Category: Basketball

BOSTON — Ron Harper Jr. vividly remembers what it was like to be a little kid attending basketball camps and hoping to meet an NBA player. So, on Tuesday afternoon, when he was the guest of honor at the Junior Celtics Academy, it was a full-circle moment.

The 26-year-old Celtic guard answered a litany of questions from the kids in attendance, competed in knockout games, and partook in drills.

All of it came just a few weeks after he signed his first multi-year NBA contract, a 4-year, $14 million extension that gave him his first long-term assurance he’ll be in the league.

“It was great,” Harper Jr. said. “It just felt really rewarding — a team that I have a lot of respect for, a team that I want to play for for a long time. So, for that to be able to happen in a city like this, playing for a team like the Boston Celtics, I’m honored, and I’m ready to put the work in.”

It was a long journey to get here: Harper Jr. joined the Celtics for the 2024 and 2025 training camps, and began last year on a training camp deal with Boston. He was one of five players competing for the team’s final two-way spot, a battle he ultimately won. On the Maine Celtics, he quickly established himself as one of the G-League’s best all-around players. By February, he was spending nearly all of his time with the parent club.

A February 4th game between the Celtics and the Houston Rockets served as an inflection point in Harper’s season; he started for the first time in his career, guarded Rockets star Kevin Durant, and showed himself — and the world — he belonged. It’s a game that Joe Mazzulla has pointed to as well in that it showcased Harper’s readiness and preparation.

“The first time I really played meaningful minutes was when I started in Houston, and that kind of came to be because of the Anfernee trade, and it happened all really fast,” Harper said. “But I feel like after that game where I started and I played all those minutes, and I played well, I felt like after that point I felt like I’d be a real contributor to this team and a part of bringing this team back to the championship. So, that’s something I look forward to doing next year.”

Notably, he also got a surprise start in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, something that meant a lot: “It shows that they believe in me at the highest level, with it all on the line.”

Still, he entered the offseason a free agent, uncertain about whether he’d get a long-term commitment from Boston.

But on June 27th, he officially agreed to a contract that served as the culmination of years of hard work.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity; that they believe in me, that they want me here long-term,” Harper said. “It’s just motivation to keep on getting better and keep proving them right. So that’s something I look forward to doing.”

It will be an uphill climb for rotation minutes in Boston

Ron Harper Jr. will be one of several Celtics wings competing for minutes next season, a list that includes Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Sam Hauser.

He emphasized that the healthy competition for on-court opportunities never gets in the way of the players’ support for one another.

“That’s the beautiful thing about being on the Celtics,” he said. “We all care about each other. We all want each other to succeed, no matter what it looks like. It’s a lot of guys competing for minutes, but also pushing each other to get better. So we’re just worried about being great teammates, pushing each other to get better, and going about it in the right way.”

Next year, Harper’s training camp experience will start a bit differently than it has the previous two Octobers. That’s because Jaylen Brown, who grew to be one of Harper’s mentors, will no longer be on the roster.

“Obviously sad to see him go — a guy that I’ve grown close to in my time at the Celtics across two training camps and a full season, a guy that I have a lot of respect for, and a guy that still trusted me when I was still on an Exhibit-10,” he said. “So I remember the message he’s sharing with me, the motivation he’s given me, and the advice he’s given me. And it sucks to see him go. This is a business more than anything, so I wish him luck in the future — except when he plays us.”

Though Brown is gone, Harper will get to team up with Paul George, a player whom he grew up watching on TV. He hasn’t yet crossed paths with George in Boston, but the two are already bound by the fact that Harper gave George jersey No. 13, which he wore last year. Harper will wear instead No. 8, and he said that the number swap benefited “both parties.”

“We don’t got to get into the exact details,” Harper Jr said with a smile. “About an hour after the trade, I got a phone call saying he wanted the number, so me and him were able to work it out. We’ll have some funny conversations about that for sure. But I’m happy that he’s able to get back to his number, get back to PG-13 for sure.”

