Boston Celtics (1-0) vs Charlotte Hornets  (1-1)
Sunday, July 12, 2026
5:00 PM ET
Summer League Game #2 
TV:  NBCSB, ESPN2
Cox Pavilion

The Hornets are the defending Summer League champs. Their first game in Summer League was against the Orlando Magic who eliminated them in a Play In game this season. They beat the Magic 86-74 in that game. They played a second game on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans, which they lost 95-91. The Celtics had a day off while the Hornets are playing in back to back games.

Even though their #4 draft pick from last season, Kon Knueppel, isn’t playing in this year’s Summer League, they still have plenty of experience on their team. They have 5 players with 1 year of experience. They have 1 player, Tidjane Salaun, with 2 years experience. And, they have i player, Terrell Brown, Jr, who has 4 years experience in the G-League. They also have 8 Rookies listed. The Celtics have 13 rookies listed with 2 players with 1 year NBA experience and 1 player, Alondes Williams, with 3 years experience with Brooklyn, Miami, Detroit and Washington.

The Celtics are coached by Amile Jefferson. Jefferson was named Director of Player Development for the Duke Blue Devils in 2021. He was promoted to assistant coach at Duke for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, Jefferson became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Jefferson played with Jayson Tatum at Duke and he played for the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract before being hired as an assistant coach.

Blaine Mueller is the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets Summer League team. Mueller has prior experience coaching in the G League with the Maine Celtics. He was an assistant at Middletown HS from 2013-2016. He was an assistant at Lindenwood University from 2016-2018. He was an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2018-2023. He coached the Maine Celtics for the 2023-24 season. He has been an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets from 2024-present.

Celtics Summer League Roster
Mohammad Amini #54 R
Chris Cenac, Jr #12  R
Tucker DeVries  #41 R
Hugo Gonzalez #28  1
Caleb Grill #37  R
Curtis Jones #26 R
Kyle Mangas #43  R
Dillon Mitchell #20 R
Hank Morgan #51  R
Nick Pringle #40  R
Day Day  Thomas  #38  R
John Tonje #8  R
Milos Uzan #29  R
Chauncey Wiggins #50  R
Alondes Williams #46   3
Amari Williams #77 1

Head Coach
Amile Jefferson

Starters vs Toronto
Curtis Jones
John Tonje
Hugo Gonzalez
Dillon Mitchell
Amari Williams

The Celtics struggled on offense for much of the game, shooting just 15.6% from the field and 12.5% from beyond the arc. rallied in the 2nd half, shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.2% from beyond the arc.  The Raptors weren’t much better, shooting 33% from the field and 20.9% from beyond the arc for the game and much of that is due to the Celtics defense. 

The Celtics held their own on the boards with 51 rebounds to 52 for the Raptors.  10 different players saw action in this game for the Celtics, with Hugo (37), Amari (30), Milos Uzan (30), Chris Cenac (29), Dillon Mitchell (26) and John Tonje (26) getting the most minutes.   Amini, DeVries, Grill, Pringle, Thomas, and Wiggins all received DNP’s.  My guess is that we will see the same starters with possibly a change at PG but that the players who sat out that game will play in this game. 

Celtics Players to Watch

Hugo Gonzalez – Celtics fans will be watching for a big Summer League showing from Gonzalez.  Hugo was the 28th pick in last year’s draft.  In last year’s Summer League,  he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.  He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season.  His +11.9 rating was the highest for any rookie that played at least 100 minutes. Against the Raptors, he finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal.  He shot just 18.8% from the field and 11.1% from beyond the arc but he showed off the motor and athleticism that have made him a Celtics fan favorite. 

Chris Cenac, Jr – Cenac was the 27th pick in this year’s draft.  He is 19 years old and was a highly recruited center going into his one season at Houston.  He averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds  in college, while shooting 48%  from the field, 33% from beyond the arc and 62% from the line.  He has a combination of size and athleticism that makes him a very intriguing player. He finished Friday’s game with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 blocks while shooting 38.5% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. 

John Tonje  – Tonje came to the Celtics as a 2-way player from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade at last year’s deadline.  At the end of last season, his contract was converted to a standard contract.  His option wasn’t picked up this season but the Celtics have two 2-way spots and a spot on the parent team to fill.  On Friday, he finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 42.9% from the field anf 55.6% from beyond the arc.  When most of his teammates were struggling on offense,  Tonje kept them in the game with some key threes. 

Amari Williams – Amari was the 46th pick in last year’s draft.  He spent most of last season on a 2-way deal but was converted to a standard contract at the end of last season.  He averaged 1.4 points, and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes with Boston last year.  He averaged 15.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 blocks with Maine last season.  He has already been signed to a 2-way contract for this season.  He was great against the Raptors, finishing with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks while shooting 77.8% from the field with no 3’s.   

Charlotte Hornets Roster
Sion James #4 1 year
Christian Anderson #5  R
Michael Ajayi  #10  R
Ryan Kalkbrenner #11  1 year
Terrell Brown, Jr   #12   4 years
Wyatt Fricks  #17   R
Kylan Boswell #18   R
Max Mackinnon  #20   R
Hannes Steinbach  #22  R
Cameron Matthews  #25  1 year
Tidjane Salaun   31   2 years
Liam McNeeley  #33  1 year
Latrell Wrightsell, Jr   #35  R 
Josiah Allick  #53  1 year

Head Coach
Blaine Mueller

The Hornets are already playing their 3rd game in Summer League.  They beat the Orlando Magic 86-74 on opening night on Thursday..  They then lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 95-91 on Saturday.  They are playing in the second of back to back games in this one.  They started the same 5 of Christian Anderson, Sion James, Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaun, and Ryan Kalkbrenner in both games so far.  The Hornets 4th pick from last season, Kon Kneuppel, isn’t playing in Summer League. 

