Bradley Beal Signs With Clippers
Bradley Beal has officially signed with the Clippers, reports Law Murray of The Athletic (via Twitter). Beal cleared waivers at 4:00 pm Central time on Friday after having been officially waived by the Suns on Wednesday.
As previously reported, Beal’s deal with L.A. uses the remainder of the team’s mid-level exception. It’s worth $5,354,000 in year one, followed by a $5,621,700 player option for 2026/27.
“Players of this caliber are very rare, and they’re hard to come by,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said in a press release announcing the deal. “You can put him in so many different spots and he’ll find ways to score: out of pick-and-roll, coming off screens, catch-and-shoot. He can create his own or he can play off the ball. He’s a great cutter. He’s also a great playmaker who is going to make everybody else better. I’m excited he’s with us.”
In a conversation with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Beal’s agent Mark Bartelstein said, “The Clippers want the most aggressive and dynamic version of Brad. That’s music to his ears.”
Beal averaged 17.0 points and 3.7 assists per game last season for the Suns while splitting time between the starting lineup and a reserve role. The career 37.6% three-point shooter will join a Clippers team that has loaded up its bench with accomplished veterans like John Collins and Brook Lopez as they look to cement themselves as a contender around star Kawhi Leonard.
Chuma Okeke Expected To Sign With Real Madrid
Chuma Okeke is finalizing a deal to join Real Madrid, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter).
Okeke, a former Auburn standout who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Magic after being drafted with the No. 16 pick in 2019, appeared in seven games with the Sixers last season and five with the Cavaliers, including three in the playoffs.
The 26-year-old spent the majority of the year with the Knicks’ G League affiliate in Westchester, where he averaged 17.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per contest.
Orazio Cauchi of Basket News, who first reported that Okeke and Real Madrid were in advanced talks, says the 6’6″ wing is expected to primarily helm the power forward spot for the Spanish club.
Assuming a deal is finalized, Okeke would join former NBA players Facundo Campazzo, Theo Maledon, Mario Hezonja, Edy Tavares, Usman Garuba, Bruno Fernando, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes on Madrid’s roster.
Southeast Notes: Simpson, Ware, Toppin, Magic Coaches
Hornets guard KJ Simpson is embracing his role as the primary initiator on Charlotte’s Summer League team after missing the event as a rookie a year ago, writes Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. The Hornets’ roster is loaded with guards, and Simpson is aware he needs to become more consistent with his offense if he wants to find a role with the team this season.
“I know I’m a way better shooter and way better efficient scorer than I was during the season,” Simpson said. “Just being more efficient, taking better shots and better decision making, that can always improve.”
Simpson also knows he has to be a pest defensively if he wants to earn his place on the court. One player he’s looking to for inspiration is T.J. McConnell, whose game tape he has been watching for inspiration — that includes the Pacers guard’s tendency to pick up full-court defensively.
“T.J. is a good example that he just goes out there heart over height, and I just want to go out there and prove I can do the same thing at that same level,” Simpson said.
We have more from around the Southeast division:
- After being called out by Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra for his lackluster Summer League start and overall approach, second-year big man Kel’el Ware responded in a major way on Sunday evening, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Ware racked up 21 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in his fourth Summer League outing while making two of three three-point shots, though Jackson notes that more is still needed in terms of attention to detail on the defensive glass and transition defense. “He’s the coach and he has that trust in me and he wants to see me be the best I can be,” Ware said after the game. “So I took it as motivation.” Summer League coach Eric Glass liked what he saw from Ware. “When he comes in with that focus and that intensity, the rest of his game blossoms,” Glass said. “He has that potential and we want to see him do it again tomorrow.”
- Jacob Toppin is hoping to build off a strong start to Summer League with the Hawks, writes Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Toppin’s speed and athleticism with the ball has stood out during his play, and Summer League coach Bryan Bailey has noticed. “Obviously, his size, his length and ability to shoot the ball,” Bailey said. “We even saw (Friday) in the game, just in the fourth quarter, he can push the ball. He can dribble. So we got him as a weapon in transition. Just keep developing those things.” The Hawks have a roster loaded with athletic wings, but Toppin knows what he needs to do to prove himself worth the investment. “On the defensive end, being a menace, being able to guard one of four, keeping guys in front,” he said. “Offensively, being that athletic wing who’s going to run the floor space, make open shots and stuff like that.”
