Team USA Notes: Durant, James, Embiid, Holiday
Kevin Durant didn’t participate in any of Team USA’s exhibition games due to a right calf strain. Regardless, his spot on the 12-man roster is not in jeopardy as the team heads to Paris for the Olympics, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
“There’s no thought of replacing Kevin,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I was hoping he would get a game in here, but it just didn’t work out that way.”
The current plan for Durant is to practice with the team several times when it gets to France later this week. Kerr said he wants Durant to have some contact and go through a scrimmage before the Suns superstar suits up. His availability for Sunday’s pool play opener against Serbia is uncertain but Durant practiced last week and ramped up his activity level over the weekend.
We have more on Team USA:
- After its stunning close call against South Sudan, Team USA had another tough challenge in its exhibition finale against Germany on Monday. LeBron James came to the rescue, supplying 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. He made several clutch plays and baskets down the stretch of a 92-88 win, scoring the team’s last 11 points. “Just putting the team on his shoulders,” said Jrue Holiday, per Windhorst.
- Joel Embiid had his best exhibition outing on Monday, as he contributed 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists. “People who watch me know that every season it takes me a couple of games to get going, and this is no different,” Embiid said. “That’s the reason we’ve got preseason games. I feel like myself and I’m going to keep going and I’m going to be playing at that MVP level I’ve played for the last five or six seasons.”
- Holiday is appearing in his second straight Olympics. He had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists on Monday. “Plug into the gaps where I can,” Holiday told Mark Medina of Sportskeeda.com, explaining how he expects to contribute. “Knowing that because of the caliber of the team that we have, the minutes might not be there. Or we might not even play in some games. Whenever you get the chance to shoot, you might just get one or two shots. I feel like somebody like me, it’s not about the shots. It’s about going out there and experiencing the game and doing the things that is a little bit of the dirty work. You can impact the game without scoring. I’d like to think I’ve always been that type of player.”
Pistons Add Gianluca Pascucci To Front Office
Gianluca Pascucci has joined the Pistons front office, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Pascucci spent last season as a Bulls scout after a stint as assistant GM with the Timberwolves. He left Minnesota in May 2022 after the organization decided not to pick up its option on his contract.
Pistons first-year president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon previously worked with Pascucci in the Nets’ front office.
Pascucci joins several other hires this summer in Detroit’s revamped front office. Former Mavericks executive Dennis Lindsey was brought in to be their senior VP of basketball operations and former Pelicans executive Michael Blackstone was added as an executive VP of basketball operations.
They also hired former Nets director of player personnel J.R. Holden in an executive role.
Western Notes: Sengun, Dunn, Westbrook, Pelicans, Bassey
Alperen Sengun would like to sign a rookie scale extension this offseason but he admits he may have to wait until next offseason, Eurohoops relays. The Rockets center was asked about his contract situation during a “Sunday Chat with Fatih Altayli” broadcast.
“We are waiting. My managers are negotiating with them,” he said. “I don’t become a free agent next year. This year, teams can’t make offers to me. Next year, other teams can make offers.”
Sengun would become a restricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t reach an extension agreement this offseason. There has been speculation that the Rockets might follow the Sixers’ approach to this offseason, where they delayed a max extension with Tyrese Maxey until this summer in order to open up as much cap space as possible to pursue top free agents.
Sengun, who finished third in the Most Improved Player balloting, would rather get long-term security sooner than later.
“Right now, they don’t have to sign, but of course, I want to sign. Because then your mind is at ease. You secure your future,” Sengun said.
We have more from the Western Conference:
- The Clippers signed Kris Dunn to a three-year, $16,279,200 contract which is non-guaranteed in the final year, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets. The third year can become fully guaranteed if Dunn is named to the All-Defensive First or Second Team during either the 2024/25 or 2025/26 season — if he doesn’t earn All-Defensive honors, his guarantee date for the third-year salary would be June 30, 2026. Los Angeles acquired Dunn in a sign-and-trade with Utah.
- The Nuggets shouldn’t put Russell Westbrook in the starting lineup to fill Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s spot, Sean Keeler of the Denver Post opines. Westbrook is joining Denver after clearing waivers on Monday. Westbrook would be better off anchoring a mostly youthful second unit, providing leadership and a change of pace. He’d be a better backup at the point than Reggie Jackson – who was dealt to Charlotte – was last season, Keeler adds. Westbrook would still get chances to start if and when Murray is unavailable.
