Category: 2024 NBA Draft

Tristan da Silva scores 13 points, helps Magic win in summer league debut

Tristan da Silva scored in double figures to help the Magic defeat the Cavaliers on Friday in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tristan da Silva scored in double figures to help the Orlando Magic defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Da Silva produced 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal in the 106-79 victory at the Pavilion. He finished by shooting 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in 23 minutes of action in his debut.

The 18th pick was decisive in his first minutes with the Magic and looked to shoot the ball with confidence. He also had some nice defensive sequences against the Cavaliers and finished plus-31 on the court, tied for the second-best mark on the team.

Da Silva was highly touted entering the NBA draft for his ability to score on offense and defend on the other end of the floor. The Magic were also enamored with his positional size, basketball IQ and character off of the court.

Performances in summer league are often taken with a grain of salt but da Silva showed that he belonged on the court. He should have the opportunity to compete for rotation minutes and provide the Magic with some much-needed floor spacing and defense.

The Magic and da Silva return to action on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second of at least five games in the desert. He will look to build upon a solid debut performance and help the Magic alongside roster players Anthony Black and Jett Howard.

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Kings’ Devin Carter is expected to miss 6 months after shoulder surgery

Kings rookie Devin Carter is expected to miss approximately six months after undergoing left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.

Sacramento Kings rookie Devin Carter is expected to miss approximately six months after undergoing left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, the team announced.

Carter, the 13th pick in the NBA draft, underwent the procedure by Dr. Harlan Selesnick at the Baptist Health Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida. He will begin the rehabilitation process and is expected to make a full recovery.

He appeared to hint on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he dealt with the injury throughout this past season at Providence. He will now miss the start of the season as he recovers from the injury.

Carter, the son of former 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter, averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals on 47.3% shooting from the field as a junior. He led the conference in scoring and finished 10th in the country in defensive rebounds (253).

The 22-year-old was considered one of the top defenders in the country and was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist in February. He ranked 10th in the country in defensive win shares (2.7) and 14th in defensive box plus-minus (plus-4.9).

After selecting Carter, the Kings also added undrafted free agents Fardaws Aimaq, Isaiah Crawford, Boogie Ellis and Isaac Jones. Crawford and Jones were signed to two-way contracts.

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Raptors sign No. 57 pick Ulrich Chomche to two-way contract

Ulrich Chomche, the 57th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the Raptors on Wednesday.

Cameroon native Ulrich Chomche, the 57th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, the team announced on Wednesday.

Chomche, 18, was previously with the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal and the Basketball Africa League. He made 26 appearances this past season with the program, averaging 8.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-11 center became the first player from the NBA Academy Africa to be drafted and the first player to be drafted directly out of any of the academies (Global, Latin). He is the sixth NBA Academy graduate to be selected in the draft.

Chomche, the youngest player in the draft, was a standout at the G League Winter Showcase in December. He also competed with Team World at the Nike Hoop Summit in April, recording four points, four rebounds, three blocked shots and one assist in a loss to Team USA.

He declared for the draft in April and participated in the combine in May in Chicago, Illinois, recording five points and four rebounds in one scrimmage game. He also registered the fourth-fastest shuttle run time among all participants (2.84 seconds).

Chomche will split his time between Toronto and the Raptors 905 in the G League. He is eligible to be active for up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn a flat salary equal to 50% of the minimum salary applicable to a player with zero years of service.

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Grizzlies’ Zach Edey jumps ahead for Rookie of the Year after debut

Zach Edey turned in a dazzling performance in his debut with the Grizzlies, and found himself ahead in the Rookie of the Year race.

Zach Edey turned in a dazzling performance in his debut with the Memphis Grizzlies, and the ninth pick found himself ahead in the Rookie of the Year race, as a result.

Edey produced 14 points, 15 rebounds, four blocked shots and one assist in a 97-95 loss in overtime to the Utah Jazz in the Salt Lake City Summer League. He finished by shooting 7-of-12 from the field in 33 minutes of action.

The 7-footer had one of the highlights of the night after converting a game-tying tip in off an intentionally missed free throw as time expired to force overtime. The shot came after Edey missed a potential go-ahead dunk in the closing seconds.

Though the effort by Edey came in summer league, the former Purdue legend did the bulk of his work against Jazz center Walker Kessler and several of their roster players. He looked the part of a lottery pick and had some dominant stretches in the game.

