nba – Wolfnewss

The Golden State Warriors are in flux for the first time in over a decade after their failed attempt to land LeBron James. It effectively means the team is running back the same trio of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green — while hoping that rookie Yaxel Landeborg, and the return of Moses Moody can be enough of an addition to do something for them. Butler is currently out with a torn ACL, but he should be ready to go before the playoffs. Now the team that seemingly always has the answers is left without one, left simply hoping that their biggest competition around the back-end of the playoff cut managed to get worse this offseason.

As a result, the Warriors are little more than a middling team in a Western Conference that boasts the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, and Timberwolves. That’s before we even talk about the juggernauts the East is building in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Miami. Golden State ranked No. 23 out of 30 teams in our way-too-early NBA power rankings following LeBron to the Sixers. As a result, there’s speculation on whether Golden State could actually look to part ways with Steph Curry, accepting that they might not be in the position to assemble a real contender around Curry — while also understanding that if they want to rebuild into a contender, it will take assets they currently don’t possess.

Enter the Charlotte Hornets, who are in a bizarre, unique circumstance to make the sentimental value play for Curry, a Charlotte native who has pounded the drum at Panthers games, was in attendance for his dad’s jersey retirement, and fondly remembers hanging out with Muggsy Bogues in the Hornets locker room at their peak. The refrain of “Bring Steph Home” has been a yearly meme for Hornets fans, more or less ever since Charlotte missed out on drafting Curry in 2009 as the Bobcats — always said tongue-in-cheek, as if Steph would ever want to leave the Warriors to come back to North Carolina.

Maybe now that is becoming a real possibility. Not only is there talk about the Warriors potentially facing a Steph reckoning, but the Hornets represent one of the few teams that have the assets, and might be foolish enough to give them to add a 38-year-old star to a young, building roster. Couple all this with the fact that Steph has mentioned Charlotte off-hand as a potential landing spot for him other than Golden State over the years, and it’s stoked the flames of the rumor mill.

The question now is how much sense this really makes for anyone involved.

Why it makes sense for the Warriors to trade Steph

It never, ever works to be the team left holding the bag. Ideally you’d want to keep Curry, form another championship run, and have him sail off into the sunset as a winner, but that doesn’t feel like it’s in the cards right now. They made their play for LeBron, it didn’t work, so they’re left on a bit of an island right now.

The Warriors could still be really good if Jimmy Butler can get healthy in time for the playoffs this year, but they’re still a significant step behind the competition in the West. As painful as it might be, this could be a really great opportunity to bid Curry farewell, get some draft picks back, and not take on any bad salary with Charlotte still holding a mammoth trade exception they can use to absorb Curry’s contract.

Why it doesn’t make sense for the Warriors to trade Steph

At what point is it all worth it? Trading Curry and blowing up the roster is a PR nightmare, and fans don’t often want to hear about the draft capital they’d get in the future. Would two firsts and several second-round picks get it done? Would the Warriors need three firsts to entice them enough? The return would need to warrant the marketing hit the team would take, and at some point future capital just isn’t worth it, especially if you’re concerned that Charlotte is on the upswing and those picks won’t be lottery protected.

Truthfully, Charlotte won’t trade either Brandon Miller or Kon Knueppel to get this deal done. There is no planet in which the franchise parts ways with either of its two remaining star players, even to get Steph Curry. They will be playing the draft pick game, and that’s a hard sell when it means losing a Hall of Fame player like Steph.

Why it makes sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph

Curry is an ideal schematic fit for what Charles Lee and the Hornets are trying to do. This team wants to shoot threes, grab rebounds, and basically do nothing else. The potential lineup the Hornets could bring with Steph is simply comical when it comes to their potential from beyond the arc.

Steph Curry / Kon Knueppel/ Brandon Miller/ Naz Reid/ Hannes Steinbach

That’s FOUR starters who can all shoot, with Reid being a glue guy in the paint. Then you factor in the bench with Coby White and Christian Anderson Jr. being three-point specialists, with Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate as the requisite rebounders.

The addition of Steph basically just heightens what the Hornets do, but takes it to an entirely new level. Perhaps more importantly, it also solves the biggest problem Charlotte has right now: Public perception. The team took a mammoth hit by trading away LaMelo Ball, appearing to some fans like they don’t care to compete. I’m on the record saying I think it was ultimately a smart move that will be addition by subtraction, but that doesn’t make it inherently easier to swallow the loss of a star like Ball.

Bringing Steph Curry to Charlotte changes all that. You bring such a beloved player to Charlotte, who literally grew up in the Hornets locker room of the early-90s with his dad Dell, the same Dell Curry who now calls games for the Hornets on TV — the narrative writes itself.

Why it doesn’t make sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph

What precisely is this team trying to achieve? Moreover, what can it achieve in the Eastern Conference right now? Sure, adding Curry might be enough to get them over the hump from play-in team to playoff team — but is that really worth mortgaging a future they went through considerable pain to attain?

The biggest arrow in Charlotte’s quiver is the amount of draft capital they have in upcoming years. The 2025 NBA Draft was a home run that landed the Hornets a future cornerstone in Knueppel, but valuable role players in Kalkbrenner and Sion James. If that’s indicative of the team’s scouting potential, then giving up future assets to acquire Curry right now is a mistimed move, rather than waiting for some of these aging stars to wear out in the East, then strike in a few years when teams are rebuilding.

It also raises questions about the leadership structure of this team. One of the main reasons Coby White re-signed with Charlotte was getting a bigger role at the point, and the assumption is that removing Ball’s presence on the roster would allow for Miller and Knueppel to assume leadership roles. That all goes out the window if you bring in Steph, who would immediately make the Hornets his team.

While it might be a great basketball fit, it’s a bad organizational fit at this juncture.

What happens when the dust settles?

It would take something mammoth for the Warriors to actually part ways with Steph Curry. There have been too many years of shared emotions, too much bonding between Curry and Steve Kerr to let all this get washed out because Golden State couldn’t land LeBron James.

The smartest move would be the wait, play out the first part of the season, then see who comes available at the trade deadline who could potentially take the Warriors from a fringe playoff team and push them even further. Someone is going to blow things up once more, and the best position would be to ride Curry/Butler/Green until the wheels really fall off.

There’s always a little wiggle room though, and if there’s one team desperate enough to swing for the fences it’s the Charlotte Hornets. Never say never.

#Steph #Curry #Hornets #wild #NBA #rumor #legs">

Steph Curry to the Hornets is the wild NBA rumor that might have legs The Golden State Warriors are in flux for the first time in over a decade after their failed attempt to land LeBron James. It effectively means the team is running back the same trio of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green — while hoping that rookie Yaxel Landeborg, and the return of Moses Moody can be enough of an addition to do something for them. Butler is currently out with a torn ACL, but he should be ready to go before the playoffs. Now the team that seemingly always has the answers is left without one, left simply hoping that their biggest competition around the back-end of the playoff cut managed to get worse this offseason.As a result, the Warriors are little more than a middling team in a Western Conference that boasts the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, and Timberwolves. That’s before we even talk about the juggernauts the East is building in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Miami. Golden State ranked No. 23 out of 30 teams in our way-too-early NBA power rankings following LeBron to the Sixers. As a result, there’s speculation on whether Golden State could actually look to part ways with Steph Curry, accepting that they might not be in the position to assemble a real contender around Curry — while also understanding that if they want to rebuild into a contender, it will take assets they currently don’t possess.Enter the Charlotte Hornets, who are in a bizarre, unique circumstance to make the sentimental value play for Curry, a Charlotte native who has pounded the drum at Panthers games, was in attendance for his dad’s jersey retirement, and fondly remembers hanging out with Muggsy Bogues in the Hornets locker room at their peak. The refrain of “Bring Steph Home” has been a yearly meme for Hornets fans, more or less ever since Charlotte missed out on drafting Curry in 2009 as the Bobcats — always said tongue-in-cheek, as if Steph would ever want to leave the Warriors to come back to North Carolina.Maybe now that is becoming a real possibility. Not only is there talk about the Warriors potentially facing a Steph reckoning, but the Hornets represent one of the few teams that have the assets, and might be foolish enough to give them to add a 38-year-old star to a young, building roster. Couple all this with the fact that Steph has mentioned Charlotte off-hand as a potential landing spot for him other than Golden State over the years, and it’s stoked the flames of the rumor mill.The question now is how much sense this really makes for anyone involved.Why it makes sense for the Warriors to trade StephIt never, ever works to be the team left holding the bag. Ideally you’d want to keep Curry, form another championship run, and have him sail off into the sunset as a winner, but that doesn’t feel like it’s in the cards right now. They made their play for LeBron, it didn’t work, so they’re left on a bit of an island right now.The Warriors could still be really good if Jimmy Butler can get healthy in time for the playoffs this year, but they’re still a significant step behind the competition in the West. As painful as it might be, this could be a really great opportunity to bid Curry farewell, get some draft picks back, and not take on any bad salary with Charlotte still holding a mammoth trade exception they can use to absorb Curry’s contract.Why it doesn’t make sense for the Warriors to trade StephAt what point is it all worth it? Trading Curry and blowing up the roster is a PR nightmare, and fans don’t often want to hear about the draft capital they’d get in the future. Would two firsts and several second-round picks get it done? Would the Warriors need three firsts to entice them enough? The return would need to warrant the marketing hit the team would take, and at some point future capital just isn’t worth it, especially if you’re concerned that Charlotte is on the upswing and those picks won’t be lottery protected.Truthfully, Charlotte won’t trade either Brandon Miller or Kon Knueppel to get this deal done. There is no planet in which the franchise parts ways with either of its two remaining star players, even to get Steph Curry. They will be playing the draft pick game, and that’s a hard sell when it means losing a Hall of Fame player like Steph.Why it makes sense for the Hornets to trade for StephCurry is an ideal schematic fit for what Charles Lee and the Hornets are trying to do. This team wants to shoot threes, grab rebounds, and basically do nothing else. The potential lineup the Hornets could bring with Steph is simply comical when it comes to their potential from beyond the arc.Steph Curry / Kon Knueppel/ Brandon Miller/ Naz Reid/ Hannes SteinbachThat’s FOUR starters who can all shoot, with Reid being a glue guy in the paint. Then you factor in the bench with Coby White and Christian Anderson Jr. being three-point specialists, with Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate as the requisite rebounders.The addition of Steph basically just heightens what the Hornets do, but takes it to an entirely new level. Perhaps more importantly, it also solves the biggest problem Charlotte has right now: Public perception. The team took a mammoth hit by trading away LaMelo Ball, appearing to some fans like they don’t care to compete. I’m on the record saying I think it was ultimately a smart move that will be addition by subtraction, but that doesn’t make it inherently easier to swallow the loss of a star like Ball.Bringing Steph Curry to Charlotte changes all that. You bring such a beloved player to Charlotte, who literally grew up in the Hornets locker room of the early-90s with his dad Dell, the same Dell Curry who now calls games for the Hornets on TV — the narrative writes itself.Why it doesn’t make sense for the Hornets to trade for StephWhat precisely is this team trying to achieve? Moreover, what can it achieve in the Eastern Conference right now? Sure, adding Curry might be enough to get them over the hump from play-in team to playoff team — but is that really worth mortgaging a future they went through considerable pain to attain?The biggest arrow in Charlotte’s quiver is the amount of draft capital they have in upcoming years. The 2025 NBA Draft was a home run that landed the Hornets a future cornerstone in Knueppel, but valuable role players in Kalkbrenner and Sion James. If that’s indicative of the team’s scouting potential, then giving up future assets to acquire Curry right now is a mistimed move, rather than waiting for some of these aging stars to wear out in the East, then strike in a few years when teams are rebuilding.It also raises questions about the leadership structure of this team. One of the main reasons Coby White re-signed with Charlotte was getting a bigger role at the point, and the assumption is that removing Ball’s presence on the roster would allow for Miller and Knueppel to assume leadership roles. That all goes out the window if you bring in Steph, who would immediately make the Hornets his team.While it might be a great basketball fit, it’s a bad organizational fit at this juncture.What happens when the dust settles?It would take something mammoth for the Warriors to actually part ways with Steph Curry. There have been too many years of shared emotions, too much bonding between Curry and Steve Kerr to let all this get washed out because Golden State couldn’t land LeBron James.The smartest move would be the wait, play out the first part of the season, then see who comes available at the trade deadline who could potentially take the Warriors from a fringe playoff team and push them even further. Someone is going to blow things up once more, and the best position would be to ride Curry/Butler/Green until the wheels really fall off.There’s always a little wiggle room though, and if there’s one team desperate enough to swing for the fences it’s the Charlotte Hornets. Never say never. #Steph #Curry #Hornets #wild #NBA #rumor #legs

