LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 15: Alex Karaban #33 of the Sacramento Kings looks on in the second half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Boston Celtics at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He revealed that the number-one ingredient in winning that most people overlook is accountability.
“If we’re hard on each other and we’re holding each other accountable, it’s going to make us closer… I think now people could be afraid to say what’s on their mind, and if someone is messing up, people just don’t want to critique people anymore.”
He continued the interview, talking about how Dan Hurley “completely changed my life” and how he would not be the person he is today without Hurley.
“He’s the best college basketball coach. He’s going to make you a better player,” Karaban said. “I wouldn’t talk to people; I was super quiet. I wasn’t confident, and he really changed me to be more outgoing.”
In terms of changing the winning culture in Sacramento, Karaban said that his time with UConn will help make a difference with the Kings.
“Coach was the same person on a daily basis, no matter how we felt, win or loss; he was the same. He expected the same standards every single day, not just on the court, but who we are off the court, being on time or carrying yourself the right way.”
Karaban is bringing that same mindset to Sacramento: the intensity, the passion, and the foundation for the organization to have for the future.
The Kings traded up to draft Karaban at 29th overall. When asked about how that feels, he said, “It means everything to me. I was super excited. The energy that Scott [Perry] Head Coach Doug Christie had and how excited they were… For them to have the belief in me gives me all the confidence to come in here and be myself and make an impact.”
Karaban suffered an ankle injury just before heading to Las Vegas and started off the Summer League a bit slow, going against the Clippers on 0-for-6 shooting and a 4-point outing against Brooklyn. He followed those games up with a great performance, putting up a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds in an 82-76 loss to Boston on Wednesday night. Karaban shot a great 5-for-7 from downtown in the loss. Karaban’s three-point numbers towards the end of his final season were lower than usual, so it is great to see the former Husky back on track from three-point land.
Alex Karaban, the 29th overall pick, led the Kings in scoring tonight at @NBASummerLeague!
Karaban finished the Summer League averaging 10 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in an average of 27.5 minutes per game. While the early games presented a learning curve, Karaban’s response down the stretch showed the composure of a seasoned performer. By regaining his stroke from beyond the arc and contributing across multiple categories, he proved he can adapt quickly when given the opportunity. As he moves forward, this Summer League stint serves as a promising stepping stone toward carving out a reliable role in Sac Town.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Keon Ellis #14, Michael Porter Jr. #17, Terance Mann #14 and Noah Clowney #21 of the Brooklyn Nets attend the game between the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The dog days of summer, and those of the NBA offseason, are officially upon us. While the World Cup gave general sports fans a longer lease on that golden spring-to-early-summer stretch where playoff basketball and hockey run wild, baseball returns, and dew points are manageable, we’re now well past that.
The Brooklyn Nets also concluded their Summer League run last week. From this point and until training camp in late September, most access to the team’s players will come via the various social platforms they’re active on.
But First, a Farewell
Before we get into the current Nets, a former one had some goodbyes to say this week. Nic Claxton’s fiancé, Mariah Castro, posted a farewell message to the Nets and Brooklyn on Instagram not long after Clax’s trade news broke. However, the big man posted his own on X earlier this week.
“Through the ups an downs this city watched me grow into a man,” he wrote. “I will always cherish my time spent there. I created so many beautiful memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. I will forever be grateful I was able to call Brooklyn home. With all of that being said, it was time to move on. Thanks again for rocking with me. I will see y’all again.”
We wish Nic and his family all the best going forward.
Workout Time
Workout videos are a common find on NBA social feeds this time of year. Development coach Tyreek Dupree recently tagged Day’Ron Sharpe in one. Footwork, ball-handling and post-move drills were largely on display.
Terance Mann and Noah Clowney recently got some work in as well with NBA and WNBA development coaches Cory Smith and Chris Johnson. They’ve trained with LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Johnson, and countless other pros before.
To no surprise, Egor Dëmin has also been in the lab with long-time trainer Zack Gonzalez. When he’s not with Dëmin or fellow BYU product AJ Dybantsa, Gonzalez works as a trainer/coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nets still haven’t announced the Moe Wagner signing yet. They’re likely trying maintain flexibility as they look leverage their remaining $11 million in cap space. However, Wagner hasn’t been sitting around, waiting for the checks to hit. He, his brother Franz, and Adidas hosted a youth basketball academy in Berlin this week.
Michael Porter Jr. spent a large part of his summer’s first half with his current teammates, but now looks to be off hanging with some old friends, and maybe, just maybe, recruiting. We wrote extensively about Porter Jr. and all the posts featuring him and Peyton Watson earlier this week. The two were seen enjoying a beach, some wine and at the World Cup across a variety of social accounts last week.
Dëmin seems to have followed MPJ into the vlogging sphere as well. He dropped two videos last year, one during the team’s preseason trip to Macao, and another during All-Star weekend. He’s kicked up posting cadence recently, however, dropping a “Summer Side Quests” episode last month and one from the Summer League yesterday.
On the topic of Dëmin and the SL, Terance Mann also gave him a shoutout on X earlier this month, to which Egor responded to by calling TMann his “big brother.”
