Samwise NBA Newsletter
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Warriors Advance Past Lakers in Summer League Semifinals
Golden State defeats Los Angeles 92-88 in the NBA Summer League semifinals Saturday night, setting up a championship showdown with Memphis. LJ Cryer and Graham Ike each scored 16 points for the Warriors, with Ike shooting 6-of-10 from the field and grabbing 11 rebounds. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg added 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. The pivotal play came in the final seconds, when Lendeborg blocked a potential tying layup and helped strip the ball with 21 seconds remaining. The Lakers’ Adou Thiero led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting. Golden State faces Memphis tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Sources: Sports Illustrated Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
LeBron’s Indecision Is Holding the NBA Schedule Hostage
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is feeling the pressure. Speaking at CNBC’s Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York Saturday, Silver said he wished LeBron James would "make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule." James’ free-agency limbo is delaying the opening week, Christmas Day matchups, and key nationally televised games. James appeared at Fanatics Fest NYC without committing to a team, while agent Rich Paul cautioned there is "no timeline" and that James is prioritizing happiness over maximum salary. ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported the Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers as his top three destinations, with the Warriors considered a dark horse.
Sources: Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
NBA Investigation Into Kawhi Leonard Leaves Toronto Trade in Limbo
The Toronto Raptors’ blockbuster Kawhi Leonard acquisition remains in suspension nearly two weeks after the NBA stepped in to halt the deal. Toronto agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple draft picks to acquire Leonard, but the league stopped the trade on July 6 during the finalization call. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the two teams spent roughly two and a half weeks negotiating with no indication the investigation would become a complication. A voided contract would kill the deal entirely, sources say, while a suspension would not be a deal-breaker for Toronto. The investigation could drag on for weeks, leaving both rosters in limbo.
Sources: Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Grizzlies Rout Rockets to Reach Summer League Championship
Memphis dominated Houston from the opening tip in the NBA Summer League semifinals Saturday, building a 24-9 first-quarter lead and advancing 101-90. Cedric Coward led the Grizzlies with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer posted a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double and added 5 assists. Javon Small added 17 points and 6 assists off the bench. Memphis shot 94 percent from the free-throw line, outrebounded Houston 47-35, and generated 20 second-chance points to a peak 22-point lead. Quadir Copeland scored 24 for the Rockets. Memphis meets Golden State in tonight’s championship game at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
LeBron Drops Clues at Fanatics Fest as Decision Draws Near
LeBron James is playing coy, but the clues are stacking up. James told guest co-host Tyrese Haliburton on his Mind the Game podcast to "follow the clues" when asked about his next destination. At Fanatics FanFest in New York Friday, he quipped "trust the process" to a crowd that erupted in 76ers references, before claiming he’d been using the phrase since before Joel Embiid was born. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports multiple sources say James is "truly getting much closer to a decision," expected as soon as Monday. Betting markets (Polymarket) favor Miami at 31 percent, Cleveland at 28, and Golden State at 19.
Sources: Sports Illustrated Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
What a Summer League Title Would Mean for the Grizzlies
Memphis enters tonight’s championship game carrying momentum and a chance at history. The Grizzlies went 3-1 in the Las Vegas portion of Summer League, with lopsided wins over the Warriors (106-85) and Hawks (96-64). Memphis fell to Miami in overtime in the 2024 championship game, and their last Summer League title came in 2019 when Brandon Clarke was named MVP. This summer’s Grizzlies are developing Cedric Coward as an on-ball playmaker, echoing how Desmond Bane was groomed in 2021, before his scoring average jumped from 9.2 to 18.2 points per game. Cameron Boozer’s success would validate the No. 3 pick’s fit alongside Memphis’ core.
Sources: Sports Illustrated Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
One Bad Game Doesn’t Tell Lendeborg’s Full Summer League Story
Yaxel Lendeborg had a rough outing against the Knicks, 3 points on 1-of-9 shooting in 28 minutes, but the Warriors’ No. 11 overall pick has shown far more than that across his Summer League stretch. Through his first four games, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward shot 13-of-21 from three-point range, a clip of 61.9 percent. Coach Steve Kerr has watched the last two games in Las Vegas. Against Memphis on July 14, Lendeborg posted 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting with 9 rebounds in 29 minutes. The Michigan national champion is drawing real attention as a versatile two-way prospect with legitimate shooting range at the next level.
Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Draymond Green Would Give Up No. 23 to Make Room for LeBron
Draymond Green is ready to give up a jersey number he has worn for his entire 14-year Warriors career. If LeBron James signs with Golden State, Green said on Threads he would switch from No. 23 to No. 5, a nod to the math: 2 plus 3 equals 5. The last Warrior to wear No. 5 was Kevon Looney, who held it from 2017 to 2025. James returned to No. 23 in 2023 after the NBA retired Bill Russell’s No. 6 league-wide. Green’s willingness to vacate the number signals that Golden State is genuinely in the mix as James weighs his free-agency options this summer.
Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
2026 NBA Summer League
Las Vegas — Championship Tonight 9 PM ET on ESPN
CHAMPIONSHIP: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
Semifinals Results (July 18)
Grizzlies 101, Rockets 90
Warriors 92, Lakers 88
Vegas Regular Season Final
Through July 16 — Top 4 Reached Playoffs
1. Los Angeles Lakers — 4-0, +17.5
2. Memphis Grizzlies — 3-1, +11.5
3. Houston Rockets — 3-1, +10.3
4. Golden State Warriors — 3-1, +6.3
Source: Yahoo Sports, July 19, 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency