SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 7: Blake Hinson #25 and Justin Harmon #44 of the Utah Jazz look on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 7, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz, in fact, did not get to see Darryn Peterson and the Jazz come out with a dominant second game in Las Vegas. Quite the contrary; they were completely overwhelmed and throttled. Now the Jazz have officially been eliminated from Summer League Championship play. The roster, thus far, hasn’t shown many standouts that make their case for training camp deals.
But now they’ll have more eyes on them than ever. Utah continues to shuffle along the Las Vegas mess, finishing the end of a back-to-back against the 0-1 Chicago Bulls at the Thomas & Mack Center. It was after the conclusion of Sunday night’s game that it was announced Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey and Cody Williams have been ruled out of today’s matchup. I doubt we’ll see any of them against San Antonio on Wednesday, nor their consolidation game once the Summer League Playoffs begin.
It truly was a shame for the NBA, which continued to rack up the top of the draft’s prospects against Peterson. Caleb Wilson was next on the slate following gladiator battles with Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Keaton Wagler. Wilson himself had a historic debut in a 97-96 loss against the aforementioned Boozer and Memphis. He racked up 35 points and 5 stocks while shooting 12-21 from the field that included 7-11 from beyond the arc. This set an NBA Summer League debut scoring record and is the second-most points in a Vegas debut since the event began in 2004. We’ve all been riveted about Peterson over at Jazz Nation, but anyone in the top four has felt ‘Giddey’ about how their prospects have played thus far.
Kennedy Chandler, who the Jazz brought in on two separate 10-day deals last season, is also on the Bulls G League roster. He opened up with 11 points and 5 assists going into his debut. Noa Essengue may be the laughing stock after being the victim of a devastating tomahawk poster, but he’s quickly knocking off cobwebs after missing nearly the entirety of his rookie season. His defensive versatility posed a challenge against Cam Boozer in the paint.
No Darryn Peterson. No Ace Bailey. Wait, Cody was playing? Who on God’s green Earth will be on the floor for the shorthanded Jazz? The good thing is, we’ve already seen it. In Salt Lake City Summer League, at least, when that same Jazz team completely annihilated the equally shorthanded OKC Thunder 103-69.
Blake Hinson has already earned himself a two-way spot on the Jazz, but he’s likely to have the ball coming in his hands a whole lot more if he continues to play. Slimming down 25 to 29 pounds has completely revamped his conditioning and speed on the court. It’s become completely apparent that the Jazz found a hidden gem in Hinson, enough to keep him over Elijah Harkless this summer. He quietly finished yesterday with 16 points on 4-8 shooting, sinking 2-3 three-pointers from downtown. Expect him to get an extended number of touches tonight.
Tamar Bates was another under-the-radar signing for the Jazz this offseason. He originally signed a deal with the Denver Nuggets last season, but was cut that same season due to a fractured foot. So far for the Jazz, Bates has proved to be a highly energetic player. He operates as a catch-and-shoot player who has the potential to be a scrappy off-ball defender. You won’t see his performance show up on the stat sheet all that often, but make no mistake, Bates has an impact if you watch him play.
If anyone were to earn themselves any sort of preseason deal, Jonas Aidoo has put together the best resume. The 6’11 big’s skillset is anchored by elite rim protection, mobility, and efficient paint-scoring. It’s unsurprising, considering he’s a reigning G League Champion who started for the Greensboro Swarm. He’s followed that with an insane Summer League run that can persuade me into thinking he’s a solid third center for the main Jazz roster. Aidoo’s best performance this July by far has been his game against OKC, where he posted 16 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks. Now against Chicago, he’s likely got a massive Caleb Wilson assignment on his hands to prove he belongs in this league.
In philosophy, possibility is the study of what could be true, what is necessary, and what is impossible. For instance, it is entirely coherent to imagine Bez Mbeng outscoring Caleb Wilson without creating a logical contradiction. Does the fact that Bez Mbeng has never actually outscored Caleb Wilson in a game yet only exists as an abstract concept in an alternate possible world, or does his real-world triple-double in April prove that the condition of possibility was already fully active in our actual universe? The power of possibility is not found in what we fail to reach, but in the frameworks that allow us to aim for it in the first place.
Is it coherent for you, the viewer, to turn on your television screen and watch sicko Summer League Hoops? It is all in the realm of possibility, my friend.
Happy All-Star break to all who celebrate. May we all come away from this refreshed and ready for what awaits us in the next half, which kicks off Friday at home versus the Rangers.
This week is for rest and recovery, but also a secret third R: rehab.
The Braves (55-40) have announced that Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim will both begin rehab assignments with the FCL Braves. They play in North Port, Florida at noon today.
Acuña Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with his second Grade 1 hamstring strain this season on June 10. This one was believed to be milder than the one that kept him on the shelf between May 3 and May 18. Even so, the Braves have understandably erred on the side of caution in not rushing him back.
Kim was placed on the 10-day IL on July 4 with right middle finger inflammation. We don’t need to belabor the season Kim is having, but here’s hoping something about this IL stint does him some good on the path to playing at a Major League level.
Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim today begin rehabilitation assignments with the FCL Braves.
One of the key points we discovered last time when looking at catcher offense is that each position stands on its own. The big league average for bases per out is .676, but that number is rarely ever the most relevant number. At first glance, it would appear that Christian Walker should be an American League all-star. He is at worst solid defensively and he has added 20 home runs (as of this writing) by the all-star break. However, we might be signing a different tune when we look at the American League numbers.
We are setting up the same rules as we did last time. Qualifying players need at least 120 outs and have had to play some first base. This will obviously include some designated hitters, but DH is not really so much of a position as a sanctioned strategy. So, when we profile Yordan Alvarez later on, he will be profiled as a left fielder. Given those caveats, there are 19 players that qualify for the analysis.
What we are looking for is an analysis of mean and median. It is one thing to say that the average big league hitter has a ,676 BPO. It is another to look at first basemen and see what their average is. Mean is of course what most people know as the numerical average. Median is the number in the middle. When we have smaller data sets we will commonly see some discrepancies between the mean and the median.
