Basketball News
Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
You know the drill.
This is now an open thread
It hasn’t been a linear trend towards success for this Houston Rockets rebuild.
There have been peaks and valleys. At times, it has looked like the Rockets had one of the brightest futures in the NBA. There’s been plenty of gloom and doom as well. As is often the case, the truth is likely somewhere in the middle.
All of the Rockets’ young players have shown potential. The problem is that none have emerged as a true franchise player. That leaves us all waiting for one of these young Rockets to “step up”.
According to the latest polls, you think Jabari Smith Jr. is the man for the job.
I know…I know. The poll question was not “Is Jabari Smith Jr. a franchise-caliber player”? Maybe I’ve got writer’s block, maybe every NBA writer has writer’s block during the summer until their team makes a splashy acquisition.
What you actually voted for was Smith Jr. to step up ahead of Tari Eason next year. That makes sense. Eason is a couple of years older than Smith Jr., which gives Smith Jr. a longer runway for improvement. Eason has also been generally better than Smith Jr., so the latter’s bar for “stepping up” is lower.
The question is, what does stepping up look like for Smith Jr.?
Resisting the urge to claim that you voted this way because I’d recently written a whole article about Smith Jr. stepping up.
Joking. I know I don’t have that influence. Again, writer’s block. Trying to be funny. Words.
To reiterate: There are two clear paths to improvement for Smith Jr. One is to simply improve his three-point shooting, and the other is to explore his midrange game more thoroughly.
As the roster is constructed, that midrange game might be difficult to probe. Between Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, that part of the floor is largely occupied. So, an increase in three-point efficiency (and, ideally, volume) seems like the more available path.
If Smith Jr. can take strides, the Rockets should win more games. If you happen to want to bet on how many games they might win (or anything else), head on over to FanDuel, who sponser our SB Nation Reacts polls. There are plenty of bets available that feature the Rockets.
Phoenix had already re-signed starting point guard Collin Gillespie and his backup Jordan Goodwin, now it has locked up all three of its own free agents it wanted to keep.
Center Mark Williams is returning to the Suns on a three-year, $38 million contract, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.
Williams came to Phoenix on a draft night trade a year ago and averaged 11.7 points and eight rebounds per game. He was a solid part of the rotation, and the Suns wanted to bring him back on a two-year deal, reports John Gambadoro, the well-connected long-time radio host in Phoenix.
The bet for Phoenix in this deal is that Williams stays healthy. Williams has an injury history, and while he played 60 games last season for the Suns, he never played more than 44 games in any season during his three years in Charlotte.
This gives the Suns 15 players on their roster, and they are above the first apron and about $4.7 below the second, there is little chance they are adding any salary. If a good deal came up, the Suns have non-guaranteed contracts they could waive to make a move, but this looks like the Suns' roster for next season.
One of the first dominoes of the Knicks’ offseason now has clarity.
Jose Alvarado declined his $4.5 million player option for next season, but he’s returning on a three-year deal worth over $14 million, according to ESPN.
The decision allowed him to, instead of playing on the one-year option, sign a multiyear deal that carries a lower average annual value than that $4.5 million.
That is crucial because the Knicks are operating in accordance with owner James Dolan’s wishes to stay below the second apron and have a tight budget in order to do so.
Alvarado’s deadline for the decision was originally on Monday, but he and the Knicks agreed to push it back to Friday, after the NBA draft.
He emerged as a key bench piece for the Knicks’ championship run, providing the Knicks with a true backup point guard that they lacked before his arrival.
He also added a bit of snarl and feistiness to a team that, at the time, needed it.
They acquired him — after a series of moves that started with sending away Guerschon Yabusele — just ahead of the deadline.
President Leon Rose recently praised Alvarado as one of his best under-the-radar moves in building the Knicks into champions.
“That was huge,” Rose said on the “Roommates Show” podcast, “because we did need another ball handler, we needed another person that could put it on the floor and take some of the pressure off.”
His playing time varied, but by the postseason and Finals, he was playing critical minutes.
Alvarado memorably scored eight points and drilled two 3-pointers during the Knicks’ historic comeback in their 107-106 win in Game 4 of the Finals.
Alvarado, 28, is also a local kid, having been born in Brooklyn and played high school basketball at Christ the King.
Jose Alvaradois staying with the Knicks.
