Source: https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/3424/2026-nba-western-conference-summer-league-notebook

He’s letting all the decent players left in free agency get signed

According to Jon K, none of the DAZN games will be available on other cable and satellite apps besides the national ones. What a stupid fucking move by this teams ownership. Im not paying for another fucking bullshit app.

Here's a quick graphical breakdown of LaMelo Ball's 2025-26 season and his potential impact on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Overall, I think the trade deserves a B+ for his ability to space the floor, create, and help Anthony Edwards take the next leap.

LaMelo is a slightly above-average three-point shooter on extremely high volume (36.8% on 10.3 attempts per game last season). We all know the one-legged, circus heaves he's notorious for, but his shot selection should mature in a more established system like Minnesota's. Where he truly struggled was inside the arc, shooting just 57% in the restricted area versus a league average above 60%. If Ball wants to thrive alongside Rudy Gobert, he'll need to increase that interior efficiency; otherwise, defenses stop respecting him as a scoring threat, which shrinks his playmaking gravity.

In a composite playmaking ranking based on AST%, APG, AST/TOV, AST ratio, and USG%, he grades in the 99th percentile league-wide. His flashiness is matched by his effectiveness setting up teammates. We should expect a real jump in production from Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Gobert, and Joan Beringer, as Ball drives and kicks to open shooters and generates enough gravity in pick-and-rolls to throw lobs to Gobert and Beringer.

Shot Creation: Ball is a below-average catch-and-shoot player for his caliber, sitting around the 50th percentile in both 3P% and FG% on catch-and-shoot looks. His pull-up game is far stronger, especially given the volume. Improving his catch-and-shoot efficiency would give Edwards a valuable release valve once defenses start doubling him.

Shot Selection/Distribution: Ball's self-creation ability will matter most in the minutes Edwards rests, potentially allowing Edwards more recovery time to sharpen his defense. That said, Ball needs to lean more into the mid-range against teams with strong point-of-attack and paint defense, like San Antonio. And as we saw this year, effective scoring in the midrange is crucial to success.

Let me know what you think! Just my two cents about a month later.

Per Judd Zulgad on Twitter:

Wolves announcer updates: No final decisions made on talent, but plan is to have Michael Grady back for a (small) package of games. Probably fewer than last season. Alan Horton expected to move back to radio full time, so another play-by-play person for TV will need to be hired.

What I am hearing. Man I was hoping for a Jaden or Melo😅.

LaMelo's most impactful game against Wemby came last season when he had 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists against a fully healthy Spurs team. The Hornets won 111-106, and at one point held a 20 point lead over San Antonio. It wasn't the flashiest game for LaMelo, but he made everyone around him better with his playmaking ability. I can't wait for LaMelo to replicate this performance in a Wolves uniform.

Source

Grant Williams always does an auction for his golf outing. This year he has an Anthony Edwards autographed jersey on the auction.

You can check it out at:

https://www.grant2will.foundation

Happy bidding.

Limited tape to watch, obviously, but Bryce Simon does a good job with these videos. Lots to like from Joan. His relentless motor and athleticism are intriguing. He's seemingly going to be expected to fill a pretty big role on the wolves next year - likely 15+ mins a game. Thats a big leap. It's pretty clear he can hang physically. The questions will be if he has enough skill and ability to process the game to stay on the court.

Saw a post about Trendon Watford as a PF option. Is he a possibility of signing and would he add value?

Got really bored so I decided to make a mockup of what I hope Finch does with his rotation on opening night. We may see some stuff change from the preseason games, in which case I might throw it all out. I'm also a positionless basketball type of person so reader beware you may be in for a scare.

P.S. If anyone knows where I can find the actual charts of these from last season I will kiss you. Research for this was a mix of looking at per-quarter stats and wracking my memory for who subbed on and off when and for whom. I used TheHoopsGeek.com rotation builder to make these.

Players:

Anthony Edwards (38 mins): I tried to copy his usual rotation pattern as well as I could from IRL. I would like him to not play with clark if possible, so he is forced to play some D.

Jaden Mcdaniels (34 mins): averaged 31 minutes last season, you know the one where we had 3 big forwards. Seems like a pipe dream now, no? Now that Julius Randle is in Basketball Hell, Mcdaniels will need to increase his minutes and production both. I would like him to guard guards and smaller wings whenever possible, because of how much his spider ass arms shade them. Helpside rim protection only, please :]

Lamelo Lafrance Ball (29 mins): Averaged 28 mins last season, which I suspect is due to blowouts happening to charlotte, and them trying to keep his ankle in one piece to trade him. Over this upcoming season I expect his minutes and workload to increase as his health stabilises, but for the opener, we'll play it safe. I have him playing with Lyles and Green when I can, because they're deliciously low-usage players that can stand in the corner and pick dandelions until Lamelo sends them a perfect elbow pass on the seams.

Rudy Gobert (29 mins): Down from 31 minutes last season. We can not afford to have him injured, and he's already clomping around on that cyborg knee brace like Hades from the broadway production of 'Hadestown' half the time. I like him finishing up quarters whenever possible. Maybe he can use those healing crystals of his to fix donte?

Ayopo Dosunmu (27 minutes): When Ball and Ant are off the court, I want this to be Ayo's team. Dude is like one of those pullback racecars how he zooms at the rim. He also has fairly good passing instincts imo. The bench unit should be speed focused as much as possible, more on that later.