Hornets Players to Watch

Liam McNeeley – McNeeley, a UConn standout, made a strong Summer League debut showing scoring, rebounding, and playmaking skills.  He was the 29th pick in last year’s draft.  He averaged 4.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game in his first season with the Hornets.  He averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1 steal per game over the Hornets’ first 2 Summer League games. 

Tidjane Salaun – Salaun was the 6th pick in the 2024 draft and has played 2 years for the Hornets.  Last season, he averaged 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field and 43.4% from beyond the arc.   In the first 2 Summer League games he averaged 10.5 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 steal per game. 

Hannes Steinbach – Steinbach  was the 14th pick in this year’s draft.  He is a German basketball player who played college basketball for the Washington Huskies.   In his year at Washington he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 57.7% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc.  In his first 2 Summer League games, he averaged 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.5 blocks per game.

Ryan Kalkbrenner – Kalkbrenner was the 34th pick in last year’s draft.  In his first season with the Hornets, he averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 75.3% from the field.  In his first 2 games in Summer League, he averaged 8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game. 

One of the Lakers’ big weaknesses last year was their bench production.

During the regular season, LA’s reserves scored just 29.3 points per game, the second-worst mark in the NBA. Things didn’t get much better in the playoffs. The backups scored 21.6 points per game, which was bottom-four in the postseason.

It should be no surprise, then, that the Lakers moved quickly to bring in Collin Sexton, who was officially announced on Sunday, to bolster their bench this season.

Last season, Sexton averaged 15.4 points and shot 48.5% from the field and 40.1% from the 3-point line. He did that as a backup for both the Hornets and Bulls and the hope is that he can replicate that with the Lakers.

Sexton’s first-step burst is what separates him from the pack. He can drive on anyone and, thanks to his agility, he can contort his body near the basket to score in the paint even against the most physical defenders.

In a league that’s increasingly becoming about being able to catch and shoot, Sexton is a great balance of new and old-school.

Sexton had 183 catch-and-shoot attempts and converted on 43.7%. For context, these numbers would’ve made Sexton fourth-highest on the Lakers in catch-and-shoot attempts. His shooting percentage on these attempts would’ve been second-best on the roster for those who took at least 150 shots.

At the rim, he had a whopping 204 attempts and made 64.7% of his baskets. The only guard on the Lakers who took more attempts at the rim last year was Luka Dončić at 255. And on the bench, no backcourt player was able to get to the rim better than Sexton. Luke Kennard had just 59 shots at the rim, and Marcus Smart took 61.

He also took 232 field-goal attempts with zero dribbles, but he also attempted 194 shots on 3-6 dribbles and a whopping 150 with seven-plus dribbles.

Sexton was most efficient when he took 3-6 dribbles, making 50.5% of those shots.

His comfort with the ball makes him a great option to run the offense behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. And on the nights one of them is unavailable, he can be slotted in the starting lineup.

Sexton isn’t just a scorer. He can also distribute the ball well. Last year, he averaged 3.3 assists per game. If he replicates his scoring and assist numbers from last year, he’d be the best backup guard they’ve had since Dennis Schröder.

Right now, though, the Lakers just need him to replace Kennard, which is still a tall order.

Kennard was an elite 3-point shooter for the Lakers during the regular season. In the opening round against the Rockets, he had some great performances. He scored 27 points in the team’s Game 1 win and 23 points in Game 2’s victory. Without his play, an argument can be made that the Lakers wouldn’t have beaten the Rockets.

Sexton has demonstrated he can shoot near Kennard’s level. He’s a career 38.9% 3-point shooter and has three seasons where he converted over 40% from deep, including last season.

The Lakers weren’t looking for a like-for-like replacement for Kennard. Instead, they brought in a player in Sexton who can do just enough of the things that made Kennard a great addition to the team midseason while also providing other elements to the bench that, hopefully, see the team take a step forward.

This is an opportunity for Sexton to flourish. Now on a winning team with title aspirations, he can show what he can really do and produce at a higher level.

The Lakers are banking on it, and if he accomplishes that, the bench can become a strength rather than a weakness.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Longtime coach Frank Vogel agrees to join Steve Kerr's Warriors staff, per Shams originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have finally added a former Laker.

Well, probably not the one that Golden State fans were hoping for, at least not yet. As the NBA world sits and waits for 21-time All-NBA selection LeBron James to decide where he will play next season, Steve Kerr and the Warriors reportedly added his former head coach to the staff.

Former Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel is set to join the Golden State staff as an associate head coach, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, citing sources.

While Vogel is as well-traveled as any coach in the NBA, he is best known as the head coach of the 2019-20 Lakers, who won the NBA Finals. However, even coaching the team to a title wasn’t enough to prevent his eventual firing two seasons later.

Across his 12 seasons as a head coach, Vogel has compiled a 480-422 record. He spent this past NBA season as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks on Jason Kidd’s staff.

Although he brings another coach with experience, the big question surrounding this hiring is whether or not this helps or hurts the Warriors’ chances of landing James.

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Gonzaga basketball suffered an unexpected loss from its starting lineup ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Starting point guard Mario Saint-Supéry officially signed with Valencia, a Spanish club in EuroLeague, on Saturday, July 11. The move leaves the Bulldogs without an established point guard next season, and they can't get an experienced replacement with the transfer portal closed.

REQUIRED READING: Nikola Kusturica, potential No. 1 pick in 2028, signs with UCLA basketball

The All-WCC freshman team honoree averaged 8.6 points with 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season on 41% shooting as a true freshman, starting 17 of Gonzaga's 35 games. He's reportedly signing a four-year deal with the club.

