Category: Basketball

Jaylen Brown isn’t hiding what everyone already sensed.

Brown, a former NBA Finals MVP who was traded from the Celtics to the rival 76ers earlier this week, said he “wasn’t thrilled with the amount of respect I was shown during this process.”

Speaking on a livestream to say goodbye to Celtics fans, Brown reacted to being traded for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

Brown initially was offered to the Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it appears there was no putting the toothpaste back in the tube after it became public knowledge that the Celtics were willing to part with the player who carried the load while Jayson Tatum missed most of last season due to injury.

Antetokounmpo was ultimately traded to the Heat instead of the Celtics.

“I will say, there was a message being sent,” Brown said, “and that message was received.”

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has been getting pilloried for the perceived lopsided trade.

Brown didn’t exactly take him off the hot seat, though he implied that other factors were at play.

“I think there was a bit of a lack of respect – I think it was fine at point – and then out of nowhere things kind of went left,” Brown said. “I think Brad is probably getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn’t thrilled the way he facilitated some of the conversations but there’s definitely more to it.”

The Celtics and 76ers make strange bedfellows considering that Philadelphia just eliminated Boston from the playoffs by winning a Game 7 on the road, and now the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference behind the Knicks looks much different because Brown is teaming up with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecomb.

“There’s a bunch of excitement, disappointment, a bunch of emotions,” Brown said.

“I’m still processing everything, so give me some time. I’m also looking forward to what’s to come next.”

Agent Rich Paul highlights Sixers as potential destination for LeBron James originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There’s no doubt the Sixers are on LeBron James’ radar. 

On the latest “Game Over” podcast, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent, broke out a whiteboard with potential free-agent destinations for the 22-time All-Star. He named 10 teams and started by discussing the Sixers.

Safe to say James took notice of the Sixers’ trade for Jaylen Brown.

“Philadelphia, everything changed,” Paul said. “How could you not have (his) attention when you have (Tyrese) Maxey, (VJ) Edgecombe, Brown, (Joel) Embiid?”

At the moment, the Sixers have one open roster spot and would only be able to offer James a minimum-salary contract. As Paul detailed, there’s a lot for James to like about the Sixers’ current roster. 

“He loves Maxey, so we don’t even have to talk about that,” Paul said. “I think he (would) help VJ really understand how to play the game. Super talented and he plays both ends of the floor, plays hard every night. The benefit that (Edgecombe) gets, it would be ridiculous. Obviously, Jaylen Brown … (James) enhances everything. He unlocks everything there.” 

Paul also mentioned Sixers executive vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson and executive president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.

“Let me give you an X-factor about the Sixers,” he said. “We forgot about something: Jameer Nelson is a part of the front office. Ex-player. You know Mike Gansey’s an Ohio guy, played against us in high school. There’s a picture floating around that Mike Gansey’s brother (Steve) put out of Mike Gansey and LeBron … they were part of the high school Ohio All-Americans for the season.” 

Along with the Sixers, Paul highlighted the following teams:

• Heat 
• Cavaliers 
• Nuggets 
• Timberwolves 
• Mavericks 
• Warriors 
• Celtics 
• Spurs 
• Knicks 

“Outside of one organization, maybe two, I’ve heard from every organization in the league,” Paul said. 

Earlier this week, we ran a poll looking back at the Dallas Mavericks draft. We asked you to grade it. Now, because of some technical limitations, I couldn’t do a normal letter-scale grade, so I went with the broader set of statements: Passing, failing, incomplete.

Here are the results of that poll.

The majority of fans gave the Mavericks a passing grade, with a fairly close split between the other two options. Personally, I went with incomplete.

The draft is but one tool for team improvement in the off-season but given the current CBA restrictions, the current contending teams have, by and large, shown the draft as the most direct way to rapid improvement. Trades still happen as do free agent signings, but they are more about rounding out your team. With that understanding, my grade came from the fact that the draft itself did little to address the specific team needs: playmaking.

Dallas fell to 9th due to a coinfip and a bad lottery draw and missed out on the top set of guards according to all draft experts. They went with Morez Johnson as a result. He’s a huge player and I look forward to seeing what he can do, but until the Mavericks make more roster changes, he’s part of a logjam. They really need him to work as this is the last time Dallas should draft in the lottery for some time.

Later in the draft the made a trade to secure Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea and he seems like a potential steal, but we’ll need to see how he plays. Later they selected Tobi Lawai and Vsevolod Ishchenko, a couple of long-term prospects who may never suit up for Dallas.

