Eastern Notes: Risacher, Pick Details, Duren, Claxton
While the Hawks improved in the short term by trading Zaccharie Risacher and second-round draft capital for Luguentz Dort and Ryan Nembhard, it’s still a disappointing ending to the 21-year-old’s tenure in Atlanta, writes John Hollinger of The Athletic.
Risacher was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, but he was selected by previous general manager Landry Fields, Hollinger notes. Current GM Onsi Saleh essentially used Risacher as a salary-matching piece in Sunday’s trade and now won’t have to worry about whether or not to exercise the French forward’s fourth-year option (worth $17.4MM) for 2027/28.
Risacher was “well-liked in Atlanta and considered a hard worker,” according to Hollinger, but there was persistent talk that he wasn’t tough enough — head coach Quin Snyder publicly said he wanted Risacher to be more aggressive and pull down more rebounds after he removed him from the starting lineup in February.
Although Risacher hasn’t been nearly as valuable to this point in his career as 2024 draftees like Stephon Castle, Alex Sarr and Donovan Clingan, he was still a “viable rotation player” over his first two seasons and has untapped upside, Hollinger writes. It’s unclear if he’ll fulfill his potential in a crowded forward rotation in Dallas, Hollinger adds.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The two second-round picks the Hawks traded to the Thunder to acquire Dort are the most favorable of Atlanta’s and Houston’s selections in 2031 and the most favorable of Atlanta’s and the Lakers’ picks in 2032, a source tells Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks (Twitter link). The Hawks also sent the Mavs a top-55 protected second-rounder in 2027, as previously announced.
- In a subscriber-only story for The Detroit Free Press, Omari Sankofa II reports that the Pistons have yet to offer Jalen Duren a 25% max contract — the restricted free agent center is eligible for up to 30% after making the All-NBA third team this past season. According to Sankofa, Detroit is wary of overpaying Duren in a market where he seemingly has very little leverage, but the team does want to re-sign him. Whether he’s willing to accept something less than that 25% figure remains to be seen.
- New Bulls center Nic Claxton recently took to Twitter to send a thank you message to the Nets and their fans after spending his first seven NBA seasons in Brooklyn.
Atlantic Notes: Murray-Boyles, Wade, Hukporti, Nets
While rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles had a promising regular season for the Raptors, he solidified his place at the heart of the team’s long-term plans with his performance in the playoffs, where he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks while helping the Raptors push the eventual Eastern Conference finalist Cavaliers to seven games.
Murray-Boyles’ offense, which is further along than expected, is a big part of why the team trusted him to play such a significant role in that series, and that trust will be critical as he adjusts to whatever role comes next, Eric Koreen writes for The Athletic.
“One of the biggest compliments you can have as a rookie is to get recognition for contributing in a playoff series,” Murray-Boyles said. “A lot of rookies don’t get a chance to feel what it’s like to play in playoff games early on. Me being able to do that and also create an impact is just proof of the work I put in.”
Murray-Boyles said he has studied the game tape of teammate Scottie Barnes, whose limitations as a shooter don’t prevent him from acting as a dangerous play-maker on offense — that’s similar to how the team envisions the second-year big man functioning in the offensive scheme.
While Murray-Boyles was expected to be a key part of the Raptors’ Summer League squad, a hand injury caused him to miss the event, but he’s excited for the season to come.
We have more from around the Atlantic Division:
- When free agency opened, the Sixers’ first priority was bringing in Dean Wade, a player who has never averaged more than six points in a season, Adam Aaronson writes for the Philly Voice. For a team suddenly loaded with shot creators and limited on the other end, Wade’s defensive versatility at 6’9″ is more important than ever. His offensive rebounding and ability to space the floor – he’s a career 36.7% shooter from deep – without requiring many touches are also going to be very valuable for the team as it looks to regain its contender status.
