NBA 101

Clippers Believed NBA Investigation Wouldn’t Impact Kawhi Leonard Trade

The Los Angeles Clippers operated under the belief that the NBA’s ongoing investigation into alleged cap impropriety involving Kawhi Leonard and business sponsor Aspiration would not affect the completion of his trade. That impression shaped weeks of trade discussions before the Clippers agreed to terms with the Toronto Raptors.

The league later informed the Raptors that any sanctions tied to Leonard personally would fall solely on them, separate from any penalties the Clippers may still face.

Possible sanctions against Leonard could include a suspension or, in a worst-case scenario, voiding the remaining $50.3 million on his contract.

One source briefed on the process said Toronto had an understanding of the potential risk attached to acquiring Leonard before trade terms were verbally agreed. Toronto declined to comment beyond its Thursday statement when asked to respond Friday.

The proposed deal would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft capital to the Clippers in exchange for Leonard.

Leonard and the Raptors plan on signing an extension after the trade becomes official, which could now be several weeks away after the NBA’s findings on Aspiration are finalized.

Mario Saint-Supery Leaves Gonzaga For Valencia

Gonzaga starting point guard Mario Saint-Supery is departing the program to sign with EuroLeague club Valencia. The Spanish squad announced the long-term deal Saturday.

Saint-Supery earned all-West Coast Conference freshman honors last season, averaging 8.6 points per game in his lone year with the Bulldogs. Before arriving at Gonzaga, he had built a reputation in Spain’s Liga ACB, earning the nickname “El Principito,” or “The Little Prince.”

Valencia referenced that nickname in its announcement.

“The Little Prince will make the Roig Arena his new palace,” Valencia said in a release, adding that Saint-Supery would “continue his development at a high competitive level.”

The departure comes at a difficult time for coach Mark Few’s roster, which is set to compete in the new Pac-12 during the 2026-27 season. With the transfer portal closed, Gonzaga has limited options to replace a starting point guard in July.

Saint-Supery, a 6-foot-4 guard, shot 40 percent from three-point range last season and started Gonzaga’s final eight games. That stretch included a 21-point performance against Santa Clara in the WCC tournament championship game, along with 13 assists and four turnovers across two NCAA tournament appearances.

Saint-Supery had been expected to serve as Gonzaga’s point guard alongside returning players Braden Huff and Davis Fogle and Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop as the Bulldogs prepare to compete outside the WCC for the first time since 1979.

The move also reflects a broader shift in how international prospects approach college basketball. The NCAA’s 5-for-5 rule now starts a player’s academic clock upon enrollment or the academic year after turning 19, whichever comes first, reducing the window for older international players to compete at the Division I level.

Tyler Herro Was ‘Anticipating’ Trade By Heat This Offseason

Tyler Herro spoke positively about the Miami Heat and just minutes before news broke of his altercation with former teammate Bam Adebayo.

Asked whether he holds any ill will toward the Heat after being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Herro was direct.

“Never,” said Herro. “They drafted me from Kentucky, and they gave me a platform. They gave me an opportunity. They believed in me, and it was a great seven years. Not many guys in my draft class are still on their teams or anything like that. So, again, I’m just excited and appreciative for everything that’s kind of happened and transpired.”

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the altercation began when Adebayo confronted Herro over social media comments criticizing the center following the end of their seven-year run together in Miami. Screenshots of an Instagram direct message conversation, shared on X in recent days, appeared to show an account run by Herro expressing frustration with Adebayo’s contract value.

“Why are Heat fans so worried about me and what I do? But I’m not the best player on the team right?” the account wrote, according to the screenshots. “I didn’t say any names. I’m just saying, should an elite defender be making 60 million a year? Answer that.”

Adebayo was Miami’s highest-paid player last season and is due $49.5 million this season. He has earned NBA All-Defensive honors in six different seasons. Herro also posted an Instagram graphic last week ranking the league’s worst midrange shooters, which listed Giannis Antetokounmpo as the worst and Adebayo 10th-worst.

Asked directly about the social media posts Friday, Herro offered little elaboration.

“You’ve seen it,” said Herro.

Herro also addressed the trade itself, saying he had anticipated the move to Milwaukee for some time.

“I saw it coming,” said Herro. “If any summer, it was going to be this summer, so I was anticipating this. And obviously not knowing Milwaukee, but I kind of figured I was going to get traded this summer. I’m excited and happy it’s Milwaukee.”

Herro said he plans to keep his home base in Miami despite the trade, with his children remaining in the city for school. He did not have a visible mark on his face during Friday’s summer league game, which he watched courtside without Adebayo in attendance.

Nets Waive Malachi Smith

Malachi Smith has been waived by the Brooklyn Nets. Smith signed a multi-year contract with the Nets in April and Brooklyn picked up their team option before the start of free agency.

Smith appeared in 15 games last season, averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 23.9 minutes.

Smith went undrafted out of Gonzaga in 2023 and has accrued 127 total games in the G League over the past three seasons. In 2025-26, Smith averaged 14.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 28.7 minutes across 39 games with the Long Island Nets.

Victor Wembanyama Considering Discount Extension With Spurs

Victor Wembanyama is considering signing for less than his potential maximum rookie scale contract extension value with the San Antonio Spurs, reports Jake Fischer. Wembanyama can sign for at least 25 percent of the salary cap or up to 30 percent of the cap if he is either an All-NBA selection or Defensive Player of the Year award winner during the upcoming season.

Wembanyama could sign for less to give the Spurs additional flexibility to stay below the second apron while maintaining upcoming extensions for Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

“Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes🖤” wrote Wembanyama on Twitter on Friday.