The reserve guard, who was traded midseason from the New Orleans Pelicans, will decline the $4.5 million player option for the 2026-27 NBA season and will remain in New York on a multi-year deal, according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.
Begley noted that Alvarado was a key piece in helping the Knicks win their first NBA title in 53 years, and the organization has been "prioritizing his return this offseason."
The deal is reportedly for three years and at least $14 million, according to ESPN.
In his fifth season in the NBA, Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, enjoyed much success in New York while playing for the team he grew up rooting for in the city he grew up in.
"I’m Home," Alvarado posted on social media shortly after the news broke.
As the backup point guard to Jalen Brunson, Alvarado averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game and saw action in 28 contests (three starts) for the Knicks. During the team's championship run, the 27-year-old averaged just 9.4 minutes per game, but saw an increased role in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, which included a great fourth quarter in Game 4 while playing alongside Brunson and the rest of the starters.
In addition to his numbers on the stat sheet, Alvarado showed great energy on and off the bench upon joining the Knicks and played with passion and hustle on the court, specifically on defense, endearing himself to New York fans everywhere.
After his performance on the biggest stage, Alvarado, who went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, is hoping to turn that into a significant and long-term payday this offseason.
I’m Home 🧡💙🧡💙🧡
— Jose Alvarado (@AlvaradoJose15) June 26, 2026
New York Knicks point guard Jose Alvarado is here to stay at home, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
“New York guard Jose Alvarado is declining his $4.5 million player option and intends to sign a new three-year, $14-plus million deal to return to the Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Knicks made it a priority to retain the NY native who played key role on a historic championship team,” Charania tweeted.
Trading for Alvarado was one of the most important moves of New York’s season. In 28 regular-season games with the Knicks, he averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 assists per contest. He also averaged a steal per game, proving to be the menace he is on the defensive end of the floor.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown explained how important Alvarado was to the team shortly after being acquired back in February.
“He’s been good. The quickness is irreplaceable. It gives us a different look,” Brown said back in March. “He’s different in a way that kind of stands out. I don’t know what that way would be, but Jose was available.
“And I give Leon [Rose] credit, he got him. It’s helped us on both ends of the floor. … The energy on top of the quickness that he brings to the table, every time we step on the floor, is irreplaceable. At least with the guys that we had, or the guys that we have. Just different.”
Posting and Toasting community, how do you feel about Alvarado’s new deal? Chime off in the comments section below.
The Phoenix Suns officially released the schedule for their first four 2026 NBA Summer league games Friday.
The team will likely include the team’s first-round pick, Koa Peat, recent signings Sam Hoiberg and Corey Camper Jr., and 2025 draft picks Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.
Last season, the team went 2-3 in the Summer League, with Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, Fleming, and Maluach serving as the key players.
The matchups are on three different networks, with two on ESPN platforms. With multiple lottery selections after selecting Arizona guard Brayden Burries and acquiring the 13th overall pick, Nate Ament, after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, the rematch of the 2021 Finals could be an interesting one.
To advance in the Summer League, the Suns must have one of the four best records. If they do, they’ll head to the semifinals, where, with a win, they’ll play for the championship. The franchise has never won the Summer League but reached the Finals back in 2013.
After the Summer League festivities, it’ll be a few months until Suns basketball is back, but in the meantime, we’ll have you covered with game previews, recaps and analysis for their games in Vegas.
What Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy expects when Jimmy Butler returns from ACL injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Most Warriors fans wouldn’t be thrilled if you had told them before this past season that Golden State made the NBA play-in tournament, but missed the playoffs.
However, if you told them that practically all of the team’s stars missed a chunk of the season due to injury, they might change their tune a tad. Steph Curry played in just 43 games, Kristaps Porziņģis logged just 15 appearances and Jimmy Butler was limited to 38 games after tearing his ACL.
When speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Pool and Bonta Hill, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. revealed that the team doesn’t yet have a clear timetable for Butler, but they still expect him to be a productive player.
“I do think when Jimmy returns, depending on his load that he can carry the amount of minutes, I do think he’ll be a very good player based on the way he plays,” Dunleavy said. “The two best things about him are his mind and his physicality, and you don’t lose that with a hurt knee.”
Despite aging typically being viewed as a negative in sports, Dunleavy, who enjoyed a prosperous 15-year NBA career, revealed that Butler’s age (36) already has helped him adapt to no longer being a top-tier athlete.