In the meantime, the former Rutgers star is spending most of his summer at the facility, where he and many of his teammates are already preparing for the year ahead.

“Just the easiest place for me to work out, stay around the coaches,” Harper said. “I feel like they have a really good plan for me. So just sticking with what they got, they got prepared for me, just showing up every day. And I’ve been here, whether it’s been an optional week or mandatory week — I try to be in Boston the most as I possibly could.”

He knows the Celtics believe in him, and he’s working tirelessly to show the world why.

“They like my versatility on the offensive and defensive end, my ability to play on and off the ball, my ability to guard — so just looking forward to showcasing all those talents.”

Jaylen Brown talks transition to Sixers, adjustment to ‘different dimension' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jaylen Brown gave Sixers fans even more to celebrate in his Twitch stream on Monday evening. 

The former Celtics forward discussed his trade to Philadelphia, what he thinks of the Sixers’ roster and how he’s approaching the next chapter in his career.

What’s paramount for the 2024 Finals MVP? Winning.

“At this point in my career, I would say I want to win more than I ever have,” he said. “I’m more inspired to win than anything. I’ve been a little disrespected in this process for whatever reason.

“I want to win more than anything. So, I’m looking forward to that journey, the approach, the leadership, the sacrifice and whatever it’s going to take.”

On a team with four ball-dominant stars, there will reasonably be an adjustment period. Brown (35.1%), Embiid (33.6%), Tyrese Maxey (28.6%) and LeBron James (26.2%) were all among the top 50 players with the highest usage rates in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. 

“It’s going to take a lot of kind of feeling things out with each other, everybody getting on the same page, constant communication,” Brown said. 

He also mentioned that he’s lost roughly seven pounds this offseason in preparation for the 2026-27 season. 

“Just to be a little more fast and nimble. I’ve got to keep up with Maxey and Edgecombe and LeBron this year,” Brown said. “I feel great. I’m jumping higher and running faster.”

Playing with that group clearly excites Brown. Playing with James especially. He emphasized that he’s eager to learn from the league’s all-time scoring leader. 

“We got Bron. What an opportunity that is,” Brown said. “To have the opportunity to learn from one of if not the greatest player of all time. I get an opportunity to, on the court, off the court, learn and gather experiences that can accumulate to my own knowledge base.”

Brown referenced the story of his recent skydiving adventure in Egypt. He even revealed that he texted James, Edgecombe, Maxey and Embiid to say that, if the Sixers win the 2026-27 NBA championship, they’re all going skydiving. 

James’ response? 

“Boy, hell no.”

James wasn’t the only new teammate Brown spoke about. 

“It’s also other guys you get the opportunity to learn from. Embiid, Maxey, Edgecombe, even vets like [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope], Anfernee [Simons]. It’s a fun time.”

Simons and Brown will reunite in Philadelphia after playing together in Boston for part of the 2025-26 season. 

“When he was there, he added to winning, he played defense,” Brown said. “He did exactly what the team needed [him] to do.” 

Brown put on a Sixers jersey for the first time on the stream, sporting the team’s black Hardwood Classic Edition Uniform that throws back to Allen Iverson and the 2000-01 NBA Finals team. It’s a jersey Brown’s admired since playing against the Sixers when they wore it last year. 

He was also struck by the element of change. Brown noted that it was the first time in his 10-year career when he’s worn another team’s jersey. 

“I feel like we just jumped into an alternate timeline,” he said. “We’re in a different dimension. We’re in a parallel universe or something. Whatever universe we’re on, whatever team I’m on, my mindset is to win. So, I’m looking forward to that.” 

Brown was also surprised that Iverson was already wearing Brown’s Sixers jersey just 11 days after he was traded.

“How’d the OG get the jersey?” he asked. “I just got traded yesterday, OG already wearing the jersey.”

