NBA News and Rumor Roundup 7/9/2025
Trades! Summer League! Buyouts!
Aaaaaand we’re back!
And not only are we back, but we have lots to talk about today despite it being the offseason! We’ve got the largest trade in NBA history (though we’ve known about it for a bit now), one of the lowest-risk, highest-reward trades I can remember, the Jazz preparing to tank (again!), Summer League shenanigans, and buyout drama!
There’s just so much going on during this time of the NBA calendar, and I’m here for it. We’ll go through the above, a couple of smaller rumors/newsworthy things, and even reconfigure our Kings of The Court segment for Summer League!
Without further ado, let’s cross that segment off our list first…
This Week’s Kings of The Court
If you’re new around here (welcome!), this is normally a segment in which I deem three players/teams worthy of the King of the Court moniker. Traditionally, this doesn’t mean that the players/teams were the absolute best of the past week’s play, but are instead those that impressed me the most.
However, because we don’t have proper NBA play to talk about, I want to turn to Summer League. Despite the more popular Las Vegas edition of Summer League not going on yet, we have some interesting performances from the Salt Lake City Summer League and the California Classic to go on, and instead of averaging out multiple performances, I just want to look at individual games today. In other words, it’s time to overreact to some (most likely) meaningless basketball! First up…
👑V.J. Edgecombe, Looking Real Good👑
Key Stats From the Chosen Game
28 PTS
10 REB
4 AST
2 BLK
Bonus Stat: With Salt Lake City’s historical game stats being largely unavailable, I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s likely that Edgecombe is the first player to record 25 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST, 2 BLK, and 1 STL in a game at the event — but don’t quote me on that!
The 76ers had a few choices at the #3 selection, but it looks (once again, overreaction time) like they made the right one.
Though the Sixers lost against the Jazz, Edgecombe was the star of the show. His verticality, rebounding, and overall dawg-factor were reminiscent of a young D-Wade, and rarely do we see a rookie do this in their very first Summer League game:
The most impressive thing for me is how assertive Edgecombe was, because he sometimes would wane into over-unselfish play at Baylor. He wasn’t afraid to take control of the game and looked like the best player on the floor by a country mile.
The only downside, of course, was his three-point shooting, as he went 1-for-7 from range. That’s going to be the next step in evolving his game, because his ability to get to the rim already looks elite.
👑David Jones-Garcia, Another Undrafted Success Story?👑
Key Stats From the Chosen Game
25 PTS
3 STL
4-of-7 from three-point range
Bonus Stat: Another likely-to-be-true-but-ridiculous stat: Jones-Garcia is likely to be the first undrafted second-year player to record 25+ PTS and 3+ STL, on 55%+ three-point shooting at the California Classic. I’m grasping at straws here!
If there’s one organization that can compete with the Heat in finding niche contributors, it’s likely the Spurs (though the Grizzlies could throw their hat in the ring). David Jones-Garcia looks to continue that trend.
Jones-Garcia, who went undrafted in 2024 and went on to be selected for the G League All-Rookie Team, plays a very Spursian brand of basketball in the sense that he’s willing to play strictly off the ball, but can take matters into his own hands when needed. In a win against the Warriors, Jones-Garcia hit 4 threes, looked extremely comfortable punishing spot-ups (the Warriors took wind of the fact that he can shoot, obviously), and racked up three steals, the latter of which is due to his bulldog mentality.
Summer League tends to be very favorable for guys who handle the ball all the time and put up tons of shots. While Jones-Garcia can do that, that’s not what he did all game, often opting to float around the perimeter and take the catch-and-shoot look. The little things like that could get him a roster spot, though he’d have to prove he’s more consistent than Julian Champagnie (who is quietly a decent role player) in the process.
👑Brice Sensabaugh, Gone Nuclear👑
Key Stats From the Chosen Game
37 PTS
6-of-9 from three-point range
13-of-14 on free throws
Bonus Stat: Last straw-grasping bonus stat: Sensabaugh is likely to be the first player in Salt Lake City Summer League history to score 35+ PTS while taking 10 or more free throws and making at least 6 threes.
Brice Sensabaugh, I apologize; I was not familiar with your game.
I’ve heard of (watched, even) Sensabaugh’s play in the past, and thought he was a perfectly solid role player. In his second season, he averaged 10 points on 40% shooting from deep, and he’s pretty unselfish so he doesn’t need to play a massive role. But I didn’t know he could do this:
He’s so smooth, so controlled, and he just looks like a veteran out there. He can take the catch-and-shoot looks but is also willing to take contact around the rim — he took 14 free throws! More impressive to me is his ability to put the ball on the floor and chop up the defense a bit with a handle that I didn’t know he had. That’s likely because he doesn’t get a major ball-handling role in the Utah offense (and I don’t expect him to this upcoming season, either), but based off of what I’ve seen over the past 12 months and this performance, I think you’re looking at a guy who can be a high-end microwave scorer at his peak.
