"I just don't think he gets the due he deserves" - Jason Kidd places John Stockton on the same pedestal as Magic Johnson

Most young point guards in the '90s grew up idolizing Magic Johnson. Five rings, Showtime swagger, and a new definition of what a floor general should be. For others, Isiah Thomas was the closest comparison, having guided the Detroit Pistons to consecutive titles with his quickness and ball-handling that everybody tried to copy.

Jason Kidd, However, he found his inspiration elsewhere. What stood out to him was not the rings or the accolades, but the unwavering consistency. John Stockton displayed over more than a decade. For Kidd, Stockton's discipline, dependability, and selflessness placed him right alongside Magic on the all-time tier of great point guards.

Kidd was deeply impressed by Stockton

Magic, of course, brought unmatched flair, size and scoring ability as a 6'9" playmaker. But Stockton represented something more subtle and enduring: consistency and precision. Aware that his 6'1" frame wouldn't allow him to dominate physically, Stockton developed exceptional game awareness.

He mastered the art of reading plays, intercepting passes, and turning defense into quick offensive opportunities. As a result, once he started averaging over 14 points per game and leading the league in assists, he cemented his status as a generational point guard.

Moreover, by the time J-Kidd entered the league in 1994, Stockton led the league in assists for an eighth consecutive season. Then, in Kidd's sophomore campaign, Stock led the Utah Jazz to the Western Conference Finals.

What stood out to Kidd the most in this process was Stockton's ability to impact the game without needing high-scoring numbers; his leadership and playmaking elevated the team's overall winning ability.

"John Stockton, Magic Johnson. I think those two are the best to ever play," Kidd said about the best point guard during his appearance on the "Dan Patrick Show." I think he (Stockton) had 5000 more assists than I did. When you look at those records, it's amazing. I just don't think he gets the due he deserves. I think sometimes he's left out of the mix of the greatest point guards.

Furthermore, Stockton, who was well past his prime during most of the years he played against Kidd, still managed to average 12.9 points and 9.3 assists over 28 games, which added to his credit with Kidd.

Related: "The person I choose No. 2 would be Shaq" - Active NBA players chose LeBron James as the GOAT and snubbed Michael Jordan

Inspired an entire generation of point guards

Today's fans, especially those who often place more weight on championships and accolades, may focus more on Stockton's inability to capture a title, especially when he had Karl Malone as his running mate; thus, his legacy is sometimes unfairly downplayed.

But the admiration he earned from fellow point guards like Kidd reflects the deep respect Stockton commanded among his peers. For those who came up watching him, his consistent brilliance was the blueprint for what success at the point guard position truly meant.

Who knows? If Stockton had won even a single championship, the narrative surrounding his career would likely be very different.

Had John been a player who would have never prioritized elevating Karl Malone's potential and instead tried to chase the MVP trophy himself, who knows, today's fans might have shown more respect for his name. But as things stand, those who played in his era knew the value Stock had.

Related: John Stockton recalls being heckled in Kansas City as a rookie: "It was so quiet in the gym and I heard someone say, 'Stockton CBA!'"

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We Are D3 Surprises Boeheim's Army in TBT (Donna Ditota's Quick Hits)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Jamil Wilson made his Boeheim’s Army appearance Monday night. Flight issues, said Boeheim’s Army GM Shaun Belbey, prevented Wilson from getting here in time for Saturday's game.

Boeheim's Army played We Are D3, a scrappy team over the TBT years.

The crowd was expected to be good. TBT reported that 2,800 fans showed up on Saturday to watch Boeheim’s Army play the Herkimer Originals. That number is essentially a sellout, though TBT probably could have fit a few more people into the SRC Arena.

Adrian Autry, Brenden Straughn, Dan Engelstad, Alex Kline and Eugene Tulyagijja were at the game.

Halftime score: Boeheim’s Army 41, We Are D3 35. Final: We Are D3 81, Boeheim’s Army 78.

Boeheim's Army missed three free throws in the Elam Ending portion of the game. That was one of its many issues.

Here's what happened:

Ty Nichols, a 6-foot guard who graduated from Keene State in 2019, scored 16 first-half points for WAD3.

The guy is lightning quick and knows how to get open to shoot threes. He can also get to the rim.

Nobody from Boeheim's Army could keep up with him until Charles Pride entered the game and at least slowed him down.

He was, essentially, D3's entire first-half offense.

And he kept on scoring in the second half. He had 32 massive points when the game went into the Elam Ending. Which means he scored 32 points in 32 minutes. Defending him was seemingly impossible for Boeheim’s Army.

Nichols also made the game-winner and finished with 36 points.

36!!

Here's who started the fourth quarter for Boeheim’s Army: Buddy Boeheim, Jimmy Boeheim, Jacob Gilyard, Malachi Richardson and Frank Mason.

The Army quickly found themselves down five to start that quarter.

It was a puzzling lineup.

These games can get away from teams very quickly in the fourth quarter. You play for five minutes, try to build a lead and then get to the Elam Ending. The first few minutes of the fourth quarter are really important.

It happens in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, We Are D3 led 72-68 after yet another Nichols 3 and they smartly called time to set up the target score. Which was 80. At that point, WAD3 led 72-68.

Boeheim's Army had its chances. Buddy Boeheim missed 3s. Elijah Hughes missed 3s. Boeheim made a big one to get Boeheim's Army within 2.

But mostly, Boeheim's Army could not get enough stops in the Elam Ending.

And Nichols drained the game-winner to kill the mood at OCC. (Except if you were a D3 fan.)

We Are D3 did a nice job limiting the shots Boeheim's Army shot from the three-point line.

BA was 5-of-14 from 3 in the first half. The perimeter was not nearly as open as it was in the first game against the Herkimer Originals. The Army had very few open 3s.

Boeheim's Army was 10-of-31 from three.

WAD3 (so many long TBT names) is a connected group that I'm guessing teams overlook every year because, well, they played D3 basketball and nobody who plays D1 basketball knows much about those guys.

They prepare like no other TBT team. They do not miss free throws. They don't take bad shots. They guard you. And they have a killer in Nichols.

Rebounds were a problem for Boeheim's Army. Like, a big problem. WAD3 grabbed 10 more of them in the first half, despite being smaller at virtually every position.

