Category: Basketball

The Hornets have completed another franchise-altering move, trading forward Miles Bridges just days after stunning the NBA by sending franchise point guard LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Bridges was dealt to the Suns along with a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-rounder for veteran shooters Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, along with an unprotected 2033 first-round pick.

The trade marks the end of an era for the Hornets, who have now moved on from the two players that defined the franchise for much of the past six seasons, for better or worse.

Ball, along with Josh Green, was traded to Minnesota earlier this week in one of the offseason’s biggest surprises as Charlotte received Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030 and three second-round picks.

Now, Bridges — his longtime running mate — has followed him out the door and into the Western Conference.

Charlotte appears intent on reshaping their image.

Jeff Peterson, formerly the assistant general manager of the Nets, and head coach Charles Lee, a championship-winning assistant with the Celtics and Bucks, will look to ensure that the team moves forward with a different identity.

The Hornets have been built around the Ball-Bridges duo since they drafted the former at No. 3 overall in 2020, but the organization still hasn’t seen playoff basketball since 2016.

Still, these big moves are not without controversy, considering that the Hornets were No. 1 in net rating in the calendar year of 2026 and ended the season on a 28-10 run, giving them 44 wins — their most since 2015-16 — and their third play-in trip since 2021.

The team did fall short of the playoffs after being blitzed by the Magic in their play-in game this past April.

The decision to move Bridges now is especially notable considering the productive season he put together and the fact that he has one year left on his contract worth over $22.7 million.

The athletic forward remained one of Charlotte’s primary scoring options while also contributing as a rebounder and secondary playmaker, though he was clearly the team’s fourth preferred option offensively behind Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.

He was also out of the league during the 2022-23 season, stemming from a domestic violence incident, for which he was suspended 30 games.

For Phoenix, the acquisition represents an aggressive attempt to strengthen its frontcourt with a player capable of scoring at all three levels while defending multiple positions, in theory.

The Suns also gain a player entering the final year of his contract, providing cap flexibility.

For Charlotte, however, the message is clear. This, even from last season, is a new era of Hornets basketball.

Trading Ball alone would have signaled a dramatic philosophical shift.

Following it by moving Bridges confirms the franchise is fully committed to building around a new core centered on Miller and Knueppel, in particular.

The Hornets also maintain the second-most tradeable first-round picks, and because Miller — for one more season — and Knupeppel, for three more years, are on their rookie scale contracts, it might not be long before the Hornets pursue a third star to pair with the dynamic duo.

NBA free agency is approaching and Sixers slop is trickling out.

A day after the team was linked to Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade, another starting-caliber forward is reportedly on their radar. According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, Los Angeles Clippers four man John Collins is “expected to draw interest” from the Sixers, along with the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs.

The Sixers have had a seemingly-perennial hole at the four position they’ve been trying to fill on a discount. While minimum signing Guerschon Yabusele and two-way player Dominick Barlow both exceeded expectations, neither was a long-term solution. And with the selection of Labaron Philon Jr. at 22nd overall, the need for a reliable four remains.

Collins makes a good bit of on-court sense. The 28-year-old, who once tortured the Sixers as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, is entering his 10th NBA season and has played in 541 career games (466 starts). He can shoot (40.6 from three last season), rebound (9.6 rebounds per 36 minutes for his career) and offer weakside rim protection (1.2 blocks per 36 minutes). In certain matchups, he can even be used as a small-ball five with his ability to finish plays at the rim or pick-and-pop.

He’s ideal for the Sixers because he can space the floor and this team needs shooting. He can help make up for the rebounding struggles of Joel Embiid while also crushing the offensive glass from the dunker spot. He can be a strong pick-and-roll partner for Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Philon. All that and he’s not a player who needs the ball to be effective — a key element for a guy playing with this team’s Big 4.

He’s far from a perfect player. He’s not a zero with the ball in his hands, but he’s not a real shot creator or playmaker. He can shoot, but he’s never been a volume shooter. He moves his feet decently on the perimeter, but can be beat by quicker guards and wings. It’s also been a while since he’s played real competitive basketball having spent last season with the Clippers and the previous two seasons with the Utah Jazz.

