NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: Meleek Thomas shakes hands with Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after he is drafted 34th overall by the Sacramento Kings in Round Two of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 24, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When you think about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest needs, the first thing that comes to mind is more playable size, specifically on the wings.
So you can imagine the confusion from reporters and the fanbase that came with the second round selection of Meleek Thomas.
But, there is one need that felt overlooked at times with this Cleveland team and it was a Ty Jerome-sized hole on their bench.
Jerome was absolutely sensational in the lone full season he suited up for, as he was a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year and arguably had the most efficient season for a reserve across the league. He did flame out in the playoffs, but the Cavs were better off with having his production off the bench.
No one could really replicate that efficient scoring and playmaking for Cleveland last year. Jaylon Tyson took a huge step, but had an inconsistent second half of the season and was dreadful in the playoffs. Sam Merrill also showed improvement, but he is more of a movement shooter. Neither of them were the self-creators that Jerome was.
So, it is not hard to see why the Cavs chose Thomas.
Thomas has all the traits that both Koby Altman and Kenny Atkinson have come to love in their guards. He is a great movement shooter, he rarely turns the ball over, and has a high motor on both ends of the floor.
He also showed that he can play either guard position at Arkansas, as his numbers skyrocketed when he was without his running mate Darius Acuff Jr. He shot an absurd 51% from three-point range, and his turnover rate, which was already low, was even lower when he was the primary ball handler.
Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas proved he could carry an offense when Darius Acuff was off the court. Thomas’ usage jumped from 23% with Acuff to 28% without him. He shot 48% from the field without Acuff, including 51% on three-pointers. His assist percentage spiked, while his turnover… pic.twitter.com/hOCbWGb80M
The thing with Thomas is that he showed in college that he can create off the bounce, specifically on jumpers. His release does have to get a tad quicker, but his shooting should translate to the league right away.
Where he does have to develop though, is his playmaking and ability to play point guard. He showed flashes of that in college, but with Acuff dominating the ball, Thomas was not able to showcase his full potential there. The Cavs are going to have him play a lot more point in Summer League, so that should help speed up the process.
Thomas likely won’t become a key year one rotation player, as it is very hard for rookies to become key contributors on a team with title aspirations. But, he can absolutely develop into the long-term shot-creating guard that Cleveland needs off the bench.
Kyle Lowry’s long road in the NBA is ending as a Raptor.
Lowry announced Tuesday morning (July 7) that he’s “officially retiring as a Toronto Raptor.” The team shared the news with the words “#7 FOREVER” and a video narrated by Lowry.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play this game for two decades,” Lowry said. “All my stops … Memphis, Houston, Miami, Philly — of course Philly, all my love to Philly — and last but not least, Toronto, my home. So thank you to my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my opponents, staff, the media and especially the fans. It’s all about you. I appreciate you.
“Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, Canada. And as I always told y’all, it’s officially happening. I’m officially retiring as a Toronto Raptor. Twenty years and one day. Seven forever. I love y’all. Peace.”
SportsNet’s Michael Grange reported Lowry’s retirement last week and wrote, “The event on Tuesday is expected to set the stage for additional recognition of the so-called GROAT (the Greatest Raptor of All-Time) as the 2026-27 season unfolds, per sources, with a likely jersey retirement planned at Scotiabank Arena during the regular season, where Lowry’s No. 7 would join Vince Carter’s No. 15 as the only Raptors jersey hanging at the downtown stadium.”
Lowry, 40, has built an excellent case to one day be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. After two years at Villanova, Lowry became a six-time All-Star, quintessential floor general and franchise legend with the Raptors. He helped Toronto earn its first NBA championship in 2019 and also won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in 2016.
Lowry was a member of his hometown Sixers for the final two-plus seasons of his career. He appeared in 72 games and averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 assists.
Though Lowry struggled to stay healthy and wasn’t a regular part of the rotation, he appreciated his chances to play.
“It’s always fun to play basketball,” Lowry said after an April 1, 2025 game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “Listen, we’re privileged and we’re honored to play the game of basketball. I love this game at the highest level. It’s provided for me and my family, my friends with everything that I could ask for. So I wanted to try to go out there and play, and just have fun.
“You don’t know how long this game is going to last for each individual, so just go out there and enjoy the process. Just enjoy being out there and in the game.”
Off the court, Lowry was impactful for the Sixers. He actively mentored young guards such as Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe and often looked like an assistant coach during games.
In Toronto basketball, No. 7 will always be Lowry’s.
“That (number) represents me,” Lowry said. “It represents my family. It represents everything I’ve gone through, the growth, the maturity, everything I’ve put into the game of basketball. It just represents Kyle Lowry.
“It’s hard work, grit, passion and, of course, a champion. The guy who was there, the guy who stuck through everything, believing it was supposed to be what it was supposed to be. It was supposed to happen and it did.”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Trading a franchise icon after the best season of his career is going to be an extremely unpopular decision within your fanbase. Yet, that is what the Celtics just did by trading Jaylen Brown to the rival Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first round picks and two second round picks.