Of course, the defense seems to be lacking, but that could be a system issue rather than solely his issue.
Trades, Trades Everywhere
It’s only a week or two into the offseason, and it feels as if we’ve been relatively spoiled with trades. With the Kevin Durant deal — which turned out to be the largest in NBA history — finally finalized, we now get to talk about that and other trades that went down this past week.
The KD Deal
Full trade:
Rockets get:
Kevin Durant
Clint Capela
Suns get:
Jalen Green
Dillon Brooks
Khaman Maluach (No. 10 overall)
Rasheer Fleming (No. 31 overall)
Koby Brea (No. 41 overall)
Daeqwon Plowden
2026 second-round pick
2032 second-round pick
Nets get:
2026 second-round pick
2030 second-round pick
Warriors get:
Alex Toohey (No. 52 overall)
Jahmai Mashack (No. 59 overall)
Hawks get:
David Roddy
2031 second-round pick
Cash
Lakers get:
Adou Thiero (No. 36 overall)
Cash
Timberwolves get:
Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45 overall)
2026 second-round pick
2032 second-round pick
Cash
Yeah, that’s a lot of teams. So many, in fact, that it is the first seven-team trade in NBA history, but it also feels like a scenario in which all the GMs were like, “Hey, you know what would be really funny?”
Pretty much every deal involved here was announced beforehand, other than the inclusions of Daeqwon Plowden and David Roddy. I actually quite like Roddy, who plays hard and has one of the better nicknames in the NBA (Big Body Roddy!), and this will be his second stint with Atlanta.
Other than that, I’ve said everything I’ve had to say about the individual pieces of this deal. Houston looks like one of the favorites now and hasn’t sacrificed their depth, the Suns shockingly didn’t get the 2027 and 2029 first-rounders from H-Town, and the Lakers have a really nice upside rookie in Adou Thiero, whose ceiling projects to be something like O.G. Anunoby in my opinion. But onto some newer trades!
Cam Whitmore, My Man
This is about to be a crazy biased trade analysis, so just prepare yourself.
Cam Whitmore, who was drafted 20th overall (due to a shocking slide) to the Rockets in 2023, hasn’t gotten a lot of runway from the Rockets due to the team’s depth. Hence, it seemed likely they would trade him, but the return feels measly: 2 second-rounders from the Wizards. That, quite frankly, feels ridiculous, even if the Rockets didn’t need Whitmore.
Statistically, as I’ve noted in the past, Whitmore’s rookie season (in 2023-24) was one of the best offensive seasons in NBA history on a per-possession basis. In the 5 games he’s started for the Rockets, he’s averaged over 20 points, nearly 7 rebounds, and 2 assists on 47% three-point shooting. You can say what you want about the rumored character concerns from the draft, but from a purely basketball-oriented perspective, this kid has been incredible in a vacuum at just 20 years of age.
On the extreme end, this may end up being like the time that the OKC Thunder traded James Harden to the Rockets for relative pennies. OKC didn’t want to keep him around, so they sent him to Houston, and he turned into an MVP. While I’m not saying Whitmore can be an MVP candidate, I do think there’s enough room for him to be an All-Star on multiple occasions. On the worst end, it’s a buy-crazy-low option for the Wizards, who can afford to dole out 2nd-rounders like they’re candy.
The Rockets needed to do something with Whitmore, so I’m glad he’s out of Houston, but it’s a shame it was for so cheap.
The Jazz, Competing for Last
The most exciting non-previously-announced trade of the past week came from the Heat, Clippers, and Jazz, who engaged in a trade that feels win-win for two teams and wildly weird for the third:
Miami Receives: Norman Powell
Los Angeles Receives: John Collins
Utah Receives: Kyle Anderson, Kevin Love, 2027 second-round pick (from Clippers)
There are a few reasons why each party does this. For the Heat, they get Norman Powell, who should’ve been an All-Star this past season, for Kyle Anderson and a barely-playing-and-old Kevin Love. Now, they get to have Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and Bam Adebayo on the floor at the same time, which is a pretty killer trio in a very weak Eastern Conference.
For the Clips, they didn’t really want to pay Powell in the long term, and getting Collins (who is around 4 and a half years younger than Powell) is a great consolation prize, as he fits perfectly as a stretch 4 alongside Ivica Zubac and (now) Brook Lopez. As I noted in a piece this past weekend, Collins was one of the most consistent performers last season despite being on a languishing Jazz squad, and his ability to get buckets as a catch-and-shoot threat should work marvelously with James Harden by his side.