- The Sixers switched out their experienced backup center, Andre Drummond, for a much less proven choice in Ariel Hukporti. While his strengths and weaknesses overlap with many of Adem Bona‘s, Hukporti is a much bigger and stronger player, Aaronson writes, giving the team a shot at having a real rim protector off the bench. However, he’ll have to get his issues with fouling under control if he wants a chance at carving out a major role for himself this season.
- General manager Sean Marks believes it’s important not to use up all your potential flexibility in the offseason, especially when you have a roster as in flux as the Nets‘ is, Erik Slater writes for Clutch Points. “When you’re rebuilding a team like we have been the last couple of years, that’s important,” Marks said. “You just never know what’s going to come your way. So for us to have that optionality will be really important. But at the same time, I like the roster we have.” That could mean that Brooklyn – the only team with real cap room remaining – is done making moves for the time being, but it’s safe to assume the front office will continue assessing its options in the coming weeks and months.
Nets, Michael Porter Jr. To Begin Extension Talks Soon?
Speaking to reporters last week, Nets general manager Sean Marks suggested the team wasn’t in a rush to reach an extension with forward Michael Porter Jr., who’s entering the final year of his contract. Porter will be extension-eligible throughout the 2026/27 league year, which runs through June 30, 2027.
“We’ll have those discussions. We’ve got time. There’s no immediate hurry right now. We value him a lot. He had a terrific year,” Marks said. “I love Mike, the guy, the person, the player, and I hope he is part of this team.”
According to Net Income of NetsDaily.com, NBA insider Chris Haynes provided an update on Porter’s contract situation during an appearance on NBA TV’s “The Association” on Wednesday.
“Michael Porter Jr.’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, is scheduled to meet with the Brooklyn Nets…towards the tail end of summer league or at the end of summer league to begin dialogue on an extension,” Haynes said, per Sharif Phillips-Keaton of Nets Wire.
“If it becomes apparent early on that an extension is not in play, then I do believe the next step will be the Brooklyn Nets and Michael Porter Jr. potentially parting ways and potentially looking to move him.”
As Net Income notes, it’s unclear if Haynes’ report is a leverage play from Bartelstein or an indication that a trade request could be coming if an extension isn’t reached. Porter hasn’t shown any signs of discontent in Brooklyn — quite the opposite — but his contract uncertainty could potentially change that dynamic.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported several weeks ago that rival teams were monitoring Porter as a possible trade candidate this offseason, so Haynes’ report doesn’t come as a surprise. But it sounds like those extension talks will begin in the near future — the Las Vegas Summer league will wrap on Sunday.
Atlantic Notes: Brown, Brunson, Knicks, Nets
Sometimes an executive who takes over a team’s front office has to wait until the right moment to reshape his roster. That wasn’t the case for Mike Gansey, who took a big swing in his first offseason on the job with the Sixers by trading for Jaylen Brown.
Gansey said that he would have “never envisioned” that his first months as the president of basketball operations in Philadelphia would play out this way, Gina Mizell writes for the Philly Inquirer. He decided to lean into a simple principle he learned during his time with the Cavaliers: just make the call and see what happens.
“It’s kind of like, ‘Let’s check in with Boston and see if there’s anything there,’” Gansey said. “Maybe there isn’t. But you just make that call, and they don’t say no. … It just kept going on, and they would call us, we would call them. You just keep having conversations. Next thing you know, we’re in L.A. [for free agency], and it was getting close and [feeling like] this might actually happen … That’s why, this business, you can plan all you want and prepare, but you just don’t know. Things happen.”
The Sixers now have three high-level offensive weapons in Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid, all of whom will need to sacrifice some of the usage they enjoyed last year in order to accommodate each other, Tony Jones and Jay King write for The Athletic.
Their ceiling still depends on Embiid’s ability to stay healthy deep into the playoffs, which has historically been tough to bet on, but if everything goes right, the Sixers have a real chance to be a contender in 2026/27, according to Jones and King.