Total rebound numbers: WAD3 45, BA 30.

There were plays like this from Jacob Gilyard and Chris McCullough in the first half.

McCullough seemed oddly underutilized. He's a quick, mobile, athletic 4 man and there aren't many TBT guys who can guard him.

He scored eight first-half points. Gilyard had nine and Elijah Hughes had eight to lead the Army at the break. McCullough did not play a minute in the fourth quarter until late in the Elam Ending. Which was weird.

Ryan Boatright drained a wide-open 3 to give the Stars of Storrs, the UConn team, a 78-76 win over the Green Mountain Men in the first game on Monday night.

The game was close the whole way. GMM could have easily won it. That team missed two free throws to win it, then made a free throw to get to within 1 of the target score of 77, but still could not pull it out.

Notes: Rakeem Christmas, who starts in the middle for Boeheim’s Army, sustained some sort of injury to his right shoulder early in the game. He went over to presumably see a trainer, but eventually returned to the game. He never really seemed right after that.

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit newsrealtime. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst Indicates a Possible Position Change for Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2025-26

One of the most surprising decisions in the entire NBA this offseason was the Milwaukee Bucks deciding to waive and stretch nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard . Unfortunately, two seasons of seeing Lillard paired with Giannis Antetokounmpo Did not produce the final results that the team had hoped for, though it was through no fault of either superstar.

Indeed, Giannis and Lillard were the highest-scoring duo in terms of points per game in NBA history. However, due to injuries, they only played 29 minutes together in the postseason.

With Lillard expected to be out for most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season, and due to other circumstances, the Bucks decided it was best for the organization to move on, waiving him and spreading out his salary cap hit over the next five seasons.

The Milwaukee Bucks Used the Salary Cap Savings to Build Around Giannis Antetokounmpo

Waiving and then stretching Lillard allowed the Bucks' salary cap space to be used to sign players better suited to play alongside Giannis. And while most of their moves were to re-sign their own players, such as Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., and Taurean Prince, they also made a huge splash in free agency.

That, of course, was luring center Myles Turner away from the hated Indiana Pacers to replace Brook Lopez (who signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers). The stunning signing of Turner is still one of the bigger topics in the NBA, as Turner is a defensive wizard who will complement Giannis on that end of the floor quite well.

And while Milwaukee also re-signed point guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, as well as acquiring Gary Harris in free agency, they did not make as big of a splash in the point guard market as many had expected.

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst Indicates Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Play Point Guard

Recent comments that Bucks general manager Jon Horst made to Eric Nehm of The Athletic may indicate why Milwaukee did not feel the need to replace a nine-time All-Star at the point guard position, Lillard, because they plan on having Giannis run point himself.

He truly is becoming a real point guard — or a real point forward, like Doc calls it — so I think that allows us to dive even deeper into it than we have in the past, but I think those have always been some of our most successful lineups and groups. Putting him out there with a bunch of shooters and ball movers and let him just dominate. You stop him, he passes it. You don’t, he dunks it. And I feel like we’ve got a number of those guys.

This past season, Giannis tied his career-high in assists per game with 6.5. He also averaged 3.1 turnovers per game, which was his lowest mark in that category since the 2017-18 season.

Obviously, having the Greek Freak play point guard may be what the Bucks choose to do on the court for large portions of the game, but he will still play defense as a front court player. His rebounding is far too valuable.

In this case, the Bucks will likely still start another guard like Rollins, Porter, or even AJ Green so that Giannis can kick the ball to them for wide open threes.

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Nets SL player grades: Danny Wolf scores 18 in 94-90 win over Magic

The Brooklyn Nets (1-3) came into Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic hoping that they could finally get their first win of the Las Vegas Summer League. Despite Brooklyn playing on the second night of a back-to-back and missing Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, and Tyson Etienne due to various ailments, the Nets found a way to make enough plays to come away with the victory.

The Nets left Thursday's game with a 94-90 Victory over the Magic thanks to two of Brooklyn's rookies having their best games of the summer league. Forward Danny Wolf scored 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists while Egor Demin contributed 14 points and five rebounds, including shooting 4-of-8 from three-point range to keep the Nets in the game towards the end.

Brooklyn had its fair share of trouble defending Noah Penda, Wendell Moore Jr., and Jalen Crutcher, but Brooklyn had built up enough of a lead to give themselves a cushion to withstand Orlando's furious comeback. Here are the Nets player grades following their game against the Magic in which they won their first game in the summer league:

Egor Demin: B-

Demin had a tough time on the offensive end in this one as he couldn't find his touch from three-point range and had trouble getting all the way to the basket outside of an impressive coast-to-coast dunk. Demin did a good job of rebounding from the point guard position, but he turned the ball over too much for him to get much out of his playmaking.

Caleb Daniels: C

Daniels started another game, but he wasn't able to replicate the performance he had in Tuesday's loss to the New York Knicks. Daniels didn't get the ball as much as he did in the other game, but he also couldn't find his shooting touch from the outside to make the defense pay for leaving him open at the three-point line. Daniels did a great job of rebounding the basketball, but he also fouled too much when trying to guard his man.

Tosan Evbuomwan: B+

After missing time due to a hip contusion, Evbuomwan was able to return to the court for the Nets, and he had a solid game. Evbuomwan had some moments where he looked unsure of himself on the offensive end, but he also had some instances where he showed his veteran presence on the court. Evbuomwan was a threat on perimeter defense as he was constantly accumulating steals thanks to his awareness and quick hands.

Danny Wolf: B+

Wolf had his best game of the summer league as he had all his game working, from his scoring to his passing and everything in between. Wolf has had games where he either didn't shoot well or didn't showcase his all-around game that made him a first-round pick coming out of Michigan. This game should have shown Nets fans that Wolf will be an interesting player for the team next season.

Grant Nelson: C-

Nelson drew another start, but he wasn't able to make much of an impact outside of his rebounding during his time on the floor. Nelson did not take many shots, and while summer league can be tough on big men who don't get the ball consistently, there were times when Nelson could have asserted himself. Nelson did a great job on the glass, but he also picked up too many fouls while trying to defend in the paint and at the rim.

