Richaun Holmes Considering Fenerbahce Offer
Richaun Holmes is considering a move overseas, writes Kevin Martorano of Sportando. Mortando cites an original report by TeleSport, which states that Holmes has been in conversations with Fenerbahce, the reigning EuroLeague champion, about a contract that would pay him approximately $2.7MM per year.
Holmes, according to the report, has yet to agree to the deal, as he is waiting to see if an NBA offer materializes as the remaining bigger names in free agency go off the board. If he doesn’t get an offer from an NBA team that appeals to him, he is expected to join the Turkish powerhouse.
Holmes has played 10 years in the NBA, most recently for the Wizards, with whom he averaged 7.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 17.2 minutes per night across 31 outings last saeson. He came into the league in 2015 as part of the “Process” Sixers and saw his most success as the part-time starter for the Kings from 2019-2022, averaging 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game over three seasons.
Fenerbahce has reportedly prioritized adding a defensive center to its roster heading into next season.
Summer League Notes: Rookie Standouts, Maluach, Fears
The 2025 Summer League gave fans and teams first impressions of most of this year’s incoming rookies, as well as serving as a showcase for several sophomores and younger veterans. In the wake of the event, Law Murray of the Athletic breaks down each rookie’s performance with an eye for what it could mean for the coming season.
Cooper Flagg (Mavericks), Dylan Harper (Spurs), and VJ Edgecombe (Sixers) were arguably the biggest names who participated in the Summer Leagues – headlined by the Las Vegas event – and despite some shooting efficiency concerns, all three gave their fans plenty of reason for excitement.
Flagg displayed a well-rounded on-ball skill set, Harper came up clutch in his last game to force overtime, and Edgecombe lived at the free throw line while displaying some advanced ball-screen offensive game, Murray observes.
The next three picks in the draft, Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Ace Bailey (Jazz), and Tre Johnson (Wizards), all showed off their shot-making capabilities, which will likely be what earns them regular playing time as rookies. Knueppel was rewarded for his play with the only All-Summer League Second Team selection among rookies, while Nique Clifford (Kings) was the lone rookie to make the First Team, thanks to his stellar all-around play.
Other rookies, such as Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors), Carter Bryant (Spurs), Joan Beringer (Timberwolves), and Brooks Barnhizer (Thunder) flashed tantalizing defensive capabilities, though Murray-Boyles and Bryant were inconsistent offensively, Murray notes.
Here are a few more leftover Summer League notes:
- John Hollinger of the Athletic takes a look at some of the low points of Summer League, including the worst ejection of the tournament, awarded to the Celtics‘ Jordan Walsh for not only having an excessive foul on the Heat’s Pelle Larsson, but for accidentally throwing him into Walsh’s own front office executives courtside.
- In terms of players who struggled, Hollinger mentions Khaman Maluach (Suns), who had difficulty catching lobs and other passes, Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans), who was unable to spearhead an offense and create for others, and the limitations of the four Nets rookies who suited up, among others.
- On the non-player side, Hollinger points to an abundance of turnovers caused by stepping out of bounds, as well as the prevalence of split-screen interviews that made following the games an exercise in patience and eagle-eyed vision.
Heat Notes: Star Duo, Jovic, Larsson, Fontecchio
If this season goes poorly, it could lead to an internal examination of the Heat‘s longest-tenured pairing, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
In an offseason mailbag, Winderman says the entire organization, including head coach Erik Spoelstra, understands that the team’s performance during the last two years – including back-to-back No. 8 seeds and pair of first-round playoff exits – is not to the franchise’s lofty standards.
Jimmy Butler‘s impact on those outcomes can’t be overlooked, but Winderman also suggests that the coming season could be “make-or-break” for theTyler Herro/Bam Adebayo duo.
Herro had a career year last season, averaging personal highs in points (23.9) and assists (5.5) per game while making his first All-Star team, but that coincided with Adebayo posting his lowest scoring year since the 2019/20 season. Most importantly, it didn’t lead the team to wins — Miami had a 37-45 regular season record, its worst mark in a decade.