Brown will make his way to Philadelphia for the first time since being traded to the Sixers this week. His introductory press conference takes place Thursday at 2 p.m. ET before he’ll throw out the first pitch at the Phillies’ game against the Nationals later that evening. 

“Looking forward to that, looking forward to going to the Phillies game,” Brown said. “It’s definitely a major transition in my career, a major transition in my life.

“I’m super excited. Philadelphia, let’s get it. Throw the ball up.”

Kevin Durant’s latest attempt to praise the Philadelphia 76ers has reopened some old Golden State Warriors wounds.

Durant argued on social media that Philadelphia’s new core of LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey compares favorably with the Warriors team he joined in 2016. When a fan claimed the 76ers were not close to that historically dominant group, Durant pushed back by listing their individual accolades.

In making his case, however, Durant singled out former teammate Klay Thompson.

“Klay Thompson, never a MVP candidate in nothing, 22ppg,” Durant wrote, while contrasting Thompson’s résumé with Embiid’s MVP, Brown’s Finals MVP and Maxey’s recent All-Star selections.

Thompson, typically one of the NBA’s more laid-back personalities, took exception to being dragged into the debate. The former Warriors guard shared Durant’s comment on his Instagram Story and tagged him directly.

“Aye man u good?” Thompson wrote. “What u using my full government for??”

Draymond Green then entered the exchange with a shot referencing Durant’s history of using anonymous social-media accounts.

“Slim thought he was on his burner?” Green wrote on Threads.

The jab recalled Durant’s infamous 2017 mistake, when he defended himself in the third person from his verified account after apparently forgetting to switch profiles. It also carried added bite because of Green and Durant’s turbulent history, including their heated 2018 argument that contributed to tension during Durant’s final Warriors season.

Durant’s broader comparison is not entirely without merit. Philadelphia can field four players capable of producing at an All-Star level, including an MVP center and one of basketball’s greatest players.

The Warriors, however, had already won a championship and recorded 73 regular-season victories before Durant arrived. That group paired established chemistry with Stephen Curry’s shooting, Thompson’s two-way play and Green’s versatility before adding another MVP.

The new 76ers may possess comparable individual credentials on paper, but they have yet to play a game together. Durant’s argument will ultimately be decided on the court.

For now, it has only succeeded in uniting Thompson and Green against their former teammate.

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Chicago Bulls legend Stacey King’s cause of death has been determined.

A spokesperson for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office told the California Post on Monday that the three-time NBA champion died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease — an issue caused by long-term high blood pressure.

Obesity was a contributing factor and the manner was natural, the rep added.

King, who turned into a beloved Bulls broadcaster following his NBA career, died on June 7 at his home in River Forest, Ill., and in announcing his passing, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf called him “a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history.”

“We will miss him deeply,” Reinsdorf said, “and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor, and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts, and our fans every day.”

King joined the Bulls in 1989 after he was selected with the sixth overall pick in the draft.

Playing alongside Michael Jordan, the 6-foot-11, 230-pound power forward won rings in three of his first four seasons as a Bull.

King’s time as a player in Chicago ended in 1994 when he was traded to the Timberwolves in a deal that included Luc Longley. He went on to play in the league until 1997, logging minutes for the Heat, Mavericks and Celtics.

In retirement, he stepped into the Bulls’ broadcast booth, and quickly became a fan favorite, coining phrases like “gimme the hot sauce!” and “sriracha!”

“Stacey loved being a Bull,” Jerry Reinsdorf’s son, Michael, said in a statement at the time of his passing. “You could feel it in everything he did — the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans.

“He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.”

King was 59 years old.

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Kevin Durant is still in his feelings about his legacy on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors already won the 2015 championship, and had just blown a 3-1 lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals following a record-breaking 73-win regular season when Durant hit free agency. Durant signed with the Warriors, which was only possible through a one-time salary cap spike in addition to Stephen Curry being signed to a cheap rookie extension. Golden State would win the championship the next two seasons with Durant being named NBA Finals MVP both years, but his rings never got the respect they deserved as fans accused him of taking the easy way out.