Bases per out is calculated by adding total bases, walks, stolen bases, and hit by pitches and dividing it by total outs. The general idea is that it is more inclusive and accurate than OPS. It encompasses everything a player does offensively. How is Christian Walker doing as compared to the typical American League first basemen?
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
Nick Kurtz
251
166
76
7
2
1.000
Ben Rice
249
197
46
2
3
.996
Munetaka Murakama
162
114
44
1
2
.988
Willson Contreras
235
169
35
2
14
.936
Yandy Diaz
241
165
37
1
9
.880
Jonathan Aranda
253
156
51
0
7
.846
Pete Alonso
277
164
50
2
4
.794
Cody Clemens
232
145
21
6
5
.763
Paul Goldschmidt
178
114
17
1
3
.758
Christian Walker
279
164
32
0
7
.728
Spencer Torkelson
257
133
41
0
5
.696
Jake Burger
258
143
28
2
3
.682
Josh Bell
260
145
27
1
2
.673
Rhys Hoskins
183
78
42
0
3
.672
Nolan Schanuel
217
109
25
0
5
.641
Vlad Guerrero Jr.
261
115
40
6
4
.632
Josh Naylor
277
122
29
18
3
.621
Kyle Manzardo
213
95
32
0
4
.615
Vinnue Pasquantino
204
89
32
3
1
.613
Mean
236.1
135.9
41.1
2.7
4.5
.780
Median
241
139
35
1
3
.729
I certainly don’t have a degree in mathematics and I don’t teach it during the school year, but it isn’t difficult to see patterns. Generally speaking, the more success you have the more opportunities you get. So, the numbers on top are driving the mean up. This is the most important reason why the median makes more sense as a benchmark. If you look at who is literally in the middle it is Christian Walker.
Again, the components and the end results don’t quite add up because of the differences in opportunity. If you crunch those numbers in the median column you will not get .729. You will actually get .739. Either way, that number seems like a much more reasonable number when looking at the average of the position in the American League. We can also see clearly, that Walker really doesn’t have any business being near the All-Star game with the number of productive players we have here.
What is more interesting is pegging whether Walker is actually worth the 20 million dollars he is being paid. As per usual, that depends on how you phrase the question. In terms of pure value is actually probably pretty close. He was worth 0.3 BWAR last season, but has been worth 1.8 BWAR through the all-star break. That probably prorates to something around 3.0 BWAR. If each win is worth eight million dollars then he would need five WAR to equal that amount. He was worth 1.1 FWAR last year and has 1.6 FWAR this season. If we are to believe Fangraphs then he comes reasonably close overall and certainly earns his money this season. We can also look at his overall numbers as an Astro and compare that with BPO.
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
Christian Walker 2025-2026
740
410
72
2
18
.678
So, again this is a question of perspective. According to these numbers, Walker has been a league average hitter overall in his time in Houston. However, the numbers above would indicate that he is not an average first basemen. The NL may not have the heavyweights that the AL has at first base, so he might end up looking better in the overall scheme of things, but clearly whether he has been worth the expense depends greatly on how you ask the question.
In the last article, we asked what Diaz would need to do differently to help advance the Astros offense. Walker clearly just needs to keep doing what he is doing. If he ends up with between 30 and 35 home runs and close to 100 RBI then that feels like a really good season for him. One of the biggest mistakes that teams and fans make is that they expect that big time dollars somehow make you something you are not. Walker’s 2026 numbers are in line with his career numbers. He has been the guy that he was before he came to Houston in 2026. No one should have expected him to be anything more than that.
The balance of power in the NBA flipped dramatically this offseason, after a flurry of big acquisitions turned the Eastern Conference into a hotbed of contenders.
With so many players changing homes, let’s rank the top 10 teams in the East based on likelihood to represent the conference in the 2027 NBA Finals...
10: Magic
A team that was largely quiet, the biggest thing going for Orlando is a bet on better health and their new head coach, Sean Sweeney. They have some of the best on-paper talent in the East that’s failed to unlock its full potential in recent years. Could this be the one?
9: Hawks
The Hawks are banking on the back half of last season not being a fluke, doubling down on smart guard additions in Devin Carter and Aaron Wiggins, plus drafting Kingston Flemings. They can easily sneak their way into a high seed while the rest of the East works through new teammates and injury concerns.
8: Pistons
All-Star center Jalen Duren still hasn’t re-signed, but even if he does, the Pistons needed a stronger summer to push themselves to new heights. With their spacing and secondary creation sticking out as major weaknesses in the playoffs, their one needle-mover was trading for Isaiah Joe, and otherwise swapping one middling power forward for another and trading away Caris LeVert.
7: Heat
Pat Riley made the biggest splash of the summer in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, forming a dynamic duo with center Bam Adebayo. The talent speaks for itself, but the fit and supporting cast aren’t saying anything pretty.
Their current starting backcourt is Davion Mitchell and Tim Hardaway Jr., and they’ll be relying on a thin bench to help fill out the rotation. What’s more is their spacing will be a big question mark, especially in the postseason.
6: Cavaliers
The Cavs, like a few teams on this list, can vault a few spots if one particular pending free agent decides to sign here. In the meantime, they’re returning about the same roster from their Conference Finals run last year, hoping a James Harden training camp and the drafting of Meleek Thomas gives them an edge.
May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives the ball against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the second quarter during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. / David Butler II-Imagn Images
5: Celtics
As we saw last season, Boston has the depth and system to power through the regular season despite any on-paper talent they might be lacking. They can now double down on that system with a cleaner fit in Paul George, and a bolstered rotation thanks to the acquisitions of Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley.
4: 76ers
Adding a top talent and capable innings-eater like Jaylen Brown will do wonders for Philadelphia's regular season record and ultimate postseason ceiling, but plenty of questions remain. A Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid-centric offense now has a 1A guy thrown in the middle -- one who can’t drift into a supporting role for stretches as seamlessly as the previous player in his position.