There is a basketball reason that the Celtics did this. The cap sheet played into it and not paying two players the 35% max for years and years to come definitely played a role in this, especially in the second apron era.
However, Paul George is only making about $3 million less than Brown will this season and has one fewer season left on his deal, so money isn’t the entire reason Boston wanted to make this move so badly.
The Celtics are making two big bets by moving Brown and they are very much interwoven.
The first is that they don’t believe Jaylen Brown is as good as the fans and Boston media do.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst was the first to mention this on The Hoop Collective podcast the night of the trade.
“The Celtics felt that even though Jaylen Brown was talking about himself for MVP or there was this MVP campaign for Jaylen Brown, the Celtics did not feel that Jaylen had the best season on their team. They felt that Derrick White had a better season.”
"Even though Jaylen Brown was talking about himself for MVP, the Celtics did not feel like Jaylen had the best season on their team…They felt that Derrick White had a better season."
You probably disagree with that take and so do I, but I believe that they believe it.
Brown is a great player, who carried the Celtics offense for much of the seaso,n made All-NBA second team and finished 6th in MVP voting.
Yet, according to databallr.com, the Celtics were 6.2 points per 100 possessions better with Brown off the court vs. when he was on.
Yesterday, Brad Stevens talked about how maximizing Jaylen is maximizing his usage and that having two players taking up that much usage doesn’t work in the modern NBA.
Stevens, and the rest of the Celtics brass, clearly don’t think that having two players who always need the ball, isn’t a formula for winning anymore and that it was time for them to move off of that philosophy.
This ties into the second bet that Stevens and the Celtics are making: the infrastructure they have is good enough to withstand trading Brown.
Stevens did also mentioned that the analytics played a small part in doing this deal. “For me, Mike (Zarren) and his staff might get mad at me, they do everyday, but I would say (the analytics were) a small piece of information.” However, I am unsure if I believe that.
The Celtics believe that they found a formula last season that was a gold mine to winning games in the regular season and they don’t need Brown to do it. The return of Jayson Tatum certainly helps them believe that.
They want to win the rebounding and turnover margins and trading away Brown does not hurt either of those areas. The signing of Mitchell Robinson also indicates their belief in this.
The bottom line is that the Celtics don’t think that Brown was as important to their success last year as he, the fans or the media did and by trading him to Philly, the Celtics are betting against him in a big way.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two games into Summer League is way too early to talk about greatness. Games in July are a notoriously terrible way to project a career — Stephen Curry struggled in Summer League. Greg Ostertag owned Tim Duncan head-to-head in July.
But it's hard to watch Darryn Peterson's first two games in the Salt Lake City Summer League and not think he can be truly special.
Monday night, in a game hyped as No. 2 pick Peterson against No. 3 pick Carlos Boozer, it was Peterson who stole the show with 25 points and 12 assists (to just two turnovers). He was explosive, showed off his shooting range, and his decision-making was way beyond his years. "What is greatness to me? I think it's just kind of being one-of-one," Peterson said. "I would say to achieve greatness, definitely something I want to try to achieve. Far away from it now, so early in my career — it's Summer League — but it's something I wanted to try to achieve in my career."
Peterson puts on a show
Jazz fans showed up and were loud — this is a fan base that has needed a team and a player they can rally behind and believe in. It's been two games, but the fans are all in.
Peterson gave those fans what they wanted from the opening tip Monday. He started 3-of-3 with nine points in the game's first four minutes, hitting a 3-pointer in there, getting to the line and showing some creative shot-making with a scoop layup.
Darryn Peterson is FEELIN' IT
The 2nd overall pick scored the first 9 PTS for the Jazz!
What was more impressive than his scoring was his playmaking. An aggressive Memphis defense blitzed him with doubles off nearly every pick, but Peterson remained calm in the face of pressure, and either found his space to get off a shot or passed to the open man.
"He's able to play at the pace the game calls for," Jazz Summer League head coach Steve Wojciechowski said. "He's going to be closely guarded and doubled, probably a lot of his career, and for a young guy to be able to play at the pace the game calls for, is a very unique skill.
"And he's got a great ability to stay neutral, whether a guy is pressuring him full court, whether he's being trapped, whether it's the first possession of the first quarter, the last possession of the fourth quarter, he stays pretty present in the moment."
Putting in the work
The best reason for Jazz fans to be optimistic is that Peterson appears to have the work ethic of the greats.
"I tell you what, he's a really hungry learner. He's watching tape with Coach [Will] Hardy. he wants to be great," Wojciechowski said.
"First and foremost, I think it's super cool that he's willing to watch film with me, something that I didn't do at Kansas was watch with my head coach, so that's huge for me," Peterson said. "And then, yeah, we just broke it down."
He said Hardy not only showed him basketball, but they dove into film of former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, the nine-time Pro Bowler and Defensive Player of the Year. The topic was being aware of what is happening on the court and being light on his feet.
That Peterson is absorbing this at Summer League is a very positive sign.
"His scoring, I think, jumps off the page, but when you watch the game back, there's a lot of different winning plays that he has his fingerprints on," Wojciechowski said. "His scoring is what gets the most attention, but he's gotten better defensively. He gets his hand on balls, he ends up being in the right spot at the right moments and key moments."