Now 10 years later, Durant turned a question about the Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown into a defense of his decision to join the Warriors. Durant said “The last time three 20+ point scorers were together on a team, they said it was unfair.” Durant also said next season’s Sixers are better than the 2017 Warriors on paper.

As fans continued the debate in the comments section on social media, Durant chimed in again to rip his former Golden State teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Green immediately responded by saying Durant forgot he wasn’t on his burner account, which he has a long history of using to defend himself and criticize his teammates.

Thompson posted a screenshot of Durant’s Instagram comment, and asked why he used his full name to take a shot at him.

Green came over the top on Threads, and said Durant must have thought he was on his burner.

I fully believe that Draymond is right here. Durant probably thought he was on his burner when he left this comment. Would he really bash Klay and Draymond like that in public? It’s such a bad look.

Why is Durant equating prime Steph Curry with broken down Joel Embiid? Why is he compared his prime self to 42-year-old LeBron James? Why does he only care about offense? Honestly, no one is buying KD’s argument.

Durant joined a team that won a championship and had just broken the league’s all-time wins record. The Sixers haven’t reached the conference finals since 2001. I put Philly at No. 5 in my preseason power rankings, and even that felt like a little bit of an optimistic placement. When KD went to the Warriors, it felt like no other team had a chance to even compete.

Draymond then used his podcast to keep the conversation going, saying Durant thinks basketball is only about buckets.

Say what you will about KD, but the man loves getting into hoop debates online. I think that’s cool even if it often feels like he crosses the line. You can talk ball without ripping your teammates, and this has now been a problem for Durant at multiple stops. He essentially threw his Rockets teammates under the bus in a Twitter group chat last season with no real consequences. Now he’s trying to diminish the greatness of two players who helped him win the only rings of his career.

Durant is in a tough position. The Warriors won championships both before he signed with the team, and then after he left to join the Brooklyn Nets. He still hasn’t won a ring outside of Golden State, and now he’s about to enter his age-38 season. KD is still an excellent scorer, but at this point it feels more likely than not that he retires with only two championships, both with the Warriors.

Durant needs to throw his phone in the ocean, and just enjoy being a super rich, super awesome basketball player who is still performing at a high level in his late 30s. The burner accounts are ugly, and in this case, it’s even worse when you forget which account you’re using. At a certain point, the relationships become the best part of championship runs. It sure seems like KD might not have a great relationship with Draymond and Klay.

As per Chris Haynes, the Toronto-New York pipeline continues with the Raptors’ acquisition of third year centre Trey Jemison, bolstering both the Raptors’ and Raptors 905’s frontcourt. Jemison himself has seemingly confirmed this with a post on his Instagram, showcasing a Raptors’ practice jersey emblazoned with the number 50.

Jemison has played for five teams throughout his NBA career, with his most notable tenure coming as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, where he started fourteen games in the 2023-24 season. Jemison averaged about ten minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans, though his usage slipped after joining the Knicks for their championship campaign.

Jemison is a non-shooting big man capable of some rim deterrence while delivering monstrous dunks at his opponent’s basket. At 6’10, the big man has a 7’2” wingspan, and makes use of that length when getting to the rim. The lob threat potential certainly seems here, as Jemison is athletic enough to get every bit out of his giant body, and could make for a great tandem working with Scottie Barnes. The lack of a jumper is, of course, unfortunate for a team that already struggles with spacing, which is something that fans see as the central need the Raptors have to address.

In many respects, Jemison looks on paper to be the antithesis of all of the struggles the Raptors have faced with Jakob Poeltl as their starting centre. Jemison is young, athletic, and looks ready to go. Of course, he will not be slotting into that starting job, and will have to earn his chops developmentally while deep on the depth chart. The Raptors seem to believe in their abilities to develop project centres, however, and I’m excited to see what the training staff does with him throughout the upcoming season.