"Zag nation, thanks for everything," he wrote on Instagram.

It's the second tough break for the program this offseason, as fellow European guard Jack Kayil was drafted in the second round by the Houston Rockets and subsequently traded to the New York Knicks after initially committing to Gonzaga.

👑 El principito hará del @RoigArena su nuevo palacio 😎🧡

Cas 👉 @M_SaintSupery, talento nacional para Valencia Baskethttps://t.co/RelGjy0Esj

Val 👉 Mario Saint-Supéry, talent nacional per a Valencia Baskethttps://t.co/qVZnfFA2if

Eng 👉 Mario Saint-Supéry, a Spanish… pic.twitter.com/1fC4PUWTLZ

— Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) July 11, 2026

It's unclear why Saint-Supéry is leaving, although it's a return home for the former Liga ACB guard. He previously played for Málaga, a Liga ACB club like Valencia, his new team.

Gonzaga returns 6-foot-10 forward Braden Huff, who averaged 17.8 points with 5.6 rebounds per game this season, and replaced leading scorer Graham Ike with highly touted Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop. It'll have to rely on projected backups in its backcourt, though, which could change the dynamic for a team expected to be in the national conversation next season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gonzaga basketball loses starting point guard Mario Saint-Supery to EuroLeague club

It looks like the Knicks are so good that they have the worst Summerteam.

Conversely, the Spurs are doomed as they reached the Finals but then beat the SummerKnicks by 21 in Las Vegas. Not good news for San Antonio.

Anyway, here’s the latest to cap the weekend from Sin City.

TJ Saint

On Tyler Nickel’s shooting, defense and preparation:

“He’s been shooting all right. His defense has actually been impressive in the camp. When we were in the airport the other day, I went over to talk to him, and he was studying our playbook, so I already like where he’s at, getting ahead of the game.”

On his first impressions of Jack Kayil:

“Really liked him. Started watching him on film after the draft. Thought he could get in the paint. Thought he had a quick burst.”

Jack Kayil

On not wanting to go back overseas:

“My goal is to play in the NBA. That’s why I went into the draft.”

On whether he will remain with the Knicks or return to Europe:

“It’s not my decision, so I’m just trying to show myself in the best way, and it is what it is. I’m super happy I also got drafted, and we’ll see what happens in the next days, weeks, whatever.”

On the reported contractual issues with Alba Berlin delaying his Summer League debut:

“There were things going on that I don’t want to get into.”

On adjusting from basketball in Germany to the NBA Summer League:

“It’s difficult to say [what the differences are from the German league]. It’s only one game. For me, it still feels like basketball, and [I] try to play the right way. And everywhere, it’s kind of the same. It’s obviously different players to play against and a different kind of speed and everything. But I’m used to different systems, so it wasn’t difficult to adapt to that. So for me, it wasn’t that big of a difference.”

Jose Alvarado

On looking up to his father:

“I just looked up to my dad… I saw somebody that I really love struggle and still work hard every day and continue to grind it out.”

Jose Alvarado Sr.

On the championship gear his son gave him:

“He gave me his whole uniform, his jersey, shorts, sneakers, headband, the champion shirt… He said, ‘Pa, hold this. It’s wet, but put it on.’”

On watching his son win a championship with the Knicks:

“He’s from New York and to win in New York with his team, it was just amazing.”

On keeping his son away from trouble while growing up:

“Williamsburg now, it’s not the same, but when I was growing up, it was drug-infested, gang-infested, a lot of killing. So I was trying to keep him out of the streets.”

On traveling from Brooklyn to Staten Island for his son’s football games:

“I came out of work at 1:30 p.m., got home at 3, got on the bus to the R train, and then back on a bus to go over the bridge, and then walk from Hylan Boulevard.”

On getting his son into Christ the King’s basketball camp:

“I said, ‘Yeah, how much is it?’ He goes, ‘It’s about $225 a week.’ I said, ‘Alright, I’ll take a week.’ When I went to pick him up for the last day, Coach Joe Arbitello came to me and was like, ‘Can we keep him here for another two weeks?’ I said, ‘As long as it’s free.’ He said, ‘I’ll take care of it.’”

On taking his son to Knicks games at Madison Square Garden:

“When I had enough money to take him to the games [at MSG] … we were sitting all the way on top … And I remember him saying, ‘I can’t wait to be one of these players,’ and I said, ‘You just got to work hard.’”

On the sacrifices required to support his son’s AAU career:

“I used to hope at times they lost. I was like, ‘I gotta go to work tomorrow. I can’t drive at 12 o’clock at night and get to work at 4 in the morning.’ The first person that came to me was Georgetown. And then, after that, it just started flooding. Then, one day, Coach Pastner [of Georgia Tech] came by and rang my bell.”

On supporting his son during his career at Georgia Tech:

“So I supported him through the TV. I texted him before the game, after. I was his hype man.”

On his son’s reaction to being traded from New Orleans to New York:

“He had mixed emotions, because he loved the Pelicans; he’s a loyal kid.”

On why he believed the Knicks would win Game 5:

“He got traded on the fifth. His daughter’s birthday is on the fifth. He’s representing the five boroughs. We live on the fifth floor.”

On his son’s new contract with the Knicks:

“He can take care of his family forever now.”

On Patrick Ewing joking with him:

“He sits right next to me, and he looks at me and goes, ‘Who you with?’ I said, ‘With Alvarado.’ He goes, ‘Who?’ I said, ‘GTA 5, the small guy on the team.’ He goes, ‘I’m only messing with you man, I love that kid.’”

