Category: Sports News

Mike Boynton Jr. continues to fill out his coaching staff in Ann Arbor, as he has hired Dylan Murphy as an assistant coach for the Michigan men’s basketball program. The news was first reported by 247Sports.

Michigan men’s basketball is hiring Dylan Murphy, most recently the head coach of the Osceola Magic NBA G League Team, as an assistant coach, I’ve learned.

Murphy is a promising offensive mind who has led the Orlando Magic affiliate to two first-place conference finishes in his…

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) July 31, 2026

Murphy brings a diverse background in both NBA and G League coaching and analytics to a Wolverines staff that is working to defend a national championship in 2026-27.

He spent the last five seasons in the NBA with the Orlando Magic organization, serving in two distinct capacities. From 2018-20, he worked as a basketball operations analyst, providing analytics support to the coaching staff. He then transitioned into a full-time assistant coaching role from 2020-23, giving him three seasons of NBA bench experience at one of the league’s franchises.

His path to Orlando was built on a strong foundation in the G League. Murphy spent three seasons from 2013-16 as an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants — the Indiana Pacers’ G League affiliate — where he was part of one of the more successful runs in league history. The Mad Ants posted a league-best 34-16 record in 2013-14 and went a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs to win the G League championship.

After his time in Fort Wayne, Murphy spent the 2016-17 season as an NBA G League scout for the Atlanta Hawks, where he was responsible for identifying potential call-up candidates, a role that sharpened his eye for talent evaluation and player development at the professional level. He then served as a graduate assistant at Ball State in 2018 before joining the Magic organization.

Murphy’s background is particularly well-suited to what Boynton is building at Michigan. His blend of NBA analytics experience and on-court coaching provide him with a versatile skillset that can impact both the strategic and developmental sides of the program.

The analytics component of his profile is especially worth highlighting. Murphy spent two seasons as a dedicated analytics support staffer with Orlando before moving to the bench, meaning he very likely understands the data side of the game. In an era where analytics are playing an increasingly significant role in roster construction, game planning and player development, someone being on the coaching staff who has lived that world in the NBA is a great asset to have.

Boynton is assembling a staff with diverse backgrounds and complementary skillsets as he works to keep the Wolverines competitive at the highest level, and Murphy’s hire is another piece of that puzzle.

In 2022 when the Warriors won their last title, if you told me that one day LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and D(ean) Wade would be on the 76ers I’d be like hell to the naw naw. (Also, where is Ben Simmons?!) And yet here we are!

Here’s the part that should scare the rest of the league ladies and gentlemen. This isn’t LeBron joining a team that needs him to be the engine. This is LeBron sliding into a group that already has an MVP-caliber big, a bucket-getter who just spent the summer proving he belongs in the “best two-way wing” conversation, and two young guards who play like they’ve been doing this for a decade already. Tyrese Maxey. VJ Edgecombe. Joel Embiid. Jaylen Brown. Now DA KING?! Five players who’ve either made an All-NBA team or are trending toward one, all wearing the same jersey.

So I’ll ask the obvious question before anyone else does it for me. Is this the best team LeBron has ever played on?

Iman Shumpert was NOT having it when Shaq said the 76ers are winning the championship next season because the New York Knick’s were “lucky” to win this year 😳🏀👀

“I have 4 championships, 2 of them were luck. You don’t think the Knicks championship was a bit lucky this year? If… pic.twitter.com/9aFKHi3Ril

— Slime🐍 (@ItsKingSlime) July 31, 2026

I know how that sounds given the résumé. Kyrie and prime Love in Cleveland. AD and a bubble run in LA. A Heatles trio that basically broke the sport for a few summers. But from a pure roster construction standpoint, I don’t remember one walking into training camp with this many legitimate creators, this much size, and this many lineup combinations. Embiid at the 5, when healthy, is still one of the toughest covers alive. Brown gives you another player who can take over a game. Maxey and Edgecombe give you two guards who get downhill and shoot it from range. And LeBron, even at 42, still reads a defense like he’s got the whole floor mapped out before you’ve decided where you’re going.

He’s walking on as a stabilizer, a guy who can captain possessions, punish mismatches in the post against smaller wings, and make the right read out of a double team on instinct. Philadelphia didn’t sign a farewell tour, rather we are looking at them adding a chess piece that still sees three moves ahead.

Now, the questions immediately arise when you talk about what could go wrong with that starting lineup.

Start with health. Embiid staying on the floor has been the same conversation forever, and I’m not going to sit here and pretend a new co-star fixes a body that’s fought him this long.

Joel Embiid assured LeBron during his pitch he’s healthy and ready to go this season, per @mcten 😤 pic.twitter.com/TvQiq80gEC

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 29, 2026

Then there’s hierarchy. Brown spent years in Boston fighting for respect, got his Finals MVP, and still ended up on a plane to a division rival where he’s probably not the first read on most nights. Going from “the guy everyone questioned but who proved it” to “one of five options” creates its own pressure, even if the results end up better.

