Tyrese Haliburton had scored nine points before being forced out against the Oklahoma City Thunder [Getty Images]
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will miss the 2025-26 NBA season after having surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon.
The 25-year-old had sustained the injury during the first quarter of the decisive game seven of the NBA Championship play-off finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder last month.
Haliburton fell down without any contact as he attempted to drive to the basket and was in obvious distress as he was helped from the court during the game that the Pacers lost 103-91 to end their hopes of a first NBA title.
Confirming the point guard's lengthy absence, Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said he hoped Haliburton "will be back better than ever".
"The surgery went well," Pritchard told WISH-TV.
"He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardise that now. So don't get any hopes up that he will play."
A two-time All-Star, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 73 games during the 24-25 regular season and 14 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds during the NBA Finals.
He had played the decider against the Thunder despite suffering a calf strain in game five of the finals.
Haliburton became the third high-profile player to suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon in the play-offs, following the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and the Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard.
A similar injury had also kept Kevin Durant out for a full season when he was hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors.
The Sixers started Mintz, Hood-Schifino, Justin Edwards, Johni Broome and Adem Bona.
Hood-Schifino had a much stronger, more self-assured start than in the Sixers’ loss Saturday to the Jazz. The 22-year-old guard made his first three shots, including a confident top-of-the-key three-pointer.
Though Hood-Schifino’s overall shooting numbers were subpar in his 13-game Sixers stint last year — 37.1 percent from the floor, 30.4 percent from three-point range — he did have a couple of nights that hinted at potential to handle the ball and knock down pull-up jumpers in the NBA.
In terms of passing, Hood-Schifino’s decision-making was uneven. He threw a couple of cross-court passes into trouble and wound up with two assists and six turnovers.
Hood-Schifino’s backcourt mate had a nice night, too. Mintz again hustled defensively, drew fouls savvily and got to his spots in the mid-range.
Broome’s final stat line wasn’t sparkling — six points on 2-for-7 shooting, four rebounds, two steals — but his outside shooting was a positive for the Sixers. The lefty big man canned an early corner three and is 4 for 9 beyond the arc so far this summer.
While he’s already established himself as a rotation-quality NBA player, Edwards has not yet shined at summer league.
As was the case Saturday, Edwards had a cold, somewhat shaky start offensively. He posted 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting, six rebounds, five assists and five turnovers.
Of course, there’s no need for concern with Edwards. It’s been two games and he may very well be the kind of player who’s much better with greater talent and structure around him.
Fouls aplenty
There were tons of fouls and missed jump shots on both sides. Smooth offense was sparse and overzealous defense was everywhere you looked.
OKC shot 32 for 38 at the foul line in the 40-minute game. The Sixers went 23 for 34.
Bona’s been whistled for 14 fouls over the Sixers’ first two summer games. Jalen Slawson picked up six fouls Monday in 18 minutes off the bench.
After missing the Sixers’ summer league opener with an ankle sprain, rookie Hunter Sallis played on the second unit and had three points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. All of his points came on free throws.
The Sixers started Mintz, Hood-Schifino, Justin Edwards, Johni Broome and Adem Bona.
Hood-Schifino had a much stronger, more self-assured start than in the Sixers’ loss Saturday to the Jazz. The 22-year-old guard made his first three shots, including a confident top-of-the-key three-pointer.
Though Hood-Schifino’s overall shooting numbers were subpar in his 13-game Sixers stint last year — 37.1 percent from the floor, 30.4 percent from three-point range — he did have a couple of nights that hinted at potential to handle the ball and knock down pull-up jumpers in the NBA.
In terms of passing, Hood-Schifino’s decision-making was uneven. He threw a couple of cross-court passes into trouble and wound up with two assists and six turnovers.
Hood-Schifino’s backcourt mate had a nice night, too. Mintz again hustled defensively, drew fouls savvily and got to his spots in the mid-range.
Broome’s final stat line wasn’t sparkling — six points on 2-for-7 shooting, four rebounds, two steals — but his outside shooting was a positive for the Sixers. The lefty big man canned an early corner three and is 4 for 9 beyond the arc so far this summer.
While he’s already established himself as a rotation-quality NBA player, Edwards has not yet shined at summer league.
As was the case Saturday, Edwards had a cold, somewhat shaky start offensively. He posted 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting, six rebounds, five assists and five turnovers.
Of course, there’s no need for concern with Edwards. It’s been two games and he may very well be the kind of player who’s much better with greater talent and structure around him.
