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The NBA offseason is in full swing, and among the crazy moves that have already taken place, one of them notably involved someone who’s the most notable Syracuse Orange men’s basketball alum in the league.

Jerami Grant is entering his 13th season in the league, and it will, at least for now, be spent with a new team.

Grant was part of a blockbuster-ish move between the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies. Portland traded Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis in exchange for former two-time All-Star Ja Morant.

Assuming he stays there by the time the offseason ends, this will be Grant’s fifth NBA team in his NBA career. Grant, who was drafted No. 39 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, previously had stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Portland, most recently.

Despite being in the league for some time, Grant certainly still brings plenty of value to any team.

Grant’s archetype — a forward who can both knock down threes at an efficient rate and be a multi-position defender — remains the league’s highest commodity. While he isn’t the elitist of defenders or the best of rebounders (career 3.9 RPG), he can fit into the larger scheme and won’t necessarily be “hunted” by opponents.

Last season, he averaged 18.6 PPG in just under 30 minutes per contest, and his perimeter efficiency is especially noteworthy. Grant knocked down 39% of his 6.1 attempts per game. That’s been a constant for years for him. Across his last four seasons and 221 games (201 as a starter) in Portland, he’s been at 39% on 5.8 APG.

Also, Grant has been a reliable 15- to 20-point scorer. Pair that with being wing-sized and theoretically fitting into any defense, and he can still retain his value well past his true prime. In 2026-27, Grant will be playing his age-32 season.

In Memphis, it will be interesting to see how the team manages him.

On the one hand, Grant’s aforementioned skill set and veteran expertise in the league will help a franchise that is now turning the page on the Morant Era and moving into a full-on rebuild. Memphis needs that for a team with a new young core of guys like Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells.

On the other hand, Memphis’ offseason may not be done quite yet. Take a look at the Grizzles’ roster, and it’s clear the team is *way above the 15-player limit. That came via the moves Memphis made during the offseason, new draft picks, and younger players from the previous season. Grant can be moved by Memphis starting on August 29, according to Spotrac, so it remains to be seen if he stays or goes.

Grant’s current deal is also a hurdle in any potential move.

He can still be under contract for at least two more seasons. This is part of a five-year, $160 million deal he previously signed with Portland. Grant’s 2026-27 salary is guaranteed at just over $34 million. He then boasts a player option for just over $36 million for the 2027-28 season.

For any team, even with the value he can bring to a better team than Memphis, it’s a big financial pill to swallow, especially in an era of the second apron and new financial restrictions that franchises are navigating. Grant’s 2026-27 salary makes up 20.7% of the cap that year; for the player option season, it would be 20.9%.

Of note, teams are still willing to pay in the ballpark of those figures. The challenge is taking that salary in midseason, especially when it’s tougher to find the matching salary and adequate flexibility to make it work.

What most likely happens is that either Grant gets dealt again, or he stays in Memphis for at least the start of the year and gets moved during the trade deadline or next offseason.

Another intriguing option is that if Grant stays, he could decline the player option to sign a longer deal.

A realistic example is someone like Andrew Wiggins with the Miami Heat. Wiggins just signed a three-year, $64 million extension. In this case, Wiggins accepted his $30.2 million player option for this year, then added two years at the remaining $34 million. A similar configuration will likely happen with Grant, either declining or accepting the option, and either in Memphis or with a new team.

Again, Grant will have options, and it will certainly be interesting to see what comes next for the veteran ‘Cuse alum.

We are now through the first weekend of the Las Vegas Summer League and after a couple opening summer leagues in California and Utah respectively, all 30 NBA teams have shown up for the main event. The University of North Carolina has quite a few players represented, so let’s take a look at Tar Heels (and former Tar Heels) who are playing in Las Vegas this Summer.

Henri Veesaar, Atlanta Hawks

Veesaar continued his strong finish to the Utah Summer League with a strong start in Las Vegas. In his first game against San Antonio, Veesaar finished with 14 points and six rebounds while hitting five of his eight shots — including two of his five from downtown — in 19 minutes off the bench for the Hawks.