And, lastly, you have the Jazz, who look like distinct losers, but that’s kind of the point. While Austin Ainge, President of Basketball Operations for the Jazz, said that the team wouldn’t be tanking, he didn’t say they wouldn’t be bad enough to naturally do so. With no Collins, no Collin Sexton, a waived Jordan Clarkson, and the potential for more players to fall by the wayside, the Jazz will probably be horrific this season. With players like AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and more on the table for the 2026 Draft, though, that’s by design.
A Bradley Beal Buyout, Maybe (and Dame News)
One of the bigger rumors of the past week is that the Suns are getting tired of having Bradley Beal on payroll, both because of his fit on the team and his horrible, no good, terrible contract. If you forgot (I don’t know why you would, but okay), Beal has a no-trade clause from his days in Washington, is getting paid over $53 million this season, and has a player option for even more money than that in the next.
In other words, he’s an albatross for financial reasons, and the Suns, per Fred Katz of The Athletic, are trying to work out a buyout with him sooner rather than later. That would give the Suns some semblance of hope for a future (though not much) and, more importantly, would put Beal on the open market.
Most rumors have pointed to Beal putting the Los Angeles Clippers toward the top of his list. They’d be able to run out a lineup of James Harden, Bradley Beal, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac, which, while defensively horrible between Harden and Beal, has the potential to put up ridiculous buckets otherwise. The Timberwolves, Warriors, Bucks, and some other teams have been thrown around as well, and the Minnesota fit is at least interesting, but none are nearly as exciting, I think, as the Clippers.
Aside from Beal’s buyout, we can also talk about Damian Lillard’s post-buyout decision-making process. There’s been a lot of smoke surrounding Lillard signing with the Celtics, who, assuming everyone comes back healthy, would have a lineup of Dame, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and, uh, Georges Niang and Luka Garza? The jury’s still out on the latter two, but the former three (even with a 70% version of Dame) would be a great contending trio in the East.
Other than the Celtics, it’s tough to see where Dame could both compete and recover from his injuries in time. One interesting theory is to have Dame sign a one-plus-one contract with the Blazers, where he could rehab for a year and embrace the fandom again before opting out of his deal to sign with whatever contender is best for 2026-27. Is it going to happen? Probably not, but it sure would be fun for a short time.
Paolo Gets a Lot of Pennies
This wasn’t necessarily unexpected or surprising in any way, but the Magic are really starting to push their chips in here:
First, it’s important to note that now the Magic core of Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs are all locked up for the next five years at a minimum, and they now have Desmond Bane by their side to add the extra three-point shooting this team has desperately needed for a while now.
The money, while massive, is likely better to lock up now than it will be in a year or two. Banchero will make a maximum of around $57 million per year based on his incentive structure, which would currently rank 2nd in the league for single-year value (just behind Steph Curry’s $59 million). In total value, it also makes him the second-highest, behind only Jayson Tatum (though that figure is likely to change as the cap increases).
I’m of the opinion that Banchero is not worthy of being the second-highest paid player in the league, given the fact that advanced metrics kind of hate the guy and he hasn’t proven he can lead a team to success on his own.
For reference, Banchero ranks in the 68th percentile for xRAPM, is in the 87th percentile for EPM, and only increased the Magic’s overall points per 100 possessions by around a single point. That can be compared to his running mate Franz Wagner’s +7.75 differential in points per 100 and his 96th-percentile EPM, so it’s possible that Banchero is actually a worse player than the German.
And yet, when you have a guy like Banchero who feels crucial to the core of your team and you’re in a position to contend, you have to take it. Whether or not Banchero is actually a worthy #1 option is irrelevant, seeing as the Celtics paid Jaylen Brown a ridiculous contract as well.
Other News, Rumors, and Fun Facts
According to Shams, Kyle Lowry has agreed to a one-year deal that sees him return to the Sixers, marking his 20th season in the NBA. Though the Sixers may not need him (Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Miles McBride all exist), it’s nice to see Lowry still floating around.
After trading for Jonas Valanciunas, the Nuggets now appear to be in a struggle with his camp to actually get him to play. According to multiple reports, Valanciunas has been offered a deal from the Greek team Panathinaikos for about three years, $13 million, and he’s heavily considering it. However, according to Shams, the Nuggets intend to make him play out his contract, leading to some potentially messy negotiations. Who knows how this one will end, but it looks like one of the stranger offseason struggles in recent memory for a role player.
Though we already knew this, it’s been made official: The Knicks have hired former Kings head coach (and Warriors assistant) Mike Brown as the new head coach of the franchise, taking over from the somewhat iffy firing of Tom Thibodeau. Brown now inherits a contender in a weaker Eastern Conference, potentially opening the door to a deeper run.
