several years to come.

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Both LeBron James, Lakers reportedly expect star to be at Lakers' training camp this fall

LAS VEGAS — It was always this simple: LeBron James has a no-trade clause, meaning he has control over if and where he might be moved, and he has never asked for a trade. The Lakers might be planning for a few years out, thinking about how to build their roster around Luka Doncic, but this season, they plan to win with both of their superstars in the lineup.

That never stopped the speculation around the league, but both the Lakers and LeBron expect he will be in Lakers training camp when it opens in September, something Dan Woike and Joe Varden reported at The Athletic.

Amid the constant speculation recently about his future, both the Lakers and people close to the NBA's all-time leading scorer expect that he will be with the organization for training camp once the season begins this fall, league sources told The Athletic.

Those same sources said the Lakers have received no indication from James or his representatives that he would request a trade or ask to be bought out of the final year of his contract, which will be his eighth season with the Lakers, the longest consecutive stretch spent with one organization in his career.

The report goes on to say there have been no buyout talks between LeBron and the Lakers.

LeBron's future has been the buzzy topic at Summer League. People often point to the statement from LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, when LeBron picked up his $52.6 million player option for this season: "We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career." While that sounds ominous, considering LeBron's long history of he or people around him making passive-aggressive offseason comments to get a team to spend big, it felt more like something from his playbook. Plus, LeBron picked up his player option and is not the kind of person who has given money back in his career (nor should he), but trading that massive salary makes any trade that much more complex. For example, the Cavaliers can't trade for him because they are over the second apron of the luxury tax (it would have to be a one-for-one swap, and the Cavs don't have anyone making LeBron-level money). A trade to a team like the Knicks would gut that roster of the depth that would have been a draw to LeBron in the first place.

The most likely scenario has always been that LeBron would play out this season with the Lakers, trying to win with Doncic, Austin Reaves and new center Deandre Ayton. This is a team whose top-end talent has proven itself in the offseason, and they could be a threat.

Next summer, when LeBron is a free agent, is when things really get interesting.

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Bradley Beal to sign with Clippers after agreeing to Suns buyout: Report

Bradley Beal to sign with Clippers after agreeing to Suns buyout: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Bradley Beal is the latest All-Star on his way out of Phoenix.

The former Suns guard reportedly agreed to a contract buyout and plans to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers after clearing waivers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.

Several teams reportedly had interest in Beal outside of the Clippers, including the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, among others. In the end, he settled on a reported two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers that has a player option in the second season.

Beal had two years and $110.8 million remaining on his contract with the Suns, which he originally signed with the Washington Wizards. That deal also included a no-trade clause, making it extra difficult for the Suns to offload.

A breakup with the Suns became inevitable for Beal after a disappointing second season in Phoenix. Pairing Beal with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant (who was traded to the Houston Rockets last month), the Suns had high expectations entering 2023, when they traded away Chris Paul for Beal. That season ended by being swept in the first-round, and last season was even worse, missing the Play-In Tournament all together.

Beal, 32, has taken a step back in recent years after making three All-Star teams in Washington. The St. Louis native averaged 17 points per game (his fewest since 2014-15) and came off the bench for 15 games (his most since 2015-16). The fit ultimately just did not work out in Phoenix.

Now, Beal joins a Clippers team that will have lower expectations for the veteran guard. Ty Lue’s squad won 50 games last season behind Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. But with the team trading away Norman Powell, there’s an obvious need for more scoring. The Clippers added John Collins and Brook Lopez to bolster the front line, and now Beal should improve the backcourt.

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Bradley Beal to sign with Clippers after agreeing to Suns buyout: Report

Bradley Beal to sign with Clippers after agreeing to Suns buyout: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Bradley Beal is the latest All-Star on his way out of Phoenix.

The former Suns guard reportedly agreed to a contract buyout and plans to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers after clearing waivers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.

Several teams reportedly had interest in Beal outside of the Clippers, including the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, among others. In the end, he settled on a reported two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers that has a player option in the second season.

Beal had two years and $110.8 million remaining on his contract with the Suns, which he originally signed with the Washington Wizards. That deal also included a no-trade clause, making it extra difficult for the Suns to offload.

A breakup with the Suns became inevitable for Beal after a disappointing second season in Phoenix. Pairing Beal with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant (who was traded to the Houston Rockets last month), the Suns had high expectations entering 2023, when they traded away Chris Paul for Beal. That season ended by being swept in the first-round, and last season was even worse, missing the Play-In Tournament all together.

Beal, 32, has taken a step back in recent years after making three All-Star teams in Washington. The St. Louis native averaged 17 points per game (his fewest since 2014-15) and came off the bench for 15 games (his most since 2015-16). The fit ultimately just did not work out in Phoenix.

Now, Beal joins a Clippers team that will have lower expectations for the veteran guard. Ty Lue’s squad won 50 games last season behind Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. But with the team trading away Norman Powell, there’s an obvious need for more scoring. The Clippers added John Collins and Brook Lopez to bolster the front line, and now Beal should improve the backcourt.

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Why Al Horford does not address Warriors' needs, Udonis Haslem believes

Why Al Horford does not address Warriors' needs, Udonis Haslem believes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have yet to make a move in free agency, and one former NBA champion is not a fan of what could be their first offseason addition.

Udonis Haslem had choice words Tuesday on ESPN’s “NBA Today” to describe Al Horford possibly landing in Golden State.

“You are not addressing length and athleticism by just bringing in Al,” Haslem said. “Love Al, but that is not the one that’s gonna push you over the hump.”

The Warriors were outmatched physically in the Western Conference semifinals last season against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing the series in five games.

“You saw the lack of size glaringly against Minnesota last year,” Haslem continued. “You saw the lack of athleticism glaringly against Minnesota last year.”

Horford, a 39-year-old, six-foot-nine center, doesn’t give an advantage in quickness or size.

“When you talk about bringing in Al, I love Al. I would love for him to finish his career with a guy like Steph (Curry),” Haslem said. “He’s a guy who’s definitely gonna space the floor and knock down some threes, but he does not address your needs.”

“He does not address the need of athleticism. When you talk about bringing in another guy that is older, and he does not address the need of having size.”

The 18-year NBA veteran averaged nine points a game last season.

Golden State has been reluctant to make any key moves due to the situation with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, whose key attribute is athleticism.

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