Veesaar’s second game was not as impressive, as the big man finished with just six points and a single rebound in 17 minutes in a win against the Nets. Veesaar did hit three of his five shots but missed his lone three-point attempt.

Veesaar and the Hawks next play Monday against the Celtics.

Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets

Powell continues to have a horrible second round of Summer League. After playing poorly in California, the former first-round pick has scored five total points in 45 minutes across two games starting for the Nets. All of Powell’s points have come off free throws as he is zero for 11 in Las Vegas, including 0-for-4 from behind the arc. On a positive note, Powell does have five total rebounds and three assists while only committing one turnover despite his shooting woes.

Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

We covered Wilson pretty extensively after his record-setting debut, but I did want to do a little comparison before moving:

Player A

26 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.3 spg, 1.8 bpg, 2.3 topg, 62.3 FG%       

Player B

21.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.83 bpg, 3.5 topg, 49.2 FG%

Player A is what Wilson averaged against the perceived top three for the 2026 draft. Player B is what those top three averaged against Wilson. Wilson is 2-2 in those games, with both losses coming by a combined three points. Assuming no one gets shut down (a summer league tradition for top picks), Wilson’s next two games come against Peterson and Dybantsa respectively, which means two more chances for the number 4 pick to show why he should’ve been picked higher.

Cormac Ryan, Milwaukee Bucks

Ryan came back for the Bucks after missing Milwaukee’s final two California Summer League games with a less-than-impressive game off the bench against the Heat. Ryan finished that game with just seven points shooting just two for seven from the field, including one for four from three. Though he did have eight rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes, Ryan also had four turnovers in the 30 point blowout loss.

In his second game against the Spurs, Ryan came off the bench again and acquitted himself well, scoring 15 points, grabbing five rebounds, and getting four steals in the loss to the Spurs. Ryan’s next game is Monday against the Suns.

Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks

Nance, who did not play with Milwaukee in California, started both of his games for the Bucks. Nance had an efficient game against the Heat, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds while hitting six of ten from the floor — including four of his eight three point attempts — in 21 minutes of play. In his second start against the Spurs, Nance finished with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists in a quieter game. Like Ryan, Nance’s next game is Monday against the Suns.

Tyler Nickel, New York Knicks

Nickel has had a pretty impressive Summer League for the NBA champions. The former Tar Heel scored 18 points while hitting six of ten from three in his first game against the Nets. In his second game he had 16 points while hitting four of 11 from deep. Both games were blowout losses, but Nickel can’t be blamed for that. Nickel’s next game is Monday against the Pistons.

RJ Davis, San Antonio Spurs

Davis continued his impressive Summer League with three more games this weekend in Las Vegas. After two good showings in California, including one start, the five-year Tar Heel started off his Vegas showing strong with 12 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 25 minutes off the bench in a loss to the Hawks. Two days later he had five points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 18 bench minutes in a blowout win over the Knicks. In both games Davis did have three turnovers, but seemed to be a valuable player.

In Davis’s third summer league game, the second year guard made his second start of the Summer League in a game against the Bucks. Davis had his best game of the Summer League season, scoring 20 points while dishing out three assists and getting two steals in in 29 minutes in the win for the Spurs. Davis’s next game is Wednesday against the Jazz.

Seth Trimble, Washington Wizards

Trimble, who signed with the Wizards on an Exhibit 10 contract, is playing for his NBA future. So far the four-year Tar Heel has looked alright. In his first game against the Jazz, Trimble had two points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 12 minutes off the bench in a game where the spotlight was definitely on the top two picks from the 2026 NBA draft.

In his second game against the Kings, Trimble had eight points, five rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Trimble’s best shot is probably getting some sort of G-League deal (whether two-way or not) and so far he is showing off his all-around game in Las Vegas. Trimble’s next game is Tuesday against the Bulls.

Additionally, former Tar Heels Jalen Washington and Caleb Love signed with the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers respectively. Washington didn’t get any playing time in the Bulls’ one game this weekend, and for some reason Love is not on the Sixers’ Summer League roster.