Fouls aplenty
There were tons of fouls and missed jump shots on both sides. Smooth offense was sparse and overzealous defense was everywhere you looked.
OKC shot 32 for 38 at the foul line in the 40-minute game. The Sixers went 23 for 34.
Bona’s been whistled for 14 fouls over the Sixers’ first two summer games. Jalen Slawson picked up six fouls Monday in 18 minutes off the bench.
After missing the Sixers’ summer league opener with an ankle sprain, rookie Hunter Sallis played on the second unit and had three points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. All of his points came on free throws.
It has been a while since the Boston Celtics entered a season as an underdog in the Eastern Conference, but that’s exactly what they are heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
The Celtics parted ways with multiple key players from their 2024 NBA championship core this offseason to shed salary and get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Jrue Holiday (trade), Kristaps Porzingis (trade), and Luke Kornet (free agency) will don new uniforms next season, and Al Horford is likely to either follow suit or retire.
In addition, the Celtics will be without their superstar Jayson Tatum while he recovers from a ruptured Achilles. That will leave Jaylen Brown and Derrick White as the leaders of a new-look Boston team that will have to lean more than usual on its complementary pieces.
Although some consider 2025-26 to be a bridge year for the C’s, NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg and Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor are entering the new season with optimism. They preached positivity while sharing their bold predictions for the Celtics’ upcoming campaign during the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season.
Forsberg: Celtics will remain competitive in the Eastern Conference
“I think at Christmas, the Boston Celtics will be a top-four team in the Eastern Conference,” Forsberg said. “I don’t know what happens from there. You’re one Jaylen Brown twisted ankle, one bad hamstring for Derrick White away from things being very difficult to stay up there. When you’re without your superstar, the margin for error gets just all that much slimmer. But I still think the Celtics are gonna just outkick expectations. We’re all gonna sit here and go, ‘Whoa, wait, I thought this was a gap year. I thought this was a soft tank. What’s happening?’
“They might ultimately crawl back a little bit, but they’re just too good for everyone to sit here and be all, the Celtics are just gonna be like an eight seed or a play-in or in the lottery. Again, that might happen based on circumstances and injuries, but I really believe that this team, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard are healthy, they’re gonna be so much better than people expect them to be, and it’s gonna be a fun year.”
O’Connor: Payton Pritchard will look like an All-Star
“My bold prediction is that you’re gonna see Payton Pritchard put up borderline All-Star numbers,” O’Connor said. “If you look at his numbers last year with Tatum off the floor, he averaged 22 (points), six (rebounds), and five (assists) per 75 possessions in minutes without Jayson Tatum. I think Pritchard has shown so much with the opportunities given that this undoubtedly will be fun. It’s going to be a fun year, and it’s gonna create opportunities for guys to grow.”
O’Connor also sees Derrick White as a candidate to take another step forward with Tatum out.
“Maybe Derrick White takes a little bit of a leap,” he said. “This is a guy who’s gotten better every single season of his entire career, especially since he got to Boston. Maybe more pick and rolls, more on-ball stuff leads to Derrick White having an All-Star caliber season, and undoubtedly Payton Pritchard will put up bigger numbers, arguably borderline All-Star type numbers depending on his usage.”
Watch the full episode of The Off C’Season featuring O’Connor, Forsberg, and Drew Carter below:
The Boston Celtics have made significant progress toward getting under the second apron of the luxury tax this offseason, but president of basketball operations Brad Stevens still has work to do.
With $208.5 million currently committed in salary for the 2025-26 season, the Celtics are still just under $1 million over the second apron. They already cut costs by trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, but they would need to make additional noteworthy moves to get under the first apron ($195.9 million) or out of the luxury tax entirely ($187.9 million).
Anfernee Simons, acquired from Portland in the Holiday deal, is set to make $27.7 million in 2025-26 on an expiring contract. Simons, Sam Hauser ($10 million), and Georges Niang ($8.2 million) stand out as potential trade candidates if Stevens looks to shed more salary.
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If Stevens is looking for a trade partner, he should give old friends Danny and Austin Ainge a call. The former Celtics executives now run the Utah Jazz, who shed payroll and created a $26.6 million traded player exception (TPE) in Monday’s three-team deal with the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat. A TPE allows a team to acquire a player via trade even if it pushes them over the salary cap.
