Basketball Intelligence For 7/9/25
The day's best news and reporting.
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
Previewing NBA Summer League, Where It’s Best to Just Embrace the Chaos
Danny Chau, The Ringer
TEAM NEWS
BOS: Boston Celtics Offseason Review: Nothing Gold Can Stay
Hardwood Paroxysm
BOS: Celtics might be done with offseason moves, Al Horford’s return ‘unlikely’
Jay King, The Athletic
CHA: Get to know the Charlotte Hornets second round picks
Jonathan DeLong, At The Hive
CHA: How a personal summer school has Tidjane Salaün eager to show and silence critics
Roderick Boone, The News & Observer
While Salaün showed flashes here and there, he averaged 5.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.7 minutes per game, draining only 33% of his attempts and 28.3% from 3-point range.
Not exactly the best of numbers for someone taken sixth overall in the NBA Draft.
For the better part of the last 12 weeks, he’s focused on getting stronger and faster, also honing his playmaking skills and passing ability. The personal boot camp apparently is providing the early wanted results.
CHI: Bulls are embracing ‘Lachie’ Olbrich, their 2nd-round pick: ‘He’s going to hurt someone’
Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune
CLE: How Kenny Atkinson and Omar Cook are building the Cavs’ backcourt of the future
Wine and Gold Talk Podcast, Cleveland.com
CLE: Larry Nance Jr. ready to fulfill lifelong dream in second stint with Cavs
Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com
CLE: Craig Porter Jr. achieved the NBA dream. Now he’s fighting to keep it
Ethan Sands, Cleveland.com
DAL: Mavericks' blatant steal of a signing is somehow still being shockingly ignored
Noah Weber, The Smoking Cuban
DEN: Nikola Jokic won’t sign contract extension with Nuggets this offseason, sources say. Here’s why it makes sense to wait.
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post
DET: Langdon’s quick pivot bolsters Pistons with LeVert, Robinson additions
Keith Langlois, NBA.com
GSW: A dream delayed: Bay Area’s Chance McMillian has Warriors career put on pause
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News
GSW: NBA Summer League takeaways: Alex Toohey has up-and-down debut for Warriors
Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News
HOU: Rafael Stone: Rockets penciling in Reed Sheppard for ‘big role’ in sophomore season
Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire
IND: Aaron Nesmith extension is a no-brainer. Bennedict Mathurin's isn't as clear cut. Pacers won't rush either
Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star
IND: Pacers caught with no ride
Kelly Dwyer, Kelly Dwyer On Hoops
LAC: Lakers, Clippers forge parallel paths to flexibility. Will they see stars at the end?
Sam Amick, The Athletic
Fast forward to this summer, and the Clippers re-signed 35-year-old James Harden on a two-year, $81.5 million deal and gave two-year deals to Brook Lopez and Nicolas Batum. It’s worth noting, by the way, that Batum, Lopez and Bogdan Bogdanović all have team options for the 2026-27 season. Harden, similarly, has only a partial guarantee for his second season (which is a player option). The Clippers, like the Lakers, could pivot to prioritizing next summer, too.
More tellingly, the Clippers sent Norman Powell to Miami, by way of a three-team trade with Utah, after he had the best season of his 10-year career. The problem for the Clippers, of course, is that Powell was extension-eligible (with one year left on his deal), and they simply couldn’t reward him for his wonderful play with a long-term deal while keeping their strategy intact. They landed John Collins, who is on an expiring deal, in return.
LAL: Jake LaRavia reveals ‘high IQ’ skill that will help Lakers
David Yapkowitz, Clutch Points
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