The question will be the money. Collins might be one of the few free agents who commands the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception at around $15 million. The Sixers using the full NTMLE on Collins would hardcap them at the first apron and could limit what else they can do. They would have access to the bi-annual exception, but it would likely mean they lose both Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes in free agency.

Collins could be the solution to the Sixers’ problems at the four, but Mike Gansey and the front office will have to decide if it’s worth the cost.

During Jimmy Butler’s 15-year NBA career, he’s played for five different teams. But it appears he’s found his home.

According to ESPN NBA insider Anthony Slater, Butler said he wants to retire with the Warriors.

“End is a bad word, but this is where I want to be done,” Butler told Slater. “Retire here. This organization is top-tier. It’s the best. Keep it a buck. It’s the best. You’re playing with one of the greatest players ever. I’m grateful to be able to witness this. I want to be able to do my part, get this organization back on top where we belong.”

Butler is about to enter his third season with the Warriors after they traded for him in the middle of the 2024-2025 NBA season.

Butler has only appeared in 68 games for Golden State after his 2025-26 season was cut short due to a torn ACL injury he suffered in January.

When Butler arrived, he sparked a 23-8 run that propelled the Warriors to the playoffs, where they stunned the Rockets in the first round.

That playoff run was derailed when Steph Curry was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Butler and Curry have only appeared in 60 games together since his arrival.

“It just sucks because we ain’t never really been healthy together,” Butler told Slater. “Part of winning is being healthy. You ain’t seen us healthy at the end in the playoffs when it matters. Let’s be healthy and then all of that [doubting] can be heard.”

As Butler is preparing to come back from his injury and resume playing alongside Curry and Draymond Green, he told Slater his rehab process has been great. Butler is six weeks away from running full speed but is fully capable of jumping and dunking off his left leg.

There are a ton of things that get discussed and considered for every team during the offseason.

Teams have to consider best- and worst-case scenarios and have a multitude of pathways towards a successful offseason. It’s why Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka is constantly talking about optionality during press conferences, even if fans roll their eyes when he does.

A report by Michael Scotto on HoopsHype on Sunday might have revealed one of LA’s contingency plans in case Austin Reaves left in free agency.

Before Herro joined Milwaukee in the Antetokounmpo trade and the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a four-year, $185 million max deal with Austin Reaves, the Lakers had trade discussions surrounding Herro and Kel’el Ware, which would’ve involved multiple first-round draft picks, league sources told HoopsHype.

With Tyler Herro heading to the Bucks and Reaves set to sign a max contract, this obviously never happened, and LA will keep their starting backcourt together.

Clearly, the best-case scenario was keeping Reaves, and the Lakers pulled it off. Still, it’s good to know they had backup plans just in case.

In another timeline, Herro is paired with Luka Dončić, and the Lakers are hoping that’s enough to win them some games. While it’s unknown if Herro will remain with the Bucks or if this is just a quick stop before another move, it’s unlikely he’ll be a player of interest for the purple and gold.

Kel’el Ware, on the other hand, has remained in Lakers rumors. The team is reportedly still interested, but the Bucks aren’t expected to trade him. From the Lakers’ perspective, acquiring Ware would make sense. He’s a young player with room to grow. He averaged 11.1 points while knocking down 39.5% of his threes this past season.

His scoring ability and 3-point shooting would serve the Lakers well, especially if Luke Kennard leaves in free agency.

Still, it takes two to make a deal, and unless the Bucks change their minds, it won’t happen.

It’s fun to hear about the what-ifs in the basketball world, and even better when they aren’t as good as what actually happened.

While Herro would’ve been fun, the Lakers are better off with Reaves, and they were able to step into their ideal situation with him as their franchise star.

Still, staying ready is the name of the game, and the Lakers need all types of backup plans this summer with the fate of so many of their players being up in the air.