The spacing and defense with Brown in the rotation is just the tip of the iceberg. Their depth is still questionable and while we’re assuming full health, we haven’t seen Embiid play 40 regular season games in three seasons, and his postseason impact is slowly degrading as well.
3: Pacers
Everybody seems to be sleeping on the 2025 Finals runner-up after an injury-riddled and Tyrese Haliburton-less 2026 season. Perhaps that’s because they were quiet this summer relative to the rest of the East, or because they’re replacing a spread five with paint-centric Ivica Zubac.
But if Haliburton is back and healthy, and they can avoid another avalanche of bad luck, Indiana will be in prime position to take advantage. Teams will be adjusting to new players and systems while the Pacers can pick up on the fast-paced chemistry they already built between their two All-Stars and strong supporting cast.
2: Raptors
Assuming the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through without a hitch, Toronto becomes the biggest threat to New York, pairing Scottie Barnes and his talented group with a legitimate alpha and postseason killer. The Raptors took the Cavs to seven games in last year’s first round without Immanuel Quickley, and are banking on improvements from Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamal Shead, plus whatever contributions they get from rookie Allen Graves.
Fans may point to Leonard’s availability, but if he’s healthy enough to get them to the postseason and suit up at that level, they could beat anybody in the East. Toronto's defense will be near flawless and adding an efficient 28 points per game scorer materially changes their offense.
The reigning champs still hold the crown, despite the improvements to their competition and the loss of Mitchell Robinson. They signed Andre Drummond in Robinson's place and re-signed the rest of their championship core, setting the stage for a repeat attempt.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Jase Bowen #4 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Rodolfo Duran #48 after scoring a run during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In their final turn at-bat in their final game of the ceremonial first half of the season, the San Diego Padres had their best inning of offensive execution, and the result was a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The win not only allowed the Padres to get their first series win of July it also sent them into the All-Star break with a .500 record at 48-48. Mason Miller, who locked down his 25th save of the season, is the lone All-Star for San Diego so the rest of the team will use the break to rest and reset for a potential playoff push in the second half of the year.
The Padres entered the bottom of the eighth inning trailing the Blue Jays, 4-3. Adrian Morejon allowed a run in the top of the inning during his second inning of work. Toronto turned to former closer Jeff Hoffman hoping to hold the lead and setup a potential save situation for their new closer, Louis Varland. Xander Bogaerts opened the inning with an infield single, which brought Manny Machado to the plate. Bogaerts stole second to move into scoring position, and Machado followed with a single into left-center field which tied the game at 4-4.
Gavin Sheets then grounded out to the shortstop, but Machado was able to advance to second on the play and was lifted for pinch-runner Jase Bowen. The rookie stole third base to put the winning run 90 feet away with Ty France at the plate with one out. France, who hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth inning in the second game of the series, hit a deep fly ball into right-center field that carried all the way to the warning track. The ball was deep enough to allow Bowen to tag up and easily score from third base to put the Padres ahead, 5-4. Jake Cronenworth hit a two-out single, but the inning ended when Rodolfo Duran flied out to right field.
Miller came in for the save in the top of the ninth inning and made quick work of the three batters he faced. He got Ernie Clement to ground out to third base, Myles Straw to pop out to second base and put the punctuation mark on the inning and the game when he got Vladamir Guerrero Jr. to strikeout on three pitches with a nasty slider that finished in the left-hand batter’s box. Miller needed just eight pitches, seven of which were strikes, to ensure San Diego went into the break with some momentum for the second half of the season.
Machado’s game-tying hit in the bottom of the eighth inning was his third of the game. He finished the day 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Cronenworth was the only other Padres hitter to have a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI, which came in the second inning to score the first run of the game for San Diego.
German Marquez started the game for the Padres and lasted four innings. He allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He was hurt by the long ball as all three runs for the Blue Jays scored on home runs. Marquez allowed a solo home run in the first inning to Nathan Lukes and a two-run home run in the fourth inning to Clement.
San Diego returns to action on Friday on the road against the Kansas City Royals.
The earthquake in Venezuela affected multiple players across MLB and many are finding ways to show their support for their home country. Padres reliever Bradgley Rodriguez is one of those players.
According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, Padres general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller wants to buy at the trade deadline, and the San Diego club will have to convince him to do so.
Baseball News:
Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays and Christopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies have been named as the starters for the All-Star game.
The Baltimore Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals that included the benches clearing following a hit-by-pitch that resulted in an injury for the Orioles.
LAS VEGAS — The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft looked exactly like that on Sunday.
AJ Dybantsa had 23 points on 6-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks in 24 minutes to help the Washington Wizards defeat the Kings and remain undefeated in NBA Summer League action.
Dybantsa had 27 points in his NBA Summer League debut Thursday.
The Kings haven’t had that type of consistent offensive production from their rookies — yet.
Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick, already has shown flashes of his superstar potential and the readiness and willingness to be the future face of the franchise in Sacramento.
But his efficiency hasn’t been up to his standards by any means, and he’s made that known.
“I got to be better, though,” Acuff said after scoring 19 points in Sacramento’s win Thursday. “I’m playing terrible. Too inefficient. I got to make more shots in a row and get my teammates involved more.”
The efficiency didn’t get any better in Sunday’s loss, as Acuff finished with 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field, missing all four of his 3-point attempts, with four assists and five turnovers in 28 minutes.
The concerns about his defense also have shown in glimpses, but the hope is that there is time for growth in that department.
Alex Karaban, the Kings’ No. 29 pick, finally scored his first points of summer league on Sunday.
The former UConn forward missed all three games of the California Classic as he recovered from an ankle sprain, making his official debut with the team on Thursday.
Karaban went scoreless in 24 minutes, shooting 0 of 6 from the field and 0 of 4 from downtown and adding two rebounds, one assist, three turnovers and one block.
He attempted just three shots in Sunday’s loss, making one 3-pointer in 23 minutes.
The Kings aren’t worried about the scoring, however, as they expect that to come. He still has made a lot of good defensive plays and is a smart player overall.