And then there’s expectations. Maxey and Edgecombe were just building their own identities as young stars. Now they’re getting thrown into a spotlight that comes with real championship demands instead of just “how good can these kids be.”

Brian Windhorst called the 76ers having LeBron, Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe on the same team "preposterous" due to having too many alpha personalities.

"The idea of having five alphas is preposterous." pic.twitter.com/bjLp6Yi2DE

— NBABase (@TheNBABase) July 28, 2026

But here’s why none of that changes how I feel about this roster from a pure basketball standpoint. Go back and watch the Sixers’ offseason moves as a whole. Anfernee Simons is an instant scoring punch off the bench for pennies compared to what other teams paid for less. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a proven championship wing. Labaron Philon might take ballhandling pressure off Maxey and Edgecombe as a rookie. They didn’t stop after LeBron, and that wasn’t just my takeaway. Paul Hudrick at Liberty Ballers looked at the same depth chart and came away with the same conclusion: “The depth chart looks legit.”

That’s what makes this team a nightmare to simulate. Most title contenders pick a lane. Fast and loose, or slow and physical. Philadelphia might make you prepare for two. This roster can do both, and with Embiid and LeBron on the floor together, I’d bet they lean into slowing the game down and daring you to match their size. But flip in Maxey, Edgecombe, and Simons off the bench, and suddenly you’re getting attacked in transition too. Ask anyone who’s tried fighting this roster in 2K how miserable it is to game plan for a team that can beat you at two different speeds depending on who’s on the floor.

Look, I’m not saying banners are guaranteed. Health matters, chemistry takes time, and pressure does strange things to teams that haven’t won together yet. But if you’re a rival executive right now, you’re not sleeping easy. This is must see TV starting in October. And if this group stays healthy, the conversation won’t be whether LeBron can still chase one more title. It’ll be whether anyone in the East has enough answers for everything Philadelphia can throw at them.

I can’t wait to see this team come to Chase Center.

Last season defense was hard to come by for the Utah Jazz as they allowed an NBA worst 126 points per game. How will they fare this year with Walker Kessler’s departure and a retooled roster with its sights set on a playoff spot?

There’s no question that losing Kessler to the Lakers is a blow to the team’s defensive potential. In his last full season with the Jazz (2024-2025), Walker posted a gaudy 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. By comparison, Kyle Filipowski led last year’s squad in rebounds with 7.2 per game, and Ace Bailey led the team in blocks with 0.7. One of the big questions for the upcoming season is are there enough deputies to replace The Sheriff?

The projected starting lineup for 2026-2027 certainly has more than enough height to battle for rebounds and affect an opponent’s shots. Both Markkanen and Jackson Jr. are bruisers at 7’1” and 6’10” respectively and have physiques like NFL tight ends. The three games they shared the front court last season hinted at their potential defensive partnership. The Jazz won two out of the three games, including an impressive away win against the Miami Heat, in which the pair combined for 11 defensive rebounds and the team as a whole held the Heat to 111 points. Jackson Jr. also showcased his ability to pick the other team’s pocket and create additional possessions for his teammates, averaging 2 steals a game.

But neither big man is known as a shot blocker nor is expected to consistently produce double digit rebounds. Other players will need to step in to make up the deficit. Ace Bailey at 6’9” has added muscle in the off season, which will help his ability to contend in the paint and build on his team leading block totals from last year. There is also the option of starting Jusuf Nurkic at center, who showed last season that his ability to rebound the ball is underrated. He didn’t play enough games for his statistics to count in team leading averages, but in the 41 games he did play, he pulled in an impressive 10.4 rebounds a game, including 7.8 on the defensive end. The Jazz would give up some athleticism starting Nurkic over Bailey, but they would also benefit from having a savvy veteran with a nose for the basketball.

One of the most intriguing questions for the upcoming season is how Darryn Peterson and Keyonte George will mesh in the backcourt. This will be especially important defensively as the Jazz’s perimeter defense last year was like a sieve. As a 6’5” 199 lb guard, Peterson brings size to the position and a defensive intensity which produced 15 blocks and 34 steals in 24 games at Kansas. The big question is how this will translate in the NBA and whether he can maintain that intensity without getting in foul trouble. And if as a tandem, he and George can provide some consistent resistance to the skilled ball handlers and three-point assassins on opposing teams.