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

With the draft in the rearview mirror, the weekend has signaled the change in focus to free agency. Officially, things get underway on Tuesday. Unofficially, the rumors are coming in hot and fast.

With a slew of rumors coming in quick and fast, here’s a roundup of a handful of them from Sunday.

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Helping Nuggets with Cam Johnson trade?

The Lakers’ cap space can become really an asset for the Lakers to help teams get out of cap hell, but how much appetite would they have if the team they help is a Western Conference foe?

On Sunday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Lakers are among the teams interested in Cam Johnson, the Nuggets sharpshooter expected to be moved this offseason.

Meanwhile, as the Nuggets navigate getting below the second apron, sharpshooting forward Cam Johnson has drawn trade interest from several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, and Orlando Magic, league sources told HoopsHype. The 30-year-old forward shot career-highs from the field (.480) and beyond the arc (.430), and is on an expiring $23.06 million contract for the upcoming season.

Denver is attempting to shed salary to keep Peyton Watson — more on him later — and Johnson’s large salary is perhaps the easiest to trade as an expiring contract. However, that’s a lot of money for the Lakers to take onto the books, even if they have cap space.

Would they prefer to take on Johnson’s salary, or simply go after Watson?

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Chasing Peyton Watson

The Lakers and Watson have been linked for some time. As one of the top wings on the market, albeit as a restricted free agent, it makes sense why the Lakers would go after him.

However, as Marc Stein recently reported on his Substack, it would take a pretty big offer to lure him away from the Nuggets.

The same most certainly goes for Denver and Peyton Watson. The Nuggets have been signaling for months that they plan to match any offer sheet for Watson … to the point that sources say it would take an offer sheet in the $30 million range in order for Denver to balk at re-signing him.

The Lakers and Bulls are two teams that have been mentioned as potential Watson suitors going back to February’s trade deadline.

The Lakers have the potential to create that much cap space, but are they willing to assign that much space to an offer sheet for multiple days?

Watson fills a need and is a young player. There are lots of pros for signing him. But to lure away a free agent from their incumbent team, they’ll have to overpay. Is Watson worth overpaying for?

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Role player free agents

Not every free agent the Lakers are linked with is a standout player. LA has done well in recent years to hit on the role players or undervalued free agents on the market.

This season, they have been linked to a pair of players via Scotto’s aforementioned piece, first being Dean Wade from the Cavs.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade is expected to have various suitors in free agency, including the Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, and Portland Trail Blazers, league sources told HoopsHype.

Last season in Cleveland, Wade averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He shot 43.9% from the field and 36.2% from the 3-point line.

Along those same lines, the Lakers have also reportedly expressed interest in Jock Landale as well.

Jock Landale has become an intriguing stretch-five heading into free agency, shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point range over the past two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks.

Landale, 30, is expected to have a strong market, including interest from the Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype. Expect the Australian center to command offers north of the bi-annual exception in free agency.

Landale averaged 10.6 points across 27 games, to go along with the 38.8% 3-point shooting mentioned by Scotto. He also grabbed 5.7 rebounds per game.

Neither would be a big addition to the roster, but both could have potential roles with the team.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

When Jazz rookie Darryn Peterson recently met with the Utah media, he wasn’t shy to admit who his idol is.

Peterson, who starred for the University of Kansas, was asked about how his defensive skill set will follow his offensive skills. He said he wasn’t too worried about it and said he hopes to be like his idol, Kobe Bryant.

“I’m a Kobe guy; he played both sides of the ball,” Peterson said. “That’s my idol. So I’m trying to lock down on defense.”

"I'm a Kobe guy, so he played both sides of the ball. That's my idol, so I'm trying to lock down on defense."

Darryn Peterson (@Darryn_P1) on showcasing his defense (and not just his offense) in the NBA pic.twitter.com/eUHSJmw9I1

— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2026

Peterson was selected second overall in the 2026 NBA Draft after playing one season at Kansas, where he averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 24 games.

