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Grading Thunder Players vs. Pacers: Shai Captures Finals MVP In Historical Game 7 Performance
Grading Thunder Players vs. Pacers: Shai Captures Finals MVP In Historical Game 7 Performance originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Oklahoma City Thunder capped a dream season with a 103-91 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, capturing the first championship in franchise history since relocating from Seattle in 2008. The victory was fittingly sealed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024-25 regular season MVP, who delivered yet another superstar performance under pressure with 29 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds. Game 7, the 20th in NBA Finals history, was marred early by the loss of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who exited in the first quarter with what was later described by his father as a suspected Achilles injury. Already battling a calf strain, Haliburton's absence robbed Indiana of its floor general and emotional leader. Despite that devastating blow, the Pacers showed the same grit that defined their playoff run, clawing their way to a 48-47 halftime lead behind the efforts of Bennedict Mathurin, who led the team with 24 points off the bench. But the Thunder, known all season for their ferocious pace, youth, and defense, flipped the game in the third quarter. Their intensity forced eight Pacers turnovers in the period, which they converted into 18 points during a game-changing 34-20 run. In total, Indiana coughed up the ball 23 times, leading to 32 Thunder points, ultimately the defining stat of the night. Oklahoma City's defense smothered the Pacers, holding them to just 41.4% from the field and limiting them to a postseason-low 91 points. The win marks the culmination of a historic campaign for Oklahoma City, who posted a franchise-best 68 regular season victories and the best scoring differential in NBA history at +12.9 points per game. Their 16-7 playoff run included two gritty Game 7 victories and a Finals performance that validated their rise as the league's next great team. Let's provide a rating for every Thunder player who made the court tonight, and the performances from some were simply outstanding. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A+ Stats: 29 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 12 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF, 8-27 FG, 2-12 3PT, 11-12 FT, +11, 40 MIN Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a signature performance to clinch the Thunder's first NBA championship, overcoming an inefficient shooting night (8-of-27 FG, 2-of-12 3PT) with elite playmaking, composure, and relentless pressure. He controlled the game with 12 assists and drew contact at will, knocking down 11-of-12 free throws. SGA added five rebounds, two blocks, and a key steal while staying on the floor for 40 minutes. Despite the rough shooting, his +11 plus-minus and poise down the stretch highlight his MVP pedigree. Chet Holmgren: A+ Stats: 18 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 5 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 6-8 FG, 1-2 3PT, 5-8 FT, +10, 31 MIN Chet Holmgren was a defensive fortress and a model of efficiency, scoring 18 points on just eight shots while swatting away five Pacers attempts. His 6-of-8 shooting included a clutch three and multiple soft finishes inside, and he went to the line for eight free throws. His eight rebounds and presence at the rim discouraged Indiana's interior attack, and his +10 in 31 minutes showed how impactful he was on both ends. The rookie's poise in Game 7 belied his age. Jalen Williams: A Stats: 20 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 7-20 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4-6 FT, +13, 38 MIN Jalen Williams added timely buckets and defensive intensity in a gritty Game 7 showing. Though his 7-of-20 shooting wasn't pretty, he racked up 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals while maintaining aggression throughout. His ability to attack off the bounce and make plays in the midrange helped stabilize the Thunder's offense when SGA struggled early. Williams' +13 plus-minus reflected his steady two-way contributions. Alex Caruso: A- Stats: 10 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 4-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8, 32 MIN Alex Caruso's Game 7 performance was classic Caruso, tough, timely, and clutch. He drilled two threes and scored 10 points, but his value came on the defensive end, where he grabbed three steals, blocked a shot, and consistently hounded Indiana's guards. He didn't record an assist, but his off-ball cuts and spacing were valuable. His +8 in 32 minutes speaks to his winning impact without stuffing the box score. Isaiah Hartenstein: B+ Stats: 7 PTS, 9 REB (3 OREB, 6 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 3-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-3 FT, +1, 18 MIN Hartenstein played just 18 minutes, but he made them count, pulling down nine rebounds (three offensive) and dishing out four assists while scoring seven points. He anchored the second unit with physicality, smart passing, and efficient finishing (3-of-4 FG). His presence allowed OKC to rest Holmgren without losing interior size or rebounding, and his zero fouls ensured the Pacers couldn't exploit him in pick-and-roll action. Luguentz Dort: B+ Stats: 9 PTS, 7 REB (3 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 3-10 FG, 2-9 3PT, 1-2 FT, +12, 35 MIN Dort brought his trademark defense and energy to the floor, grabbing seven boards (three offensive) and pestering Indiana's ball handlers into mistakes. He shot just 3-of-10 from the field and 2-of-9 from deep, but still finished +12 on the night due to his hustle plays, physical screens, and defensive tone-setting. He didn't have an assist, but his defensive focus outweighed his offensive limitations in this one. Cason Wallace: B+ Stats: 10 PTS, 2 REB (2 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 4-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 26 MIN Wallace played tough, mistake-free basketball off the bench, contributing 10 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting while knocking down two threes. His three steals came from smart anticipation and pressure defense, and his +7 in 26 minutes gave the Thunder a needed boost