Here’s more news and notes from around the Atlantic Division:
- Word broke recently that Jalen Brunson had undergone a procedure to address a wrist injury that had bothered him throughout the Knicks‘ championship run. On Wednesday, Brunson stated during an ESPN Radio appearance that the injury occurred during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, Zach Braziller relays for the New York Post. “There wasn’t a play I remember it happening,” Brunson said. “I just remember being at the free throw line in the third or fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. My wrist was starting to feel weak. I was like, ‘Where is this coming from?’ From that point on, I was trying to figure out what was going on, and how I can push through, because I wasn’t going to get anything done during that time.” He said that the realization that he’d need surgery put a slight damper on the magic of the championship summer, but it was a small price to pay.
- The league is still waiting to see where LeBron James will end up, with a decision said to be coming in the near future. The Knicks aren’t believed to be in the running for James, but they could still be significantly impacted by his choice, according to Kristian Winfield of the Daily News. Three of the teams still reportedly in the mix are the Cavaliers, Sixers, and Heat, all of whom are jockeying to take New York down from within the Eastern Conference. While Winfield notes that both Cleveland and Philadelphia would be dangerous if they were to add the four-time MVP, he believes that if James goes to Miami, it could significantly shift the dynamics of the East and give the Heat a leg up on the Knicks in the conference’s power rankings.
- Tuesday’s Summer League win over Sacramento provided a glimpse of the identity the Nets are trying to form, C.J. Holmes writes for the New York Daily News. “I think the big difference was our energy and effort defensively,” Summer League coach Dutch Gaitley said. “I mean, we forced 28 turnovers. They weren’t able to get — we had 30 fast-break points. They weren’t able to get anything going to start the game.” Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin gave an intriguing preview of the future of Brooklyn’s backcourt, and Brown impressed Gaitley by requesting the defensive assignment on fellow rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. Acuff was able to score 26 points, but Brown’s mentality in wanting the challenge still stood out to his coach.
Atlantic Notes: Porter, Powell, Simons, Maxey, Sellers
The Nets are still relatively early in the process of shaping their roster into what they want it to be moving forward, and one of their key decisions will revolve around Michael Porter Jr.‘s long-term status with the team. When asked about Porter’s current extension eligibility, general manager Sean Marks suggested that no decision would be made in the immediate future.
“We’ll have those discussions. We’ve got time. There’s no immediate hurry right now. We value him a lot. He had a terrific year,” Marks said, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). “I love Mike, the guy, the person, the player, and I hope he is part of this team.”
Porter had the most productive season of his career during his first year in Brooklyn in 2025/26, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, though he only made 52 appearances due to injuries and the Nets’ decision to prioritize draft position.
Still, there has been some speculation around the league that the 28-year-old forward might not fit the Nets’ timeline as the club embraces a youth movement, having drafted seven players in the first round over the last two seasons.
We have more news and notes from the Atlantic Division:
- Drake Powell was one of the players drafted by the Nets in the 2025 first round. He was hoping to use Summer League to make his case for a larger role next season, but his performance coming into Tuesday was a cause for concern — he entered that contest having scored 11 points through four games while shooting 1-for-28 from the field and 0-for-14 on three-pointers. Rather than giving in to panic or despair, the cold stretch offered a good chance to push him to be better, C.J. Holmes wrote for The New York Daily News prior to the game. That seemed to be the case, as Powell had by far his best Summer League performance on Tuesday, scoring 18 points on six shots and hitting four of his seven threes in a 32-point victory over the Kings.
- After reshaping their roster with the Jaylen Brown trade, the Sixers added a valuable bench scorer in Anfernee Simons to help fortify their backcourt depth. Head coach Nick Nurse is excited to get to work figuring out how best to utilize him, Tony Jones writes for The Athletic. “I really like Anfernee a lot,” Nurse said. “Obviously, he can really score. He shoots it easy, and he shoots it off the bounce. I think he’s a heck of a talent.” He added that he views Simons and rookie Labaron Philon Jr. as important parts of the team’s offense off the bench and envisions them playing together.