“I would like to say I can be a lockdown defender. Obviously, I haven’t guarded the best in the world yet, but I’m willing to take this challenge. [A] 6-10 wingspan, that can help me a bit,” Peterson said. “Just my effort. I might not be the fastest guy, or quickest guy, but my effort, I will be able to take out some of that.”

Peterson’s stats aren’t comparable to Bryant’s, of course, because Peterson only played one season of college basketball. Bryant had a 20-year Hall of Fame career.

However, similarities exist. Peterson averaged 3.5 defensive rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. In his career, Bryant averaged 4.1 defensive rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

Peterson, a 6-5 guard who weighs 205 pounds, and Bryant had similar measurables. Bryant was 6-6 and weighed 212.

Bryant had what he called “Mamba Mentality,” meaning he didn’t care who he went up against; in his eyes, he felt like he was the best player on the court. Peterson tries to emulate that, too.

During his NBA career, Bryant was a five-time champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP and league MVP in 2008. He led the league in scoring in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Basketball’s war on analytics permeated social media again this weekend.

And this time, possibly soon-to-be-traded Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown took center stage, seizing on dismissive comments made about him from an anonymous NBA front office source.

The comment was reported (but not endorsed) by ESPN front office Insider and former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks.

“There’s mixed feelings about him when you talk to teams,” Marks said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “The analytics of Jaylen Brown is not good … I had one, not an executive, but an analytics guy say, ‘Yeah, we view him as the seventh-best player on a team.’ I was like, ‘Holy crap.’”

Brown, justifiably so, did not take kindly to the comment.

“Analytics nowadays used to discredit and control narratives – Roll the ball out none of these guys better than me on both ends who does he work for,” he said, which began a series of tweets.

“Nobody has won more combined regular season and playoff games since I entered the league 10 years ago,” Brown continued.

Since Brown was selected No. 3 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, which even then surprised some observers, Brown has 523 regular season and playoff wins combined among the games he has played.

Brown added, “Analytics have / are ruining the game we playing AI hoops.”

Marks replied to Brown’s initial tweet, saying, “But what wasn’t posted was the 2m of saying I’m not an analytics person but an eye test guy. That I would want Jaylen Brown on my team. That you impact winning (191-80 in the last 4 years), is a top-10 player and would help any team looking to win a championship. That part of course didn’t make it. But that’s the media in 2026.”

Brown quipped, “State Your Source,” in a quote tweet, referencing a shirt he wore during the 2024 Celtics parade, commemorating the team’s first title since 2008.

This exchange also follows a back-and-forth from earlier in the week in which Brown referred to ESPN as “unethical” while singling out Stephen A Smith, in particular, which obviously got a reply from the opinionated long-time First Take host.

Analytics nowadays used to discredit and control narratives – Roll the ball out none of these guys better than me on both ends who does he work for https://t.co/ql3skXAutM

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026

Brown continues to surface in trade rumors this offseason and was the Celtics’ leading trade chip in their failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, which saw the former two-time MVP dealt to the Miami Heat on June 22.

Boston’s asking price for the 2024 Finals MVP is reportedly very high, while Brown is coming off his best individual season, which was mostly without Jayson Tatum, who missed significant time due to Achilles surgery.

Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season, all career-highs, while earning his fifth overall and fourth straight All-Star nod.

Brown also finished sixth in MVP voting last year and earned his second All-NBA nod, taking home Second Team honors, all while leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed.

Brown also has a looming contract question. The two-way wing is set to make north of $57 million and $61 million over the next two seasons, while raking in just under $65 million in 2028-29.

He is eligible for a two-year extension worth $142 million on top of that.

Boston was upset by the Philadelphia 76ers in last year’s playoffs, where the Celtics squandered a 3-1 first-round lead, and Tatum was forced to miss Game 7 at home due to injury.

Apparently, the Charlotte Hornets are not done wheeling and dealing yet: after sending LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves a few days ago, Charlotte now swaps Mikal Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neal.

Charlotte gives up a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-rounder, while Phoenix gives Charlotte a 2033 first-round pick.