LAS VEGAS — Entering what feels like a make-or-break season for his Knicks career, Pacôme Dadiet understands the assignment.

“[Become] more efficient at the 3-point line,” the 20-year-old forward said over the weekend, “and play harder.”

Dadiet has been, to this point, a disappointment as New York’s lone first-round draft pick in the past four years. His career 3-point efficiency sits at a paltry 21.9 percent. Scouts have noted his low motor, with Dadiet’s relaxed movements reminiscent of another former Knicks first-round pick: Kevin Knox.

With that in mind, Dadiet’s goal to “play harder” is noteworthy. It would help his defense and rebounding, which also have underwhelmed. As one NBA general manager jokingly texted last year during Las Vegas Summer League: “I wouldn’t trade a croissant for Pacôme Dadiet.”

Even with all the signs of a bust, the Frenchman remains on the Knicks roster — guaranteed at roughly $3 million — because of the tantalizing potential. He has the ideal build and skill set for a forward, standing at 6-foot-9 with all the proper mechanics on his jumper.

He’s also young enough to believe a giant leap still is possible.

It’s why people inside the Knicks are predicting a breakout for Dadiet, who nonetheless struggled in the opening two games of this year’s summer league with 16.5 points per game on 36 percent shooting — and 15.4 percent from beyond the arc.

It’s all significant now for Dadiet, whose contract includes a team option for next season with an Oct. 31 deadline. If the Knicks don’t pick up that $5.3 million option — and it would be impossible to justify picking that up right now — Dadiet will become a trade candidate and a free agent next summer.

“I have a better feeling of what the expectations are,” Dadiet said. “So trying to put that into my workouts. Also, I know when to take time off [and] when to work; feeling more experienced.”

What are those expectations?

“It’s more like playing hard [and being] somebody who can make shots, [make] open shots, play defense,” he said.

Dadiet certainly has the blueprint for success on a championship squad. He has watched and absorbed masterful playoff performances from Knicks wings Mikal Bridges and, especially, OG Anunoby.

They played off the ball, played defense and thrived.

“I’ve been watching them a lot,” Dadiet said. “I know [playing off the ball] is important to our schemes, so just try to be better.”

To stick around, Dadiet has to capitalize on his chances. They’ve been sporadic for him in the NBA.

He shockingly started his 2024-25 rookie campaign in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, but that lasted just a couple of games before Dadiet was relegated to the bench. He was a starter in the preseason last year under Mike Brown but struggled during the games in Abu Dhabi and never recovered.

People around the league believed Dadiet’s preseason chance last year mostly was about showcasing him for a trade.

A deal never developed, and Dadiet is now part of a young group the Knicks will try to lean on to get through the regular season. After Thibodeau was fired, the Knicks put out the message they’re emphasizing development and even hired a player development coach, Billy Lange.

It’s especially important since building out depth is more difficult while under the mandate of avoiding the second apron of the luxury tax. Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, Mohamed Diawara, Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil all have been drafted over the last three years. It’d be great for the Knicks if one pops.

Dadiet is overdue and grasps that 3-point shooting and effort are the way forward.

Moses Moody ‘curious' about potential Warriors trade if LeBron James signs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The LeBron James free agency saga has been drawn out for weeks now. If James does sign with the Warriors, what does that mean for forward Moses Moody and his future with the franchise?

“I’m curious,” Moody admitted in an interview with The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II. “I had some conversations just trying to figure out what’s going on.”

Moody suffered a torn left patellar tendon in March, which required surgery and caused him to miss the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season.

A potential LeBron signing would confirm the agenda for Golden State is to win right away. With a timetable uncertain for Moody’s return to the floor, a trade is possible to maximize the Warriors’ potential during the 2026-27 season.

Another factor is that Moody and James are represented by the same agent: Rich Paul. Paul has been active in the media recently since James announced his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I don’t call Rich every day,” Moody said. “I’m not in it like that, because I ain’t got nothing to do with how it’s gonna go down. So I’m just watching. … Whenever something needs to be talked about, it will.”