Simply put, Dallas has work to do before the regular season as the roster on paper right now doesn’t make a ton of sense. If you’re feeling frisky about the specifics of the Mavericks future, head over to FanDuel and take some futures bets on the Mavs. There are some fun ones around how many wins you think Dallas can secure next year.

Marvin Bagley’s NBA career probably hasn’t worked out quite like he and a lot of other people expected, but nonetheless after he left Duke, but he’s getting close to a decade in the NBA, and most players never get near that.

He spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks, but Denver has signed him to a one-year contract for next season. That should be interesting, because he’ll be playing with Nikola Jokic, who is a fascinating player and most likely a great teammate to have, and also fellow former Blue Devil Tyus Jones. The pair were also teammates with the Washington Wizards previously.

Denver has also opted to keep Jones on a one-year contract. He’s never had cutting-edge athleticism like a lot of NBA guards, but he remains one of the smartest players we’ve ever seen. Whenever his career ends, you’d think someone could find a use for that sort of intelligence, whether as a coach or in a front office.

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The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind following the Boston Celtics decision to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first round picks, and two second round picks.

If you know me, you know I love the Celtics, and I love Jaylen Brown. My world felt like it was turned upside down when I read the news. How could we send a homegrown franchise cornerstone to a rival?

It took a lot of time, a lot of angry messages, a lot of sad moments scrolling through tribute videos, and a lot of free-time with my thoughts to finally settle my mind. Here’s where I’ve landed:

Eye-test, JB is a really, really special player. He cares about hooping in its purest form, and plays hard on both ends of the court. He wants to see his team succeed, and he’s willing to do the work to make that happen. He can score with the best of them, is incredibly explosive and athletic, and he can really lock someone down on defense too.

I think when people say he wants to be the definitive #1, and that he won’t be happy otherwise, they are greatly discrediting him. I think he’s very competitive, and has worked very hard to get where he’s at, so just like any competitor, he wants to be the best version of himself. I think he’s more than willing to be the best version of himself within a specific role for the sake of the team, and that gets overlooked much too often.

He does have his faults, though. He can get tunnel vision on offense, and can sometimes have poor shot selection because of his confidence in himself. He also gets lost off-ball on defense too often, even though he’s a great on-ball defender. Sometimes he feels like he needs to take over a game, whether that’s because the team is down and needs an energy shift, or if they’re blowing someone else out and he wants to cook. These can be very polarizing experiences. I’ve usually trusted him in these moments, but it wasn’t always the most popular sentiment amongst fans.

The analytics really don’t like him. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a bigger discrepancy between the eye-test and the analytics before. I tend to favor the eyes because of the success he’s had beyond the stats. I can’t lie and say how unfavorable the analytics were to him didn’t concern me, though. I also see why Boston was ready to try something new. The second apron sucks. Having two max contract players on your roster is really hard.

JB is genuinely a good dude, and I’ll die on that hill. He’s done more for Boston in 10 years than a lot of people could do in a lifetime, and that goes beyond the fact that he had the money and the means to do so. He cares. He wants to uplift his community. I’m sure he’ll still continue his philanthropic work in the city, but I would expect him to shift the majority of his focus to Philadelphia now, and they’re going to be incredibly lucky to have him.

Jaylen also cares about his individuality and his freedom. That doesn’t always jive in the sports world, especially when only one team gets to win every year, the contracts are that expensive, and every team becomes incredibly risk-averse when they see success. While he sees his streams and community outreach as authenticity, others often see it as a liability.

At this point, I think I’m mostly upset that Jaylen is in Philly. I don’t like seeing my favorite players play for rivals. I really want to root for him, and as an individual, I certainly will, but I don’t want Philly to see a crumb of success as a team.

I don’t hate Paul George. I think he’ll get a lot of unnecessary and unwarranted criticism from fans just because he was the returning player in the deal. I’m honestly a little excited to see what he can do next to Derrick and JT. I am very concerned about his health, though, and obviously the contract is ugly. It would be a lot easier to be hopeful if he was on a friendlier deal, but we’ll have to see how the front office navigates from here.

The return is what it is. I wasn’t in the rooms, so I don’t know if this was truly the best offer. Brad Stevens has proven to be pretty good in all other accounts, so I’m willing to believe that this was the best offer. I don’t think it needed to be done this quickly, but subduing the frenzy of JB trade chatter is a silver lining. I can see the flexibility it provides the team going forward. I’m not crazy about this long-term approach, but again, we’ll have to see how it plays out.

It’s gonna be really, really tough to see Jaylen in a Sixers jersey. That being said, I think I’m still going to have a lot of fun watching the Celtics next year. The team is still pretty great, although the ceiling definitely feels lower. Hopefully this opens up more opportunity for the young guys to shine. I’m willing to go into it with an open mind since I don’t want to be sad or mad anymore.