Boozer has good night
Cameron Boozer did not disappoint: 18 points, including 4-of-5 from 3, plus seven boards. It's easy to see how he will plug into the Grizzlies' front line and help them from Day 1.
#3 overall pick Cameron Boozer in tonight's Salt Lake City Summer League game:
Also for the Grizzlies, Cedric Coward impressed with 23 points, while also defending Peterson at points, and he had three blocks. Don't bet on seeing a lot of him when the Summer League shifts to Las Vegas, he is too good for this.
But Monday was Peterson's night. He looks like something special.
BROOKLYN, NY - MAY 21: Noah Clowney #21, Day'Ron Sharpe #20 and Josh Minott #00 of the Brooklyn Nets attend the game between the Golden State Valkyries and New York Liberty on May 21, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
At noon Monday, the NBA’s annual race for proven talent — free agency — began but for Brooklyn Nets fans, it was a bit of non-starter. The Nets made some moves, all of them already agreed to and not surprising. However, the big move so far this Summer did not materialize: the multi-team trade that will send Nic Claxton to Chicago and bring Julius Randle and an exchange of picks from Minnesota to Brooklyn. The reason why was for the most mundane of reasons, as Keith Smith pointed out late in the day…
A handful of people asked why the big Nets-Hornets-Bulls-Wolves trade hasn't gone official yet…
That deal will have to wait until July 9. Mouhamadou Gueye, who the Bulls are trading as part of the deal, isn't eligible to be traded until July 9 because he was signed on April 9.
Gueye, a 6’9” journeyman, had been added to the trade that already included the Nets, Bulls and Timberwolves. On arrival in Minnesota, Gueye is expected to be waived. Could the trade be expanded further? Sure, but at the moment, there’s nothing rumored. Rui Hachimura, the most recently rumored target of Sean Marks & co. signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Another apparently more serious target, Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, remains a restricted free agent. Watson could wind up as the subject of an offer sheet or moved in a sign-and-trade either with the Nets or another team. Again, though, there’s nothing but speculation on that front. Part of that speculation has been driven by PWat’s friendship with Michael Porter Jr. Indeed, Watson was hosted by MPJ on a yacht in the Mediterranean last week.
And while Brooklyn didn’t sign Moe Wagner, they did ink Cleveland 3-and-D guard. That signing like Wagner’;s had previously been reported, but the Nets made Ellis official but not Wagner’s. Marc Stein reported that that may be the result of nothing more than a logjam at league offices where each trade must meet CBA muster from the NBA league department before officially being blessed.
Back to basketball …
Several NBA signings and some agreed-to trades are still awaiting league processing … but the expectation at this point of the evening (ET) is that official announcements on completed deals with the moratorium now lifted are likely to resume Tuesday.
The Nets may also be considering alternative routes to sign the 6’11” 29-year-old. He could be signed for example out of cap space or the Room MLE which is valued at $9.4 million. That’s just about what he will make in the coming year as part of a two year, $18 million contract.
The Nets also signed both Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott to extensions Monday, Sharpe at two years and $20 million and Minott at two years and $9 million. Sharpe has no option in his deal but Minott has a team option next summer.
Brooklyn also seems to have ended its relationship with both Ziaire Williams and Ochai Agbaji, renouncing their Bird Rights, a sure signal that a return is highly unlikely…
As part of the process to complete their offseason moves, the Brooklyn Nets have renounced the free agent rights for Ochai Agabji and Ziaire Williams.
Williams acquired in July 2024 in a trade that was a spin-off of the Mikal Bridges trade. In two seasons, the 24-year-old Stanford product played 119 games, averaging 10.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, but was seen by many in the organization as inconssistent and sometimes lacking energy as Fernandez noted when he held Williams out of game in late November. In that same 2024 trade with Memphis Grizzlies, the Nets also acquired and retain the Mavs second round pick in 2030.
Agbaji came to the Nets at last season’s trade deadline in a three-team salary dump. Brooklyn acquired the 6’5” wing, $3.5 million in cash considerations and the Raptors second rounder in 2032 for the draft rights to a Serbian guard who had blown his achilles tendon 10 days before the trade. Agbaji played 20 games for the Nets averaging 6.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 16 minutes per game.
The move will also clear up cap holds for the two players, a bit of a housekeeping move in free agency. Interestingly, the Nets did not denounce the rights to Jalen Wilson.
The Nets will have 15 guaranteed contracts once all the paperwork is concluded.
SACRAMENTO, CA - JULY 6: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings and Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks look on during the game on July 6, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Bucks put up one hell of a fight in their final game in Sac, but couldn’t outlast the Kings in a tight one, losing 95-89. Brayden Burries debuted and was impressive in somewhat limited minutes, while Cormac Ryan and Pete Nance did not suit up. Zack Austin led the Bucks with 17 points, while Darius Acuff Jr. was the Kings’ best with 22 points and three assists.
