Category: Deportes

Stephen Curry (left) will be a free agent in 2027, but will LeBron James join him as one as well?

With 2026 free agency winding down, it’s time to look ahead to what players could be free agents in 2027.

The list includes several all-time great players as well as some key contributors on title contenders.

Several of the players listed below may sign contract extensions before they hit free agency. But here are players who, if they don’t sign an extension, will be free agents in 2027…

1. The class of 2023

Players selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft will be restricted free agents in 2027…

• As long as they had the third and fourth-year options on their rookie contracts exercised.

• Unless they sign an extension between now and the start of the 2026-27 season.

There were seven players in the first round of the 2023 Draft who didn’t have their options picked up, with Jett Howard (No. 11 pick), Kobe Bufkin (No. 15) and Jalen Hood-Schifino (No. 17) being the three that were drafted in the top 20. That leaves 23 players who could negotiate and sign rookie extensions this summer.

At this point, Victor Wembanyama is the only one of the 23 that has agreed to an extension. Other key players from the class of 2023 include …

• Brandon Miller (CHA) – No. 2 pick

• Amen Thompson (HOU) – No. 4 pick

• Ausar Thompson (DET) – No. 5 pick

• Cason Wallace (OKC) – No. 10 pick

• Keyonte George (UTA) – No. 16 pick

Last year, nine of 22 eligible players signed rookie extensions. If they don’t happen early in the summer, they generally get done in the last few days before the start of the season.

2. Unrestricted free agents

Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. is a name to watch in free agency next summer.

1. LeBron James (Team TBD)

If the league’s all-time leading scorer signs a one-year contract with his new team and doesn’t announce his retirement after Season 24, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent again in 2027.

T-3. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

The best shooter in NBA history is still an impact player. He’ll be 39 next summer, but no player in the league has more gravity when he’s off the ball.

T-3. Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers/Toronto)

Leonard will turn 36 next summer, but he played 65 games last season and was one of only three qualified players – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić were the others – that averaged at least 27 points with a true shooting percentage of 62% or better last season.

4. Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn Nets)

Porter (29 next summer) saw a huge jump in usage rate upon his move to Brooklyn, and his efficiency didn’t suffer much.

5. Tyler Herro (Milwaukee Bucks)

Herro has seen a significant jump in efficiency over the last two seasons, but he played just 33 games in 2025-26.

6. RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors)

Barrett is coming off the most efficient season of his career, and he was terrific in the playoffs, averaging 24.1 points on a true shooting percentage of 56.3%.

7. CJ McCollum (Atlanta Hawks)

McCollum showed in the playoffs that he can still get big buckets in big moments, but he signed just a one-year extension with the Hawks before free agency began this year. So he’ll be up for a new deal again in 2027, and he’ll be 36 when the ’27-28 season begins.

8. Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Dort has been a critical piece for the league’s best team over the last three years, and the Thunder exercised his team option for ’26-27. But shedding role-player salary may be necessary in the next 12 months.

9. Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets)

It’s still been less than a year (Sept. 2025) since VanVleet tore his ACL, and it will be fascinating to see if he was the missing ingredient for the Rockets last season.

10. Jimmy Butler (Jimmy Butler)

Butler tore his ACL in January, and he’ll be 38 at the start of the 2027-28 season, but he did average an efficient 20 points per game (in 38 games) before getting hurt.

More: Saddiq Bey (NOP), Miles Bridges (PHX), Dillon Brooks (PHX), Moussa Diabaté (CHA), Donte DiVincenzo (MIN), Cam Johnson (DEN), Keldon Johnson (SAS), Kyle Kuzma (MIL), Zach LaVine (SAC), Miles McBride (NYK), Davion Mitchell (MIA), Max Strus (CLE)

3. Player options

New Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo has a player option on his deal for the 2027-28 season.

These players have options in their contracts for the 2027-28 season. If they exercise it (likely if it’s for a player-friendly salary), they’re under contract until 2028. If they decline it, they’re unrestricted free agents in 2027.

1. Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)

The three-time Kia MVP has said he wants to play his entire career in Denver, and the time for his next contract extension is next summer. He’s coming off a historical season in which he became the first player to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Miami Heat)

It’s highly unlikely that Antetokounmpo hits free agency, though he might not sign an extension until January. It will likely keep him under contract through the 2030-31 season, during which he’ll turn 36.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)

The Knicks are champions and the big winners in the trade that brought Towns to New York less than two years ago. Mitchell Robinson is gone, which means Towns’ health, defense and rebounding will be a little more important than they were last season.

4. Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)

Durant will be 39 by the start of the ’27-28 season, but he remains a remarkably efficient, high-volume scorer. With this past season having been a bit disappointing, it’s a huge year for the Rockets.

5. Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)

The Wolves have undergone big changes, and with the departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid, Gobert is even more important than he has been over the last four seasons. He’s the biggest reason why the team has had the league’s third-best defense over his time in Minnesota.

6. Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks)

Irving could be a trade candidate before he hits free agency if the Mavs don’t feel he fits with their Cooper Flagg timeline. But other teams may want to see how well he’s recovered from his torn ACL in March of 2025.

7. Anthony Davis (Washington Wizards)

Unless he has a huge, bounce-back season after playing only 20 games in ’25-26, it seems likely that Davis will exercise his $63-million player option for ’27-28.

8. Brandon Ingram (Toronto/LA Clippers)

Is Ingram part of the Clippers’ long-term plans, or was his inclusion in the Leonard trade mostly about his salary? The Clippers are somewhat of a motley crew at this point (assuming the trade eventually goes through), and it will be fascinating to see how competitive they are in the Western Conference.

9. Ty Jerome (Memphis Grizzlies)

Jerome played in just 15 (low-leverage) games this past season. But if he can repeat his production (19.7 points and 5.7 assists in just 22.6 minutes per game) with a larger sample size, he could be in for a nice payday a year from now. His ’27-28 player option is for just $9.7 million.

More: Grayson Allen (CHA), Deandre Ayton (WAS), Paul George (BOS), Jerami Grant (MEM), Jalen Green (PHX), Jrue Holiday (POR), Luke Kennard (PHX), Damian Lillard (POR), Dejounte Murray (NOP), Julius Randle (BKN), Anfernee Simons (PHI)

4. Team options

Useful players on team options usually get their option exercised so that they remain under contract for another year. It seems doubtful that many (or any) of the following players will become free agents in 2027 …

* * *

John Schuhmann has covered the NBA for more than 20 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Bluesky.

Brayden Burries averaged 21.8 ppg and 9.7 rpg for LeBron James’ Strive For Greatness in the AAU Circuit.

The 2026 Nike EYBL Peach Jam tipped off on Tuesday, July 14 and will run through July 19. Every year, the top high school prospects show off their talents in North Augusta, S.C.

Teams will battle in a selected pool play before a single-elimination playoff tournament takes place. The championship game will be on July 19. You can catch the action exclusively on the NBA App and NBA YouTube. For a full list of game schedules and box scores from the entire event, visit the Nike EYBL Schedule page.

This year’s class features prospects such as Beckham Black (AB Elite), Malachi Jordan (Arizona Unity) and Cayden Daughtry (Florida Rebels).

Peach Jam is a crucial part of a prospect’s journey. Take a look at 5 NBA players that performed well at the tournament in previous years.

1. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards

Before he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa shined in the AAU Circuit with the Oakland Soldiers.

Dybantsa led his team to a 6-1 record while averaging 23.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg. He won the offensive MVP and first-team honors in Peach Jam. However, Dybantsa lost in the championship game to Cameron Boozer and the Nightrydas Elite program.

After a season at BYU, Dybantsa is headed to the Washington Wizards as they look to make some noise in the Eastern Conference with Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

2. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies

Cameron Boozer was ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2025. The son of NBA veteran Carlos Boozer was selected third overall in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Scouts were given a sneak peek at Boozer’s versatility with his performance at Peach Jam.

Along with averaging a double-double with 20.4 ppg and 10.1 rpg, Boozer shot 56.7% from the field and 48% from 3-point range as he led the Nightrydas to an 8-0 record. Boozer capped off his AAU career with consecutive Peach Jam championships in 15U, 16U and 17U.