Speaking of things being made official, Deandre Ayton has officially signed with the Lakers, which presents an intriguing opportunity for him to revitalize his still-young career alongside fellow draft-mate Luka Doncic.
According to multiple reports, the Kings have had significant interest in Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, even going as far as to negotiate a potential three-team deal to get him. However, there appears to be no traction on any imminent deal, which could force Kuminga’s hand and see him return to The Bay.
In what is a refreshing sign of humility from a player who many have beat up on too much to this point, Bronny James gave an interesting quote to the media at the California Classic earlier this past week:
"I can't lose that defensive drive, that will get me on the floor. There's gonna be guys that can score 15, 20 a game. I'm most likely not gonna be that guy right now. But to get myself on the floor, I have to be a defensive menace, and that's my main focus."
Will Bronny be worthy of rotation minutes this season? I’m still a bit skeptical, but he’s looked much better and more composed during the California Classic, so I wouldn’t rule it out completely, especially given LA’s depth issues.
The Pacers are bringing back James Wiseman, though there’s little details on the deal’s actual years, type, or anything of the sort. Regardless, the former #2 pick will now get a chance to compete for an actual rotation spot, with Myles Turner gone and his main competition being Jay Huff and a recovering Isaiah Jackson (assuming Jarace Walker plays the 4).
Speaking of Jay Huff, the fact that the Grizzlies gave him away for just one second-rounder a second-round swap feels diabolical. Huff was a Summer League success story turned regular season rotation player, ranking above the average in EPM and xRAPM, and shot 40% from three. Plus, he’s only getting paid between $2 and $3 million per year until the end of 2027-28.
Not going to say it too loud, but Ace Bailey looked kinda schnasty with it in his second game in Salt Lake City’s Summer League. He was not so great in his first, but his second outing showed the shotmaking that tantalized scouts from the beginning. I’m still not fully sold on him as a winning player, but man, the highlights look good.
Per Shams, Chris Paul has gotten offers from the Bucks, Clippers, and Suns in recent days, and he’s weighing his options. With CP3 implying that this next season will be his last, it’s likely he’ll go wherever he thinks he has the best chance of winning a championship (in which case, he should probably go to the Clippers).
According to Bobby Marks, the Bulls are a full “Gulf of Mexico apart” with Josh Giddey when it comes to his new contract. The late-season-surging jumbo guard reportedly wants $30 million per year, but the Bulls want to give him $20 million each season. Giddey looked awfully good late into the season and was a walking triple-double at one point, and he wants a deal that would be on the same level as the Magic’s Jalen Suggs, which I think isn’t out of the question. Will the Bulls cheap out? Probably, but we’ll see how this one goes down.
On this day in NBA history (in 2018 and 2019!), two LA teams changed their trajectories massively: In 2018, LeBron James signed with the Lakers, and in 2019, the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard and traded for Paul George. Of course, the latter would end up sending one Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and we know how that one turned out.
My Favorite Reads This Week
I’m always down for an NBA thought experiment. Create a 4-point line, change the lottery format, reward teams for loyalty by lowering cap restrictions based on the player’s years of service to the team — the whole thing is just fun.
and posited a new one recently: Get rid of the second round of the draft. Or, maybe, just maybe, only keep the lottery. Both are fun to at least think about, and you can read the whole thing here.If you didn’t catch it, the NBA is making a rule change: Heaves at the end of a quarter won’t be counted toward a player’s stats unless it is a made shot. In other words, prepare for it to rain basketballs at the end of every quarter.
did a good job analyzing who benefits the most from the change; you can go read that piece right here.I don’t keep up with soccer (sorry, football), but apparently the Club World Cup is going on and Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian team with a bazillion dollars at their disposal, beat Manchester United, who even I know about as a non-soccer-fan.
explains it pretty well, and it’s mind-blowing on multiple accounts. You can go read his piece here.Maybe it’s just me, but it does feel like there was a lot to be disappointed with this past NBA season (both on and off the court).
recently talked about what he was most disappointed in, ranging from the obvious (injuries) to one of the worst statues in recent memory. You can go read that one right here.I was happy to contribute to a recent roundup from
, who asked multiple NBA writers who they deemed the most underrated pick of the draft. Though we may all end up being wrong, I specifically picked Kasparas Jakucionis, despite him having a rough going at the beginning of Summer League. He’s so skilled, has crazy upside, and fits the modern NBA mold — but, once again, I could be wrong. You can go read everyone else’s takes right here.
That’s it for this week’s roundup! As always, more content is on the way for this weekend, especially with Summer League starting up! Until then, go and give the fine writers above a read!