Quincy Olivari: B+

Olivari saw plenty of minutes in this game, as some players were unable to play for various reasons, and he took advantage for the most part. Olivari did not shoot the ball well at all, but he was aggressive on the offensive end of the court and he was one of the main playmakers on the court. Olivari did a great job of generating free-throws and he took care of the basketball when he had it in his hands.

Tyrese Samuel: B

Samuel got some extra playing time in this game because some players couldn't participate in the matchup, and he had one of the better games on the team. Samuel was effective on the offensive end of the court and was aggressive to the point that he generated some free throws as a result. Samuel could have been more active during the rebounding phase of the game, but he was also disruptive on the defensive end of the court.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets SL player grades: Danny Wolf scores 18 in 94-90 win over Magic

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"There's no one I've seen that has Jordan's kind of competitiveness" – the Knicks front office reflected on Michael Jordan's unmatched drive

When Michael Jordan retired for the second time with the Chicago Bulls In 1999, opinions were divided. Some believed MJ's performance was difficult to replicate, acknowledging that it would take a great deal for any player to succeed the six-time champion.

Those left forlorn about it included New York Knicks Исполнительный директор Дэйв Чекеттс. Он признал, что Джордан был огромной звездой в то время, и было жаль видеть, как он уходит из игры. Это были большие туфли, которые нужно было заполнить, и Чекеттс считал, что это будет непросто повторить, даже с новыми звездами.

"This guy is probably the most recognized man in the world. To lose a star like that is a big hit," Checketts said in 1999 via NYT. However, it also means that it provides a time now for young stars to step up. There are players in the league with that kind of talent. But I haven't seen anyone who possesses Jordan's level of competitiveness and ability to deliver the kind of big performances that true champions have within them, he added.

The Bulls' situation led to Jordan calling it a career

In his final season, Jordan's retirement was a hot topic. The Bulls were heading in a different direction and planned to disband the team to bring in fresh talent. This decision was made despite the Bulls seemingly having what it took to win a couple more championships if the team remained intact.

However, then-General Manager Jerry Krause felt otherwise. According to Tim Floyd, Krause believed that early reset It would be better for the Bulls to get back into title contention.

Aside from that, all was not well between the Bulls executive and Phil Jackson. Krause had no plans to bring back the Zen Master after the 1997-98 season, even though their run was extraordinary.

With all of that on the table, Jordan's decision to retire was a foregone conclusion. Many, including Bulls executives, expected it, marking the end of MJ's tenure with the Windy City team.

Related: When K.C. Jones called Larry Bird the best of all time after only six seasons: "Go down the list of the greats and I doubt you'll come up with anyone with all those credentials"

An itch that MJ regretted

Given the events in Chicago, no one could blame MJ for calling it quits. But as far as turning his back on basketball completely, such was not the case.

Although he transitioned to trying his hand at management, Jordan ended up returning to action in 2001 with the Washington Wizards. But the planned comeback was not merely for him to prove he could still play basketball. It was part of his management style, a way for him to evaluate Wizards players up close.

He played two seasons with the Wizards but was no longer the MJ of old. The only benefit the Wizards had was from a marketing standpoint since fans still wanted to see Michael play.

Jordan would later admit that his comeback with the Wizards was something he regretted He thought he was being innovative at the time. He realized that his approach to the game was far different from the new breed of players, a reason why the ploy never worked.

Without question, Jordan is an elite athlete that many have tried to mimic. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are two of the popular names who tried to be like Mike.

Bean and Bron created their legacies, a reason why the never-ending GOAT debate continues to this day. Their generations may differ, but Jordan was the inspiration for the two superstars, headlining a long list of rising stars who want to be like Mike.

Related: Goran Dragic talks about how talented but extremely inconsistent Michael Beasley was: "He just told me, 'Today's just not my day to play'"

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Barring a surprise, Timberwolves look set to 'run it back' with same core

Several of the Timberwolves' competitors in the stacked Western Conference have been busy loading up their rosters this offseason. The Rockets traded for Kevin Durant and made a couple depth additions. The Nuggets acquired Cam Johnson and a few reliable veterans. The Mavericks lucked into the first overall pick, Cooper Flagg. The Lakers signed DeAndre Ayton.

Meanwhile, Tim Connelly and the Wolves appear to be content with what they already have. Their big moves were to sign both Naz Reid and Julius Randle to new long-term contracts to keep them in Minnesota. A week into the offseason, the Wolves have lost one member of their rotation (Nickeil Alexander-Walker) for financial reasons and added zero players who will see major minutes next season. They'll inevitably pick up a cheap free agent or two in the coming weeks, but as of now, their only newcomers are a couple of 18-year-old project big men via the draft.

What that seems to signal is that Connelly wants to "run it back" next season, banking on continuity and internal development from the team's core stars and young players. While that may not be the most exciting offseason path, it's easy to see how it could pay off for Minnesota.

In two of his first three offseasons as the Timberwolves' president of basketball operations, Connelly made a big, calculated swing. In 2022, he sent a major haul to the Jazz to land center Rudy Gobert, pairing him with Karl-Anthony Towns in an unorthodox frontcourt. Last year, right before the start of the season, Connelly stunned the NBA world by sending Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick — a move made both for basketball reasons and long-term financial flexibility.

Both times, it took a while for the Wolves to coalesce after the roster shakeup. They had to learn how to play with Gobert, but in his second season in Minnesota, he won his fourth defensive player of the year award and helped the Wolves reach their first conference finals in 20 years. Following the KAT trade, much of this past season was characterized by inconsistency, but Randle found his stride in the spring and helped the Wolves get back to the conference finals as a No. 6 seed.

One potential benefit of not making any seismic change this offseason would be avoiding the adjustment period that often comes after such a move. Randle and DiVincenzo should be ready to hit the ground running in their second seasons in Minnesota now that they have a year of chemistry with their teammates under their belts. Albeit without Alexander-Walker, who has been a key two-way force over the past couple seasons, the Wolves look set to begin next season with almost all of the group that went 25-6 from March 2 through May 14 this year.

It's important to remember that the Wolves' three long-term core pieces — Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Reid — are not finished products. Edwards turns 24 next month and has improved in each of his first five seasons. McDaniels, who turns 25 before the season, took a significant scoring step forward, averaging nearly 15 points per game during this past postseason. Naz Reid is approaching his 26th birthday and may be just entering his prime. Supported by veterans such as Randle, Gobert, and DiVincenzo, the Wolves' trio of mid-20s stars will largely determine the team's potential in the upcoming season and beyond.

