Thu Jun 19 12:54pm ET
Field Level Media
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has agreed to a long-term contract extension, ESPN reported on Thursday.
While no specific terms were cited in the report, ESPN said the deal would make Udoka one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.
Udoka, 47, guided the Rockets to a 52-30 record this season and the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Houston, however, fell to the Golden State Warriors in seven games during the first round of the playoffs.
Houston denied the request of the New York Knicks earlier this month to speak to Udoka about their vacant head coaching position.
Udoka joined the Rockets after he was suspended and later fired by the Boston Celtics during the 2022-23 season for a violation of team rules. He led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his lone season as the head coach in 2021-22.
Udoka owns a 144-102 record as the head coach of the Celtics and Rockets (2023-present).
According to Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, the team is reportedly contemplating signing free-agent guard Chris Paul. "What I'd say about Chris is he's a great player," said Frank. "He's a great Clipper. Of course, we're strongly considering him." The 40-year-old has been in the National Basketball Association for two decades. Throughout his time in the league, he's suited up for the Pelicans, Rockets, Thunder, Suns, Warriors, and Spurs. Paul also spent time with the Clippers, where he arguably had the best stretch of his career. Paul, who averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.3 steals with San Antonio in 2024, appears to have some gas left in the tank. While he could have more than a few strong fantasy showings during the 2025 campaign, his All-Star days are presumably well behind him. That won't change regardless of where he signs this offseason.
Restricted free-agent guard Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls remain far apart on a new, long-term contract. The 2021 No. 6 overall pick is seeking around $30 million annually. Yet, the Bulls are looking to retain him at roughly $20 million per year. Giddey spent his first three seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded to Chicago in the deal for Alex Caruso. Giddey played well in 2024, appearing in 70 games while averaging 14.6 points. He also amassed career-highs in rebounds (8.1), assists (7.2), steals (1.2), and three-point shooting (37.8%). The Bulls need to get this situation sorted out or things may take a turn for the worse. With that in mind, Giddey's fantasy value may be at its highest in Chicago, where he's expected to stay the No. 1 option offensively, giving him All-Star upside for fantasy managers for years to come. However, that could change if he ends up going elsewhere.
Restricted free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga remains without a new contract. The 22-year-old received an offer sheet from the Golden State Warriors a few weeks ago. However, he's seeking a long-term deal that pays him roughly $25 million per year. Kuminga's agent has had conversations with Dubs' officials in Las Vegas during Summer League, although it's unknown how productive talks were. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season. Unfortunately, he was limited to only 47 games, a career-low, mostly due to a sprained right ankle. Kuminga also struggled shooting the ball, going 45.4% from the field and 30.5% from deep. It appears the Warriors aren't looking to keep the 2021 No. 7 overall pick on the roster, at least at that price tag. If anything, he may begin the 2025 campaign with Golden State and potentially be traded later on. With that in mind, Kuminga may benefit from a fresh start with a new club, especially if he suits up for a team where he'll get more chances on the offensive end and consistent playing time.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, free-agent guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, spent 11 seasons with the Blazers before being traded to Milwaukee in September 2023. Unfortunately, he wasn't nearly as productive with the Bucks, most recently averaging 24.9 points throughout the 2024 campaign, 7.3 points fewer than he has in his final year in Portland. Lillard also battled numerous health issues last season, including a blood clot in his calf and a torn Achilles sustained during the postseason. After the Bucks waived him this offseason, it was reported Lillard wasn't in a rush to sign with a team. However, he will now rehab before once again suiting up for the Blazers, where he'll have a chance to revive his career.
On Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Brooks Barnhizer logged 19 points (8-of-12 on field goals, 3-of-6 on free throws), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks during a 95-81 Summer League win over New Orleans Pelicans. The 23-year-old had a team-high nine boards and 19 points across 24 minutes. Drafted 44th in the NBA Draft last month, Barnhizer has impressed at Summer League, posting averages of 12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 25.3 minutes over the previous four contests in Vegas.
Utah Jazz guardIsaiah Colliercollected 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals across 32 minutes in a 86-76 Summer League win over the Wizards on Wednesday. Collier continues to produce during Summer League as he posted a double-double in Monday's matchup against the Spurs. The 29th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft will look to battle for an expanded role on a young Jazz team after averaging 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists across 71 contests during the 2024-25 campaign.
According to Michael Scotto of USA Today, free agent guard/forward Caleb Houstan and the Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a one-year deal on Thursday. Houstan landed on the open market after the Magic declined his team option. Last season, the 22-year-old averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per contest across 58 games. After the All-Star break, he shot 50.7 percent from beyond the arc. He could grab a regular role at the bottom of the Hawks' rotation, but he will likely not make an impact in fantasy during the upcoming season.
Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson finished with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes in an 86-76 Summer League loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Johnson has strung together two impressive outings after collecting 20 points during Tuesday's Summer League action against the 76ers. This upcoming NBA season will be Johnson's second, and at 20 years old, he will likely struggle to establish a regular spot in the Wizards' rotation.
Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and two steals in over 33 minutes in an 86-76 win over the Jazz during Summer League action on Wednesday. Black's 11 rebounds and four blocks were game highs in the contest. Despite a solid Summer League outing, the 26-year-old is not a player that should be on fantasy managers' radar. He hasn't played in an NBA game since the 2023-24 regular season.