when SGA sat. He didn't rack up assists or boards, but his two-way activity helped OKC maintain control during critical stretches. Aaron Wiggins: C+ Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +11, 12 MIN Wiggins had a quiet outing, logging 12 minutes and attempting just one shot. He pulled down a defensive rebound and committed one foul, but largely stayed out of the action. Still, he finished +11 thanks to his positioning and team defense during key minutes in the first half. His limited impact didn't hurt the Thunder, but he wasn't a major factor in the win either. Dillon Jones: N/A Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 1 MIN Jones played just one minute in garbage time, registering no counting stats except for a single foul. His -4 plus-minus came during the final possessions of the game and didn't affect the outcome. It was more of a ceremonial appearance for the rookie than a true playoff contribution. Ousmane Dieng: N/A Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 1 MIN Like Jones, Dieng entered in the closing seconds of the blowout and didn't register any stats. His -4 plus-minus was a result of mop-up duty and shouldn't be used to evaluate his overall playoff showing. Kenrich Williams: N/A Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 5 MIN Williams logged five minutes and pulled down an offensive board, missing his only shot attempt. Though he didn't have time to make a major imprint on the game, he brought veteran toughness and helped hold the lead steady during a short first-half stretch. Ajay Mitchell: N/A Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 1 MIN Mitchell played one minute and had a single turnover, otherwise failing to register any other stats. The rookie got a taste of the Finals stage but didn't figure into the Thunder's rotation in any meaningful story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NBA Power Rankings, summer edition: Knicks, Nuggets are contenders; Celtics, Pacers slide
The exodus from Las Vegas is behind us, and now that we are almost at the point where all of the needle-moving free agents are accounted for (any day now, restricted free agents…), we're going to offer up some post-free agency Power Rankings! Only a real fiend is going to use summer league to truly assess the offseason or the draft or anything else. (That may be a spoiler alert, you'll have to stay tuned!) Advertisement We're just here to give you completely agreeable standings updates that will absolutely determine how the 2025-26 NBA season will go down. All we have for three months is paper, so we're going to evaluate the league while all of these teams are in a kumbaya state that comes with not losing any games. These rankings will also break down the most relevant offseason moves. I'll retain the tiers as we break down each team's outlook: Here are The Athletic's last NBA Power Rankings until October! Previous rankings are from last month, following the end of the NBA Finals. Last ranking: 1 Free agency: C Jaylin Williams (re-signed), PG Ajay Mitchell (re-signed) Additions: C Thomas Sorber (draft) Departures: SF Dillon Jones (trade) Midsummer summary: This is as strong a 'run it back' as you can ask for. The entire rotation returns for the reigning champions. They paid the stars, with MVP/Finals MVP point guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander, All-NBA/All-Defense small forward Jalen Williams and center Chet Holmgren getting massive extensions. Jaylin Williams and Mitchell were retained, and to make room for first-round pick Thomas Sorber, Oklahoma City traded last year's first-round pick Dillon Jones to Washington. The Thunder even have last year's lottery pick Nikola Topić healthy after a redshirt year. The only concerns are Jalen Williams' recovery from wrist surgery and Sorber's readiness after he rested for summer league while he recovers from the injury that ended his season in February. Last ranking: 3 Free agency: PF Precious Achiuwa (unrestricted), SF Landry Shamet (unrestricted), PG Cameron Payne (unrestricted), PF P.J. Tucker (unrestricted), SG Delon Wright (unrestricted), C Ariel Hukporti (option exercised) Additions: SG Jordan Clarkson, PF Guerschon Yabusele Departures: TBD Advertisement Midsummer summary: It's all about new coach Mike Brown and how he may reimagine what is largely the same team that went to the Eastern Conference finals. Clarkson should be an upgrade on Payne, while Yabusele should be an upgrade on Achiuwa. The offense could be even better, though the question of how well this team can defend with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will persist. New York should still add a couple more players, especially in the frontcourt and on the wing. Last ranking: 5 Free agency: SG Sam Merrill (re-signed), C Tristan Thompson (unrestricted), SF Javonte Green (unrestricted), PF Chuma Okeke (unrestricted) Additions: C Larry Nance Jr., PG Lonzo Ball (trade) Departures: PG Ty Jerome, SF Isaac Okoro Midsummer summary: The biggest move the Cavaliers made was to acquire Lonzo Ball in exchange for Isaac Okoro, a move that should help Cleveland account for the loss of key reserve Ty Jerome while giving Cleveland a player who can handle the ball, pass, shoot and make plays defensively. Ball might be needed a lot early in the season with All-Star point guard Darius Garland recovering from surgery on his toe. Like New York, Cleveland could stand to add another player or two to help protect against injury to the frontcourt and wing. Last ranking: 4 Free agency: PF Julius Randle (re-signed), C Naz Reid (re-signed), PG Joe Ingles (re-signed) Additions: C Joan Beringer (draft) Departures: SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker (trade), C Luka Garza, SF Josh Minott Midsummer summary: Two out of three isn't bad. Minnesota kept the frontcourt together by re-signing Randle and Reid. It wound up losing Alexander-Walker, but Minnesota has three players who could vie for Alexander-Walker's minutes in Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham. Minnesota also used a first-round pick on center Joan Beringer to replace Garza. Minnesota lost combo forward Minott, so there's a spot for another forward that Minnesota should look to add. Overall, Minnesota is in a good position to attempt to win the West after losing back-to-back conference finals. Last ranking: 6 Free agency: PG Russell Westbrook (unrestricted), C DeAndre Jordan (unrestricted), PF