Grading 50-plus NBA deals, including De’Aaron Fox, Spurs max extension

Grading 50-plus NBA deals, including De’Aaron Fox, Spurs max extension

Kevin Pelton breaks down the most impactful signings, including the Clippers bringing back Chris Paul.

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Los Angeles Sparks sign WNBA player who their head coach knows very well

Los Angeles Sparks sign WNBA player who their head coach knows very well

Los Angeles Sparks v Minnesota Lynx
Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images

Alissa Pili — who was waived by the Minnesota Lynx last month — signs a 7-Day contract with the Sparks.

The Sparks have signed Alissa Pili to a 7-Day contract, the team announced on Sunday. Pili, who was the 8th overall pick in 2024, appeared in 36 games across her first two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, averaging 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.1 minutes per game. She was waived on July 12th and has been a free agent ever since.

Pili was an elite college player; as a freshman at the University of Southern California, she averaged 16.3 points per game.

The Sparks had 11 players on their roster before the signing — now, they’re at the league’s 12-player limit. In signing Pili, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts reunited with one of the standout players she coached in Utah.

After Pili was waived, Roberts weighed in on Pili potentially becoming a Spark one day, per HER Game Network.

“I love her like a kid of my own,” Roberts said. “I don’t know what we’re going to do. She’ll end up somewhere and maybe someday I’ll get to coach her again.”

“She’s a hell of a player. She’ll land on her feet.”

In her senior season at the University of Utah, Pili was one of the most efficient scorers in the country, averaging 21.4 points per game on 55% shooting, while shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc.

The Sparks have several strong frontcourt players; Dearica Hamby (17.6 points, 8.1 rebounds), Azura Stevens (14.9 points, 8.5 rebounds), and Rickea Jackson (13.9 points) lead the way. Cameron Brink, last year’s No. 2 overall pick, is also back in the lineup after being sidelined for over a year due to an ACL tear.

Pili will have to battle for frontcourt minutes, but will have an opportunity to play for a coach who is intimately familiar with what she brings to the table.

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Bam Adebayo optimistic about Heat's upcoming season, 'there’s a different dynamic to it'

Bam Adebayo optimistic about Heat's upcoming season, 'there’s a different dynamic to it'

The Miami Heat upgraded this summer, moving on from Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson but adding a borderline All-Star last season in Norman Powell. That’s a positive for Miami, but how much does it move the needle for a 37-win team?

Bam Adebayo is optimistic about this team. Here is what he said to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, speaking at his annual youth basketball clinic at SLAM! Miami charter school.

“It’s a very good shake up for our team and now there’s a different dynamic to it…

“I feel like Norman is one of those guys that floats under the radar. But as you saw this year, he’s really shown that he can be an All-Star caliber player. You’ve seen what he’s done and you’ve seen him grow in this league. And, obviously, he wants to take the next challenge. Obviously, the next challenge is being with the Miami Heat. So I’m happy to have him.”

Miami has a chance to make some noise in what is projected to be a down Eastern Conference, but it needs to find some more consistent offense this season. Powell helps with that, but the Heat need more: Adebayo and Tyler Herro need to stay healthy and play 65+ games, Andrew Wiggins needs play at his All-Star form from Golden State, Kel’el Ware needs to take a step forward (likely with Erik Spoelstra prodding him), and Davion Mitchell needs to show that how he played in the 30 games after being traded to the Heat were not a fluke, when he averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 assists per game. The Heat bet on Mitchell, signing him to a two-year, $24 million contract.

“Davion being back, obviously, we’ve been missing somebody that can really play on-ball defense,” Adebayo said. “And having him come in and be that guy and understand his role, I’m looking forward to him being here for a full year and all of us being together and getting to know one another and turning this into more of a brotherhood. We were kind of disconnected a little bit trying to figure out everybody’s role and trying to figure out everybody’s style of play. But now we’re going to have a good training camp and then we go from there.”

A return to the playoffs — and hopefully a better result than a 0-4 sweep exit in the first round (at the hands of the Cavaliers) — seems distinctly possible for the Heat, who should be improved over a season ago.

That’s enough to have Adebayo optimistic.

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Magic, Grizzlies to play in Berlin, London in 2026

Magic, Grizzlies to play in Berlin, London in 2026

The NBA will play at least six regular-season games in Europe over the next three seasons, starting with a pair of games between the Grizzlies and Magic in January.

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Reports: C’s minority owner buys Sun for $325M

Reports: C’s minority owner buys Sun for $325M

A group led by Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca has reached a deal to buy the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun for a record $325 million and plans to move the team to Boston, according to multiple reports.

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Luka, Lakers reach 3-year, $165M extension

Luka, Lakers reach 3-year, $165M extension

The new deal keeps Luka Doncic out of free agency next summer, eliminating his 2026-27 player option in place of a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension.

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