The Bucks started out slow, with Brayden Burries looking to get his feet wet right away: Burries pulled a transition three on his first possession, then beat his man to the rim but failed to see the help defender come over, getting his shot blocked. At last, Milwaukee’s No. 10 pick drove off the side pick-and-roll to get himself to the free throw line. the Kings, on the other hand, were rolling, with their first-round pick Darius Acuff Jr. scoring in bunches to give his team a 15-4 edge halfway through the first. Other than Burries getting to the line, the Bucks simply couldn’t find a consistent source of offence, making just one of their first 13 shots to be down 25-9 late in the period. Thankfully, new Bucks two-way Kam Jones checked in late and powered the team to a 13-3 run to close the frame—featuring some nifty finishes in the lane—down just six, 28-22, after one.
Amid the Kings’ hot start to the second, Burries nailed a tough side-step three for his first field goal of the game, followed by a stampede to the rim in transition; he looked the goods on both ends of the floor. Still, Milwaukee couldn’t reduce the deficit past ~eight points in the opening six minutes of the frame, with missed boxouts doing them in time after time. As the period drew to a close, Milwaukee continued to struggle locking down Acuff, but crucial buckets from Jesse Edwards, Kam Jones, and BJ Boston kept the “visitors” within shouting distance, down 55-48 at the half.
After a quiet first half, 60th pick Malique Lewis was aggressive to open the third, knocking a kick-out three followed by a transition rack-attack to reduce the margin to just three. Unfortunately, the lead blew back out to the customary ~eight-points as Milwaukee missed some easy chances and got hurt the other way. King’s second-year man Dylan Cardwell was playing on another level than most of the guys out there, beasting in the paint on both ends. There weren’t too many highlights to end the frame for Milwaukee, but BJ Boston’s lob to Zack Austin was certainly one. Bucks down 74-66 after three.
Consecutive threes from Marquel Sutton and Isaiah Stevens to open the final frame immediately put the Bucks behind the eight-ball, but an 8-0 run shortly thereafter—headed primarily by Bogi Markovic—had the deficit right back down to six. Milwaukee, for the first time in the game, then knuckled down on defence and were finally able to get on level terms behind an extended 19-5 run in which Austin was key. Crucially, the unit that got the team back in the game stayed in the game, with Burries taking a seat on the pine to finish this one. Unfortunately, a few key misses from Markovic, paired with crucial makes from Cardwell and Acuff, meant the Kings took the W.
Stat That Stood Out
Milwaukee’s bench was huge, notching 50 of their 89 points. Sac’s bench scored just 24.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Rich Paul talk after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 8, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James is still a free agent, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are still one of the teams trying to secure his services for next season. Whether or not they’re the front-runners to do so is anyone’s guess, even though other teams seem to think that they are.
LeBron has always handled free agency differently than most. He and his team have always played things pretty close to the vest. While there are signs that James could be leaning one way or another, the only people who really know what he’s thinking are he and his team.
Not directly meeting with prospective teams is a new wrinkle James is adding this go around. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, James’s agent, Rich Paul, will be the one meeting with teams, and then will relay that information back to James for his decision.
Chris Haynes:
"As of right now there are no plans for LeBron to engage in any meetings to allow teams to pitch him on the idea of coming to their prospective teams…his agent Rich Paul is doing all the background work. He's talking with teams and then he in return he will relay… pic.twitter.com/bKXz8teNfT
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Figuring out what exactly this means for the Cavs or their chances is truly anyone’s guess.
On one hand, it’s easy to see this news and talk yourself into being a good thing for the Cavaliers. After all, why would James have to meet with Dan Gilbert and/or Koby Altman to discuss? LeBron has worked with both during his time in Cleveland. It’s not like they would need to get to know each other or anything like that. This could mean that he isn’t seriously considering a drastically different environment like the Minnesota Timberwolves or Golden State Warriors.
However, if you wanted to read this more pessimistically, you’re more than able to do that as well. Paul has been pretty complimentary of the other teams in the process, especially ones like the Philadelphia 76ers, on his podcast, Game Over, with Max Kellerman. Could any particular preference Paul has for a team possibly sway James’s opinions?
Maybe LeBron comes back to Cleveland. Maybe he doesn’t. How much of a factor James not meeting with individual teams, but letting Paul do so, is truly anyone’s guess. But that’s how much of the last few weeks have gone. We don’t know what LeBron is thinking, and we won’t until he officially tells us which city he’ll be playing for in his 24th season.
Boozer and Peterson were named co-MVPs at the 2025 McDonald's All-American classic. Now, on the NBA stage in summer league, both rookies did not disappoint.
Peterson, the No. 2-pick out of Kansas paced the Jazz with a double-double tallying a game-high 25 points, 12 assists and two steals. He shot an efficient 53% from the field, including 33% from 3-point territory going 3-for-9 from deep.
As for the No. 3-pick from Duke, Boozer had a productive 18 points for the Grizzlies, including a thunderous slam and four field goals from long range. He shot 6-for-9 (66%) from the field, including going 4-for-5 from 3-point distance.