Vlatko Cancar (unrestricted) Additions: SG Tim Hardaway Jr., SF Bruce Brown, C Jonas Valančiūnas (trade), SF Cameron Johnson (trade) Departures: PF Dario Šarić (trade), SF Michael Porter Jr. (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: The Nuggets have had a well-received offseason. Johnson is older, shorter and less athletic than Porter, and while Porter has durability concerns due to his back, he has only missed 26 total games the last three seasons. Johnson has missed an average of 30 games per season the last three years. But Johnson should be a better playmaker than Porter while being a more versatile defensive option, and he seems less likely to be a player whom head coach David Adelman needs to call out in the middle of a playoff series. It's all about the fit. Elsewhere, Denver is counting on Brown to rediscover the form that made him an integral part of the 2023 champion Nuggets, as his last two seasons spent on three other teams were underwhelming. Hardaway may be an upgrade over Julian Strawther, but he is 33 and has shot 35.7 percent from the field in the last two postseasons. Getting a year from Valančiūnas is certainly an upgrade on what Denver got out of Šarić last season. Denver is also getting 2024 first-round pick DaRon Holmes II back after Holmes had to redshirt last year due to an Achilles tendon rupture. Last ranking: 9 Free agency: PG Fred VanVleet (re-signed), PG Aaron Holiday (re-signed), C Steven Adams (re-signed), PF Jeff Green (re-signed), PF Jae'Sean Tate (re-signed) Additions: SF Dorian Finney-Smith, C Clint Capela (trade), PF Kevin Durant (trade), SF Josh Okogie Departures: C Jock Landale, SG Nate Williams (waived), SG Jalen Green (trade), SF Cam Whitmore (trade), SF Dillon Brooks (trade) Midsummer summary: The first big move that the Rockets made was getting Durant in exchange for Brooks and Green. The second big move was to backfill Brooks' defense by getting Finney-Smith from the conference rival Lakers. This defense should be at least as good as it was last season. And Houston tripled down on depth at center by getting Capela back to replace Landale. The Rockets are counting on a leap from 2024 lottery pick Reed Sheppard, as Houston is going to need some shooting and ballhandling even when Durant is available. And for all of Green's weaknesses, he only missed 21 games in four seasons, including none the last two years. Durant will be 37 in September and has missed an average of 22 games per season the last four years. Last ranking: 11 Free agency: PG James Harden (re-signed), PF Nicolas Batum (re-signed), C Ben Simmons (unrestricted), SG Amir Coffey (unrestricted), PG Patty Mills (unrestricted) Additions: C Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (draft), C Brook Lopez, PF John Collins (trade), SG Bradley Beal, PG Chris Paul Departures: C Drew Eubanks, SF Jordan Miller (waived), SG Norman Powell (trade) Midsummer summary: Beal becoming available via buyout gave the Clippers a major advantage. They were able to use Powell's expiring contract to upgrade the frontcourt, seizing Collins for their first athletic power forward with size since Blake Griffin was last with the team nearly a decade ago. Beal's addition backfills Powell's departure while actually upgrading the team's ballhandling options next to James Harden. LA also replaced Simmons with Lopez, giving it a relatively sure thing behind Ivica Zubac after trying to experiment with what Simmons could be on this roster. Paul may be 40 and 6-feet tall, but now LA has a much better option in case Harden needs to miss time. Most importantly, Kawhi Leonard is healthy. LA has certainly upgraded its postseason optionality. The question is how long it will take for the new pieces to find their way with the new look Clippers. Last ranking: 13 Free agency: C Moritz Wagner (re-signed), PF Caleb Houstan (unrestricted), PG Cory Joseph (unrestricted) Additions: PG Jase Richardson (draft), PG Tyus Jones, SG Desmond Bane (trade) Departures: SG Gary Harris, PG Cole Anthony (trade), SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: Orlando made one of the earliest moves of the offseason when it traded Caldwell-Pope to Memphis in exchange for Bane, going from a 34.2 percent 3-point shooter to a 39.2 percent 3-point shooter. Now, Caldwell-Pope made 38.3 percent of his 3s in the previous eight seasons before joining the Magic, so Bane will be a test case of whether Caldwell-Pope's off year was due simply to player decline or the annually atrocious shooting environment Orlando seems to be in. Time will tell, and it is a big swing factor in the East. Orlando got another strong shooter in Jones, who replaces Joseph, while first-round pick Richardson takes Anthony's combo guard spot on the roster. Ultimately, the Magic should feel good about their chances of making noise in the East as long as they're done tearing obliques. Last ranking: 7 Free agency: SF Jonathan Kuminga (restricted), C Quinten Post (option exercised), PG Gary Payton II (unrestricted), PG Pat Spencer (unrestricted), PF Braxton Key (unrestricted), PF Gui Santos (option exercised), SF Kevin Knox II (unrestricted) Additions: TBD Departures: C Kevon Looney Midsummer summary: Unlike the other teams mired in a restricted free agency holding pattern, the Warriors actually did something last spring, finishing the season with a winning record while winning a playoff series. Among the key restricted free agents, Kuminga may be the least ideal fit with his incumbent team, which naturally makes him the player who should want to leave the most. The Warriors haven't completed a single transaction in July while the Kuminga proceedings progress, and Looney left the franchise after 10 seasons. Once Kuminga is resolved, the Warriors should be at least as good as they were last season once they added Jimmy Butler III to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, especially if they acquire a big who can credibly shoot. Last ranking: 12 Free agency: SG Malik Beasley (unrestricted), C Paul Reed (re-signed), SG Lindy Waters III (unrestricted) Additions: PG Caris LeVert, SG Duncan Robinson (trade) Departures: SG Tim Hardaway Jr., PG Dennis Schröder, PF Simone Fontecchio (trade) Midsummer summary: Detroit lost Hardaway in free agency, and Beasley's off-court concerns may have cost him a contract. The Pistons also lost Schröder, who was key in addressing the Pistons' shaky ballhandling last winter. LeVert's shooting