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Johni Broome posted a second consecutive double-double in the Las Vegas Summer League on Wednesday, racking up 22 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in a 90-82 triumph against the Dallas Mavericks. The second-round pick from Auburn was a bit quiet in his first few Summer League outings, but he has now demonstrated his full potential in the past two games. By picking up Broome, Philadelphia has boosted its frontcourt depth behind the injury-prone Joel Embiid, and he could become a valuable contributor for the team.
Chicago Bulls guard Jahmir Young put on a show in Wednesday's Summer League clash against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 40 points on 13-for-18 shooting in a 102-96 victory. It marks the most points ever a Bulls player has scored in the Summer League, and it's also the highest scoring tally during this year's tournament in Las Vegas. Young was unconscious from downtown, going 7-for-8, and finished 7-for-9 at the charity stripe. His work included one rebound, three assists, and two steals. As an undrafted rookie, Young made only five appearances for the Bulls last season, but he could be in line for more work in 2025-26 since the Bulls' backcourt is now a bit thinner following Lonzo Ball's departure.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor scored a whopping 40 percent of his team's points in Wednesday's Summer League encounter with the Sacramento Kings, finishing a 94-86 loss with 35 points on 11-for-24 shooting. Proctor's efficiency wasn't great, but he went 9-for-9 at the free-throw line and dropped four three-point bombs with 11 attempts. The 21-year-old from Australia wrapped things up with three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Across his previous three Summer League outings, Proctor had managed only 34 total points. This was an impressive effort from the Duke product, but we will probably see only glimpses of him in the stacked Cavaliers backcourt during the 2025-26 regular season.
Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams posted a team-high 23 points in Wednesday's 86-76 Summer League victory against the Washington Wizards, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 3-for-6 from downtown. He also did his part defensively by picking up a pair of steals and finished his line with two rebounds and two assists. Williams had a slow start to Summer League action in Salt Lake City, averaging 11.7 points, but he's been sharp with his play in Las Vegas. With four games played, Williams has notched 20-plus points three times. The 20-year-old is working hard to prove himself enough to secure a regular spot in the Jazz rotation for his sophomore season.
According to Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, the Dallas Mavericks aren't interested in "gutting its roster" in a deal for Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (knee). It was reported that the multi-time All-Star hasn't had discussions with the Lakers involving a trade. However, James' no-trade clause, age, and $52.6 million salary are barriers preventing teams, not just the Mavericks, from engaging in meaningful discussions about a potential deal. The 40-year-old is still playing at an exceptional level, most recently finishing the 2024 campaign by averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 70 contests. Of course, there will be more updates and rumors regarding James and his future moving ahead. With that in mind, he should continue to provide consistent fantasy production, assuming he stays healthy, no matter where he suits up before calling it a career.
New York Knicks forward Josh Hart (finger) underwent a procedure on his right ring finger. He sustained the injury during the postseason. Fortunately, the 30-year-old is expected to resume basketball activities "later in the summer." Even better, he's not projected to miss any time to begin the 2025 campaign. Hart is coming off another quality year, finishing the 2024 season by averaging 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. He's also one of the most durable players in the National Basketball Association, logging 234 games in the last three seasons. Hart is always a triple-double threat whenever he's on the floor. His willingness to play through injuries is an added bonus for fantasy managers. While his shooting percentages could improve, his contributions in the other statistical categories gives him plenty of value from a fantasy standpoint.
On Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports that three-time NBA All-Star guardBradley Beal agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option after clearing waivers. Beal provides the Clippers with another offensive threat after Norman Powell was traded earlier in the month. Fantasy managers should be aware that Beal's minutes will likely be reduced since the Clippers' offensive attack revolves primarily around Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Portland Trail Blazers guardRayan Rupert logged 24 points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist in 28 minutes during Tuesday's 93-87 Summer League victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Rupert posted a game-high in points and three-pointers, shooting 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Last season, the 21-year-old averaged 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 8.8 minutes per game across 52 contests. He posted some strong outings towards the end of last season, so he may get a bigger role in 2025-26. However, Rupert isn't someone worth looking at in fantasy leagues.
Memphis Grizzlies forwardGG Jackson II finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks in 26 minutes during a 96-84 Summer League loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday after sitting out Saturday's game due to an illness. The 20-year-old missed the first half of the 2024-25 campaign due to a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot and was limited to just 29 regular-season appearances. After several impressive Summer League outings, Jackson could see an uptick in minutes, providing the Grizzlies with an offensive threat off the bench during the upcoming 2025-26 season.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia 76ers center Johni Broome finished with a double-double in a 74-58 Summer League win over the Wizards. During the contest, Broome logged 14 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal in 29 minutes. He was selected by the 76ers with the 35th pick in the 2025 NBA draft after a standout season at Auburn, where he averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks across 36 appearances. Barring any injuries with a crowded 76ers frontcourt, Broome will likely find himself out of the rotation or in the G League to start the upcoming campaign.
Toronto Raptors shooting guard Ja'Kobe Walter made big plays at both ends in Tuesday's 101-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the Las Vegas Summer League, leading all scorers with 26 points and snagging a game-high seven steals. Following a couple of rough shooting performances in Vegas, Walter finished a solid 8-for-16 from the field. He was 4-for-11 with the three-ball and shot 6-for-7 at the line, wrapping up his day at the office with four rebounds and one block. The Raptors saw a few encouraging performances from Walter last season, but he needs to stay healthy to establish himself in the rotation. The 20-year-old missed the start of his rookie campaign due to a shoulder injury and made just 52 appearances in total.
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