Rumors

But as many mentioned during a week of games in Las Vegas, a three-year NBA veteran is supposed to have a big impact on Summer League games; if he didn’t, that’d be a cause for concern. So as good as Lawson has been, it’s unwise to even pencil him in for a roster spot — “lots of basketball between now and training camp cuts,” one executive warned. The same point is being made about the entire Raptors roster. They’ve certainly played well and the team’s defence was outstanding through the first three games but, as a handful of executives pointed out, it’s a team that includes seven players who spent time in the NBA last season and if they weren’t successful that’d also be a cause for concern.

Toronto Star

What explained your improvement with your shooting from the Cali Classic to the games in Vegas? Jakučionis: “It’s basketball. One day, you miss. Another day, you make. I’m working on that. That is one of the keys for me to improve. I’ve been working every day on it.”

SportsKeeda

Tim Reynolds: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the league discussed expansion in Las Vegas this week and the office has been tasked with an in-depth analysis of all issues around expansion. This sounds like the first real step in the fact-finding process.

Twitter

K.C. Johnson: All right, we're here with Matas. We're in Las Vegas Summer League, but I want to start with a look back. I have not asked you what your reaction was to making All-Rookie Second Team. Matas Buzelis: Oh yeah. Honestly, to have your name on something like that, to have the award, is always an honor. It shows the countless hours of working in the gym. Even looking back at playing AAU, sacrificing my childhood life to play basketball. All the memories come flying back — me and my mom driving an hour to go work out, staying there, working out hard three, four hours. It’s honestly a blessing. Hopefully I get more awards soon. K.C. Johnson: Any part of you mad you weren’t on First Team? Matas Buzelis: I'm always mad. I always think I could do better. I wanted that Rookie of the Year, but it's all in God's plan. Second Team All-Rookie is not bad either.

YouTube

Marc Spears: I’m sure Jonathan Kuminga's in town um in Vegas supposed to meet with Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy Jr. and you know, try to figure it out and the Warriors hold all the cards. Yeah.  Sad to say for Kuminga, man, he just has no power in this. It's a bad market for restricted free agents. Has Cam Thomas signed yet? No. Has Josh Giddy signed yet? Nope. It's just not a good market. 

YouTube

Oh No He Didn't: Marc Spears: "Trae has shown his commitment to Atlanta by actually turning down an opportunity to be with Jordan Brand in Greece...he went to Vegas to be with the team...but right now there's not really any substantive talks in terms of an extension at the moment"

x.com

Anthony Chiang: As first mentioned on the NBA TV broadcast, the plan is for Pelle Larsson to leave Las Vegas to join Sweden's national team after tomorrow's Heat summer league game. Larsson expected to play in the EuroBasket tournament later this offseason.

Twitter

Ben Golliver: Former NBA stars Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo are competing in the “Chesstival” tournament in Las Vegas with grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura @chesscom

Twitter

Adam Himmelsbach: Was told that although the NBA’s Board of Governors will meet here in Vegas this week, a vote on the approval of the Celtics sale is not scheduled. It is still expected to take place soon, coinciding with the close of the transaction, but not now.

Twitter

Saturday, if there was any hostility between the organization and James, it never showed up in any obvious ways. He arrived with his wife, Savannah, daughter, Zhuri, and a group of his closest friends. James arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday morning after attending a Bad Bunny concert in Puerto Rico on Friday night. James sat near Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean for most of the third quarter. Earlier, he spoke with other members of the coaching staff in attendance, a group that included assistants Nate McMillan and Bob Beyer, and teammate Dalton Knecht, who didn’t dress after playing in four games with the summer league team over the past four weeks.

New York Times

Jake Fischer: Josh Giddey is in Las Vegas, but has noticeably been absent from both Bulls games at Summer League. Several veterans just sat courtside here. Certainly seems like an indication that negotiations between the point guard and Chicago are not trending in an amicable direction.

x.com

Dan Woike: LeBron James is here in Las Vegas for tonight’s Lakers game

Twitter

Kellan Olson: Rasheer Fleming is day-to-day with right knee soreness and the Suns are hopeful he will play at some point here in Vegas, per Suns

Twitter

Anthony Chiang: During an interview at summer league practice in Vegas, Erik Spoelstra says Andrew Wiggins is already back in South Florida and views him as an important piece of the Heat’s rotation next season.

Twitter