Why Malevy Leons can earn meaningful Warriors minutes during 2026-27 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS – Just like how waiting on LeBron James’ latest and presumably last decision in free agency affected the upcoming NBA schedule, so does the draft for the summer’s biggest showcase. 

Summer league schedules for Las Vegas aren’t made until after the NBA draft to ensure the biggest matchups can face off for our first peek into the future. Look at the first day of summer league this year as an example. 

AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson. Darius Acuff Jr. vs. Keaton Wagler. Labaron Philon Jr. vs. Ebuka Okorie. Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Morez Johnson Jr. It was all there on Day 1. 

On Day 2, Cameron Boozer vs. Caleb Wilson was the main attraction. 

The rest of summer league tries to follow suit the best it can. After two straight games against former Michigan teammates, Lendeborg’s third game in Las Vegas was all about his matchup with Boozer. 

It also was the first game Warriors coach Steve Kerr attended this summer. Kerr, sitting next to Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and new associate head coach Frank Vogel, was engaged all game watching new and familiar faces. His eyes were all over Lendeborg cranking the volume on competitiveness and taking his battle against Boozer personally. 

But the most animated Kerr got was for someone on a two-way contract, not the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Malevy Leons earned a fist pump, some happy claps and verbal praise for two very similar plays during the second quarter of an eventual blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Leons took one shot in the first quarter, missing a three. He took three shots in the second quarter, again missing a three. His two makes, however, both came off non-stop motion that finished with a cut to the basket and converting a tough layup, with the second coming on Boozer. Those are the types of plays that translate to Golden State for Leons, and bring happiness to his NBA coach. 

“I love Malevy’s cutting and his crashing,” Warriors summer league coach Khalid Robinson said after the loss. “Last game, I think he had like five or six offensive rebounds. That is who he has to be in this league: An elite crasher and cutter, and then if he has an open shot, take it and make it.”

The number of offensive rebounds that Leons engulfed the previous game was six, to be precise. 

That game was supposed to be all about Lendeborg facing another former Michigan teammate in Oklahoma City Thunder center Aday Mara, who was taken one pick after him in the draft. And it mostly was in ugly game where the Warriors won by 25 points. Lendeborg scored a game-high 14 points, and Mara had 10. 

They combined for the same amount of rebounds as Leons (11). He didn’t stop moving, and his nose for the ball sniffed out rebounds every which way. Leons grabbed five rebounds on the defensive glass and six on offense, which was one fewer than the Thunder had as a team. 

“It’s very contagious,” LJ Cryer of Leons’ rebounding after the win. “Offensive rebounds in the game are backbreakers, especially in a game where we didn’t really have it going for a little while. When the game is slow and ugly like that, it can kind of break the other team’s spirit. He’s big for us.”

Leons’ six offensive rebounds led to an extra six points for the Warriors against the Thunder, and a much bigger number of extra chances. 

Tenacity is a word Leons has to live by on the court. The possession battle is top of the pyramid in basketball, making Leons’ play style important for a variety of reasons. 

“It’s really important, because crashing is a big role in the NBA right now, and if you can do that consistently with a lot of energy it helps you when you’re trying to get a spot in the league,” Robinson said. 

The Warriors signed Leons from the Thunder’s G League system in December. He had played six NBA games previously and played 25 for the Warriors while spending 19 in Santa Cruz. The Warriors would love for Leons to at least be a threat to make wide-open 3-pointers after going 4 of 16 last season (25 percent) and 5 of 19 (26.3 percent) over the summer, but that would be getting greedy for what Golden State is going to ask of him. 

Leons can be a Minutes Eater. For the Warriors, that can be called a Star Saver. Or maybe even a Volunteer for Vets. Call it what you want, the description is the same: Provide energy and activity whenever you’re on the floor, be reliable when the vets need a rest and be trusted upon over an 82-game season to have those games saved equal meaningful basketball at the end of the season. 

