Basketball Intelligence For 6/30/25
The day's best news and reporting.
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
Shams Charania Is Chasing the Future — the NBA’s and His Own
Peter A. Berry, Rolling Stone
THE BASKETBALL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK
Free Agency Is Nigh
With the NBA's official free agent period beginning in mere hours, Aaron and Evan talk about the significant signings and trades that have already occurred—beginning with a discussion of another offseason where LeBron wants people to know how much he wants to win, while the Clippers commit to another likely first-round exit. Rafael Stone apparently agre…
WNBA
WNBA announces record expansion to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia
Ben Pickman, The Athletic
“This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball,” Engelbert said in a statement Monday.
Basketball is the professional tie that binds the Chicago Sky’s head coach and his father
Sean Hurd, Andscape
Natalie Nakase attributes Valkyries' stunning success to unique team trait
Stephanie Kaloi, Hish Post Hoops
WNBA power rankings: Could Angel Reese’s hot streak boost Chicago Sky?
Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic
Valkyries Embarrass Storm Again 84-57
Jeff Brown, Storm Chasers WNBA Journal
Captain Caitlin Clark: Fever guard leads WNBA All-Star voting for second year in a row
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files With Scott Agness
Game 16 wrap. GSV blows out Seattle; close for a half and then vooooom; Thornton leaves with injury
Eric Apricot, Valkyrie Nation
WNBA Commissioner's Cup: 5 keys to decide Fever-Lynx final
Michael Voepel, ESPN
Minnesota's consistency is partially the product of its elite, reliable defense. The Lynx lead the WNBA in points allowed (74.1) and defensive rating (93.9) and are second in opponent field goal percentage (40.1).
TEAM NEWS
BOS: Celtics roster is coming into focus, but things could change when free agency begins
Adam Himmelsbach, The Boston Globe
BOS: Celtics’ Hugo González has all the attributes to succeed in NBA
Jay king, The Athletic
BOS: How Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams fit with Boston — and each other
Ben Paradis, Celtics Blog
CHA: After trading for Collin Sexton, will Hornets be active in NBA free agency?
Roderick Boone, The Charlotte Observer
CHA: NBA trade grades: Hornets steal Collin Sexton in swap with Jazz
Lior Lampert, Fansided
BI: I have a hard time getting excited about this deal, as Sexton is a scoring guard, in a contract season, who will take minutes and shots from the young players that Charlotte just drafted.
CHI: Chicago Bulls in free agency: Next step for Josh Giddey? Is Jonathan Kuminga the answer in the frontcourt?
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune
CHI: Did Bulls take step forward or step back? They’re in same place they always are
Jon Greenberg, The Athletic
CLE: How Lonzo Ball’s defensive mastery could elevate the Cavs to championship contention: Film breakdown
Evin Gualberto, Cleveland.com
CLE: The hard truth behind why the Cavs are likely moving on from Ty Jerome
Cleveland.com
CLE: Evaluating the Start to Free Agency for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot
CLE: How Kenny Atkinson’s vision is redesigning the Cavs for the modern game
Ethan Sands, Cleveland.com
DEN: How Ben Tenzer ascended from chauffeuring star athletes to the top of Nuggets’ front office
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post
From running in the same circles as his favorite athletes as an awestruck teenager, to running errands as a student intern for the Nuggets, Tenzer's rise to the top of Denver's front office required years of observation, osmosis and eagerness to tackle any task. His promotion this week was a culmination, as he was named executive vice president of basketball operations by the Kroenke family. He and Jon Wallace have been handed the keys to Nikola Jokic's 30s, which could be the most pivotal stretch in franchise history.
GSW: 2025 Free Agency Day 1 open thread
Eric Apricot, Dub Nation HQ
IND: Pacers look to second round picks for backcourt depth, pick up team option on Tony Bradley
Tom Lewis, Indy Cornrows With Tom Lewis
IND: Indiana Pacers Free Agency Primer: Why Big Men And Money Are At Center
Tone East, Forbes
MEM: Memphis Grizzlies free agency preview: Jaren Jackson Jr.'s contract, 4 other priorities
Damichael Cole, Memphis Commercial Appeal
MIL: What options do the Bucks have in free agency? Salary cap and roster breakdown
Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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