Wizards
The Wizards have seen enough from AJ Dybantsa.
According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, the No. 1 overall pick won’t play again in the Las Vegas Summer League after totaling 50 points and 14 rebounds in his first two games.
Washington also plans to shut down fellow rookies Tre Johnson and Will Riley, with Summer League coach T.J. Sorrentine saying all three accomplished what the organization hoped.
“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.”
The Wizards also had nearly their entire roster in Las Vegas over the weekend for a veteran mini-camp, something second-year guard Kyshawn George said reflects the culture the organization is trying to build.
“We’ve been trying to build a culture for the past two years,” George said, per Robbins. “I think it’s showing right now.”
Timberwolves
The Timberwolves know they’re viewed as a long shot in the LeBron James sweepstakes.
That hasn’t stopped president of basketball operations Tim Connelly from making the case for Minnesota.
“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.”
Connelly pointed to the Wolves’ recent success, along with an offseason that brought in LaMelo Ball and Josh Green while retaining Ayo Dosunmu.
He also praised coach Chris Finch, the fan base and the overall direction of the franchise.
“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.”
League insiders continue to view Minnesota as a long shot for James, with the Cavs, Warriors, Heat and 76ers generally believed to be the leading contenders.
Suns
The Suns officially announced the signing of veteran guard Luke Kennard, completing a move that had been expected since free agency opened.
Kennard agreed to a two-year deal reportedly worth $13 million, with a player option on the second season.
“Luke’s work ethic and commitment to his craft have made him one of the most efficient three-point shooters in NBA history,” general manager Brian Gregory said.
Kennard split last season between the Hawks and Lakers, averaging 8.4 points while shooting 47.8 percent from three-point range.
The 30-year-old owns a career 44.2 percent mark from beyond the arc, ranking second in NBA history among players with at least 250 made 3-pointers.
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