At 27 years old before the regular season begins, and at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a never-ending battery, Leons fits the bill of what the Warriors need from the end of the bench on certain nights. His role doesn’t have to expand past its purpose, he just has to execute it.

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PLAYA VISTA, CA — Los Angeles will remain the place to be for NBA players during the summer moving forward.

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) unveiled a 24/7 Performance Center for the league’s players that will be made available during the season and offseason.

The NBPA stated that nearly 200 players spend part of their offseason in the area and the hub will help some of them come together during the practice and prepare for the upcoming season.

PLYRS UNTD, the commercial and fan-facing brand of the NBPA, will also attempt to coordinate runs twice a week during the offseason.

The player’s association has similar facilities like the one located at its New York headquarters and The Sanctuary, which serves as an offseason performance retreat for NBA players in Spain.

Once the Sixers officially sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, they’ll have 14 players under standard contracts. Since they’re hard-capped at the first apron, they don’t have adequate money to sign a player to the veteran minimum. They could look to sign players on prorated contracts starting in December and using 10-days in January.

All this to say, this is likely the Sixers’ roster for opening night (though they do still have one more two-way spot they can fill).

Also, to get ahead of all of this — no, Jrue Holiday is not getting bought out from the $70M~ he’s owed over the next two seasons. And I strongly doubt the Sixers would waive Jabari Walker, a Klutch client, to bring back Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played basketball in a year.

Mike Gansey will certainly keep his eyes and ears open for any trade possibilities, but chances are, these are your 2026-27 Sixers (to start the season, at least). So, hit me with your questions below about where players fit, rotation thoughts or anything else on your mind!

Former Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III is signing with the Toronto Raptors, per Chris Haynes. He will be getting the same two-way contract he had in New York.

Jemison’s career has taken him on a bunch of different roads since going undrafted in 2023 after spending time at Clemson and UAB in a long college career. He debuted with the Wizards in January 2024, but found a role on the fledgling Grizzlies down the stretch, where he averaged 7.4 points and 5,8 rebounds in 23 games.

It wasn’t enough for him to keep a roster spot the following season, splitting 38 games in 2024-25 with the Pelicans and Lakers as a depth big and bouncing around on two-way and 10-day contracts. He once again was unable to secure a standard deal when the Knicks came calling last September, but made the most of it as the fourth center on the depth chart.

He only got into 13 games and played a grand total of 82 minutes as a Knick, but found his way into the rotation on Opening Night due to injuries and stepped up at certain points in the season while holding it down in Westchester, waiting for a prolonged opportunity that never came. As a Knick, he scored a total of 13 points and 18 rebounds.

While he wasn’t allowed to play in the postseason due to his contract status, he stayed in the public sphere through his wife’s Instagram posts of the playoff run and was a big part of the ensuing parade, bringing around the NBA Cup trophy to all the fans behind the barricades. He was also, funny enough, the only non-rotation player to show up at the ESPYs.

Now he’s off to Toronto, where I’d honestly not be surprised if he played important minutes there. A center rotation of Jakob Poeltl, Colin Murray-Boyles, and Trayce Jackson-Davis might be the worst of any team who’s trying to contend.

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Social media speculation turned into unfounded internet rumor last weekend when Sports Illustrated’s John Karalis — a longtime veteran beat reporter — suggested that Brad Stevens lob a call into the Golden State Warriors to inquire about the availability of one Steph Curry.

Karalis wrote last week:

Could the Celtics get in on that?

The first thing to consider is that we don’t know what Curry’s market will be. We saw Jaylen Brown go for less than expected, and at Curry’s age, who knows how the bidding would go. He’s still incredibly effective, but the injuries tend to pile up for guys his age, especially ones who run as much as he does. 