“I’m happy that he got his first summer league points today,” Maxime Raynaud said after the loss. “He also makes a lot of winning plays. Obviously, I don’t know if he shows in the box score, but his activity on the offensive board, I think that’s what opened some rebounds for Dylan [Cardwell] and I, even for himself, actually, He communicates a lot, and I mean, he’s able to be a good shooter to get down here as well.
“We’ve only been together for like what five, six days. Me, personally, only two. But I’m pretty sure it’s like you know, as we spend more time together, it’s gonna be good fun.”
Kings summer league coach Chris Darnell shared what his conversations with Karaban have been like.
“I’m just trying to tell him to play his game,” Darnell said. “Like, hey, maybe last game we didn’t make shots, but we know he’s a high-level shot maker. He’s a high-level connector, and one of those guys that created damages from this. … He’s a guy that doesn’t need a play called for him. He doesn’t need a certain action. Like he’s really good at reading the floor, reading the spacing on the floor. Very smart defender. It’s probably on me that I can put him in spots to be more aggressive.
“But overall, I think he’s a guy that just impacts the game again without any direct action. He’s just almost like a coach on the floor, just from the way he sees the game, the spacing.”
Emanuel Sharp also struggled shooting the ball Sunday, finishing with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field and 1 of 6 from 3-point range in 22 minutes, but the Kings’ second-round draft pick has been the most consistently impressive rookie on both ends of the floor thus far.
Summer league is all about going through the ups and downs, learning and getting a feel for the game at the NBA level.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Liam McNeeley #33 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on July 12, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas opened with a bang for multiple former Huskies. Liam McNeeley put on a show for Charlotte in their win over Orlando, putting up 28 points on 7-for-8 from downtown.
“I mean, a little nerves early on and they’re a team (Orlando) that’s got a little bit older guys, if you will, for summer league,” he explained. “So just kind of getting our feet settled into the game and responding to that physicality,” said McNeeley.
After being drafted late in the first round of the 2025 draft, McNeeley had a slower start to his NBA career, averaging 4.3 points in 31 games played for the Hornets. Year two for the soon-to-be 21-year-old could see him making the rotation after Charlotte moved off of star guard LaMelo Ball. McNeeley’s performance in this year’s Summer League can be the key reason McNeeley will get more looks during his sophomore season.
Liam McNeeley (28 PTS, 7-8 3PM) shot the LIGHTS OUT from deep 🔥
Looking over this season’s rookie class, Alex Karaban missed the California Classic due to a right ankle sprain during team practice on July 2. Karaban was cleared to play Thursday against the Clippers as he finished scoreless in 24 minutes, picking up 2 rebounds and an assist.
Tarris Reed made his debut in the California Classic earlier this week. The Kodiak Bear picked up right where he left off back in March as he put up a pair of double-doubles against the Lakers and Hawks. Reed scored 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting in his first game against Los Angeles as he hauled in 12 rebounds and 1 assist. In his second game, we saw more of the same, as he made his presence known by dominating the glass and making shots down low, putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Dan Hurley made an appearance on the broadcast during the Houston vs Denver game and had much praise for his center.
Dan Hurley talked about Tarris Reed Jr.'s transformation into a first-round pick for the Spurs:
"Getting that guy to play with an identity, a dominance around the basket, becoming a great screener, rim protector, rebounder. Getting him to do things that aren't very sexy at a… pic.twitter.com/YTTaMkLJTN
Tristen Newton, who was a key benefactor in the back-to-back National Championships, was on the floor for Houston with Hurley in attendance. Newton finished the night with 13 points and 3 steals, making a smooth and-one finish as Hurley shouted “Gimme that!” as he saw the ball fall through the basket.
Tristen Newton grabs a tough and-one score in front of Coach Dan Hurley
Hurley made it clear that Newton can be a rotational player. Newton was named to the All-NBA G League First Team for the 2025-26 season, averaging 25.6 points for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s affiliate. Just like McNeeley, the Summer League may turn some coaches’ heads and get some Huskies NBA minutes.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 12: Brayan Bello #66 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After not exactly lighting the world on fire in AAA, Brayan Bello nonetheless returned to the big leagues yesterday. And he shoved: 4.1 IP, 5 K, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB.
So the obvious question is: what now? The Red Sox do have room in the rotation — at least for now — with Ranger Suárez and Connelly Early on the IL. Moreover, as we saw in yesterday’s stunted start, the team is going to attempt to limit the workload of Payton Tolle in his first full season. Yet it must be said that Bello once again came out of the bullpen yesterday, and has not yet proven that he can be as effective in a starting role this year.
So what comes next for Bello? Is he thrown back into the rotation? Does he go in on a piggybacking timeshare with Tolle for the time being?
Use this space to talk about whatever you want. Be good to each other and go Sox.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 12: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-winning, walk-off single against the Houston Astros in the bottom of the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on July 12, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Kennedi Landry writes that after MacKenzie Gore stepped up for a short notice start, Brandon Nimmo provided the walk-off to send the Texas Rangers to the All-Star break with a winning record.
Shawn McFarland writes that the comeback win over Houston after they had lost a late lead shows that Skip Schumaker’s bid for clubhouse culture is taking shape.
Landry writes about the incoming draft class after the Rangers added 16 prospects on the draft’s final day yesterday.
McFarland writes that the Rangers are likely to sign potential first-round talent Brody Bumila after he slipped to them in the third round.
Landry writes that the big left-hander Bumila could be a steal for Texas but he will have to recover from arm surgery before he can make his mark.
McFarland notes that the Rangers had to spend light on Day 2 of the draft after jumping on some guys who fell to them on Day 1.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fittingly, Tyler Herro used the song ‘Coming Home’ in his farewell video to the Miami Heat. On the same day, he also posted a drenched Bucks workout singlet to his Instagram story, along with a Twitter post reading “414” when the trade was announced in principle a few weeks ago. Whether he gets traded to another location or not between now and the start of the season, this is a man who is genuinely excited about the prospect of playing in his home state, which, like it or not, is not something pro athletes often say about Wisconsin.