Some of the top potential suitors for James include the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Warriors. James recently spent some time with Draymond Green, who couldn’t help but try to recruit LeBron to the Bay. Green shared how the experience went on “The Draymond Green Show.”

LeBron’s decision doesn’t affect just him. Many role players like Moody will have their fate decided by the outcomes of NBA free agency. Once the first domino falls, then the rest will follow in line.

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Why Jay Bilas is confident Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors are a ‘perfect match' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

STATELINE, Nev. – Yaxel Lendeborg’s journey from college basketball to the Warriors was long and stellar yet perhaps under appreciated for his ability to adapt to his surroundings. He was a transformer in the purest sense.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Lendeborg spent two seasons at University of Alabama-Birmingham, where his dominating play at power forward and center made him the most coveted big man to enter the NCAA transfer portal in April 2025.

Lendeborg chose the University of Michigan, where coach Dusty May scanned his rebuilt roster and opted to move Lendeborg to small forward. Alongside fellow transfer students Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr., Lendeborg became a super-size wing.

After moving from the paint to the perimeter in his final college season, Lendeborg was the best player on a Wolverines team that rolled to a national championship.

Jay Bilas, a college basketball analyst at ESPN since 1995, believes Lendeborg’s adaptability was a factor when Golden State selected him with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

“I think it’s difficult for the average player,” Bilas told NBC Sports Bay Area. “But for the star player . . . that’s one of the beautiful things about Yaxel Lendeborg. He’s willing to do what’s asked of him. UAB said ‘Hey, we need you to operate more in the middle and play a 5 spot and guard the 5.’ He essentially played the 3 — or hybrid 3-4 – at Michigan. And he did it. And by all accounts was a great teammate.”

In Lendeborg’s final season at UAB, he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He was one of only two players in NCAA Division I history finish a season with more than 600 points, 450 rebounds and 150 assists. The other is Larry Bird, who accomplished the feat in 1978-79.

With Lendeborg’s name on the board when the Warriors were on the clock on the night of the draft, he was the obvious choice for a team with many needs and a veteran core desperate for effective support.

“We’ve been following Yax for a few years now,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said after the draft. “And I think the biggest thing that sticks out about him is he’s a winner. Speaks no further than winning the national championship this year at Michigan.

“But at prior levels, focused on winning, multiskilled, versatile player that we think can play both sides of the ball. He’s got tremendous size. He’s got a great feel for the game. He’s a tremendous teammate. We think he’ll fit in really well here.”

The Warriors project Lendeborg, 23, will be no less than a rotation player as a rookie, with the likelihood of earning some starts.

“I felt like it was a perfect match because Yaxel Lendeborg is not only an outstanding player; he’s got tremendous versatility and he’s built like a tank,” Bilas said. “Because of his versatility, people would say he’s a ‘Swiss Army knife.’ He’s a Swiss Army tank. But he’s plug and play. 

“He’s going to be 24 before the season starts, so he’ll be he’ll be ready to go on day one.

You don’t have to wait; it’s not like you’re taking an 18- or 19-year-old freshman that might take a little bit of time to develop. He’s ready now. And he’s really smart. And it’s not all about him. He’s a team guy, so he’ll fit in really nicely with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, the whole crew. Draymond Green. He fits the maturity of that team.”

Lendeborg has appeared in four NBA Summer League games, two in the California Classic at Chase Center and two more in the Las Vegas Summer League. He’s averaging 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game. Moreover, he usually has been the most impressive player on the floor.

Lendeborg is not a perfect player. His athleticism and lateral movement are good but not elite. He’ll turn 24 on Sept. 30, which doesn’t hurt Golden State’s team-building approach, as he’ll still be in his mid-20s when Curry and Green leave the franchise.

The Warriors already know they have a young player who can fill several needs. It’s a plus that he can provide help at every position on the frontcourt.

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LeBron James is 41 years old and still seizes the epicenter of the NBA offseason discourse. He is a gargantuan figure, almost larger, if not bigger, than the sport of basketball itself. Therefore, it is assumed that where LeBron goes, he will be the sun of any team’s solar system.