July 27, 2026

Sports news

The Golden State Warriors are in flux for the first time in over a decade after their failed attempt to land LeBron James. It effectively means the team is running back the same trio of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green — while hoping that rookie Yaxel Landeborg, and the return of Moses Moody can be enough of an addition to do something for them. Butler is currently out with a torn ACL, but he should be ready to go before the playoffs. Now the team that seemingly always has the answers is left without one, left simply hoping that their biggest competition around the back-end of the playoff cut managed to get worse this offseason.
As a result, the Warriors are little more than a middling team in a Western Conference that boasts the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, and Timberwolves. That’s before we even talk about the juggernauts the East is building in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Miami. Golden State ranked No. 23 out of 30 teams in our way-too-early NBA power rankings following LeBron to the Sixers. As a result, there’s speculation on whether Golden State could actually look to part ways with Steph Curry, accepting that they might not be in the position to assemble a real contender around Curry — while also understanding that if they want to rebuild into a contender, it will take assets they currently don’t possess.
Enter the Charlotte Hornets, who are in a bizarre, unique circumstance to make the sentimental value play for Curry, a Charlotte native who has pounded the drum at Panthers games, was in attendance for his dad’s jersey retirement, and fondly remembers hanging out with Muggsy Bogues in the Hornets locker room at their peak. The refrain of “Bring Steph Home” has been a yearly meme for Hornets fans, more or less ever since Charlotte missed out on drafting Curry in 2009 as the Bobcats — always said tongue-in-cheek, as if Steph would ever want to leave the Warriors to come back to North Carolina.
Maybe now that is becoming a real possibility. Not only is there talk about the Warriors potentially facing a Steph reckoning, but the Hornets represent one of the few teams that have the assets, and might be foolish enough to give them to add a 38-year-old star to a young, building roster. Couple all this with the fact that Steph has mentioned Charlotte off-hand as a potential landing spot for him other than Golden State over the years, and it’s stoked the flames of the rumor mill.
The question now is how much sense this really makes for anyone involved.
Why it makes sense for the Warriors to trade Steph
It never, ever works to be the team left holding the bag. Ideally you’d want to keep Curry, form another championship run, and have him sail off into the sunset as a winner, but that doesn’t feel like it’s in the cards right now. They made their play for LeBron, it didn’t work, so they’re left on a bit of an island right now.
The Warriors could still be really good if Jimmy Butler can get healthy in time for the playoffs this year, but they’re still a significant step behind the competition in the West. As painful as it might be, this could be a really great opportunity to bid Curry farewell, get some draft picks back, and not take on any bad salary with Charlotte still holding a mammoth trade exception they can use to absorb Curry’s contract.
Why it doesn’t make sense for the Warriors to trade Steph
At what point is it all worth it? Trading Curry and blowing up the roster is a PR nightmare, and fans don’t often want to hear about the draft capital they’d get in the future. Would two firsts and several second-round picks get it done? Would the Warriors need three firsts to entice them enough? The return would need to warrant the marketing hit the team would take, and at some point future capital just isn’t worth it, especially if you’re concerned that Charlotte is on the upswing and those picks won’t be lottery protected.
Truthfully, Charlotte won’t trade either Brandon Miller or Kon Knueppel to get this deal done. There is no planet in which the franchise parts ways with either of its two remaining star players, even to get Steph Curry. They will be playing the draft pick game, and that’s a hard sell when it means losing a Hall of Fame player like Steph.
Why it makes sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph
Curry is an ideal schematic fit for what Charles Lee and the Hornets are trying to do. This team wants to shoot threes, grab rebounds, and basically do nothing else. The potential lineup the Hornets could bring with Steph is simply comical when it comes to their potential from beyond the arc.
Steph Curry / Kon Knueppel/ Brandon Miller/ Naz Reid/ Hannes Steinbach
That’s FOUR starters who can all shoot, with Reid being a glue guy in the paint. Then you factor in the bench with Coby White and Christian Anderson Jr. being three-point specialists, with Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate as the requisite rebounders.
The addition of Steph basically just heightens what the Hornets do, but takes it to an entirely new level. Perhaps more importantly, it also solves the biggest problem Charlotte has right now: Public perception. The team took a mammoth hit by trading away LaMelo Ball, appearing to some fans like they don’t care to compete. I’m on the record saying I think it was ultimately a smart move that will be addition by subtraction, but that doesn’t make it inherently easier to swallow the loss of a star like Ball.
Bringing Steph Curry to Charlotte changes all that. You bring such a beloved player to Charlotte, who literally grew up in the Hornets locker room of the early-90s with his dad Dell, the same Dell Curry who now calls games for the Hornets on TV — the narrative writes itself.
Why it doesn’t make sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph
What precisely is this team trying to achieve? Moreover, what can it achieve in the Eastern Conference right now? Sure, adding Curry might be enough to get them over the hump from play-in team to playoff team — but is that really worth mortgaging a future they went through considerable pain to attain?
The biggest arrow in Charlotte’s quiver is the amount of draft capital they have in upcoming years. The 2025 NBA Draft was a home run that landed the Hornets a future cornerstone in Knueppel, but valuable role players in Kalkbrenner and Sion James. If that’s indicative of the team’s scouting potential, then giving up future assets to acquire Curry right now is a mistimed move, rather than waiting for some of these aging stars to wear out in the East, then strike in a few years when teams are rebuilding.
It also raises questions about the leadership structure of this team. One of the main reasons Coby White re-signed with Charlotte was getting a bigger role at the point, and the assumption is that removing Ball’s presence on the roster would allow for Miller and Knueppel to assume leadership roles. That all goes out the window if you bring in Steph, who would immediately make the Hornets his team.
While it might be a great basketball fit, it’s a bad organizational fit at this juncture.
What happens when the dust settles?
It would take something mammoth for the Warriors to actually part ways with Steph Curry. There have been too many years of shared emotions, too much bonding between Curry and Steve Kerr to let all this get washed out because Golden State couldn’t land LeBron James.
The smartest move would be the wait, play out the first part of the season, then see who comes available at the trade deadline who could potentially take the Warriors from a fringe playoff team and push them even further. Someone is going to blow things up once more, and the best position would be to ride Curry/Butler/Green until the wheels really fall off.
There’s always a little wiggle room though, and if there’s one team desperate enough to swing for the fences it’s the Charlotte Hornets. Never say never.

#Steph #Curry #Hornets #wild #NBA #rumor #legs">Steph Curry to the Hornets is the wild NBA rumor that might have legs

The question now is how much sense this really makes for anyone involved.

Why it makes sense for the Warriors to trade Steph

Why it doesn’t make sense for the Warriors to trade Steph

Why it makes sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph

Steph Curry / Kon Knueppel/ Brandon Miller/ Naz Reid/ Hannes Steinbach

Why it doesn’t make sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph

While it might be a great basketball fit, it’s a bad organizational fit at this juncture.

What happens when the dust settles?

There’s always a little wiggle room though, and if there’s one team desperate enough to swing for the fences it’s the Charlotte Hornets. Never say never.

#Steph #Curry #Hornets #wild #NBA #rumor #legs

The Golden State Warriors are in flux for the first time in over a decade…

LeBron James wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t care about money when assessing his options in NBA free agency. Any team in the league could have landed James for essentially the veteran’s minimum if they could make the case that they gave him the best chance to win a fifth championship.

In the end, the Philadelphia 76ers won the LeBron sweepstakes. James is joining a lineup that already includes Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. The bench is pretty strong too with Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, Justin Edwards, and Ariel Hukporti. I predicted the Sixers were the favorites to sign James last weekend, but it’s still hard to believe it actually happened.

The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have to be heartbroken over James’ decision. The Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves must be kicking themselves that they couldn’t make a couple more moves to woo LeBron. Do the Boston Celtics suddenly regret the shocking Jaylen Brown to Philly trade that set LeBron’s decision into motion?