fluctuates every year, but he's an on-ball option for Detroit, while Robinson should be a helpful shooter. When it comes to East swing factors, the return to health of Jaden Ivey is a major one, as he represents a secondary ballhandler next to All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham. Detroit could use another power forward, as Bobi Klintman is slated for that role behind starter Tobias Harris. Last ranking: 10 Free agency: PF LeBron James (option exercised), C Jaxson Hayes (re-signed), PF Markieff Morris (unrestricted), C Alex Len (unrestricted) Additions: C Deandre Ayton, PF Jake LaRavia, SG Marcus Smart Departures: PF Dorian Finney-Smith, PG Jordan Goodwin (waived), SG Shake Milton (waived) Midsummer summary: James opted in and doesn't have a contract beyond this season, so that's been loud. For now, he's on the team, which should be considered Luka Dončić's team going forward. And Dončić is now teammates with the top pick of his draft, Ayton, who can certainly do the baseline tasks of a Dončić center: screen, roll, catch lob. Ayton is a good rim protector and an elite rebounder. The concern with Ayton is his motor and availability; when he is out of the play, he stays out of the play. LaRavia is much younger than Finney-Smith, but also a much less renowned defender who is about to step into a 25-minute role for the first time in his career. Smart, LaRavia's former teammate in Memphis, will be looking to show that he can still contribute after playing in only 54 games in the last two seasons. Last ranking: 14 Free agency: SF Taurean Prince (re-signed), SG Gary Trent Jr. (re-signed), PF Bobby Portis (re-signed), C Jericho Sims (re-signed), PG Kevin Porter Jr. (re-signed), PG Ryan Rollins (re-signed), SF Chris Livingston (re-signed) Additions: C Myles Turner, SG Gary Harris, PG Cole Anthony Departures: C Brook Lopez, SF Pat Connaughton (trade), PG Damian Lillard Advertisement Midsummer summary: Where to begin? The obvious is that Giannis Antetokounmpo is still there. Lillard was shockingly waived and stretched, which is going to be an issue for years to come. But Lillard was already not going to contribute on the floor to the 2025-26 Bucks, and they swiped Turner from the team that ended their season the last two years. Turner replaces longtime starter Lopez, while Anthony replaces Lillard's roster spot. Harris replaces Connaughton, leaving Antetokounmpo and the re-signed Portis as the only members of the 2021 championship team on the roster. Milwaukee retained the remaining rotation pieces from a team that went 16-8 with Lillard out of the lineup last season. If nothing else, Antetokounmpo will be in MVP discussions if he can keep the Bucks out of the Play-In Tournament. Last ranking: 18 Free agency: SG Garrison Mathews (unrestricted) Additions: PF Asa Newell (draft), SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker (trade), C Kristaps Porziņģis (trade), SG Luke Kennard Departures: C Clint Capela (trade), SG Caris LeVert, C Larry Nance Jr., C Dominick Barlow, SF Terance Mann (trade), PF Georges Niang (trade) Midsummer summary: The Hawks are another team that has had a well-received offseason, and they'll certainly be an interesting playoff team. But Atlanta has to get there first. Porziņģis represents a range of possibilities: when he is physically able to be his best, the center is a difference-maker on both ends of the floor and a clear upgrade on the departed Capela due to his shooting and standing reach. But Porziņģis joins Jalen Johnson to form a talented but injury-prone front line. Porziņģis has missed an average of 28 games per season in the last four years, while Johnson has averaged 36 missed games per season in his four-year career. The big get for the Hawks was Alexander-Walker, who the team hopes is an upgrade on Mann, while first-round rookie Newell replaces the traded Niang. Kennard replaces LeVert, a possible downgrade on the ball but a major shooting upgrade. Now we wait to see if Trae Young, who still doesn't have a clear backup, gets paid. Last ranking: 15 Free agency: PF Santi Aldama (re-signed), SF Lamar Stevens (unrestricted), SG Cam Spencer (re-signed) Additions: SF Cedric Coward (draft), SG Ty Jerome, C Jock Landale, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) Departures: SG Luke Kennard, C Marvin Bagley III, SG Desmond Bane (trade), C Jay Huff (trade) Midsummer summary: The biggest move the Grizzlies made is trading Bane to Orlando and hoping that Caldwell-Pope can bounce back after a down shooting year. The rest of Memphis' starting lineup is intact, though All-Star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (turf toe) and Zach Edey (ankle) both underwent surgery to address offseason injuries that threaten their availability for the start of next season. Jerome replaced Kennard, a sign that Memphis should run significantly more pick-and-rolls than last season; Cleveland led the league in pick-and-roll volume, while Memphis was dead last. The Grizzlies moved up in the lottery to select Coward, who missed summer league to protect his surgically repaired shoulder. Coward represents a major upgrade in wing talent (he replaces Lamar Stevens on the roster). Landale replaces Huff, and his importance is tied to Edey's recovery. Last ranking: 2 Free agency: C Thomas Bryant (unrestricted), C Tony Bradley (option exercised), C Isaiah Jackson (re-signed), PF James Johnson (unrestricted) Additions: C James Wiseman, C Jay Huff (trade) Departures: C Myles Turner Advertisement Midsummer summary: I hinted in the previous Power Rankings that I wanted to respect the Pacers' accomplishments while acknowledging that they likely won't contend with Tyrese Haliburton recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Since then, the Pacers watched Turner leave after 10 seasons to go to the rival Bucks. Cold. The Pacers have plenty of ballhandling options in Haliburton's stead: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam in the starting lineup, with T.J. McConnell off the bench. There is still plenty of depth, except at Turner's vacated position. Huff is probably the best option to replace Turner as a 3-point shooting shot blocker. Bradley is back as a reserve center, as are two players (Wiseman, Jackson) who injured their Achilles tendons in the autumn. Rick Carlisle has enough talent to keep the Pacers afloat in the East, but this team doesn't have much of a ceiling. Last ranking: 8 Free agency: C Al Horford (unrestricted), SF Torrey Craig (unrestricted), PG JD Davison (option exercised) Additions: PG Anfernee Simons (trade), PF Georges Niang (trade), C Luka Garza, PF Josh Minott, SF Hugo Gonzalez (draft) Departures: PG Jrue Holiday (trade), C Kristaps Porziņģis (trade), C Luke Kornet Midsummer summary: Like the Pacers, the Celtics have a major Achilles tendon patient. Like the Pacers, the Celtics have lost their 3-point shooting, shot-blocking center to an Eastern Conference rival. Unlike the Pacers, the Celtics didn't stop there. Holiday was traded for Simons, a player who should fit Boston's 3-point heavy offense while taking on many of the touches that Tatum vacates, but who also projects to tank the Celtics' defense. Niang, acquired in the Porziņģis trade, may be the team's best option to start at power forward. Who starts at center? Neemias Queta? Who replaces Horford? Garza? Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard are still here. But Boston doesn't look like a team with enough reliable size, and this defense looks significantly less formidable. Last ranking: 25 Free agency: SG Quentin Grimes (restricted), SG Kelly Oubre Jr. (option exercised), SF Justin Edwards (re-signed), C Andre Drummond (option exercised), SG Eric Gordon (re-signed), PG Kyle Lowry (re-signed), PG Jared Butler (unrestricted), SG Lonnie Walker IV (unrestricted) Additions: SG VJ Edgecombe (draft), PF Trendon Watford Departures: PF Guerschon Yabusele Midsummer summary: The best version of this team is formidable. A recent MVP center. A recent All-Star forward. A recent Most Improved Player at point guard. A top-three pick in this year's draft. A solid group of sophomores. But we know the issue with this team is who will be available and whether the pieces fit. Joel Embiid is hoping to be able to start the season. Paul George just underwent knee surgery. Tyrese Maxey is arguably this team's most reliable player, and the Sixers are trying to determine who can play next to him among third pick VJ Edgecombe, last year's first-round pick Jared McCain and restricted free agent Grimes. Newcomer Watford is Yabusele's replacement at power forward. There's a lot of talent here if everyone can play. But last year showed how bad things can get, and no one should trust Embiid's or George's health right now. Last ranking: 16 Free agency: PG Davion Mitchell (re-signed), SG Alec Burks (unrestricted), PF Keshad Johnson (option exercised) Additions: SG Kasparas Jakučionis (draft), SG Norman Powell (trade), PF Simone Fontecchio (trade) Departures: SG Duncan Robinson (trade), PF Kyle Anderson (trade), C Kevin Love (trade) Midsummer summary: The Heat haven't had back-to-back losing seasons since 2003, when they drafted Dwyane Wade. Miami drafted Jakučionis this year. He's probably not going to be the difference between a winning and losing season, but Powell might be. The contract-year guard only cost Miami Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love, and he should more than replace the shot-making lost when Robinson departed for Detroit; Robinson's exit allowed Miami to acquire Simone Fontecchio. Miami was able to retain Davion Mitchell, who should continue to come off the bench unless Powell, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins prove to be incompatible together. There is a concern about Miami's ballhandling in the first unit, while the second unit lacks size (Nikola Jović and Jamie Jaquez Jr. would be the team's biggest rotation players off the bench). Advertisement Last ranking: 17 Free agency: PG Kyrie Irving (re-signed), SF Dante Exum (re-signed), C Dwight Powell (exercised option) Additions: SF Cooper Flagg (draft), PG D'Angelo Russell Departures: PG Spencer Dinwiddie Midsummer summary: Dallas has something of a crowded roster and needs to shed a standard contract. But whoever that player might be, No. 1 pick Flagg replaces them. Automatic upgrade! The only other roster change of note is that Russell is here to replace Dinwiddie, which should be another upgrade for the Mavericks, although Russell had a forgettable season that saw him drop below 40 percent from the field for the first time in his career. It will be up to Flagg and Russell to run Dallas' offense and find Anthony Davis, who is recovering from surgery to repair a detached retina. Elsewhere in the surgery department, center Dereck Lively II had foot surgery this month. While Davis and Lively should be ready for camp, it underscores the lack of availability both players have had. Availability, of course, is a major concern for Kyrie Irving as well, who re-signed about four months after tearing his ACL. There is more than enough size here, but Irving isn't saving the shaky guard play that this team projects to have. Last ranking: 21 Free agency: C Bismack Biyombo (unrestricted), C Charles Bassey (unrestricted), PG Jordan McLaughlin (unrestricted) Additions: SG Dylan Harper (draft), SF Carter Bryant (draft), C Luke Kornet, PF Kelly Olynyk Departures: PF Sandro Mamukelashvili, SG Blake Wesley (trade), SF Malaki Branham (trade), PG Chris Paul Midsummer summary: Wemby's revenge? Injuries to Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox allowed 2024 lottery pick Stephon Castle to secure Rookie of the Year honors, then the Spurs were gifted the second pick in 2025 and used it on Harper, who essentially replaced Paul. The young talent is exciting. The fit is not. Someone isn't going to start between Fox, Castle, Harper and Devin Vassell, a player the Spurs extended for five years and $146 million two years ago. San Antonio used its other lottery pick on Bryant, who should be a talent upgrade on Branham. Up front, Kornet and Olynyk replace Biyombo and Mamukelashvili, making the team taller and more skilled offensively. Wembanyama has been cleared to begin next season on time, and his individual possibilities are endless. But coach Mitch Johnson has to figure out how to make sure all of these pieces will elevate the whole team's performance. Last ranking: 20 Free agency: SG Keon Ellis (option exercised), PF Trey Lyles (unrestricted), C Isaac Jones (option exercised), PG Markelle Fultz (unrestricted), SF Doug McDermott (re-signed), PF Jae Crowder (unrestricted) Additions: SF Nique Clifford (draft), PF Dario Šarić (trade), C Drew Eubanks, PG Dennis Schröder (trade) Departures: SF Jake LaRavia, C Jonas Valančiūnas (trade) Midsummer summary: This is the most top-heavy team in the league that has no