“Great opportunity ahead. Great organization. Made me really comfortable to start,“ Randle said earlier this month. “So, you know, got a lot of young talent. Got some good vets. Excited to see what we can put together.”
Miles Bridges thinks Booker deserves a ring, and he’s ready to go to war to get one. We can all agree on that. The Phoenix Suns fans deserve a Booker ring, too. The entire Valley, from the transplant Bulls fans to the born Phoenicians with closets full of Lakers gear, deserves a Booker ring, but did the Suns front office put enough around Booker to truly contend for one?
Brian Gregory couldn’t be more excited about adding Miles Bridges. There was a defiant sparkle in his eye as he sat next to Bridges at the introductory press conference. To me, he clearly thinks he got away with something when he finally managed to pry Bridges away from the Hornets. Gregory confidently took every question that was asked regarding Miles Bridges’ history with domestic violence, acknowledged it, and explained what the Suns liked about Miles from a basketball fit. He has a long history with Miles Bridges going back to MSU.
Miles Bridges answered every question thrown his way as well. He spoke on his off-court issues but also talked about how he can help the Suns as a basketball player and that he might surprise fans who aren’t familiar with his game. He mentioned that he’s an underrated playmaker, he emphasized defense and rebounding, and acknowledged that part of his role is to get Booker his points. He saw the Suns’ playoff series against the Thunder and clearly came away with some of the same takeaways the rest of us did, as to where the Suns need to improve moving forward.
Everything Miles Bridges said about his game is everything I wanted for this team as a Suns fan. A physical four who can body someone up on the boards, and get his offensive game off without stopping the ball. That’s not the Miles Bridges that Charlotte got, but the second-chance theme is a big part of the Miles Bridges trade, whether talking about the off-court issues or the basketball fit. I believe Miles Bridges when he says he’s ready to go to war to win a championship with this Suns team.
Is Booker?
Whether or not you think Booker is a superstar on the court, he’s unquestionably a superstar off the court. He’s involved with the Kardashians, gets his name dropped in Drake lyrics, has his own signature shoe, and is respected by every player around the league. He’s been to the doorstep of greatness and was turned away. It’s not an easy road to get back. It’s a battle, or as Bridges said, a war. Does Booker, who has already achieved so much in basketball and in life, have the edge to claw his way back?
I understand roles change with age and I think Book’s game is evolving in a way that could be beneficial for the Phoenix Suns, but watching Booker make right play after right play in the playoffs as the Thunder funneled the ball to Brooks and Green to the tune of forty plus shots, makes me wonder if the Booker who was so comfortable deferring on the playoff stage, still has that desire to lead a contender in a league that continues to add more young talent every year.
Miles Bridges, as described in the press conference, is going to improve the Suns but the question of contending, of getting Book that ring everyone thinks he deserves, still comes down to the Phoenix Suns being able to optimize the production of Devin Booker. It’s my personal opinion that, in order for the Suns to do that, there needs to be a second All-Star next to him. It’s the only way he’s going to get the space he needs to get his shot off.
Is Miles Bridges a capable third or fourth option on a potential championship team? I could be talked into that. I just don’t think the Suns’ biggest hurdle to securing a championship is their third- or fourth-option players. The Suns’ problem is at the top of the roster. Is Jalen Green the number two that the Suns need to pull defenders off of Booker? He wasn’t in the Thunder series. Does Devin Booker still have an appetite for the work it will take to add a championship to his already impressive resume? He didn’t play the Thunder series like a superstar desperate to survive.
I don’t think the Suns have a championship team as currently constructed, but I don’t think that has anything to do with whether they have Miles Bridges on the team. The Suns’ ceiling will be set by the performance of the players at the top of the roster.
So welcome to the Valley, Miles Bridges. We think that Booker deserves a ring, too. I just don’t know if the Suns have the team to do it. Yet.
That roster move will not include a trade for Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. if Warriors coach Steve Kerr has anything to do with it.
This sentiment stems from a report that Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor made Wednesday regarding what moves the Warriors could make if and when James signs elsewhere.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr reportedly doesn’t want to add Michael Porter Jr. to his roster. for the NY POST
“Sources say that Steve Kerr didn’t want MPJ in February, and there is little reason to believe he would want him now,” O’Connor wrote.
O’Connor didn’t add why Kerr didn’t want Porter back then. But the fact that Porter is a versatile, athletic wing who averaged 24.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Nets last season indicates that it likely isn’t because of what Porter can do on the court.
Michael Porter Jr. (right) averaged more than 24 points for the Nets last season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostMichael Porter Jr. doesn’t look like he will be part of the Warriors’ plans. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Kerr has done a great job managing the big personalities in the Warriors’ locker room since he became their head coach in 2014, which is a huge reason they’ve been so successful. Perhaps he views Porter as a liability in that regard.
Regardless of Kerr’s reasoning, it doesn’t sound like Porter will be the Warriors’ back-up plan once the James sweepstakes ends.
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Former NBA star Ty Lawson was none too pleased about getting arrested last week.
His mugshot, obtained by The California Post on Thursday, shows he had a stoic look on his face as he was being booked in a Douglas County, Colo. jail on a shoplifting charge.