I released by way-too-early NBA power rankings two weeks ago, and now they’re already irrelevant after LeBron’s decision. With the Oklahoma City Thunder also trading Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal, it feels appropriate to refresh the rankings. Here’s our latest power rankings for the 2026-2027 NBA season. One note: this is based on championship chances, not regular season performance. We’ll have more notes on the changes after the table.

Rank	Team	Change
1	Oklahoma City Thunder	—
2	San Antonio Spurs	—
3	New York Knicks	—
4	Minnesota Timberwolves	—
5	Philadelphia 76ers	Up 7
6	Boston Celtics	Down 1
7	Los Angeles Lakers	Down 1
8	Denver Nuggets	Down 1
9	Detroit Pistons	Down 1
10	Toronto Raptors	Down 1
11	Houston Rockets	Up 2
12	Cleveland Cavaliers	Down 2
13	Indiana Pacers	Down 2
14	Atlanta Hawks	Up 3
15	Miami Heat	Down 1
16	Orlando Magic	Down 1
17	Portland Trail Blazers	Down 1
18	Utah Jazz	—
19	Phoenix Suns	—
20	Dallas Mavericks	—
21	Charlotte Hornets	—
22	Memphis Grizzlies	—
23	Golden State Warriors	—
24	New Orleans Pelicans	—
25	Brooklyn Nets	—
26	Los Angeles Clippers	—
27	Washington Wizards	—
28	Chicago Bulls	—
29	Milwaukee Bucks	—
30	Sacramento Kings	—

Let’s dive into some changes from the last edition of power rankings.

The Thunder have a weak grip on No. 1 after the Lu Dort trade

The Thunder traded Lu Dort to save on their tax bill, and even Sam Presti admitted as much. I thought Dort was borderline unplayable late in the playoffs last year with a shaky handle, poor passing vision, and an inconsistent three-point stroke, but his defense was still impactful to opponents who feared his physicality. Losing Dort means more minutes for Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Jared McCain, which should be a very good thing for OKC. It also means some of the young guns need to step up behind them, and the pressure is now on Nikola Topic and Bennett Stirtz, as well as Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber, to turn into decent rotation pieces.

I thought about moving OKC off the No. 1 spot with this update. The Spurs whooped them all season, right? The Knicks deserve the benefit of the doubt after a championship run, don’t they? The thing that keeps bringing me back to OKC is that we didn’t really get to see this team fully healthy all year, not with Jalen Williams and Mitchell both suffering untimely injuries. I hate the way Chet Holmgren looks in the Spurs matchup against Victor Wembanyama, but to me he’s still a top-15 player against anyone else. At the end of the day, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still the best guard in the game, and I’ll take my chances with him fully in his prime.

There is part of me that thinks losing Dort could be addition by subtraction for the Thunder. Their season will be determined by Williams’ health, Holmgren’s mindset, and Mitchell’s ability to level up again. I still think this is the strongest roster in the NBA, so they’re No. 1 entering the season to me.

The Sixers’ postseason ceiling is real, but can they get there?

I don’t love the fit with LeBron on the Sixers. Sorry. There are a lot of guys here at their best with the ball in their hands, with Philly’s five projected starters totaling 140% in usage rate. The defense is even more worrisome. Scaling down can be as hard as scaling up, and I just don’t think Jaylen Brown or Joel Embiid as it in their game to do it. Those two will need to prove me wrong for Philly to walk away from this season with a championship.

Can Brown adjust to a more off-ball role where he maximizes his three-point rate and locks in off-the-ball defensively? He only hit 33.1% on 2.5 catch-and-shoot attempts from three per game last year, and he’s always been inattentive defensively when he’s not guarding the ball. Can Embiid forgo his need for post touches and instead use most of his energy to get back to being a monster rim protector? I’m skeptical he’s interested in doing that. The Celtics shopped Brown to the entire NBA and no one wanted him enough to beat Philly’s offer. LeBron is seeing something that the nerds in rival front offices aren’t seeing, and that makes this move feel like a big bet on “Jaylen Brown, the superstar” as much as anything else.

The media is going to expect this team to be really good, but there’s quite a bit of downside here. James is going to need to have a big time shooting season after hitting just 31.7% from deep last year. He’s going to need to push himself as a leader to get Brown and Embiid to buy into their best roles. I still trust LeBron’s ability to problem-solve in the biggest moments, and this team will need it. I like Philly a lot better as a playoff team than a regular season team, but only if they’re healthy. That’s a big if with this collection.

Miami and Cleveland are the big losers of LeBron’s decision

Don’t look now, but the Heat and Cavs might be fighting to just get out of the play-in tournament after LeBron decided against a reunion with both franchises.

The Heat landed Giannis Antetokounmpo, but their depth is poor and they don’t really have any future assets left to continue building out the team. Miami is always so good at developing players on the margins, and this will be the biggest test yet of their ability to do it again. The Cavs are coming off a decidedly unconvincing run to the Eastern Conference Finals, and they’ve only gotten worse this summer. Dean Wade is gone, and the only addition to the roster is second-round pick Meleek Thomas. I don’t care how great Thomas looked in summer league, this roster is in big trouble, and James choosing to go elsewhere is a huge indictment.

I’m liking the Hawks roster as much or more than the Heat and Cavs’. With New York, Philly, Boston, and Toronto (assuming they land Kawhi) all looking like better regular season teams, the pressure is on the front offices for Miami and Cleveland to pull a rabbit out of their hat at some point to up their ceiling and give their teams a real chance come playoff time.

#NBA #Power #Rankings #teams #updated #LeBron #James #signs #76ers">

July 26, 2026

Sports news

LeBron James wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t care about money when assessing his options in NBA free agency. Any team in the league could have landed James for essentially the veteran’s minimum if they could make the case that they gave him the best chance to win a fifth championship.
In the end, the Philadelphia 76ers won the LeBron sweepstakes. James is joining a lineup that already includes Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. The bench is pretty strong too with Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, Justin Edwards, and Ariel Hukporti. I predicted the Sixers were the favorites to sign James last weekend, but it’s still hard to believe it actually happened.
The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have to be heartbroken over James’ decision. The Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves must be kicking themselves that they couldn’t make a couple more moves to woo LeBron. Do the Boston Celtics suddenly regret the shocking Jaylen Brown to Philly trade that set LeBron’s decision into motion?
I released by way-too-early NBA power rankings two weeks ago, and now they’re already irrelevant after LeBron’s decision. With the Oklahoma City Thunder also trading Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal, it feels appropriate to refresh the rankings. Here’s our latest power rankings for the 2026-2027 NBA season. One note: this is based on championship chances, not regular season performance. We’ll have more notes on the changes after the table.
Rank
Team
Change
1 Oklahoma City Thunder —
2 San Antonio Spurs —
3 New York Knicks —
4 Minnesota Timberwolves —
5 Philadelphia 76ers Up 7
6 Boston Celtics Down 1
7 Los Angeles Lakers Down 1
8 Denver Nuggets Down 1
9 Detroit Pistons Down 1
10 Toronto Raptors Down 1
11 Houston Rockets Up 2
12 Cleveland Cavaliers Down 2
13 Indiana Pacers Down 2
14 Atlanta Hawks Up 3
15 Miami Heat Down 1
16 Orlando Magic Down 1
17 Portland Trail Blazers Down 1
18 Utah Jazz —
19 Phoenix Suns —
20 Dallas Mavericks —
21 Charlotte Hornets —
22 Memphis Grizzlies —
23 Golden State Warriors —
24 New Orleans Pelicans —
25 Brooklyn Nets —
26 Los Angeles Clippers —
27 Washington Wizards —
28 Chicago Bulls —
29 Milwaukee Bucks —
30 Sacramento Kings —
Let’s dive into some changes from the last edition of power rankings.
The Thunder have a weak grip on No. 1 after the Lu Dort trade
The Thunder traded Lu Dort to save on their tax bill, and even Sam Presti admitted as much. I thought Dort was borderline unplayable late in the playoffs last year with a shaky handle, poor passing vision, and an inconsistent three-point stroke, but his defense was still impactful to opponents who feared his physicality. Losing Dort means more minutes for Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Jared McCain, which should be a very good thing for OKC. It also means some of the young guns need to step up behind them, and the pressure is now on Nikola Topic and Bennett Stirtz, as well as Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber, to turn into decent rotation pieces.
I thought about moving OKC off the No. 1 spot with this update. The Spurs whooped them all season, right? The Knicks deserve the benefit of the doubt after a championship run, don’t they? The thing that keeps bringing me back to OKC is that we didn’t really get to see this team fully healthy all year, not with Jalen Williams and Mitchell both suffering untimely injuries. I hate the way Chet Holmgren looks in the Spurs matchup against Victor Wembanyama, but to me he’s still a top-15 player against anyone else. At the end of the day, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still the best guard in the game, and I’ll take my chances with him fully in his prime.
There is part of me that thinks losing Dort could be addition by subtraction for the Thunder. Their season will be determined by Williams’ health, Holmgren’s mindset, and Mitchell’s ability to level up again. I still think this is the strongest roster in the NBA, so they’re No. 1 entering the season to me.
The Sixers’ postseason ceiling is real, but can they get there?
I don’t love the fit with LeBron on the Sixers. Sorry. There are a lot of guys here at their best with the ball in their hands, with Philly’s five projected starters totaling 140% in usage rate. The defense is even more worrisome. Scaling down can be as hard as scaling up, and I just don’t think Jaylen Brown or Joel Embiid as it in their game to do it. Those two will need to prove me wrong for Philly to walk away from this season with a championship.
Can Brown adjust to a more off-ball role where he maximizes his three-point rate and locks in off-the-ball defensively? He only hit 33.1% on 2.5 catch-and-shoot attempts from three per game last year, and he’s always been inattentive defensively when he’s not guarding the ball. Can Embiid forgo his need for post touches and instead use most of his energy to get back to being a monster rim protector? I’m skeptical he’s interested in doing that. The Celtics shopped Brown to the entire NBA and no one wanted him enough to beat Philly’s offer. LeBron is seeing something that the nerds in rival front offices aren’t seeing, and that makes this move feel like a big bet on “Jaylen Brown, the superstar” as much as anything else.
The media is going to expect this team to be really good, but there’s quite a bit of downside here. James is going to need to have a big time shooting season after hitting just 31.7% from deep last year. He’s going to need to push himself as a leader to get Brown and Embiid to buy into their best roles. I still trust LeBron’s ability to problem-solve in the biggest moments, and this team will need it. I like Philly a lot better as a playoff team than a regular season team, but only if they’re healthy. That’s a big if with this collection.
Miami and Cleveland are the big losers of LeBron’s decision
Don’t look now, but the Heat and Cavs might be fighting to just get out of the play-in tournament after LeBron decided against a reunion with both franchises.
The Heat landed Giannis Antetokounmpo, but their depth is poor and they don’t really have any future assets left to continue building out the team. Miami is always so good at developing players on the margins, and this will be the biggest test yet of their ability to do it again. The Cavs are coming off a decidedly unconvincing run to the Eastern Conference Finals, and they’ve only gotten worse this summer. Dean Wade is gone, and the only addition to the roster is second-round pick Meleek Thomas. I don’t care how great Thomas looked in summer league, this roster is in big trouble, and James choosing to go elsewhere is a huge indictment.
I’m liking the Hawks roster as much or more than the Heat and Cavs’. With New York, Philly, Boston, and Toronto (assuming they land Kawhi) all looking like better regular season teams, the pressure is on the front offices for Miami and Cleveland to pull a rabbit out of their hat at some point to up their ceiling and give their teams a real chance come playoff time.

