NBA Basketball 3h Briefing
×Last updated: July 18, 2026, 2:30 AM ET
NBA DRAFT AND ROOKIE BUZZ
NBA analyst Zach Kram espn.com for the upcoming draft class, analyzing the impact of summer league performances. Meanwhile, betting expert Andre Snellings offered insights espn.com into potential bets for the 2026-27 NBA Rookie of the Year award, highlighting early market trends.
TEAM AND PLAYER TRANSACTIONS
Miami Heat President Pat Riley espn.com for LeBron James to return to the team, a sentiment echoed by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who stated he is "excited" about the possibility and would do "whatever it takes" to win a championship in Miami espn.com. Separately, the NBA is investigating espn.com a four-year, $64 million deal between Gary Trent Jr. and the Milwaukee Bucks for potential salary cap circumvention.
LEAGUE PROCEEDINGS AND CONTROVERSIES
The NBA will not penalize espn.com Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo for an on-court altercation with former teammate Tyler Herro at a Las Vegas gym. In a separate league matter, U.S. Representative John Moolenaar called for a review espn.com of the NBA's ties to Joe Tsai, following Alibaba's designation by the U.S. government as a "Chinese military company."