- Losing in the first round for a second consecutive season helped convince Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley that additional help was needed, not just on the roster, but on the coaching staff as well, writes Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. That led the team to hire God Shammgod and former Bucks’ assistant Joe Prunty. “What they bring is experience,” Mosley said. “They bring a level of player relationship that they’ve developed over time throughout being in the league all these years. For our staff, they continue that connectivity that we have.” Mosley has worked with both coaches before – Shammgod in Dallas and Prunty in Cleveland – and is excited about what the duo can bring to the team. “Sham, more on the coaching side, being able to dissect some of the offense, the individual movement and plays of guys,” Mosley said. “Joe’s going to be tasked more with the offensive focus, offensive flow of the way in which we’re playing.”
Knicks To Hire Riccardo Fois To Coaching Staff
The Knicks have made the first hire of the Mike Brown coaching era, adding player development coach Riccardo Fois, reports Fred Katz of the Athletic (via Twitter). Katz notes that Fois is currently in Las Vegas with the Knicks as they watch their summer league squad compete.
The Knicks recently missed out on one of their top choices for Brown’s coaching staff, as it was reported that Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego would be remaining in New Orleans.
Fois spent last season as an assistant coach under Brown with the Kings. Before that, he was an assistant coach at the University of Arizona, after serving as the director of player development for the Suns from 2019-2021 and director of analytics at Gonzaga. Fois also has extensive international experience, having been an assistant for the Italian national team.
Fois’ time with the Suns, which included their 2021 run to the NBA Finals, gave him a good deal of experience with Mikal Bridges, who spoke about the coach when Fois left Phoenix.
“Riccardo is one of the most hard working people I know. All he cares about is getting people better and winning,” Bridges said in a 2021 statement from the University of Arizona. “The best thing about him is he’s an even greater person. He helped me a lot with developing my game and never letting me get too comfortable. I’m going to miss my guy and I wish him the best!”
Fois’s offensive creativity and familiarity with Brown’s coaching style will be key as the Knicks attempt to build a new system with a largely incumbent roster.
Booker, Brooks, Green Prepare For Upcoming Suns Season
Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks will be entering the 2025/26 season with a chip on their shoulders as a result of the trade that sent them to the Suns in exchange for Kevin Durant, writes Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
“I love the trade. It gives me and Jalen an opportunity,” Brooks said in response to Green asking him about the deal, prompting Green to interject, “Motivation.”
Brooks added that he felt like coming to Phoenix had been a long time in the making — he thought he had been traded to the Suns in his sophomore season, a deal in which the Grizzlies believed they were trading MarShon Brooks.
“I can’t wait to connect with the fans and bring that toughness, bring that urgency, and be ready for the journey,” Brooks said.
Green was candid about how he took being traded from the Rockets, who drafted him No. 2 overall in the 2021 draft.
“It hurts. Houston is home to me and forever will be home to me,” he said. “I started my NBA career there and built a lot there… obviously it was sad to leave, but it’s a business.”
He also expressed optimism about the coming season, and specifically about how he could fit with newly extended Devin Booker.
“We’re two people who are going to be able to accept the double team and play off each other,” Green said. “We’re two people who know how to attract the defense, and everyone’s going to set up around us. So when we’re doing something like that, you’ve got to pick who you want to score tonight. And me and him both, it’s going to be a deadly scoring duo.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Booker is already hard at work preparing for the upcoming season (Twitter video link).
“I’m told he’s been working out with players on the Suns, the young players on the Suns, over the last week, two weeks,” Charania said. “So he’s fully immersed himself with this team, with Jalen Green, with Dillon Brooks… I think there will be a better feel, they’re hoping, around this team.”
That’s a sentiment that Green echoed, despite knowing that outside expectations for the Suns have declined following a disappointing couple seasons and the departure of Durant.
“The position we’re in, we’re going to surprise a lot of people and make a lot of noise,” Green said.