The ex-Nuggets point guard, wearing what appeared to be a jail-issued top, blankly stared at the camera while gray was visible in his beard.
Ty Lawson was arrested on July 16 after allegedly stealing a bottle of vodka. Sheriff of Douglas County
The 38-year-old was taken into custody by the Castle Rock Police Dept. at around 8 p.m. on July 16 after a liquor store worker accused him of drunkenly stealing a $34 bottle of vodka.
Ty Lawson #3 of the Denver Nuggets looks for a pass with pressure from Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Barclays Center on December 3, 2013. Getty Images
Lawson, who allegedly took the bottle to a nearby restaurant, was confronted by police and thrown in handcuffs after he smelled “of an unknown alcoholic substance,” according to the arrest affidavit.
While in police control, Lawson was accused of being a nightmare to his arresting officer.
Lawson screamed and called the cop “bitch” repeatedly and a “white bitch” during the pre-booking process, the arrest affidavit stated.
Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena on Dec. 7, 2014. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
He “at times” kicked his cell’s glass wall and yelled “stop” repeatedly, according to the arrest affidavit.
He did ultimately calm down and apologize for his behavior, the report stated.
Lawson addressed the incident on his X page on Thursday morning, writing, “Being black in America is tough…. Being lied by a pasty face white woman wild… stay outta castle rock Colorado!!!!”
He later added, “This the wildest and more racist s—t I been thru.”
Lawson is facing one charge of theft of less than $300 shoplifting and is due in court for a pretrial conference on Aug. 13.
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It's been more than three weeks since LeBron James formally told the Los Angeles Lakers he was not returning, and while he said from the start he would take his time with this decision, how long this has dragged out has become the story.
Where do things stand with LeBron's decision? Where is LeBron going and when will he make his announcement? Here is all the latest information.
Where will LeBron James play next season?
Only one person knows that, and he's not talking. Yet.
This is LeBron's call, and his friend and agent Rich Paul has said publicly — echoing what some teams in the mix have said privately — that even he doesn't really know where LeBron is going. Or when the decision is coming. This is all on LeBron, and he had his circle keep things tight and don't leak info. Even his son and teammate in Los Angeles, Bronny James, doesn't know.
LeBron has talked about weighing a lot of factors — family, the chance to compete for a title, his fit with the players on said teams — while trying to make this call.
What we do know is five teams are in the mix:
• Miami Heat • Cleveland Cavaliers • Philadelphia 76ers • Golden State Warriors • Minnesota Timberwolves
The front offices of all those teams have made their pitch to LeBron through his agent Paul, as well as many making a more public appeal as well. Players from each of those teams have reached out to LeBron directly, including LeMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards from Minnesota.
It should be noted that NBC Sports has been told by sources these teams aren't looking to make another move right now to impress LeBron — no Anthony Davis to the Warriors is on the horizon — and ESPN’s Shams Charania echoed that on Thursday.
Who is the frontrunner in this race varies depending upon who you talk to and when. That's because nobody knows. Except LeBron, and he's not talking. Yet.
When will LeBron James make his decision?
Soon. Or soonish. There's not really a better answer, unfortunately.
LeBron said on July 16, "I won't hold you guys up too much longer." Then a few days later, his agent and friend Rich Paul said, "We're not going to be rushed. It's his choice to make, and when he makes the choice, he'll make it."
Right now, a lot of league business is being held up waiting on LeBron: Free agents James Harden (Cleveland) and Draymond Green (Golden State) have opted out of their contracts to give their teams financial flexibility to sign LeBron and others, and they won't re-sign until LeBron makes his call. Then there are free agents like DeMar DeRozan, or players looking for sign-and-trades like Jonathan Kuminga, whose markets are stalled out until LeBron decides (then the losers in the sweepstakes may chase those two). Whenever LeBron announces, there will be a second wave of free agency to follow.
Even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver got in on the act, saying the league can't finish its schedule for next season until LeBron makes his call because where he lands will have a big impact on things like which teams might be playing opening night or on Christmas Day. Siver got pushback for this — and maybe it caused LeBron to drag this out even longer according to some speculation — but he's also right. Whatever team LeBron lands on will have more nationally televised games, including likely opening night.
LeBron James next team odds
After the Miami Heat accidentally leaked a link to a LeBron introductory press conference on Tuesday night (more on that below), the Heat instantly shot to be the betting favorite, odds via our partners at DraftKings. LeBron starts next season with team odds:
Miami Heat -200 Cleveland Cavaliers +225 Golden State Warriors +450 Philadelphia 76ers +700 Minnesota Timberwolves +4000 After those five, the Washington Wizards are +5000 (due to the Anthony Davis connection) and every other team is +10000.
Did Miami leak LeBron’s decision?
Tuesday night (July 21), someone connected with the Miami Heat posted a link to a YouTube stream titled "LeBron James Introductory Press Conference | July 27, 2026."
It doesn't take much imagination to picture how that exploded on social media.
The Miami Heat’s official YouTube channel had LeBron’s introductory press conference scheduled for July 27
The Heat quickly denied everything, saying that their social media team was only preparing for the possibility of LeBron choosing the Heat, and they accidentally put the link live for a little while. The Heat said this had no meaning, and that every team is doing this. Okay. But only one put it live. That said, read into it what you want. This really could be nothing. Or, it could be everything.