business being top-heavy. Let's be kind first. I'm a big fan of Clifford, and he takes LaRavia's spot. Don't be surprised if he is contributing early. The rest? I have concerns. Schröder might be the new starting point guard. He takes Fultz's roster spot. But that creates a real logjam at guard with Ellis returning, and that means that Carter, last year's lottery pick, might be the odd man out. None of these guards are going to touch the ball much anyway with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan continuing Chicago Bulls West. And then the backup big rotation is somehow even less inspiring than before, with Šarić and Eubanks replacing Lyles and Valančiūnas. If anything happens to Keegan Murray or Domantas Sabonis, the elevator plummets in the Capital City. Last ranking: 19 Free agency: PG Josh Giddey (restricted), PG Tre Jones (re-signed), SG Talen Horton-Tucker (unrestricted), PG Jevon Carter (option exercised) Additions: PF Noa Essengue (draft), SF Isaac Okoro (trade) Departures: SF Lonzo Ball (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: We return to restricted free agency hell, where Giddey is keeping the Bulls from doing anything except repeat their 2024 trade where they send a former Laker defender to a No. 1 seed in exchange for a lottery pick. Last year, it was Giddey from Oklahoma City in exchange for now two-time NBA champion Alex Caruso. This year, the Bulls sent Ball to the Cavaliers for Okoro. At least Okoro comes equipped with a multi-year contract this time. Horton-Tucker's contract expired before the Bulls could trade him to Oklahoma City, while Carter opted in to keep his money. Jones is back. And the Bulls drafted Essengue to be Matas Buzelis' twin; Essengue essentially replaces Horton-Tucker on a roster that otherwise hasn't changed. Last ranking: 24 Free agency: PF Chris Boucher (unrestricted), SG Garrett Temple (re-signed) Additions: PF Collin Murray-Boyles (draft), C Sandro Mamukelashvili Departures: TBD Midsummer summary: The big story from the Raptors is the departure of Masai Ujiri, architect of the 2019 champions. The Raptors have had a quiet offseason, but it will be interesting to see how Ujiri's last big trade turns out, as Brandon Ingram will debut in the fall after being unable to suit up following his exit from New Orleans in February. Toronto drafted Murray-Boyles and signed Mamukelashvili from San Antonio, giving the Raptors two more reserve bigs while signaling that Boucher's run is up after seven seasons. Temple is also back, meaning someone else has to go between AJ Lawson, Colin Castleton and Jamison Battle. Given Battle's shooting and the logjam of bigs, it would be a surprise if Castleton is on the roster in November. Last ranking: 22 Free agency: SF Matisse Thybulle (option exercised), PG Dalano Banton (unrestricted), SG Rayan Rupert (option exercised) Additions: C Yang Hansen (draft), PG Damian Lillard, PG Jrue Holiday (trade), SG Blake Wesley Departures: PF Jabari Walker, C Deandre Ayton, PG Anfernee Simons Midsummer summary: I mentioned in last month's Power Rankings that the Trail Blazers were better without Simons and Ayton. And what do you know, both are off the team now. Ayton was waived, clearing room for Donovan Clingan to start. And for arguably the most shocking move of the draft, Portland traded down with Memphis to select Yang Hansen. Simons was traded for Holiday, who was a Blazer for about a weekend two years ago after Lillard was traded. Remember Lillard?! Remember how Portland was supposed to have drafted his replacement in Scoot Henderson? Well, now it's Dame Time again! Lillard has a no-trade clause and is back in Portland to rehab for a year, make a comeback, then have the choice to re-enter free agency in 2027. The Blazers are going to be a chore to play against with their defense, but offensively, this projects to be a team that struggles to create advantages consistently. Last ranking: 23 Free agency: PG Monte Morris (unrestricted), PF Bol Bol (unrestricted), SF Damion Lee (unrestricted), PG Collin Gillespie (re-signed) Additions: C Khaman Maluach (draft), SG Jalen Green (trade), C Mark Williams (trade), PF Dillon Brooks (trade), PF Nigel Hayes-Davis Departures: PG Tyus Jones, C Mason Plumlee, PG Vasilije Micić (traded), SF Cody Martin (waived), SG Bradley Beal, PF Kevin Durant (trade) Midsummer summary: This team was in the NBA Finals four years ago and was the top seed in the West three years ago. The Suns traded for Durant and Beal about four months apart two years ago. It's all over now. Durant's traded, and they ate Beal's contract because that's what happens when you acquire a no-trade clause and slaughter a player's value afterward. The assist-turnover merchants whom Phoenix brought in last year, Jones and Morris, were not retained. Phoenix replaced one former Hornets center (Mason Plumlee) with another (Mark Williams), and the Suns decided Khaman Maluach played at Duke like Plumlee and Williams, so they drafted him too. (For those wondering, yes, former Hornets center Nick Richards is still here.) Brooks (not MarShon Brooks) replaces Durant at power forward, while Green essentially backfills Beal, bumping Devin Booker to point guard yet again. As it stands now, the promoted Gillespie is the only traditional point guard on the roster. Advertisement Last ranking: 27 Free agency: SG Brandon Boston Jr. (unrestricted), PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (unrestricted), PG Elfrid Payton (unrestricted) Additions: PG Jeremiah Fears (draft), PF Derik Queen (draft), C Kevon Looney, PG Jordan Poole (trade), SF Saddiq Bey (trade) Departures: SF Bruce Brown, SG Antonio Reeves (waived), CJ McCollum (trade), PF Kelly Olynyk (trade) Midsummer summary: It's already rough when you give up a potential 2026 lottery pick for the right to draft Queen, a talented big whom New Orleans likely sees as a power forward more than a center. Then Queen suffered a wrist injury that may delay the start of his rookie season. Such is the torture that is the Pelicans. Dejounte Murray won't begin the season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which should allow lottery pick Fears to get plenty of minutes. Poole was acquired in place of McCollum, and Poole should probably start at point guard in a lineup that includes Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and Yves Missi. Looney left Golden State after a decade, and he should be the replacement for Robinson-Earl