Basketball Intelligence For 7/24/26

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

Jul 24, 2026

LeBron James, Sixers agree to two-year, $8 million contract
Gina Mizell, Philadelphia Inquirer

NOTE: Much more on this story in our next edition

TEAM-SPECIFIC

BKN: Grading The Brooklyn Nets’ Offseason
Fran Leiva, Fadeaway World

One of the smarter, underrated moves of the summer was the Nets landing Keon Ellis after he became a very coveted trade asset last season. His skills line up almost perfectly with the holes in the projected starting group, too, with 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 72 games last season, shooting 44.0% from the field and 36.3% from three. Those numbers aren’t big, but Ellis isn’t here to run the offense. He’s here to guard the other team’s best perimeter scorer, create deflections, and knock down open threes while being a mentor for the unproven rookies.
There’s almost no downside. He’s young enough to stick around and cheap enough to move later if needed. The Nets needed someone who could defend without controlling the ball, and Ellis is the clearest example of Marks understanding exactly what this roster was missing.

CHA: Why Charles Lee is bullish on Hornets’ roster mixing newcomers and returnees
Rod Boone, Charlotte Observer

DAL: Mavericks’ roster pluses? Irving’s return, Flagg’s growth, infusion of youth
Eddie Sefko, Mavs.com

DAL: Can Sergio De Larrea be a day-one contributor?
Christian Clark, The Athletic

DET: Pistons’ Jalen Duren Standoff Explained
Alder Almo, heavy.com

GSW: How Graham Ike became the ‘heartbeat’ of Golden State’s NBA Summer League championship team
Theo Lawson, The Spokesman-Review

HOU: Summer League | Bruce Thornton of the Houston Rockets
Bryce Simon, Game Theory

HOU: houston cannot buy a jump shot under the apron, so it hired the man who has spent twenty-three seasons building them.
bang!

IND: With Tyrese Haliburton Back, These Three Things Must Go Right for Pacers to Contend
Blake Silverman, Sports Illustrated

LAL: The Lakers Bet Their Future on Walker Kessler. How Good Can He Become?
Iztok Franko, digginbasketballl

OKC: Thunder didn’t trade Lu Dort to avoid the second apron. They did it to cut costs
Fred Katz, The Athletic

ORL: What we learned about the Magic in Las Vegas
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel

SAC: We Need To Be Nicer to Domantas Sabonis
Con Brennan, Wait For The Screen