I’m starting to come around.
From obscurity to celebrity: The come-up
As most Wisconsinites are aware, Tyler Herro grew up in Greenfield, just a 20-minute drive from the heart of Milwaukee. He starred at Whitnall High School, committing early to attend the University of Wisconsin. Later, though, Herro decommitted from UW to accept an offer from the University of Kentucky, which, it must be said, upset a few folks back home. It’s worth mentioning that Herro was not some automatic one-and-done prospect coming into his freshman season at Lexington, like so many Wildcat recruits are. The risky decision to step away from the comfort of Wisconsin into the firestorm of Kentucky took, as Kobe would say, “cajones” and, looking back, was a microcosm of the fearless mindset that would set Herro apart in the coming years.
Before long, the (wild)cat was out of the bag. Coach Cal injected Herro into his starting lineup from the jump, and he did not disappoint. His slick scoring and feel led him to average 14.0 PPG, 4.50 RPG, and 2.50 APG, and he went on to be named the SEC’s Rookie of the Year. Herro later declared for the 2019 NBA Draft, where he was selected 13th by the Miami Heat.
Feet to the Heat
The kid known as “Boy Wonder” experienced a baptism-by-fire in his rookie season—on multiple levels. I mean, his rookie year was quite literally interrupted by a worldwide pandemic; yet and still, though, his numbers in the shortened regular season were phenomenal, averaging 13.5 PPG on nearly 40% shooting from deep while playing on a team that was trying to compete for the title (which they did, of course, downing our very own Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2019-20 NBA Playoffs). Herro was one of the headline stories to come out of those playoffs, announcing himself, at that time, as a near-untouchable piece of the Heat’s future.
Durability issues aside, Herro has been among the NBA’s upper echelon of players since that point. From year two to year three, he dramatically upped his PPG average from 15.1 to 20.7—a mark he has spent the rest of his career around. Herro won Sixth Man of the Year for the 2021-22 season and was selected as an All-Star three years later. Frankly, for all the issues people might have with the 26-year-old—and I’ve been a skeptic, to be sure—you look at the stats and have to concede that, when healthy, this is a damn good player who can contribute to winning basketball in the right situation. Over the last five seasons, Herro has averaged 21.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG while shooting 38.4% from three on a whopping 7.7 attempts per contest. He’s good!
Herro’s offensive game is built on the back of his three-point shooting ability. I mentioned his raw shooting stats above, but looking at the advanced tracking, there is no drop-off even when you differentiate his catch-and-shoot threes (37.3%) from his pull-ups (38.7%)—both on high volume, mind you. For whatever he lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for with craft. The Bucks will have touches to soak up (to some extent), and Herro is comfortable operating with a high usage, as evidenced by his shooting 50.3% on all shots taken off 3-6 dribbles, which, aside from off 0 dribbles, easily accounts for his most frequent shot taken. Yes, Herro will need to be insulated on defence, but I also think he’ll be highly motivated to shed the “poor defender” tag that has dogged him for his entire career.
Boy Wonder’s future in the Cream City
Look, is Herro a top option on a champion team? No way. But his reputation in the league simply doesn’t do justice to the player he has become. Behind the loud bravado and ostentatiousness lies an extremely talented hooper who is clearly motivated to prove the doubters wrong; trust me, this man is keenly aware that Pat Riley has attempted to trade him multiple times. And let me tell you something else: with nothing in the way of draft picks to play for this year, I am very down for a revenge-fuelled season powered by healthy levels of spite and pettiness, with none other than Herro leading that charge.
Now, would it be a smart choice for the Bucks to invest in Herro as a franchise pillar for the next 5-10 years? Probably not. Investing in him long-term may well be like choosing to satisfy your hunger with candy: it’ll have you feeling a buzz in the moment, but it’s not sustainable in the long run. At the same time, the Bucks don’t necessarily have to know what the “long run” looks like for a few years yet, and I’m not opposed to a sugar rush.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 06: Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves stands for the national anthem before the game against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is kind of a weird question, but hear me out.
As it stands right now, the Braves are on pace for a 94-win season. That’s pretty good! Of course, you all know about how June (especially June 9-30) was a nightmare, and the best the Braves have managed since is .500 ball. So, at the same time, the bar to clear is both reasonable (playing above a 94-win pace for 2.5 months) and perhaps very high up there (a team that is among the worst in MLB for the past six weeks playing above a 94-win pace for 2.5 months).
But, I want to flag something else, which is that despite their record, the Braves’ production has been mediocre. Part of this is a brief story about the edges of production: once your production is high enough, you win more than expected since both your run scoring and run prevention make it hard to lose; at the same time, when any of your production is low enough, it’s hard to win.
Through June 8, the Braves were fourth in position player fWAR and ninth in pitching fWAR. However, the way in which they layered those got them way more wins than you’d expect from a top-ten team in both. I don’t really mean this is sequencing or a benefit from BABIP or anything, it’s more just that if you’re good at both, you can squeak out wins when one doesn’t fire. Combine that with some aggressive pitching management to make sure that you deploy the pitching when the offense isn’t pulling its weight, and yeah, that team probably shouldn’t have been 45-21, but that’s what happened.
After June 8, the Braves are 29th in position player fWAR and 23rd in pitching fWAR. That’s really bad. They’re maybe a little lucky to have gone 10-19 (case in point, the game against the Cardinals on Sunday), but that’s also about what you’d expect a bottom ten team in both to do.
So, put that together, and the Braves are still riding a bit of a “our record is way better than our production” from earlier in the season.
Which brings me to my question: do you think that the Braves can get back to their 94-win pace over the 67 games that remain? I tend to think “no” unless they go back to the same type of management they were doing through the first two months… and even that’s a stretch, because the management has to result in the same rate of wins, which isn’t likely. But, that’s why I’m throwing it out there. What do you think?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Manager Larry Bowa #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies on the American League Team looks on during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Futures Game is a big part of the All-Star weekend in which teams send representatives from their minor league system to participate in what amounts to a prospect list All-Star Game. The problem is that, while it should be something of a showcase event, MLB has decided in recent years to banish it when other MLB games are on and to shorten it to seven innings, both stupid ideas.