- Nurse also says it’s a crucial season for Sixers star Tyrese Maxey, who will have to balance searching for his own shot and organizing the offense alongside two high-volume scorers in Brown and Joel Embiid. “He can go and play one on one from all three levels and get a shot off and nail it. He’s got that in his game,” Nurse said. “He’s just so good at the other stuff. I just want him to keep it simple and keep doing what he’s doing. I want him to continue to grow as a leader and to continue to get better defensively. He’s made great strides at that over the last two years. I just want him to continue to grow and keep having fun out there and bring that energy for the rest of the group.”
- Former St. John’s guard Oziyah Sellers is trying to use Summer League to prove what he already believes: that he’s a “perfect fit” for the Knicks, Zach Braziller writes for the New York Post. “I feel like I’ve played with a chip on my shoulder pretty much my whole life. But now it’s a little elevated,” Sellers said. “That’s why every chance I get, every opportunity I get, I try to make the most of it. Regardless if I’m making shots, missing shots, just try to bring energy, play hard and let the rest take care of itself.” Through three games, Sellers has averaged 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per contest. He has yet to hit a three-pointer, though he shot over 40% from deep in each of two of his last three seasons in college.
Reported Signings That Aren’t Yet Official
Most of the trades and free agent deals that were reported during or before the July moratorium have since been officially finalized, but there are still a handful of moves that we’re waiting on.
Of course, the most notable of those transactions is the blockbuster trade between the Clippers and Raptors that will send Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and draft assets.
The reason for the delay in that case has been well-chronicled — if they were to complete the deal now, the Raptors would assume the risk of any punishment that Leonard himself (not the Clippers) faces as a result of the NBA’s investigation into possible salary cap circumvention related to the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration. So the Raptors are content to wait, but both sides have expressed confidence that the deal will still get done once the league wraps up its investigation.
That’s the only trade agreement that has yet to be finalized, but what about some of the signings that still haven’t gotten done days or weeks after being reported? Here’s a quick breakdown of those free agent contracts that have not yet been formally completed and announced:
Brooklyn Nets:
The reported terms of Wagner’s contract suggest he’ll fit into the Nets‘ room exception, which can be worth up to $19.2MM over two seasons. So it makes sense for Brooklyn to hold off on that signing for now, since the team could still use nearly $14MM in cap room without Wagner on its books. Signing him into cap space would reduce that figure to below $5MM.
Denver Nuggets:
- Marvin Bagley III (one year, minimum salary)
- Alpha Diallo (one year, minimum salary)
- Tyus Jones (one year, minimum salary)
The Nuggets may be waiting on resolution with their restricted free agents – notably Peyton Watson – before formally completing these signings, since certain outcomes with Watson or Spencer Jones could result in a hard cap.
For example, let’s say Denver signs-and-trades Watson to a new team and takes back a player in return. Using Watson’s outgoing salary to take back incoming salary would hard-cap the Nuggets at the second tax apron. Depending on how much incoming salary is involved in that hypothetical transaction, Denver could end up moving so close to that hard cap that trading another player would be necessary in order to complete these minimum-salary signings and fill out the roster.
Golden State Warriors:
Based on the reported terms of his contract, Melton could be signed using either the bi-annual exception (worth up to $11.2MM over two years) or the taxpayer mid-level exception (up to $12.4MM over two years). The former would hard-cap the Warriors at the first tax apron, while the latter would hard-cap them at the second apron, so Melton’s signing will impact how much flexibility the team has to re-sign Draymond Green and fill out the rest of its roster.
I’d expect this transaction to happen sometime after LeBron James makes his decision, since signing Melton into the bi-annual exception would allow Golden State to use a portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level to give James more than the veteran’s minimum.
Los Angeles Lakers:
Williams’ agreement with the Lakers was reported less than 24 hours ago, so there’s nothing unusual about it not being done yet. It should happen soon.
