What’s up, Enjoyers! We hope you had a fun-filled holiday weekend. And with the NBA Summer League on tap, the fireworks are just beginning. 🎆

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Ron Holland II, Chris "Birdman" Andersen, and Bulls legend Cristiano Felicio! 🎉

Summer League Action

Edgecombe drops 28-point double-double, Bailey gets last laugh as Summer League tips off with 93-89 Jazz win over Philly

There are plenty of things VJ could stand for—Very Jumpy, Vicious Jam, or Virtual Joystick. All of them apply to VJ Edgecombe.

On Saturday, the Sixers’ No. 3 overall pick made a splashy Summer League debut, going for 28 PTS, 10 REB, and 2 BLK. His athleticism was on full display, as were his defensive chops and nose for the rim. He also showed a knack for the mid-range jumper, a shot which could help him ascend to NBA stardom if he fully perfects it.

But as the game clock ran down, VJ’s potential game-tying three-pointer was no good, and Utah took the W in the end. The final rebound was pulled down by none other than Ace Bailey, another popular option for the Sixers at No. 3. Bailey had a quieter debut, notching 8 PTS and 7 REB, but his hustle and enthusiasm earned compliments from the Jazz coaching staff. It’s only a matter of time for the former Rutgers star.

Kyle Filipowski also added 22 PTS for Utah, while Adem Bona had 16 for Philly. A fun game and some fun careers ahead for these young guys!

Dylan Harper sits, David Jones-Garcia leads Spurs to 90-88 win over Warriors

The flashy part of Summer League is seeing top picks in their NBA threads for the first time, but the more important aspect is the guys giving everything they can to make a roster.

David Jones-Garcia is one of those guys, and he made the most of his moment on Sunday, dropping 25 PTS in a two-point San Antonio win over the Warriors. As No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper sat out with a groin injury, the Memphis product and former G League All-Rookie selection hit four threes and left his fingerprints all over a Spurs W.

For Golden State, sharpshooter L.J. Cryer scored 19 PTS on 5/7 shooting from three, while Isaiah Mobley and Will Richard each had 16. After a Richard triple brought the Dubs within one with 32 seconds to go, another attempt by the No. 56 overall pick was no good with two seconds left, giving the Spurs the win.

We can’t wait for more summer action!

Around the Association

KD trade becomes league’s first seven-team transaction

We’ve known the Durantula was headed to H-Town for some time, but the deal got a new layer this weekend when it became official. After being combined with a handful of draft trades and other swaps, the KD trade is now the first-ever 7-team trade in NBA history. Below are the full terms of the deal:

Rockets receive: Kevin Durant, Clint Capela

Suns receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, Daeqwon Plowden, 2026 second-round pick, 2032 second-round pick

Nets receive: 2026 second-round pick, 2030 second-round pick

Warriors receive: Alex Toohey, Jahmai Mashack

Hawks receive: David Roddy, 2031 second-round pick, cash considerations

Lakers receive: Adou Thiero, cash considerations

Timberwolves receive: Rocco Zikarsky, 2026 second-round pick, 2032 second-round pick, cash considerations

Kudos to all the execs who helped this one come together, because our heads are spinning.

Nuggets expect Valanciunas to honor his contract

In one of the strangest sagas of the offseason, Denver appears to have blocked Jonas Valanciunas from getting out of his NBA contract.

After Valanciunas was pursued by Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, many expected him to reach a buyout with the Nuggets, who recently acquired the veteran big in exchange for Dario Saric. But NBA contracts are binding and require both sides to agree to a release, and it appears Denver has no interest in letting Valanciunas go. Per Shams, the Nuggets will not let Valanciunas out of the deal because they see him as a vital backup to Nikola Jokic.

Never a dull moment in the NBA!

Rockets deal Whitmore to Wizards

Houston has been wheeling and dealing this offseason, but that comes along with fewer opportunities for their recent top draft picks. The latest casualty is Cam Whitmore, a 2023 first-rounder out of Villanova who still has plenty of room to grow in his new home in Washington.

Over the weekend, the Rockets traded Whitmore to the Wizards for two second-round picks, giving the young gun a fresh start and a larger role on a rebuilding team. Whitmore averaged 9.4 PPG in 16.2 MPG for the second-seeded Rockets last season. He’s another promising young player among Washington’s bevy of young talent, and the deal helps Houston replenish some of their draft capital. Win-win!

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, do your best to take the inconveniences of life in stride. It’s easy to let small things mess up your day, but everything is easier when you protect your personal peace. See you soon!

Walker Carnathan