Cameron Boozer gets blocked by Cody Williams, but gets the putback dunk, then forces a turnover and hits a 3-pointer. Darryn Peterson nearly turns the ball over and scores the step back 3 at the other end. With replays. pic.twitter.com/5Dib2OSuJ8
Boozer has looked like the son of a NBA veteran (his father, Carlos Boozer played 13 seasons in the NBA, including six in Utah). The younger Boozer looks and moves like he's already been in the league for a decade. Throughout the game, he effectively moved the ball, dishing out four assists. He was also a force on the boards, grabbing seven rebounds.
However, despite the stellar play from the first-year players that has their fanbases excited for fall ball, it's the Jazz who had the advantage in the contest when it was all said and done. Utah defeated Memphis, 109-100.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives to the net in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Brooklyn, NY. (Corey Sipkin...
Following a FIBA World Cup qualifying game Monday, the Serbian star reaffirmed his desire to extend his contract and finish his career with the Nuggets, though he plans to wait to sign his deal.
“My idea and desire is to stay in Denver,” Jokic told reporters in Serbian. “My desire is to play the rest of my life in Denver.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives to the net in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Jokic, who’s been with the Nuggets since 2014, is under contract for two seasons and has been eligible since June 14 to sign a four-year, $278 million max extension.
But by waiting until next offseason for an extension, Jokic would be eligible to sign a five-year, $359.5 million deal as a free agent, which would be the largest contract in NBA history and push his career earnings to $724 million.
Nikola Jokic: "My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career."
The 31-year-old was also eligible to sign a three-year, $200 million extension last offseason, but opted to delay the process.
Over 11 years with the Nuggets, Jokic has blossomed into one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
Not only did he help the Nuggets to their first title in 2023, but he’s also won three MVPs (2021, 2022, 2024) and has averaged a triple-double the last two seasons.
1/25/24 – Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden – Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic #15 reacts on the court during the first quarter.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Jokic hasn’t averaged fewer than 24 points per game since 2019-20 and has shot well from downtown the last few years, too.
He also led the league with 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game.
Despite Jokic’s heroics, the Nuggets lost to the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs and haven’t advanced past the second round since winning the title in 2023.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 6: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 6, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Darryn Peterson took over the media world two days ago in the Utes’ own Huntsman Center. A 28-point debut? Theoretically implausible. But what about Peterson’s eight turnovers? Maybe he isn’t a winning player. Maybe he is just as selfish as everyone said he was.
That would’ve been my conclusion if I hadn’t watched Peterson completely take over the floor against the #3 pick in a duel with the Grizzlies. Stat-sheet analysts warned us not to pass up on the family reunion by returning Cam Boozer to his father in Salt Lake. But the Jazz let that opportunity pass in hopes of a much larger ceiling with Darryn Peterson.
Turns out the ‘that boy nice’ Fanclub had the advantage over the Stat Sheet Fanclub. Utah won its second consecutive game in Utah in a 109-100 finish. Jazz subtly had the edge over Memphis all night. They just looked like they were on a completely different level from these young cubs.
We found out earlier today that Ace Bailey wouldn’t be participating in this one; the team hasn’t ruled him out for Las Vegas, but they’re being extra cautious moving forward.
Ace Bailey will not play today (back spasms) for the Jazz at SLC Summer League
In what many were anticipating, rather than a measly World Cup match for the US, this Salt Lake City Summer League game lived up to the hype. You couldn’t write a better opening: Peterson took the first shot and nailed the turnaround jumper. Boozer answered with a pull-up triple on the other side. AJ Dybantsa utters a profanity on the other side of the country, as Washington gets no early Summer League hoops.
Peterson’s media takeover took away some love from some of the other young Jazzlings. Blake Hinson is much more fun to watch when he isn’t costing your team a lottery ball. After losing over 25 pounds, he looked like he had a higher motor and shot the lights out of the building.
The non-rostered guys left a huge impression in their second game. 6-7, near 260 pounds, Eric Dixon is more agile than he looks. He netted 11 points and 6 rebounds in 16 minutes, which included 2 triples on the box score. Like Luka to Hayes, Utah native Jaxon Kohler was absolutely feeding off dimes from Peterson. He scored 6 of his 8 points in three consecutive possessions. Justin Harmon plays with a motor that is difficult to match, diving for loose balls and showing the energy on defense every coach wants to see.
Alright, settle down, everyone. Let’s discuss Darryn Peterson. He crowned himself in front of Boozer, we can only officially crown Peterson as the top rookie over Dybantsa once they finish their duel Thursday night in Las Vegas. DP hit the 20-point mark once again in the third quarter, finishing with 25. The real story, however, was the all-around game he displayed. He totalled 12 assists in 27 minutes; a polar opposite of what he displayed against the Hawks.
He once mentioned back at the combine that he wanted to show more of his point guard abilities at the NBA level. The impression he left tonight is going to make him so much more valuable as a secondary playmaker next to Keyonte. We saw how well that worked for the Knicks at the NBA Finals.