Charlotte now has three Duke guards: Allen, Kon Knueppel, and Sion James.

• Hornets send Miles Bridges to Phoenix Suns as offseason shakeup continues, AP source says
• Duke’s Grayson Allen returns to North Carolina after trade from Suns
• Hornets reportedly trading Miles Bridges to Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, 1st-round pick
• Hornets trade Miles Bridges to Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale
• Hornets trade Miles Bridges to Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale
• Report: Hornets Trade Miles Bridges in Deal With Phoenix Suns
• Miles Bridges traded to Phoenix Suns in blockbuster deal
• Trade Grades: Breaking Down the Hornets’ Return for Miles Bridges
• Suns trade sharpshooter Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale for Miles Bridges and future draft picks
• Hornets trade Miles Bridges to Suns for former Duke star Grayson Allen

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the Suns made their first move outside of re-signing their key free agents, trading for Miles Bridges to address a need. Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale were shipped out in the deal.

BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and a 2033 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/vjcR7AdwSD

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2026

In this deal, the Suns also sent out their 2033 unprotected first-round pick, which just became trade-eligible this offseason. In return, they pick up a 2029 first that was originally sent via Phoenix for Mark Williams last year and a 2027 second that is either Boston’s or Orlando’s, balancing the cost of the move.

They traded their 2033 first for a pick they originally traded to Charlotte just last year to get Mark Williams….

These UTA/CLE/MIN swaps will NEVER escape this team https://t.co/qr3YoxVpnZ

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) June 28, 2026

The plan for Phoenix in this is to save money by trading both Allen and O’Neale’s deals while bringing in a power forward to fill a position of need and streamline the roster.

Suns go from about $5M under their second-apron hard cap to $11.3M under their second-apron hard cap by swapping Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale for Miles Bridges.

This is factoring in estimates for Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 28, 2026

The Suns have also been linked to Bridges in the past, suggesting they still have interest. With Charlotte trading LaMelo Ball earlier this week, they are looking to shake things up, and Bridges was one of the other dominoes to fall.

The Suns nearly traded for Miles Bridges two seasons ago, before the 2024 trade deadline, when Bridges was on a one-year qualifying offer with Charlotte. Phoenix has coveted the Michigan State product for some time.

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 28, 2026

For the Suns, this will bring in someone with an expiring contract, allowing them to test out how Bridges fits in the system and evaluate whether he is a long-term fit. If he does not re-sign, they can then have some freed-up cap space to make more moves next offseason.

The discourse surrounding this trade will resonate with some of the off-court antics Bridges has had in the past. This has led many to oppose the trade, while still understanding it from a business perspective. Only time will tell if Bridges can work on his past off the court, and if he can do so while producing on the court, the Suns could very well benefit.

One thing is clear, though: trading Allen and O’Neale shows they believe in the young guys they have. Players like Rasheer Fleming, Koa Peat, and Ryan Dunn are expected to see increased run time with both veterans being shipped out, and that supports how the team looks to build for the future. With this move, the Suns also free up a roster spot, allowing them to look in free agency to make an addition on the edges.

It is sad to see both Allen and O’Neale go, as they truly gave it their all in Phoenix. They had delivered great moments to the fans and made memories we won’t forget. That being said, the NBA is a business, and sometimes that can be cold, especially in a moment like this. Best of luck to them both in Charlotte, and I cannot wait to see how they help out the Hornets.

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In their second major trade in a week, the Charlotte Hornets have dealt veteran forward Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns are sending Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and a 2033 first-round pick to the Hornets for Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and 2027 second-round pick, the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin has confirmed.

The deal comes after the Hornets sent guards LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for center/forward Naz Reid last Thursday.

Bridges has spent the first eight seasons of his NBA career with Charlotte. He averaged 17.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season.

Allen, also an eight-year NBA veteran, has spent the last three seasons in Phoenix. He led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage in his first year with the Suns. This past season, he averaged a career-high 16.5 poitns per game.

O'Neale, a nine-year vet, scored a career-best 9.8 points per game last season with the Suns.