Winderman notes in his mailbag that the trade for Norman Powell was a win-now move designed to bring in more reliable offense, and that there will be expectations for the team to show signs of growth in the first full season of the post-Butler era.
We have more from the Heat:
- Nikola Jovic understands the Heat are taking a risk by allowing him to represent Serbia in this year’s EuroBasket tournament and is grateful for both the opportunity and the precedent set by former Miami guard Goran Dragic, writes Winderman. “You’re letting someone play for their country, paying them a lot of money, and they’re important to you,” Jovic said. “An injury would definitely be a setback for them. But, by chance, and to my great fortune, I’m part of the Miami team that had Goran Dragic.” The Heat expressed that Dragic always came back from international tournaments a better player, a pronouncement which gives Jovic confidence in himself and his development. The fourth-year forward is expected to play a large role with the Serbian team, which won the bronze medal at the 2023 World Cup, and he hopes that will help him solidify a more consistent role with the Heat. “This way, I enter the new NBA season already in game rhythm. I just keep going,” he said.
- Also set to participate in EuroBasket is Heat shooting guard Pelle Larsson, who will represent Sweden not long after playing for Miami in Summer League. Winderman isn’t worried about the workload for Larsson, especially since the team let him out of his summer duties four days early to join the Swedes. Rather than being nervous about the grind of going from Summer League to EuroBasket to training camp, the Heat are excited to see what the 24-year-old can do as a leading man in the games, Winderman writes.
- Simone Fontecchio has arrived in Folgaria, in northern Italy, to join the Italian EuroBasket squad, writes Michele Nespoli of Sportando. However, he will be unable to start training with them until Wednesday, July 30, as stipulated by the NBA’s regulations in regards to FIBA competition. Fontecchio has chosen to report to the team early to be in closer communication with them, as he did in 2023.
Southwest Notes: Rockets, Christie, Lazare, Spurs
Rockets fans should expect to see much more of the two-big lineups featuring Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams this season, writes Kelly Iko for The Athletic.
Despite the fact that neither are shooters — Sengun made just 23.3% of his three-pointers last season while Adams is 1-of-17 in his career from beyond the arc — Houston found an unexpected level of success playing the duo together. The two skilled international bigs were able to leverage their passing, rebounding, and toughness around the rim to great success, and Iko writes that other Western Conference teams took note and may attempt to follow suit.
Bringing in Clint Capela should help the Rockets manage Adams’ minutes, though since Capela is less of a play-maker than the other two centers, it remains to be seen if they’ll attempt to capture the same type of magic by putting him in lineups with Sengun.
The Rockets know that Sengun will have to expand his range, not just for these lineups, but also to facilitate playing with Amen Thompson, another very limited shooter. Iko writes that becoming more comfortable outside of the three-point line is one of Sengun’s priorities this offseason, and Thompson is hard at work on his jumper as well.
We have more from the Southwest division:
- Max Christie is excited to reunite with new Mavericks teammate D’Angelo Russell, writes Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News. “That’s one of my closest friends and closest teammates,” Christie said. “We were together for two years out in L.A. and I respect him a lot.” Christie has had an eventful start to his career, from playing with LeBron James to being included in a trade for Luka Doncic, to now forming a new young core with Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II to complement Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, when Irving returns from injury. He’s excited for the challenge, citing the day he was traded as his favorite day as an NBA player. “We got a good roster,” he said. “We got a good coaching staff. We’re looking forward to making a big splash in the West.”
- The Grizzlies are adding Darnell Lazare onto their coaching staff, Drew Hill reports for The Daily Memphian (subscriber link). Lazare previously worked for the Grizzlies as a player development coach in 2018 before joining the Pelicans in a similar role, notes Damichael Cole writes for Memphis Commercial Appeal. Cole writes that Lazare is expected to work with Memphis’ big man rotation after working closely with Pelicans rookie Yves Missi last season.