Milwaukee Bucks:
While some Bucks fans may be rooting for this deal to hit a snag and fall apart, it probably falls into the same category as Williams’ deal with the Lakers — it’s a recent agreement, so there’s nothing out of the ordinary about it not being finalized yet.
Phoenix Suns:
The Suns, who are hard-capped at the second tax apron, needed to complete their Miles Bridges trade with the Hornets in order to create enough breathing room below that threshold to fit Kennard’s first-year salary. The Bridges deal was completed on Monday, so Phoenix should be able to move forward and sign Kennard using the taxpayer mid-level exception at any time.
A number of two-way deals and Exhibit 10 agreements around the NBA have also been reported and not yet finalized, but those won’t affect teams’ cap situations, so the ones above are the ones we’re keeping the closest eye on.
New York Notes: Nickel, Dadiet, Jefferson, Johnson
Second-round pick Tyler Nickel has stood out in the Las Vegas Summer League, prompting The Athletic’s James Edwards III to explore the possibility of the rookie earning the 14th spot on the Knicks roster rather than a two-way contract.
A 22-year-old perimeter ace from Vanderbilt, Nickel is averaging 17 points per game while knocking down 47.6 percent of his three-pointers through his first two outings in Vegas. He has also shown off his motor and sneaky defensive abilities, Edwards adds.
Nickel could be an insurance policy for Landry Shamet and Miles McBride, both of whom have battled injuries the past two seasons. The Knicks could then sign a young center to fill a two-way spot.
Here’s more on the New York teams:
- Pacome Dadiet is reaching a crossroads in his Knicks career, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes. A 2024 late-first rounder, Dadiet has failed to carve out a rotation spot in his first two seasons. He has continued to struggle with his shooting in the first two Summer League games this month despite averaging 16.5 PPG. He has shot 36.0% overall and 15.4% from beyond the arc. The Knicks have until October 31 to decide whether to pick up their $5.3MM option on his 2027/28 contract and it would be impossible to justify doing that at this point, Bondy notes.
- Nets rookie forward Joshua Jefferson is still scraping off rust after his college career at Iowa State was cut short due to a left ankle sprain. The No. 28 pick in the draft, Jefferson only made one shot, a layup, in eight attempts during his Summer League debut. “[Saturday] was just the first game in four months, since March when I got hurt. So it’s really been a long time since I’ve been in a playing setting because I wasn’t able to get any practice reps either,” Jefferson told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “So, I definitely think I’m going to be fine. I showed some glimpses [of] what I can do with the ball in my hand, so just got to keep playing.”
- On the flip side, Nets two-way player Chaney Johnson may be moving himself into the mix at power forward, according to C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News. Johnson piled up 20 points, 10 rebounds and five steals against Atlanta on Saturday. “I feel like my main goal is just to be the hardest playing player out there,” said Johnson, who went undrafted last year.
Atlantic Notes: Ellis, C. Johnson, Graves, Philon
Shooting guard Keon Ellis signed a two-year, $18MM contract with the Nets as a free agent. The deal contains a mutual option for 2027/28.
Brooklyn can certainly use Ellis’ defensive chops, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, and the 26-year-old will reunite with head coach Jordi Fernandez, who was Sacramento’s top assistant during Ellis’ first two years in the league.
“From what I heard, he was pulling for me really hard,” Ellis said of Fernandez. “And I know the way he coaches. He’s very passionate. He’s about the right things. He wants to win. So, the familiarity right there was definitely good.”
Ellis believes his three-and-D game will fit in well with the Nets, Lewis notes.