And while the loss of Alexander-Walker and the decline of Mike Conley could threaten the Wolves' backcourt stability, reinforcements are already in place. Terrence Shannon Jr., who is a year older than Edwards despite being drafted four years after him, was impressive in the OKC series and will receive many of NAW's minutes next season Rob Dillingham, last year's eighth overall pick, could be set to earn a big role at the point guard position in year two. While Shannon helps replace Alexander-Walker's offense, Jaylen Clark can be called upon when Chris Finch needs more perimeter defense. Even after losing NAW and making no veteran additions, the Wolves already have ten players worthy of rotational minutes in the upcoming season.

The question, of course, is whether or not the roster that's in place is good enough to get the Wolves over the hump in the West. Coming off their championship, the Thunder aren't going anywhere anytime soon. The Nuggets, Mavericks, and Rockets look highly dangerous. The Lakers, Clippers, and Warriors remain in win-now mode. The Spurs and Pelicans could be sneaky. The Grizzlies and Suns are wild cards.

Connelly seems to believe that this Wolves team has what it takes. The plan, unless there's a surprise, is to rely on chemistry and internal development. It may not be flashy, but it could be the right approach as the Wolves aim to win the first championship in franchise history.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/timberwolves as Barring a surprise, Timberwolves look set to 'run it back' with same core .

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Silencioso debut de verano para Kasparas Jakucionis y otras observaciones del partido inaugural de la liga estival de los Heat

Amid an underwhelming Miami Heat offseason that hasn't yet included much roster change for a team that was swept out of the first round of the playoffs last season, the potential of first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis is one source of hope that better days could be ahead.

But Jakucionis was quiet in his summer league debut, finishing the Heat's summer league opener with three points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field, 0-of-4 shooting on threes and 1-of-2 shooting from the foul line, one rebound, one assist and three turnovers in an 89-62 win over the San Antonio Spurs' summer squad on Saturday at Chase Center in the California Classic. It marked the first of three summer league games that the Heat will play in San Francisco before taking part in Las Vegas Summer League.

Jakucionis, who was selected by the Heat with the 20th overall pick in this year's draft, started slowly. The 19-year-old guard missed two corner threes and was called for a charge on a drive to the basket during the first five minutes of Saturday's contest, ultimately finishing the first half scoreless and without an assist in 10 minutes.

Jakucionis finally recorded his first assist early in the second half, setting up Kira Lewis for a floater with 8:40 left in the third quarter. But Jakucionis' impressive passing ability was on display throughout the game, delivering a few nice passes that didn't go down as assists because his teammates couldn't make those shots.

Jakucionis then scored his first points of the day, drawing a foul on a drive into the paint and then hitting one of the two free throws with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter.

But Jakucionis' first made goal of the game didn't come until there was 6:50 left in the fourth quarter, scoring on a layup in transition off a steal from Heat summer teammate Bryson Warren.

Jakucionis was projected by many before this year's draft to be a lottery pick after averaging 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 44% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range as a freshman at Illinois last season. But he ended up falling to the Heat at No. 20 in the first round of the draft.

Jakucionis is one of five players on the Heat's summer league team who are on track to be on the Heat's NBA roster this upcoming season.

Like Jakucionis, forward Keshad Johnson, guard Pelle Larsson, and center Kel'el Ware have signed standard contracts with the Heat for next season. Johnson, Larsson, and Ware are preparing for their second NBA season after spending their rookie seasons with the Heat and also playing important roles on the Heat's summer league team last year that won the Las Vegas Summer League championship.

Johnson kicked off his second summer league with the Heat on Saturday, scoring nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field, 0-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc and 3-of-4 shooting from the foul line, along with nine rebounds and four blocks in 28 minutes.

Larsson recorded a team-high 18 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field, 0-of-4 shooting from the foul line, and 10-of-11 free throw attempts, along with three rebounds in 28 minutes.

Ware contributed 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field, 0-of-4 shooting from three-point range, and 4-of-5 shooting from the foul line, along with seven rebounds, one assist, two steals, and three blocks in 27 minutes.

Then there's rookie center Vlad Goldin, who was recently signed by the Heat to a two-way contract after going undrafted last month.

Goldin, 24, spent three seasons at Florida Atlantic before spending his final college season at Michigan. He finished the win with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field, 0-of-1 shooting on threes and 1-of-2 shooting from the foul line, three rebounds and one assist in 13 minutes in his first summer league game with the Heat.

The Heat opened Saturday's summer opener with a starting lineup of Jakucionis, Lewis, Larsson, Johnson and Ware. The Heat then used guard Erik Stevenson, guard Javonte Cooke, Warren and Goldin off the bench.

The Heat's summer league team is right back at it on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers' summer team at Chase Center (4:30 p.m., NBA TV).

Here are other observations and things to know from Saturday's Heat summer league opener:

▪ Lewis, a high-profile summer league name who was the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, closed the victory with four points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in 20 minutes in a starting role for the Heat's summer squad.

The 24-year-old Lewis did not play in the NBA last season, instead spending it with the Washington Wizards' G League affiliate.

▪ Stevenson, who went undrafted in 2023 and has spent the last two seasons in the G League, was impressive for the Heat with 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting on threes, five rebounds and three assists on Saturday.

▪ Cookie, who went undrafted in 2022 out of Winston Salem State and spent the last three seasons in the G League, contributed eight points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 23 minutes on Saturday.

▪ Both teams struggled to make shots on Saturday, combining to shoot 12 of 61 (19.7 percent) from three-point range.

▪ Summer league games are played with 10-minute quarters instead of the usual 12-minute NBA quarters.

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NBA trade tracker: Details for every deal of the 2025 offseason

The 2025 NBA offseason is here, and deals are getting done.

On the last day of the season, the Phoenix Suns Traded MVP Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks along with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA draft and five second-round picks.

Two other trades made during the NBA Finals: The Memphis Grizzlies moved guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for a package of players and draft picks, while the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers reacquired their 2026 first-round pick in a deal that gave the team New Orleans Pelicans the 23rd selection in this year's draft.