Northwest Notes: Beringer, Henderson, Hansen, Bates
The workout that sealed Joan Beringer‘s selection by the Timberwolves with the 17th overall pick last month took place in Chicago less than a week before the draft, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
The Wolves’ front office had been keeping an eye on the young big man, who only started playing basketball at 14 when he grew too big for soccer cleats throughout his season with Cedevita Olimpija. But that late workout allowed Beringer to show his skill set outside of the game tape, and that proved to be the deciding factor for Minnesota’s top decision-makers.
“I remember just catching an eye with [Wolves’ president Tim Connelly] and both of our eyebrows were kind of cocked, like what’s going on here, man,” said director of scouting Joe Connelly.
Beringer’s agent, Jelani Floyd, considered his client’s floor to be No. 16 with Orlando, but when the Magic traded their pick to the Grizzlies, the Wolves contacted him to schedule a last-minute workout — Floyd made the front office come to him.
“My whole thing is like, hey, come in, bring your staff, and we’ll be able to see how serious they were,” Floyd said.
The Wolves found the combination of Beringer’s size, mobility, and balance — which culminated in him performing a free-throw line dunk on command — impressive enough that they decided the French center had to be their guy.
We have more from around the Northwest division:
- Trail Blazers‘ head coach Chauncey Billups is extremely encouraged by the offseason work from Scoot Henderson, who Billups said is having an incredible summer. “He had a tough year last year, only because he didn’t get to play basketball during the summer. He was banged up, he was licking his wounds from the season.” Billups said in a Summer League interview with the ESPN broadcast team (video link). “This year he’s been playing ball all summer, he’s been working on his game, as you said. Scoot is gonna take an incredible leap this year.” Billups also expressed excitement about how Jrue Holiday could help Henderson’s development: “What better guy in the league could you have to raise Scoot and Shaedon [Sharpe]?“
- Yang Hansen was maybe the biggest surprise of the 2025 draft when the Trail Blazers picked him 16th overall, but his Summer League debut went a long way to quieting any doubters, writes Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (subscriber link). Hansen put up 10 points, four rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, and while his passing captured a lot of attention, Highkin says that it was his communication with his teammates that was the most impressive part of his debut performance. At least one person within the Blazers organization wasn’t surprised. “You don’t do something that crazy unless you’re sure about it,” said the anonymous staffer.
- Tamar Bates is finding a way to impact the Nuggets‘ Summer League team outside of the box score, writes Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. Bates, who is on a two-way contract, has made an effort to be a vocal leader and communicator out on the floor. “I felt like I made a lot of winning plays,” Bates said. “I made a few shots, but I think the thing I’m most proud of is that I didn’t let a missed shot or a turnover affect my communication (and) my intensity.” Nuggets’ Summer League coach Andrew Munson agreed with the self-assessment. “He’s the loudest guy on the team, in all the right ways,” Munson said.
Erik Spoelstra Talks Heat Youth, Expectations
In their first full season without Jimmy Butler since 2020, the Heat are counting on some of their young players to help bridge the gap to the new era. As Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel writes, head coach Erik Spoelstra has faith that Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic are up to the task.
Spoelstra has been impressed with the Jovic’s improved approach during his nascent career with the Heat.
“If you look at where Niko was as a rookie to where he’s becoming right now, it’s night and day, the work ethic and it’s a consistency of approach every single day,” Spoelstra says. “I think the last two summers have been really good because it’s been a strong balance of the Miami Heat player development program and then going to play for his national team.”
As for Jaquez, Spoelstra is unconcerned with the 24-year-old’s below-average shooting numbers and is more focused on how he reads the floor.
“He’s clever, when he gets into all of his spins and fake spins and putting the shoulder down. Now it’s about making the paint-decision reads when you get in there,” Spoelstra said. “But I don’t want it to be his whole game based on whether he’s making a three-point shot or not. That’s not him at his best. Him at his best are these plays that are unscripted, getting downhill.”
Another Heat neophyte who is set to make an impact going forward is their 2025 first-round pick, Kasparas Jakucionis. Jakucionas recently shook off a brutal start to Summer League, exploding for 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting (including 5-of-9 three-pointers) on Friday against the Hawks. However, he’s not satisfied with the performance, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
“It felt good, yeah,” he said. “But eventually we still lost. I didn’t do a great job on the other side like rebounding, getting out on transition defense.”
Jakucionas said that he’s been watching a lot of film and talking frequently with Heat legend Udonis Haslem and the rest of the coaching staff. Spoelstra has been encouraged by the 19-year-old’s play and suggests his early struggles could be a positive in the long term.
