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Trey Lyles headed to Real Madrid
Donatas Urbonas: Trey Lyles, a 10-year NBA veteran, is finalizing an agreement with EuroLeague powerhouse Real Madrid, sources confirm. More on BasketNews basketnews.com/news-230798-tr…
Kawhi Leonard's promised side compensation from LACwas $48 million, not $28 million
The $28 million deal was to be paid in quarterly installments over four years, but it was not the only compensation Leonard received. According to a high-level source, Leonard also cut a side deal with Aspiration to receive an additional $20 million in company stock. The stock was to be paid out from Sanberg’s personal holdings in the company over four years. That brought the total of promised compensation to Leonard to $48 million. Around the same time as the Leonard deal, Aspiration was going through its rounds of fundraising. They had raised approximately $600 million, including the previously mentioned $250 million from Oak Tree Capital Management. That number also included a $50 million investment from Ballmer. That investment has been characterized to Boston Sports Journal as having been made with light-to-no diligence.
At this point, the $48 million commitment by Aspiration to Leonard and Ballmer’s $50 million investment stand as two separate transactions. The league is currently investigating whether there is a connection that circumvented salary cap rules. If there is a finding of wrongdoing, it would not be the first violation for Ballmer and the Clippers. They were fined $250,000 in 2015 for offering DeAndre Jordan unauthorized endorsement opportunities.
Erik Slater: OFFICIAL: The Nets have re-signed guard Cam Thomas.
Pau Gasol: “I think winning a championship... there are so many factors that have to come together. And there are a lot of all-time greats that haven’t won a championship. I don’t think that should define you. It’s about everything you’ve given, how you’ve performed, and what you’ve contributed to the game. Melo is one of those players who has done so much—not just on the basketball court, but off it as well. I think he’s left a really good legacy as a basketball player. His involvement post-career with the game... to me, his commitment to USA Basketball is something I really value. The way he performed, and how he came through in all those championship runs for his team and his country—that, to me, is just as important, or maybe even more important, than winning an NBA title.
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Despite the fact that for most Slovenia isn’t anywhere near being a medal contender, Doncic and his teammates aim for a spot on the podium. “We’re hoping for the medal. We think we can win a medal. I know a lot of others don’t, but we believe in us. Everybody that’s here, we all believe, everyone in everyone. So, just with head forward.”
Ben Simmons, agent Bernie Lee part ways
Marc Stein: As Ben Simmons decides his next career steps, I'm told Bernie Lee has notified @TheNBPA that he has formally removed himself from the union's ledger as Simmons' agent.
Sam Amick: Yeah, so you have a bit of a track record where Steve has shown, at minimum, or had a history of coloring outside the lines. Obviously, this is on a much smaller scale than something like this—if it is proven. So, the penalties: The player contract could be voided. Executives could be suspended for up to one year. And it says all team personnel. I need to get clarity on possible player suspensions, outside of a—you know... but these are the extreme measures. There’s a bunch of scenarios that could happen. I had one person sarcastically say to me, “Man, Steve’s going to win here because…” And if I’m predicting—I don’t think this will happen—but they were basically saying: “You’re going to void Kawhi’s contract, get all kinds of salary cap room. The guy has barely played the last couple of years. Any fine you give Steve Ballmer is irrelevant because he’s such a wealthy man.”
Sam Amick: Now Steve Ballmer is not only the sixth-richest man in the world—or at least in the top ten—but a guy who, independent of these issues, is kind of a beloved member of the Board of Governors. He's a net positive for the league and, relationship-wise, has a good rapport with Adam. But this type of situation—which we've got to continue sifting through... We have smoking guns—how much of that smoke applies to real infractions?—this situation is exactly what Adam needs to cut out of the league right now. You cannot have a second-apron luxury tax system that is basically a hard cap meant to level the playing field—to keep the richest of the rich from outspending their competition—and then potentially allow deals like this that, if proven to be the case, are putting money in the pockets of star players on the side as a way to keep them in town.
Sam Amick: Do I think that NBA media—and even at times myself—is guilty of not, you know, jumping into the nitty-gritty? Um, especially, you know, listen—Pablo filing through Chapter 11 bankruptcy documents, and connecting dots between Kawhi’s arrangement with the team sponsor and Steve Ballmer’s relationship... That's old-school sleuthing. And we’ll see where it leads. But it's good work. And yeah, a lot of the media is not going down those roads, for sure.
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Olivier-Maxence Prosper agrees to two-way deal with Memphis
Shams Charania: Free agent forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has agreed on a two-way NBA contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, Todd Ramasar and Mike Simonetta of Life Sports Agency told ESPN. Prosper sifted through multiple offers, and now chooses the Grizzlies to enter his third NBA season.
Luka Doncic goes off for 37 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists in win over Israel
After recording a historic triple-double against Belgium, Luka Doncic came close to another one against Israel, falling just one assist short. Still, the Los Angeles Lakers star led Slovenia to a crucial 106-96 victory over Israel, a result that sends France to the top of Group D, while both Slovenia and Israel must now wait for the outcome of the clash between Poland and Belgium. Dončić finished the game with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, shooting 8/10 on two-pointers, 4/11 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 9/9 from the free-throw line.
Jorge Sierra: In 2021-22, the Lakers roster featured 14 players who were not in the NBA the following season. That's the highest mark in the league since 1950. Now you know that.
Basketball and sneaker culture go hand in hand. Ever since Nike signed a rookie out of North Carolina to a $2.5 million endorsement contract back in 1984, shoes have been a primary form of expression for basketball fans and players alike. The on-court footwear choices reflect the players’ personal styles, personalities, and, with signature brand shoes, their own fandoms. There is one icon that NBA players choose to rep way, way more than any other: the late, great Kobe Bean Bryant. Most of the current crop of NBA players grew up on Kobe, watching him win title after title during their formative basketball years. He is a lot of players' favorite player. Whether out of personal fandom or just because they like the style, over 130 different players chose to wear Kobes as their primary shoe last season, according to data from NBAShoesDB.com.
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