A common complaint amongst NBA pundits about another potential reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers is that LeBron’s positional fit is, if anything, more awkward than others’. While LeBron will be the biggest name on the roster wherever he lands, at this phase of his career, LeBron cannot be the end-all, be-all of the roster. The good thing for both LeBron and the team is that his game is so versatile it seamlessly integrates into whatever the roster requires of him.

LeBron’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers really took an interesting turn when Luka Dončić arrived. While it definitely extended the window for LA, it left LeBron in a position we hadn’t really seen him in his 23 years in the league: a clear second banana.

Instead of inviting criticism, it actually drew the King more praise — highlighting that this new role was a perfect transition for an aging mega-star. LeBron is one of the smartest players in league history. He knows what the team needs and what leads to winning. Instead of being the focal point, he showed that he can expand his game to help maintain a dependable floor of production while also driving winning through contributions that extend beyond the box score.

LeBron’s greatest offensive strength this past season wasn’t any one skill; it was his capacity to be whatever the Lakers needed on a given night. He could function as the engine of the offense, initiating nearly every action, or recede into a complementary role, leveraging his screening, cutting, spacing, and connective passing to elevate the players around him. Few stars possess that kind of stylistic flexibility without sacrificing their effectiveness.

That versatility became especially valuable as the Lakers’ personnel shifted throughout the year. Rather than forcing the offense to conform to him, James continually reshaped his game to fit the roster at hand, ensuring the team retained its identity regardless of who was available.

By the time the playoffs arrived and injuries thrust him back into the spotlight, he effortlessly expanded his responsibilities, controlling tempo, diagnosing coverages, and creating advantages wherever they presented themselves. His ability to toggle between superstar creator and elite complementary piece wasn’t simply a luxury; it was the foundation that kept the Lakers competitive under constantly changing circumstances.

In Cleveland, LeBron would be able to continue this role on a greater scale, as Cleveland’s roster is more balanced. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, they would carry the bulk of time on-ball, allowing LeBron to choose his spots. The presence of dynamic bigs in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen allows LeBron to have plentiful options while also having elite lob threats and, in the case of Allen, an excellent screener. Knockdown shooters like Sam Merrill and Max Strus are archetypes that have always had success with LeBron throughout all iterations of his career.

The basketball concerns floating around about LeBron being an awkward fit with the Cavaliers are underselling the fact that the Lakers have asked him to be the ultimate basketball chameleon over the last season and a half. LeBron can insert himself into any offense in the league and find his best way to ingratiate himself with any roster. Cleveland offers him the most coverage of responsibility to be the guy of any of the realistic options out there. It already is apparent that Cleveland’s stars are welcoming and not daunted by the prospect of the King joining the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers aren’t desperate for the 2010’s version of LeBron James; this isn’t 2014 when he brought with him a level of competency that the franchise was lacking. This team has been a constant postseason presence since 2022, having just made their first non-LeBron run to the Eastern Conference Finals. The potential reunion is one where LeBron can insert himself into the Cavaliers lineup, and it’s not like the messiah arrived. It instead feels like the ultimate complementary piece that completes the Cavaliers roster.

Warriors remain among ‘leading suitors' for LeBron James, per Shams Charania originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The LeBron James sweepstakes have continued into a new week, and the timeline for a final decision remains unclear.

Likewise, James’ camp hasn’t dropped many explicit hints as to who has the best chance of landing the 22-time NBA All-Star.

The Warriors still do appear to be in the running, though, as ESPN insider Shams Charania joined “NBA Today” on Monday to share the latest news around James’ decision and when it might come.

“Every day, LeBron James inches closer and closer to a decision,” Charania explained from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. “It’s decision time for LeBron James because all the information, for the most part, is in. [General managers], presidents, owners — they’ve all been heard from. They’re continuing to have conversations with agent Rich Paul here this week as well. Players have also reached out to LeBron James to recruit him, and yes, all the voice notes have also been listened to, and rosters have been set around the league. The decks have been set.