- Assuming Brandon Ingram doesn’t get traded, what does the Pelicans’ depth chart look like? Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune explores that topic, projecting a starting five of Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Ingram, Zion Williamson and Daniel Theis. That would leave Jose Alvarado, Trey Murphy, Yves Missi, and – most notably – CJ McCollum as the top reserves.
- Spurs center Charles Bassey gave up his right to veto a trade during the 2024/25 league year, Hoops Rumors has learned. A player who re-signs with his previous team on a one-year contract (or a two-year deal with a second-year option) is typically given a de facto no-trade clause for the season, but that right can be waived as part of a contract agreement.
Nets’ Jalen Wilson Named Summer League MVP
Nets forward Jalen Wilson has been named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League, the league’s communications department tweets.
Wilson averaged 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.6 steals while shooting 47.3% from the field and 55.0% from 3-point range in five games in Vegas.
His performances should solidify his spot on the team’s roster this upcoming season. The 23-year-old has a $1.89MM minimum-salary contract for 2024/25 that is currently just partially guaranteed for $75K. It increases to a partial guarantee of $325K if he makes the opening night roster.
Oddly, Wilson was only named to the All-Summer League Second Team. The First Team included the Grizzlies‘ GG Jackson II and Scotty Pippen Jr,, the Clippers‘ Jordan Miller, the Rockets‘ Reed Sheppard and the Heat‘s Kel’el Ware.
The Grizzlies and Heat reached the Summer League championship game. Sheppard, the No. 3 pick in last month’s draft, averaged 20.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals in four Las Vegas outings.
Along with Wilson, the Second Team included the Wizards‘ Carlton Carrington, the Trail Blazers‘ Donovan Clingan, the Heat‘s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the Pacers‘ Jarace Walker (Twitter links).
Sixers Sign Jeff Dowtin To Two-Way Contract
JULY 22: The signing is official, according to a press release from the Sixers.
JULY 21: The Sixers are bringing back Jeff Dowtin on a two-way contract, The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweets.
Dowtin finished last season with Philadelphia but the Sixers declined their 2024/25 option on the reserve point guard in order to open up as much cap space as possible.
Dowtin started off the 2023/24 season with Philadelphia’s NBAGL team, the Delaware Blue Coats, before inking a two-way deal with the Sixers. In April, that contract was converted to a standard agreement for the rest of the season, with a second-year team option.
Dowtin appeared in 12 regular season games for the Sixers, averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 assists in 11.8 minutes per contest. In 20 G League games, he averaged 19.0 PPG and 5.3 APG in 32.4 MPG.
Overall, Dowtin has played in 46 NBA games during his career.
After going undrafted out of Rhode Island in 2020, Dowtin spent the 2020/21 season with the Lakeland Magic, Orlando’s G League affiliate. The 6’3″ point guard has since logged time with the Warriors, Bucks, and Raptors, often on either 10-day contracts or two-way deals that have seen him split his time with each team’s G League affiliate club.
Philadelphia already has wing Justin Edwards on a two-way deal and reportedly will also add forward David Jones on a similar contract. Dowtin would fill the third two-way slot.
Sandro Mamukelashvili Returns To Spurs On One-Year Deal
JULY 22: The Spurs have officially re-signed Mamukelashvili, the team confirmed today in a press release.
JULY 16: Sandro Mamukelashvili is re-signing with the Spurs on a one-year, $2.2MM deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets. That’s equivalent to Mamukelashvili’s minimum salary for 2024/25.
The Spurs pulled their $2.7MM qualifying offer to Mamukelashvili last week, making him a free agent. However, the two parties had interest in working out a new agreement.
Mamukelashvili, a 2021 second-round pick, signed a one-year, minimum-salary deal with the Spurs last July after becoming a free agent. He played one-and-a-half seasons with Milwaukee before joining San Antonio during the 2022/23 season.
Last season, Mamukelashvili appeared in 46 games (5 starts) and averaged 4.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 9.8 minutes. He received extended playing time in April and averaging 11.6 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.1 minutes over seven games.
The 25-year-old, who attended Seton Hall, joins the mix of players competing for playing time at power forward and center. His return gives San Antonio 14 players on the regular roster, one shy of the maximum for the regular season.
Central Notes: Livingston, Holland, Klintman, Buzelis, Tshiebwe, Jackson, Trent Jr.