I’ll come up with a package. It might be great. It might suck. But it’s what Boston can do right now, and where it lands on that spectrum depends on what others are offering. 

My trade package is going to be George, the picks acquired from Philadelphia, and Sam Hauser for Curry. 

It was a harmless hypothetical in the doldrums of the NBA news desert and Karalis clarified his comments after the idea caught fire, but it does raise an interesting question for Brad Stevens: how does the front office fill out the roster around Jayson Tatum as he enters his prime?

Paul George is in the max slot for now with next season guaranteed and a player option for 2027-2028. The 36-year-old probably isn’t the ideal running mate next to Tatum — the younger Jaylen Brown would make more sense in terms of basketball fit. However, if the short-term plan is to partner JT with an older veteran, who should the Celtics target?

In the twisted nature of how all the teams’ timelines are connected, Tatum’s best team-up could be all the players that have been already linked to Curry. It was rumored that to land LeBron James, the Warriors needed to deal for Anthony Davis first. That didn’t happen and James ended up with Brown in Philadelphia. Kevin Durant, of course, spent three seasons in Golden State and raised two Larry O’Briens.

And we threw in Kyrie Irving into the poll just to watch the world burn. Funny, not funny?

Vsevolod Ishchenko was the #56 pick in the NBA Draft this past June, selected by the Chicago Bulls. In rapid succession, his rights moved to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash considerations, then on to the Dallas Mavericks, also for cash considerations.

With Dallas, Ishchenko came stateside to play in the Summer League where he logged time across five games, averaging 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. With that, he also averaged 3.4 turnovers per game. His numbers – especially when considering he is a 21-year-old who joined a team of strangers in a foreign country for two weeks – were generally solid. However, the high turnover rate spoke to his adjustment to the NBA game, both in terms of size and speed. He certainly showed flashes and it’s reasonable to think he could develop into a rotation player in the future, but it is difficult to argue that he could use some more seasoning.

In respect of that seasoning, he was highly unlikely to get enough of it in Dallas this coming season. To that end, rumors now suggest he will be heading back overseas to play for Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League in Russia. “Loko” is the same team he played for up until draft night, so this is a return home for him (literally and figuratively). As a result of the move, Dallas gets to stash him overseas to get more reps and playing time than he would at the NBA level, allowing him to develop further before potentially bringing him back at some point in the future.

The Mavericks tighten up their roster a bit with the move as well, getting down to a more manageable number required for the start of the upcoming season. Of course, more moves could be on the way, but for now Dallas managed their roster without pulling the trigger on a trade.  

As you can imagine, there is not yet an overabundance of news on a transaction like this, so we will continue to keep you posted with updates as they come. For now, feel free to comment below or join the ongoing conversation in the Feed.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

It was announced that in 2028, a new WNBA franchise will reside in Cleveland, Ohio. In a live-stream unveiling on August 4th, a presentation group include Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman, it was revealed what the newest chapter of Cleveland’s part in the WNBA.

The name decided upon is the Cleveland Sirens. The name was chosen “for Lake Erie’s power and pull”.

The last time there was a WNBA franchise in Cleveland, it was under the Cleveland Rockers, who eventually were dissolved as Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund no longer wanted to house the franchise.

For those hoping the Rockers would return in the unveiling, they were at least mentioned in the press release.

“Cleveland gave the world rock and roll, then brought that sound to the WNBA stage. Now, we’re back. With a different song. A louder one.”

Grant Gilbert spoke on that when there was polling and research poured into the design and naming of the franchise that the city was proud of Lake Erie and wanted to bring that pride into something new.

Siren’s president of basketball operations, Allison Howard, went on to describe the rationale and passion the creative team and fans of women’s sports have shared in this process.

“The Siren is very powerful, unapologetic, relentless. We see it as the epitome of power and the best team name. Even from the logo you can feel the energy and thunderous passion.”