LeBron James next team predictions
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports lead NBA writer: Cleveland Cavaliers
I feel the need to emphasize this: Nobody knows for sure what LeBron is thinking or going to do, outside of LeBron. However, the most informed people I talk to around the league about this point to a third stint in Cleveland, and that makes the most sense to me on a few levels.
First, if competing for a title is what matters most, LeBron is going to go East — this year's East is deeper than it has been (and maybe deeper than the West), but it lacks the juggernauts at the top the West does. There is a much clearer path to the Finals from the East. Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago, and what LeBron brings to the playoffs — where he has a long history of stepping up in big moments — is exactly what a team with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell needs. Leading the Lakers past the Rockets last playoffs, LeBron showed he can still take over stretches of a game or a series, and with that Cleveland has a chance to advance.
Second is the comfort level — LeBron knows Cleveland, the franchise and the city. While his family would still be a long way away in Los Angeles (a big thing Golden State has going for it in this race), this is still home. Third is the narrative — this will play well with casual fans. That matters to LeBron, who has a film crew following him around this season to make a documentary about his journey and final(?) season. He knows the Cavaliers will give his crew the access it needs, and going home one final time is a universal story arc that plays well.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Golden State Warriors
The Warriors were the frontrunner when free agency opened and the reasons why still remain persuasive. Of the teams in consideration they're the closest to LeBron's family and home base in Los Angeles. LeBron has long talked about his admiration for Stephen Curry and how "perfect" playing with Curry at the 2024 Olympics was. His fit with Curry on the court would be seamless and LeBron would get more ballhandling responsibility than he did in LA, or would in Cleveland, Philadelphia or Miami (people tend to forget how much Giannis loves playing de facto point guard).
LeBron's friendship with Curry and Draymond Green is well documented. Steve Kerr is a veteran friendly championship coach. A Curry-LeBron partnership would be box office, the story of the season. The Warriors may not give LeBron the best chance at a title but they seem to tick the most boxes overall.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: Philadelphia 76ers
With the World Cup completed and NBA commissioner Adam Silver making it clear that the league is waiting for LeBron to make his plans known before finalizing the 2026-27 schedule, this has become the dominant storyline in American sports. Add in the recent video mishap by the Miami Heat, and it is once again "tinfoil hat" time in the NBA.
So, where does James, who turns 42 in December, land? While the Warriors appeared to be in the mix early on, it seems that the future Hall of Fame forward is most likely headed East. While the circumstances are different in Cleveland and Miami than they were for each of LeBron's previous stints, he's "been there, done that." So, why not Philadelphia? Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid have led the way in recent years to no avail, and the franchise has reeled in another former champion in Jaylen Brown. If the goal is to add to his title haul, Philadelphia appears to be the best option, even though the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
Plus, if the Knicks were to be part of the conversation before ending their 53-year title drought, wouldn't this argument work in Philadelphia's favor? The 76ers have not won an NBA title since 1983; the Phillies and 76ers have hung banners in the City of Brotherly Love since then. With players like Maxey, Embiid, Brown and VJ Edgecombe on the roster, LeBron won't have to do as much heavy lifting over the course of the season, which is key given his age. Philadelphia feels closer to a title than any of the other options on his supposed list, so that's my pick.
Why is it taking so long for LeBron James to decide?
That's the question everyone around the league is asking. Nobody has an answer. LeBron put it this way at a CNBC/Boardroom event at Fanatics Fest last week in New York.
"There's so many other factors that I'm factoring in right now: What best fits me as a player, what best fits me as a person, what best fits me and my happiness and also my family as well. I won't hold you guys up too much longer, but the family portion is huge for me."
With a vacuum of information, speculation and rumors about what is dragging this out fill the void.
For example, Cleveland radio host Andy Baskin said a source told him that LeBron and his camp were ready to announce last week at Fanatic Fest in New York but were annoyed with Adam Silver pushing them to make a decision, so they decided to wait longer. Maybe. Also, that could be just someone projecting what they expected onto LeBron because — as said from the outset of this piece — nobody really knows except LeBron and his wife (and maybe some of his inner circle).
Another theory is that LeBron is waiting for another shoe to drop — the Warriors to trade for Anthony Davis or another team to land Kyrie Irving. That's not what NBC Sports heard from teams involved, and ESPN’s Shams Charania said the same thing on Thursday: "My sources tell me that LeBron James isn't waiting for another domino right now... They're not waiting for anybody else to move around."
One popular theory bouncing around in Summer League was that LeBron was enjoying basking in the free agency spotlight one last time and is in no rush to end that. Rich Paul pushed back hard against that idea, but it still persists around the league. If true, it's worth noting that the vibe is shifting in league circles about this — everyone is done with the drama.
How old is LeBron James?
LeBron is 41 years old, having played 24 NBA seasons — he has played more minutes, regular season and playoffs, than any other player in NBA history.