- The Spurs have committed over $1 billion in funding to San Antonio’s downtown revitalization, which will include a new arena, write Amanda Moreno and Chris Hoffman of News 4 San Antonio. The civic project, known as Project Marvel, could cost up to $4 billion in total, and the Spurs’ commitment is expected to help alleviate some of the fiscal concerns. The Spurs’ investment includes $500MM for a new arena, $500MM in downtown development, and $60MM in community incentives, affordable tickets, and small business support. “As we have done since 1973, we are operating in good faith, grounded in deep love for our community and a sincere desire to help San Antonio thrive,” said Spurs chairman Peter J. Holt. The team is asking the city to contribute another $500MM to the arena costs. The Spurs are expected to stay in their current home, the Frost Bank Arena, until 2032, when the lease expires.
Pacific Notes: Curry, Paul, Brooks, Moody
Stephen Curry isn’t planning on retiring from the Warriors soon, but when he does, he wants it to be on his terms, he told Complex’s Speedy Morman (YouTube link).
“I’m kind of just taking it in two-year chunks,” Curry said of how he approaches the twilight years of his career. “You have to give yourself some motivation to go after.”
Curry adds that it’s not the grind of the 82-game season that’s a struggle now that he’s at this stage: “The offseasons, for me, are the hardest… the games are so much fun, you get lost in the game. That’s the easy part. So if I get through offseasons, that’s a mark for how long I can push it.”
Curry also reflected on his place in NBA history and the achievements he’s still chasing, especially when it comes to his place on the all-time scoring list and his ability to potentially crack the top 10.
“I do that math all the time, just to get in your head how long do you have to play and what level to catch those at the top of that list,” Curry said. “But that’s not why I’ll keep going, it’s more that I want to be at a level where we’re competing and playing for championships and hopefully control as much of that as possible down the stretch of my career.”
Curry currently sits 27th on the list with 25,386 points. At his typical rate of scoring, it would take him somewhere between three to four seasons to bump Moses Malone out of the 10th spot, where he sits with 29,580 points.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Chris Paul‘s return to the Clippers isn’t just a way to relive former glories, writes Law Murray of The Athletic. Although the Clippers are as deep as any team in the league, adding Paul’s skill set will be very beneficial, according to Murray, who points out that Los Angeles ranked 23rd in turnover percentage and assist-to-turnover rate last season, an area in which Paul has always excelled. “Ball-handling and play-making were areas we wanted to address this offseason,” said Clippers’ president Lawrence Frank. “When we were at our best, we were taking care of the ball.” Murray also points out that despite a rocky ending with the Rockets, James Harden was a big part of bringing Paul back to the City of Angels. Paul will serve as a reliable depth option, coming off the bench alongside fellow high-level veteran Brook Lopez, and will provide insurance should Harden miss time.
- The Suns wanted to get younger this summer once it became clear that Kevin Durant was leaving, but they also wanted to get tougher, writes Doug Haller for The Athletic. Enter Dillon Brooks. Brooks brings a level of intensity, sometimes bordering on chaos, that the Suns have rarely had, but he’s also a valuable and versatile defender, which will be important on a young team full of players still figuring out that end of the floor. While Brooks might be best known for his scrappy style of play and a tendency to rack up technical fouls, those who have spent time with him know his game contains multitudes. “If you’re giving a scout, you could ask Dillon about the best player,” former Grizzlies assistant coach Blake Ahearn said. “You could also ask him about the 13th player — Dillon will be able to give you a full scouting report on everybody. His attention to detail and how he prepares in order to guard guys is special.”
- Moses Moody is set to become the third-longest tenured player on the Warriors if restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga doesn’t return, writes DJ Siddiqi for RG. Moody credits his relationship with Draymond Green as a big part of his growth over the years. “He teaches me so much, not even just about basketball, but I’ll go to his room, hang out and talk to him all the time about all types of things. We actually went to his house when I was in LA last week, and he showed me different things and was teaching me about art,” Moody said. “He’s taught me about finance, about money, about the league, about being a professional… He’s just been that guy for me.”
Magic Sign Jamal Cain To Two-Way Contract
The Magic have signed free agent forward Jamal Cain to a two-way contract, reports Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter).