I have the utmost respect for Jaylen Brown, and he’ll be a Celtic for life. Now it’s time to turn the page to a new era of Celtics basketball. Here’s to better days ahead.

Earlier this week, it was announced that after days of trade talks, the Boston Celtics were finally able to unload 2024 Finals MVP and five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown. He is being sent to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, a 2028 first-round pick (or more favorable pick swap), an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, and two second-round picks (2028 and 2030).

George, originally drafted tenth overall in 2010 by the Indiana Pacers, has been now been traded three times.

In 2017, he was traded by the Pacers to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo. In 2019, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and the rights to swap two other first-round picks. This week, he was moved to Boston in the aforementioned trade.

That’s quite a list of impressive players. NBA Champions, two Finals MVPs, four All-Stars, a Most Improved Player, steals leader, a two-time MVP, a scoring leader, a Clutch Player of the Year…and Danilo Gallinari.

Here’s how the 1st round picks conveyed:

2021- Tre Mann (18th pick) played three seasons was eventually packaged in a trade for Gordon Hayward.

2022- Jalen Williams (12th pick), the 2025 All-Star has been a major part of the team’s success.

2023- Picks did not convey.

2024- OKC traded this to Dallas for a 2028 first round pick swap.

2025- Thomas Sorber (15th pick) has yet to suit up as he tore his ACL before during an offseason workout and missed the entire season.

2026- Aday Mara (12th pick) was drafted as a direct response to facing Victor Wembanyama.

The dividends OKC received from the trade brought the franchise their first Oklahoma-based championship and continues to reflect well. Meanwhile, the Clippers never met their potential.

The 76ers signed PG13 after his stint with the Clippers. he played in only 78 games over two seasons. Riddled with injuries and a suspension for violating the league’s drug policies, George’s time in the City of Brotherly Love was mostly ineffective.

How will 36-year-old fare in Bean Town? Only time will tell.

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Paul George doesn't mention Boston in farewell post to Philadelphia originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If Paul George is excited about going to Boston, then he’s keeping that emotion close to the vest at this point in time.

The 36-year-old nine-time All-Star posted his farewell to Philadelphia to his Instagram page on Thursday night, bidding adieu to his home for the past two seasons. The near-200-word message seemed genuine, as George clearly built a strong bond with the city of Philadelphia and its fans in a short time.

Noticeably absent from George’s message, though, was a single word about his new NBA home in Boston.

The closest George came to mentioning the Celtics came toward the end of his message, when he said, “:As I begin the next chapter of my career, I leave with nothing but gratitude, respect and memories that I’ll carry with me forever.”

Such a decision differed greatly from Jaylen Brown, who managed to work in some enthusiasm for joining the 76ers in the biggest trade of the NBA offseason.

“I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia,” Brown wrote in his social media post. “Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how — through the work.”

Brown closed his message — which was, largely, a farewell to Boston — by writing, “PHILLY #THROWTHEBALLUP LET’S GET IT!”

The reasons for George not mentioning Boston at all in his post could or could not be meaningful.

On the one hand, if George was excited to be joining a historic organization and teaming up with an All-NBA star in Jayson Tatum, one might reasonably assume he’d say as much in a post like that.

On the other hand, if George’s primary intention was to give a proper goodbye and message of thanks to the people of Philadelphia, then there would have been no need to send any message to Boston.

There’s also the reality that George, a veteran of 16 NBA seasons who’s played for four teams and has now been traded three times, understands how the NBA works. It’s possible — likely, even — that the Celtics intend to start George for every game he’s available in the 2026-27 season. It’s also possible that Brad Stevens spins another deal before training camp begins.

George has been through enough in his NBA career to know that it may be best to just let the dust settle and then have some conversations with his new bosses in Boston before getting too attached to the city and the franchise.

One of the many talking points of last offseason was Trent Noah and the shot-making ability he brought to the team through summer practices. Kentucky’s point guard at the time, Jaland Lowe, even went to the lengths of saying he was “the best shooter I’ve ever seen.”

But when it got to the season, people didn’t necessarily see it translate to actual gameplay. Noah finished the season averaging 3.0 points per game, on 36% from the field, and 33% from 3-point range for the Harlan County product.

Noah is a guy that Kentucky fans have appreciated sticking around. He wasn’t even recruited by the last set of coaches in Lexington, and then got pursued by Mark Pope as soon as he got the job two offseasons ago, flipped his commitment from South Carolina immediately, and hasn’t looked back. Noah has shown flashes at different points, including in the game against Tennessee his freshman year, when he finished with 11 points.