After a season at Duke, Boozer will be part of the Memphis Grizzlies’ rebuilding efforts as one of its future cornerstones.

3. Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, starred alongside Boozer in the Nightrydas’ championship run. Wilson shot an effective 60.6% from the field while averaging 17.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg.

Wilson was ranked No. 5 in the class of 2025 and committed to the University of North Carolina. The two former AAU teammates would later clash in college during the Duke-UNC rivalry game, with Wilson’s Tar Heels taking the win.

Now, Wilson is with the Chicago Bulls alongside Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Rob Dillingham.

4. Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks

Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s Draft, played for Strive For Greatness in the AAU Circuit – the team LeBron James created.

Despite going 3-3 in the tournament, Burries earned first-team honors while averaging 21.8 ppg and 9.7 rpg. Burries was ranked No. 12 in the class of 2025 and committed to Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to the NCAA March Madness Final Four.

Burries is now part of the new-look Milwaukee Bucks that features players such as Nate Ament, Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr.

5. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg earned the nickname ‘the Maine event’ during the summer of 2023 as his  summer at Peach Jam put him on the national recruiting radar.

Along with his 25.4 ppg, 13 rpg and 5.7 apg, one of Flagg’s most notable stats during the tournament was his 6.9 bpg for Maine United.

The Dallas Mavericks selected Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after reclassifying a year earlier. He went on to win the 2025 NBA KIA Rookie of the Year award after averaging 21 ppg. 6.7 rpg and 4.5 apg.

Rookie Brayden Burries is a key piece for the Bucks as they move forward after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo.

When a franchise loses a colossus, a level of player who made all the difference, it doesn’t just turn the page; a whole new book needs to be written.

Therefore, in Milwaukee, in the immediate aftermath of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks must undertake scripting a new identity and path.

Antetokounmpo was a force of nature in town. He won a pair of Kia MVPs, came close to a few more such awards, and was the centerpiece of the 2021 championship. As legendary players tend to do, he elevated the team to championship level, and the Bucks reaped all the goods that came with that.

The club enjoyed a degree of focus and attention that’s reserved for just a select few teams. The area around the arena — the Deer District — stayed swollen with fans and frosty mugs. And a generation of fans were hooked.

So now that the game has changed in town … who’s got next? And exactly what’s next?

In these cases, as these teams press the reset button, there’s a mixture of relief, suspense, uncertainty and a splash of determination. Essentially, the team is being challenged by the situation and embraces the opportunity to remake itself.

That’s what the Bucks are doing — welcoming new faces, plunging into the draft for solutions, keeping their salary cap as clean as possible and doing as much as possible to find the next Antetokounmpo, however how long and difficult that might be.

As Jon Horst, the team general manager, said after sending Antetokounmpo to Miami:

“For us, it was just about the opportunity to build and to again, set a foundation. Can we set something in place with a new coach and take advantage of an opportunity to truly build from a place of strength on a roster that hopefully makes our city proud, our franchise proud and gets us to the place where we are competitive? And we can sustain that competition and that competitive level year in and year out?”

It starts with, among others, Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, their two first-round picks. Neither will have the advantage of playing next to Antetokounmpo, but they also won’t enter his shadow, either. The floor is open for these two incoming rookies, and the future, along with the hopes of the club, belongs to them.

Burries, who’s having a solid showing at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, is embracing the situation.

“I get to come in and learn and be me and still be able to play through experiences, play through mistakes and be the stepping stone in the right direction,” Burries said. “There will be challenges, but any challenges you have in basketball, you have your ups and downs. I’ll just stay in the moment, not get too high or low regardless of what’s coming my way. Just stay confident.”

Ament added: “Every rookie wants to contribute immediately. Obviously you have to earn it, nothing’s going to be given. I think this situation is about just how quickly it can come together and quickly everyone buys in.

“We’re not just a young group, we’re a new group, with a new head coach. So it’s how quickly we can learn from each other.”

In the Antetokounmpo trade with the Miami Heat, the haul in return was reasonable, but not substantial.