“He had a lot of turnovers, some mistakes,” Spoelstra said. “All the intangibles — the defense, the hustle plays, the passing, all of that he was able to do while having some uneven offensive play. Sometimes that can take a spirit or confidence away from a player, but he found a way to impact the game, impact winning.”
The Heat have a solid guard rotation in Davion Mitchell, Tyler Herro, and the newly acquired Norman Powell, among others, but none of them bring quite the same skill set that Jakucionas can. Given the rookie’s size and play-making, his ability to play alongside any one of those guards could help unlock different lineups for Miami.
Nuggets, Kings Officially Swap Jonas Valanciunas, Dario Saric
The Nuggets‘ trade sending Dario Saric to the Kings in exchange for Jonas Valanciunas is now official, according to a press release from Denver.
The trade agreement between the two teams was first reported on July 1. At the time, it seemed like a fairly straightforward deal — Denver was adding a reliable backup center behind Nikola Jokic, while Sacramento was reducing its team salary by swapping out Valanciunas’ $10.4MM salary for Saric’s $5.4MM expiring contract, allowing the Kings to stay out of tax territory while completing other moves.
However, it became more complicated within the past 12 days, as word broke that Valanciunas had a three-year contract offer on the table from the Greek team Panathinaikos that he wanted to accept.
While there has been no indication that the mutual interest between Valanciunas and Panathinaikos has waned, the Nuggets have reportedly told the 33-year-old and his camp that they want the big man the honor his contract. According to reports, Denver had maintained interest in Valanciunas in recent years and views him as a critical addition to its roster.
In order to sign with Panathinaikos, Valanciunas would have to negotiate a buyout with the Nuggets and get a FIBA letter of clearance — as long as he’s on an NBA contract, he can’t unilaterally decide to play in another league, without Denver’s cooperation. Now that the trade is official, he and the Nuggets can formally sit down and discuss next steps, but it sounds for now as if the plan is to have him in camp in Denver in the fall.
Valanciunas landed with the Wizards via sign-and-trade last summer, then was traded to the Kings in February. The durable center made 81 total appearances last season in Washington and Sacramento, averaging 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 18.8 minutes per contest.
Saric, meanwhile, couldn’t carve out a rotation role in Denver after signing with the team as a free agent in 2024. He made just 16 appearances, averaging 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per night. It’s unclear whether the Kings intend to keep him on their roster entering next season — a return to Europe could be in the cards for the 6’10” forward/center if he reaches free agency.
Luke Adams contributed to this story.
And-Ones: Veteran Extensions, Summer League, Rubio, Arcidiacono
This offseason has seen a trio of Thunder players receive maximum-salary contract extensions in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, with Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. and Suns guard Devin Booker among the other veterans who have signed – or at least agreed to – lucrative extensions.
That still leaves several dominoes to fall, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic, many of which are more interesting than your usual run-of-the-mill negotiations. It has already been reported that Nikola Jokic isn’t expected to sign a new deal with the Nuggets, for instance, as he would be eligible for a much higher number if he waits a year.
Another example of a conversation that is more complicated than it would appear is the Lakers and Luka Doncic. Because Doncic was traded while on his second contract, he is not super-max eligible. Because of that, it’s possible that he could negotiate to remove his player option and extend for three years with a player option, which would set him up for a new deal in 2028 that would be worth the 35% max for 10-year veterans.
Kristaps Porzingis and Trae Young of the Hawks, Darius Garland with the Cavaliers, Mikal Bridges with the Knicks, Kevin Durant with the Rockets, De’Aaron Fox with the Spurs, and Toumani Camara with the Trail Blazers are among the other extension candidates Hollinger identifies and examines.
We have more from around the world of hoops:
- The beauty of Summer League is that there’s something for every fan base to find hope in. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton and Jeremy Woo go through all 30 rosters to spotlight a player to watch for every team. While some, like Cooper Flagg in Dallas, are obvious, not every team has a top pick. Pelton points to LJ Cryer for the Warriors and Kobe Brown for the Clippers, while Woo looks at Kobe Bufkin for the Hawks and Taelon Peter for the Pacers, among others.