Jazz fans have to be giggling and kicking their feet like a teenage girl, because Peterson already looks like a five-year veteran in his limited sample size. He IS the closer, he can get HIS shot, and he WILL be the future. We deserve not to be suffering for once.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens spent Monday afternoon trying to justify trading away Jaylen Brown as Boston fans stewed in anger and confusion over seeing another star depart the organization.
Brown was traded to the rival 76ers in a deal that included the Celtics receiving Paul George and draft picks, which Stevens said helped give Boston “optionality” going forward.
The Celtics executive expressed appreciation for Brown’s contributions to the organization, but outright said that he did not want 70 percent of their salary cap tied up between two players — Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Even with Stevens saying Monday that Brown’s contract made it more difficult to field a competitive roster, the decision to trade the star has still been a shock after he produced an MVP-caliber campaign during the 2025-26 season.
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens speaks during a media availability at The Auerbach Center on July 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images
“We’re not up here to defend ourselves in this decision, which will certainly be scrutinized,” Stevens said. “We’re OK with that. We’re more so trying to deal with the emotions of Jaylen not being here.”
George’s contract is slightly more cap-friendly than Brown’s, with George having a cap hit of $57.7 million this upcoming season and a player option for 2027-28 that has a cap hit of $56.5 million.
Brown has three more years on his deal, with him being owed the same amount this coming season, while making $61.6 million the following season and $65.6 million for the 2028-29 campaign.
“I think when you choose the term ‘optionality,’ you’re talking about just length of contract and assets, so that’s where the increased optionality comes from,” Stevens said when asked directly about the similar salaries. “And listen, we’re going to have to lean on our depth. This is a big part of this.”
Stevens denied that Brown was disgruntled or that the Celtics had been upset with him, and expressed appreciation for his 10 years in Boston, describing the former Celtics star as “a meaningful person in all of our lives.”
“We all appreciate Jaylen. We’ve all enjoyed having Jaylen as a teammate. I think he’s got great relationships from here,” Stevens said.
Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, April 21, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Celtics owner Bill Chisholm also addressed the growing feeling that there has been some mandate from ownership to bring down the team’s roster salary.
Since the Celtics’ title run in 2024, Boston has seen Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, among others, depart the franchise. Chisholm pushed back on that, saying all decisions were basketball ones.
“It’s not about the money at all. This was trying to put together the right set of players and assets to win,” he said. “That’s what this was about. … None of these were about money. We have some more room now, like if we see something we wanted, Brad’s got the green light to do that.”
Sacramento Kings' DeMar DeRozan L goes for a layup during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season game between Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers in Sacramento, the United States, on Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo by Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Images)
One of the time-honored traditions of NBA free agency is finding some way to link the Lakers and DeMar DeRozan. No player has been connected more to the franchise without ever actually playing for them.
Between trade rumors and repeated free agent pushes, DeRozan has flirted with joining the Lakers time and time again. It should come with at least modest surprise, then, that the Lakers and DeRozan will not be connected this offseason.
On Monday morning, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that DeRozan and the Kings were working on an exit, which came after the two sides could not find a trade.
Just in: The Sacramento Kings are waiving DeMar DeRozan, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents, sources tell ESPN. The sides worked collaboratively on this resolution after exploring trade routes. pic.twitter.com/IsSZXhV4An
However, later on in the day, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported that DeRozan would not be someone the Lakers considered signing once he hits the free agent market.
The Los Angeles Lakers are not considered to be a potential landing spot for veteran guard DeMar DeRozan after he was released by Sacramento in Monday, multiple league sources told ESPN. The Southern California native had dialogue with LAL in the past – notably in 2021.
At 36 years old, DeRozan won’t have many more years left in the league. Last season, he averaged 18.4 points on 49.7% shooting from the field. But he shot 32% from three after shooting 32.8% the year prior.
In theory, he plays the four and is not a traditional big, so he could offer some spacing. But he’s also ball dominant, can’t shoot threes and isn’t a good defender.
This bucks the trend of years of him being linked to the Lakers. For old time’s sake, here’s an extensive list of all the times he talked about wanting to play for the franchise.
Oct. 9, 2021 — DeRozan tells Shams Charania of The Athletic it would have been a “hell of an opportunity” to play with the Lakers this season.
July 31, 2021 – Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports that DeRozan had his “sights set” on joining the Lakers but he wouldn’t take a “significant” pay cut after the team traded for Westbrook.
July 26, 2021 – DeRozan tells Shannon Sharpe of Fox Sports 1 that it would be a “great opportunity” to come to Los Angeles and play with Anthony Davis and James.
Theoretically, he could still talk about wanting to join the Lakers. Don’t be surprised if he pops onto Draymond Green’s podcast and tells everyone he wanted to come to LA and the Lakers didn’t want him. Watch this space when he does.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Mikel Brown Jr #0 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles by Nick Boyd #19 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of the California Classic at Golden 1 Center on July 06, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets played their third contest in July this evening, though in many ways, it felt like the true start of Summer. Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn’s sixth overall pick and highest drafted player since 2010, logged his first minutes in a Nets uniform tonight after sitting out the first two.
What Brown Jr.’s Summer League debut lacked in punctuality was quickly made up for in thrill. Two days after the East River fireworks had faded, he kept the “oohs” and “ahs” echoing throughout Brooklyn.