Edey had plenty of people buzzing about his debut, including All-Star teammate Ja Morant, who gave his stamp of approval on X. With two more games in Utah, and at least five in Las Vegas, Edey should be must-watch television.

The sportsbooks have also noticed, too.

Following the game, FanDuel moved Edey ahead in the Rookie of the Year race, and he is now the very early favorite (plus-600) to win the award after one performance over the likes of Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher and Dalton Knecht.

The race to become the next Rookie of the Year will undoubtedly fluctuate throughout the season. However, it will be worth watching to see if Edey can keep himself in the discussion for the annual award to start the season with the Grizzlies.

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Rick Carlisle revealed the Pacers had Johnny Furphy ranked 14th on their draft board

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle revealed the team had a first-round grade on former Kansas guard Johnny Furphy in the draft.

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle revealed on Monday that the team had a first-round grade on former Kansas guard Johnny Furphy in the 2024 NBA draft.

Furphy established himself as a draft pick after a strong freshman campaign with the Jayhawks. He was projected by some to be a first-round pick, which made it rather surprising that the Australian fell to the Pacers at No. 35 in the second round.

The Pacers apparently agreed with that assessment, too.

Carlisle, speaking on “The Wake Up Call” on 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis, said they were pleasantly surprised Furphy was available when they were on the clock.

He is a guy that our scouts had as the No. 14 player in the entire draft, and we got him at 35, so we feel pretty fortunate there.

Furphy was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team after averaging nine points, 4.9 rebounds and one assist on 46.6% shooting from the field at Kansas. He scored in double figures 14 times, including a season-high 23 points and 11 rebounds on Jan. 22.

The 6-foot-9 guard played a larger role for the Jayhawks over the second half of the season, starting in 18 out of the last 19 games. He averaged 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals on 34.9% shooting from 3-point range over that span.

The team reportedly signed Furphy to a four-year, $8.59 million contract, which is guaranteed for the first three seasons. The contract will pay Furphy just above $1.85 million in the first year and has a team option in the fourth year.

Furphy dropping to the Pacers was one of the biggest surprises of the draft. The team is certainly high on his potential on the court and may have gotten a steal with the pick.

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Report: Kings rookie Devin Carter to undergo left shoulder surgery

Kings rookie Devin Carter is reportedly expected to undergo surgery on his left shoulder next week.

Sacramento Kings rookie Devin Carter is reportedly expected to undergo surgery on his left shoulder next week, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Carter dealt with the injury throughout the predraft process, which will prevent him from playing in summer league. He is expected to make a full recovery, though could miss the start of next season after recovering from surgery.

The 13th pick worked out with at least seven teams ahead of the draft and proved himself as a lock to be a lottery pick. The injury likely wasn’t red-flagged and didn’t appear to hurt his draft stock after going to the Kings in the lottery.

Carter, the son of former 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter, averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals on 47.3% shooting from the field as a junior at Providence. He led the conference in scoring and finished 10th in the country in defensive rebounds (253).

The 22-year-old was considered one of the top defenders in the country and was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist in February. He ranked 10th in the country in defensive win shares (2.7) and 14th in defensive box plus-minus (plus-4.9).

After selecting Carter, the Kings also added undrafted free agents Fardaws Aimaq, Isaiah Crawford, Boogie Ellis and Isaac Jones. Crawford and Jones were signed to two-way contracts.

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Knicks sign Tyler Kolek to record contract for a second-round pick

Former Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek, the 34th pick in the draft, signed his rookie contract with the Knicks on July 5.

Former Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek, the 34th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his rookie contract with the New York Knicks on July 5, the team announced.

Kolek will reportedly receive $6.6 million in guaranteed money over the contract, according to Ian Begley of SNY. That figure represents the most guaranteed money in history for a second-round pick, surpassing the previous record of $6.4 million (Andrew Nembhard, 2022).

The Knicks signed Kolek via the second-round pick exception, which was introduced in the new collective bargaining agreement. The exception allows teams to save some of their non-taxpayer midlevel exception to sign their draft picks.

Kolek was named a consensus second-team All-American after averaging a career-high 15.3 points, 7.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals on 38.8% shooting from 3-point range. He became one of seven players in program history to be a consensus All-American selection.

The 6-foot-3 standout led the country in assists per game and was fourth in assist percentage (42.1). He is second in program history with 697 assists and is one of four Marquette players with at least 1,000 points and 600 assists in a career.