Orlando confirmed the signing in a press release (via Twitter).
Cain played 37 games for the Pelicans last season, averaging 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per contest. His shooting line was .430/.325/.680.
The 26-year-old spent the previous two seasons with the Heat after going undrafted in the 2022. Over 44 games in Miami (11.3 MPG), Cain averaged 4.4 PPG and 2.0 RPG on .490/.353/.778 shooting splits.
After previously signing Orlando Robinson to a two-way deal, the Magic have one more two-way spot open. Orlando recently had Ethan Thompson on a two-way deal, but waived him earlier in the week.
NBA Insiders Talk 2025, 2026 Drafts
Now that the 2025 Summer League has wrapped up, scouts and evaluators around the NBA are looking ahead to the 2026 draft and considering how this year’s draft class might perform as rookies.
Among league personnel, there’s a near-consensus that the Mavericks‘ Cooper Flagg will win Rookie of the Year, according to ESPN’s annual survey of NBA executives and scouts conducted this year by Jeremy Woo. Flagg was the overwhelming favorite, with 17 votes, followed by the Spurs‘ Dylan Harper, who picked up two votes. The Wizards’ Tre Johnson also received a vote.
Those polled speculated that while some rookies, like Johnson or Ace Bailey of the Jazz, may get a chance to shoot and score more points, Flagg’s overall contributions to a team that will likely be fighting for a play-in spot will push him over the edge.
While he didn’t receive a vote for Rookie of the Year, the Sixers‘ VJ Edgecombe was the top vote-getter for those asked who would end up the best non-Flagg pick in the draft.
“VJ might be Philly’s second-best player by the end of the season, factoring in [Joel] Embiid‘s uncertain health,” one general manager said.
When Woo’s poll respondents weighed in on the biggest draft steal, the Spurs’ Carter Bryant led the way, followed by Joan Beringer (Timberwolves) and Kasparas Jakucionis (Heat), though this question proved to be the most wide-ranging in terms of responses.
Executives also discussed the 2026 draft, which is widely anticipated to be a star-studded draft class. When asked about who the top pick would be, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson led the way with 12 votes, while BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa was a close second with eight.
Peterson is described in the article as “one of the best lead guard prospects in recent memory,” though Woo writes that given the high level of competition for the No. 1 spot, the race for the top spot is unlikely to be as open-and-shut as it was in 2025, when Flagg remained relatively unchallenged throughout the draft cycle.
“It’s a total toss-up right now — by no means is [there a] consensus yet,” one executive said.
While only Peterson and Dybantsa received votes as the probable No. 1 pick for 2026, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Nate Ament (Tennessee), and Mikel Brown (Louisville) are also considered top prospects who could be in the mix for a top spot.
While it’s never easy to predict the future when it comes to the NBA draft, last year’s executive survey had Flagg as the top vote-getter for the number one pick, far ahead of Harper’s second-best vote tally, with Bailey and Edgecombe coming in third and fourth.
In that same poll last year, Reed Sheppard and Zach Edey were forecasted as the top candidates for Rookie of the Year, though eventual winner Stephon Castle came in a close third.
Knicks Notes: Coaching Staff, Starting Lineup, Youth, Brown
The Knicks are making some changes on their bench, as new head coach Mike Brown has begun the process of assembling his coaching staff, reports The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy (via Twitter).
According to Bondy, Andy Greer, Dice Yoshimoto, Daniel Brady, and Othella Harrington will not be back with the team for the coming season. Greer had been an assistant with the Knicks since the 2020/21 season, and Yoshimoto had been with the team for three seasons, while last season was the first for Brady and Harrington.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype adds (via Twitter) that Nick Thibodeau is also departing. Thibodeau was the assistant video coordinator and is the nephew of former head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Brown added player development coach Riccardo Fois to the coaching staff earlier this month, and the Knicks have been granted permission to speak to Timberwolves assistant Pablo Prigioni about a potential role.