The action continued during the draft , as, among a flurry of trades, Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams was dealt to the Suns and the Washington Wizards traded No. 18 pick Walter Clayton Jr. to the Utah Jazz .

Free agency officially began at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, and the Denver Nuggets wasted little time in making a move, trading Michael Porter Jr . and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson .

We're keeping track of every trade this offseason, including grades from analyst Kevin Pelton.

NBA offseason: Buzz, reports | Grades | Draft news

July 5

Grizzlies send center to Pacers

Indiana Pacers get:

C Jay Huff

Memphis Grizzlies get:

Second-round pick

Second-round pick swap

Wizards acquire Whitmore from Houston

Houston Rockets get:

Two second-round picks

Washington Wizards get:

F Cam Whitmore

July 1

Pistons acquire Robinson in sign-and-trade

Detroit Pistons get:

F Duncan Robinson

Miami Heat get:

F Simone Fontecchio

Bucks trade Connaughton

Milwaukee Bucks get:

G Vasilije Micic

Charlotte Hornets get:

G Pat Connaughton

2031 second-round pick

2031 second-round pick

Kings, Nuggets swap big men

Denver Nuggets get:

C Jonas Valanciunas

Sacramento Kings get:

C Dario Saric

June 30

Hawks acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker through sign-and-trade

Atlanta Hawks get:

G Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Minnesota Timberwolves get:

2027 second-round pick (via CLE)

Cash considerations

Nuggets trade Porter Jr. to Nets; acquire sharpshooter Johnson

Denver Nuggets get:

F Cameron Johnson

Brooklyn Nets get:

F Michael Porter Jr .

2032 first-round pick

June 29

Hornets acquire Sexton in trade with Jazz

Charlotte Hornets get:

G Collin Sexton

2030 second-round pick

Utah Jazz get:

C Jusuf Nurkić

June 28

Thunder trades Dillon Jones to Wizards

Oklahoma City Thunder receive:

G Colby Jones

Washington Wizards receive:

G Dillon Jones

Second-round pick

Bulls trade Ball to Cavs

Cleveland Cavaliers receive:

G Lonzo Ball

Chicago Bulls receive:

F Isaac Okoro

June 26

Knicks trade No. 50 pick Kobe Sanders to Clippers

Clippers receive:

G Kobe Sanders

Knicks receive:

No. 51 (F Mohamed Diawara )

Lakers suben al puesto 36

Lakers get:

No. 36 (F Adou Thiero )

Timberwolves receive:

No. 45 (C Rocco Zikarsky )

Cash considerations

Magic trade up to No. 32

Magic get:

No. 32 (F Noah Penda )

Celtics get:

No. 46 (C Amari Williams )

No. 57 (F Max Shulga )

2026 second-round pick

2027 second-round pick

Timberwolves trade No. 31 to the Suns for No. 36 and future picks

Timberwolves receive:

No. 36 (traded to LAL), two future second-round picks

Suns get:

No. 31 (F Rasheer Fleming )

The Suns trade the No. 52 and 59 picks to the Warriors.

Suns get:

No. 41 (G Koby Brea )

Warriors receive:

No. 52 and No. 59

Suns and Nets exchange second-round picks

Suns receive:

No. 36

Nets receive:

Two future second-round picks

Lakers trade for No. 45 pick

Lakers get:

No. 45 pick (traded to MIN)

Bulls receive:

55th pick

Cash considerations

June 25

Kings trade for No. 24 pick, draft Clifford

Kings receive:

24th pick (G Fuck Clifford )

Thunder gets:

2027 first-round pick

Wizards trade No. 18 pick Clayton Jr. to Jazz

Jazz gets:

G Walter Clayton Jr.

Wizards get:

No. 21 (F Will Riley )

No. 43 (G Jamir Watkins )

Second-round picks in 2031 and 2032

Hawks trade No. 13 pick to Pelicans

Pelicans receive:

No. 13 (C Derik Queen )

Hawks receive:

No. 23 (F Asa Newell )

2026 first-round pick

Blazers trade No. 11 pick Culver to Grizzlies

Grizzlies get:

G Cedric Coward

Blazers receive:

No. 16 (C Yang Hansen )

2028 first-round pick (via Orlando)

Two second-round picks

Suns trade for Hornets center Williams

Suns get:

C Mark Williams

Hornets receive:

G Vasilije Micic

No. 29 (G Liam McNeeley )

2029 first-round pick

Spurs and Pacers trade second-round picks

Pacers get:

No. 38 (G Kam Jones )

Spurs receive:

Future second-round pick

June 24

Celtics, Hawks and Nets finalize three-team deal

Boston Celtics receive:

F Georges Niang

Second-round pick

Atlanta Hawks receive:

C Kristaps Porzingis

Second-round pick

Brooklyn Nets receive:

G Terance Mann

2025 first-round pick (No. 22)

Wizards trade Poole to New Orleans for McCollum

New Orleans Pelicans receive:

G Jordan Poole

G Saddiq Bey

2025 second-round pick (No. 40)

Washington Wizards receive:

G CJ McCollum

F Kelly Olynyk

Future second-round pick

June 23: Celtics trade two-time All-Star to the Blazers

Boston Celtics receive:

G Anfernee Simons

Two future second-round picks

Portland Trail Blazers receive:

G Jrue Holiday

June 22: Kevin Durant traded to the Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets acquire:

F Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns receive:

G Jalen Green

F Dillon Brooks

2025 first-round pick (No. 10)

2025 second-round pick (No. 59, via OKC)

Two 2026 second-round picks

2030 second-round pick (via BOS)

2032 second-round pick

June 17: Pacers trade for 2026 first-round pick

Indiana Pacers receive:

2026 first-round pick (own)

New Orleans Pelicans receive:

2025 first-round pick (No. 23)

Draft rights to G Mojave King

June 15: Magic acquire Bane in blockbuster

Orlando Magic receive:

G Desmond Bane

Memphis Grizzlies receive:

G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

G Cole Anthony

2025 first-round pick (No. 16)

2026 first-round pick (swap rights from Phoenix or Washington)

2028 first-round pick

2029 first-round pick swap

2030 first-round pick

More:

• Pelton grades: Who won the Bane trade?
• Bontemps: Ripple effects of the blockbuster

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"People might think I'm going to be as good as him" - Eddie Bird wanted the world to know he wasn't his brother Larry

If there is one thing we've learned from observing the history of the NBA, it's that greatness doesn't always trickle down the family tree. Just because mum or dad were great players, doesn't necessarily mean their sons will be. Just because someone has a cousin in the NBA doesn't automatically grant the wider family an easier path to the pros.