#NBA #Power #Rankings #teams #updated #LeBron #James #signs #76ers">NBA Power Rankings for all 30 teams updated after LeBron James signs with 76ers

Rank	Team	Change
1	Oklahoma City Thunder	—
2	San Antonio Spurs	—
3	New York Knicks	—
4	Minnesota Timberwolves	—
5	Philadelphia 76ers	Up 7
6	Boston Celtics	Down 1
7	Los Angeles Lakers	Down 1
8	Denver Nuggets	Down 1
9	Detroit Pistons	Down 1
10	Toronto Raptors	Down 1
11	Houston Rockets	Up 2
12	Cleveland Cavaliers	Down 2
13	Indiana Pacers	Down 2
14	Atlanta Hawks	Up 3
15	Miami Heat	Down 1
16	Orlando Magic	Down 1
17	Portland Trail Blazers	Down 1
18	Utah Jazz	—
19	Phoenix Suns	—
20	Dallas Mavericks	—
21	Charlotte Hornets	—
22	Memphis Grizzlies	—
23	Golden State Warriors	—
24	New Orleans Pelicans	—
25	Brooklyn Nets	—
26	Los Angeles Clippers	—
27	Washington Wizards	—
28	Chicago Bulls	—
29	Milwaukee Bucks	—
30	Sacramento Kings	—

Let’s dive into some changes from the last edition of power rankings.

The Thunder have a weak grip on No. 1 after the Lu Dort trade

The Sixers’ postseason ceiling is real, but can they get there?

Miami and Cleveland are the big losers of LeBron’s decision

Don’t look now, but the Heat and Cavs might be fighting to just get out of the play-in tournament after LeBron decided against a reunion with both franchises.

#NBA #Power #Rankings #teams #updated #LeBron #James #signs #76ers

LeBron James wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t care about money when assessing his…

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

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LeBron James signs with Philadelphia 76ers on stunning 2-year deal LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images #LeBron #James #signs #Philadelphia #76ers #stunning #2year #deal

July 25, 2026

Sports news

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#LeBron #James #signs #Philadelphia #76ers #stunning #2year #deal">LeBron James signs with Philadelphia 76ers on stunning 2-year deal

NBAE via Getty Images

#LeBron #James #signs #Philadelphia #76ers #stunning #2year #deal

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks…

NBA Summer League is never going to make or break the career of an incoming rookie. A year ago, Cooper Flagg shot 5-of-21 from the floor in his Las Vegas debut, and failed to make my annual list of the most impressive rookies in summer league. It’s important to tell yourself not to overreact to everything you see.

The good news for this year’s rookie class is that most of the top picks absolutely delivered on the hype. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson each had flashes of brilliance that showed why the 2026 draft class was so highly regarded. Read my story on six rookies who looked underwhelming in summer league this year, but remember there’s plenty of time for them to turn things around. Jalen Brunson wasn’t very good in summer league, either.

Check out my list of the young veterans already proving to be too good for summer league this year. Now, let’s rank the most impressive rookies in Las Vegas. Apologies to Koa Peat, Labaron Philon, Cam Carr, Chris Cenac, Mikel Brown Jr., Henri Veesar, and Jack Kayil, who were all really good in their own right, but these 11 players stuck out.

11. Hannes Steinbach, F, Charlotte Hornets

Steinbach finally moved into the Hornets’ starting lineup for their fourth summer league game, and immediately showed all the things that made him special. He’s such an effective finisher (67.9% true shooting) in part because he catches everything thrown his way, and can often play through contact on his way to the basket. Steinbach’s elite hands also make him the best rebounder in this draft class, and at this point it’s possible he could be one of the best offensive rebounders in the league as a rookie after posting a comical 18.15% o-board rate in Las Vegas. His defense and three-point shooting remain a work in progress, but Steinbach is great at what he’s good at, and that should give him a foundation for success as he continues to work on his skill set over the years.

10. Bruce Thornton, G, Houston Rockets

Summer league was never going to be a big challenge for an elite college veteran like Thornton, and indeed he looked comfortable and confident from the moment he hit the floor in Vegas. Thornton has a big body for a shorter point guard, and he throws around his weight to open up offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. He’s become a really good high-volume three-point shooter over the years, and in summer league he made 43 percent from deep on seven attempts per game. He also posted a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is par for the course after a college career where he rarely coughed it up. There will be questions about his defense when it’s time for the real season, but Thornton has so much command over the offense and his own scoring ability that he feels like an obvious bet to be the next second-round draft hit.

9. Morez Johnson, F, Dallas Mavericks

Johnson is an absolute hoss as a 250+ pound forward with a 7’3.5 wingspan, and he’s a truly ridiculous athlete for someone with that size. The Mavs’ No. 9 overall pick hit the ground running in Vegas by doing what he does best: finishing efficiently inside, cleaning the defensive glass, and showing a rare combination of quickness and power on defense to give him premium matchup versatility. Johnson still scored a lot of his points on dump-offs and putbacks in Las Vegas, but there were also flashes of freight train drives to the hoop and short mid-range shotmaking that weren’t as prevalent on the college tape. His 69.1% true shooting in two games is about as good as it gets. Johnson’s simple-yet-effective offense set is complemented by a more wide-ranging defensive skill set, where he can protect the rim on the backline or switch onto quicker wings or guards and stick with them for a few seconds on the perimeter. He’s going to be an enforcer next to Cooper Flagg in Dallas from day one, and if his handle and shooting keeps developing, he has the potential to be a lot more than that.

8. Allen Graves, F, Toronto Raptors

Anyone who thought the sixth man from Santa Clara whose draft candidacy was spawned by some young online nerds was going to crash and fail in the league sure looks like they’re going to be proven wrong. Graves did his thing with disruptive defense, impressive rebounding, and a sweet three-point stroke. It seems like Graves couldn’t show the full extent of his offensive game in college, because in Las Vegas he was handling the ball on drives and initiating the pick-and-roll with a level of effectiveness that wasn’t on the Santa Clara tape. Meanwhile, Graves continues to be a monster at forcing takeaways with great hands and an elite nose for the ball. His defense is so aggressive that it’s almost easy to overlook that he shoots such an easy ball from three-point range, knocking down 44% from deep in 16 attempts. I’m already worried I had Graves too low on my board at No. 19, which is exactly where the Raptors picked him. He looks like a steal. Toronto should be feeling really good about this one so far.

7. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors

Lendeborg should have been really good in summer league considering he’s already almost 24 years old, an age when most players have graduated out of this setting. Still, it was encouraging to see the former Michigan star dominate in all the ways we’ve come to expect, showing bully-ball drives, sharp connective passing, stout defense, and a sweet three-point stroke. The shooting is the headliner from Lendeborg’s five games in summer league: he hit 56.5% of his threes on the way to immaculate 68% true shooting. He also bumped Cameron Boozer to hell on one drive to the rim, and showed his ability to play through contact on both ends. I like his defensive rebounding and his ball movement, but there were some instances where his lack of agility in the middle of the floor hurt his two-point scoring efficiency. I had Yaxel at No. 5 on my board entering the draft, and he seems like he’s going to be a perfect fit in Golden State, especially if the threes keep dropping. .

6. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz

Peterson gets off his shot so easily. The No. 2 overall pick glides into stepback jumpers, turns the corner on drives to the rim, and sprints off screens to knock down threes so effortlessly that he just looks like an NBA All-Star. Peterson had some spectacular moments with a driving poster dunk against the Clippers, and some flashes of the defensive playmaking that separates him from other elite offensive guards, but he also still has some fat to trim in his game. Peterson made some puzzling decisions with the ball whether he was settling for floaters or giving it away to the defense. He doesn’t really look like a true point guard (he finished with 26 assists to 24 turnovers through five summer league games), but that should be no big deal for a Jazz team that already has Keyonte George in the backcourt. His skill set still needs some fine-tuning, but Peterson’s talent jumps off the screen, and best of all, he wasn’t slowed down by any of the weird cramping issues that plagued him in college. He’s going to be a highly productive rookie, and a major contributor to what should be a pretty good Utah team this season.

5. Meleek Thomas, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

The long history of John Calipari guards being better in the NBA than in college might have another addition with Meleek Thomas. Thomas had a solid freshman year at Arkansas, but still slipped to the No. 34 overall pick because of concerns about his frame and defensive projection. The sell was always his bucket-getting, and he basically looked unstoppable in his three games in Las Vegas. Thomas scored 85 points in 90 minutes on excellent 65.7% true shooting through three games in summer league, slicing and dicing through opposing defenses at will and splashing shots all over the court. He hit 45.8% of his threes, all of his free throws, and had no problem breaking free from the ball pressure that frustrated other guards. Thomas avoided tunnel vision despite the incredible scoring numbers, and did a good job finding teammates while avoiding mistakes with 13 assists to five turnovers. With elite quickness, a money jumper, and a pretty good feel for the game, Thomas already looks like a second round steal, and someone who should make Cavs fans very excited for his future.