“I wonder if Brad Stevens, his savior here getting under the second apron, could be Austin and Danny Ainge,” O’Connor said. “Because they made a three-way deal today which cuts more salary for them, gives them more cap flexibility.
“They can open space if necessary, they have a big traded player exception now. I wonder if maybe Utah could be a team that’s absorbing Anfernee Simons (into the TPE) or absorbing Sam Hauser, giving something back in return.”
Along with their financial situation, the Celtics’ uneven roster suggests more moves are coming. Their frontcourt is thin following the departures of Kristaps Porzingis (trade) and Luke Kornet (free agency). Trading Simons, Hauser, and/or Niang could give the C’s financial flexibility while bringing a much-needed big man into the fold.
This isn't a surprise, but the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard made it official on Monday.
Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season for the Indiana Pacers, Pritchard said.
Haliburton tore his Achilles minutes into Game 7 of the NBA Finals, a heartbreaking end to his season and a magical Pacers run. With advances in surgical techniques and recovery protocols for Achilles surgery, some players have been able to return to play after nine months. If he pushed for that timeline, it would optimistically have Haliburton back with a few weeks left in the season. Pritchard and the Pacers would rather get their star point guard, who just led them to the NBA Finals, fully healthy, than regroup for the 2026-27 season.
Haliburton averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists a game last season as the driver of the Pacers' up-tempo offense. In the playoffs, he averaged 17.3 points and 8.6 assists a game, shooting 34% from beyond the arc, and orchestrating a free-flowing Pacers offense that even the elite Oklahoma City defense had trouble controlling. To be successful, the Pacers need Haliburton to return to playing at that elite level, rather than trying to find his conditioning and timing after a long layoff. Indiana is right to take the pressure off next season and think about the long term with Haliburton.
In that same press conference, Pritchard said the Pacers intend to re-sign center James Wiseman as a reserve center. A year ago, the Pacers signed Wiseman to a two-year contract, then he tore his Achilles in the first game of the regular season. At the deadline, Indiana traded him to Toronto, which waived him. The Pacers can re-sign him to a minimum deal, and Wiseman should be healthy for the start of the season. He would play behind Jay Huff, whom the Pacers traded for this offseason to be a stretch five now that Myles Turner is in Milwaukee.
The Knicks kick off NBA Summer League play later this week.
On Monday, the team released the 17-player squad they'll be taking to the showcase in Las Vegas.
Some of the top young talent they'll have on display comes from last year's draft class, as first-round pick Pacome Dadiet, and second-rounder's Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti will all be in attendance.
Kevin McCullar Jr., who was injured for most of his rookie campaign, will also participate.
While new head coach Mike Brown won't be behind the bench, all four players will be looking to make a positive impression with hopes of carving out more of a role during their sophomore season.
This year's second-round pick, Mohamed Diawara, is also on the roster.
Diawara is a 20-year-old big man who averaged 5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in France last year.
New York kicks off their action on Friday at 6 p.m. against the Detroit Pistons.
Here's a look at the rest of the roster that'll be coached by Jordan Brink:
He struggled with a right hip injury for much of last season. The Villanova product appeared in just 35 games, averaged 18.8 minutes and posted 3.9 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds per contest.
Lowry missed most of February and all of March but returned for two games at the tail end of the Sixers’ 24-58 season.
“It’s always fun to play basketball,” he said on April 1 after a loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “Listen, we’re privileged and we’re honored to play the game of basketball. I love this game at the highest level. It’s provided for me and my family, my friends with everything that I could ask for.
“So I wanted to try to go out there and play, and just have fun. You don’t know how long this game is going to last for each individual, so just go out there and enjoy the process. Just enjoy being out there and in the game.”
The Sixers have two very experienced guards on their roster in Lowry and 36-year-old Eric Gordon. Everyone else is much younger, including VJ Edgecombe (19), Jared McCain (21), two-way contract player Hunter Sallis (22) and Tyrese Maxey (24).
Kyle Lowry’s giving it another go with the Sixers.
The team announced Monday that it has re-signed the 39-year-old point guard. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Lowry’s contract is a one-year-deal.
Lowry said at his April 13 exit interview that he planned to play one more NBA season and hoped it would be with his hometown Sixers.
“Kyle’s championship experience and Hall-of-Fame resume speaks for itself,” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in a team press release. “He is a proven floor general with tremendous knowledge of the game that is a resource to everyone in the organization. It’s only fitting that his 20th NBA season will be right here in Philadelphia, the city he calls home.”