On seeing children react to his son at the championship parade:

“They were like, ‘Don’t touch my hat, he signed it!’ That’s when I was like, ‘This kid could change people’s lives.’ It was beautiful.”

Austin Reaves

On the Knicks’ chemistry and selflessness leading them to the title:

“They care for one another. They play for one another.”

On Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges:

“I got to know some of those guys when I played with the USA team—with Mikal, Josh and JB. Great dudes. You couldn’t ask for better humans. I think that shows on the basketball court. They care for one another. They play for one another. And that’s, like you said, something you want to build.”

The Summer Celtics don’t have a traditional point guard on the roster, a position usually relied upon to generate a little upheaval on opposing offenses.

The blueprint of the re-built Celtics is a series of concentric circles. In the middle are the offensive engines of Boston’s offense with Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Paul George, and Derrick White being the most likely leading scorers in that order. The next level outside that core is your margin-control support staff. Think Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta — players tasked to not make mistakes and accentuate the best players.

The larger circle represents your ceiling raisers, a group of hellraisers that could swing games all season. That’s Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Mitchell Robinson. For a team focused on limiting turnovers and controlling the boards, that trio of banshees flip the script on opponents, trying to force turnovers and generate extra possessions with offensive rebounds.

And out in Las Vegas for the next week, the Celtics are developing their next group of game changers and energy shifters.

When you’re picking on the backend of the draft, the available pool can be a bit of an island of misfit toys. There are those more polished players like Scheierman and to some extent, Amari Williams. Those 4-5 years in college have rounded out their games. But there are also those diamonds in the rough, one-and-dones and transfer portal frequenters that never found their place that may have some glaring flaws, but also show some clear portable NBA skills.

In the 2026 NBA Draft, the Celtics front office identified two players that could potentially be part of that outer circle crew, Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell.

“He’s awesome. He’s just a live body, you know? And as he gets used to the pace, and I think [takes] his shape, and just getting out there more, he’s going to be a really good player,” Summer League coach Amile Jefferson said of Cenac Jr.’s modest debut.

“He can just do so many things on the court. You saw him put the ball on the floor. You saw him shoot the three. You saw him screen. His rebounding is incredible, and so for us, I think he can have an immediate impact.”

The #27 pick finished with a strong double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds, with four blocks and the game-tying three in regulation.

Mitchell didn’t fill up the box score like his fellow rookie, but his four stocks (two steals and two blocks) are indicative of what his contributions could look like early in his Celtics career.

“He’s probably the loudest voice we have right now. He talks nonstop — on defense, on offense, in huddles — and that’s huge for a young guy,” Jefferson told Celtics.com’s Marc D’Amico.

“The speed of the game… he already gets it. He’s able to slow things down on both ends, which is rare for a rookie. Everyone sees the athleticism, but his mind is what really stands out. That’s what’s going to let him impact the offense even when he’s not shooting.”

At one point in the win over the Raptors, Cenac Jr. attempted a putback over Mitchell that ended with a missed dunk and both players splayed across the Cox Pavillion floor. It was an insane display of athleticism and reckless abandon. Pure chaos.

Back in 2007 when Danny Ainge put together the Big Three, Boston was able to retain some of their core in Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, and Kendrick Perkins. All were late first round picks in the 20’s and all contributed to raising Banner 17. Maybe this is a bit of getting drunk on small sample Summer League showings and a fever dream of what could be by training camp in September then a two-week run in the December dog days of the NBA season then a spark off the bench in June and July, but what might have been a mirage on draft night is quickly crystalizing as a real vision for the two rookies.

Seth Lundy dropped a game-high 23 points with a streaky 6-9 shooting from beyond the arc to propel the Toronto Raptors past the Houston Rockets for their first win of the 2026 NBA Summer League, 102-89, at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jamarion Sharp made his presence felt after scoring 17 points on perfect field goal efficiency and nabbing a game-high seven boards to accompany his scoring. Meanwhile, Chuck Hepburn dished out eight assists, with a couple of them on crucial plays. Tyreke Key also provided a spark off the bench, adding 19 points in 18 minutes of playing time. 

The two teams started the game going back and forth with five lead changes in the opening frame. It wasn’t until late in the second period that the momentum started to swing towards the Raptors, as they pounced on the Rockets with successive buckets.

Allen Graves found Lundy rising to the wing for a catch-and-shoot three-pointer, igniting the Raptors’ run as they took a 41-37 lead. AJ Hoggard then fed a couple of successive dimes to Hepburn and Graves as they extended the lead to 45-39.

Key drove for a layup before Lundy buried another triple, piling on the lead in the quarter’s closing minutes. Toronto built a comfortable 11-point cushion heading into the third period as Key sank a free throw, 52-41.

The third quarter saw the Raptors’ lead balloon to 18, but the Rockets took their best shots and responded with their own. The Rockets unloaded three straight triples to trim the deficit into single digits, with Bruce Thornton either assisting or scoring on those three shots. The period ended with Toronto holding a 79-69 advantage.    

The Raptors struck early in the final frame as Nimari Burnett took charge with two dimes and a cutting dunk to stretch the lead to double digits once again, 86-74. Just as Toronto was pulling away, Houston’s offence took off, as Quadir Copeland dished one out before snatching the ball and finishing on the other end to put them back in the ball game, 79-86. 

With the game on the balance and neither team succumbing to the other’s offence, Hepburn’s floor generalship came in clutch to deliver the finishing blows for Toronto. Daishen Nix knocked down a three as Houston trailed 84-90 with an ample amount of time left. Hepburn responded with two assists to the curling Burnett before the kick out to Key for a corner triple, as Toronto led, 95-84.