Heading into his third season, Kentucky fans have high hopes for Noah, hoping he can carve out a role and play significant minutes as he takes a leap. Mark Pope seems to be leading the pack of people who believe that will definitely happen.

In a recent interview with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Pope made sure to point out Noah as someone making noise in summer practices again.

“Probably the guy that’s getting talked about the least that is showing out right now is Trent Noah,” Pope stated. “He is physical, and he can really shoot it. Part of the issue last year was when we lost our point guard spot, and we lost a real creator vibe on our roster. It hurt guys like Trent, who might not manufacture a lot of shots.

“But if shots can be manufactured for him, he’s going to make them all it feels like.”

Trent Noah will now be moved to more of a shooting guard role, and it will benefit him and those around him tremendously. Kentucky certainly isn’t lacking in the wing/forward positions. Guys like Milan Momcilovic, Justin McBride, Ousmane N’Diaye, Kam Williams, and Braydon Hawthorne will all be fighting for minutes in those roles. Noah will be able to have opportunities to get shots off this year, playing in a backcourt with two elite creators and being a threat to space the floor.

Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins both did their fair share of creating for others last season. Diallo averaged 4.5 assists per game, and Wilkins averaged 4.7 assists per game. That’s not even mentioning a veteran guard in Jerone Morton, who will help with that, and the emerging freshman guard Mason Williams.

Mark Pope also said in the interview that Kentucky currently has six guys who are over 70% in all of their practice reps shooting the ball from the three-point line. Presumably, Trent Noah is one of those six guys, and he may be destined for that big-time leap we have all hoped for heading into year three.

In the 1980s, the NBA, under David Stern, moved to a more star-oriented game, and you can’t really blame him. With guys like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Michael Jordan, to name a few, it was a marketing dream. All those players, and many more, were spectacular.

So when you see the older NBA, the one that reigned until the 1970s, it’s hard to recognize.

Take this clip from the 1961 NBA All-Star Game. This game had historical talents like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and others, and it just doesn’t look the same.

Yet Chamberlain had a 50” vertical, Russell once jumped clean over a defender on a fast break, and Robertson averaged a triple-double.

The priorities were different – flashiness, aka hot-dogging, was discouraged – but you saw signs. Bob Cousy couldn’t go to his left, but his passing vision was as good as anyone in the history of the game.

Elgin Baylor was full of clever fakes and drives, aided by an involuntary twitch that he put to good used.

Still, it wasn’t the same. Tommy Heinsohn, for instance, was a heavy smoker, and that limited his minutes. No one tries to do a powerful, intimidating dunk. Russell and Chamberlain get a few here, but they just drop it in. It’s all very utilitarian.

Make no mistake, though. Despite appearances, some of these guys, if you could move them forward in time, would be world-class basketball players. Chamberlain, West, and Robertson in particular could easily succeed today.

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It is July 3, 2026. Since today is also Friday, it’s Independence Day observed so bureaucrats and government workers can enjoy their barbecues one day early.

This is also your space to chat more about what’s going on in the NBA so far. Where will LeBron James play? And more importantly, where will Russell Westbrook play?

Neemias Queta signing four-year extension with Celtics: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

As the Celtics enter into a new era without Jaylen Brown, they’ve ensured that center Neemias Queta will be a part of their future.

Queta will sign a four-year, $56 million extension to stay with the Celtics, according to Shams Charania.

The 26-year-old Portugal native was the 39th pick in the 2021 draft by the Sacramento Kings, where he spent the first two seasons of his career in a limited role.

Queta signed a two-way deal with the Celtics in 2023, appearing in 28 regular-season games and three playoff games for the Celtics in their championship season. He played in 62 games the following season, making the first six starts of his career, before becoming a full-time starter for Boston in 2025-26.

Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds (with 3.0 offensive rebounds), and 1.3 blocks per game in his 25 minutes per night last season, starting in 75 of his 76 games played. He consistently ran into foul trouble in the Celtics’ brief playoff run but averaged 9.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in his 21.7 minutes per game.

“To be honest, one of the things with Neemy was just figuring out how to keep him on the floor, right? Because he was [picking up fouls],” Brad Stevens said at his end-of-season press conference. “We had two games where he was off the floor in four minutes. So it was good to see Neemy have his best game in Game 7 and something he can really build off of.”

Queta set personal career playoff highs in points (17) and rebounds (12) in that Game 7, when he technically came off the bench but played more than 32 minutes in the Celtics’ loss to Philly.

The Celtics’ lack of depth in the frontcourt behind Queta likely contributed to the team signing Mitchell Robinson in free agency on a three-year, $47.4 million contract.