“He’s adjusted well as he’s aged already on the athleticism front, and I think that’ll be no different,” Dunleavy told Poole and Hill. “It’s just, we got to get him back when we can.”
Before going down with the injury, Butler was averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
Luckily for the Warriors, they were able to snag a couple of productive wings in this week’s 2026 NBA Draft, landing both Michigan All-American Yaxel Lendeborg and Florida State two-way wing Lajae Jones. With Butler and Moses Moody both having to miss time due to knee injuries, the rookies might have to grow up quickly.
The Suns have re-signed center Mark Williams to a fully guaranteed three-year, $38 million deal, according to ESPN.
Williams played 60 games for the Suns this season, averaging 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 blocks.
He joined Phoenix this season after spending three years with the Hornets, where he was drafted No. 15 overall from Duke in 2022.
Despite being a starter, Williams will be the 34th-highest-paid center in the league in total value and 32nd in AAV, according to Spotrac.
This is largely because of the fully guaranteed nature of the deal, parlayed with the fact that Williams has had trouble remaining available for long stretches of his career — missing 162 games in his first four seasons in the league.
Williams has dealt with a nagging foot injury for the better part of his NBA career to this point.
It kept him out of the four-game series loss to the Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs this season.
The Suns surprised many last season with a 45-37 record and only slowed down at the end because of injuries.
The Williams deal, as well as re-signing rotation guards Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin for four- and three-year deals, respectively, show their intent to run it back in 2026-27 with a similar core.
The Suns acquired Williams from the Hornets in a draft-day trade.
He had previously been traded to the Lakers on the 2025 deadline day, but the deal was rescinded after he failed his physical in Los Angeles.
Normally, a slew of undrafted free agents sign with teams at the conclusion of the second round. Things were pretty quiet though after the 2026 NBA Draft — especially for the Sixers.
That changed slightly Friday with the team reportedly adding Vanderbilt guard Duke Miles on an Exhibit 10 deal. Adam Aaronson of Philly Voice was the first to report the news.
Miles is a 6-foot-2 guard who played last season at Vanderbilt. He’s an undersized but feisty guard in the mold of Jose Alvarado or Jamal Shead. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.5 assists and a conference-leading 2.6 steals per game. He shot 43.5% from the field and 34.8% from three. Miles enjoyed a six-year collegiate career, spending three years at Troy before stops at High Point, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. He’s an Alabama native, just like Sixers first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr.
As a reminder, an Exhibit 10 contract is basically a glorified G League deal. Miles will likely spend the summer league and training camp with the Sixers, but will be financially incentivized to spend the 2026-27 season with the Delaware Blue Coats.
The only other name we’ve seen even linked to the Sixers is Javontae Campbell, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Campbell’s alma mater, Bowling Green State, shared the news. He’s yet another undersized, defensive-minded guard at 6-foot-2.
We don’t know who else will be on the Sixers’ summer league roster, but we do know they will only be making the trek to Vegas from July 9-19. Unfortunately, the team will not be participating in the Salt Lake summer league in 2026.
HeraldCeltics announce schedule for 2026 Las Vegas Summer League
Jaylen Brown trade rumors: Celtics’ steep asking price revealed
Globe Can Jaylen Brown be like Manny Ramirez and brush off nearly being traded
Here’s the Celtics’ reported asking price for Jaylen Brown
CelticsBlogState of affairs: what’s going on with the Boston Celtics?
Making nonsense of the Jaylen Brown trade reports
What one offseason move do you want to see the Celtics make?
6 Jaylen Brown trade ideas for Celtics star with rumors swirling
SB Nation Reacts: is everything fine with the Celtics?