“And the leading suitors have been Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota. And what we know definitively is LeBron James has made it clear privately that he wants to go somewhere where he can compete for a championship, somewhere where he feels like he finds that happiness from a team environment and culture that he feels he can uplift. And the big thing here is, this is not going to be a financially driven decision, so that gives LeBron James the ability to hear from teams that have the minimum, have other exceptions, have salary-cap space as well, and also be allowed to take his time through this decision.”

None of this news is particularly new, but perhaps Golden State continuing to be one of the “leading suitors,” according to Charania, is a good sign. After all, several reports last week suggested the Warriors were falling behind in the race to sign James.

Who knows, maybe Draymond Green’s pitch to his good friend in Puerto Rico last week has made James lean more in the Warriors’ direction.

We all will find out sooner or later.

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Johni Broome turns 24 years old next week. The reality is that players of Broome’s age don’t have a lot of time to prove their worth in the NBA. When you’re an older draft pick, you either quickly assimilate to life in the association, or you’re quickly phased out. There will always be veterans available for at or near league-minimum prices that can round out a roster and play serviceable minutes in the regular season at the very least. Most teams will quickly move on from a recent draft pick who is approaching his mid 20s if that player is nothing more than a G Leaguer who occasionally sneaks his way into the bottom of their NBA rotation.

The cold reality for players like Broome who play (at least) four years of college basketball is that they’re not given as many chances in the NBA players who were drafted at 19 or 20.  That makes what was essentially a non-existent rookie season for Broome in the NBA to be that much more concerning. It’s also resulted in this year’s NBA Summer League being the beginning of a pivotal 2026-27 for Philadelphia’s second-round pick one year ago.  

Broome had 19 points and 13 rebounds this past Thursday against Detroit. He then posted 23 points and 11 boards on Saturday against Indiana, despite a disappointing fourth quarter vs. the Pacers. His combined plus/minus rating in the two games is a +18. The obvious takeaway here is this is exactly what Broome should be doing in these games, as should any player that’s playing in the NBA Summer League for the second time.

Time will tell if these are significant improvements for Broome or if he just isn’t an NBA player. Broome was a high-level achiever in college so the fact that he’s performing at a high level against similar competition shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise. Despite some good statistical performances, it should also be pointed out that Broome is 2-of-12 from the three-point line in two games so far in this year’s Summer League. For a player who lacks top-end athleticism, his offensive ability was going to have to be aided by some good outside shooting and that hasn’t looked good so far this summer for the second-year player out of Auburn.

So where does Broome go from here? Well, at the bare minimum, he’ll need to churn out more good performances this week as Summer League continues. Then the real test for Broome will come in training camp in September and the handful of preseason games Philadelphia will play in October. If he can crack the rotation for Philly early in the season after that, how is that going to change? Once the regular season starts and the games start counting for real, developing a 24-year-old recent second-round pick isn’t going to be a priority.

Broome’s time to show the Sixers’ coaching staff he belongs in the NBA is now and in September and October. Should he earn his way into a bench role for Philadelphia this season, perhaps the leash will get a little bit longer and he could perhaps stabilize himself as an eighth or ninth man in a rotation. We’ve all known about the Sixers’ struggles to rebound well and maybe being a good rebounder becomes the best path to playing time for Broome come the fall, especially if his jump shot never gets better.

Right now, it just feels like Broome is meeting the minimum standard of what he should be doing. But can at least some of it carry over into a regular role with the Sixers in 2026-27? The clock’s ticking.

While we saw Okorie struggle in his second game by shooting 5-for-17 from the field, he was still able to find ways to impact the game with 14 points, three rebounds, six assists, and seven steals.

Scoring

If he has the ball in transition, good luck stopping Okorie. He was able to get into the paint plenty yesterday, including knocking down multiple and-one layups.

Keep an eye on Okorie’s floater – it was an efficient shot for him at Stanford and should be a tool he continues to utilize his rookie year.