4. AJ Dybantsa, F, Washington Wizards

Dybantsa’s elite slashing and tough shot-making were fully on display in his two-game run in Las Vegas. The No. 1 overall pick is an absolute giant for a wing, but unlike most players his size, he already has the ball on a string. Dybantsa can turn the corner on most defenders, but when he’s shut off, he has plenty of counters to continue probing the defense until he can break free. Dybantsa’s mid-range heavy shot-selection is already drawing some consternation, but it’s hard to get too upset when he still posted blistering 63.8% true shooting despite shooting 1-of-11 from three-point range. That’s just what Dybantsa provides, relentless attacking that will keep hammering holes in the defense until he finally makes a crack. With the caveat that it’s only summer league, Dybantsa’s defense also looked much better than it did at BYU with a 26.6% defensive rebound rate, 5% steal rate, and 5.4% block rate. He’s going to need to be able to play off the ball a little bit more next to Trae Young during the regular season, but for now Dybantsa showed the special skills that made him the first pick in a loaded draft.

3. Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson answered his biggest question on his very first shot in Las Vegas. Wilson took a pitch from teammate Noa Essengue, drew a switch from the defense, and took one dribble before splashing a three-pointer from the top of the key. Wilson didn’t shoot much in college, which makes sense for a player who used his best-in-class explosiveness to crush 67 dunks in just 24 games. The tape was filled with tough shot-making from mid-range, but those jump shots rarely extended behind the arc. In his summer league debut, Wilson drained seven three-pointers — the same number he made all season at North Carolina. Wilson had five months off since suffering a season-ending broken thumb in his right hand, and he clearly made the most of his time by reportedly getting up 2,000 threes per day. It takes most top prospects years to address the biggest holes in their scouting report, if they ever do it at all. Wilson already proved he’s going to shoot threes as a rookie, and that’s a great sign for his long-term development as a shooter. Read my feature on Wilson’s quest for greatness here.

A study by Owen Phillips showed that three-point rate (percentage of field goal attempts from three) is the “stickiest” stat of summer league — the one that carries over the best to the regular season. Well, Wilson moved his three-point rate from 9.1% at UNC to 47.1% for the Summer Bulls. It feels like a thrilling development for Wilson because so many other aspects of his game are already so strong. Wilson’s defensive playmaking is outstanding, and he amassed an 8.5% block rate in Vegas with a number of impressive stuffs, including a chasedown block for the ages. He hit the offensive glass at a higher rate than Cam Boozer (9.1% offensive rebound rate), and finished well when he was set up by his teammates. His poster thrunk against the Jazz was one of the most athletic plays you will ever see. There were still two big negatives for Wilson: his terrible free throw stroke (6-of-18 from the line) and his bad turnover habit, with his giveaways (21) easily outpacing his assists (7). The assist-to-turnover ratio was a positive on his college stat sheet, but that was mostly on stationary reads, and not live dribbles. Wilson was already a great prospect, but after watching him in Las Vegas, it seems possible he’s leveling up at a terrifying rate.

2. Cameron Boozer, F, Memphis Grizzlies

Cameron Boozer’s game has always been defined by steady production that won’t knock your socks off until his team wins and he finishes with monstrous box score numbers. Boozer did it again in this setting despite being one of the youngest players at summer league in his last few days as an 18-year-old. His scoring efficiency was remarkable by shooting 53.7% on two-pointers, 45% on three-pointers, and 80% on free throws for 65.8% true shooting. He continued to clean the defensive glass (18.7% defensive rebound rate), and he looked pretty quick laterally on that end even if he’s not offering much rim protection. Boozer looked a bit thinner in Vegas compared to the bulkier frame he carried at Duke, and it feels like he’s still learning how to use it. He’s not the most nimble player in the middle of the floor, but it doesn’t really matter because his passing vision is excellent and he almost always makes the right decision on time. Boozer’s top-4 contemporaries had flashier highlights, but his team impact was as great as any player in Vegas. I had Boozer as the top player in the 2026 draft in his own tier, and I think summer league only strengthened that argument.

1. Brayden Burries, G, Milwaukee Bucks

Burries’ upside was up for debate as he entered the 2026 NBA Draft, but he looked like an elite connective piece on both ends of the floor during his run in Las Vegas. He shot the hell out of the ball by hitting 44% of his threes, he hit the glass hard and forced takeaways on defense, and made smart decisions every time the ball touched his hands. Burries’ floor spacing and quick trigger from three helps fill in the gaps in the halfcourt in any lineup, but he also showed an ability to use his scoring to find open passing windows to teammates (12 assists) while suppressing turnovers (only one in three games in Vegas). Burries would be a valuable player even if he was just average defensively, but he looks better than that. His 4.2% steal rate and 3.7% block rate in Vegas are excellent numbers for a guard, and the fact that he’s such a good transition player once he yanks the ball away only makes him more effective. I only had Burries at No. 16 on my final board, so he exceeded my expectations more than any player in Las Vegas. The Bucks don’t have to try to shoehorn him into being a lead creator with Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro on the roster; instead, he can be the ultimate backcourt sidekick who allows everyone else to be the best version of themselves while maximizing his own efficiency.