- Ricky Rubio recently opened up about his mental health struggles that have kept him out of basketball for the last year. He spoke with Jorge Quiroga of Marca about his time with the Timberwolves, saying, “I had a rough time in my third year. Things weren’t going well, and I gave an interview to a journalist. My parents came to see me in Minneapolis, and after the game, I talked to my mom and cried, telling her I wanted to leave.” When it comes to his future, he said, “I’d like to play basketball without being Ricky Rubio, but it’s impossible. I want to play basketball, but I can’t. I’m trying my best to see if I can.”
- Former Knicks guard Ryan Arcidiacono has agreed to a deal with Trapani Shark, a Sicilian-based team in Italy’s top league, per a press release. Arcidiacano played seven years in the NBA, averaging 4.0 points and 1.9 assists per game. He most recently played with the Windy City Bulls in the G League, averaging 8.2 PPG and 3.3 APG in 21 minutes a night.
Southwest Notes: Jackson, Flagg, Queen, More
GG Jackson II has had an up-and-down start to his Grizzlies career. After playing over 1,200 minutes his rookie year for a Memphis team ravaged by injuries, a broken foot – and a healthier squad around him – limited him to less than 500 minutes his sophomore season.
Now, with a new head coach in Tuomas Iisalo, Jackson is looking to settle into a role, and Iisalo is looking to help him do exactly that, Damichael Cole writes for Commercial Appeal.
“He told me last year when I was stuck in my head a lot that I’m (going to) coach you the hardest because I don’t want to be that guy that looks back in 20 years like, ‘Ah, that GG Jackson kid could have been something,'” Jackson said of his new coach. “He lets me know that he’s not going to let me fall, so that’s why I rock with him so much.”
Iisalo has emphasized Jackson attacking the basket more aggressively rather than settling for jumpers, and so far it’s worked. Jackson has averaged 21 points through three Summer League games as he vies for one of the remaining spots in the Grizzlies’ starting lineup.
We have more from around the Southwest division:
- Cooper Flagg scored 10 points on 21 shots in his Mavericks debut. “That might be one of the worst games of my life,” he said, per The Athletic’s Christian Clark (via Twitter). “But we got the win. So that’s what really matters to me.” According to ESPN’s insider crew, Flagg’s performance showed his value even when the shot wasn’t falling, as his size and athleticism shone through, especially on the fast break, and his all-around game on both sides of the floor makes him look like a potential game-changer when paired with Dallas’ veterans. Although he didn’t score in the second half, he was able to contribute six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block to the final box score.
- Derik Queen made his Pelicans debut on Thursday. According to Rod Walker of NOLA.com, there’s a lot for him to take away from the experience, both good and bad. Queen finished the game with seven turnovers after a particularly rough first half, but he also registered a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Those numbers don’t satisfy Queen, though, who knows there are a lot of eyes on him after the Pelicans traded an unprotected 2026 pick to draft him. “Twitter and Instagram are probably going crazy right now,” he said. “I have to redeem myself for me and all the outside noise.” Despite the self-effacing comment, Queen was ultimately encouraged by his play. “I think I flipped the switch in the second half. I feel like I got the hang of it now,” he said.
- Pelicans 2025 lottery pick Jeremiah Fears and last year’s first-rounder Yves Missi had similarly hit-and-miss debuts, Walker writes. Fears scored 14 points, but had just two assists to seven turnovers. Missi shot 5-of-14 from the field and 3-of-9 from the free throw line, but ended with a strong 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. “[Missi] looks like he’s stronger,” said Summer League head coach Corey Brewer. “I think we are going to see a different Yves this year.”
- Nate Williams‘ contract with the Rockets doesn’t become guaranteed until opening night, but he’s not letting that bother him as he heads into his fourth Summer League, writes Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. “I really don’t worry about all that stuff,” Williams said. “I just work hard and come to play and have fun.” Rockets Summer League coach Garrett Jackson said that he’s going to lean on Williams, as well as Reed Sheppard, throughout the team’s time in Las Vegas. As for Williams, he’s focused on controlling what he can control. “We gonna put on a show tomorrow,” he said on Thursday ahead of the team’s Summer League opener on Friday. “We just gonna show everything: gonna shoot, gonna get to the basket, gonna make the right plays. Just have fun.”