This story will be updated

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hornets trade Miles Bridges to Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale

It was no longer Jalen Brunson’s show.

After friend and Knicks superfan Mariska Hargitay cheered him on throughout the Knicks’ playoff run, Brunson showed up on Friday to support the actor as she made a surprise broadway performance.

Hargitay, best known for her work in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” is acting in solo show “Every Brilliant Thing” through July 5.

Brunson and his wife, Ali Marks, attended the performance at Hudson Theatre, and the Knicks star reportedly got a standing ovation during one point in the show.

According to People, there is a part of the production in which Hargitay’s character looks through a box of items.

On Friday, that box included a Brunson Knicks jersey, leading the crowd to go wild for the point guard.

Brunson, who has spoken about his big “SVU” fandom, has developed a close friendship with Hargitay and visited her backstage after the show alongside Marks. Hargitay’s husband, Peter Hermann, was also present for the meet-up.

“It was so sweet,” a source told People. “He was congratulating her and telling her how much he loved the show. She was so thrilled he was there. You could see how much admiration they have for one another.”

While the Knicks’ Celebrity Row is always filled with A-listers, none of them seem to hold a candle to Hargitay when it comes to Brunson.

He previously admitted that he looks for her during every home game.

“Love her to death [and] she knows it,” he said on “The Richard Jefferson Show.”

Even after winning his first NBA championship, Brunson capped off his Finals MVP performance by saying afterward that he wanted to nab a guest star role on “SVU.”

Perhaps that goal will come to fruition soon, as Hargitay’s colleague, Christopher Meloni, said he supported the idea.

Last summer, the Lakers’ acquisition of Marcus Smart wasn’t initially considered a home-run deal.

Sure, Luka Dončić pitched Smart coming to LA, and others on the team loved the move, but he was seen around the league as a player who couldn’t stay healthy.

However, the Lakers believed he’d bounce back and be a winning player again in their environment. They were right.

Now, that deal he signed with the Lakers seems like a bargain, and Smart might think so as well.

In a recent report on The Stein Line, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer explained which team is likely to consider picking up Smart if he opts out of his deal.

The Rockets do, however, loom as a possible free agent destination for another one of Udoka’s former players in Boston: Marcus Smart.

League sources say that Smart, who is expected to draw interest from Houston and possibly other teams in free agency, is very much giving consideration to declining his $5.4 million player option for next season with the Lakers before Monday’s deadline to do so and then proceed to the open market.

This is a tough situation for the Lakers. Losing Smart to the Rockets, the team they eliminated from the playoffs, would be awful. From the Rockets’ perspective, they’d love Smart. They clearly lack dependable guard play, and Smart would enter right away and be one of their best backcourt players.

This move would make Houston better and LA worse, and replacing what Smart did at $5.1 million last year is next to impossible.

He played in 62 games for the Lakers last year. It was the most he’s played since the 2021-22 season when he was the Defensive Player of the Year. He also started in 51 games, making him one of the most important players on the roster.

It’s important to note that this report doesn’t say he will leave, just that he’s considering it. The Lakers reportedly want Smart back, and that could still happen whether he opts in or out.

Still, it’s not an ideal scenario for the Lakers, and they’ll have to see how it plays out. Hopefully, Smart stays one way or another. He was arguably LA’s third-best player last year, and losing him wouldn’t make the Lakers a better team.

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

Khalid Robinson takes next step as Warriors' head coach for NBA Summer League originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Khalid Robinson couldn’t leave basketball. But he never knew coaching would be in his future. 

When Robinson stepped foot on Fordham’s campus, his plan already was known. Robinson, a Political Science major, had his sights set on law school until he began studying for the LSATs. 

“I just realized this is not what I’m passionate about,” Robinson said to NBC Sports Bay Area. “And I said, ‘What in life am I passionate about?’ It’s basketball. That’s kind of where and when I decided to make the shift to try and get into coaching.” 