Out of desperation, the Rockets fouled Sharp to make him earn his points at the charity stripe. Sharp made Houston pay as he calmly sank five free throws to put the game away and secure Toronto’s first win in this year’s Summer League.

The Raptors will continue their slate of games against the Indiana Pacers on Monday at 4:30 pm.

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My NBA Summer League picks for Sunday, July 12, begin with the Orlando Magic, who I like to overmatch the Portland Trail Blazers.

I’m also backing both the San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings to continue their hot starts and win as slight underdogs in Sunday’s slate.

NBA Summer League predictions for July 12

Pick
Magic moneyline	-194
Spurs moneyline	+117
Kings moneyline	+104

Today's Summer League Picks

  Magic moneyline (-194 at Kalshi)

The Orlando Magic earned their first Summer League win in Vegas on Saturday over the Heat, and are right back into action today against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Magic showed off the range of scoring options they have on their Summer League roster, with Jase Richardson, Colin Castleton, and Lester Quinones each putting up 15 points.

Portland faces a lot of interesting questions in the Summer League — including whether Yang Hansen can develop enough to make the NBA roster this coming season — but they lack shooting, hitting just 34% from the floor and 19% from 3-point range in a Friday loss to the Suns. The Magic’s weapons should lead Orlando to a win.

 Spurs moneyline (+117 at Kalshi)

The San Antonio Spurs have plenty of players in Vegas that could make the franchise take notice, and that showed in Saturday’s 70-49 win over the Knicks. Carter Bryant showed out again, scoring 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field to lead the way, and his playoff experience makes him one of the more dangerous players on a Summer League roster this year.

The Milwaukee Bucks allowed 119 points in a loss to the Heat on Friday, with former Tennessee Volunteers standout Nate Ament looking a bit unpolished in a 6-point debut performance. The Spurs are playing multiple veteran players who aren’t just fighting for playing time in the NBA regular season but might just get it, and that has me backing them to win.

 Kings moneyline (+104 at Kalshi)

The Sacramento Kings looked sharp in their Vegas Summer League opener, with first-round draft pick Darius Acuff Jr. scoring 19 points and dishing out seven assists in a win over the Clippers. They’re also playing Maxime Raynauld, the center who put up 12.5 ppg last season while Domantas Sabonis was injured.

Including their time in the California Classic earlier in the month, the Kings are now 4-0 in Summer League play. Second-round draft pick Emanuel Sharp is playing hard in an effort to crack the Sacramento rotation next season, while center Dylan Cardwell is a strong defensive presence in the post, especially at the Summer League level.

The Washington Wizards aren’t an easy mark, with No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa helping them get a win over the Jazz in their Vegas debut, but Sacramento’s depth should be enough to see them to a win on Sunday.

Sunday’s NBA Summer League parlay

Magic moneyline

Spurs moneyline

Kings moneyline

+571 at Kalshi

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Heading into the summer, just about every Timberwolves fan had their own dream offseason mapped out. Some wanted Tim Connelly to swing for the fences one more time and somehow pry Giannis Antetokounmpo loose if Milwaukee finally decided to tear things down. Others talked themselves into buying low on former superstars whose value had cratered. Zion Williamson was one of those names that kept resurfacing. While Ja Morant found his way into plenty of hypothetical trade machines. Personally, I kept coming back to Kyrie Irving. Dallas looked like a franchise pivoting toward Cooper Flagg, and if there was one glaring weakness on Minnesota’s roster after another deep playoff run, it was the absence of a true point guard capable of organizing the offense, taking pressure off Anthony Edwards, and punishing defenses for selling out to stop him. It all seemed logical enough.

Then Tim Connelly went completely off-script.

Instead of chasing the names everyone expected, he started by moving Julius Randle to Brooklyn in what, at first glance, looked almost depressing. Wolves fans had spent months debating which star Minnesota could bring back in exchange for Randle. Instead, Randle was moved for financial flexibility, with the Wolves clearing salary and taking a modest step back in the draft from No. 28 to No. 33.

Just a few days later, Connelly pushed the entire table over. Naz Reid, arguably the most beloved role player this franchise has ever had, was headed to Charlotte along with future draft considerations. Coming back to Minnesota was LaMelo Ball.

Until the rumors began surfacing just a few days earlier, I don’t think many people honestly believed Ball was available. Charlotte had quietly become one of the NBA’s most entertaining young teams during the second half of last season. They made a legitimate push that sent them to the Play-In Tournament, and with Ball finally healthy, it looked as though the Hornets had every reason to continue building around him. Instead, Charlotte apparently decided they were selling at peak value, cashing in on their franchise cornerstone before his market had a chance to cool. Sometimes rebuilding teams zig when everybody expects them to zag, and Minnesota happened to be standing in exactly the right place when it happened.

The result is one of the biggest franchise-altering trades the Timberwolves have made since acquiring Rudy Gobert.

What’s fascinating about this move is how neatly it ties back to one of the most debated draft decisions in franchise history. Remember the months leading into the 2020 Draft? The basketball world couldn’t decide whether Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball should go first overall. Every mock draft seemed to alternate between the two. Half the analysts loved Ball’s creativity and passing. The other half believed Edwards possessed the higher ceiling as a franchise scorer. Wolves fans spent weeks arguing about it before Minnesota finally turned in the card with Edwards’ name on it.

Looking back now, it’s impossible to argue they got that decision wrong. Edwards has become exactly what every franchise spends decades searching for, a legitimate top-five caliber player entering his prime. He’s already led Minnesota to two Western Conference Finals appearances. During his tenure, the Timberwolves have won five playoff series. That number almost sounds made up when you remember the franchise had won only two playoff series during the previous thirty-five years combined. Edwards didn’t just become an All-NBA player; he fundamentally changed what people think of Timberwolves basketball.