#NBAs #rookies #Las #Vegas #Summer #League #ranked">

July 20, 2026

Sports news

NBA Summer League is never going to make or break the career of an incoming rookie. A year ago, Cooper Flagg shot 5-of-21 from the floor in his Las Vegas debut, and failed to make my annual list of the most impressive rookies in summer league. It’s important to tell yourself not to overreact to everything you see.
The good news for this year’s rookie class is that most of the top picks absolutely delivered on the hype. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson each had flashes of brilliance that showed why the 2026 draft class was so highly regarded. Read my story on six rookies who looked underwhelming in summer league this year, but remember there’s plenty of time for them to turn things around. Jalen Brunson wasn’t very good in summer league, either.
Check out my list of the young veterans already proving to be too good for summer league this year. Now, let’s rank the most impressive rookies in Las Vegas. Apologies to Koa Peat, Labaron Philon, Cam Carr, Chris Cenac, Mikel Brown Jr., Henri Veesar, and Jack Kayil, who were all really good in their own right, but these 11 players stuck out.
11. Hannes Steinbach, F, Charlotte Hornets
Steinbach finally moved into the Hornets’ starting lineup for their fourth summer league game, and immediately showed all the things that made him special. He’s such an effective finisher (67.9% true shooting) in part because he catches everything thrown his way, and can often play through contact on his way to the basket. Steinbach’s elite hands also make him the best rebounder in this draft class, and at this point it’s possible he could be one of the best offensive rebounders in the league as a rookie after posting a comical 18.15% o-board rate in Las Vegas. His defense and three-point shooting remain a work in progress, but Steinbach is great at what he’s good at, and that should give him a foundation for success as he continues to work on his skill set over the years.
10. Bruce Thornton, G, Houston Rockets
Summer league was never going to be a big challenge for an elite college veteran like Thornton, and indeed he looked comfortable and confident from the moment he hit the floor in Vegas. Thornton has a big body for a shorter point guard, and he throws around his weight to open up offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. He’s become a really good high-volume three-point shooter over the years, and in summer league he made 43 percent from deep on seven attempts per game. He also posted a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is par for the course after a college career where he rarely coughed it up. There will be questions about his defense when it’s time for the real season, but Thornton has so much command over the offense and his own scoring ability that he feels like an obvious bet to be the next second-round draft hit.
9. Morez Johnson, F, Dallas Mavericks
Johnson is an absolute hoss as a 250+ pound forward with a 7’3.5 wingspan, and he’s a truly ridiculous athlete for someone with that size. The Mavs’ No. 9 overall pick hit the ground running in Vegas by doing what he does best: finishing efficiently inside, cleaning the defensive glass, and showing a rare combination of quickness and power on defense to give him premium matchup versatility. Johnson still scored a lot of his points on dump-offs and putbacks in Las Vegas, but there were also flashes of freight train drives to the hoop and short mid-range shotmaking that weren’t as prevalent on the college tape. His 69.1% true shooting in two games is about as good as it gets. Johnson’s simple-yet-effective offense set is complemented by a more wide-ranging defensive skill set, where he can protect the rim on the backline or switch onto quicker wings or guards and stick with them for a few seconds on the perimeter. He’s going to be an enforcer next to Cooper Flagg in Dallas from day one, and if his handle and shooting keeps developing, he has the potential to be a lot more than that.
8. Allen Graves, F, Toronto Raptors
Anyone who thought the sixth man from Santa Clara whose draft candidacy was spawned by some young online nerds was going to crash and fail in the league sure looks like they’re going to be proven wrong. Graves did his thing with disruptive defense, impressive rebounding, and a sweet three-point stroke. It seems like Graves couldn’t show the full extent of his offensive game in college, because in Las Vegas he was handling the ball on drives and initiating the pick-and-roll with a level of effectiveness that wasn’t on the Santa Clara tape. Meanwhile, Graves continues to be a monster at forcing takeaways with great hands and an elite nose for the ball. His defense is so aggressive that it’s almost easy to overlook that he shoots such an easy ball from three-point range, knocking down 44% from deep in 16 attempts. I’m already worried I had Graves too low on my board at No. 19, which is exactly where the Raptors picked him. He looks like a steal. Toronto should be feeling really good about this one so far.
7. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors
Lendeborg should have been really good in summer league considering he’s already almost 24 years old, an age when most players have graduated out of this setting. Still, it was encouraging to see the former Michigan star dominate in all the ways we’ve come to expect, showing bully-ball drives, sharp connective passing, stout defense, and a sweet three-point stroke. The shooting is the headliner from Lendeborg’s five games in summer league: he hit 56.5% of his threes on the way to immaculate 68% true shooting. He also bumped Cameron Boozer to hell on one drive to the rim, and showed his ability to play through contact on both ends. I like his defensive rebounding and his ball movement, but there were some instances where his lack of agility in the middle of the floor hurt his two-point scoring efficiency. I had Yaxel at No. 5 on my board entering the draft, and he seems like he’s going to be a perfect fit in Golden State, especially if the threes keep dropping. .
6. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz
Peterson gets off his shot so easily. The No. 2 overall pick glides into stepback jumpers, turns the corner on drives to the rim, and sprints off screens to knock down threes so effortlessly that he just looks like an NBA All-Star. Peterson had some spectacular moments with a driving poster dunk against the Clippers, and some flashes of the defensive playmaking that separates him from other elite offensive guards, but he also still has some fat to trim in his game. Peterson made some puzzling decisions with the ball whether he was settling for floaters or giving it away to the defense. He doesn’t really look like a true point guard (he finished with 26 assists to 24 turnovers through five summer league games), but that should be no big deal for a Jazz team that already has Keyonte George in the backcourt. His skill set still needs some fine-tuning, but Peterson’s talent jumps off the screen, and best of all, he wasn’t slowed down by any of the weird cramping issues that plagued him in college. He’s going to be a highly productive rookie, and a major contributor to what should be a pretty good Utah team this season.
5. Meleek Thomas, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
The long history of John Calipari guards being better in the NBA than in college might have another addition with Meleek Thomas. Thomas had a solid freshman year at Arkansas, but still slipped to the No. 34 overall pick because of concerns about his frame and defensive projection. The sell was always his bucket-getting, and he basically looked unstoppable in his three games in Las Vegas. Thomas scored 85 points in 90 minutes on excellent 65.7% true shooting through three games in summer league, slicing and dicing through opposing defenses at will and splashing shots all over the court. He hit 45.8% of his threes, all of his free throws, and had no problem breaking free from the ball pressure that frustrated other guards. Thomas avoided tunnel vision despite the incredible scoring numbers, and did a good job finding teammates while avoiding mistakes with 13 assists to five turnovers. With elite quickness, a money jumper, and a pretty good feel for the game, Thomas already looks like a second round steal, and someone who should make Cavs fans very excited for his future.
4. AJ Dybantsa, F, Washington Wizards
Dybantsa’s elite slashing and tough shot-making were fully on display in his two-game run in Las Vegas. The No. 1 overall pick is an absolute giant for a wing, but unlike most players his size, he already has the ball on a string. Dybantsa can turn the corner on most defenders, but when he’s shut off, he has plenty of counters to continue probing the defense until he can break free. Dybantsa’s mid-range heavy shot-selection is already drawing some consternation, but it’s hard to get too upset when he still posted blistering 63.8% true shooting despite shooting 1-of-11 from three-point range. That’s just what Dybantsa provides, relentless attacking that will keep hammering holes in the defense until he finally makes a crack. With the caveat that it’s only summer league, Dybantsa’s defense also looked much better than it did at BYU with a 26.6% defensive rebound rate, 5% steal rate, and 5.4% block rate. He’s going to need to be able to play off the ball a little bit more next to Trae Young during the regular season, but for now Dybantsa showed the special skills that made him the first pick in a loaded draft.
3. Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson answered his biggest question on his very first shot in Las Vegas. Wilson took a pitch from teammate Noa Essengue, drew a switch from the defense, and took one dribble before splashing a three-pointer from the top of the key. Wilson didn’t shoot much in college, which makes sense for a player who used his best-in-class explosiveness to crush 67 dunks in just 24 games. The tape was filled with tough shot-making from mid-range, but those jump shots rarely extended behind the arc. In his summer league debut, Wilson drained seven three-pointers — the same number he made all season at North Carolina. Wilson had five months off since suffering a season-ending broken thumb in his right hand, and he clearly made the most of his time by reportedly getting up 2,000 threes per day. It takes most top prospects years to address the biggest holes in their scouting report, if they ever do it at all. Wilson already proved he’s going to shoot threes as a rookie, and that’s a great sign for his long-term development as a shooter. Read my feature on Wilson’s quest for greatness here.
A study by Owen Phillips showed that three-point rate (percentage of field goal attempts from three) is the “stickiest” stat of summer league — the one that carries over the best to the regular season. Well, Wilson moved his three-point rate from 9.1% at UNC to 47.1% for the Summer Bulls. It feels like a thrilling development for Wilson because so many other aspects of his game are already so strong. Wilson’s defensive playmaking is outstanding, and he amassed an 8.5% block rate in Vegas with a number of impressive stuffs, including a chasedown block for the ages. He hit the offensive glass at a higher rate than Cam Boozer (9.1% offensive rebound rate), and finished well when he was set up by his teammates. His poster thrunk against the Jazz was one of the most athletic plays you will ever see. There were still two big negatives for Wilson: his terrible free throw stroke (6-of-18 from the line) and his bad turnover habit, with his giveaways (21) easily outpacing his assists (7). The assist-to-turnover ratio was a positive on his college stat sheet, but that was mostly on stationary reads, and not live dribbles. Wilson was already a great prospect, but after watching him in Las Vegas, it seems possible he’s leveling up at a terrifying rate.
2. Cameron Boozer, F, Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer’s game has always been defined by steady production that won’t knock your socks off until his team wins and he finishes with monstrous box score numbers. Boozer did it again in this setting despite being one of the youngest players at summer league in his last few days as an 18-year-old. His scoring efficiency was remarkable by shooting 53.7% on two-pointers, 45% on three-pointers, and 80% on free throws for 65.8% true shooting. He continued to clean the defensive glass (18.7% defensive rebound rate), and he looked pretty quick laterally on that end even if he’s not offering much rim protection. Boozer looked a bit thinner in Vegas compared to the bulkier frame he carried at Duke, and it feels like he’s still learning how to use it. He’s not the most nimble player in the middle of the floor, but it doesn’t really matter because his passing vision is excellent and he almost always makes the right decision on time. Boozer’s top-4 contemporaries had flashier highlights, but his team impact was as great as any player in Vegas. I had Boozer as the top player in the 2026 draft in his own tier, and I think summer league only strengthened that argument.
1. Brayden Burries, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Burries’ upside was up for debate as he entered the 2026 NBA Draft, but he looked like an elite connective piece on both ends of the floor during his run in Las Vegas. He shot the hell out of the ball by hitting 44% of his threes, he hit the glass hard and forced takeaways on defense, and made smart decisions every time the ball touched his hands. Burries’ floor spacing and quick trigger from three helps fill in the gaps in the halfcourt in any lineup, but he also showed an ability to use his scoring to find open passing windows to teammates (12 assists) while suppressing turnovers (only one in three games in Vegas). Burries would be a valuable player even if he was just average defensively, but he looks better than that. His 4.2% steal rate and 3.7% block rate in Vegas are excellent numbers for a guard, and the fact that he’s such a good transition player once he yanks the ball away only makes him more effective. I only had Burries at No. 16 on my final board, so he exceeded my expectations more than any player in Las Vegas. The Bucks don’t have to try to shoehorn him into being a lead creator with Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro on the roster; instead, he can be the ultimate backcourt sidekick who allows everyone else to be the best version of themselves while maximizing his own efficiency.

#NBAs #rookies #Las #Vegas #Summer #League #ranked">NBA’s 11 best rookies in Las Vegas Summer League, ranked

11. Hannes Steinbach, F, Charlotte Hornets

10. Bruce Thornton, G, Houston Rockets

9. Morez Johnson, F, Dallas Mavericks

8. Allen Graves, F, Toronto Raptors

7. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors

6. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz

5. Meleek Thomas, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

4. AJ Dybantsa, F, Washington Wizards

3. Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls

2. Cameron Boozer, F, Memphis Grizzlies

1. Brayden Burries, G, Milwaukee Bucks

#NBAs #rookies #Las #Vegas #Summer #League #ranked

NBA Summer League is never going to make or break the career of an incoming…

LeBron James knows what it’s like to have the entire NBA in a chokehold as they wait on his free agent decision. James did it in 2010, 2014, 2018, and somehow he’s doing it again even on the brink of his 42nd birthday. James told the Los Angeles Lakers he would be playing for a new team in the 2026-27 season at the end of June, and after weeks of speculation on the best fits and most likely landing spots, it’s finally time for him to announce his choice.

The expectation is that James will sign in the coming week, and no one really knows where he’s going to land. The Golden State Warriors were a serious contender for a bit, but it seems like they’re out now that they won’t meet the Wizards’ ridiculous asking price for Anthony Davis. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are also in pursuit of James, and both make a lot of sense given their championship history with LeBron. There’s one more team consistently mentioned in these free agent discussions, and at this point it doesn’t seem like a fluke: the Philadelphia 76ers are lurking as a very real suitor for LeBron, and it’s starting to feel like it could really happen.

The Sixers appear to have piqued LeBron’s interest following the shocking Jaylen Brown trade. ESPN reported that Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid have all been talking to LeBron about joining the Sixers. Maxey is a Klutch client like LeBron, and something like that tends to carry some weight when Rich Paul is running the show.

New Sixers lead executive Mike Gansey is an Ohio native like LeBron, and LeBron actually beat him out for the 2001 Ohio Mr. Basketball award as a sophomore when Gansey was a senior. Gansey came over from the Cavs’ front office, and he was working there at the end of LeBron’s last Cleveland tenure. His brother also tweeted out this photo of Gansey and James together in high school.

It’s understandable if people think LeBron won’t pick the Sixers because it would be weird for him to end his career in Philly. Well, what if this isn’t his last year in the NBA? James pushed back against the idea that aging athletes should retire a Fanatics Fest and cited Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones as an inspiration. I’d also note that LeBron is basically the godfather of “player empowerment” in the NBA at this point, and he’s always marched to the beat of his own drum in free agency, from bolting to the Heat in 2010 to returning to the Cavs in 2014 to choosing the Lakers in 2018.

Fans are reading the tea leaves around the LeBron discussion, and they’re starting to think the Sixers might actually be the pick.

A starting lineup with Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Brown, James, and Embiid could be box office, and Philly would still have Dean Wade, Labaron Philon, Anfernee Simons, Dominic Barlow, Justin Edwards, Ariel Hukporti, and Adem Bona off the bench. The center position is definitely a worry given that Embiid misses so much time every season. That’s also a lot of guys who need the ball in their hands without a ton of shooting around them, but there’s no denying the Sixers with LeBron have a stacked roster.

LeBron to the Sixers makes more sense than people want to believe, especially if it’s only for one season before he bounces to Cleveland or Miami a year from now. James has four rings, and he wants one more. Philly might actually give him the best chance to get it.