At least the Bucks will have an instant 20-point scorer to absorb the loss of Antetokounmpo’s offense. Tyler Herro will certainly have the green light all season, and a flashing one at that. This situation is ripe for the guard to launch often and place himself among the league’s scoring leaders next season.

Herro will enter his eighth season in 2026-27 and comes from a winning situation as Miami reached the NBA Finals twice during his time there. He averaged 21.4 points per game over his last five seasons, although two of those seasons were injury-filled.

As a bonus, Herro is coming home — he’s from Milwaukee — and the former Kia Sixth Man Award winner should be willing to put down roots.

The rotation will also add Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware from Miami. Both have a chance to start or command starter’s minutes in the rotation.

This situation isn’t the first time the Bucks traded a foundational rock. That would be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who, in 1975, approached management and said he wanted out. The difference is Antetokounmpo wanted a change of scenery because the Bucks, who finished 32-50 last season and missed the playoffs, were stuck in a rut and no longer winners.

Abdul-Jabbar led Milwaukee to the 1971 championship and captured three MVPs with the Bucks, but he didn’t want to live in Milwaukee anymore for cultural and religious reasons. He preferred New York, his hometown, or Los Angeles, and the Bucks weighed the choices and sent him to the Lakers.

The return in 1975 for Abdul-Jabbar — a legend who only had six years of NBA tread wear at the time — was surprisingly light. Officially, the Bucks got future fan favorites Junior Bridgeman and Brian Winters — as well as journeymen Dave Meyers and Elmore Smith — while dealing Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley to the Lakers. That’s it.

(Worth noting: Abdul-Jabbar had his No. 33 retired by both the Lakers and Bucks, while Bridgeman’s No. 2 jersey and Winters’ No. 32 were retired by the Bucks.)

The Bucks did manage to reinvent themselves after losing Abdul-Jabbar and spent a good portion of the early 1980s as a solid Eastern Conference playoff team. But they had the misfortune of competing against the Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics and the Julius Erving-led Philadelphia 76ers, and later, the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.

The Bucks had a ceiling in the East and never returned to the NBA Finals until Antetokounmpo fueled the run in 2020-21.

That’s the luxury of having an MVP contender on the roster: he’s a game-changer. Without him, the chances of sipping champagne in June are exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. Those players only come around once a generation in most cases.

But to the fortunate team, those players are often not that far away. The Bucks hope that’s the case with them, that their wait time after losing Antetokounmpo is small.

Meanwhile, between now and whenever that might happen, they’ll build a core and try to compete in the very near future. Taylor Jenkins, the new coach, will steer the reset. He presided over Memphis’ rise with the Grizzlies and showed patience with their young core, led by Ja Morant. That’s why the Bucks sought him, as Jenkins knows how to develop players and puts them in roles to help them learn.

The main issue with the Bucks during their Antetokounmpo era was their inability to find and develop their draftees. None of their picks this decade is still with the team, and only one (AJ Johnson, Memphis) is still in the league.

Aside from Ament, Burries, Ware and AJ Green, the Bucks will give Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng a chance to compete and earn minutes and gain traction. Rollins was in the Kia Most Improved Player Award discussion all season, while Dieng averaged 11 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 3.9 apg in 30 games with Milwaukee after being dealt there by OKC in February.

The goal is to find solutions among a mixture of young players and veterans and forge a path forward. The Bucks know it won’t be simple or easy.

“No one’s sitting here today and saying that we’re a better team today after trading Giannis,” said Horst. “He’s one of the greatest players to ever play, greatest player in the franchise history. We’ve had an incredible amount of success.”

It’s a new chapter in town because the Book of Giannis is closed.

“There is a sense of excitement because it’s a different challenge,” said Horst. “It’s something new. I get excited about trying to put pieces together. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

* * *

Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

Bank it from 37 feet. Drop 32.

Denver’s Trevon Brazile was one of several rookies who lit up Las Vegas Tuesday, as the 2026 Draft class continues to shine.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Tuesday Heat: Caleb Wilson ignites Bulls, Cameron Carr lifts Lakers to 3-0

More Rooks Cook: Trevon Brazile dominates, Brooklyn duo overcomes Darius Acuff Jr.