Another player from the Celtics development pipeline rewarded with a big deal. Queta thrived as a starter this season (beyond the postseason foul trouble).

Both Neemi and Mitchell Robinson will earn less than 10% of the cap when his extension kicks in. Two starter-level bigs… https://t.co/DpCWBMvgzY

— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 3, 2026

Yet Robinson has come off the bench more than he’s started over the past three years with the Knicks, so Brad Stevens likely sees the Celtics as a stronger team aroundn the rim with both Queta and Robinson in the fold for the foreseeable future.

As the dust settles on the nuclear fallout from the Jaylen Brown trade that rocked all of Celtics Nation to their core, the question on what happens next is loaded but interesting to think about. We turn our eyes to Jayson Tatum who is now the no doubt number one option for this team. Looking at the roster currently constructed with the additions of Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley, the idea of Tatum being able to lead Boston to a great season doesn’t seem so farfetched.

Tatum #1 Option History

When I think of Jayson Tatum as the number one option on the Celtics, it takes me back to when we saw him in a situation like this before. The 2020-2021 season was an odd, mediocre year for the Celtics where they finished with a record of 36-36 and the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the reason we saw Boston even in the playoffs was because of the play of a 22-year-old Jayson Tatum.

Jaylen Brown suffered a torn ligament in his left wrist in a game on April 27th, 2021 and was ruled out for the season on May 10th, 2021. He would miss the last 7 games of the regular season and the playoffs and it looked like the Celtics’ season was all but over.

However, at the same time, Jayson Tatum was in the midst of playing some of the best basketball of his entire career. From April 28th until the end of the season, Tatum averaged 31.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 49% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from three. This includes his career high for points in a game when he dropped 60 points on the San Antonio Spurs on April 30th, 2021.

In the 6 games Tatum played in without Brown in the regular season, he averaged 25.5 points 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 45% shooting from the field and 32% shooting from three with a 2-4 record. Then the inaugural Play-In Tournament began where the Celtics faced off against the Washington Wizards and Tatum would proceed to drop 50 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal on 14-32 shooting and 5-12 from three.

This gave Boston a date with the Brooklyn Nets in the first round with the three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. In what felt like an inevitable five-game series loss, the Celtics went down fighting behind Jayson Tatum who averaged 30.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on 42% shooting from the field and 39% shooting from three. This includes a Game 3 victory where he put up 50 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals on 16-30 shooting from the field and 5-11 shooting from three.

The reason I recapped the 2021 season was to highlight that at 22-years-old, Jayson Tatum was able to exceed expectations with a roster not suited for his strengths. If he was able to do that back then, what makes you think he can’t do it at 28-years-old with a skillset that has developed ten fold from 2021, talented teammates that suit his game around him, and a front office who is determined to build around him. It gives some semblance of hope in a post-Brown era of the Celtics.

George and Tatum

Despite the contract, George was still a fine player in 37 games in 2026, averaging 17.3 points on 44% shooting from the field and 39% shooting three. A 25-game suspension and injuries took up a lot of his season but in the playoffs against Boston, he played really well, averaging 17.4 points on 49% shooting from the field and 55% shooting from three.

In no way am I implying that a small sample size is going to automatically make up JB’s production, but it feels like the elite three-point shooting that George provides for this Celtics team is going to fit well. Jayson Tatum is elite when it comes to getting his teammates involved in the offense and the idea of him in the pick-and-roll kicking out to George in the corner feels like a formula we will see from Boston a lot this season.

On the defensive side of the ball George was solid, with a defensive rating of 113.6 in the regular season and he played some pretty good defense against the Celtics as well, matching up with Brown and Tatum as the primary defender. Alongside Tatum, it gives Boston another great wing defender that can create havoc along with Derrick White and the big man rotation of Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta.

In theory, there is a lot that could go right and it could be fun to watch but there is also the reality that George is 36-years-old and isn’t in his prime anymore. If the circumstances were different, George on this Celtics team would be a cool piece to have, but it won’t be seen that way this season. He will be compared to Jaylen Brown, fair or not, for this season and his entire time in Boston. However, if he can stay healthy, I see a world where his play meshes really well in Joe Mazzulla’s system and the wins make up for a little bit of the loss Brown.

2026-27 Season Predictions

If Brad Stevens and the Celtics don’t make anymore moves this summer and the roster is set going into the 2026-27 season, what should we expect from Jayson Tatum this year? In my mind, I can see Tatum having another great, all-around season like he has for the better part of his career. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up averaging close to 30 points per game this season and lead Boston to another top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference. The biggest concern is of course health.