Celtics officially have a Summer League schedule, head coach
NBC Sports Boston Jaylen Brown rumor tracker: The latest on a potential Celtics trade
NESNCeltics Announcer Urges Team To Go After Zion Williamson In Jaylen Brown Trade
Report: Pistons ‘Conveying’ All-Star ‘Will Not Be Moved’ Amid Jaylen Brown-Jalen Duren Trade Rumors
Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Comments On Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors
Celtics Reportedly Having Majority Of Jaylen Brown Convesations With These Teams
This West Team Reportedly ‘Has Interest’ In Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Amid Rumors
Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors Tracker: Latest News on Status of Celtics Star
New Report Reveals What Celtics Asked Timberwolves For In Exchange For Jaylen Brown
Celtics Reportedly Could Do Jaylen Brown Sign-And-Trade For Star Center
Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Partying With Draymond Green In Paris Amid Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors
Reported Asking Price For Jaylen Brown Gives Celtics Fans Reason To Worry
Insider Drops Update On Jaylen Brown’s Trade Market
Celtics Reportedly Want This Massive Return For Jaylen Brown
Celtics Reportedly Interested In Poaching Top Big Man From Knicks
Another Report Points To Celtics Reunion With Fan-Favorite Big Man
Sports Radio Host Discusses Reasons Why LeBron James Should Sign With Celtics This Summer
Analyst Pushes To Trade This Celtics Player To Prioritize Size Up Front
Brad Stevens: Celtics Draft Picks Won’t Have ‘Any Expectation’ To Produce
Mass LiveNBA announces Celtics Summer League schedule
East contender emerges as new surprising option in Jaylen Brown trade talks
Celtics trade rumors: Jaylen Brown’s steep asking price revealed
Trading Jaylen Brown for anything less than a superstar would be a huge blunder for Celtics
Celtics WireEvan Turner thinks Jaylen Brown, Celtics should stay together
Report: Celtics still taking trade calls for Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics reportedly asked for Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid for Jaylen Brown trade
Report: Amile Jefferson to coach Boston Celtics in Las Vegas Summer League
Shams: Trail Blazers own draft capital to become legitimate Jaylen Brown suitor
Marcus Morris talks up former Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown amid trade rumors
NBA announces the 2026 summer league schedule for the Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard on Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown being in trade rumors
Stein: Jaylen Brown, Celtics could be trade partner for Jalen Duren
Shams: Celtics looking for at least 4 picks for Jaylen Brown
The Athletic The Bounce: Pistons, Clippers among teams facing crucial summer decisions
Jaylen Brown? Tyler Herro? Could Pistons use cap space for a big move?
Boston Sports JournalThe Bounce: Pistons, Clippers among teams facing crucial summer decisions
Hardwood Houdini Celtics linked to Jalen Duren in most recent Jaylen Brown rumor
Jamal Murray is Celtics’ best shot at achieving lofty Jaylen Brown trade goal
What the Celtics’ reported asking price for Jaylen Brown says about their plans
Fresh off Giannis trade rumors, Hugo Gonzalez is set to take center stage
Reality behind Jaylen Brown trade rumors is much different than media speculation
Chowder and ChampionsCeltics shouldn’t pull the trigger on rumored Jaylen Brown trade idea
Latest Jaylen Brown report should be music to Celtics fans’ ears
CLNS Media/YouTube Why Jaylen Brown Could STAY in Boston | Celtics Beat
Celtics have STEEP asking price for Jaylen Brown trade | Still Poddable w/ Brian Robb & Jay King
Should Celtics Bring Robert Williams Back?
Gary Washburn: Jaylen Brown Situation EMBARRASSING for Celtics | Big 3 NBA Podcast
What’s the BEST Jaylen Brown Trade Package? | Celtics Daily
Locked on Celtics Did Jaylen Brown SURPRISE Brad Stevens? Is Offseason GETTING AWAY from Celtics?
SI .comHow the Jaylen Brown Situation Got This Far Away From The Celtics Doesn’t Make Sense
Jaylen Brown Trade Destinations: Four Teams That Should Pursue Celtics Superstar
Where Do Giannis Antetokounmpo And Bam Adebayo Rank Among The NBA’s Top 10 Duos?
Jaylen Brown Trade Destinations: Four Teams That Should Pursue Celtics Superstar
Rockets Reportedly Not Interested in Celtics’ Jaylen Brown
Ex-WVU F Tucker DeVries Goes Undrafted, Signs Deal with Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics
NESN/YouTubeCan Celtics Win With Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown?
WEEI/YouTubeOverestimating Jaylen Brown’s value? | Rich & Ken with Ted Johnson
It sounds like Jaylen Brown is shooting his way out of Boston 🤯 | Jones & Keefe
New York PostTwo teams emerging as Jaylen Brown trade rumors swirl
The Sporting NewsSpurs trade proposal for Jaylen Brown includes two players who played a major impact in NBA Finals
Spurs get Jaylen Brown trade update straight from Celtics’ Brad Stevens
Why the Knicks are likely to part ways with Mitchell Robinson despite NBA title
ESPN2026 NBA draft grades: Winners, losers for all 30 teams
Could the Rockets be the best fit for Jaylen Brown?