Roundup: Cam Boozer & Grizzlies win big, Bruce Thornton helps boost Rockets

Second-Round Spark: Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas has become Vegas’ hottest scorer

Sky’s The Limit: LaMelo Ball embraces his new home in Minnesota

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Eight games tip off today in Vegas, starting with Pacers-Wolves at 3:30 ET (Prime), before No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson leads the Jazz against the Spurs (9:30 ET, Prime).

NBA Summer League Hub: The Semifinals in Las Vegas are just three days away. Track the Playoff race, stat leaders, schedule and more right here.

1. TUESDAY HEAT: WILSON SPARKS BULLS, LAKERS MOVE TO 3-0

One night after throwing down perhaps the slam of the summer, Caleb Wilson continued to soar.

Bulls 99, Wizards 87: The No. 4 pick was everywhere early, finishing with 19 points, 8 boards, 3 assists and 1 block, while fellow rookies Jaylin Sellers (24 pts) and Donovan Atwell (19 pts) combined for 43 to lift the Bulls past the Wizards, who were without No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa. | Recap

• Fast Start: Wilson scored 13 points in his first 15 minutes. By the end of the 3rd, he had 16 – capped by a stepback 3 to beat the buzzer
• Inside & Out: He finished 7-of-15 from the floor with a pair of treys and five buckets at the rim, including another thunderous jam
• “Every time I attack the rim I’m trying to dunk,” said Wilson postgame. “That’s what I’ve been raised to do. That’s what my dad told me – so I’m trying to do it.”

Wilson wasn’t the only Bull in attack mode. After falling behind by 10 in the 1st quarter, Atwell sparked Chicago with 10 points in the 2nd to help the Bulls take the lead.

Following Wilson’s buzzer-beater to close the 3rd, Sellers finished the job with 10 points in the 4th, moving Chicago to 2-1.

• “Jaylin Sellers and Donovan Atwell saved my life, that’s what they did – they saved my life,” said Wilson. “We won. That’s all we wanted to do. I’m excited, bro – go Bulls!”
• Summer Surge: Wilson is averaging 24.3 ppg in Vegas, trailing only Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas (28.3) among players with at least three games played (more on Thomas in Sec. 4)

As Wilson stayed sizzling, the Lakers stayed perfect – thanks to another standout rook.

Lakers 99, Clippers 85: After shining in the California Classic, No. 24 overall pick Cameron Carr took over, dropping a game-high 23 points as the Lakers improved to 3-0. | Recap

• Full Throttle: Carr had 19 points through three quarters, helping the Lakers build a 23-point lead entering the 4th
• Temps Rising: After averaging 16.7 ppg in the Cali Classic, Carr has raised his game in Vegas, posting 20.5 ppg
• Wagler Work: Following a 23-point outing on Monday, the Clippers’ No. 5 overall pick, Keaton Wagler, looked sharp again (16 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast)
• Only Unbeatens: The Lakers join the Hawks as the only 3-0 teams in Vegas. Los Angeles can punch its ticket to the Semifinals with a win over Chicago on Thursday (6 ET, Prime) | Full NBA Summer League Standings

2. MORE ROOKS COOK: BRAZILE DOMINATES, NETS OVERCOME ACUFF JR.

The rookie takeovers kept coming.

Nuggets 106, Thunder 103: No. 16 overall pick Bennett Stirtz dropped 22 points and 6 dimes for OKC, but Denver’s Trevon Brazile couldn’t be contained (32 pts, 6 reb, 6 3s) as the 2nd-rounder powered the Nuggets to a late win. | Recap

• Party Starter: Brazile, the No. 35 overall pick out of Arkansas, got things going with a big-time windmill slam in the 1st quarter
• Buzzer-Beater: In the 2nd, the 6-foot-10 forward showed off his range, banking in a 3 at the buzzer from 37 feet out
• Clutch Finish: He finished the night 6-of-12 from deep, capped by a key triple with 3:34 left to restore a double-digit lead, as Denver ultimately moved to 2-1
• Young Thunder: No. 12 overall pick Aday Mara (14 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 6-6 FG) combined for 36 points alongside Stirtz

Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s last two top-10 picks put on a two-way clinic.