Paul George and Mitchell Robinson have a pretty documented history of injury over the years, but with Tatum its different. He is going to be playing his first full season off of his torn Achilles and were going to see if there any long-term affects. He already had to miss Game 7 of the Celtics’ first round playoff series with an injury, who’s to say we don’t see more nagging injuries pop up over the course of the season. Boston doesn’t have a Jaylen Brown to fall back on anymore — its going to be all on Tatum.

There’s no real positive way to spin this Jaylen Brown to the 76ers. You traded a homegrown superstar who played 10 years with the organization, won a championship and Finals MVP, and came off the best season of his career for a very underwhelming package. However, there is a beacon of light at the end of the tunnel for the Celtics. Unlike Milwaukee when they traded Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston has another superstar on their team. If Jayson Tatum is still on the Celtics, they have a chance to win and its something to cling on to as we navigate through these treacherous waters ahead in franchise history.

The Brooklyn Nets have landed in Sacramento, gearing up for the California Classic with a squad of rookies, sophomores, and fringe NBA players looking to make an impression during this extended summer showcase. This means that Nets fans are dying to get their first look at Mikel Brown Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau (but mostly Mikel), as each officially signed his NBA contract on Thursday night…

Bilodeau, as previously reported, accepted a two-year contract, while the #28 overall pick, Joshua Jefferson, cannot officially sign with Brooklyn until July 6 at the earliest, when the Minnesota-Brooklyn trade is finalized. This also means Jefferson will not play in the California Classic on July 4, 5, or 6. His first Summer League opportunity will come next Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, you may want to temper expectations for the other guys as well.

“We’re not going to do anything that will put their health in danger,” said Jordi Fernández before the team headed out West. “I think that we’ve proven that over and over. We have very good medical and performance staff, and right now, I don’t envision them playing all three games, because I think it’s back-to-back-to-back.”

Indeed it is…

Fernández did not comment on any specific young Net, though Nolan Traoré isn’t on the roster because he recently had his right knee scoped (and is expected to be ready for training camp.) Meanwhile, Grant Nelson, the leading candidate for Brooklyn’s final two-way spot, is rehabbing from an offseason procedure and won’t play in either league. Ultimately, it would not be surprising if Mikel Brown Jr. does not play in Sacramento at all — or if he only plays one game — and we miss out on the potential Brown Jr. vs. Darius Acuff showdown scheduled for July 4th.

But Egor Dëmin is still looking forward to a bright and productive future next to his new backcourt mate: “I met him in the very first day, right, I was at the draft, and he seems like he’s a very good guy, you know? I think we have a pretty good connection already, and it’s going to be built up throughout the whole summer, the summer league, the California tournament, and throughout training camp.”

Dëmin was much less eager to talk about his rehabbed plantar fasciitis. When asked if that bothered him during regular-season games last season, he merely said: “I’m good now. That’s all I’m worrying about.”

The 20-year-old offered the same scripted response when asked if was still rehabbing the injury or if it was fully in the past. Alas, it is summertime in the NBA, and that means it’s #MuscleWatch. Dëmin said he’s about 13-15 pounds heavier than this time last summer thanks to living in the weight room.

Said Fernández. “They look stronger, they’ve done a great job, and not just strong where they don’t move the same way. It’s stronger and it’s efficient, and I’m sure you guys have seen [the five sophomores]. All of them have done a very, very good job, and hard work pays off, and we’re gonna see it in summer league.”

Fernández was not allowed, per NBA rules, to discuss unofficial free agent signings just yet, including Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott. However, there is one obvious question: How the heck is he going to find time for all these players?

When discussing the sophomore guards + Mikel Brown Jr., Fernández said: “Everything can happen. They’re all basketball players, they’re great playmakers, Ben is a very good defender, positional size, he can keep his chest in front of the ball. So, the good thing — the best thing — about the position that we are in right now, it’s healthy competition, and they all going to challenge each other.”

In many ways, nothing has changed since last summer, though “6400 minutes,” in reference to the amount of minutes played by rookies for the Brooklyn Nets in 2025-26 (an NBA record) has become a new talking point for GM Sean Marks and Fernández. But Brooklyn is no longer tanking. Even if they make another minor trade or two, there doesn’t seem to be plenty of real minutes for all of Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Noah Clowney, and Danny Wolf, among others. Where is the line between development and winning games?

Marks predictably danced around this question last week, saying, “I think that’s our job to figure out between the staff in Long Island, the staff in Brooklyn. I mean, I think we did a really nice job of that last year, getting them real meaningful minutes. That was the goal to begin with, was not to just develop through practice. As we all know in the NBA season, what do you have, 25 practices a year? You’re not going to get better just doing that. So, you know, going up there and testing your skills against the best, that’s important, and I think there was no downtime last year.”

