The Washington Wizards will keep No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa out of the remainder of the Las Vegas Summer League after the forward piled up 50 points and 14 rebounds across his first two games, head coach T.J. Sorrentine said.
Sorrentine added that fellow first-round selections Tre Johnson and Will Riley also will be sidelined for the rest of Summer League play, noting that all three met the club’s objectives during camp and the opening contests. “It’s a culmination of camp all the way through the games,” he said. “We’ve had a good camp, a lot of good practices and shootarounds and a couple of good games.”
Virtually the entire Wizards roster attended an in-season mini-camp in Las Vegas over the weekend, an effort guard Kyshawn George believes underscores the organization’s culture push. “We’ve been trying to build a culture for the past two years. I think it’s showing right now,” George said.
Timberwolves Remain in LeBron Hunt
Despite being considered a long shot to land free-agent forward LeBron James, Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly continues to make the case for the franchise.
“I like who we are, and we’re pretty proud of who we are,” Connelly told reporters. “When you look at our team, it’s hard not to be excited about what we have.”
Connelly cited the club’s recent postseason success and an active offseason that brought in LaMelo Ball and Josh Green while retaining guard Ayo Dosunmu. He also highlighted head coach Chris Finch and the fan base as selling points. “We have the best coach. We have amazing fans,” Connelly said. “This is a place you’re going to have a lot of fun and win a lot of games.”
League sources still view Minnesota as an outsider in the James sweepstakes, with the Cavaliers, Warriors, Heat and 76ers generally regarded as the front-runners.
Suns Finalize Two-Year Deal With Luke Kennard
The Phoenix Suns have officially signed veteran guard Luke Kennard to a two-year, $13 million contract that includes a player option for 2026-27, the team announced.
“Luke’s work ethic and commitment to his craft have made him one of the most efficient three-point shooters in NBA history,” general manager Brian Gregory said in a statement.
Kennard, 30, split last season between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 8.4 points while connecting on 47.8 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. His career 44.2 percent three-point mark ranks second all-time among players with at least 250 made triples.
Source: Hoops Wire