Of course, there are a vast number of exceptions to this notion, with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, the Holiday family, and the Gasol brothers as just a few of many examples where elite basketball had family ties, but the inverse always has to exist too.

You'd be surprised at how many Hall of Famers had family members who attempted to carve out a professional career of their own, only to be unable to live up to the family name. Larry Bird's brother, Eddie, is a great example. He showed promise in high school but was never able to make his mark at the NBA level.

Eddie Bird's career

Eddie first made national headlines in 1987, at a time when Larry had already established himself as an NBA superstar. When you're as talented as Larry Bird, naturally the comparisons followed, but it wasn't purely because of his last name.

Eddie was already making an impact in high school, and his performance on the court led people to wonder if his potential resembled that of his older brother. Notably, Eddie broke Larry's high-school scoring record, surpassing Larry's 1,125 points with his own total of 1,172 points. This achievement generated excitement about his future potential and earned him the opportunity to play college basketball at Indiana State University—the same college attended by his brother.

Eddie breaking the scoring record didn't guarantee that he would become a pro. Still, there were signs he could potentially follow in his brother's footsteps. However, college was going to present a far sterner test for him as a prospect. To his credit, while he didn't set the world on fire, he did manage to have a reasonably fruitful college career.

He led Indiana State in scoring in all four of his college seasons, averaging 14 points per game, and built a reputation as a solid shooter after connecting on over 44% of his three-point attempts during his junior year.

It ultimately wasn't enough for him to get drafted in the NBA. Still, the Suncoast Sunblasters selected him in the second round of the United States Basketball League (USBL) in 1991. At that time, the USBL became known for its development in helping players move up to the NBA or forge professional careers in Europe.

He averaged 6.6 points per game for the Sunblasters in eight appearances before attending an 11-day free agent camp with the Sacramento Kings in July of that same year. Eddie used that opportunity to make the Kings' Summer League roster, where he underwhelmed in five appearances, averaging just 4.4 points per contest.

The end of his summer league campaign with the Kings would be the last time Eddie was notably involved in a professional setup, and he eventually walked away from the game without pursuing other opportunities.

He knew his limits

Throughout his sporting life, Eddie was understandably under enormous pressure by carrying the same last name as arguably the greatest basketball player ever at that time.

He could have easily let that weight crush him, or even worse, allowed his ego to swell to the point where he felt entitled to make it to the NBA based on his brother's success. He did neither and remained humble throughout everything.

He was so humble that even after breaking Larry's scoring record in high school, he wanted to let the world know that he was nowhere near as good as his brother.

People might think I'm going to be as good as him or something, and I hope they won't do that. If they look at it that way, I just hope they don't look at it as they see myself and not Larry. Right now, I don't think I will be a pro basketball player. he said .

Being that down-to-earth at such a young age with the national media knocking at your door is no easy feat, and it speaks to the humble foundations that the Bird brothers were raised with.

Lessons in replication

Larry and Eddie's basketball paths were connected, all the way from high school to college and nearly to the NBA level. Ultimately, however, their journeys ended up in completely different places, and it's a great example of how close, but far, careers can be, even for brothers.

Perhaps there was a Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan, perhaps there was a player as talented as LeBron James who never got the right opportunity or found themselves in the right circumstances.

Even Larry and Eddie, who grew up in the same household, under the same conditions, and empowered with the same support, couldn't reach the same destination.

There are humble lessons in knowing and understanding that sporting careers are so fragile, so delicate, so reliant on a perfect combination of talent, timing, opportunity, and the determination to keep searching for answers that may never come.

Larry ended up in the Hall of Fame, while Eddie sat in the crowd and watched his speech. The intricate details of one's journey to stardom remains one of the more underappreciated realities of sport, and who knows, maybe in an alternate universe their roles would have been reversed and history would have told a different story.

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2025 NBA Free Agency Updates: Latest News, Rumors, Signings, and Offseason Moves

The NBA free agency The period began on Monday evening, June 30, with several notable names expected to be available on the market. The moves continued into Tuesday.

Free agency will provide teams with the opportunity to reshape and retool their rosters to take one step closer to their respective NBA championship aspirations.

몇몇 대형 선수들 중 잠재적으로 FA 자격을 얻을 수 있었던 이들은 이제 더 이상 영입 가능한 상태가 아닐 것으로 보인다. 이 명단에는 다음과 같은 선수들이 포함된다. Lakers star LeBron James , Clippers standout James Harden and Timberwolves forward Julius Randle .

From NFL plays to college sports scores, all the top sports news you need to know every day.

Centers Myles Turner and Al Horford are among the top unrestricted players on the market as of Sunday evening. Chris Paul, Tyus Jones, and Josh Giddey are expected to be among the top unrestricted guards available.

Malik Beasley could also be among the list of notable guards, but instead will be the subject of another storyline after it was reported he is being investigated for gambling on NBA games .

USA TODAY Sports will have live updates and analysis on all NBA free agency news and rumors as they happen:

NBA FREE AGENCY: Who are the biggest names on the market?

Duncan Robinson to Detroit

The Pistons have agreed to a three-year, $48 million deal with the former Michigan standout. ESPN's Shams Charania reports It's a sign-and-trade deal, with Simone Fontecchio going to Miami, per Charania.

Robinson had spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Miami Heat. In 2024-25 he averaged 11 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 74 games (37 starts).

Robinson will likely come off the bench in Detroit, which seemingly turned to the longtime Heat player as a replacement for Malik Beasley. — Jace Evans

Tre Mann returns to Charlotte

The Hornets are re-signing Mann on a three-year, $24 million deal. ESPN's Shams Charania reports Mann, the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, arrived in Charlotte on trade deadline day 2024 in the deal that sent Gordon Hayward to Oklahoma City. He played in just 13 games during the 2024-25 season, none after November 21, due to a back injury. He averaged 14.1 points, 3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 24.5 minutes. — Jace Evans

Larry Nance Jr. returns to the Cavaliers.