One of last year’s rooks told the media on Tuesday that he’s ready for a new role. Danny Wolf said he’s been getting reps at the 5 and has been preparing for it in the weight room.

“Starting with my body getting stronger or getting quicker, getting my ankle right. And just even playing now, I’ve never felt more in control or on balance or stronger,” Wolf said. “And then with that, I’d say my finishing and my 3-point consistency. And I’m shooting the best I’ve shot it, and I feel like I’m finishing the best I’ve finished. So, just gotta keep at it. But I know I’m nowhere near where I want to be.”

With 10 extra pounds and some improvements at finishing, not his forte’ last season at all, he thinks he can do a reputable job.

“When I was in the G-League, I played center at times. Then there were times in the NBA when I was playing center too when those guys were out, and I felt comfortable in the position. I think the added strength is gonna be the biggest thing I do for five minutes at the five. But I’m gonna do whatever the coaches ask me to and just compete.”

With that, the Nets head to SacTown. The major story is Mikel Brown Jr., if we’re gonna get to see him there or if we’ll have to wait until Las Vegas. Elsewhere, we’ll be looking for Danny Wolf to school his younger opponents, Ben Saraf to hit some jumpers, Egor Dëmin to get to the rack, and Drake Powell to expand(?) his game.

Nets vs. Kings is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday evening. If you have access to one of Gotham Sports, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, Amazon Prime, or ESPN+, you should able to catch the games.

• Nets’ offseason has been both good and bad — and there’s plenty of unfinished business ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Egor Demin seeks to make quick connection with Nets’ 2026 top draft pick – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Danny Wolf ready for his shot to fill Nets’ Nic Claxton void – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets sign sharpshooting second-round pick to two-way contract – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

LeBron James potentially signing with Warriors addressed by his agent Rich Paul originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LeBron James‘ agent and friend, Rich Paul, has provided some insight into the 41-year-old’s free-agent thought process.

The Warriors are one of 10 teams Paul listed on a whiteboard while talking to host Max Kellerman on their “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast, which was published Friday.

While Paul told Kellerman he has heard from every NBA team, except for two, in addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, James’ longtime confidant alluded to the 10 teams on the whiteboard being the ones in the mix for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Those teams are, from left to right on Paul’s board: The Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Denver Nuggets, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.

As for the Warriors, Kellerman pressed Paul on “Steph + Dray” being placed on the outer edge of the whiteboard.

Paul: “You see Steph and Dray up there. Don’t forget about Steph and Dray.”

Kellerman: “Here’s what’s crazy. This tells me a lot.”

RP: “This doesn’t tell you anything.”

MK: “Either you’re playing four-dimensional chess right now or you just tipped your hand.”

RP: “No.”

MK: “I will say why.”

RP: “All I’m doing is showing you the board.”

MK: “Silence everyone. I will tell you why. Ready?

RP: “Go ahead.”

MK: “Everyone’s reporting, and I know you say ‘What do they know?’ It’s Cleveland or Golden State. Golden State was the big one. But you, of all these things, just have Golden State up in the corner. So either you’re doing that purposely to throw us off the scent or Golden State really is not as much of a front-runner as people think, or not as much in the lead as people think.”

RP: “You can think whatever you think. This is just my board. You decide what you want to think. But we know Steph and Dray are the Hall of Famers, so that’s clear.”

Kellerman then pivoted to the basketball fit with James on the Warriors, and whether the former Lakers star ever wondered what it would be like to play with Curry.

MK: “How much would he want to play with those guys before he retires? Because one of things I never understood about the criticism in Miami, I said this on CNN the day it broke and there was an old crusty writer, I’m forgetting who it was, who was so upset about it. I was like, ‘Timeout, the dude wants to go to South Beach and play basketball with some of his best friends. You got a problem with that?’ That experience must have been incredible. Him and Steph. Like, if there’s a face of the league that’s not LeBron, it has been Steph. For him to play with those guys, how important would that be to him? Like, for him, is that something for him, something that’s he’s really thought about through the years?”

RP: “I mean, the golf would be tremendous with those guys.”

MK: “What about playing basketball?”

RP: “I mean, come on, Max. What are you talking about? It’s Steph and Dray.”