Kolek is expected to play for the Knicks in the NBA Summer League beginning on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets. He will likely be joined by fellow picks Pacôme Dadiet (No. 25), Kevin McCullar Jr. (No. 56) and Ariel Hukporti (No. 58), among others.

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Report: Pacers sign second-round pick Johnny Furphy to 4-year contract

Former Kansas guard Johnny Furphy, the 35th pick in the draft, signed his second-round contract with the Pacers on Saturday.

Former Kansas guard Johnny Furphy, the 35th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his second-round contract with the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, the team announced.

Furphy, who was born in Australia, reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with the team, according to Tony East of All Pacers. The contract will pay Furphy just above $1.85 million in the first year and has a team option in the fourth year.

The 19-year-old was among three draft picks by the Pacers this year, joining Tristen Newton (No. 49) and Enrique Freeman (No. 50). Furphy is one of 11 second-round picks to agree to terms on a contract.

Furphy was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team after averaging nine points, 4.9 rebounds and one assist on 46.6% shooting from the field at Kansas. He scored in double figures 14 times, including a season-high 23 points and 11 rebounds on Jan. 22.

The 6-foot-9 guard played a larger role for the Jayhawks over the second half of the season, starting in 18 out of the last 19 games. He averaged 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals on 34.9% shooting from 3-point range over that span.

Furphy will play with the Pacers in the NBA Summer League for at least five games beginning on Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will be joined by Newton and Freeman, along with roster players Kendall Brown, Ben Sheppard, Oscar Tshiebwe and Jarace Walker.

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LeBron James on Dalton Knecht: Besides Bronny, he was my favorite college player

Dalton Knecht established himself as a first-round pick, and earned high praise from LeBron James for his play at Tennessee.

Dalton Knecht established himself as a first-round talent this year, and the 17th pick earned high praise from Los Angeles Lakers teammate LeBron James for his season at Tennessee.

Knecht was a consensus first-team All-American after averaging 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 39.7% shooting from 3-point range. He registered a program record eight 35-point performances, including 37 points in a loss to Purdue in the Elite Eight.

The 23-year-old was projected to be a high lottery pick on June 26 after his campaign but fell to the Lakers with the 17th pick in the NBA draft. James, like most, was a bit surprised Knecht was still available when the Lakers were on the clock.

Throughout the course of the college season, Dalton, besides Bronny (James), was my favorite player in college basketball. I watched his game throughout the whole season. I just liked his ability to shoot the ball, his athleticism, his height and his demeanor that he played with. I’ve always felt his game would translate to the NBA. I did not think he would fall to 17 at all, so I didn’t think we’d even have an opportunity to get him, but I’m glad he did.

The Lakers were ecstatic that Knecht fell to them in the draft after ranking him highly on their board. The team, led by president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick, is impressed with his ability as a shooter on the move or bounce and the three-level scoring he can provide nightly.

Knecht debuted with the Lakers on Saturday in the California Classic, recording 12 points, four assists, two assists and two steals in a loss to the Sacramento Kings. He went 3-of-12 from the field, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, in 26 minutes.

He can continue his transition with two more games in San Francisco and at least five games in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will certainly have at least one fan in James heading into next season.

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LeBron reacts to Bronny James’ first points with Lakers in summer league

Bronny James debuted with the Lakers on Saturday, and the 55th pick received the stamp of approval from his father after his first points.

Bronny James debuted with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday in the California Classic, and the 55th pick received the stamp of approval from his father, LeBron James, after his first points.

James produced four points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal in a 108-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings at the Chase Center in San Francisco. He finished by shooting 2-of-9 from the field in 21 minutes, 43 seconds of action.

The 19-year-old played four different stints of about 4-5 minutes each quarter. He had his best run in the second quarter after picking off a pass that led to a fastbreak for the Lakers and finishing a driving right-handed layup on their next possession.

LeBron liked what he saw from Bronny.

Bronny, who signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the Lakers, started at point guard in the contest next to 17th pick Dalton Knecht, who finished with 12 points and four assists. Blake Hinson led the way with 17 points, while Maxwell Lewis had 14 points.

Overall, the former USC guard had a solid debut for the Lakers. He made some strong defensive plays against the opposition and will have the opportunity to get more reps on the court as the Lakers progress through their schedule.

The Lakers will return to action on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors (6:30 p.m. EDT, NBA TV). They will wrap up their stay in Sacramento on Wednesday against Miami before beginning a five-game stint in Las Vegas on Friday versus Houston.

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