Nicolo Melli already had his flight booked to the Bahamas when he found out he needed to tweak those plans. As the Pelicans wrapped up their final shootaround before the All-Star break Thursday, executive vice president David Griffin informed the Italian forward he’d been chosen as an injury replacement in the Rising Stars Game. At first, Melli thought he was kidding. “I thought he was messing with me,” Melli said. “We always make fun of each other for different reasons. Everybody knew I was excited to go on vacation. I was waiting for this day. I thought he was joking.”
July 6, 2022 | 5:48 am EDT Update
There might be a reason, though it’s unclear if anyone actually knows it. Teams, players, agents, the NBPA, and even the NBA itself are prohibited from disclosing contract terms, a league source said. Announcing contract terms publicly is, surprisingly, a violation of the CBA. Whether anyone cares or would even get punished is unclear.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: Yeaaaa this a stretch… Canadians love you like you grew up there… he’s tripping
ClutchPoints: The Black Jesus aka Ja Morant just made a waitress’s day by tipping her $500 💰 Her reaction says it all 😇
Jaren Jackson Jr: Black Jesus is trending 😂
July 6, 2022 | 12:19 am EDT Update
Thomas Bryant returns to Lakers

Free agent center Thomas Bryant has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Bryant will be given the opportunity to win the starting center position, sources said.
He was courted by the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz, sources said. Bryant returns to Los Angeles where he spent his rookie season with the Lakers after being a second-round pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
July 5, 2022 | 10:40 pm EDT Update
Chet Holmgren shines in Summer League debut

ESPN Stats & Info: Chet Holmgren showed out in his Summer League debut, dropping 23 PTS on 78% from the field. He is the first player with 5 blocks and 4 3-pointers in any Summer League game all-time.