The Nets came out against Golden State with Egor Dëmin handling the rock and Brown Jr. working off-ball. He assisted on Brooklyn’s first basket of the game nonetheless…
Mikel Brown Jr.'s first summer points for the Nets are a triple after a Egor Dëmin steal. pic.twitter.com/vulsGndglg
Brown Jr. told NetsDaily it was “amazing” that his first NBA bucket came off an assist from Demin who he said he’s developed a rapport.
Mikel Brown Jr. on his 1st NBA shot:
“Shout out to E(Egor)for finding me. Me&him talked about that. We were going to kind of play off each other & find each other, get each other open shots. To be assisted by him for the 1st NBA bucket I would say was amazing.” pic.twitter.com/NotHS9MKhM
The first quarter highlights for the Louisville product didn’t stop there. A few moments later, Brown Jr. hit a buttery triple after Dëmin came up with a steal in the Golden State backcourt. Soon after, he found Chaney Johnson for his third dime of the opening period. He hand’t seen one since February, but the Orlando kid looked more comfortable on the court than anyone early on.
Mikel Brown Jr. vision and feel already on display.
Gets through with a hesi and then finds Chaney Johnson near the cup here right before the buzzer. pic.twitter.com/c14CkHDRVo
Be that as it may, Brown Jr. wasn’t the only man out there for Brooklyn tonight. Johnson led all scorers in the first seven points while also coming up with two steals, two rebounds and a block. Bilodeau followed with six after splashing 2-4 threes. The Nets, however, trailed 28-24 entering the second, as the Warriors began the game shooting 6-13 from deep, leveraging the ball around Brooklyn’s aggressive ball pressure.
However, in the Summer League, margins are thin. Strengths can crumble into weaknesses in an instant. Ben Saraf, who started the game 0-2 with two giveaways, led a defensive charge to do that for Brooklyn. He and the larger Net guards continued to get in Golden State’s grill, but sped up their rotations to kickstart a 12-0 run. Brown Jr., still posting a near even touch-to-highlight ratio, finished it with more help from Bilodeau…
That run boiled into a 20-2 jolt for the Nets, putting them in position to carry a 56-46 lead into halftime. There, Johnson led with 15 points on 7-9 shooting. Bilodeau followed with 12 while shooting 4-6 from three. Dëmin reached double figures as well with 10 points along with three assists. The team also shot a collective 9-18 from three.
2 points from Egor Dёmin as the second quarter ends.
The subsequent period offered little-to-no movement, as the Net lead continued to bob up and down around the 10-point mark. Both teams flashed their youth with a variety of offensive fouls that collectively slowed things down.
However, the final frame saw the Nets sprint to the finish.
Brooklyn held Golden State scoreless in the fourth period until the 7:38 mark. St. John’s product Aaron Scott pitched in a quick five points as the Nets were eager to convert their stops into fast break buckets at the other end. Johnson continued to leverage his physicality, rummaging his way to four more second half points as the Nets closed things out. He finished with 19/7/2.
Saraf found his playmaking groove down the stretch as well, methodically feeding Johnson and others for high-percentage looks after squeaking past the Warrior defense. By the end of it, he had completely turned things around at the offensive end, finishing with 15 points and seven assists while shooting 6-12 from the field and 3-6 from deep. He was a team-high +28.
Ben Saraf freezes the defender with a nasty crossover and lays it in.
He's got 12 points on 5/10 shooting from the field and 2/4 from three with six assists and three turnovers.
Bilodeau’s sixth three of the game (yes, six) gave the Nets their largest lead of the ball game with 1:49 to go, cementing his team’s second Summer victory. Bilodeau tallied 18 for the game after going 6-9 from deep. A strong second half from Dëmin saw him lead his team with 23 points while shooting 7-12 from the field and 2-7 from deep. He snuck the very last two in, just beating the clock, and enduring foe gravity.
Dëmin also notched eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three turnovers. His 23.0 scoring average over two games was second in the California Classic, following only Darius Acuff’s 23.5. Brown didn’t play beyond the 2:22 mark of the third. Dutch Gaitley confirmed to reporters post game that the 20-year-old was on a 20-minute pitch count, which would increase in upcoming games.
Gaitley on Mikel Brown Jr.coming out of the game in the 3rd quarter at 2:22:
“He’s at a 20 minute cap.He hasn’t played a lot of games since his injury back in March&I think allowing him to build up,the hope is that he gets through this.We check out how his body is feeling.” pic.twitter.com/pR5wT83mC0
Gaitley said he challenged Brown Jr. to put the game out of question by the time he had to sit for good…
Mikel Brown had 10 points, 4 assists & some surprising defense in his 19-minute debut. Dutch Gaitley said he was on a 20-minutes cap that should increase once the #Nets get to Las Vegas. "We gave him the challenge make it so that the game's out of reach by the time you sub out."
Challenge accepted, and challenge met. The Nets trotted calmly to a 100-79 victory. Brown Jr. finished with 10 points, four assists, a rebound, and two turnovers while shooting 4-11 from the field and 2-5 from deep.