The question is: did you watch any of it? It really is a game that is for baseball sickos since there are probably a lot of names people that aren’t diehards do not know. We, of course, know Gage Wood, the pitcher that started the game for the National League side and most probably know Wei-Hui Pan, the right hander in the team’s organization. Other than that, you’d have to dig deep to know many of the names.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 05: Third baseman Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 05, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Orioles traded for Blaze Alexander back in February, expectations were modest. The former 11th-round pick had been useful in his time with the Diamondbacks, showing positional versatility and some speed on the bases. But his outlook was still that of a bench player that could fill in here and there. And that’s similar to how the Orioles used him earlier this season until a combination of poor play around him and consistent performance from Alexander pushed him into a regular role. Now, with the 27-year-old on the IL with a broken hand for several weeks at least, the Orioles are left scrambling to replace him.
It won’t be easy. Alexander had become a force in the team’s lineup. He owns a .310/.368/.439 batting line on the season. That even includes some early-season struggles (.177/.250/.210 line in March/April) that bring his overall numbers down. Since May 25, Alexander is slashing .388/.442/.578 with four home runs, eight doubles, one triple, nine walks, and 21 strikeouts. You could make an argument that he has been one of the league’s absolute best hitters in that—rather lengthy—stretch.
Alexander’s breakthrough had seemingly solved one of the team’s biggest holes at third base. With Jordan Westburg on the shelf, the Orioles attempted to hand the job to Coby Mayo early in the year. But the young slugger hasn’t shown himself to be a viable everyday player. His .193/.264/.395 line this year is similar to what he produced in an underwhelming 2025 campaign.
However, Mayo has carved a fine niche for himself by crushing left-handed pitching to the tune of a 1.092 OPS this season. That’s an area where Alexander had struggled (.672 OPS this year), so little will change when the opposing team is starting a southpaw.
Against right-handed pitchers, however, this will present a problem for manager Craig Albernaz. And that’s a pretty massive issue, since three-quarters of major league pitchers throw with their right hand.
Mayo (.447 OPS against RHP this season) is virtually unplayable in those situations. Jeremiah Jackson runs hot and cold, and has a pedestrian .685 OPS against righties this season, but is the likely next man up in this situation. Jackson Holliday took some reps at third base during his rehab earlier this season, but someone needs to man second base, and it’s not as if Holliday has been a stud (.691 OPS) against right-handed pitching this season anyway.
The straightforward solution would be to use Jackson at third base against righties and Mayo against lefties. The duo would then sub in for one another late in games as the matchup dictates. Maybe the Orioles will catch lightning in a bottle with at least one of them.
Jackson has a .737 OPS since the start of June. That’s not awful, though he hasn’t walked at all in that stretch, has been sent down to Triple-A in the middle of it, and is a player that can struggle when overexposed. Mayo has a 1.026 OPS in the month of July, but he is being protected by his manager, rarely facing right-handed pitching at all. It will be difficult to maintain that balance with Alexander on the IL.
Holliday will also be impacted. His bat has been heating up recently (.263/.500/.316 line in July), and he takes some of the best at-bats on the team. But Albernaz has been cycling him in and out of the lineup fairly regularly to keep him fresh and take advantage of matchups. That won’t be as easy to do with Alexander out.
There are no top infield prospects down in Norfolk waiting to come up either. Christian Encarnacion-Strand could get a promotion though. He is already on the 40-man roster and boasts some solid season totals (.273/.309/.555, 17 home runs, 48 RBI), but he strikes out a bunch (30.6% K-rate this season in Triple-A), and owns just a 91 wRC+ across parts of three MLB seasons with the Reds.
Other options currently with the Tides include spring stud Bryan Ramos, who has just a .630 OPS this year, José Barrero, who is OPS’ing .807 and has played in parts of four big league seasons, or the familiar and light-hitting Luis Vàzquez. Both Barrero and Vàzquez can play shortstop, which would be nice to have since Alexander did serve as Gunnar Henderson’s backup, a role that would probably fall to Holliday at the moment.
None of these solutions are particularly attractive, especially with the expectation that Alexander could miss most of what’s left in the regular season, or more. The Orioles could hobble through a brief IL stint with what they have, but if they truly have playoff ambitions then they need something more at third base.
Perhaps the one silver lining of the entire situation is the timing. The Orioles front office now has a few days without games that they can use to evaluate their position, the trade landscape, and the sorts of moves they are willing to make. If they are truly going to pursue a playoff spot, adding an infielder has to be on their shopping list. It can be a third baseman, or it can be a second baseman that would allow them to platoon some combination of Mayo, Holliday, and Jackson at the hot corner.
The trade deadline isn’t for another three weeks, so teams may be reticent to make a move now. Only a handful of clubs are truly “out” of the playoff race. The Royals, Angels, Athletics, Mets, Reds, Giants, and Rockies might be the only clubs ready to sell. And then from that group only a couple of them have players that would fit the Orioles needs and be available in a trade.
Luis Arraez is on an expiring deal and has been tremendous on an otherwise disastrous Giants squad. If the Tigers decide to sell, Gleyber Torres would be a useful hitter towards the bottom of the order. Brett Baty from the Mets would be a risky but intriguing addition that comes with years of team control.
These are all purely speculative, but represent the sort of “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks” ideas that the Orioles could be tossing around this week. But as always it comes down to cost of getting that deal done. Mike Elias has shown a willingness to be aggressive at previous trade deadlines, but he often avoids the absolute top of the market. Maybe that perspective shifts if he believes his job is on the line with another disappointing season.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State’s first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, joined Bleacher Report’s Marc Stein and Jake Fischer from NBA Summer League on Sunday in Las Vegas, where he was asked to offer a pitch to James.