Finishing Struggles

Okorie struggled finishing around the rim yesterday. Some were tough looks that didn’t fall and others were well-defended by Cleveland. He got stuffed at the rim on this possession, but still ended up finding Brice Williams for an open trailing three.

Here’s another where the opportunity to get a shot up vanished in front of his eyes. A couple of his drives and shots at the rim, like this one, looked forced – his shot selection should improve as he adjusts to the NBA game.

Playmaking

When Chaz Lanier was on fire in the first quarter, Okorie made sure to find the hot hand.

Okorie does a good job here of letting the play develop to find Williams off the pindown screen for an open three.

Cleveland prevented him from getting all the way to the rim on this possession, so instead of forcing up a tough shot, he was able to find an open Lanier for the knockdown three.

Bonus – Onyenso blocks!

Second round pick Ugonna Onyenso showed off his rim protection yesterday with two fantastic blocks.

Game 3 will take place today, Monday, July 13th against the New York Knicks at 4PM EST.

Go Stones.

Laker legend Derek Fisher believes LeBron James wasn’t as beloved by the franchise’s fans as he should’ve been. 

“It’s hard to tell fans exactly what they should or shouldn’t do,” Fisher told the California Post. “I just think the celebration of his departure is a little bit much. I don’t know what the expectations were, short of winning multiple championships, which no NBA team has done since 2018 basically other than the Warriors.”

James joined the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 after winning two championships with the Heat (2012 and 2013) and one with the Cavaliers (2016). He helped dig the Lakers out of their lowest point in franchise history after they missed the playoffs six straight seasons, leading them to their first championship in a decade in 2020 in just his second season with the team. 

When the 41-year-old James decided to leave the Lakers earlier this month after eight seasons, his longest consecutive stretch with any franchise over his 23-season career, Fisher was taken aback by the reaction from Lakers fans, which he deemed as “celebrating.”

“I don’t know what he was supposed to fulfill that he didn’t fulfill,” Fisher told The Post. “He took us to the playoffs [six] seasons, an NBA title, a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, the relevance, national television. The brand didn’t suffer. The Lakers are still world famous for great reasons. So, that part is a little confusing to me.”

As for why there’s an apparent disconnect between James and Laker fans?

Fisher believes it’s because the superstar is being unfairly compared to franchise legends, such as Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, who each won five championships with the Lakers and spent their entire careers (20 seasons and 13 seasons, respectively) with the team.

James never belonged to the Lakers in the same way.

He didn’t grow up in the organization. He spent the first 15 seasons of his career in the Eastern Conference. He was already considered one of the greatest players of all-time when he joined the Lakers at age 33.

“He’s not supposed to be compared to Kobe,” Fisher told The Post. “He’s not supposed to be compared to Magic. Those are very different guys that started their careers here and ended their careers here. It’s apples to oranges as far as that part goes. I just think that considering where the organization was when he arrived, I just think we should be more appreciative.”

Things began shifting for James after the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade in February 2025. Doncic immediately became the Lakers’ top priority.

When asked whether Fisher believes the Lakers’ organization treated James with the respect he deserves, he shrugged.

“I’m not sure,” Fisher told The Post.  “We don’t know whether he actually was actually frustrated by anything or, you know, [he thought] I’ve been here eight seasons, it’s been a great run. There’s now a new franchise player here the team wants to build around, so I’m going to go do something else. We don’t have to attach any other narratives or reasons to it.

“…I don’t necessarily think it was this negative falling out kind of thing. I just think sometimes your time is up and you can move on.”

James, who’s an unrestricted free agent, is still deciding where he’s going to play next season, but the frontrunners are Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota. 

Fisher didn’t hesitate when asked where he hopes James chooses. 

“Personally as a basketball fan, I want to see him and Steph [Curry] play basketball together for a whole season [on the Warriors],” Fisher told The Post. “I just want to see it. I don’t know if it’s even possible. But I just think they’d both enjoy what they’d create and do for each other. And then I think with Draymond [Green] and Al Horford, they’d just have a team for the guys that just drink wine and have fun.

“Whether they win 60 games, 40 games, who cares. I think it would just be a fun basketball team to watch.”