Wembanyama could sign for up to $252 million over five years with an escalator worth more than $300 million over five years if he qualifies for the Rose rule max.

NBA superstars have rarely accepted meaningful discounts on their contracts, but the 2023 collective bargaining agreement added a punitive second apron system that has became a de facto hard salary cap for most teams.

Mike Boynton Jr. Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Michigan Head Coach

Mike Boynton Jr. has agreed to a two-year contract to become Michigan’s next head men’s basketball coach, the school announced Friday. Boynton had served as interim coach since Dusty May departed for the Dallas Mavericks last month.

“I’m grateful to athletic director Warde Manuel for his confidence and thankful for the opportunity to lead this program,” said Boynton. “We have built a championship culture and a standard that everyone associated with this program takes great pride in. We have an outstanding group of players, and I’m excited to get to work and continue the success we’ve established together.”

Boynton joined the Michigan staff shortly after May arrived in 2024, taking over as defensive coordinator and helping build the nation’s top-ranked defense during the Wolverines’ championship season.

“Mike is a veteran assistant with strong head coaching experience and a clear understanding of the standard we expect at Michigan,” said athletic director Warde Manuel. “Over the past two seasons, he has been an invaluable member of our staff, bringing stability, leadership and perspective during an important period of success. Our players and staff believe in his vision, are committed to his leadership and are excited for the opportunity to pursue great success together this season.”

Boynton successfully retained nearly the entire roster following May’s departure. Guard Trey McKenney committed to staying hours after the coaching change, while Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau followed days later.

Transfers J.P. Estrella from Tennessee and Moustapha Thiam from Cincinnati also reaffirmed their commitments last week, and five-star recruit Brandon McCoy Jr. chose to remain on July 4. Guard L.J. Cason, who tore his right ACL in February and may miss the entire 2026-27 season, remains the only player who has not announced his plans.

Before joining Michigan’s staff, Boynton spent seven seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State, leading the Cowboys to a 2021 NCAA tournament appearance behind future No. 1 draft pick Cade Cunningham. He has also worked as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin, South Carolina, Wofford and Coastal Carolina.

Michigan is currently ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s latest Way-Too-Early Top 25.

Dunc’d On: Darryn vs AJ; Kawhi On Hold; LeBron Annoys

Raptors’ Trade With Clippers For Kawhi Leonard On Hold Until NBA Concludes Aspiration Inquiry

A trade between the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers involving Kawhi Leonard has been put on hold until the NBA concludes its investigation into a potential cap circumvention involving Aspiration.

The Raptors agreed to acquire Leonard from the Clippers for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first round picks, one pick swap and two second rounders. The two first round picks are unprotected in 2031 and 2033 with the first round pick swap in 2027. The Raptors will send second round picks to the Clippers in 2030 and 2033.

The league office informed the Raptors that they would assume any risk for a potential punishment of Leonard that could impact his contract and his availability. The Raptors have also been in extension talks with Leonard, which was a major driving force of the trade as the Clippers had signaled they didn’t have interest in a long-term contract.

The Clippers released the following statement in response:

“For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.

“On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.

“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

“We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues.

“We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.”

The Raptors said they “remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.”

Jalen Brunson’s Game 1 Finals Jersey Sold For $1.024M At Auction

Jalen Brunson’s game-worn jersey from Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals sold for $1.024 million on Wednesday night, setting a new record for New York Knicks memorabilia. The sale came through Sotheby’s as part of the auction house’s NBA Finals collection.

Brunson wore the jersey while scoring 30 points as the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 on June 3. The Knicks went on to win the series 4-1 and capture the 2026 title, with Brunson earning Finals MVP honors.

The sale marks the largest public sum ever paid for a Brunson item. Still, it falls well short of the top NBA jersey sale on record: Michael Jordan’s jersey from his final 1998 Finals game, which brought $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in September 2022.

Sotheby’s is also running a separate auction for a Kobe Bryant jersey from Game 1 of the 2009 Finals, with bidding at $1.25 million as of Wednesday. That auction closes July 20.

Brunson’s memorabilia surge extends beyond jerseys. His 2018 Panini Prizm Choice Nebula one-of-one card, graded PSA 9, sold for $312,000 on June 19 through Card Ladder, up from a previous high of roughly $97,000 in November 2024. The same card had listed for just $300 in 2019.

Other Knicks jerseys from the collection also drew strong bids. Jerseys worn by OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns each sold for $256,000, while Josh Hart’s jersey brought $89,600. On the Spurs’ side, Victor Wembanyama’s Game 1 jersey led all sales at $217,600, followed by Dylan Harper’s at $115,200.

Warriors Were Never Close To Trades For Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown

The Golden State Warriors were never close to completing a trade for Kawhi Leonard and were not a significant participant in discussions surrounding Jaylen Brown, according to team sources cited by ESPN.

General manager Mike Dunleavy instead chose to preserve Golden State’s existing assets rather than pursue either star. Dunleavy used the No. 11 pick in last month’s draft to select Yaxel Lendeborg.

The Warriors plan to bring back a roster similar to the group that finished 37-45 last season, banking on improved health for Stephen Curry, better overall play and the eventual return of Jimmy Butler III. Golden State also retains the option to pursue a bigger move closer to February’s trade deadline should LeBron James choose to sign elsewhere.

Golden State remains protective of its future draft picks while addressing its long-term salary situation during this later stage of Curry’s career.

The team will still look to add a couple of free agents this offseason, though available options have narrowed. The Warriors did not meet asking price on a contract for Rui Hachimura and prioritized De’Anthony Melton over Anfernee Simons in free agency.

Leonard was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors, while the Boston Celtics moved Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.