LeBron will turn 42 just after Christmas (Dec. 30), and the question is how much longer he is going to play. Will this coming one be his final season? Or, if he feels pretty good at the end of it and has a positive experience wherever he chooses, does he come back for one more season?
That's the next LeBron drama, but we need to get through the current drama first.
Los Angeles, CA – April 18: Former Lakers player Lamar Odom attends the Lakers-Rockets game during Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Crypto.com...
Lamar Odom formally reached a deal with prosecutors this week to close out his DUI case.
Court records viewed by The California Post on Thursday show the former Los Angeles Lakers star pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of DUI of alcohol and/or controlled or prohibited substance, first offense at a hearing in Las Vegas on Tuesday, and in exchange, officials dismissed the speeding and improper lane change charges he had been facing.
Following Odom’s plea, a judge ruled the DUI charge will be amended to a reckless driving count if he completes a laundry list of conditions over the next three months.
Former Lakers player Lamar Odom attends the Lakers-Rockets game during Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Odom must stay out of trouble, attend DUI school, complete a victim impact panel, pay a $1,000 fine and perform 67 hours of community service.
Officials wrote in the court records that if Odom “picks up a new DUI during this case, or is arrested or cited for Driving with a Suspended/Revoked License,” he will be sentenced to 180 days in jail.
Additionally, if Odom does not satisfy the conditions of his agreement with prosecutors, the records show he will be convicted of the misdemeanor DUI.
“I think it was a fair resolution given the facts of the case,” Odom’s attorney, Kevin Coburn, said of the deal to KSNV.
Lamar seen at a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors at the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League Semifinals this month. NBAE via Getty Images
The case stems from a run-in Odom had with the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol on Jan. 17.
Odom was pulled over for allegedly driving over 100 MPH in a 65 MPH zone on a Vegas highway. Police stated in an incident report that he smelled of marijuana and failed field sobriety testing.
Odom, Khloe Kardashian’s ex who played in the NBA from 1999 to 2013, said in May he began a lengthy sobriety streak in the days following the arrest.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 18: A detail view of a pair of Nike shoes worn by Michael Foster Jr. #43 of the Houston Rockets against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League semifinal game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 02: Mario Hezonja, player of Real Madrid, receives the MVP award at Movistar Arena on June 02, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sara Gordon/Real Madrid via Getty Images) | Real Madrid via Getty Images
One of which includes former number five pick Mario Hezonja. It appears Hezonja, who hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2019-20 season, is attempting a return to the league. The Cavaliers, according to Stein, are one of the interested teams.
Latest on former No. 5 overall pick Mario Hezonja per league sources:
🏀 Hezonja indeed expected to rejoin the NBA for the first time since 2019-20.
🏀 Multiple NBA teams have shown interest in the Real Madrid forward.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Let ‘Em Know shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Hezonja has spent four of his past six seasons abroad with Real Madrid. He currently posted averages of 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in his latest run in EuroLeague. Stein also noted that teams who are interested in the Real Madrid forward include other teams pursuing LeBron.
Stein highlighted that once James signs with his next team, sources have noted to him that “we’re going to see eight or nine players sign right after LeBron makes his choice. Maybe more.”
Another familiar name in the rumor mill for the Cavaliers has been Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga and the Cavaliers have been constantly linked throughout this free agency cycle. It appears that the process of acquiring Kuminga might be more convoluted than previously anticipated.
Stein wrote how “he’ll (Kuminga) need help from Atlanta on a sign-and-trade to come anywhere close to last season’s $22.5 million salary, but the latest indications we’ve received suggest that the Hawks are likely to be pretty choosy”.
Stein also went on to state how Kuminga has shown more of an openness to returning to the Atlanta Hawks on a “short-term deal”. However, with the acquisition of Lu Dort, it appears the roster configuration in Atlanta isn’t as straightforward as it was a week ago.
The Cavaliers’ number one priority has been to attract LeBron to come home a third stint. However, it seems like they still are cognizant of the idea that it is not a guarantee and are doing their due diligence on adding other options in case their golden goose doesn’t come to fruition.
There are many ways to use the Knicks' success story to the Blueshirts advantage. Ticketholder Mark Linde writes from his New Jersey estate with insightful ideas.
"The big lesson for the Rangers from the 'Down The Hall' Knicks is NOT TO RUSH THINGS. Here's the genuine reason why:
"A few years ago the Knicks had a good nucleus of young players. But instead of building on that growing foundation, they blew it upon a trade for an aging star Carmelo Anthony. The
Rangers now have a nice, young, promising group.
"That tells me that management should stay the course and build around it – even if it takes a few more years than you like.
-"The obvious, larger question is whether or not Chris Drury is the right man to remodel this franchise and whether Mike Sullivan is the coach to mold a new winner?"
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Assistant Coach Chip Engelland of the Oklahoma City Thunder before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If Amen Thompson could shoot. If Alperen Sengun could shoot. If pigs could fly…
Well, that wouldn’t benefit the Houston Rockets in any immediate way.
It’s been one of the two biggest questions surrounding this team. If you’re talking Rockets, it’s “do they have a franchise player?”, and it’s “Can Thompson and Sengun co-exist if neither is a strong three-point shooter?”. Those are closely related questions, in that if either of the two did develop into a reliable shooter, they’d likely be an unimpeachable franchise-caliber guy.