The Bucks lost their first four Summer League games in Las Vegas but 2023 second-round pick Chris Livingston has been a bright spot, averaging 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.1 minutes per game, Eric Nehm of The Athletic notes.
The 6’6” Livingston is preparing to play any of the frontcourt positions, including center, after seeing just 90 minutes of NBA action as a rookie.
“It’s a fight, you know what I’m saying? I’ve been working,” he said. “Trying to get in the best shape of my life, that’s what I’m going to do. Working on my skill development, my shot. My shot’s always been there, but just speeding my shot up. Being ready to shoot, changing my mindset when it comes to that.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Pistons lottery pick Ron Holland struggled with his shooting but otherwise had a productive Summer League, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes. Second-round pick Bobi Klintman also made a favorable impression, as did two-way player Daniss Jenkins.
- Bulls lottery pick Matas Buzelis showed a competitive edge in his Summer League performances, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Among the other things that stood out for the Bulls were the overall contributions of second-year forward Julian Phillips, who could be ready for rotational minutes.
- Oscar Tshiebwe and Quenton Jackson are both in the same spot with the Pacers — they’re restricted free agents after receiving qualifying offers and trying to hold onto their two-way spots, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star writes. Tshiebwe and Jackson combined for 39 points in Indiana’s Summer League finale, but their futures with the organization remain tenuous.
- The Bucks’ addition of Gary Trent Jr. on a veteran’s minimum deal may turn out to be the biggest bargain in free agency this summer, according to ESPN’s Hoop Collective (YouTube link).
Spurs Add Minix, Warriors Sign Rowe On Camp Deals
The Spurs have signed undrafted Morehead State forward Riley Minix to a training camp contract and the Warriors have also added Jackson Rowe on a camp deal, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter links).
Minix, 23, appeared in 35 games last season as a senior, averaging 20.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 33.8 minutes per game. Minix ranked among the top 20 in Division I in scoring. He appeared in three games with the Spurs’ Summer League team.
Rowe, 27, played regularly last season for Golden State’s NBA G League team, the Santa Cruz Warriors. He averaged 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per contest. He appeared in six Summer League games this month for the Warriors.
It seems safe to assume both players were added on Exhibit 10 deals.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal that doesn’t count against a team’s cap unless the player makes the regular season roster. It can be converted to a two-way contract before the season begins or the player can earn a bonus of up to $77.5K if he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with his team’s G League affiliate.
Sixers Sign Adem Bona To Four-Year Deal
JULY 21: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
JULY 14: Sixers second-rounder Adem Bona has agreed on a four-year, $8MM rookie contract, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets. Bona was selected with the No. 41 pick in last month’s draft.
Philadelphia will be using the second-round exception to sign the former UCLA center, which means the fourth year will be a team option. A four-year, minimum-salary contract for a rookie would be worth about $7.9MM, so the terms reported by Charania are either rounded up or suggest Bona will earn a bit more than the minimum in year one.
Bona has averaged 6.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in 22.7 minutes per night thus far for Philadelphia’s Summer League squad. In his final collegiate season with the Bruins, he averaged 12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 33 games.
Bona is currently slotted in as the No. 3 center on the Sixers’ depth chart behind Joel Embiid and free agent acquisition Andre Drummond.
Ricky Rubio Reportedly Signing With Spain’s Joventut Badalona
Longtime NBA guard Ricky Rubio is reportedly signing with Spanish club Joventut Badalona, Eurohooops.net relays.
According to Jordi Valle Simo of EFE Deportes, Rubio is returning to the team where he began his professional career in 2005. He spent his first four seasons in Badalona.
After agreeing to a buyout with the Cavaliers and retiring from the NBA in January, Rubio signed with Barcelona in February on a one-year contract. After his Spanish team lost to Real Madrid in the Liga ACB semifinals, he expressed uncertainty about his basketball future.
“These months, I’ve felt strange; I’ve wanted to change some things,” Rubio said. “Coming in the middle of the season is not easy, my way of being, more reserved and not feeling 100%. I don’t think I’ve been everything I expected, but I didn’t have any expectations either, but it’s clear that the balance is not good.”
By rejoining Joventut Badalona, Rubio will continue playing in the ACB League. Last season, he made 13 EuroLeague appearances and averaged 17 minutes on the court, posting 4.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. He also played 15 Liga Endesa games for Barcelona, averaging 6.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, and 3.1 RPG.