Hugo Gonzalez in the win vs the Sixers | 19 MIN | 21 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 6/11 FG | 3/7 3FG | 6/8 FTs | 0 TOV | 72.3% TS

https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401898407/celtics-76ers

In his AMA discussion on the Lakers' subreddit, Dan Woike of The Athletic revealed what has been truly wrong and the key problem for the 25-year-old behind his shortcomings.

"The biggest issue with Dalton Knecht hasn't been shooting and hasn't been defensive effort. It's been processing," the Lakers insider and reporter claimed. "The way one scout put it to me that's stuck with me - Knecht's on-court IQ isn't strong enough for him to just think the game and he's not instinctual enough to just go play freely.

"Obviously, he's been in a tough spot with the org. since the Mark Williams deal, and almost everyone agrees that if it's going to happen for him, it'll need to be somewhere else."

Source: https://basketnews.com/news-257440-lakers-reporter-drops-major-dalton-knecht-revelations-ahead-of-looming-exit.html

(you can check the AMA on the Lakers sub)

Spanish team Basket Zaragoza officially states it will oppose Aday Mara's international transfer to the Thunder, arguing the No. 12 pick remains under contract through 2026-27 despite already signing with Oklahoma City and impressing in preseason. In an official statement, Zaragoza said it has not yet received a request for Mara's international transfer but warned that it will formally oppose one if such a request arrives."

Zaragoza added that it intends to protect its contractual rights and is prepared to take "all necessary legal action."

Via: BasketNews

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/50182801/jimmy-butler-acl-injury-return-warriors-title

Butler's injury occurred more than two weeks before the trade deadline. To acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Warriors would've needed to trade either Butler's or Draymond Green's contract, had the Milwaukee Bucks desired Golden State's pick package, which included its four available first-rounders. But the Bucks balked, and Butler has never been offered in other potential trades, team sources said.

Though the market views an injured Butler as a negative value on an expiring $56.8 million deal, general manager Mike Dunleavy still sees him as an essential part of the next few years. A large part of Dunleavy's offseason inactivity is rooted in his belief that Butler is a major ingredient toward winning, with impactful days still ahead.

The Warriors didn't show an appetite to offer Butler for Anthony Davis or Jaylen Brown this summer, considering the pick packages required and contracts attached to both. All other Butler-plus-picks conversations -- for what the Warriors believe are ultimately lesser players once Butler returns -- were shut down, team sources said.

That unwillingness to move Butler has put the Warriors in a perceived purgatory to open the season. They are an afterthought, missing $69 million in starting wings (Butler and the injured Moses Moody) and predicted by most as a lottery-bound team in the bottom third of the Western Conference.

But almost every bigger-picture conversation with those in the organization almost immediately shifts to Butler, who just turned 37, and the perhaps unfair burden he might face to rescue their hopes in his first few months back from ACL rehab.

"I'm almost looking at this like this could be the exact opposite of last season," Kerr said. "We get Jimmy back around February instead of losing him in February. So, what's our job? Lay the best foundation, best platform for success before that, that can put us in a good position where we've got momentum, and all of a sudden, we're adding him with the playoffs coming a couple months later. I think the plan is there."

This is not a joke. This team has no chemistry, has horrible coaching, has no direction, and looks completely lost out there. This team genuinely may not even reach 15 wins this year and they still won’t get a good draft pick. This is going to be a crazy year for them.

Stein’s Substack: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-nbas-latest-late-night-intel?r=nuq3a&utm_medium=ios

Thunder spokesperson on the status of rookie big man Aday Mara: “Aday last played three years of NCAA college basketball and therefore, as advised by the NBA, no clearance from the Spanish team is required for him to play in the NBA.”

The Thunder, as conveyed by the enclosed statement, are adamant that Aday Mara has the requisite clearance to play in the NBA and says it has been advised as such by the league office.

Mara’s former club in Spain (Basket Zaragoza) maintains he is still under contract.

Preseason Final Score: Sacramento Kings 97 - 126 San Antonio Spurs

Sacramento Kings (97)

DNP - Coach's Decision: Leaky Black, Viktor Lakhin, Dylan Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, Elfrid Payton, Malik Monk, Adam Flagler

San Antonio Spurs (126)

DNP - Coach's Decision: Malik Williams, Jon Elmore, RJ Davis, Taelon Peter

The Charlotte Hornets are waiving veteran Pat Connaughton, sources tell ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/e9a01510ee1ec

From Kris Rhim on X:

Joel Embiid on this team needing to sacrifice:

"I'm against the concept of sacrificing. I think the way I explained it was you do what you do best and we're going to support you. ... I don't think anybody has to take a backseat."

Source: CNBC interview with Mat Ishbia
Full interview: https://youtu.be/ulnI6r6-xl0?si=xRZfngrnseyDwllY

From Lil Baby's podcast today:

"I think one of my highest moments in just winning a championship. I didn't play to win no award, when they gave me the MVP, they gave me 2 MVPs by the way, just for those, you know what I mean. But when I won, I was never expecting that. I didn't care nothing about that... It mattered way more to some people than it ever mattered to me. So when I won, you could see in my face that I was shocked. Cause it didn't change no reaction if anybody else would have won. But that don't always be the case when the shoe was on the other foot."

Video Link: https://streamable.com/v1hcxh

I never got to watch KG play in his prime, but his highlights are so good. I love his trash talk and intensity.

But the thing that made me really respect KG ids how much props he gave to the guys underneath him. He's respected lebrons greatness, each draft class he gives the new guys props. He seems like a truly stand up guy, that truly respects the game of basketball.

And this is a guy that played a very different brand of basketball, so to respect how players evolved is truly unique and refreshing.

I’ve read that Kareem looked up to Wilt as a teen and they even met numerous times and hung out

So why were they taking shots at each other both when it comes to basketball and off the court stuff?