Luckily, the Rockets just gave them the best possible chance of making it happen by hiring famed shooting coach Chip Engelland.
Rockets hire league’s most esteemed shooting coach
Look at this glorious post from my dear internet friend Paulo Alves.
That’s as close to proof of concept as you’re going to get. Either it’s a remarkable coincidence, or Engelland has methods for teaching basketball players how to improve their three-point shooting that are better than the other available methods.
I am no shot doctor. To my eye, Sengun’s form on standstill jump shots is fine. He doesn’t have the fluidity to hit contested, off-the-dribble threes, but that’s not the goal. The goal is for defenses not to want him to be open from beyond the arc. That should be low-hanging fruit for Engelland.
Thompson shoots threes like a petulant child eating broccoli. He doesn’t want to, but he knows he has to. He deserves (a sliver of) credit for willingly putting up threes instead of Ben Simmons-ing his game, but he’s got a long road to three-point respectability. If Engelland can get him there, it’ll be his crown jewel.
Hey, you know what else? Everyone on this roster would benefit from being a better shooter. Everyone in the NBA could benefit from being a better shooter. It’s unlikely that Engelland will waste any time (for varying reasons) on Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet, or Steven Adams, but everyone else is fair game.
Jabari Smith Jr. is good, and a few percentage points away from excellent. Tari Eason is…eh?, and a few percentage points away from good.
How about Reed Sheppard? He hit 39.4% of his 7.0 threes per game last year. If he could hover around 45% on comparable volume, he’d be among the best shooters in the NBA.
The Houston Rockets are winning the 2026-27 NBA championship, correct?
Rockets will benefit from hire
Jokes aside, expectations should be slightly tempered.
The process of rebuilding a jump shot is presumably tedious. The Rockets may reap more rewards in 2027-28.
Moreover, we can’t attribute every improvement under Engelland’s watch to Engelland alone. Every player in the NBA wants to improve their shot and is trying to do so whether they’re working with him or not. Some of these guys would have improved anyway, although I do think it’s fair to point to the mountain of evidence as near-proof that Engelland does something.
This is a fantastic hire. It’s encouraging that Tilman Fertitta was willing to shell out. Engelland was presumably expensive. Once the Rockets start to see results, it could have a profound impact on the team.
Imagine if one of their two best young players could shoot.
If there is one thing Warriors star Steph Curry and four-time WNBA All-Star selection Sabrina Ionescu have in common, it would be their elite shooting prowess from 3-point range.
The two sharpshooters previously faced off in a 3-point competition during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, where Curry slightly edged out Ionescu with a 29-26 final score.
The New York Liberty star won the 2025 WNBA 3-Point Contest the following year, but told the New York Post’s Madeline Kenney that she is uncertain about participating in the competition during this season’s WNBA All-Star Weekend.
However, Ionescu teased she would consider a rematch with Curry for another NBA-WNBA cross-league 3-point contest.
Sabrina Ionescu said she isn't sure whether she would've tried to defend her 3-point title. But she takes pride in helping push the league forward and growing the game.
She added, "Maybe I’ll do it with Steph again at NBA All-Star and get a really nice official invite.”
Curry widely is considered as the greatest shooter in NBA history, holding the all-time league record for the most career 3-point shots made in the regular season with 4,248. Cleveland Cavaliers star James Harden is the closest player to Curry’s total with 3,390 career 3-point field goals made.
Throughout his 17-year NBA career so far, the four-time NBA champion is shooting 42.2 percent behind the arc, making him one of the best 3-point marksmen the game of basketball has ever seen.
Ionescu, a Bay Area native, also is considered one of the best 3-point shooters in the WNBA. Throughout her seven-year career so far, Ionescu is averaging 34.8 percent from 3-point range, as well as 16.6 points per game.
The four-time All-WNBA selection missed the first two weeks of the 2026 WNBA season due to a left ankle injury she sustained during a preseason game, but since then, Ionescu has appeared in 15 contests, averaging 14.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
It remains uncertain whether or not Ionescu will defend her 3-point title, and whether or not a rematch between the 2024 WNBA champion and the Warriors star is on the horizon. But if both events were to come to fruition, fans undoubtedly would be tuning in.
Jordan Walsh already was going to be back in Boston next season, the team had picked up his $2.4 million option, but now he is going to be a fixture on the wing there for years.
Walsh and the Celtics agreed to a three-year, $16 million extension, something first reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes and since confirmed by other reports. The first two years of this deal are fully guaranteed, with the third being a team option. This locks Walsh in with Boston for at least three more years at a very affordable price for a rotation player.
Walsh played in 68 games last season for the Celtics, averaging 5.4 points and four rebounds a game, and his 3-point shot has improved, with him knocking down 38.4% from beyond the arc last season. However, his defense was really his calling card. He is a high-level on-ball defender on the wing, which is where Joe Mazzulla leaned into him.
LOOK AT THE DEFENSE FROM JORDAN WALSH
Celtics are 8-2 with Walsh in the starting lineup and he's showing why on Prime!
