Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Washington Wizards rookie Alex Sarr had a rough Summer League.
Averaging 5.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game, it certainly wasn’t all bad. However, when the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft shoots 19.1 percent from the field and 11.8 percent from 3, it’s sure to cause a stir. One even wonders what his team —teammates, coaches, and executives —thought about his performance.
Yet, in Las Vegas, Wizards head coach Brian Keefe was right there. After his up close view of their rookie, he had a lot to say. To what may be the surprise of some, the (public) review was all positive.
In an interview with Monumental Sports Network’s Chase Hughes, Keefe explained why his team is high on the 19-year-old.
“…Obviously you see the versatility,” Keefe says. “He brings it to both ends, but especially defensively. He can guard all different types of positions.”
“He’s got the ability to be a three-level scorer at some point,” he continues. “But one thing that has stood out to us is his ability to see the game and read the game. He’s a good passer, so we want the ball in his hands to explore those opportunities for him to make plays for himself and others.”
“We’re going to play a little bit positionless to where a lot of people will handle and make decisions,” the Massachusetts native reveals.
There’s nothing to debate about Keefe’s scouting report on Sarr.
As a true 7-footer, the lithe Sarr has demonstrated the ability to be a defensive menace.
Nothing to see here, just Alex Sarr breaking up a pick and roll lob pass and playing defense like he’s already a seasoned veteran. pic.twitter.com/aOe20uTwRz
— Dan Olinger (@dan_olinger) July 13, 2024
A big man who knows exactly how to use his length, he frequently turns away shots. Indeed, there’ll be a point when his reputation as a rim-protector makes his opponents second guess their chances of scoring in the paint. Yet, because Sarr’s fluid enough to guard smaller players in space, hovering on the perimeter isn’t exactly a solution.
For all of the criticisms that Sarr has faced since Summer League, none have been about his defense. There’s a reason for that. However, his defensive baseline has always been higher than his offensive baseline. That’s what makes all the hurrah about his scoring struggles hoopla.
Still, as Keefe notes, Sarr has a chance to be a three-level scorer. In order to do that, the Frenchman needs to work on his touch, strength, and footwork. As he sharpens those tools, he should be placed in a hybrid role that allows him to play to his natural strengths in pick-and-roll, whether popping or rolling.
Was ready to say how #Sarr sets pnr for his teammates but has not been fed when he rolls- until it finally happened just before the end of half #wizards #NBA2KSummerLeague – pic.twitter.com/9KndxQQaF9
— Dimitris Ioannou (@gavrojim007) July 18, 2024
Too often during Summer League, Sarr was at the extreme ends of the spectrum. He either barraged the rim with 3-point attempts or attempted to take matters into his own hands, scoring off-the-dribble.
Again, he has the potential to consistently score in those situations. Nonetheless, he’s just not there yet. The fact of the matter is that when a player averages just under 10 points per game the season prior to being drafted, as Sarr did, expectations should’ve been tempered. For whatever reason, they weren’t.
Now, he has to enter his rookie season trying to shed a bust label that’s based on him not excelling in areas that he never had.
With his character and love of the game, Sarr should be fine though. Those traits often allow players to steer through adversity and have a reputable work ethic. To that point, while natural gifts are always welcome, hard work is the ultimate secret to success.
The ball will be in Sarr’s hands, scoring or not.
Due to his passing skills, the modernized big man can help open up their offense. Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George have demonstrated their ability to play off-ball, as cutters or in catch-and-shoot situations. Corey Kispert and Malcolm Brogdon are two of the league’s better spot-up shooters in the NBA. They all can play off of Sarr because of that.
Sarr corrals the bad pass and finds Bub for three pic.twitter.com/01XMuvXBTa
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) July 18, 2024
So, as the Wizards develop Sarr’s game, they’re wise to not just focus on the best ways to get him the ball. In becoming a playoff contender, his ability to get his teammates the ball could matter just as much. He doesn’t have to become the next Nikola Jokic. Nonetheless, like a Domantas Sabonis or Alperen Sengun, his becoming an offensive fulcrum will make their team more dynamic.
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The Philadelphia 76ers might be facing a turning point sooner than expected. While Joel Embiid remains one of the league’s most dominant forces when healthy, recent comments from the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey have added a new layer of uncertainty about his long-term future. Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Pompey hinted at something bigger looming in the background, saying that Embiid "may know that the end is near" although "it may not be this season." It was a subtle but powerful statement — one that could shift the entire trajectory of the franchise if it turns out to be true. Because whether it’s his health, his age or just a sense of timing, Embiid’s potential exit would leave a massive void in Philadelphia. And it’s fair to wonder: Are the Sixers already preparing for life after him? This summer, Philadelphia used its lottery pick to select VJ Edgecombe, a high-upside wing with a strong defensive base, shot-creation potential and the kind of physical tools that scream long-term investment. At just 19 years old, Edgecombe might not be ready to contribute heavily right away, but his presence suggests a franchise looking to stockpile perimeter talent for the next era. The Sixers also expect to bring back Jared McCain at full strength. McCain was one of the most impressive rookies early last season before going down with a foot injury that derailed his Rookie of the Year campaign. His return gives Philadelphia another scoring guard with real leadership upside, especially in a system where Embiid may no longer dominate touches. Add in guard Tyrese Maxey, who just signed his five-year max extension, and there’s a young trio brewing that could define the post-Embiid Sixers: Edgecombe, McCain and Maxey. None of them play center. None of them replicate what Embiid does. But they might just be the beginning of a new identity — one built around pace, perimeter play and depth rather than a singular MVP anchor. Still, it’s a tall order. Embiid averaged 34.7 points and 11 rebounds per game in 39 outings in 2023-24, and he remains the emotional centerpiece of the team. He’s the guy who made “The Process” meaningful, who delivered MVP-level production and who led Philly through countless playoff runs — most of them frustrating, but all built around him. Replacing that kind of presence isn’t just about on-court production. It’s about leadership, tone and what a franchise stands for. That’s why the Sixers’ front office might not be rushing to find the next Embiid, but instead quietly shifting toward a more dynamic, versatile team that can adapt in a league that no longer revolves around dominant big men. Of course, none of this means Embiid is done. He’s still under contract through at least the next several years, and if healthy, there’s no reason to doubt he can anchor another playoff run — or two. But if the end is near, the signs are starting to show. And for the first time in years, Philadelphia may be looking ahead without its centerpiece. For a franchise that once trusted the process, a new one might already be in motion.