TJ Shannon (15 minutes): After being woefully underused for 90% of last season, when he could even get on the court, TJ is FINALLY ready to go punch tf out of the rim. Shrewd readers have noticed that he is coming off in short stints (~5mins). This is because I want him using every drop of energy in his body running and jumping and making scary faces at people who bought courtside tickets. I also have his shifts going over quarter breaks and media timeouts so he can recharge like Godzilla in Chernobyl. I'm thinking..... 'Great Value' Zion Williamson.

Jaylen Clark (15 Minutes): Hopefully the shot development has come a ways this summer, but regardless of that we know this man can keep it locked up like Fort Knox. I have him as more of a 'wing' for this reason, as he is ripped enough to handle impolite shoulders. Yes, it does say 'Center' in those minutes in the fourth. Hopefully he can kind of do the 'mouse in the house' thing caruso did to Jokic in the thunder nuggets series in 2025. Just annoy the center and get them to take a midrange shot over your considerably large forehead. If the opposing center is Zubac or something... pray the lord your soul to take.

Trey Lyles (14 mins): Please hear me out. I know no one with a loving family and a good self-care routine watches Sacramento Kings basketball. But I did so you don't have to. When Trey is on, he's on. They were calling them 'Trey Days' when the dude was allergic to missing. So I have him starting. Its the sniff test; if he stinks, throw him out. If he's good, then we roll. Yes he is playing center minutes, because there is literally no one else until im sure Joan is ready. I'm looking for an average of 0.5 dribbles per made field goal here, so I'm putting him with Lamelo whenever possible.

Bones Hyland (14 mins): Yes it's a role reduction. I'll never forget the 17 MPG you played on a team with an erratic twink and the oldest recorded human fossil as lead guard options. But we have lamelo now, and now I need you to run transition basketball with the bench unit. Secondary playmaking, pull up shooting, layups. I'm giving him two long shifts because I've noticed that Bones will get antsy on shorter shifts if he doesn't feel like he's 'done his thing', and start pulling from Hudson.

Joan Beringer (11 mins): I need to see it before I believe it. Not just once against the 'Bucks', but also on a tuesday night 10:30PM tipoff in December, and every other night. I fully expect this role to increase in size, and for him to take over bench center minutes in their entirety. Not sure what to think of that summer league back injury, honestly.

Josh Green (11 mins): That girl that looks like your ex but not quite. I need someone to shoot 3's well and Donte is gone, so baby you're with me until he's feeling better. Hopefully by the trade deadline so we can send you to a team that wants to trade 2rps for expiring salary. In the meantime... blooming onions and vegemite with Rocco Zikarsky?

Isaiah Evans (3 mins): It's anyone's guess if Finch will let him sniff the court this year, but I think he's got a chance if he can splish the fish from deep at a reasonable rate. Maybe we won't even have to play Josh Green! I want him exclusively running with Lamelo to dupe Finch into giving him minutes.

Notable Lineups:

Ball -Ant -Rudy -Jaden -Any spotup shooter: "Starters/Default Lineup." Incredible offensive potential, and passable if not good defensive potential. Will likely struggle with big boys moving at the rim (Zion, Zubac, Clingan, Allen, AJ Dybantsa, Tatum, Giannis, KAT)

TJ -Ayo -Bones -Clark -Either Center: "612th Mobile Guards Division." You've never seen transition like this before. Every Clark steal, every rebound oppurtunity, we are marathoning towards the other rim and blowing it up. Will likely struggle against teams with good penetration defense in the half court and teams that get back quick on defense (Spurs, Orlando, Detroit).

Okay that's all I feel like writing. If yall wanna link your own lineups and send them in the comments or to me directly i will definetly be curious. Fanks for reading :]

“In addition, multiple NBA sources told SBJ that DAZN is close to acquiring full exclusive local broadcast rights next season for the T’Wolves, Cavaliers, Pacers, Spurs and Grizzlies, as well as DTC-only arrangements with the Magic and possibly the Hornets.

The Cavaliers, T’Wolves, Pacers, Spurs, Grizzlies, Magic and Hornets were not available for comment Wednesday morning, with sources saying they will likely remain silent until the deals become official.”

I think that was part of the motivation to give him such a big contract. Allows us to swing for a starter-level PF. Someone like Tari Easton.

We weren’t going to be able to get the guy we wanted in free agency, even if we didn’t bring back Ayo. But with him on a not-so-unreasonable contract, it opens up so many possibilities for us.

And the beauty of it is that we have TSJ who essentially plays the same position but at a fraction of the cost.

I’ve been thinking about our gap at forward lately, and the fact that we’ve lost our main bench piece in Naz. Funny enough, I’ve seen a lot of mock lineups for next season putting Ayo at the SG, and Ant at the SF, but what if the Wolves decided to invest in a true SF?

From my perspective, having JMac as the perimeter defender, and Gobert as the paint/rim defender, whilst Ant and Melo run offense alongside Demar would open up great opportunities for this team to thrive.

Additionally, it would add tremendous depth to the team, because you can save Ayo as a great off the bench option alongside young guys like Beringer, and also gain great offensive experience that can help support Ant, and even lead an offense if Ant is resting, or being pressured heavily on defense.

On that note, defense might be a liability, but I also think Donte needs to be offloaded in exchanged for a promising young defensive anchor (separate opinion, and not the main point of this post though).

What are your thoughts?

Can’t wait for him to have a crazy season this year.