Nets 115, Kings 83: Egor Dëmin (22 pts, 8 ast, 4 stl), the Nets’ No. 8 pick in 2025, and rookie Mikel Brown Jr. (16 pts, 5 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk) were a problem on both ends, leading the Nets past the Kings, despite a monster showing from Darius Acuff Jr. (26 pts, 5 ast). | Recap

• Pick, Push, Points: Brown Jr., the No. 6 overall pick, turned defense into offense with this steal and dish to Danny Wolf (14 pts), before Wolf finished another break with authority
• Acuff Erupts: Acuff Jr., taken one pick after Brown Jr., scored 16 of his 26 points in the 3rd, including this smooth hanging finish
• Royal Rooks: Emanuel Sharp, Sacramento’s No. 45 overall pick, added 23 points, as he and Acuff combined for 49

3. ROUNDUP: BOOZER & SMALL LEAD GRIZZ, ROCKETS WIN

Grizzlies 106, Warriors 85: Cam Boozer made his presence felt on both ends (12 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl), while 2nd-year guard Javon Small went off (26 pts, 7 ast, 5 3s), punctuating a Grizzlies win with an epic two-handed jam – moving both teams to 2-1. | Recap

• Hot Hand: Small, a 2nd-round pick in 2025, poured in 19 in the 1st half while going 4-of-6 from 3
• Winning Impact: Despite finishing 4-of-12 from the field, Boozer found other ways to impact the game, finishing with a game-high +35 plus-minus
• Bright Spot: Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick, led the Dubs with 15 points and 9 boards

Rockets 90, 76ers 64: This year’s No. 22 pick, Labaron Philon Jr., stayed hot for Philly (17 pts, 4 ast, 7-11 FG), but Houston’s trio of Isaiah Crawford (19 pts), Bruce Thornton (18 pts) and Tristen Newton (17 pts) was too much, combining for 54 points in a wire-to-wire win. | Recap

• New Red, Same Buckets: Thornton, the No. 31 pick and Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer, is averaging 20.7 points through three Summer League games
• Philon Fire: Philon Jr. showed off his bag with this shifty stepback trey, but the Sixers shot just 5-of-30 from deep as a team

4. TODAY IN VEGAS: THOMAS LEADS CAVS VS. PELS, PLUS 7 MORE MATCHUPS

Meleek Thomas entered the Draft believing he belonged in the first round. But the 19-year-old guard out of Arkansas had to wait until Round 2 to hear his name called.

Three Summer League games later – entering today’s matchup vs. the Pelicans (5:30 ET, Prime) – he’s showing where that belief comes from.

• Scorching Start: Thomas opened Summer League with 20 points vs. the Pacers, including 14 in the 2nd half. One game later, he dropped a game-high 30 points and 7 dimes against Detroit
• To Follow It Up? Another offensive explosion – hanging 35 points on 14-of-23 shooting and five 3s to lead Cleveland past Miami

Record Rook: Thomas’ 85 total points are the most by a rookie through three NBA Summer League games since 2007, breaking the previous mark of 83 shared by Nickeil Alexander-Walker (2019), Damian Lillard (2012) and Jerryd Bayless (2008).

And the chip on his shoulder from Draft night hasn’t gone anywhere.

• “I’m gonna forever feel some type of way about that,” said Thomas, the No. 34 overall pick, on not being taken in the first round. “I just know my value and worth. I know the work I put in. I demand that respect.”

Thomas’ confidence has been built over years of proving himself.

A two-time Pittsburgh Tribune-Review High School Basketball Player of the Year, Thomas spent a fifth prep year at Overtime Elite, averaging 31.9 ppg as he rose to ESPN’s No. 3 point guard in the class.

Despite having his own five-star pedigree, Thomas chose to join ESPN’s No. 1 point guard, Darius Acuff Jr., at Arkansas under head coach John Calipari.