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is expected to miss most of training camp due to a leg injury, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Johnson was placed on the non-football injury list when veterans reported to Chicago for camp. He suffered the injury during offseason training, according to Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Johnson is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl and is headed into the second year of a four-year, $76M deal. He has dealt with a number of injuries over his career, playing no more than 15 games in a season over the first four years of his career. In 2024, he played a full season for the first time, starting all 17 games with a career-high 1,032 snaps. An extended absence into the regular season would force Chicago to find another starting cornerback among their veteran depth, but Poles said that the team is not “overly concerned” about a long-term injury. “We’ve got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back,” said Poles on Tuesday. 2023 fifth-rounder Terell Smith will likely step into a first-team role in Johnson’s absence. Chicago largely relied on a cornerback trio of Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon last year; Smith is the only remaining defensive back on the roster who played at least 150 snaps on the boundary for the Bears in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Offseason signings Nick McCloud and Tre Flowers may also see a bump in reps over the coming weeks as Johnson rehabs his leg with his eyes on returning for the Bears’ Week 1 opener against the Vikings.
The New York Yankees have been busy making moves as the trade deadline looms, and it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. Fresh off the addition of Ryan McMahon to bolster their lineup, the Yankees are shaking things up once again. This time, it’s not about who they’ve brought in, but rather who they’ve decided to part ways with, and it involves a familiar name who spent just a single season in pinstripes. Jack Curry reported on the trade on X saying, “The Yankees have traded Carlos Carrasco to the Braves for a PTBNL [player to be named later] or cash.” Given that the trade took place a few days before the deadline and just hours before a series opener at home against the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, fans had a lot to say. One fan said, "HAL WASNT LYING! THEYRE EXTREMELY ACTIVE." Another fan added, "CASH CONSIDERATIONS IS ON FIRE THIS TRADE DEADLINE!!!!" "CASHMAN YOU BEAST," said a fan. Another fan commented, "Gonna be the new Jessie Chavez" "Weird trade," said a fan not convinced with the move. Another fan said, "what does this look like? a NURSING HOME?! bffr." The Yankees picked up Carrasco on a minor-league deal back in February, and thanks to early injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, he found himself in the Opening Day rotation. Unfortunately, things didn’t go smoothly. Carrasco struggled in his eight appearances (six starts) with New York, posting a 5.91 ERA and recording 25 strikeouts over 32 innings. He was designated for assignment on May 6 and sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre two days later. He got a brief recall on June 1 but was quickly designated again on June 3, staying in the organization since then. In Triple-A, though, he turned things around, putting up a solid 3.27 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) over 52 1/3 innings. While the Yankees are still in the hunt for veteran pitching, Carrasco wasn’t viewed as a big-league option for them. Instead, he now heads to Atlanta, where he’ll have a real shot at earning a rotation spot. Across his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets and Yankees, Carrasco has a 4.18 ERA in 332 games (283 starts).
The Minnesota Twins made their first big move of trade season Monday afternoon, sending starting pitcher Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers. In order to complete the divisional swap, the Tigers agreed to send back 19-year-old catcher Enrique Jimenez, per FanSided's Robert Murray. The switch-hitting Venezuelan teenager was ranked as the No. 14 prospect in Detroit's farm system. Minnesota's top-two catching prospects, Ricardo Olivar and Khadim Diaw, were ranked No. 17 and No. 19 in their organization. Jimenez made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2023, then spent 2024 and 2025 in the Florida Coast League. Through 137 career games, Jimenez is batting .255 with 10 home runs, 30 doubles, six triples, 12 stolen bases, 68 RBIs, 73 runs, 75 walks and a .776 OPS. MLB Pipeline has Jimenez's hit and power tools pegged at 45, his arm and field tools at 50 and his run tool at 40. The Twins have leaned on Christian Vázquez and Ryan Jeffers at catcher this season. The former is set to hit free agency in November, while Jeffers' contract runs out at the end of next season. Had Paddack not fallen off over the past few weeks, perhaps the Twins could have gotten more than Jimenez in return. The 29-year-old pending free agent was 2-4 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.953 WHIP between April 12 and June 7, but 1-4 with an 8.55 ERA and 1.723 WHIP between June 12 and July 18. On the whole this season, Paddack is 3-9 with a 4.95 ERA, 1.279 WHIP, 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.9 WAR. He has stayed healthy so far in 2025 after missing most of 2022 and 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery and losing the end of 2024 with a forearm strain.