“With how much they were offering, that just speaks to how much the team wants you as well. So, that. And then obviously, you’ve got some guys on the staff that you’ve been with before, so you know the ropes a little,” Ellis said. “And then the opportunity here as well. When you combine all those things, they just lined up.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:
- Nets two-way forward Chaney Johnson has been impressing the team during Summer League, Lewis writes in another story. At 6’7″, Johnson has been asked to play small-ball center this summer, and he’s handling the role with aplomb, averaging 15.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals on .647/.667/.857 shooting in four games at the California Classic and in Las Vegas (28.8 minutes per game). “I knew Chaney was a beast. It’s further confirmed,” assistant coach Dutch Gaitley said. “In the ESPN thing, they asked about all of our rookies: ‘Who’s the one guy you haven’t talked about?’ I was like, ‘It’s Chaney Johnson.’ And the reason is Chaney has to play at the center just because we need him to play the center. If we needed Chaney to play point guard, Chaney would play point guard. He does whatever is called for the team. He’s an outstanding teammate. He plays as hard as anybody on the court. I think he’s got a really bright future.” Johnson went undrafted in 2025 out of Auburn and signed a two-year, two-way deal with Brooklyn at the end of December.
- First-round pick Allen Graves displayed his versatility and feel for the game in his Raptors debut in Las Vegas, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. The former Santa Clara forward recorded 22 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in Friday’s overtime loss to Boston. “I mean yeah, I was (curious), but also I knew that (my game would) translate very well because of my IQ,” he said. “I feel like I can adapt at an elite level, and I feel like that’s what I’m going to do and continue to do as I’m going forward, is just use my brain. That’s my biggest asset. So you know, finding ways to impact the game, no matter what I’m doing, whether that’s offensive rebounding, whether that’s shooting a three, whether going to dive on the floor.”
- Another player selected in the second half of the first round, Sixers guard Labaron Philon Jr., has averaged 21.0 PPG, 6.5 APG, 3.0 RPG and 1.0 SPG in two games in Las Vegas. “Showing I can compete,” Philon said after Thursday’s win (story via Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer). “Having the same ‘dawg’ mentality that I had at Alabama, and being the same person. Being me, really.”
Lakers, Austin Reaves Complete Four-Year Max Deal
July 12: After using all of their cap room, the Lakers have officially re-signed Reaves, per a team announcement (Twitter link via Khobi Price of The California Post).
“Austin’s relentless pursuit of improvement, fierce competitiveness and commitment to winning have made him an integral part of our organization,” president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “From the moment he joined the Lakers, Austin has embodied the work ethic and selfless approach that define our culture. We’re thrilled to continue building with him as a cornerstone of our team as we pursue our championship goals.”
June 24: The Lakers and free agent guard Austin Reaves have reached an agreement on a deal that will keep him off the open market, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that Reaves will sign a four-year, maximum-salary contract worth a projected $185MM to remain in Los Angeles.
Reaves will turn down his $14.9MM player option for 2026/27 in order to sign the new contract. It will include a fourth-year player option, Charania adds.
It’s a massive investment in a former undrafted free agent who has emerged as a rising star for the Lakers in recent years. The 28-year-old, who initially signed with Los Angeles on a two-way deal in 2021, has increased his scoring average in each of his first five NBA seasons. In 2025/26, he averaged a career-high 23.3 points per game on .490/.360/.871 shooting while also contributing 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 34.5 minutes per contest.
Reaves was limited to 51 games due to injuries, including an oblique strain that sidelined him at the end of the regular season and for the first few of the games of the playoffs. However, those health issues didn’t have an impact on his value entering this summer.
Retaining Reaves, who had grown close with star teammate Luka Doncic, was always considered a top offseason priority for the Lakers. The guard was considered one of the top players eligible to reach free agency this offseason, with reporting earlier this month indicating that the Nets, one of a small handful of teams with cap room, planned to put a maximum-salary offer on the table for him.
Charania reports (via Twitter) that the Pistons were also expected to make a major push for Reaves, so the Lakers got out ahead of the issue by striking a deal with the former Oklahoma Sooner before he was eligible to negotiate with rival suitors.
According to Charania (Twitter link), the guard’s new contract will be the most lucrative deal for an undrafted player in NBA history.
