It seems like just last week that we were getting prepped for the Vegas Summer League.

Now, just like after an actual trip to Vegas, we’re sitting here wondering where the time went… and (for some) where all our money went!

🎉 Happy birthday to OG Anunoby and Vander Blue! 🎉

The Hawks entered the night unbeaten in Vegas. With incoming rookies Kingston Flemings and Henri Veesaar, Atlanta looked menacing to begin the summer. Last night made you forget all of that, as Memphis delivered a generational beating.

The game was over before it ever really started, with Memphis scoring the game’s first 21 points. The Grizzlies finished the first quarter up 32-2.

Cam Boozer had his fingerprints all over this game, bullying his way downhill with ease, while setting up his teammates for success by throwing crisp passes down the lane, and cleaning up on the glass. 

Olivier-Maxence Prosper 🇨🇦 (18 PTS, 3 REB) was all over the court and provided a strong presence around the rim and the three point line, very reminiscent of his days at Marquette.

Even Cedric Coward (23 PTS, 7/12 FG), who had struggled to find his shot this summer, was super efficient from the field.

Isaiah Wong (20 PTS, 5 REB, 4 STL) may have been the only guy to show up for Atlanta tonight, so he may be the only one heading home with his head up high.

The Grizzlies will meet Bruce Thornton and the Houston Rockets on Saturday in the Summer League Semifinal, and the winner will play either the currently undefeated Los Angeles Lakers, or Yaxel Lendeborg and the Golden State Warriors.

Hopefully the Grizzlies continue to play their stars and we can see a little more from Cam and Co.

Per Shams, the NBA has opened an investigation into Gary Trent’s most recent contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. He locked in on a 4-year $64 million contract a few days ago that has some people around the league raising their eyebrows.

Trent originally joined the Bucks in the 2024-25 season, on a two-year vet minimum contract. He opted out last summer and signed another deal with a player option (of which he opted out of again this summer). Now that he has Bird rights, the Bucks have decided to lock Trent up long term. Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is out of the picture, the Bucks may have some extra money to move around and pay some of their loyal role players… but a deliberate delay in pay would totally be cap circumvention.

Trent is coming off of a frustrating season, to say the least, at 8.1 PPG, 1 RPG, 1.2 APG. His value does show in this three-point shooting (career 38.7%), and will be a strong vet presence on a younger Bucks team.

We’ll have to wait and see how this will play out and if the investigation leads to anything.

The WNBA All-Star Teams are GM’d by WNBA legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon. Check out the teams ⬇️

The Western Conference is a true bloodbath at the moment. The top four teams in the WNBA all come from the West, and they are battling for the top spot as we pass the halfway point of the season.

The Minnesota Lynx have held the WNBA’s best record for much of the season, and they have done it all without back-to-back MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier. If you’ve been a loyal reader of this newsletter, you’re already hip to the stellar rookie season Olivia Miles is putting together. She continues to look like a dominant force in her first WNBA season.

The Golden State Valkyries hold down the second spot, and are on a HEATER at the moment, riding a WNBA-best eight-game winning streak. With the #1 defense and #1 three-point shooting offense in the league, they are a tough matchup on any night, especially at home in “Ballhalla” where they are a WNBA-best 10-3 on the season. 

The defending champion Las Vegas Aces currently hold the No. 3 seed, led by all-time great center A’ja Wilson, who leads the WNBA in scoring at 25.5 PPG, and star supporting guards Jackie Young (16.1 PPG, 6.6 APG, 95% FT), Chelsea Gray (12.3 PPG, 7.4 APG, 95% FT) who are both top 5 in the league in assists. While the defending champs are still on the prowl for another title, it looks like some cracks are beginning to appear in their armor.

The hungry Dallas Wings have been an exceptional surprise this year, off the backs of their All-Stars Paige Bueckers, and Jessica Shepard. The Wings have already surpassed last season’s win total and are riding a five-game winning streak. With a mix of talented young stars like Paige and #1 overall pick in the 2026 draft Azzi Fudd plus veterans like Shepard and Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas may turn some heads come playoff time.

Thanks for spending your Friday with us. We’ll catch up again on Monday to chat about the Summer League semi-final games. Until next time!

Brian Shkabari