The supporting cast’s defensive development will also go a long way in how successful the Jazz are this season. John Konchar made a name for himself as an all-round defensive pest, averaging 2 steals and 1 block in the 26 games he played last season. Bez Mbeng showed glimpses of his defensive prowess in the short time he’s been with the Jazz. Will Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams take a step forward defensively? What roles will new additions Jaxson Hayes and Josh Okogie play in the defensive development of the team? Will the second coming of Mo Bamba provide a much-needed boost from the bench? So many questions…

The key is that one player is not the answer in turning arguably the worst defensive team in the league last year into a coordinated group which can hold its own when it matters most. Coach Hardy’s challenge is molding the players’ defensive strengths into a cohesive unit, one that will bend, but not break. Games often come down to key defensive moments—who can forget Lebron racing the length of the court to block Iguodala’s shot in the 2016 NBA Finals?—and the Jazz have an opportunity to use them as momentum to finally propel them into the post season.

After a European tour, Mario Hezonja is making an NBA comeback.

The Cavaliers signed Hezonja, 31, to a one-year contract, marking his return to the NBA for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Hezonja played pro ball in Greece, Russia, and Spain over the last six years.

Hezonja played for Real Madrid this past season, where he won the Liga ACB Most Valuable Player award after averaging 15 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Hezonja spent four years with Real Madrid and won a EuroLeague championship with the team in 2023, along with consecutive Liga ACB titles in 2024 and 2025.

Hezonja was selected fifth overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2015 NBA Draft and played 330 games for the Magic, Knicks, and Trail Blazers in his first NBA stint. Hezonja, who was born in Dubrovnik, is one of the highest-drafted Croatian-born players in league history.

On Friday, Hezonja spoke out about his new organization.

“Never liked how I left the NBA but these past 5 years have been exactly what I wanted and much needed!” Hezonja posted to X while tagging the Cavaliers. “I am super happy that my new chapter is with a team and organization that I have always admired and respected!”

Hezonja had a couple of memorable moments as a Knick — who he spent the 2018-19 season with — including a game-winning block against LeBron James and the Lakers in March 2019 and recording his first career triple-double the following month.

Hezonja then signed with Portland before being traded to Memphis in 2020.

The Grizzlies waived him less than a month later, and then Hezonja began his overseas career for Greek club Panathinaikos.

From there, Hezonja signed with Russian team UNICS Kazan and then headed to Real Madrid for four seasons, where he became one of the most accomplished players in Europe during his tenure.

The Cavs signed Hezonja after missing out on a James return when he signed with the Sixers earlier this month.

A heartfelt congratulations from The Slipper Still Fits to forward/center Zach Collins on his two-year, $17 million contract extension to stay with the Chicago Bulls through the 2027-28 season. The injury bug has unfortunately hit the Gonzaga Bulldog quite a lot throughout his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and with Chicago, so this new deal is a major victory for Collins as he enters his ninth season in the NBA.

The site appreciates the 2016 McDonald’s All-American out of powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Nevada, sharing some of his offseason time to discuss his lone season with the Zags back in 2016-17, senior center Przemek Karnowski being his vet, his standout performance against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.

Just an entertaining conversation with the big man from top to bottom. Check it out below.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

The Golden State Warriors are set to run it back with the same group as last season, but are reportedly monitoring a potential reunion.

According to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, his sources have confirmed that if Kevin Durant were to become available next season, the Warriors would welcome him back.

“The organization has not completely moved on from the idea of one day reuniting [Steph] Curry with former Warrior and two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant,” Siegel wrote. “Lacob and the Warriors would welcome Durant back with open arms, much like they were prepared to do in 2025 before he and his business partner Rich Kleiman stopped the trade deadline deal in its tracks.”

Siegel went on to note that the reason Durant stopped a potential reunion in 2025 was because he was looking for stability in Phoenix.

That obviously never materialized. Durant was traded by the Suns to the Houston Rockets. The Warriors, meanwhile, were left to deal for Jimmy Butler, who missed significant time due to injury.

Butler tore his ACL in January, setting back the franchise by the bay. The expectation is for Butler to return to the Warriors roster, but a return date is still unknown.

The narrative of the Warriors’ offseason has been a swing and miss, as they’ve consistently missed out on acquiring another star to pair alongside Curry, Butler, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis.

On Thursday, head coach Steve Kerr admitted he is content with his current group and didn’t even think the team had a chance to land LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers a week ago.

Golden State’s roster does have one key addition. The Warriors selected Yaxel Lendeborg out of Michigan with the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and is expected to play a major role.

Lendeborg has been impressive in his short time with the team, as he led Golden State’s Summer League team to a championship earlier this month. He was crowned the series MVP for a 21 point, 10 rebound, and 2 steal performance.

Despite the team reportedly being content, the reality of the Warriors is that it’s an aging group that has been decimated by injuries, and Curry is only getting older.

Curry, 38, who is considered the greatest shooter of this era of basketball, missed 39 games for the Warriors last season as he was dealing with runner’s knee.

When Durant was a member of Golden State from 2016-2019, it was some of the best basketball of his career. The future Hall of Famer helped the team win two NBA championships and was crowned Finals MVP both times, while averaging 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.