“She is ready. This (unveiling) is really a testament to the fans in this building. She has been here, just like the fans of women’s sports. She is here and she is ready to usher in a new era of women’s sports.”

It was also unveiled that the team’s motto will be “Hear the Call”. Further details, including uniforms, will be announced at a later date to be determined.

The Celtics and several other teams await the appeals process following a shocking federal court ruling this past week that could allow Class of 2022 players like Dillon Mitchell to return to college for a fifth season. St. John’s would reportedly have a roster spot and interest in Mitchell’s return, according to Adam Zagoria.

Mitchell remains unsigned, another significant factor after a recent challenge by a former NBA player who signed a contract with a team fell flat. The Celtics, who typically leave their 15th roster spot open into the season, probably intended to sign Mitchell, their second-round pick, to a two-way contract worth $678,882 this year. Conversely, name, image and likeness (NIL) deals available to a college star in New York City could reach $1-million in value. For Mitchell, that’s part of the appeal of returning to college.

The Celtics have until Sept. 5 to make a contract offer that would maintain their rights to Mitchell over the ensuing season, but that only lasts until the subsequent NBA Draft. For what it’s worth, a longer look at the NBA CBA revealed a complicated outlook for Boston maintaining Mitchell’s draft rights should he return to college. It allows for a player to enter as many as two NBA drafts, an initial and subsequent draft. The Celtics’ exclusive rights to sign Mitchell would expire with the arrival of the 2027 draft, which Mitchell could then enter.

Mitchell’s return to college differs from a traditional draft-and-stash setup, because the CBA outlines a professional contract outside of the league as the pretense for a team indefinitely maintaining a player’s rights. That’s why the Hornets and the Knicks (following a trade) maintained James Nnaji’s rights after the former second-round pick joined Barcelona before successfully returning from draft declaration to college basketball himself last summer. Mitchell’s move would more closely mirror a player who decided to sit out one season rather than sign with the team that drafted him.

Of course, Boston and Mitchell, could agree to a contract ahead of that date, and still have the ability to sign a standard contract for this season worth roughly $1.4 million, which would keep the Celtics below the luxury tax threshold. The NCAA also expressed its intention to appeal the court ruling, which could factor in Mitchell’s decision. Returning to college would not only carry that uncertainty, but also push back a year of development within an NBA organization.

Mitchell would begin his professional career in a crowded mix of wings on the Celtics’ roster including Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, recently extended Jordan Walsh, Hugo González, Ron Harper Jr. and fellow rookie Chris Cenac Jr., who could play some minutes at the four. The team also signed undrafted rookie Tucker DeVries to a training camp contract. John Tonje, the team’s standout scoring wing during Summer League, left Boston for a two-year, two-way deal with the Trail Blazers.

DeVries has already played five college seasons. Milos Uzan, another Celtics training camp signing from Vegas, could also explore his eligibility for a fifth season.

Rick Pitino and St. John’s, who have a rare open roster spot, will undoubtedly hold out hope for Mitchell’s return after a Sweet 16 run powered, in part, by his emergence as a playmaker. The Celtics can trust that he’ll remain committed to Boston in one year. They expressed some surprise and excitement that Mitchell fell to them at No. 40, Mike Zarren even revealing that Boston considered moving up to acquire him, but the constantly evolving college basketball landscape could make that acquisition too good to be true.

The NCAA filed its notice of appeal on Sunday and the court gave both parties one week to brief the issue of pausing the ruling that would allow Mitchell to return for a fifth season. The court ruling came as a result of the NCAA’s five-for-five rule, which would start a five-year clock across five seasons from the date of beginning of a player’s eligibility. A federal judge ruled that should apply retroactively to players from the Class of 2022, like Mitchell, New York’s Tyler Nickel and the Grizzlies’ Richie Saunders who did not have a fifth year of eligibility.

The Celtics have signed 14 standard roster players and have second-year center Amari Williams, Mitchell, Uzan and DeVries in play for two-way deals into training camp late next month.