After four years away from Cleveland, Larry Nance Jr. is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers , for each Marc Stein .

Drew Eubanks to the Kings

Per Shams Charania , the Los Angeles Clippers may be waiving Drew Eubanks, but he's already found another California squad in the Sacramento Kings . Charania reports that Eubanks plans to sign a one-year deal with Sacramento after he clears waivers. Eubanks averaged 4.6 points per game with the Jazz and Clippers last season.

Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Nuggets

Tim Hardaway Jr. is joining his third team in three seasons, per Shams Charania , joining a Denver Nuggets squad that has already added Jonas Valanciunas, Cam Johnson, and Bruce Brown this offseason. Hardaway agreed to a one-year deal with the team. He averaged 11 points on 37% three-point shooting for the Pistons last year.

Bucks' Rollins becomes free agent

After originally offering Rollins a qualifying offer following his best season as a pro, the Bucks have reportedly rescinded said offer, making Rollins an unrestricted free agent, per Chris Haynes .

Rollins provided solid shooting off the bench in Milwaukee, hitting over 40% of his three-point attempts for the Bucks in 2025. Rollins will now be looking to join his fourth team in five years.

Jakob Poeltl remains in Toronto

Poeltl always seems to find his way north of the border. After spending the last three years in Toronto, it appears he'll be staying through the end of the decade after signing a four-year, $104 million extension through the 2029-30 season, per Shams Charania .

Charania also reports that there were many considerations for the deal, including an opt-out of the final year of his contract, followed by an extension. However, it seems Poeltl and the Raptors eventually settled on Poeltl accepting his player option for 2026-27 at $19.5 million followed by another three-year extension.

Bucks make two more moves after waiving Lillard

It seems the addition of Gary Harris was not enough. Within a span of about eight minutes, the Bucks traded away wing Pat Connaughton for point guard Vasilije Micic, per Shams Charania , then followed that up by adding center Jericho Sims on a two-year deal.

Nuggets trade for Jonas Valanciunas

In an effort to give Nikola Jokic a bit more help in the frontcourt next year, the Denver Nuggets have traded Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas, per Shams Charania .

Dennis Schröder's contract details revealed

Yesterday, it was revealed that the Kings were looking for veteran guard help and were interested in both Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook. Today, the contract details for Schroder have been revealed. Per Shams Charania , Schroder, 31, is signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the team.

Bucks waive Damian Lillard to add Myles Turner

Bucks fans were ecstatic to learn that despite their salary issues, they were still able to secure veteran frontcourt help by signing Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal.

That excitement quickly transitioned to stunned silence when it was revealed that in order to pull off this move, the Bucks waived star guard Damian Lillard, per Shams Charania Lillard is nursing a torn Achilles he suffered in the first round of the playoffs, but will not return to Milwaukee.

To replace Lillard, the Bucks quickly signed Gary Harris to a two-year contract. However, this move did nothing to calm the anger of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to Chris Haynes , the Greek Freak is "not pleased" with the Bucks' decision.

Gary Trent Jr. is returning to the Bucks.

Milwaukee retains another member of the 2024-25 team with the re-signing of Gary Trent Jr. He will sign a two-year, $7.5 million deal that includes a player option to return to Milwaukee. Shams Charania reports .

Trent is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro. He played in a career-high 74 games and averaged 11.1 points per game off the bench, including a 41.6% mark from 3-point range. He also tied a franchise playoff record when he made nine 3-pointers in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Indiana Pacers .

76ers add Trendon Watford

Philadelphia is adding an emerging forward in Trendon Watford. He will sign a two-year, $5.3 million deal with the 76ers. Shams Charania reports A reserve for most of his career, Watford had a breakout season in 2024-25 despite missing most of the first half of the season. He averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game.

Taurean Prince staying in Milwaukee

The Bucks will keep Taurean Prince on a two-year, $7.1 million deal, according to Shams Charania He played 80 games for Milwaukee last season, the most he has played since 2017-18. He averaged 8.2 points and 3.6 rebounds and gets to stay with assistant Darvin Ham, who he was with when Ham was coach of the Los Angeles Lakers .

Prince also reportedly has a player option for the second season.

Charlotte Hornets re-sign Mason Plumlee

Mason Plumlee is headed back to the Queen City, signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Shams Charania reports. Plumlee played for the Hornets from 2021-23 before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Luke Kennard joining Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta continues to make moves with the addition of Luke Kennard. The Hawks will sign the wing to a one-year, $11 million deal. according to Shams Charania .

Kennard spent the past two and a half seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and solidified himself as one of the best sharpshooters in the league. He shot 43.3% from 3-point range during the 2024-25 season, the ninth-best mark in the NBA. He has shot at least 40% from beyond the arc over the past five seasons, including a league-high 44.9% from 3 in 2021-22.

Tyus Jones heads to Orlando

After starting 58 games for the Phoenix Suns last season, Jones is headed to an Eastern Conference contender in the Orlando Magic on a one-year, $7 million deal, per Shams Charania Jones has averaged more than 10 points per game in each of the last three seasons.

Atlanta gives $60 million to Nickeil Alexander-Walker

A solid scoring option off the bench for Minnesota, the Atlanta Hawks have acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker via a sign-and-trade on a four-year, $62 million deal, per Shams Charania In just his seventh year in the league, Alexander-Walker is already joining his fifth team, but his first in the Eastern Conference.

In return, the Timberwolves are acquiring a 2027 second-round pick (via Cleveland) and cash.

Reports also indicate that Hawks star Trae Young was heavily involved in the acquisition of Alexander-Walker.

Ty Jerome leaves Cavs for Grizzlies

Three years, $28 million. That's the deal for sought-after guard Ty Jerome, who will be moving to Tennessee to play with the Memphis Grizzlies, per Shams Charania .

Jerome was an elite shooter last season, nearly joining the 50-40-90 club (52% FG, 44% 3PT, 87% FT) during the regular season while playing crucial minutes for the Cavaliers. He played a significant role in helping the Cavaliers secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and is a major addition for a Grizzlies team that recently signed Jaren Jackson Jr. to a long-term deal.