Robinson walked onto Fordham’s basketball team as a sophomore after taking one year off as a player. The New York native describes his old playing style as a “do-it-all, high energy player.” Willing to make the right play, do the dirty work, crash the glass and be a fierce defender, Robinson played 40 games in four years at Fordham and started six of them. 

He scored a total of 13 points in his college career, yet earned the respect of teammates and coaches so much that Robinson was named a team captain in each of his last two seasons. Even then, all the traits of what it takes to be a great coach were clear. 

Now as he enters his 11th season with the Warriors, Robinson is about to step into a new role as the team’s NBA Summer League head coach. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr met with Robinson after the season ended and told him the news, and that he thought manning the sidelines throughout summer league would be a great opportunity for Robinson’s personal and professional career development as the next challenge. 

Naming Robinson as the Warriors’ summer league head coach falls in line with how Golden State has gone about business in getting coaches to the next step. Like the Warriors’ last three summer league head coaches, Jacob Rubin, Anthony Vereen and Lainn Wilson, Robinson has gone from being a video intern a decade ago, to one season as assistant video coordinator, six seasons as special assistant to the head coach and was promoted to assistant coach going into the 2024-25 NBA season. 

As Robinson, 35, prepares for his first chance to be a head coach, he has picked the brains of Rubin, Vereen and Wilson about their experiences, including what they would have done differently after going through the process, along with communicating with Kerr about what he wants to get done in the summer to help get ready for next season. The best advice he has received is probably the most obvious. 

“Keep it simple,” Robinson says. “It’s a new group that for the most part hasn’t played with each other, so simpler is better. Simple allows the guys to play harder with more focus. You just want the guys to be organized. If they’re organized, they can play harder and be more effective.” 

All eyes will be on Warriors first-round 2026 NBA Draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who does plan on playing in summer league. Lendeborg went through an ankle sprain and left knee bone bruise during Michigan’s title run but says he’s fully healthy now after taking four weeks to heal. 

Lendeborg is a seasoned 23-year-old who will turn 24 on Sept. 30. The challenges the Warriors are placing on him this summer aren’t so much about numbers. They aren’t interested in him taking a certain number of shots or scoring a certain number of points. The goal in getting him up to speed to play significant minutes early on is becoming a Warrior in every way possible. 

“First, it’s just adapting to the concepts that we’re trying to teach this summer and the things we’re trying to get better at,” Robinson said. “And I think it’s also just challenging him to be an all-around great defender on the ball and off the ball. He has great instincts and great feel. … Offensively, just being who he is – getting to the rim, being aggressive taking and making open threes and using his playmaking. 

“Yaxel has a lot of facets to his game that can help us, and we’re going to challenge him to bring that every day in practices and games, and to do it with consistency.” 

Robinson wants his team to be a connected group that has great communication. He wants them to be very physical defensively to take away easy buckets and play fast in transition. What he really wants is for them to build an identity that represents the Warriors’ culture.

Summer league records aren’t indicative of a team’s success in the NBA season. Development is the main priority. Wins and losses can get thrown to the side, for the most part. Winning also can’t become an afterthought. 

“It’s a mix of both,” Robinson says. “We want to develop our guys and help them get ready for preseason and next season, but we want to win. We want to establish this culture. We’re about winning here, and when these guys come in, we want them to know what we’re about. We’re going into this thing like we want to win. We want to develop and get these guys better on individual skills and team concepts. 

“But we want to win games. Building these habits of consistent competition and playing to our identity is part of it.” 

Does that sound like somebody who could have said goodbye to basketball when his playing days ended? That alternate reality still pops into Robinson’s head without a second of regret. Robinson isn’t someone who would thrive sitting at a desk all day. He needed to be around players and coaches. He needed the Warriors, like they’ve needed him more every year. 

“Ron Adams always talks about coaches being teachers in a way,” Robison remembered. “It allows you to help teach people, and you learn from them in the process, you learn from players in the process. I ended up in the right place.”

Robinson’s head-coaching debut begins Friday night at Chase Center as the Warriors take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the California Classic.

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