Lowry struggled with a right hip injury for much of last season. The Villanova product appeared in just 35 games, averaged 18.8 minutes and posted 3.9 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds per contest.
Lowry missed most of February and all of March but returned for two games at the tail end of the Sixers’ 24-58 season.
“It’s always fun to play basketball,” he said on April 1 after a loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “Listen, we’re privileged and we’re honored to play the game of basketball. I love this game at the highest level. It’s provided for me and my family, my friends with everything that I could ask for.
“So I wanted to try to go out there and play, and just have fun. You don’t know how long this game is going to last for each individual, so just go out there and enjoy the process. Just enjoy being out there and in the game.”
The Sixers have two very experienced guards on their roster in Lowry and 36-year-old Eric Gordon. Everyone else is much younger, including VJ Edgecombe (19), Jared McCain (21), two-way contract player Hunter Sallis (22) and Tyrese Maxey (24).
The Kings officially have their point guard for the 2025-26 NBA season.
Sacramento acquired Dennis Schröder — and a 2029 second-round pick — in a sign-and-trade deal with the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a protected 2026 second-round pick, the Kings announced Monday.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported last Tuesday, citing league sources, that Schröder’s contract with Sacramento is worth $45 million over three seasons.
Schröder ending up in California’s capital city never appeared to be in doubt. He excitedly reacted to the new partnership in an X post on July 1, the second day of the 2025 NBA free-agent negotiating period, and discussed his new home during a Twitch stream the following day.
Alas, there were no failed physicals or financial hiccups — Schröder’s arrival in Sacramento now is absolute.
The sign-and-trade also officially excluded the involvement of Kings fan-favorite Malik Monk, whom NBA insider Jake Fischer reported last week to be a possible trade chip exchanged for Schröder, citing a league source. It appears, for now, that first-year Sacramento general manager Scott Perry is content with keeping much of the Kings roster he inherited, including Monk, the same as it was during a disappointing playoff-less 2024-25 campaign.
Perhaps Schröder, though, is the facilitator Sacramento has missed since trading longtime Kings guard De’Aaron Fox in a multi-team deal that brought Zach LaVine to Northern California.
Schröder, entering his 13th NBA season with a ninth different organization, is coming off a 2024-25 season in which he averaged 13.1 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds; that’s not bad at all, considering he was traded twice. Schröder even was averaging career highs in points (18.4) and assists (6.6) for the Brooklyn Nets before being traded the first time in 2024-25, to the Warriors.
The Kings gladly will take anything close to that level of production from Schröder. And, ideally for both parties, remaining committed to each other — as Monday’s official deal reflects — will net the best results.
“I heard the city of Sacramento is pretty nice,” Schröder said on his Twitch stream. “Warm weather, so we’re going to be straight. Heard there’s a family affair over there. Three years. Three big years. Shout out to the Sacramento Kings, man. I appreciate it. That’s big time.”
Both Sacramento and Schröder still are working for their first Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Get your Kleenex because it’s about to get emotional.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sent a message to Kevon Looney via the team’s ‘X’ account, expressing his gratitude to the big man after the center’s signing with the New Orleans Pelicans became official.
“Just want to say thank you,” Kerr started as he stood in front of greenery recording his farewell message to Looney. “This is a tough one. Ten years, it’s just been an amazing experience for me to coach you.
“Just your professionalism, your dignity, your class, the way you handled yourself, the way you mentor your young teammates and, of course, the championship contributions you made year after year.”
Looney spent 10 seasons with Golden State, playing in 599 regular-season games and 89 postseason contests with the team that selected him No. 30 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
The 29-year-old’s NBA career didn’t begin as planned, however, as he was limited to just five games his rookie season due to having surgery on both hips.
However, Looney made sure to change his narrative. He was able to play all 82 games for the 2021-22 season which earned him the nickname “Iron Man Loon.” He’d go on to play over 200 consecutive regular-season games for the team.
The former UCLA Bruin was a key cog with the Warriors in that 2021-22 season, playing more than 21 minutes per game and averaging over six points and seven rebounds per game, as they marched to their fourth NBA championship of the decade – Looney’s third as a member of the team.
The only active players with 3+ championships:
LeBron James Steph Curry Draymond Green Klay Thompson
“We can’t thank you enough, I can’t thank you enough,” Kerr added. “Thrilled for you for your opportunity in New Orleans but, wow, we are gonna miss you. So thank you for everything you have done for me, for our staff for The Bay. You are the absolute best, Loon.”