Brook Lopez returns to Los Angeles

Former NBA champion Brook Lopez, 37, is headed back to the City of Angels, this time as a member of the Clippers after signing a two-year, $18 million deal, per Shams Charania Lopez spent the 2017-18 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, then spent the next seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, playing a significant role on the 2021 championship team.

Lopez will likely serve as a bench option for the Clippers behind Ivica Zubac.

Pistons lock up Caris LeVert

Shams Charania reports that the Detroit Pistons and free agent guard Caris LeVert have agreed to a two-year, $29 million deal. LeVert is familiar with the Detroit area, having spent his collegiate career at the University of Michigan.

Clint Capela returns to Houston

After five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, free agent big man Clint Capela is returning to the Houston Rockets on a fully guaranteed, three-year, $21.5 million deal, per Shams Charania .

Capela played in just 55 games last season, his fewest since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He spent most of last year battling a series of injuries.

Dennis Schroder to Sacramento

Early reports indicated that the Sacramento Kings were looking to add veteran guards this offseason. Well, they've begun with the addition of Dennis Schroder, per The Athletic's Fred Katz Although details of the agreement are still unknown, there have been reports that Sacramento's guard hunt will not end there. The Kings are also interested in adding Russell Westbrook to the fold for the 2025-26 season.

$41 million for Luke Kornet

The San Antonio Spurs have added depth behind Victor Wembanyama, signing center Luke Kornet, a member of the Boston Celtics' 2024 championship team, to a four-year, $41 million contract, according to Shams Charania .

Given the uncertainty regarding Wembanyama's blood clot in his shoulder, adding Kornet provides a bit of an immediate safety net, even though Wembanyama is considered likely to recover before the start of next year.

Kevon Looney's era in Golden State has come to an end

Longtime Golden State Warrior and three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney is leaving the West Coast for a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, per Shams Charania Looney had been a starter for much of his last five years with Golden State before being relegated to a bench role in 2025, starting in only six games all of last season. Looney did still put up solid minutes though, averaging 15 minutes per game.

Jake LaRavia moves to Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers will reportedly sign Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million deal, per Shams Charania LaRavia has always been a strong three-point shooter, which could come in handy as part of a team that finished outside the top-ten in three-point percentage a year ago.

D'Angelo Russell reunites with Anthony Davis in Dallas

With Kyrie Irving recovering from an ACL tear, the Dallas Mavericks have added some guard depth by signing D'Angelo Russell to a two-year, $13 million deal. Russell has experience playing with Davis, having each spent parts of the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Win-now Rockets continue to stack pieces

Days after they agreed to trade for Kevin Durant , the Rockets are bolstering their perimeter play — on both sides of the ball — by reportedly locking up forward Dorian Finney-Smith. ESPN reports the deal is worth four years and $53 million.

The Lakers had acquired Finney-Smith in a December 2024 trade. that sent D'Angelo Russell to the Nets. Now, L.A. loses Finney-Smith, a reliable 3-and-D forward, to a conference rival preparing for a deep playoff run.

Pistons re-sign Paul Reed

After he stepped up in the playoffs with backup forward-center Isaiah Stewart sidelined due to a right knee injury, Paul Reed became a valuable fill-in for the Pistons. Detroit is rewarding Reed with a two-year, $11 million contract to return to the team. per ESPN .

Grizzlies secure key young players

The Grizzlies are continuing their roster overhaul. All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. is expected to sign a renegotiated, five-year, max contract extension worth $248 million. according to ESPN Jackson was on a favorable contract that he had outperformed.

Memphis' trade of Desmond Bane helped clear the cap space needed to make this deal happen. The Grizzlies traded him to the Magic. , but then — following a separate trade with the Trail Blazers — drafted Cedric Coward at No. 11 overall. Coward essentially becomes a low-cost replacement for Bane. Another corresponding salary cap maneuver being made to accommodate the Jackson deal is a reported buyout to guard Cole Anthony , whom Memphis had just acquired in the Bane trade.

ESPN also reports that The Grizzlies also locked up backup forward Santi Aldama. to a three-year, $52.5 million deal.

A scorer set to unexpectedly hit the market

It's not often that consistent, double-digit scorers hit the open market. But as the Utah Jazz continue to remake their roster, Jordan Clarkson has finalized a buyout. according to the Athletic , making him an unrestricted free agent.

Clarkson, 33, averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 37 games last season. Clarkson had carved out a role as Utah's sixth man and became known for providing a scoring spark off the bench. Given his ability to score off the bench, Clarkson could draw interest from contenders looking to bolster their depth.

Veteran Nicolas Batum returns for his 18th season

Forward Nicolas Batum, a steady presence off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers, will sign a two-year deal worth $11.5 million, per ESPN.

Nets to re-sign Day'Ron Sharpe

After locking up one of their reserve forwards earlier Monday in Ziaire Williams, the Nets moved to do the same for backup center Day'Ron Sharpe. ESPN reports that Sharpe is set to sign a two-year deal to keep him in Brooklyn, worth $12 million.

Joe Ingles to return to Timberwolves

Veteran forward Joe Ingles will be playing his 12th season in the NBA, returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a one-year contract worth $3.6 million. according to ESPN .

Knicks forward Josh Hart had a humorous reaction to the news. , writing: "Man someone tell him to go ahead and retire already" in a social media post.

Ziaire Williams heading back to Brooklyn

Free agent forward Ziaire Williams is on the verge of signing a two-year, $12 million deal to return to the Brooklyn Nets. ESPN reports Williams, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 draft, averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds in 63 games with the Nets last season.

DeAndre Ayton set to test market

Center DeAndre Ayton is finalizing a buyout agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN , which will make him a free agent -- and one of the more interesting players available.

Ayton was acquired by the Blazers in 2023 as part of a three-team trade with Phoenix and Milwaukee. He's played in only 95 games in two seasons with Portland, averaging 15.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. As part of the contract he signed with the Suns, Ayton was scheduled to make $35.6 million next season.

When is NBA free agency? Dates, times and offseason schedule

NBA free agency officially began on Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET. Teams and players can now start agreeing to the terms of a contract. Teams and players, however, will have to wait until July 6 for contracts to be officially signed.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NBA Free Agency Updates: Latest News, Rumors, Signings, and Offseason Moves

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