MK: “Was he jealous at all when [Kevin Durant] went to Golden State and he got to play with Steph? I think about sometimes Michael Jordan said he watches LeBron and thinks about how he would have guarded him. Did LeBron ever watch them play and think ‘This is how I would play with Steph?’ “

RP: “I don’t know the answer to that but what I will say to you is, Steph and Dray, obviously you get four-time champions, like you are. You get some of the highest IQ basketball, you get a guy in Joe Lacob who, I told you this the whole time, wants to win. He wants to win, and [he’s] a great business mind at that. And so you can buy into whatever you want to buy into, but Steph and Dray … “

Paul didn’t indicate if any team is in the lead for James’ services, though he did say that if the Knicks hadn’t won the NBA championship this past season, the free-agent competition likely would be over already.

The Warriors’ entire offseason appears to be hinging on signing James. Golden State was brought back Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford, but lost Pat Spencer. Yaxel Lendeborg and Lajae Jones were added to the roster during last week’s NBA draft.

Draymond Green, James’ close friend and also Paul’s client, declined his $27.7 million player option on June 29 in an attempt to give the Warriors the financial flexibility to sign James.

No matter what James decides, Green is expected to return to the Warriors, but his contract will be determined by whether LeBron is on the payroll or not.

Based on Paul’s whiteboard, James has lots of appealing opportunities. While playing with Green and Steph Curry could be a dream ending for LeBron, there appear to be other opportunities that present a better chance to win a fifth NBA title.

The wait continues for LeBron’s Decision 4.0.

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July 3, 3:15 pm EST Update: According to New York Post reporter Stefan Bondy’s league sources, LeBron James won’t sign with the Knicks this summer.

“Don’t count on LeBron James coming to the Knicks, per multiple sources. There was a ‘check in’ but no serious discussions and a union is very unlikely. ‘Not gonna happen,’ was how one source put it.”

July 3, 9 am EST Update: LeBron James agent Rich Paul has confirmed (you be the judge) the Knicks “have checked in” on James’ interest in joining New York this summer. Paul also said that, had the Knicks not won the title, LeBron would already be setting camp in Manhattan. Rich also brought with him a board including the top landing spots for LBJ, including the Knicks in it.

“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks…. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say ‘hey man, there’s no issue with me.’ They (Knicks) have checked in.”

As we enter the fourth day of free agency, the best player available remains on the board and is mulling over his options before ultimately announcing his latest decision to the world.

Amid a LeBron James sweepstakes that points mainly toward one of three potential destinations — Golden State, Miami, and Cleveland — a couple of conflicting reports emerged on Thursday involving the New York Knicks and their level of interest in 41-year-old James.

For context, the 41-year-old announced on the verge of free agency that he would leave the Los Angeles Lakers while announcing he’d be back for a 24th season in the NBA.

James informed the Lakers he would keep playing but continue his career elsewhere, ending an eight-year run that included a 2020 championship. According to LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, James’ decision was driven by a desire to compete for a title and finding “happiness” rather than financial considerations. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Paul has received pitches from “a dozen” teams so far.

Before both Jake Fischer and SNY’s Ian Begley chimed in with the latest on the Knicks’ interest or lack of it in LeBron, it was reported that the Philadelphia 76ers have also emerged as a potential option, while teams such as the Denver Nuggets reached out to James, and the Minnesota Timberwolves also expressed interest.

Against that backdrop, Fischer reported that New York could be involved in the sweepstakes.

“The Knicks have shown some interest in LeBron James. That is the word we just got back right now.”

Fischer’s comments suggest the defending champions have at least explored the possibility of adding James, although he didn’t confirm if New York had reached out to the player or Rich Paul at the time.

Shortly after, Begley presented a different view of the Knicks’ stance, first with a post on X and then with a full story on SNY’s website.

“Every time LeBron James hits free agency, the big question around here seems to be: ‘Are the Knicks getting LeBron?’ Begley wrote. ”It happened in 2010, 2014, 2018 and again in 2026. When the most recent report (from Fischer) surfaced, I reached out to people on all sides of the situation.

“I gathered that the Knicks should not be seen as a potential destination for James. The Knicks are very happy with the core of their roster coming off the 2026 NBA title.”

The differing reports leave uncertainty around New York’s level of involvement in the James sweepstakes, which seemed to take a step forward late Thursday when ESPN’s Anthony Slater hinted at the Warriors losing ground on the race for the four-time NBA champion.

“The Warriors, meanwhile, have been given indications from James that they remain on his short list, but team sources have expressed a recent belief that they aren’t necessarily at the top of that short list, as James continues to survey the landscape.”

For now, all we know is that “there is no timetable” for James’ decision, although Charania “has a hunch” that James and Paul will give away “hints along the way here the next few days” regarding his destination of preference.

James averaged 20.9 points per game last season while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. He also contributed 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game and dragged the Lakers all by himself into the second round of the playoffs.

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.