#LeBron #James #free #agency #frontrunner #76ers">

LeBron James’ free agency frontrunner might actually be the 76ers LeBron James knows what it’s like to have the entire NBA in a chokehold as they wait on his free agent decision. James did it in 2010, 2014, 2018, and somehow he’s doing it again even on the brink of his 42nd birthday. James told the Los Angeles Lakers he would be playing for a new team in the 2026-27 season at the end of June, and after weeks of speculation on the best fits and most likely landing spots, it’s finally time for him to announce his choice.The expectation is that James will sign in the coming week, and no one really knows where he’s going to land. The Golden State Warriors were a serious contender for a bit, but it seems like they’re out now that they won’t meet the Wizards’ ridiculous asking price for Anthony Davis. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are also in pursuit of James, and both make a lot of sense given their championship history with LeBron. There’s one more team consistently mentioned in these free agent discussions, and at this point it doesn’t seem like a fluke: the Philadelphia 76ers are lurking as a very real suitor for LeBron, and it’s starting to feel like it could really happen.The Sixers appear to have piqued LeBron’s interest following the shocking Jaylen Brown trade. ESPN reported that Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid have all been talking to LeBron about joining the Sixers. Maxey is a Klutch client like LeBron, and something like that tends to carry some weight when Rich Paul is running the show.New Sixers lead executive Mike Gansey is an Ohio native like LeBron, and LeBron actually beat him out for the 2001 Ohio Mr. Basketball award as a sophomore when Gansey was a senior. Gansey came over from the Cavs’ front office, and he was working there at the end of LeBron’s last Cleveland tenure. His brother also tweeted out this photo of Gansey and James together in high school.It’s understandable if people think LeBron won’t pick the Sixers because it would be weird for him to end his career in Philly. Well, what if this isn’t his last year in the NBA? James pushed back against the idea that aging athletes should retire a Fanatics Fest and cited Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones as an inspiration. I’d also note that LeBron is basically the godfather of “player empowerment” in the NBA at this point, and he’s always marched to the beat of his own drum in free agency, from bolting to the Heat in 2010 to returning to the Cavs in 2014 to choosing the Lakers in 2018.Fans are reading the tea leaves around the LeBron discussion, and they’re starting to think the Sixers might actually be the pick.A starting lineup with Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Brown, James, and Embiid could be box office, and Philly would still have Dean Wade, Labaron Philon, Anfernee Simons, Dominic Barlow, Justin Edwards, Ariel Hukporti, and Adem Bona off the bench. The center position is definitely a worry given that Embiid misses so much time every season. That’s also a lot of guys who need the ball in their hands without a ton of shooting around them, but there’s no denying the Sixers with LeBron have a stacked roster.LeBron to the Sixers makes more sense than people want to believe, especially if it’s only for one season before he bounces to Cleveland or Miami a year from now. James has four rings, and he wants one more. Philly might actually give him the best chance to get it. #LeBron #James #free #agency #frontrunner #76ers

July 19, 2026

Sports news

LeBron James knows what it’s like to have the entire NBA in a chokehold as they wait on his free agent decision. James did it in 2010, 2014, 2018, and somehow he’s doing it again even on the brink of his 42nd birthday. James told the Los Angeles Lakers he would be playing for a new team in the 2026-27 season at the end of June, and after weeks of speculation on the best fits and most likely landing spots, it’s finally time for him to announce his choice.

Fans are reading the tea leaves around the LeBron discussion, and they’re starting to think the Sixers might actually be the pick.

#LeBron #James #free #agency #frontrunner #76ers">LeBron James’ free agency frontrunner might actually be the 76ers

Fans are reading the tea leaves around the LeBron discussion, and they’re starting to think the Sixers might actually be the pick.

#LeBron #James #free #agency #frontrunner #76ers

LeBron James knows what it’s like to have the entire NBA in a chokehold as…

The Los Angeles Lakers might be on the verge of losing LeBron James, but it’s okay, because they might have found another old man hooper in Summer League and it’s breaking everyone’s brain.

Don’t worry, because I can tell you exactly who this is. The mystery old man suiting up for the Lakers is 30-year-old Jon Elmore, who played for Marshall until 2019 and has been a basketball nomad since leaving college. The journeyman has played in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Turkey and Canasa — as well as bouncing between three different G-League teams.

Now he’s getting a run with the Lakers and got people’s attention on Thursday night by scoring 11 points and registering five assists, while shooting a tidy 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. The jokes might be flowing freely, but Elmore had major game at Marshall where he averaged over 20 points-per-game, was three-time All Conference USA, and won the C-USA Tournament MVP in 2018.

Now he’s just out here on one of the brightest stages rubbing his bald head and living his best life. You gotta love the guy. If you have jokes, don’t feel bad — we do as well. Please share them over here.

#Lakers #viral #Summer #League #star #dude #celebrated #rubbing #bald">

Lakers viral Summer League star is an old dude who celebrated by rubbing his bald head The Los Angeles Lakers might be on the verge of losing LeBron James, but it’s okay, because they might have found another old man hooper in Summer League and it’s breaking everyone’s brain.Don’t worry, because I can tell you exactly who this is. The mystery old man suiting up for the Lakers is 30-year-old Jon Elmore, who played for Marshall until 2019 and has been a basketball nomad since leaving college. The journeyman has played in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Turkey and Canasa — as well as bouncing between three different G-League teams.Now he’s getting a run with the Lakers and got people’s attention on Thursday night by scoring 11 points and registering five assists, while shooting a tidy 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. The jokes might be flowing freely, but Elmore had major game at Marshall where he averaged over 20 points-per-game, was three-time All Conference USA, and won the C-USA Tournament MVP in 2018.Now he’s just out here on one of the brightest stages rubbing his bald head and living his best life. You gotta love the guy. If you have jokes, don’t feel bad — we do as well. Please share them over here. #Lakers #viral #Summer #League #star #dude #celebrated #rubbing #bald

July 18, 2026

Sports news

The Los Angeles Lakers might be on the verge of losing LeBron James, but it’s okay, because they might have found another old man hooper in Summer League and it’s breaking everyone’s brain.

#Lakers #viral #Summer #League #star #dude #celebrated #rubbing #bald">Lakers viral Summer League star is an old dude who celebrated by rubbing his bald head

The Los Angeles Lakers might be on the verge of losing LeBron James, but it’s okay, because they might have found another old man hooper in Summer League and it’s breaking everyone’s brain.

#Lakers #viral #Summer #League #star #dude #celebrated #rubbing #bald

The Los Angeles Lakers might be on the verge of losing LeBron James, but it’s…

Victor Wembanyama gave NBA fans a good reminder not to overreact to Las Vegas Summer League after the San Antonio Spurs selected him at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wembanyama’s summer league debut was a dud as he finished with nine points on 2-of-13 shooting from the field. It’s safe to say Wemby’s career would turn out just fine after he led the Spurs to the NBA Finals in his third season at age-22.

Still, it’s hard to shake a bad first impression for rookies entering the league. Fans want to think their new players are bound to be stars, or at least dependable role players. When rookies disappoint in summer league, it’s still a bummer even it means basically nothing for the long-term outlook of their career.

Here are the rookies who have underwhelmed in summer league so far. If nothing else, it will be helpful to look back on this list if and when these players become solid contributors to show future rookies that a bad start to summer league isn’t that big of a deal.

Aday Mara, C, Oklahoma City Thunder

Mara was arguably the biggest winner of March Madness, going from a player typically projected in the mid-20s to a surefire lottery pick after Michigan’s national championship run. The Thunder selected him at No. 12 overall, and his rim protection plus high-level passing ability felt like a natural fit for their system. I was on the Mara bandwagon in the predraft process, but during my conversations with front office people and other writers I started to notice that he was perhaps the most polarizing player in the class. Some people viewed him as a low ceiling center who should be a fringe first-round pick, while others had him in the top-10.

Mara has struggled a bit away from Michigan’s amazing infrastructure at the start of his summer league run. He’s only shot 46 percent from the field through his first four games, which is pretty underwhelming for a 7’3 guy. His touch has looked shaky around the rim, and there are moments of passivity defensively. There are positive flashes on the tape too of course, like this overpowering drive and dunk, and some of his signature passing to cutters on the move. I do think it’s fair to question Mara’s scoring utility if he struggles to get deep post position because of a high center of gravity, and there’s no doubt he has to earn his early minutes on the defensive end. I’m not worried, but the Mara skeptics have a little more ammunition after this summer league run.

Dailyn Swain, G, Chicago Bulls

I had a front row seat at the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages, and was surprised to see Dailyn Swain on the court. The combine scrimmages are typically only for fringe draft picks, and by this point Swain had already solidified himself as a mid first-rounder. Even more surprising was that Swain did not play particularly well in a setting where he should have been the best player on the floor, showing a slow and hitchy release on his jumper and looking a bit lost offensively. The Bulls were undeterred and selected Swain at No. 15, but his struggles have continued through his first couple games in summer league.

Swain shot 3-of-10 from the floor in Chicago’s opener in Las Vegas, then shot 0-of-9 from the floor in his second game and 0-of-7 from the floor in the third game. The Bulls have indicated that they see him as a ball handler long-term, but he’s clearly struggled to handle against pressure thus far. That would be less of an issue if Swain had a reliable off-ball game, but right now his jumper looks as broken as ever. The Bulls did Swain no favors with this roster construction, failing to put a dependable point guard next to him that could handle against ball pressure and get him some easier shots. Instead, Swain has admitted he’s overthinking every move on the court. There have been some flashes of the downhill driving that popped this past season at Texas, but for now it’s clear Swain isn’t a point guard and needs to put plenty of work in on fixing his jumper.

Darius Acuff, G, Sacramento Kings

Acuff had a legendary scoring season at Arkansas, but sharp scouts noticed concerns with process on both ends of the floor. The point guard’s shot profile was pretty mid-range heavy, and while his three-point shooting numbers were excellent in the small college sample, they were more concerning if you include the high school data. Acuff’s real questions came on the defensive end, where he didn’t show much effort in addition to having poor tools. These concerns have continued in summer league, where Acuff has posted underwhelming scoring efficiency and ghastly defensive tape while still showing the talent that made him a certain lottery pick.

Acuff hasn’t done anything to show that his NBA defense will be better than the level he showed in college. So far, lazy closeouts, spacey off-ball defense, and a lack of hustle have been all over the tape. It often feels like he’s not actively engaged in the game when his team doesn’t have the ball. There’s going to be a high bar to meet offensively for a guard who is this poor on defense, and Acuff hasn’t been close to it yet. He’s scored 78 points on 82 shots through four games. His decision-making hasn’t been great as a passer either with 18 assists to 14 turnovers. I was way low on Acuff on my mid-season board before he started to win me over by consistently delivering in big games at Arkansas. Will the Kings ever play in any big games while he’s on the team? I hope so, because that fanbase deserves better.