as a backup center. Queen replaces Olynyk, while Fears replaces Payton. Bey, who did not play last year in Washington while recovering from a torn ACL, replaces Brown. There is plenty of size here, but the defense will be a concern, and so will the offense when Williamson starts to miss time. Last ranking: 28 Free agency: SG Seth Curry (unrestricted), PF Taj Gibson (unrestricted), PG Tre Mann (re-signed) Additions: SF Kon Knueppel, SF Liam McNeeley, SG Pat Connaughton (trade), C Mason Plumlee, PG Spencer Dinwiddie, SG Collin Sexton (trade) Departures: C Mark Williams (trade), C Jusuf Nurkić (trade), SG Josh Okogie Midsummer summary: The summer league champions! The most important addition to the team is fourth pick Knueppel, who replaces Okogie and could have a pathway to starting considering Josh Green's shoulder surgery. It should be between Knueppel and Sexton, who was acquired in a trade that sent Nurkić to Utah. Sexton replaces Curry, while Plumlee replaces Nurkić. Charlotte acquired first-round rookie McNeeley in a draft-day deal that sent center Williams to Phoenix, while signing Dinwiddie, who takes Gibson's vacated roster spot. Charlotte also acquired Connaughton and re-signed Mann, so something has to give. There are way too many guards on this team, like Nick Smith Jr. It remains to be seen how DaQuan Jeffries and Moussa Diabaté remain with the Hornets considering their non-guaranteed contracts and the excess contracts on the team, even before they consider what to do with their second-round picks. Last ranking: 30 Free agency: TBD Additions: SF Ace Bailey (draft), PG Walter Clayton Jr. (draft), PF Kyle Anderson (trade), C Kevin Love (trade), C Jusuf Nurkić (trade) Departures: PF John Collins (trade), SG Johnny Juzang (waived), SG Jordan Clarkson, SG Collin Sexton (trade) Midsummer summary: The Jazz went with the high-ceiling player in the draft, selecting Bailey fifth. Bailey basically replaces Clarkson on the roster. Later in the first round, Utah went with national champion Clayton, who takes Sexton's vacated roster spot. Sexton was traded to Charlotte for Nurkić, the appetizer to a three-team trade that sent Collins to LA and Kyle Anderson to Utah. There must have been a UCLA quota on the roster, because Johnny Juzang has been waived and Kevin Love is not expected to play in Utah. Taylor Hendricks is still recovering from his gruesome leg injury suffered early last season. Utah is somehow even bigger than last season's team, but how much better the Jazz can expect to be will come down to the progression of their growing developmental corps. Nine of Utah's top 13 players were in the last four drafts. Last ranking: 29 Free agency: PF Khris Middleton (option exercised), PG Malcolm Brogdon (unrestricted) Additions: PG Tre Johnson (draft), SF Will Riley (draft), C Marvin Bagley III, SF Cam Whitmore (trade), SG CJ McCollum (trade), SF Dillon Jones (trade), SG Malaki Branham (trade) Departures: SG Colby Jones (trade), PG Anthony Gill (waived), C Richaun Holmes (waived), SG Marcus Smart (waived), PG Jordan Poole (trade), SF Saddiq Bey (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: How's this for a youth movement: 10 of Washington's 15 standard contracts are occupied by first-round picks from the last four drafts. The exceptions are Middleton, who opted in to the final year of his contract; McCollum, who was traded by New Orleans to Washington for Poole; Corey Kispert, who finally has a shooting friend on this roster in the form of sixth pick Johnson; Justin Champagnie, who has a non-guaranteed contract; and Bagley, who replaces Holmes and is the only true big on a standard contract besides Alex Sarr. Johnson and Riley replace Brogdon and Smart, while 2023 Rockets first-round pick Whitmore and 2024 Thunder first-round pick Jones replace Gill and Jones. A top training camp battle will be determining who should start next to McCollum between Johnson and Carrington. Last ranking: 26 Free agency: SG Cam Thomas (restricted), SF Jalen Wilson (option exercised), SG Keon Johnson (option exercised), C Day'Ron Sharpe (re-signed), PG Tyrese Martin (option exercised), SF Maxwell Lewis (waived), C Drew Timme (option exercised), SG De'Anthony Melton (unrestricted) Additions: PG Egor Demin (draft), PG Nolan Traoré (draft), SG Drake Powell (draft), PG Ben Saraf (draft), PF Danny Wolf (draft), PF Michael Porter Jr. (trade), SF Terance Mann (trade) Departures: PG D'Angelo Russell, SF Cameron Johnson, PF Trendon Watford Midsummer summary: This team used five first-round picks in June, all on players who are highly unlikely to be efficient offensive players throughout most of the 2025-26 season. Denim, Traoré and Saraf are all point guards. Denim is tall, Traoré is fast and Saraf is left-handed. There will be a quiz in the afternoon. Wolf would be a point guard if he had never grown. Powell will never be a point guard; he is here because he has elite physical attributes for a perimeter defender. As far as the serious 'veteran' affairs: Thomas is a restricted free agent. I'm not going to comment on his passing ability, but I will point out that if he is back with the Nets, he is going to score a lot of points if he can stay on the floor; Thomas played in only 25 games last season. Brooklyn traded Johnson to Denver for Porter, who might be the only other player on the team who averages more than 10 shots per game. The Brooklyn-born Mann is also here now. This team is built to tank aggressively, especially if it finds minutes for all of the ballhandling rookies. (Top photo of Mike Brown: Ishika Samant / Getty Images)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder Secure Their Future: Jalen Williams Inks 5-Year, $287M Deal