Now, six years later, Minnesota gets to walk through the sliding doors and discover what life with LaMelo would have been like. LaMelo Ball hasn’t experienced the same team success. Playing in Charlotte rarely provides those opportunities. But talent has never been the question. Ball remains one of the league’s most creative passers, one of its most imaginative offensive players, and perhaps most importantly for this particular roster, exactly the type of point guard the Timberwolves have lacked ever since Mike Conley began slowing down.

For years, Minnesota’s offense has too often relied on Anthony Edwards solving increasingly impossible problems. Teams blitzed him forty feet from the basket because they knew there wasn’t another primary creator waiting behind him. Edwards frequently had to bring the ball up, initiate the offense, beat his first defender, survive the second defender, create for teammates, and somehow still have enough left in the tank to score thirty-five points. That’s simply not sustainable against elite playoff defenses.

Ball changes that equation immediately. His greatest gift isn’t necessarily his scoring. It’s the way he sees the floor two passes ahead. He naturally speeds up teammates simply by finding them earlier and in better positions. Suddenly Jaden McDaniels isn’t creating offense from scratch quite as often. Rudy Gobert gets easier looks diving to the rim. The entire offense becomes less dependent on Edwards playing superhero every single possession.

That’s why I think it’s fair to say Minnesota now possesses the most dynamic young backcourt in the NBA.

Of course, none of that makes saying goodbye to Naz Reid any easier. If Anthony Edwards became the face of modern Timberwolves basketball, Reid somehow became its heartbeat.

Think about how improbable his story really is. An undrafted player who worked his way from developmental prospect into Sixth Man of the Year candidate. A fan favorite whose name became its own meme. A player whose popularity became so ridiculous that fans literally waved beach towels bearing his name and, in some cases, permanently tattooed the “two words” onto their bodies.

That isn’t normal. Role players aren’t supposed to inspire that kind of devotion, but Reid wasn’t just another role player. He represented everything fans love to believe about sports: hard work, development, loyalty, and the idea that someone nobody wanted could become indispensable.

His departure leaves more than an emotional void. It leaves a basketball one.

Minnesota suddenly finds itself remarkably thin at power forward. The Wolves now feature one of the deepest guard rotations in basketball while simultaneously lacking a traditional starting-caliber four. That’s a dramatic philosophical shift from the roster construction we’ve watched over the last three seasons, where overwhelming frontcourt depth became one of Minnesota’s defining characteristics.

Which brings us to the elephant (or perhaps the King) in the room.

If you’ve spent more than five minutes on NBA social media this week, you’ve undoubtedly seen the LeBron James speculation. Maybe it’s fantasy. Maybe it’s wishful thinking. Maybe it never gets beyond message boards and sports talk radio.

But here’s the interesting part: this trade at least makes the conversation plausible.

By creating an obvious opening at power forward, whether intentional or coincidental, Minnesota now has a roster that makes considerably more basketball sense for LeBron than it did in June. Whether that actually leads anywhere is another discussion entirely, but the possibility alone illustrates that Connelly probably isn’t finished reshaping this roster.

The final chapter of this offseason hasn’t been written yet. Even if another move never materializes, pairing Anthony Edwards with LaMelo Ball better aligns the franchise with Edwards’ timeline than building around Randle ever could have. Ball is entering his prime alongside Ant rather than aging out of it. Their strengths complement one another naturally. One is an explosive scorer capable of taking over games. The other is a gifted facilitator who thrives creating opportunities for everyone around him.

It’s a pairing built for the next five years, not merely the next one.

That explains why the latest SB Nation Reacts poll showed 83 percent of Wolves fans approving of the trade despite the emotional cost attached to it. Nobody wanted to lose Naz Reid. That’s simply the reality. But most fans also recognize that championships require difficult decisions, and sometimes the move that hurts the most is also the one that gives your franchise its best chance to reach another level.

We’ll miss Big Jelly.

Hopefully he’ll find success in Charlotte. Hopefully Wolves fans will give him the standing ovation he deserves whenever he eventually returns to Target Center. And who knows? The NBA has a funny way of bringing people back together. Maybe someday Reid finds his way home again.

If that day comes, the beach towels will be waiting.

And judging by the number of “Naz Reid” tattoos walking around Target Center these days, so will a few thousand permanent reminders of just how much he meant to this franchise.

The Minnesota Timberwolves currently sit at +2200 odds to win the NBA title at FanDuel Sportsbook. Thats a 500 point improvement from last week’s +2700. Does somebody know something?…

Draymond believes ‘crazy' pitch to LeBron will make star free agent's brain work originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Free agents Draymond Green and LeBron James have finished their hangout session, which appeared to take place in Puerto Rico.

As many speculated would happen, Green used the time with James to make his pitch to presumably join forces with him and Steph Curry on the Warriors.

“I’d be remised if I don’t take the opportunity to throw my pitch in there,” Green said on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” which was published Sunday morning. “I’d be crazy if we’re together for X amount of days and at no point am I like, ‘Yo, we need to chop it up.’ Like, ‘What the hell going on? What we doing?’ So there’s that.

“Of course, I did that. And of course, the pitch was crazy. I think I’m pretty decent at it. Does it change anything? Does it make anything happen? I don’t know. I hope so. With the things that I shared in it, I believe it definitely is going to make the brain work a little bit. I don’t think there’s a decision that’s been made, but say if there was, it’ll make you think twice about it. And so that’s that.”

Last Tuesday, as James’ free-agency decision drags on, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Green and the 41-year-old were set to spend some time together at an undisclosed location.