Stephen A.: Jaylen Brown to Pistons ‘would be something special’
CBS Sports/YouTube Ranking the Top 40 NBA Free Agents | What’s next for Lebron, Harden, Duren, & More
Where do the Celtics stand with Jaylen Brown after losing out on Giannis?
Daily KnicksKnicks have literally sent Celtics into a state of all-out panic
Nugg LoveDoor cracks open for Nuggets to call Celtics after Timberwolves LaMelo Ball trade
The Big LeadJaylen Brown next team odds: Where will Celtics star play in 2026 amid trade rumors?
WMTW-TV/YouTube Celtics guard Payton Pritchard reacts to Jaylen Brown trade rumors
Yahoo SportsWhy are the new candidates for Jaylen Brown such a secret?
Hoops RumorsTrade Rumors: Brown, Ball, LeBron, Morant, Pistons, Herro
HeavyRockets Linked to Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Amid Trade Drama: Report
New Jaylen Brown Trade Report Shifts Celtics Offseason Rumors
Jaylen Brown Trade Proposal With Blazers Lands Celtics 2 Veterans, Picks
Unexpected Suitor Emerges in Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Trade Talks
Celtics Trade Proposal Flips Jaylen Brown for All-Star Center, 3-and-D Wing
The Sports HubIntriguing new team emerges in Jaylen Brown trade rumors
The Celtics are setting a very high asking price for a Jaylen Brown trade
Bleacher ReportNBA Insiders Dish on Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors, Celtics’ Asking Price After Failed Giannis Pursuit
Yardbarker Jaylen Brown has taken a firm stance about his Celtics future
Why the Celtics have to keep Jaylen Brown at this point
HITCWarriors free agent Draymond Green partying with Celtics’ Jayson Tatum in Paris during offseason
BasketNewsPistons path to landing Jaylen Brown has been revealed
NBC Sports Boston/YouTubeWhy it’s time for Brad Stevens to get more involved in Joe Mazzulla’s coaching philosophy
Hoops HabitThe Celtics have to make this obvious decision with Jaylen Brown
Essentially Sports“Get Mad at Brad Stevens”: Stephen A. Smith’s Ex-Colleague Delivers Harsh Reality Check to Jaylen Brown
Celtics Looking to Move On From Jaylen Brown as Jayson Tatum Remains Silent, Per Reports
The Celtics ChronicleMaking Sense Of The Rumor Mill
Fan Recap Celtics May Have Found The Big Man Fix They Cannot Miss
The Lead Did Boston Celtics Address Frontcourt Needs by Taking Chris Cenac Jr.?
Hoops WireNBA Rumors: Celtics, Jaylen Brown, Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Pistons
Clutch PointsCeltics rumors: Brian Windhorst flat-out declares Jaylen Brown will be traded
Dunking with Wolves Timberwolves made the right choice trading for LaMelo Ball instead of Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics/YouTube DRAFT REACTION: Selection of Chris Cenac Jr. Feels a Lot Like Drafting Robert Williams III in 2018
NikNBA/YouTube I See Why the Celtics Swung For Chris Cenac : Film Session
King James GospelBlockbuster Evan Mobley trade to Celtics would break the NBA and the Cavaliers
The Daily Ho0sier Former IU basketball forward Tucker DeVries signs undrafted NBA deal with Boston
Houston ChronicleUH point guard Milos Uzan lands with Boston Celtics and former teammate Chris Cenac Jr.
ESPN/YouTubeWhere will Jaylen Brown end up?! Shams Charania weighs in 👀 | Get Up
Wiz of Awes The Wizards have a golden opportunity to pair AJ Dybantsa up with Jaylen Brown
Piston PoweredStalled Jalen Duren talks fuel Jaylen Brown pipe dream and expose Pistons’ thinking
Cameron Boozer’s girlfriend has no doubt the forward is going to be received well in his next big career step.
Yva Lauren Cao gave fans and followers an inside look into Boozer’s NBA draft night, in which he walked away as a member of the Grizzlies after being the No. 3 overall pick out of Duke.
“Memphis, you’re going to love him,” she captioned the Instagram post, featuring various photos of the couple throughout the night.
Cao wore a stunning lowback orange dress as she posed for photos with Boozer, who was in a white suit and often seen wearing his team’s hat, which had rhinestones on it.
The University of Miami cheerleader shared a picture of the couple hugging as Boozer’s name was called and one of the two holding hands while leaving the event and again posed together at an after party location.
