HoopsHype: Atlanta Hawks

Sandro Mamukelashvili: “When Pop called me his favorite player towards the end of last season, deep down in my heart, I was like, ‘I hope this means I will come back.’ But you know it’s business. So much goes on. You have to learn that as soon as you come into the league. People might love you for who you are, but something might change in their view, or something might not go the way they want, so they shift and go in a different direction.”
Source: YouTube

LeBron James: “You know, it’s definitely different in the sense of, you know, just mentioning with Bronny being a part of the team now. I mean, I’m looking at you two guys right now. I think it’s one of the greatest things in the world to be able to work with your kid, you know. So, this week we got back into the gym, and it was really the first time that me and Bronny were on the floor as professionals training, going against each other, preparing for the season. And there were a couple moments where I kind of just lost focus... Читать дальше...

So what happens if there’s no deal by the Oct. 31 deadline, and he’s set to hit restricted free agency next summer? “I haven’t really got into it that much,” Kuminga said. “I don’t want to step my foot off track. I’m focusing on how can I be great? How can I help something? The better you play, the more you do things, everything’s going to open up itself. So I’m not worried about things like that because I know who I am, I know myself. At the end of the day, it’s just having an opportunity, a chance to go out there and prove. Читать дальше...

Chris Haynes: Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons (recovered from a back procedure) will be a go to begin training camp on Oct. 1 with no restrictions, his agent Bernie Lee tells me: “Ben is fully cleared and is a full participant for the start of camp. He is excited to get started.”
Source: Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Shams Charania: Rockets are waiving AJ Griffin via contract buyout, as he is expected to step away from basketball at 21 years old after two NBA seasons, sources said.
Source: Twitter @ShamsCharania

The Rockets on Friday reached a buyout agreement with forward A.J. Griffin, allowing him to sit out the season while considering whether to continue his career, a person with knowledge of the agreement said.
Source: Houston Chronicle

Josh Lewenberg: Bruce Brown underwent an arthroscopic surgical procedure on his right knee, per the Raptors. He will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks, which means he’ll miss the start of training camp (at minimum).
Source: Twitter @JLew1050

Embiid will decline his $59 million player option for the 2026-27 season and sign the new, three-year extension. He will earn $69 million in the final year of the new deal.
Source: ESPN

Rich Paul: “You can’t skip steps. I didn’t start representing LeBron until my ninth year. He came into the league in ’03, and I started representing him in 2012. Prior to that, I did all these different things, and he was able to look from afar and say, ‘The plane leaves at 2, Rich ain’t late. Rich missed the boat trip, why? Oh, because he’s at Boo Williams Tournament.’ I wasn’t trying to just be there for the gear, I wanted that too, but I wasn’t there just for that. When they call on me, I’m a consumer... Читать дальше...

Shams Charania: JUST IN: Joel Embiid says he is signing a contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers. The one-time NBA MVP will sign a three-year, $193 million maximum extension with the 76ers, with a player option in 2028-2029, sources tell @TheAthletic .
Source: Twitter @ShamsCharania