“My pitch is, man, I know you don’t like rookies that much, man, but I’m not the average rookie, you know, and I would love to learn under you, man,” Lendeborg stated. “So I mean, if you’re looking to play with one of the greatest — the greatest shooter of all time and a close friend of yours, Draymond, it’ll be great to come to the Warriors, and we’ll be glad to have you.”
Yaxel Lendeborg recruitment pitch to LeBron James
“I know you don't like rookies that much, but I'm not the average rookie… if you're looking to play with the greatest shooter of all time and Draymond, we'll be glad to have you". pic.twitter.com/eGh0NW6XoR
While the 41-year-old James likely won’t want to join a team that relies too heavily on unproven rookies, Lendeborg, 23, should be able to contribute more immediately than most first-year players.
After all, if his play so far during summer league is any indication, Lendeborg could provide a needed all-around boost to an older Warriors squad.
Of course, as the rookie mentioned, the opportunity to play with the greatest shooter of all time doesn’t need much explanation, either.
The Warriors must remain in wait-and-see mode, though, as James’ eventual decision should be a major factor in determining how the rest of the NBA offseason plays out.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Dillon Mitchell #20 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on July 12, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
#1 2-for-2
The Summer League Celtics are undefeated! It hasn’t been pretty; in fact, at times, it’s been downright gritty. Nevertheless, Amile Jefferson’s squad has found ways to win, and that’s a skill in itself.
Securing a dub against a Charlotte Hornets team that boasted Ryan Kalkbrenner, Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaun and Sion James — four players with a collective total of 279 NBA games worth of experience, all within the Hornets’ system, is no easy feat.
The most impressive thing to me about yesterday's win is that Charlotte had four players in its starting lineup who boasted a combined 279 NBA games.
In terms of experience and development time, they had a huge advantage.
The Celtics still found ways to take care of business
You’ve got to give credit to the Summer League C’s for rising to the level of their more experienced opposition.
#2 Dillon Mitchell is doing it all
Would it be Summer League if we didn’t have at least one player we collectively began to get behind in their battle for an NBA contract? Currently, Dillon Mitchell, Boston’s second-round draft pick, is without a contract. Based on his performances over the first two Summer League games, things won’t stay that way for too long. The question is, will he fill Boston’s 15th and final roster spot, or land on a two-way next to Amari Williams?
To Mitchell’s credit, he’s doing everything possible to show the range and versatility in his game. Against Charlotte, Mitchell ended the game as Boston’s top scorer with 24 points; he led the team in rebounds, was second in blocks and led the team in steals.
In an all-action performance, Mitchell showcased what he can do despite not being a featured part of the offense.
“He was so alive today. He played with such great energy,” Jefferson said of Mitchell after the game. “He crashed every time. He had like three different times where he almost had a tip dunk. When he’s playing with that kind of pop, he’s going to be really good. And then any time he gets an open three, he should shoot it.”
There’s an argument that Mitchell doesn’t bring anything new to Boston’s rotation. After all, Joe Mazzulla can already lean on Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez if he needs a defense-first wing to disrupt the flow of a game. Yet, Mitchell is a more explosive athlete than his more experienced teammates, and can provide a different level of downhill pressure with a sprinkling of vertical spacing.
When watching back through the game this morning, one play that didn’t end in a bucket or even a highlight stood out to me, because it was translatable to the Celtics brand of defense.
There’s nothing spectacular about this play. Yet, you don’t need spectacular moments from your second-round draft picks; you just need them to be a viable fit for your system with a legitimate level of upside. In the video above, you can see Mitchell reading the Hornet’s offense, remaining patient and then rotating over to provide help at the nail. His presence and timing allow him to get his hand on the rock and add a steal (maybe a forced turnover?) to his stat sheet.
Under Mazzulla, the Celtics are a heavy nail-help team. Having an explosive wing who can cover ground quickly and bail out of missed rotation in the rearview is a luxury. The fact that he’s already finding success as a high helper shows that some of his impact will be translatable to the next level.
#3 Hugo is doing just fine
6-of-26. That’s what Hugo Gonzalez is shooting in Summer League so far. Outside of some flashes when working in the pick-and-roll, Hugo’s offense has been patchy at best. I’m ok with that for three reasons.
First, this might be the first time in Hugo’s career that he’s been tasked with carrying this level of offensive usage, not just as a scorer but also in terms of touches and overall creation. As a teenager playing in Real Madrid’s pro system, Hugo likely had an ancillary role similar to the one he played for the Celtics this past season.
Therefore, Hugo is likely facing a new level of defensive attention. His shots are coming from new spots and in new ways. And, of course, the pressure to create for others could be adding a new level of weight to his shoulders, because, at times, he has looked to get off a pass when bullying his way to the rim may have been the better move.
Secondly, this is the Summer League. Thrive, struggle, it doesn’t matter; everything right now is about growth, getting live reps, and finding holes in your game that need to be plugged. Look back to last summer and think about the struggles Baylor Scheierman had in this exact same tournament. Then correlate those struggles to the success he had as the NBA season wore on.
Not only did Baylor find his rhythm from deep to the point where most Celtics fans have become comfortable with the notion of trading Sam Hauser, but he also emerged as a highly reliable defender, both within the system and in isolation.
Finally, Hugo’s only struggle right now is scoring the rock. In two games, he’s registered 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals. His defense has been solid, and he’s navigated screens well, closing out with purpose and providing reliable help all over the floor.
“His intensity, how hard he plays, how competitive he is — he embodies the name on the front of that jersey,” Dillon Mitchell said of Hugo after the game.
Summer League is about growth and development. Hugo is working through the hurdles that come with forcing that growth through discomfort.
He’s doing just fine.
#4 Active hands
If you want to play an up-tempo brand of basketball, then finding ways to get out in transition is the first step. The Celtics ended yesterday’s matchup with 11 steals, contributing to 17 fast break buckets. According to NBA Stats, those 17 points accounted for 19.5% of Boston’s overall scoring total.
Jefferson’s team was jumping passing lanes, picking pockets, and rotating on time in order to force some mistakes. Of course, getting the steal or forcing the turnover is only half the battle. The other side of that coin is finishing your food, regardless of how much is on the plate.
