NBA Player News

During the regular season, Black was usually the replacement in the Magic starting lineup when the team was down a perimeter starter. However, that was not the case for Game 5, as Franz Wagner was out with a strained calf. Jamal Cain (five points, four rebounds and one assist), who had some good moments in Games 3 and 4 defending Cade Cunningham, received the nod but offered limited value in 45 minutes. Black, who totaled 22 points in the first four games of the series, played 39 minutes and had a good night at the office. We’ll see if Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley decides to start Black if Wagner remains out for Game 6 on Friday.

A second-round pick in the 2024 draft, Newton has appeared in nine NBA games during his first two seasons, spending most of his time in the G League. The Rockets’ guard is coming off an excellent season with the franchise’s G League affiliate, and the hope is that Newton plays well enough in Las Vegas to earn a longer look in 2026-27. Newton didn’t have the best game against the Raptors, struggling from the field and not recording an assist. However, his production improved over his output in Friday’s win over the Nuggets, and the ball was in rookie Bruce Thornton’s hands quite often. Given Houston’s depth at point guard, Newton faces long odds of being fantasy-relevant next season.

After shooting 3-of-14 in his first summer league appearance on Thursday, de Larrea attempted just four shots on Saturday. He did have some nice assists and was once again active defensively in a decent overall showing. Through two games, it’s clear that some patience will be needed, but de Larrea has the basketball smarts needed to make an impact down the line. He is certainly worth stashing in dynasty leagues.

While he wasn’t as prolific offensively as in his first summer league appearance, Johnson remained impactful on defense. The ninth-overall pick in last month’s draft blocked four shots and recorded two steals in what would be a dream night for fantasy managers. Johnson was whistled for seven fouls, so some strides are needed in that area. That said, he can be an impact defender for the Mavericks immediately at power forward or center.

After shooting 42 percent from three during his final college season, Suder was signed to a two-way deal by the Lakers almost immediately after he went undrafted. The rookie had a solid night in Las Vegas, shooting over 50 percent from the field overall and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Given his contract and the Lakers’ depth on the wings, Suder is likely to spend most of his rookie season in the G League.

Not selected in the 2025 draft, Kaluma spent all of last season with the Lakers’ G League affiliate. While there’s certainly familiarity between the player and the franchise, few expected the show Kaluma put on Saturday night. He shot 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and 5-of-6 from two, torching the Mavericks for 34 points. The Lakers have already allocated their three two-way contract slots, so Kaluma may be competing for an Exhibit 10 deal, which would guarantee him a training camp invite.

After scoring 27 points in his summer league debut on Friday, Thornton produced another solid effort on Saturday. He wasn’t as prolific offensively, but the second-round pick offered value in the rebound, assist and steal categories. Given his age and experience, Thornton is well-equipped to compete for a spot on the back end of the Rockets’ rotation immediately. The issue is the rest of Houston’s perimeter rotation, especially after the signing of Marcus Smart.

The 48th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Lundy has not appeared in an official NBA game since January 24, 2024. An ankle injury ended his rookie campaign, and he has been fighting to get another shot ever since. Lundy came out firing on Saturday, shooting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc to lead the Raptors in scoring. Toronto has an open two-way contract slot; Lundy may be the mix to earn it. If not, Saturday’s performance may help set the stage for him to earn a training camp invite from the Raptors or another team.

With Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin sitting out Saturday’s game, Saraf started at point guard and logged 32 minutes. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but the second-year guard recorded five assists and earned some trips to the foul line. Saraf’s rookie season was one to forget due to injuries and inconsistent play, and he’ll once again face a lot of competition for rotation minutes when training camp opens in the fall.

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in March, Wolf struggled in his first few appearances this summer. The Nets must have been pleased with what they saw from the 7-footer on Saturday, as he shot the ball well over 26 minutes. However, Wolf needs to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and defending without fouling, as those were issues against the Hawks. With the addition of Julius Randle, Wolf will likely be relegated to a bench role this season, which limits his value in redraft leagues.

Johnson, who’s on a two-way deal, had some moments late last season as the Nets played out the string. For him, this summer is about doing what he can to earn a more secure opportunity, and nights like Saturday will help. Johnson was energetic throughout, providing excellent value as a scorer and defender. Brooklyn’s addition of Julius Randle was a sign that the front office intends to compete next season, but that does not mean Johnson has no chance of earning another shot to prove himself.