Keaton Wagler, G, Los Angeles Clippers

Wagler hasn’t made anything look easy in summer league. The No. 5 pick has struggled to create separation off the dribble, he hasn’t been a plus with his playmaking, and he’s basically a non-factor on the glass. Wagler’s 8.2 PER is the worst of any top-10 pick through two summer league games despite getting hot in the second half against Utah in his second game. The athletic concerns entering the draft appear to be valid for now. Wagler just doesn’t have a lot of burst as a ball handler, and even some of his effective drives have been pretty ugly. He got dusted by Darryn Peterson on a couple occasions, including on the No. 2 pick’s poster slam where he struggled to get under a screen. With five assists and four turnovers, he looks better suited for shooting guard than point guard at the moment. Wagler has admitted that leaving Illinois’ five-out system has been challenging, and I suspected that would be the case entering the draft. Wagler is naturally going to add muscle to his thin frame as he goes on in the league, and being in an NBA strength and conditioning program should be very good for him long-term. The Clippers can give him both on-ball and off-ball reps this year, and that should be good for his development. When the off-the-dribble shot-making is falling, Wagler looks terrific. He’s far from a finished product, but Clippers fans should still be feeling encouraged long-term.

Christian Anderson, G, Charlotte Hornets

Anderson should have a shot to be Coby White’s backup as a rookie after the Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, but he’s looked pretty far away from being a real contributor during his summer league run. Through three games, Anderson has been unable to catch a rhythm with his shot while struggling with turnovers and not doing much on the defensive end. Anderson had a reputation as one of the draft’s best shooters, but his inability to play to contact inside the arc means he’s settling for a lot of tough pull-up threes right now, which has hurt his scoring efficiency (43.2 percent true shooting). I liked his live-dribble passing at Texas Tech, but the passing windows haven’t been there yet, and it’s resulted in a 6.7 percent assist rate compared to a 20.1 percent turnover rate. Anderson isn’t too big or too athletic, so it’s hard to expect him to be a monster driving to the rim. That means he’s likely going to have to live off tough shots. It’s a good thing the Hornets are one of the best offensive rebounding teams around.

Nate Ament, F, Milwaukee Bucks

While Brayden Burries has been arguably the most impressive rookie at summer league thus far, the Bucks’ other lottery pick Nate Ament hasn’t looked very assertive or effective. Ament has only scored 21 points in 65 minutes, and just doesn’t seem very comfortable getting into his shot yet. He knocked down a couple threes against the Suns, and focusing on spacing the floor and making an impact on defense is probably his best path forward early in his career. Ament has the frame to be a good defender in time, but he’s just not there yet. His awareness is pretty poor right now, and he can struggle with physicality. As long as Ament is a good three-point shooter, he’ll have some immediate utility on offense, and his defense should improve in time as the Bucks continue to beef him up. Until then, just enjoy the Brayden Burries show, Bucks fans.

#NBA #Summer #League #rookies #struggling #live #hype">

July 16, 2026

Sports news

Victor Wembanyama gave NBA fans a good reminder not to overreact to Las Vegas Summer League after the San Antonio Spurs selected him at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wembanyama’s summer league debut was a dud as he finished with nine points on 2-of-13 shooting from the field. It’s safe to say Wemby’s career would turn out just fine after he led the Spurs to the NBA Finals in his third season at age-22.
Still, it’s hard to shake a bad first impression for rookies entering the league. Fans want to think their new players are bound to be stars, or at least dependable role players. When rookies disappoint in summer league, it’s still a bummer even it means basically nothing for the long-term outlook of their career.
Here are the rookies who have underwhelmed in summer league so far. If nothing else, it will be helpful to look back on this list if and when these players become solid contributors to show future rookies that a bad start to summer league isn’t that big of a deal.
Aday Mara, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
Mara was arguably the biggest winner of March Madness, going from a player typically projected in the mid-20s to a surefire lottery pick after Michigan’s national championship run. The Thunder selected him at No. 12 overall, and his rim protection plus high-level passing ability felt like a natural fit for their system. I was on the Mara bandwagon in the predraft process, but during my conversations with front office people and other writers I started to notice that he was perhaps the most polarizing player in the class. Some people viewed him as a low ceiling center who should be a fringe first-round pick, while others had him in the top-10.
Mara has struggled a bit away from Michigan’s amazing infrastructure at the start of his summer league run. He’s only shot 46 percent from the field through his first four games, which is pretty underwhelming for a 7’3 guy. His touch has looked shaky around the rim, and there are moments of passivity defensively. There are positive flashes on the tape too of course, like this overpowering drive and dunk, and some of his signature passing to cutters on the move. I do think it’s fair to question Mara’s scoring utility if he struggles to get deep post position because of a high center of gravity, and there’s no doubt he has to earn his early minutes on the defensive end. I’m not worried, but the Mara skeptics have a little more ammunition after this summer league run.
Dailyn Swain, G, Chicago Bulls
I had a front row seat at the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages, and was surprised to see Dailyn Swain on the court. The combine scrimmages are typically only for fringe draft picks, and by this point Swain had already solidified himself as a mid first-rounder. Even more surprising was that Swain did not play particularly well in a setting where he should have been the best player on the floor, showing a slow and hitchy release on his jumper and looking a bit lost offensively. The Bulls were undeterred and selected Swain at No. 15, but his struggles have continued through his first couple games in summer league.
Swain shot 3-of-10 from the floor in Chicago’s opener in Las Vegas, then shot 0-of-9 from the floor in his second game and 0-of-7 from the floor in the third game. The Bulls have indicated that they see him as a ball handler long-term, but he’s clearly struggled to handle against pressure thus far. That would be less of an issue if Swain had a reliable off-ball game, but right now his jumper looks as broken as ever. The Bulls did Swain no favors with this roster construction, failing to put a dependable point guard next to him that could handle against ball pressure and get him some easier shots. Instead, Swain has admitted he’s overthinking every move on the court. There have been some flashes of the downhill driving that popped this past season at Texas, but for now it’s clear Swain isn’t a point guard and needs to put plenty of work in on fixing his jumper.
Darius Acuff, G, Sacramento Kings
Acuff had a legendary scoring season at Arkansas, but sharp scouts noticed concerns with process on both ends of the floor. The point guard’s shot profile was pretty mid-range heavy, and while his three-point shooting numbers were excellent in the small college sample, they were more concerning if you include the high school data. Acuff’s real questions came on the defensive end, where he didn’t show much effort in addition to having poor tools. These concerns have continued in summer league, where Acuff has posted underwhelming scoring efficiency and ghastly defensive tape while still showing the talent that made him a certain lottery pick.
Acuff hasn’t done anything to show that his NBA defense will be better than the level he showed in college. So far, lazy closeouts, spacey off-ball defense, and a lack of hustle have been all over the tape. It often feels like he’s not actively engaged in the game when his team doesn’t have the ball. There’s going to be a high bar to meet offensively for a guard who is this poor on defense, and Acuff hasn’t been close to it yet. He’s scored 78 points on 82 shots through four games. His decision-making hasn’t been great as a passer either with 18 assists to 14 turnovers. I was way low on Acuff on my mid-season board before he started to win me over by consistently delivering in big games at Arkansas. Will the Kings ever play in any big games while he’s on the team? I hope so, because that fanbase deserves better.
Keaton Wagler, G, Los Angeles Clippers
Wagler hasn’t made anything look easy in summer league. The No. 5 pick has struggled to create separation off the dribble, he hasn’t been a plus with his playmaking, and he’s basically a non-factor on the glass. Wagler’s 8.2 PER is the worst of any top-10 pick through two summer league games despite getting hot in the second half against Utah in his second game. The athletic concerns entering the draft appear to be valid for now. Wagler just doesn’t have a lot of burst as a ball handler, and even some of his effective drives have been pretty ugly. He got dusted by Darryn Peterson on a couple occasions, including on the No. 2 pick’s poster slam where he struggled to get under a screen. With five assists and four turnovers, he looks better suited for shooting guard than point guard at the moment. Wagler has admitted that leaving Illinois’ five-out system has been challenging, and I suspected that would be the case entering the draft. Wagler is naturally going to add muscle to his thin frame as he goes on in the league, and being in an NBA strength and conditioning program should be very good for him long-term. The Clippers can give him both on-ball and off-ball reps this year, and that should be good for his development. When the off-the-dribble shot-making is falling, Wagler looks terrific. He’s far from a finished product, but Clippers fans should still be feeling encouraged long-term.
Christian Anderson, G, Charlotte Hornets
Anderson should have a shot to be Coby White’s backup as a rookie after the Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, but he’s looked pretty far away from being a real contributor during his summer league run. Through three games, Anderson has been unable to catch a rhythm with his shot while struggling with turnovers and not doing much on the defensive end. Anderson had a reputation as one of the draft’s best shooters, but his inability to play to contact inside the arc means he’s settling for a lot of tough pull-up threes right now, which has hurt his scoring efficiency (43.2 percent true shooting). I liked his live-dribble passing at Texas Tech, but the passing windows haven’t been there yet, and it’s resulted in a 6.7 percent assist rate compared to a 20.1 percent turnover rate. Anderson isn’t too big or too athletic, so it’s hard to expect him to be a monster driving to the rim. That means he’s likely going to have to live off tough shots. It’s a good thing the Hornets are one of the best offensive rebounding teams around.
Nate Ament, F, Milwaukee Bucks
While Brayden Burries has been arguably the most impressive rookie at summer league thus far, the Bucks’ other lottery pick Nate Ament hasn’t looked very assertive or effective. Ament has only scored 21 points in 65 minutes, and just doesn’t seem very comfortable getting into his shot yet. He knocked down a couple threes against the Suns, and focusing on spacing the floor and making an impact on defense is probably his best path forward early in his career. Ament has the frame to be a good defender in time, but he’s just not there yet. His awareness is pretty poor right now, and he can struggle with physicality. As long as Ament is a good three-point shooter, he’ll have some immediate utility on offense, and his defense should improve in time as the Bucks continue to beef him up. Until then, just enjoy the Brayden Burries show, Bucks fans.

#NBA #Summer #League #rookies #struggling #live #hype">6 NBA Summer League rookies struggling to live up to the hype so far

Aday Mara, C, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dailyn Swain, G, Chicago Bulls

Darius Acuff, G, Sacramento Kings

Keaton Wagler, G, Los Angeles Clippers

Christian Anderson, G, Charlotte Hornets

Nate Ament, F, Milwaukee Bucks

#NBA #Summer #League #rookies #struggling #live #hype

Victor Wembanyama gave NBA fans a good reminder not to overreact to Las Vegas Summer…