Cao also shared a photo of her and Boozer in front of his new locker and new No. 27 jersey in Memphis on Friday.
“Memphis just gained the best there is!!” she wrote in an Instagram story of Boozer at the draft. “So proud of you and beyond grateful to watch your dreams become reality.
“Your talent is undeniable, but who you are is what makes me proudest. I love you endlessly. This is only the beginning. Here we gooo.”
The couple has been together since high school as they both grew up in Miami, Fla.
They started dating in August 2023 and attended several proms together before they both moved onto college in 2025.
As Cao chose Miami and Boozer took his career to Duke, the two sparked a sports rivalry and both established early success.
Cao went on to cheer at the national championship football game against Indiana in January while Boozer made his name known in the college game and beyond as he averaged a double-double per game (22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds) in his only season at Duke.
Cao was also seen to support her Blue Devil at various games, and Duke went as far as the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before a 73-72 loss to UConn.
Boozer will be tasked with making an immediate impact on the Grizzlies, who are coming off of a tough 25-57 season.
The life of an NBA role player is one of uncertainty.
Every year could be in a different city. You’re fighting for guaranteed contracts every offseason. It’s more a matter of survival than finding a true home.
Some of these players evolve to the point of being not easily replaceable, allowing them to worry more about team fit and overall salary than survival. Those players are the ones with solid bench roles, but not the guys who are big franchise pieces.
I don’t know if Landry Shamet has reached that second part, but he’s certainly evolved past the first, which is where he was to start 2025-26. A guy who didn’t have a guaranteed contract in the preseason for consecutive seasons, who’s already suited up for six teams in seven seasons, and someone who’s only sizable contract saw him bought out midway through, has reached the mountaintop.
And the cherry on top? He did it as a key contributor, joining the likes of “Big Shot” Robert Horry, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, and more as a role player who stepped up big time and put his name in the history books for an NBA champion.
Shamet was born on March, 13, 1997, in Kansas City, Missouri, to a single mother, a former Division I volleyball player at Boise State. He didn’t meet his father until he was 24, so his uncle took on an important role in his upbringing, marred by financial instability. His family lost their apartment when he was in middle school after going bankrupt.
He went to Park Hill High School, where he became one of the best players in the state of Missouri. As a three-star recruit, he held offers from multiple Big Ten programs, but decided to stay close to home at Wichita State, enrolling there in 2015.
Shamet figured to be a big part of the Shockers’ plans in 2015-16 as a true freshman alongside Fred VanVleet and OAKAAK Ron Baker in the backcourt, but sustained a season-ending foot injury in his first career start against Division II Emporia State in November. When he returned the following year, he was thrust into the starting lineup, where he led a balanced Wichita State team to the NCAA Tournament.
After a season in which he was All-MVC First-Team and MVC Rookie of the Year, he took another step forward as a redshirt sophomore in 2017-18, leading the conference in three-point percentage and assists as the leading scorer on a 25-8 team. Despite two years of eligibility remaining, he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, where he snuck into the first round, being picked No. 26 by the Philadelphia 76ers.
He wouldn’t even last an entire season in Philly. Despite showing flashes, including a 29-point outburst in January 2019, he was used as a small piece in the Tobias Harris trade, being sent to the Clippers with two firsts and two seconds for the one-time all-star that would become one of the most hated men in the city.
In Los Angeles, Shamet would start 23 of the remaining 25 games, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. He again played well the following season, splitting time as a starter and sixth man while being one of the best shooters on a team that was now built around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. His performance in Game 3 against the Mavericks in the bubble was a big reason they got out of the first round.
But that would be his final few games as a Clipper. He was traded to Brooklyn that offseason in a three-team deal that landed Luke Kennard and four seconds in L.A.
While it would be his third team in three years, Shamet was on yet another winner and another team that was a title contender in 2020-21. He had another typical year, averaging nine points a game on 38% from downtown, but didn’t have an impact in the playoffs and couldn’t step up after injuries to Kyrie Irving and James Harden damaged their hopes of getting past the eventual champion Bucks. That offseason, he was flipped to Phoenix for Jevon Carter and the No. 29 pick.
Four teams in four years. Despite showing himself as a valuable role player, that’s still extremely concerning. He inked a four-year, $43 million extension before the season, which seemingly gave him stability. His two years there were solid, but slightly down due to a reduction in role.
