It’s the quietest part of the NBA offseason — especially now since the findings and punishments came down in the Clippers salary cap circumvention investigation — but there is still little news worth talking about. Here’s the latest.
Portland signs Korean “Ace”
The Portland Trail Blazers are signing Hyunjung Lee to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, according to multiple reports out of Korea, and confirmed by Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report. That means he is almost certain to spend much of the coming season with the Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.
Nicknamed the “Ace of South Korea,” the 6’7″ forward played for Portland at Summer League in 2024, spent last season playing in Japan’s B League. With a smooth jump shot, 3-point range and just playing hard when he got the chance, Lee made an impression at Summer League this year with San Antonio, averaging 8.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in eight games (across the California Classic and Las Vegas). He started slow but near the end of Summer League, he dropped 22 on Utah.
Lee wants to play in the NBA and is taking his shot through the G League. It feels appropriate that the team that drafted and is trying to develop Yang Hansen is taking a shot on him.
Sexton talks Lakers
He’ll be coming off the bench, but Collin Sexton chose to come to the Lakers as a free agent because of the opportunity. He is going to have a big role, sparking offense with the second unit on a team that’s going to play fast and be critical to their success. Sexton appeared on ESPN LA Radio and talked about what drew him to Los Angeles as a free agent (hat tip Real GM).
“I would say just opportunity to win, being on a big stage and being in the situation where I can try to come in and impact winning. I feel like I’ve been on different teams where it’s just been a lot tougher. Of course, the want to win, it’s always been there.”
He also talked about most of the team heading to Slovenia on Luka Doncic’s dime to work out this summer.
“I would say it was one of those trips where it was more like team building for us. It was for us to gel and work out, not just in the States, but away. And also, just the culture, for Luka to do that, it just shows a true leader, and that’s the role that he wants to fall into this season and be the one to lead us.”
Madison Square Garden tops Ant’s favorites list
Anthony Edwards and young F1 star Kimi Antonelli filmed a commercial together and did a behind-the-scenes video for YouTube, one where Antonelli asked Ant his favorite buildings to play in (hat tip Hoopshype).
“Well, of course home or Madison Square. Madison Square, TD Garden, New York, Boston, Philly, and Atlanta at home. But it’s hard to play in Madison Square Garden too. Great place. It’s hard to play there. You got to be ready for that. Boston is the same way New York is.”
Barkley says he’s retiring
We’ve seen this movie before, but maybe this time he means it.
Appearing on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” last week, Barkley said this coming season of “Inside the NBA” would be the last one for both him and host Ernie Johnson. Barkley said when the iconic NBA pre/postgame show jumped from TNT to ESPN last year, Johnson asked Barkley to stay on for two more years.
“I said: ‘I love you, man. You’re the best. I’ll stay.’ So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year, 100%.”
Take it all with a grain of salt, we’ve heard this a couple of times now from Barkley. But one of these times it’s going to be real.