Thunder Secure Their Future: Jalen Williams Inks 5-Year, $287M Deal originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Fresh off their recent NBA title win, the Oklahoma City Thunder have taken a massive step to secure their future and ensure their success for years to come. Following in the footsteps of his teammates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, Jalen is now the latest Thunder star to make a long-term commitment with a brand-new five-year, $250M rookie max extension. "After becoming the second-youngest team in NBA history to win a title, the Thunder now have long-term commitments from their Big 3 of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Williams (24) and Chet Holmgren (23) to play together through the rest of the decade as they enter their primes," wrote Shams Charania on X. Williams, 24, is only three years into his NBA career, but he's now set to be one of the league's highest-paid players with a yearly salary of roughly $57.4 million. It's on par with superstars like Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Thunder have come a long way since splitting up Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Slowly but surely, they stockpiled their assets and built a team that has made their mark on history. Starting with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who recently signed a massive new contract), his averages of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game this season were enough for him to win MVP months before capturing the Finals MVP. There's also Chet Holmgren, who just agreed to a five-year extension with the Thunder earlier this week, worth potentially $250 million. He didn't play particularly well in the Finals, but he still showed great promise throughout the regular season with averages of 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on 49.0% shooting. Jalen Williams is the third member of the Thunder's essential core, and locking him up for the next five years should be enough to keep them in the title race for a long time coming. At 6'6" and 220 pounds, he's a crafty two-way swingman who can play multiple positions. In 69 games last season, he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 48.4% shooting. As the reigning NBA champions, the Thunder are confident that this young core can carry them to a historic level of prosperity in the West. With one title in the books already, and their best players under 30 years old, it's only a matter of time before Oklahoma City adds another Larry O'Brien trophy to their collection. With Shai, Holmgren, and now Williams under contract for the foreseeable future, the Thunder have built more than just a championship team; they've built a culture, a foundation, and a future. In an era of constant player movement and short-term windows, Oklahoma City is betting on continuity, chemistry, and youth. If these extensions pay off, we may be watching the rise of the NBA's next great dynasty, one that's only just getting story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OKC Thunder Seemingly Strike Again After Summer League Showing
OKC Thunder Seemingly Strike Again After Summer League Showing originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the offseason looking to make minimal changes to their roster after winning a championship last season and instead lcok in their core for the foreseeable future. That is exactly what the Thunder did as they signed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to max contract extensions, locking in their young core that they hope can help them build a dynasty in Oklahoma City. While the Thunder have made little to no moves thus far this offseason, one of their selections in the 2025 NBA Draft has been showcasing his talent during the Summer League. That player is Brooks Barnhizer, who the Thunder selected 44th overall in the 2025 draft out of Northwestern. In five Summer League games thus far, Barnhizer is averaging nine points, nearly two assists, six rebounds, three steals and one block per game while shooting 50% from the field and 28% from three. Of course, the Thunder have already signed Barnhizer to a two-wat contract for next season but with his performances in Summer League thus far, he may end up being signed to a standard contract at some point next season like they did with Ajay Mitchell last year. For Barnhizer, he has not only showed off his offensive abilities that he was known for in college with the Wildcats but he has also proven to be a great defender, which is exactly what the Thunder are looking for on their roster. He is expected to begin next season in the G League with the Oklahoma City Blue but his skillset translates well to the NBA level and he could see some time with the Thunder next season. With his performances thus far, it appears Sam Presti may have found yet another diamond in the rough in the second round of the draft to go along with Thomas Sorber in the first round, who has not played in Summer League due to injury. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jalen Williams Makes Huge Personal Announcement After Great Thunder Season
Jalen Williams Makes Huge Personal Announcement After Great Thunder Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Jalen Williams has had an incredible few months. He has made All-NBA honors, All-Defensive honors, won an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder and, now, signed a $287 million contract extension with the franchise. The Thunder, unsurprisingly, rewarded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Williams each with massive contract extensions after the trio led the franchise to its first title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008. Williams averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in his third season in the NBA. He even had an iconic 40-point performance during the NBA Finals. There is absolutely no doubt that the Santa Clara product, whom the Thunder selected No. 12 overall in the 2022 draft, will have a lengthy, successful career to add to his already-impressive resume. Williams makes big personal announcement After adding plenty of hardware to his trophy shelf and landing a massive contract extension, Williams gets to do something every kid dreams of. As he revealed in an exclusive interview with TMZ, the Thunder star will be able to retire both of his parents. "It's surreal," Williams said to TMZ. "I know everybody kind of uses that term, but it's wild because it happened really fast, like within the span of three years, my life is completely different." "But yeah, I mean, it's cool. I've been fortunate enough to retire my parents." Williams will be earning a hefty salary through 2031 and beyond, and every bit of it has been deserved. He's been one of the best stories since arriving in the NBA three years back and ascending to superstardom. Now Williams, along with Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren, will keep the Thunder in title contention for years to come. The journey begins this fall, when a new season begins and the team aims to go back-to-back with a very similar roster. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
