Paul George

Paul George underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee after injuring it during a recent workout and will be re-evaluated prior to training camp, the 76ers announced.

There is a rush to bury the 76ers. And I get it. George is coming off a down year, and now the 35-year-old had another knee surgery. Joel Embiid's health is of course precarious.

But there are still scenarios they stay healthy enough to keep Philadelphia competitive. Though it looks grim, the season isn't over before it starts.

Philadelphia 76ers

That said, the 76ers owe the Thunder a top-four-protected pick this year (or next). Just sayin'.

Even the worst team has just a 52% chance of picking top four. So, Philadelphia could achieve only so much by tanking to keep the pick.

Koby Altman

The Cavaliers have signed Koby Altman to a contract extension through 2030, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

At eight years, Altman has already been Cleveland's long-serving lead executive in the Dan Gilbert era. Gilbert clearly trusts Altman – especially extending Altman as the Cavs are set to be one of the NBA's most-expensive teams in the ensuing years.

Altman – who just finished second to the Thunder's Sam Presti for Executive of the Year – checks basically every box. Altman has drafted well (Darius Garland, Evan Mobley), appealed to a star (convincing Donovan Mitchell to extend), found opportunistic trades (Jarrett Allen) and made quality finds in the scrap heap (Ty Jerome, Evan Merrill).

Draymond Green

Draymond Green on his podcast:

"The PA made a shit deal, as the PA has done for years now. And every year, the pot gets bigger and the business gets better, and the players get screwed more."

Players get approximately half the pot. If the pot gets bigger, players get more! This is an argument FOR the current CBA!

There are plenty of issues with the CBA. But if the union helped create a system that increases revenue (i.e., the pot), that means the union fulfilled a fundamental duty to its members.

This mostly just sounds like Green looking for something to complain about.

Cam Spencer

Fun fact, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype: The Grizzlies' Cam Spencer is getting the most guaranteed money coming off a two-way contract ever, breaking the previous record of Vince Williams with the Grizzlies.

After initially agreeing to a two-year minimum contract, Memphis and Spencer will instead sign a four-year deal fully guaranteed for $7.6 million over the first three seasons with a team option for the fourth season, per Scotto. For perspective, Spencer's minimum over the first three seasons is $7,076,338.

The Grizzlies also signed Williams to slightly above the full-season minimum from a two-way contract in 2024. However, that was in January – during the season. Though the minimum had pro-rated down, Memphis still gave him 105% the full-season minimum.

But the salary cap has risen since. So, Spencer (with, like Williams, one of service) gets the record.

Cole Anthony

Cole Anthony surrendered just $2 million in his Grizzlies buyout, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Anthony's salary with the Bucks will be $2,667,947!

Pretty good business by Anthony to get to choose his team AND turn a profit while doing so.

Jonas Valanciunas

Meeting with the media while with the Lithuanian national team today, Jonas Valanciunas was evasive to questions about the Nuggets, via Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net.

Denver completed its trade for Valanciunas and has reportedly shown no willingness to buy him out amid Valanciunas' interest in playing in Greece next season. Valanciunas has a contract that, per FIBA regulations, transcends leagues. The Nuggets have leverage.

But with a great opportunity to state he's on board with reporting to Denver, Valanciunas did anything but.

Richaun Holmes

The Wizards waived Richaun Holmes, ending a clever attempt to actualize him as a walking trade exception.

Last summer, Holmes had a $12,876,780 player option worth well more than his value on the court. Washington convinced him to decline the option then re-sign for a salary $228,459 less.*

*$12,648,321

In exchange, he got a second season with $250,000 guaranteed – putting Holmes ahead a total of $21,541.

Now, Holmes can pocket that difference as he enters unrestricted free agency (albeit a couple weeks late).

Holmes' fully salary didn't guarantee until January. But the Wizards have 16 standard-contract players – one more than the regular-season limit – with guaranteed salaries. If Holmes weren't making the regular-season roster anyway, better to do him a solid and let him find his next team now.

Top 100

Looking for something to argue about in mid-July? Bleacher Report ranked players 1-100 all-time. This is actually a pretty good list. It's especially interesting to see the range of where players landed on individual ballots – who had huge spreads and who fit into relatively tight windows.

-Dan Feldman