The Boston Celtics lost more than just frontcourt depth with Luke Kornet’s departure in free agency. They also lost one of their biggest personalities.
Kornet’s comical interviews and one-of-a-kind celebrations made him a fan favorite in Boston, and judging by his introductory press conference with the Spurs, he’s off to a hot start in San Antonio.
According to Nate Ryan of KENS 5, Kornet told reporters he chose to wear No. 7 because he “hoped to be a third of the player” Spurs legend Tim Duncan (No. 21) was, and because he “loves multiples and factors.”
Newest #Spurs big man Luke Kornet cracks that he chose #7 because he wants to be a third of the player Tim Duncan was.
Spurs fans can count on many more incredible Kornet quotes where that came from over the next four years.
That said, Kornet is more than just an eccentric personality. The soon-to-be 30-year-old developed into a rock-solid backup big man over his last two seasons with the Celtics. He’s coming off a career season in which he averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game off of Boston’s bench.
Kornet will serve as 7-foot-3 phenom Victor Wembanyama’s backup in San Antonio. He’ll be counted on to upgrade a Spurs defense that struggled without Wembanyama on the court last season.
Most of the top NBA free agents have already signed new contracts, but one notable name still shows up on the “best available” list.
That’s Al Horford.
The Boston Celtics center is an unrestricted free agent after completing a two-year, $19.5 million contract. What’s the latest update on Horford’s status?
Here’s what The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach reported Monday:
“Horford’s future remains unclear. A league source said Monday that Horford is taking his time while assessing offers from multiple teams but added that the 39-year-old is considering retirement, too.”
The veteran center would be a good fit in Golden State with his versatility defensively and ability to stretch the floor as a quality 3-point shooter. Horford made 40.9 percent of his 3-pointers over the last three seasons combined.
The Warriors lost longtime center Kevon Looney in free agency, so they need depth in the frontcourt.
The Celtics also have a lack of depth in the frontcourt. They have already lost centers Kristaps Porzingis (trade) and Luke Kornet (free agency) this offseason. If Horford doesn’t return, the C’s might have to start Xavier Tillman Sr. or Neemias Queta at center next season.
Horford spent the last four seasons in Boston — he also played for the Celtics from 2016-17 through 2018-19 — and played a key role in the franchise winning Banner 18 by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.
Maybe it's not a home-run trade that vaults the Heat into contention, but this trade is at least a double down the line (that might stretch into a triple) because Powell's skill set is what's called for in Miami. The Heat needed to add more shooting and some shot creation on the wing. Enter Powell, who will start at the two and averaged 21.8 points a game for the Clippers last season, shooting 41.8% from beyond the arc, and he was a borderline All-Star. He can play off the ball (a 62% eFG% last season on spot-ups), he runs the floor and is excellent at offense early in the clock, and he can attack closeouts and be a secondary shot creator. Also, Powell is a plus defender on the other end of the court. He was a Clippers fan favorite and the Heat picked him up for two guys not in the heart of their rotation in Love and Anderson.
For the Clippers, part of this is financial (as Michael Scotto of Hoopshype notes). Powell is entering the final year of his contract at $20.5 million, and he has earned an extension. The Clippers want to keep their books clean starting in 2027 (when James Harden's and Kawhi Leonard's contracts are up) and didn't want to pay the years Powell rightfully seeks. Collins is in the final year of his contract as well, making $26.6 million this season.
With this trade, the Clippers have assembled a potentially threatening front line, with Kawhi Leonard now at the three and the lob threat that is Collins at the four, followed by Ivica Zubac at center. Collins averaged 19 points and 8.2 assists per game last season and can score inside (62% of his shot attempts last season came from within 10 feet), but can also space the floor, shooting 39.9% from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per game. As long as James Harden and Leonard stay largely healthy this season, the Clippers' offense is going to make them a dangerous team (they won 50 games a season ago, the same number as the Lakers and Nuggets). Their defense may well be their undoing, they will miss Powell on the perimeter.
The Clippers still have their $5.1 million bi-annual exception to utilize and still need guard depth (hello Bradley Beal after a buyout?).
At first glance, this appears to be an underwhelming return for Utah for a key trade asset in Collins (although it's about what Atlanta received when it traded him). Utah does create a massive trade exception, and it will likely waive Love or flip him in another trade. Anderson likely sticks around as a veteran mentor on a young team, and the rebuilding Jazz get a pick.