We have more from the Knicks:
- Although the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals this year for the first time since the 1999/2000 season, there is debate about whether they will keep the same starting lineup as last season, writes Kristian Winfield for the New York Daily News. Winfield notes that there’s internal support to keep the same group starting and that Brown has indicated he wants the team to play fast, which would point toward no changes being made. However, Winfield adds that starting Mitchell Robinson would not only help shore up the defense but could also keep him happy as he and the team determine his long-term future in New York. Winfield looks at a variety of potential starting units, including ones that add Robinson, Miles McBride, Guerschon Yabusele, and, as an out-of-left-field proposition, the rangy young wing Pacome Dadiet.
- Despite Winfield’s unorthodox suggestion, it will be tough for any of the Knicks’ Summer League players to crack the rotation this season, especially after a not-particularly-noteworthy showing in Las Vegas, opines Peter Botte for the New York Post. Adding Jordan Clarkson and Yabusele to a bench that includes McBride and either Robinson or Josh Hart brings the rotation to nine, and the team has another veteran minimum deal available to fill out the roster. Tyler Kolek would be facing an uphill battle with a plethora of other small guards on the roster, though Botte notes that Ariel Hukporti could find himself looking at minutes if the oft-injured Robinson misses time.
- Botte also writes that Brown has a history of not being afraid to hold stars accountable, whether that was Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or De’Aaron Fox. “I’d be upset if he was just letting me skate through things,” Bryant once said of Brown. “You make mistakes and the coach’s responsibility is to point those out. If he can’t point that out to me, he has no chance of pointing that out to anybody else.” Botte considers that a double-edged sword, as such bluntness can eventually wear on players, but calls it something to monitor during Brown’s time in New York, especially given the duties he’ll be expected to perform as the primary point person for the New York media.
Sixers Waive Ricky Council IV
The Sixers are waiving Ricky Council IV, the team announced in a press release (via Twitter).
Council signed a four-year, partially guaranteed deal with the Sixers in 2024, which included a non-guaranteed $2,221,677 salary for the 2025/26 season and a team option for ’26/27. Last season, he averaged 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17.1 minutes per night.
As Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports notes (via Twitter), the timing of the move was unexpected, given that Council’s guarantee date is on January 10, 2026, and the team currently has an open roster spot if they need it to add restricted free agent Quentin Grimes.
While Council struggled with his three-point shot last season, he emerged as a reliable depth contributor, playing a team-high 73 games while bringing athleticism and energy from the wing positions.
Philadelphia is now carrying 13 players on standard contracts. Twelve of those 13 are fully guaranteed, while Adem Bona‘s deal has a 50% partial guarantee.
Lakers Waive Jordan Goodwin
The Lakers have waived Jordan Goodwin, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter). The move was necessary to create room below the first tax apron to sign Marcus Smart following his buyout from the Wizards.
The Lakers had recently picked up the $2.3MM team option on Goodwin’s contract, but only $25K of the deal was guaranteed.
As the only remaining Laker with a non-guaranteed contract following the team’s decision to waive Shake Milton earlier today, Goodwin’s place on the roster became tenuous once it was clear the Lakers were bringing in Smart on a two-year, $11MM deal that necessitated multiple cost-cutting moves. Smart’s salary for next season is expected to be worth the full bi-annual exception of $5.1MM.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, once Smart signs, the Lakers will be operating about $1MM below the first apron, so they won’t have enough breathing room to sign a 15th man before the season begins without further cost-cutting moves.
Marks adds (via Twitter) that because Goodwin has played in the league for four seasons, he’s ineligible for a two-way deal. The 26-year-old defensive-minded guard played 29 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 18.7 minutes per night. He shot 38.2% from three and appeared in four of the five Lakers’ playoff games against the Timberwolves, averaging 7.8 minutes per game in the postseason.
Goodwin will now hit waivers and then become an unrestricted free agent if no one claims him (the priority order is determined by the reverse order of last season’s standings). The Athletic’s Tony Jones speculates (via Twitter) that Goodwin is likely to have a number of suitors on the open market.