The four-time NBA champions were spotted playing golf in Puerto Rico last Thursday, and in his latest podcast, Green alluded to being on the Caribbean island.

Green did take issue with Charania reporting that he was going to hang out with one of his closest friends.

“Shams reported that Bron and myself was spending some time together last week,” Green said. “Listen, I don’t have problems with Shams. I think he’s great at what he does. I think sometimes things steps a little outside the scope of work. And reported whereabouts, I think, is a little outside of the scope of work. I also think kind of a bit irrelevant because the reason being is obviously Bron, that’s my brother. We’ve built quite the relationship.

“And so I think us hanging out or us kicking it together, us golfing together, whatever it is, I don’t think it’s really that newsworthy because it’s not like, ‘Oh my god, they’ve never hung out before and now all of a sudden free agency is going on and they’re hanging out,’ like, I don’t think that is as relevant as if say, you know, I was going to hang out with like, ‘Oh, Draymond’s a free agent. He’s going to hang out with Victor Wembanyama.’ Like, I think that’d be more relevant just because it’s not a common occurrence. However, this one is not quite that. It’s actually the complete opposite. It’s pretty common. Very common.

“I saw that, I was on an airplane, I was like, ‘Come on, man.’ But I am a firm believer in get your money, how you get your money, how people get their money, that’s how you get your money. But I thought that one was a little like, yeah, I get it, makes sense, I suppose, except until it doesn’t. Needless to say, Shams is great at what he does. So, more power to him.”

James’ free agency is approaching two weeks as he ponders joining the Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and possibly another team.

Green declined his $27.7 million player option for next season to give the Warriors financial flexibility to sign James.

James’ agent, Rich Paul, has been doing the media car wash over the last week, and has made it clear that the former Los Angeles Lakers star is going to take his time before picking his next — and possibly final — team.

So, the wait continues. But Dub Nation can rest easy knowing that Green has gotten into the ear of James and is trying to sell him on the idea of coming to the Bay Area.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

After years and years of mundane basketball, Jazz fans finally had something to be anticipating. A #1 vs. #2 pick matchup that headlined the NBA. Of course, our own Jazzlings were on the back-end of this event, but this is nothing to hold your head over. Utah is back, and they’re getting the attention they rightfully deserve.

Coming into Las Vegas, Peterson took the world by storm when he played his first two heaters in front of a familiar crowd at Salt Lake City. Even if it was just Summer League, Peterson’s skill set was obviously the most translatable at the NBA level. Not even Cooper Flagg or Wembanyama stepped into the league being this polished offensively. But after a flight to Nevada two nights later, Peterson just didn’t have the same pzazz that he did when Jazz fans were cheering for him back in the Beehive State.

Jamir Watkins had his own fill of Summer League action. Of course, he would have regularly fouled out in the first quarter if this were a standard regular-season game, but Summer League rules allowed Watkins to bypass this and record an additional three fouls his way; one more foul left to spare. The byproduct of this was Darryn Peterson’s own low nine fouls and eight turnovers — Jusuf Nurkic will have a word with pesky guards about that type of defense in October. Wizards stole the crown, as well as the buzzing media that have now deemed Dybantsa a league of his own.

But Peterson’s struggles in his Las Vegas debut were completely blown out of proportion. Social media was filled with settled debates that had already decided Dybantsa was the better prospect. This isn’t to say Peterson should ignore these mistakes; he still needs to improve on his passing angles and looked physically overwhelmed. How much of those struggles are due to the extra physicality that was allowed in Summer League remains up for debate. The fans had already turned off their televisions by the time Peterson started to heat up.

Another aspect that was underestimated was Utah missing their rookie standout Ace Bailey, who had been dealing with back spasms that have now kept him out of multiple games spanning across the hoops in July. The Jazz, without a doubt, missed his elite shot-making and defensive versatility on the floor against Dybantsa. He remains questionable coming into tonight.

The 92-88 loss in Las Vegas has likely already halted Utah’s chances of winning a Summer League Championship, barring a miraculous run, meaning the priority has now shifted to scouting for Exhibit-10 or training camp deals. Darryn Peterson and third-year Cody will likely play a game or two more, then it’s time to hand over the keys to Tamar Bates and Jaxon Kohler.

Never mind the buzz, nor the competition. Darryn Peterson now has a chance to let off some steam against the newly built LA Clippers, currently still employing Kawhi Leonard per NBA policy, after LA circumvented the cap back in 2022 that now prevents him from being traded up North.

He’s not one of the flashy headliners of the draft like AJ, Darryn, Cam or even Caleb Wilson, but babyface Keaton Wagler will have the ball in his hands as much as the Jazz hand it to Peterson. His first game against the Kings was a blunder — he only managed to rack up 7 points, 2 rebounds and an assist on 14.3% from the field. He was offensively outplayed in every aspect by 7th pick Darius Acuff. We dare not speak on anyone’s defense from that Thursday night.

Their 50th pick from last season, Kobe Sanders, had recently re-upped with them on a four-year $11.2M deal. Baba Miller was another name that LA added at 36th overall. Cam Christie is starting to contract Cody-syndrome; his older brother Max has proved to be a reliable perimeter shooter in the NBA, while Cam himself logged few minutes in his first two seasons. Now he’ll likely have a chance to anchor the Clippers’ 3-point spacing. LAC may still be a little too old for anyone’s liking, but they still have something materialised in their youth, moving on (hopefully) from the Kawhi era.

For Utah, they’re ready to let off some heavy hits after a frustrating opener. Can Darryn Peterson bring back the efficient hoops from Salt Lake City? Is Ace Bailey going to make an appearance? Can any of the other players earn themselves a training camp deal with a showout performance? For the love of all that is holy can we stop using Cody Williams as a primary option? All these questions may have an answer this Sunday night.