Overall, Gaitley credited the team for winning two games with two different rotations. In Sunday’s win vs. the Kings, virtually no one who played Monday was available…
Gaitley on the slow start: “The guys who were out yesterday were playing with guys that were different than they played with in the first game. So like figuring it out.Also kel is coming in.Thats a little bit different.We’re pulling guys in&out so that we can be ready for Vegas.” pic.twitter.com/LwVzaPKJv4
While it was no a statistical marvel, Brown Jr.’s displayed feel around the floor, vision, and shooting confidence tell an encouraging story. Plus he did it with a seeming nonchalance as if to say: don’t be surprised; this is what I do. It’s only getting started as well.
Next Up
This now concludes the California Classic for the Nets. The boys of summer, however, will play on. The Nets will next play the New York Knicks on July 10th in Las Vegas. The game will be streamable on ESPN. It tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 4: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the Atlanta hawks during the first half of of their 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game at the Jon M Huntsman Center on July 4, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. ( Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Darryn Peterson is such an obvious superstar.
As the Utah Jazz lined up a Salt Lake City matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah’s number-two draft pick, Darryn Peterson, and the Grizzlies number-three selection, Cameron Boozer, squared off for the first time since draft night. Carlos Boozer, Cam’s father and a scout for the Utah Jazz, warned teams would regret passing on his son, and this matchup marks an opportunity to make an early statement.
The pair of class foes wasted no time making their presence known in this battle, with Peterson Christening the scoreboard with a feathery floater on one end, and Boozer draining a top-of-the-key deposit for three at the opposite end.
Then Peterson got that look in his eye as he knocked through two free throws, a drifting turnaround three-pointer, and a graceful finger-roll lay-in over Boozer in succession — taking a break only to dish out for back-to-back Blake Hinson three-pointers. Peterson was so dangerous that the Grizzlies matched him up against Cedric Coward. In response, he would instigate a switch onto Boozer, whose footspeed simply couldn’t match that of the number-two selection, and he’d be forced to foul.
Peterson comfortably navigated the Grizzlies hyper-aggressive full-court press and revealed remarkable playmaking feel considering the fact that a lack of assists as a freshman was one of the drawbacks on his draft profile.
Peterson’s style of play is so potent, yet gentle. Immense, yet effortless. Every motion, every action, every shot is so smooth, it’s as if the wind learned how to play basketball. DP is the intersection of basketball and art, and I question if I’ll ever become fully accustomed to how Utah’s budding star plays the game.
Like water, he flows Resistance is most futile A snap of nylon — “The Effortless Conqueror”, a haiku by Calvin Barrett, circa 2026
Needless to say, I feel rather satisfied about the Jazz’s first-round pick, and we’re just two games into Summer League. I’ll wrestle with myself to keep expectations low within the Summer League bubble. After all, we haven’t even seen what Peterson looks like against real NBA competition.
But I know I’m not alone in my elation. Peterson isn’t like the other prospects the Jazz have brought in over the years — his talent is so much more obvious than that of hidden gems Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, or Ace Bailey. I’m not accustomed to seeing players like him suiting up for the Jazz; Donovan Mitchell is the only name that compares in recent years, and he was the 13th overall pick.
Boozer’s impact was much more understated, as his court vision and rebounding were the highlights of his half. A different style of player than Peterson, Boozer’s first half won’t be posted on many highlight reels, but he’s helping his team win by doing his damage in the margins.
Boozer finished the half with 5 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal on 2-4 shooting splits.
Darryn posted a first-half stat line of 13 points, 7 assists (!!!), 1 board, and 2 steals on 3-of-6 shooting splits.
Peterson and Boozer continue their battle in the second half on ESPN and SEG+.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
These two NBA greats had a solid relationship with each other, and there’s no reason to believe there’s any beef between them, both before and after LeBron’s decision. However, an answer Luka made regarding LeBron during a recent interview is sure to turn heads.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic look on during a Los Angeles Lakers game. NBAE via Getty Images
Instagram user Klemen Kopina interviewed Doncic on July 6, asking him which of many NBA icons he would choose as his “ultimate” teammate for a hypothetical 2-on-2 game.
Initially, Luka was asked to choose between Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. He selected Jokic, and continued choosing Jokic for several subsequent players, including former Lakers legends Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, and San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Soon enough, Luka had to choose between Jokic and LeBron. He chose Jokic with no hesitation.
Luka Doncic being asked about whether he’d have Nikola Jokic or LeBron James as his “ultimate” 2-on-2 teammate. Klemen Kopina/Instagram
Luka finally choose someone over Jokic when having to pick between him and Boston Celtics icon Larry Bird. Then, the interview ended with Doncic picked Michael Jordan over Bird.
For what it’s worth, asking who an ideal teammate would be isn’t the same as picking the better player, as Doncic has to consider whose skillset would best translate alongside his in a 2-on-2 setting, which is like a different game when compared to 5-on-5.
Still, the speed with which Luka dismissed LeBron is a big reason why this interview has already gone viral on social media.
