The Wizards are done waiting on AJ Dybantsa.
After two Summer League games, Washington has decided the No. 1 overall pick won’t take the floor again in Las Vegas. Dybantsa put up 50 points and 14 rebounds across those first two outings, enough for the team to call it a wrap on his summer.
The shutdown won’t stop with him. The Wizards also plan to sit rookies Tre Johnson and Will Riley, and Summer League coach T.J. Sorrentine said the group hit the goals the organization set out for them.
“It’s a culmination of camp all the way through the games,” Sorrentine said. “We’ve had a good camp, a lot of good practices and shootarounds and a couple of good games.”
Washington had almost its full roster in Las Vegas over the weekend for a veteran mini-camp, and second-year guard Kyshawn George said that kind of turnout says something about the direction the team wants to go.
“We’ve been trying to build a culture for the past two years,” George said, per Robbins. “I think it’s showing right now.”
In Minnesota, Tim Connelly isn’t pretending the Timberwolves are the favorite in the LeBron James chase. But he’s not backing off the pitch, either.
The Wolves president of basketball operations made the case for his team, leaning on what Minnesota already has in place and what it added this offseason. He pointed to the arrivals of LaMelo Ball and Josh Green, along with the retention of Ayo Dosunmu, while also highlighting the people around the program.
“I like who we are and we’re pretty proud of who we are,” Connelly said, via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “When you look at our team, it’s hard not to be excited about what we have.”
He also singled out coach Chris Finch, the fan base and the organization’s trajectory.
“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.”
Even with that sales job, league insiders still see Minnesota as a long shot for James. The Cavs, Warriors, Heat and 76ers are generally viewed as the leading contenders.
Out in Phoenix, the Suns made it official with Luke Kennard, announcing the veteran guard’s signing after free agency had already pointed in that direction.
Kennard landed a two-year deal worth $13 million, with a player option for the second season. General manager Brian Gregory praised the 30-year-old’s shooting and work habits.
“Luke’s work ethic and commitment to his craft have made him one of the most efficient three-point shooters in NBA history,” Gregory said.
Kennard split last season between the Hawks and Lakers, averaging 8.4 points while hitting 47.8 percent of his threes. For his career, he’s at 44.2 percent from deep, which ranks second in NBA history among players with at least 250 made 3-pointers.
In Other News...
Nuggets Just Copied A Suns Gamble Fans Already Know Too Well
The Nuggets have taken a familiar swing on the European market, bringing in Alpha Diallo on a one-year, $1.4 million deal and betting that a proven defensive specialist can carve out a role in their rotation. It is the kind of move that looks tidy on paper: low risk, clear skill set, and a player with enough pedigree overseas to make teams wonder if there is more to unlock.
Phoenix fans have seen the broad outline before, and they know how quickly these experiments can turn from intriguing to forgettable. The Suns have tried this same type of roster bet before, and while the idea always comes with a little upside, the real question is whether Diallo ends up being more than a depth piece or just another name in a long line of international gambles that never truly changed the teams ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
Frank Vogel Just Landed A Job That Will Stun Suns Fans
Frank Vogels next stop is already stirring up plenty of reaction around the league, and for Suns fans it is another reminder of how quickly the coaching carousel keeps turning. Vogels resume still carries real weight after his championship run with the Lakers, and his path through Indiana and Orlando gave him the kind of experience that usually keeps him in the conversation whenever a veteran staff is being pieced together.
The fit is what makes this one interesting. Golden State is clearly thinking beyond the present, and Vogel gives Steve Kerr a proven voice on the bench while also adding a layer of insurance for whatever comes next in San Francisco. For Phoenix, it is a familiar kind of move to watch from a distance, especially after seeing how much value can come from surrounding a head coach with someone who has already been through the grind. [Read more 🡒]