Walsh is a credit to Boston's player development program. He was drafted No. 38 in the second round and traded to the Celtics a week later, and they signed him to a minimum contract and brought him along slowly (he played just nine games his first year). By last season, he had a steady role with the Celtics.
While Jaylen Brown is out the door, Celtics president Brad Stevens has been locking up a group of affordable wings who can play a role for the team. Walsh joins Ron Harper Jr. as getting a new, longer-term deal this summer, Boston still has Hugo Gonzalez on a rookie contract for three more years, and a year from now they can extend Baylor Scheierman.
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 02: Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid gestures after losing the Spanish basketball League Liga ACB Endesa Quarter Finals Game 1 between Real Madrid and La Laguna Tenerife at Movistar Arena on June 02, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
The Sixers have one open roster spot at the moment, and it’s fairly obvious whom they’re saving it for. But if LeBron James chooses to sign elsewhere in free agency, then what?
The free-agent market has largely been picked over at this point. A handful of big names are still unsigned, although James Harden and Draymond Green are just biding their time until LeBron decides before they re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, respectively. Neither are legitimate possibilities for the Sixers.
The Sixers already split their non-taxpayer mid-level exception between Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons, and they spent a portion of their bi-annual exception on Ariel Hukporti. As a result, they are now hard-capped at the $209 million first apron from now through June 30, 2027. They only have enough space under the first apron ($3.4 million) to offer a one-year, veteran-minimum contract to any free agent.
With that said, Dalen Terry is on a fully non-guaranteed contract, while only $250,000 of Jabari Walker’s $2.6 million salary is guaranteed. Regardless of what happens with LeBron, the Sixers could still make a few moves around the margins this offseason.
Here’s a look at some of their best remaining free-agent options.
Nick Richards, C
The Sixers aren’t really planning on going into the season with Hukporti, Adem Bona and Johni Broome as their only backups to the oft-injured Joel Embiid… are they?
Perhaps they believe the 7-foot Hukporti has some untapped upside, but he was the New York Knicks’ third-string center last year. Not having a veteran option to push Bona for the primary backup job could come back to bite the Sixers if (when?) the oft-injured Embiid misses time.
Nick Richards is likely the best remaining solution in free agency. The 28-year-old isn’t anything flashy, but he’s a steady presence who averaged 9.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in only 24.3 minutes per game with the Charlotte Hornets and Phoenix Suns between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Richards fell down the Suns’ pecking order last season, but he put up 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in only 22.4 minutes per game across 20 appearances with the Chicago Bulls after they acquired him ahead of the trade deadline. However, if you thought advanced analytics hate Jaylen Brown, you should steer clear of Richards’ Dunks and Threes page.
Mario Hezonja, SF
Eleven years after the Orlando Magic selected Mario Hezonja with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Super Mario is reportedly headed back stateside, as Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews was first to report.
Latest on former No. 5 overall pick Mario Hezonja per league sources:
🏀 Hezonja indeed expected to rejoin the NBA for the first time since 2019-20.
🏀 Multiple NBA teams have shown interest in the Real Madrid forward.
Hezonja has spent the past four seasons with Real Madrid and is fresh off being named the MVP of the Liga Endesa in Spain. In 80 games across all competitions this past season, he averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 made threes in only 23.1 minutes per game.
Hezonja came into the NBA looking like a prototypical shooting wing, but he shot only 31.9 percent from deep over five years between the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. He shot above 39.0 percent from beyond the arc in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 during his first two seasons with Real Madrid, although his percentages dipped over the past two years.
Wing is one of the Sixers’ weakest positions behind Jaylen Brown, unless Justin Edwards takes a major leap forward or they land LeBron in free agency. Hezonja is no LeBron, but the former top-five pick would be a relatively low-risk, high-upside gamble, especially on a minimum deal.
DeMar DeRozan, SF
Since only $10 million of DeMar DeRozan’s $25.7 million contract was fully guaranteed in 2026-27, the Sacramento Kings opted to waive him as they attempted to get their 25-win team below the luxury-tax line. On a minimum deal, he’d be a steal anywhere.
DeRozan is an anachronistic player. He rarely shoots threes and tends to dominate in the mid-range, but he also averaged 18.4 points per game while shooting 49.7 percent overall in his age-36 season last year. However, he’s been one of the league’s worst defensive players over the past few seasons, according to some advanced metrics.
The Sixers already have to figure out how to split touches between Brown, Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in their starting lineup, not to mention Simons and Labaron Philon Jr. off the bench. One could argue that the last thing the Sixers need is another high-usage player, especially one who’s a defensive liability. But if nothing else, DeRozan could soak up minutes during the regular season to avoid Maxey and Edgecombe getting overworked.
DeRozan did overlap with Nurse in Toronto for a few years before Nurse took over as head coach, so the two have plenty of familiarity with one another. The Miami Heat are also viewed as “a real possibility” to sign DeRozan if they whiff on LeBron in free agency, according to Barry Jackson of Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, so he might wind up being the consolation prize for whichever team loses the King James race.
Kelly Olynyk, C
Kelly Olynyk played sparingly behind Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet this past season. But he’s only one year removed from a four-year stretch in which he averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in only 23.3 minutes per game across four teams.