Credit to this team, they play hard, fast and with purpose, and that’s why they were such a threat to get out in the open floor and make the most of those opportunities.
#5 Maximizing possessions
I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to be harping on about maximizing possessions all season. From the outside looking in, it certainly seems that it’s going to be a focus for this team (in terms of offensive rebounding and making the most of those additional opportunities), especially with the bigs on the roster. So, it should come as no surprise that the Summer League Cs are dominating in the maximization of their offensive possessions, too.
The out-boarded Charlotte 14-7 on the offensive glass, resulting in an extra 14 points. Mitchell had 7 offensive boards, Amari Williams had 2, John Tonje had 2, and Curtis Jones, Chris Cenac Jr. and Milos Uzan all had one apiece.
Once you factor in those offensive boards, the steals and the forced turnovers, it quickly becomes clear why the Celtics managed to take 14 more shots than the Hornets. Not only are they maximizing the number of bites they’re getting of the apple, but they’re also finding new apples to eat along the way.
If we’re talking about translatable aspects regarding what we’re seeing, the onus on offensive rebounding and possession creation via defensive event making is something I’m expecting to be a feature of the team throughout this season and the years to come. That’s why it’s great to see that focus being placed on the Summer League roster — success starts when you’re building from the ground up.
#6 A battle is emerging
John Tonje and Milos Uzan are both without an NBA contract right now. Tonje has been Boston’s most reliable offensive threat over the first two games. Uzan, on the other hand, has shown flashes of self-creation, playmaking, downhill scoring and a perimeter shooting touch.
Boston currently has two two-way spots available. How Brad Stevens chooses to move forward with Mitchell could mean there’s only one spot left by the time training camp gets underway. There’s a chance that either Tonje or Uzan will take that slot.
Coming into Summer League, Tonje, 23, had a slight edge over Uzan due to his familiarity with the Celtics system. He played in 11 G League games for the Maine Celtics and 6 NBA games under Mazzulla. However, Uzan isn’t going to go away easily. His speed, directional changes and self-creation have all been impressive over the opening two games.
Milos Uzan shows his handles and hits the step back 3 to put the Celtics up 11 (with replays). 13 points for Uzan off the bench, so far. pic.twitter.com/9SXxt4TFS4
The fact that Uzan has earned slightly more playing time (60 minutes and 16 seconds over two games) than Tonje (54 minutes and 47 seconds) hasn’t evaded me. Perhaps Uzan being younger (23) than Tonje (25) will play a role in the Celtics ‘ decision-making when it comes to handing out contracts. Or perhaps they will prefer Tonje’s added experience.
Either way, it feels like a battle is starting to emerge for a potential spot, and when looking at Boston’s guard rotation, whoever wins that duel may find themselves earning some NBA minutes at points in the season. I’ve got this chalked up as a subplot, both now and heading into training camp.
#7 Cenac’s offense…
…Wasn’t great.
However, one thing that has impressed me over the first two games is how Cenac lets the action come to him. Make or miss, he didn’t force the issue. He didn’t hijack the offense. Instead, he stuck to his role, performed well on defense and provided some upside as a connecting force.
Of course, the one bucket he did score, a one-dribble drive starting at the nail, was impressive and shows the level of athleticism and potential that he possesses.
Still, the most impressive sequence of Cenac’s night came early in the first quarter, where he got a block on defense, ran the floor, worked in the PnR and found a shooter on the weakside with a kick-out pass for three.
Cenac is certainly going to be somewhat of a project. However, his ability to make an impact on defense, his mobility, athleticism and even how he attacks off the bounce are all solid foundations. If he can work on finding a level of consistency from the field, Brad Stevens may have unearthed another late first-round gem.
#8 Hello, Tucker DeVries
We didn’t see Ticker DeVries against Toronto, but he found some playing time against the Hornets, earning 18 minutes off the bench. DeVries was as advertised: a reliable shooter on the perimeter with upside on the glass and solid movement.
He ended the night with three treys, shooting 42.9% on 3-of-7 shooting, and he chipped in with 2 assists and a rebound. If DeVries can have another shooting night like that on Monday, I may begin to wonder whether Jefferson will call his number on some set plays if/when the Celtics need a bucket.
Not a bad Summer League debut, but nothing breathtaking, either.
#9 A piece of the playbook
I’ve spoken quite a bit today about things translating from Summer League to the NBA, so allow me one more.
Much like the Maine Celtics, the Summer League Celtics use Mazzulla’s playbook where possible, ensuring that the Xs and Os are worked on from the jump. So, I wasn’t surprised when I saw the Celtics flow into a chest action midway through the fourth quarter.
Chest actions have been a staple under Joe Mazzulla. Simply put, it’s a read-and-react play where a shooter sets a ghost screen for the ball-handler at the top of the perimeter before running off a flare screen to get open at either the wing or slot. The play works because it forces the cutter’s defender to navigate two screens, often causing them to get caught up on the flare, therefore opening an easy catch-and-shoot opportunity.
In this instance, the Celtics use the chest action as an entry into an angle PnR with Cenac. Credit to the Hornets, they switch the action and take away Cenac’s roll, forcing Uzan to feed the weakside elbow. The ball eventually finds Cenac on the block, but the play doesn’t come to anything.
Nevertheless, it’s fun seeing the Celtics working on actions that translate to their NBA playbook. They don’t need them to work out every time; they just need them to become second nature. That’s when the decisions and overall execution will become sharper.
#10 A back-to-back
Now, we turn our attention toward the Atlanta Hawks, who the Celtics will face on Monday, July 13, on the second night of a back-to-back. It will be interesting to see whether Jefferson’s minutes distribution changes, or at least his substitution patterns.
Still, this is a good opportunity for the younger guys on the roster to get a feel for playing two nights in a row and fighting through the inevitable fatigue that comes with it.
Can Boston make it 3-for-3 in Summer League? Maybe, but the Hawks, who are also 2-0, won’t be an easy out. I guess we’ll find out later today!