That’s exactly the mentality Calipari said separates Thomas.

• “You absolutely love competing, especially against guys you think are a little bit better than you,” Calipari said Sunday of what he looks for in recruits. “And that’s the superpower Meleek has — he just believes.”

“This kid right here, people missed on him,” added Calipari of Thomas. “He can’t believe he wasn’t picked in the top four.”

Now, Thomas is backing up that belief, leading Summer League in scoring at 28.3 ppg while shooting 45.8% from 3 and adding 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

And he’s confident he can bring that same spark to Cleveland this season.

• “My energy. My defense. My offense. My leadership,” said Thomas on what he’ll bring to the Cavs. “I’m going to come in as a rookie, but nobody’s going to take me to be a rookie just because of how I play and how I carry myself.”

Seven more games tip off today, beginning with Wolves-Pacers at 3:30 ET (Prime).

Later, this year’s No. 10 overall pick, Brayden Burries, leads the Bucks against the Hornets (7:30 ET, Prime), before Darryn Peterson and the Jazz face the Spurs (9:30 ET, Prime).

• Magic vs. 76ers (4 ET, ESPNU)
• Suns vs. Pistons (6 ET, ESPNU)
• Celtics vs. Kings (8 ET, ESPN2)
• Wizards vs. Clippers (10:30 ET, ESPN)

5. LAMELO BALL OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED IN MINNESOTA

LaMelo Ball didn’t have to think much when asked Tuesday how far his game could take him in Minnesota – his new home since being traded on July 10.

His response was bold and left plenty of room for imagination.

“Sky’s the limit.”

Ball sat on the stage at Target Center alongside Josh Green, coach Chris Finch and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly for his formal introduction to the Timberwolves.

With it, he officially turned the page on six seasons spent with the Hornets and began a new chapter in the Twin Cities.

• New Duo: He’ll team up with Anthony Edwards in the backcourt. Both of them were selected in the 2020 NBA Draft – Edwards at No. 1, Ball at No. 3
• Young Stars: Ball beat out Edwards to win Kia Rookie of the Year that season. Since then, both have become All-Stars (Edwards 4x, Ball 1x) and both are 24 years old
• “Mindset,” Ball said, when asked what he admires about Edwards. “He doesn’t let anyone affect him. He just goes after it, and I love that.”

Alongside Ant, Ball joins four-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, along with Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu.

Minnesota sees Ball, a dynamic 6-foot-7 talent, as its point guard of the future.

• The Resume: Ball followed his Kia Rookie of the Year campaign with an All-Star sophomore effort. He’s averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists for his career
• On The Rise: Last season, he played 72 games – his most since 2021-22. He posted 20.1 ppg with a career-best 89.9% free-throw percentage
• Match Made? He’s seeking his first Playoff appearance and joins a team that reached the West Finals in 2024 and 2025 before falling in the 2026 West Semis
• “I’m just coming here ready to play,” Ball said. “I’m ready to learn and give it my all.”

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• 2026 Summer League

Lakers 99, Clippers 85: Box Score | Game Detail

LAS VEGAS – Rookie standout Cameron Carr scored a game-high 23 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the LA Clippers, 99-85, in the 2026 NBA Summer League on Tuesday.

The game had four lead changes over the opening six minutes, but once the Lakers went up 10-9, they never looked back. The 16-point lead at the break (54-38) was too much for the Clippers, and after the Lakers won the third quarter 29-22, the game was simply out of reach.

The Lakers cruised to an easy win to keep their perfect record intact, while the Clippers fell to 1-2.

Carr was one of five players to score in double figures for the Lakers. Chris Mañon dropped a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. Adou Thiero had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Arthur Kaluma (15 points) and AK Okereke (11 points) posted solid numbers off the bench.

The Clippers shot just 42.6 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from beyond the arc. Kobe Sanders led the way for LA with 18 points and six rebounds.

Keaton Wagler, the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, posted 16 points, six boards and four assists but shot 6-for-15 from the floor. Nick Martinelli made his presence felt off the bench with a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in 27 minutes.

The Clippers play the Washington Wizards on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the Lakers will play against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.