Aside from Game 3 against Denver in 2023, he didn’t produce much in the playoffs, and recurring foot injuries limited him to 40 games in the regular season. Just one year into his four-year pact, he was dealt to the lowly Wizards in the Bradley Beal trade, being left to the fishes and exiled into NBA irrelevance.
As many do, he struggled after going from perennially making the second round of the playoffs to the worst organization in basketball. The 2023-24 season was miserable for him, as he shot a career low from behind the arc, struggled with more foot injuries, and was an afterthought late in the year for a Wizards team focused on development.
Just like that, he was waived in July and spent months on the free agent market. Less than two years after being a valuable role player for a perennial playoff team and making $10 million a year, he was on the cut line. Dozens of players are stuck in that limbo every year, barely sneaking onto NBA rosters or being forced to continue their careers overseas. That’s where Shamet was in the summer of 2024.
But circumstances brought him to New York. He was brought in during September to compete for a roster spot with guys like Chuma Okeke and Marcus Morris Sr., but got a life raft when the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster went through ahead of training camp, prompting Morris to be waived for space. When he was offered to re-sign after the trade went through, he said no, so with that and the loss of Donte DiVincenzo, a role existed for a player of his archetype.
Tom Thibodeau was a fan and planned for him to get minutes in the Opening Night rotation in Boston, but a devastating dislocated shoulder in the penultimate preseason game threw a wrench in the team’s plan and one in Shamet’s career.
He was released because of the team’s limited second-apron space and his non-guaranteed contract. Once again, his NBA career was in serious jeopardy.
But the Knicks believed in him more than it looked. They fully intended on bringing Shamet back when he recovered, going as far as to pick him in the G-League draft to keep him in-house during his rehab. It all culminated in him being re-signed in late December and making his Knicks debut on December 23, 2024.
He struggled early after the long layoff, but fully shook off the rust as the team got closer to the postseason. His shooting slump with the Wizards was an aberration. He had two games of making at least six threes in April. He was ready for his triumphant return to playoff basketball.
And then, he was just removed from the rotation. Cam Payne’s electric Game 1 against the Pistons necessitated more minutes for him, and Shamet’s poor play early in the series led to him being fully benched in Game 4, the rest of the Detroit series, and the entire Boston series. Thibs ran a tight ship, and with every game being a full-blown war, he had no time to deal with the bench.
Until the Knicks went down 0-2 to Indiana, that is. For the first time all season, true desperation was settling in. Needing a spark. Thibodeau inserted Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup and unleashed Shamet and Delon Wright off the bench to add defensive intensity.
At least in the short term, it worked. Both added a needed spark to make a huge Game 3 comeback, and the team won their minutes in the first three games they played, but Indiana just simply had too many answers for what the Knicks could throw at them, ending their season in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite a solid season, Shamet once again had a limited market when he re-entered free agency. He once again entered September without a contract, holding out hope that he would be able to stay in New York if he were to continue his NBA career.
Well, the offer came, and he once again was in a battle for the final roster spot. Malcolm Brogdon and Garrison Matthews stood in his way, and unlike last year, he was not the perceived frontrunner to make the roster.
Until Brogdon retired at the end of the preseason. While Mike Brown was always a big fan of Shamet, the needs of the roster likely had him on the outside looking in. For a guy who’s gotten some bad luck over the years, it was some good fortune shining on him.
Unlike last season, he had a big role on the bench right away, stepping up to make some big performances when guys went in and out of the lineup.
There’d be more adversity on the way before he got there, though. Yet another shoulder injury brought about fears of a similar injury to last year, which could’ve led to Shamet’s release.
Fortunately for him and the Knicks, it was a sprain, not a dislocation. He was back soon enough and continued to make big plays throughout a season where he played the most, shot the best, and scored the most in a half-decade.
But his story didn’t end in the regular season this time. This time, he was going to put his name in the history books.
He was out of the rotation after the first few games against Atlanta due to more early-series struggles, but all he could do was stay ready. When his time came, he didn’t let it go to waste.
Re-inserted in the rotation against Philly, it was his tremendous second quarter in Game 3 that flipped a sure Sixers win to a Knicks party in the City of Brotherly Love. His hot shooting bled over into Game 4, where he and Deuce McBride buried a franchise that gave up on him in less than a year.