Olynyk turned 35 in April, so he isn’t suited for a major role at this point of his career. He could potentially fill the Andre Drummond job of stopgap starting center whenever Embiid misses time, but he’d otherwise compete with Bona, Hukporti and Broome for minutes behind the big fella.
Olynyk is a career 36.9 percent shooter from deep, so the Sixers could have a legitimate five-out look with him on the floor. Bona and Hukporti both likely have the edge on him defensively at this stage of their respective careers, but Olynyk’s long-range shooting could help him carve out a role regardless.
Spending five of their 15 roster spots on centers wouldn’t be great from a positional allocation standpoint, although the Spurs just did so and made it to the NBA Finals. But if the Sixers aren’t confident in the Bona-Hukporti-Broome trio as Embiid’s backup options and they can’t land Richards, Olynyk may be the next-best realistic option.
Jae’Sean Tate, SF
Jae’Sean Tate has spent all six of his NBA seasons in Houston, and his role has gradually declined each year. This past season, he averaged a career-low 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per game.
In Houston, Tate was buried behind Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant and Josh Okogie since Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Steven Adams soaked up most of the frontcourt minutes. In Philly, Edwards might be Tate’s only real competition to be Brown’s primary backup.
The 30-year-old Tate is a career 30.9 percent three-point shooter on low volume, which is the main drawback from the Sixers’ perspective. However, he’s been a plus defender for most of his career.
Given the Sixers’ lack of wing depth, Tate could be a welcome addition on a minimum deal.
Ochai Agbaji, SG/SF
In the last few years of Daryl Morey’s tenure, he turned the Sixers into the Land of Second Chances for recent first-round picks. Could Mike Gansey do the same with Ochai Agbaji?
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Agbaji with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 draft. Two months later, they shipped him to the Utah Jazz as part of their blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell.
Agbaji never found his footing in Utah, which led the Jazz to trade him to the Toronto Raptors midway through his second season. He averaged 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 made threes and 1.5 assists in 27.2 minutes per game during his lone full season in Toronto, but he was once again on the move this past season as part of a tax dump.
Shooting has always been Agbaji’s swing skill, and he shot a career-worst 26.6 percent from deep this past season between Toronto and Brooklyn. The 26-year-old may never live up to his predraft pedigree, but he has great size and athleticism for a wing. He isn’t much of a threat on the ball or as a passer, but the Sixers could do far worse than signing him to a minimum deal and plugging him into a low-usage, three-and-D role.
Amir Coffey, SF
Behold, another desperate attempt to plug the Sixers’ hole at the wing.
Amir Coffey spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers before splitting this past season between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. He’s a streaky long-range shooter, but he did knock down nearly 40 percent of his three-point attempts between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns.
Like Tate and Agbaji, Coffey isn’t much of a threat on the ball either as a scorer or a passer, but the Sixers wouldn’t ask that of him. He isn’t a standout defender by any means, but he isn’t a glaring target, either.
The 29-year-old has played sparingly in the playoffs, although he did average 18.7 minutes per game during the Clippers’ first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023-24. He could be some veteran insurance for the Sixers in case Edwards doesn’t take another step forward this season.
Bruce Brown Jr., SG
Bruce Brown Jr. might be waiting for Peyton Watson’s future to get resolved before he re-signs with the Denver Nuggets. But if he gets priced out there because of apron concerns, he’d be a welcome addition in Philly.
Over the past four seasons, Brown has averaged 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.2 minutes per game while shooting 47.1 percent overall and 35.2 percent from deep. Though he stands only 6’4″ and 202 pounds, he’s able to defend anything from point guards to small forwards.
Among the remaining wing options on the market, Brown might be the best passer by far. Coffey has the edge on him as a long-range shooter, although Brown did drill 38.5 percent of his looks from deep last year.
As an added bonus, Brown signing with the Sixers would likely lead to a lot of diaper-wetting in Denver.
But Bronny asserted that he doesn’t know where his dad will land when Twitch streamer biggy22x pressed him about it when he spoke to the 21-year-old Lakers guard on Wednesday night.
The streamer seemingly saw Bronny on the street, asked him a generic question about motivating the youth, then asked, “You think your dad [is] going to the Warriors?”
Bronny laughed and said, “Man, I don’t know where he going! But that would be crazy if he did.”
LeBron and Bronny James look on from the bench during a Los Angeles Lakers game. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Any inside information that Bronny has was not going to be shared in a random interview as his dad keeps the NBA waiting on his free-agency decision after he and the Lakers parted ways this offseason.
The Warriors have been linked to James for most of the offseason with the tantalizing idea of James joining forces with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
However, Golden State does not appear to be the favorite to land James.
Instead, the Cavaliers, 76ers and Heat appear to be the top three options for the 41-year-old James.
Bronny James responds to a streamer’s question about LeBron joining the Golden State Warriors.LeBron James raises his arms when answering a question at Fanatics Fest. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com
Bronny’s future is perhaps most tied to LeBron’s decision as many believe he could be traded to whichever teams signs him.
However, the California Post’s Khobi Price reported the Lakers are fond of Bronny and have been impressed with his development since taking him in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