As our maximum-salary projections show, based on an estimated $165MM salary cap, Reaves’ contract would start at $41.25MM in 2026/27 before eventually rising to $51.15MM on the ’29/30 player option. The exact value would be $184.8MM, though that figure could fluctuate one way or the other, depending on where exactly the salary cap comes in.
The best offer that another team could have put on the table for Reaves was $177.38MM over four years, since the Lakers can offer 8% annual raises instead of 5% raises.
While Reaves’ max deal will obviously have a major impact on the Lakers’ cap situation in the coming years, it won’t impact the amount of cap room they’ll have this offseason if they elect to operate as an under-the-cap team. The club will be able to keep his cap hold of $20.91MM on its books until all of its room is used up, then go over the cap to re-sign him using his Bird rights.
Nets Notes: Brown Jr., Demin, Powell, Randle, Bilodeau
Nets lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. made his Las Vegas Summer League debut on Friday and scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half. Brown added three assists, two steals and a block.
“Seeing my teammates, getting them open shots, seeing the ball go through the hoop obviously gets you going as well. But I know how much work I put in to get to this point,” Brown told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “The ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ are coming just because that’s just how I play. Yeah, I mean, like I said, I’m a savant when it comes to this stuff, man. I love the game of basketball. I love when my teammates look successful. It brings me joy because that means it’s not just me, but everybody got it going.”
Backcourt partner and 2025 lottery pick Egor Demin was impressed.
“He’s extremely talented overall,” Demin said of Brown. “His shooting ability, his ability to create his own shot, and how shifty he is, he’s gonna give a lot of trouble to the defenders just because of his feel for the game and his talent. Now the part of his game is to adapt to the physicality, which took me a while last year.”
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Demin has bulked up, adding 13 to 15 pounds of muscle, and is playing with more aggressiveness, according to Lewis. “You see the growth from him being more aggressive, playing more physical. He got adapted to that style of the ball,” Brown said. “The NBA is very physical; you’re playing against grown men. So you’ve got to be able to adapt. And you can see it. He’s way more physical. He’s more adamant about getting into his spots. No matter how tough and how physical the defender is, he’s going to get to his spots regardless. So you can see the growth from that.”
- Another 2025 first-rounder, Drake Powell, hasn’t helped his cause during Summer League action. During the California Classic, Powell made just one of 17 shot attempts in two appearances. Last year’s No. 22 pick could be in danger of not getting his 2027/28 option picked up by the club before the Oct. 31 deadline, Lewis suggests. “Offensively, just trying to simplify it for Drake,” Summer League coach Dutch Gaitley said. “Hey, if you’re open, shoot it. If you’re not open, drive it. Sometimes he gets caught in between he maybe should’ve shot it.”
- Julius Randle says he’s ready to embrace a leadership role with Brooklyn after getting dealt by Minnesota in a blockbuster trade. “They’re really excited to have me here. (Head coach) Jordi (Fernandez) is really excited. He feels like going into every game, we’ve got a chance to win every single game,” Randle told Lewis. “To have that confidence from your coach is amazing. … I get to come in and be a leader, show guys how to be a pro. We’re coming in trying to win. It’s as simple as that. However we can help give the younger guys experience and confidence and help them fast-track or whatever it is to contribute to winning basketball, that’s really all that matters. All I care about, at the end of the day, is winning, and I know that’s what those guys care about. If I can help give them that experience, great.”
- The Nets took a flier on Tyler Bilodeau in the second round of the draft because of his shooting ability. Now, the former UCLA forward must prove he can do more than just make outside shots, Lewis writes. “When the shot isn’t falling, how is he able to impact the game?” Gaitley said. “Physicality: hitting the glass, honing into our offensive staples. Then defensively, challenging himself to step outside. He played a lot in the paint defensively [at UCLA]. Now, if he’s going to have success in the NBA, he’s got to be on the perimeter. I don’t know if we’re going to challenge him, ‘Hey, go guard the point guard,’ but we switch a lot. How can I switch, contain my man, but if I’m going to get beat I’m going to dictate where he’s going instead of playing on my heels.”