Against Cleveland, he hit three titanic threes down the stretch in Game 1, being the catalyst along with Jalen Brunson for the 22-point comeback. His game-tying three that rolled around the rim felt like redemption from the Haliburton shot and gave the team the feeling of a team of destiny. His name echoed through the Garden and through the streets of New York.
What he did against Cleveland was otherworldly. He went an unfathomable 11-for-12 from three in four games and was a plus-53. If it were a seven-game series, there’s a chance he’d get consideration for Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his standout performance.
He played huge roles in the first two games of the NBA Finals, making six threes and averaging 31 minutes a game, but he finally went cold afterwards. The Knicks were able to manage his minutes quality deteriorating and closed things out in five games. Shamet finished the postseason 26-for-50 from downtown.
A lifetime of instability, setbacks, and unfortunate timing led him to this moment. At times, it looked like he just wasn’t meant for this. At times, it looked like he had to settle with a fine, brief career as a role player, somebody whose legacy would be defined by dudes in bars 15 years from now saying “Remember that guy?”
Well, now nobody in New York will ever forget his name.
–
(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
Mikel Brown Jr. talked about a lot of things after he was selected by the Brooklyn Nets at No. 6 in the NBA Draft on Wednesday. And in talking with NetsDaily, he spoke as well as what’s important to him, faith and family as well as his Puerto Rican roots.
“Faith definitively plays a big role. I mean, that’s where I come from,” the 20-year-old from Orlando told ND, noting that it’s part of his being Puerto Rican on his mother’s side. “You know actually representing my Puerto Rican heritage, They are big in their faith.”
Brown surprised and wowed a lot of Nets fans of Puerto Rican heritage on Draft Night when he showed off the inner lining of his suit to fellow Puerto Rican, Brooklynite and NBA champion Jose Alvarado. It was a tribute to that heritage…
About 600,000 residents of the city have connections to the commonwealth, about 140,000 in Brooklyn alone.
Brown also discussed his family with NetsDaily:
“I’m just so blessed to be in this position right now and also for my family as well. this is not a one-man thing,” he said when asked about family. “It’s also me and my family as well. You know they supported me through every decision. They made so many sacrifices for me and I can’t thank them enough.”
It was a big night for Brown of course, but he seemed prepared for it all…
In his comments to ND, he also noted how proud he is to be in Brooklyn…
“You know just the past. The legends that come from this city,” he said when asked about what he’s looking forward to. “They take pride from people when you hear someone say they’re from Brooklyn. They take pride in it. To be able to represent and you want to come in and have the same mentality. It’s not just about you. It means the world.”
The Detroit Pistons' ongoing negotiations with Jalen Duren have hit a snag, according to a report.
The team and Duren, who is a restricted free agent, are far apart on contract talks, and Duren's camp is now planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios when free agency opens June 30, according to The Athletic. Duren, 22, is coming off of a breakout All-NBA season. But his next deal likely will fall short of the maximum the Pistons can offer – five years and $287 million – following an underwhelming postseason performance.
Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting for a 60-win Pistons team that lost in the second round. He earned All-NBA third team honors, qualifying him for a contract worth up to $287 million that starts at 30% of the salary cap with 8% raises.
But the "higher max criteria" only applies to the Pistons – outside teams are capped to a maximum deal starting at up to 25% of the cap with 5% raises over four years, which comes out to $177.4 million total.
Because outside teams need cap space to make a realistic offer sheet for Duren, a sign-and-trade would open more pathways for Duren to land with a new team. But Pistons still hold the upper hand in negotiations, since they can match any offer sheet or simply decline to agree to a trade. Duren's only other pathway, in that situation, would be picking up his qualifying offer for the 2026-27 to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
They repeatedly have signaled that Duren is a priority and core player they wish to build around, even after his numbers dropped across the board through 14 postseason games, averaging 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 51.4% shooting.
"I want him here, that’s where I’m at with JD," team president Trajan Langdon said on June 18. "We really want JD to be here."
Despite Duren's desire to look elsewhere for a bigger contract, it appears nothing has changed for the Pistons. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday after Duren's decision to seek other offers that "the Detroit Pistons are conveying that Jalen Duren will not be moved and are solely focused on coming to terms on an agreement."
Ultimately, the ball is in the Pistons' court. They can match any offer from an outside team and even if Duren is signed-and-traded, he'd be capped to four years and $177.4 million with an opposing team.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons star C Jalen Duren to explore sign-and-trade offers, per report