How to Watch the Las Vegas Summer League?

Who: Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Clippers

When: Sunday, July 12, 2026 | 8:00 MT

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

Former Blue Devil Maliq Brown was in action Saturday night for the San Antonio Spurs in Summer League play, and the Spurs gave him 24 minutes, and he produced: Brown got 8 points and 8 rebounds, 4 of them offensive, and also had 2 steals and 1 block. Clearly, he’s making an impression.

Also making an impression: on Friday night, Cameron Boozer squared off against former UNC star Caleb Wilson, scoring 23 points (7-12/1-1), and pulling down 6 rebounds, while passing out 4 assists.

Wilson had a great game as well, with 35 points (12-21/7-11), and 5 rebounds.

However, Boozer stripped Wilson in the open court and took the ball in for a dunk, and even better, got the last laugh, as Memphis won, 97-96.

Also making a serious impression: on Friday, Trevor Keels burned Milwaukee for 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, and on Saturday, vs. Orlando, he exploded for 32 points (12-19/6-10), including 12 points in the fourth quarter alone.

• Spurs fans are getting the full Maliq Brown experience in Summer League already
• ‘He has some instincts’: Why Maliq Brown’s defense makes him great fit for Spurs
• Maliq Brown rises up and throws it down
• Trevor Keels goes off for game-high 32 points
• Trevor Keels Went OFF With 32 PTS In Vegas Summer League 
• Four Observations from Bulls’ Caleb Wilson and Grizzlies’ Cameron Boozer’s Las Vegas Summer League Battle
• Grizzlies’ Cedric Coward is in awe of Cam Boozer: ‘I can’t believe he’s 18’
• Cameron Boozer with the massive swat at the rim
• Cedric Coward admits he is glad that Cameron Boozer will be his teammate for the future
• Memphis Grizzlies Win Epic Caleb Wilson vs. Cameron Boozer Battle in Summer League
• Starting 5: Caleb Wilson sets record, Cameron Boozer gets win
• Boozer, Coward shine as Grizzlies edge Bulls in Summer League
• Grizzlies beat Bulls as Cam Boozer takes down college rival Caleb Wilson

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Who: Phoenix Suns (1-0) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (1-1)

When: 12:00 pm Arizona Time

Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada

Watch: Arizona Family Sports, ESPN2

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns showcased their elite level of size and athleticism (for Summer League) against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night in a dramatic come-from-behind victory. There was the predictable summer league slop in the first half with both teams struggling to get any type of rhythm on offense, but the second half looked a little more like NBA-style basketball. The three young franchise building blocks all performed well, which should be exciting for Suns fans, because Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat need to develop for the long-term health of the organization.

Maluach, Fleming, and Peat also showed their flaws. Maluach committed seven turnovers, Fleming was 0-for-4 from 3 and passed up multiple wide-open looks, and Peat didn’t take a 3-point shot, along with his shot mechanics looking questionable at best. This trio is extremely talented, but also flawed, and summer league is the perfect place to improve upon these flaws.

What was most exciting about watching this trio was how well they played defensively and how dominant the interior defense was. The second-half defense was the catalyst for the Suns coming back from down 16 and ultimately leading by as many as 10 points in the second half. All three players blocked shots, forced turnovers, and ultimately suffocated the Trail Blazers offense. How this trio improves on offense collectively is the biggest storyline to watch for the rest of summer league.

Probable Starters

Suns

• Khaman Maluach
• Koa Peat
• Rasheer Fleming
• Koby Brea
• Darius Brown II

Pelicans

• Hunter Dickinson
• Jalon Moore
• Micah Peavy
• Kobe Bufkin
• Markquis Nowell

Injury Report

Suns

• Nothing reported

Pelcians

• Nothing reported

What to Watch For

The Suns will not face any high-level prospects from the Pelicans, as both Jeremiah Fears and Derek Queen are not playing in summer league. Instead, it will be against a group of college All-Stars with Hunter Dickinson, Markquis Nowell, and Micah Peavy leading the way, along with Kobe Bufkin, a former first-round pick. The Suns have a size and athleticism advantage and should dominate the glass and the paint against the Pelicans.

In their game against Portland, Phoenix committed 20 turnovers, with Maluach turning it over seven times himself. Look for Maluach and the Suns to eliminate many of the sloppy plays they made against the Blazers, and for the Suns’ core trio, plus Kobe Brea, to play much more connected and error-free. Speaking of Brea, he struggled from the floor against Portland, and it was Jevonte Cook who scored 21 points off the bench for Phoenix, including a prolific 3-point shooting performance. Can Brea bounce back after a slow first game?

Prediction

As little value as there is in the final score of these summer league games, this Suns team can, and should, dominate the Pelicans because of their athleticism. The Suns win this game 93-80, and Kobe Brea will lead the team in scoring. But the story of the game will be Koa Peat putting up another repeat performance that makes him look like one of the biggest steals in the NBA draft.

It was a bit surprising, at least to us, when Amile Jefferson left Duke for the Boston Celtics, but it’s clearly worked out well for him.

Currently, the Celtics have him coaching their Summer League team in Las Vegas, and that’s just a chance to learn more.

In this article, he talks about learning from former Duke coach and GOAT Mike Krzyzewski, and also what he’s learned from Joe Mazzulla and his other colleagues with the Celtics coaching staff.

Boston is playing in Las Vegas, and a nice side benefit of that this year is that there was a Brotherhood gathering in Sin City.

Among others, Jayson Tatum attended.

We don’t think this video is from the dinner, but it’s worth watching to see who former Duke stars think should take the last shot.

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