Steve Bulpett

Scout: Celtics Star Jayson Tatum 'Moving Really Well' at CP3 Camp Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum appeared to be "moving really well," while at Chris Paul's camp in Las Vegas, a scout tells Heavy Sports.

From last night:

An UNSCIENTIFIC update on Jayson Tatum... For what it's worth, he's looking good at Chris Paul's camp.

NBA scout to me in a text accompanied by a pic: “Young fella has bounced back nicely”
bit.ly/4l4JhIo

Scout: Celtics Star Jayson Tatum 'Moving Really Well' at CP3 Camp Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum appeared to be "moving really well," while at Chris Paul's camp in Las Vegas, a scout tells Heavy Sports.

Unscientific Jayson Tatum update:

Scouts are in Vegas to see high school and college kids at Chris Paul's camp -- but one checked in to say how good Tatum is looking on his way back from Achilles surgery: "I was kind of shocked to see how well he was moving."
bit.ly/4l4JhIo

NBA Execs Predict Lakers Will Thrive With New 'In-Shape' Luka Doncic: Exclusive NBA executives and others around the league are predicting the Los Angeles Lakers will thrive with the new "in-shape" Luka Doncic.

Exec thinks NBA should be "terrified" of what Luka Doncic's reshaped body means for his playoff stamina and Laker longevity.

Meanwhile, a GM wonders if Mavs fans will be "pissed off" that Luka didn't choose to make this kind of commitment when he was in Dallas.

bit.ly/44SVuLr

NBA Execs Predict Lakers Will Thrive With New 'In-Shape' Luka Doncic: Exclusive NBA executives and others around the league are predicting the Los Angeles Lakers will thrive with the new "in-shape" Luka Doncic.

The new, in-shape Luka Doncic bodes well for the Lakers' future.

NBA coach: "People should be very terrified."

On the other hand...
One league exec: "You can also look at it like, why did it take him seven years in the league to realize he needed to do something like this?"
bit.ly/44SVuLr

NBA Execs Predict Lakers Will Thrive With New 'In-Shape' Luka Doncic: Exclusive NBA executives and others around the league are predicting the Los Angeles Lakers will thrive with the new "in-shape" Luka Doncic.

The new, in-shape Luka Doncic bodes well for the Lakers' future.

NBA coach: "People should be very terrified."

On the other hand...
One league exec: "You can also look at it like, why did it take him seven years in the league to realize he needed to do something like this?"
bit.ly/44SVuLr

Kenny Lofton Jr. combines a soft touch from 3 and strong court awareness (5 assists tonight) with the fact that every one of his drives to the hoop is essentially a hostile act.

Don't know if there's space for him on the Celtics (I mean that figuratively), but he's certainly fun to watch.

Referees might have early show tickets on the Vegas Strip tonight. They're letting Celtics and Heat play. ... That's usually a good thing.

Unfortunately, what the C's and Heat are playing is hockey.

Twenty-nine field goal attempts in 56 minutes over two summer league games (8-for-29, including 2-15 from 3-point range). ... No doubt he's here to let it fly.

The "SHY" in Scheierman is silent.

Going over Celtics-Knicks in Vegas. Early thought: Baylor Scheierman launching from the summer league logo with eight seconds on the shot clock is near peak NBA 2K26.

So is the fact he made it.

Kenny Lofton Jr. has good skills for a player of his size. Chief among them has to be setting picks...

A defender has to call an Uber to get around that man.

Many, many years ago, Jazz PR legend Bill Kreifeldt gave me several pages of Frank's hilarious quotes. I'd run one each week in my Sunday NBA notes column under the heading, "Frank Layden's Greatest Hits."

Frank once joked to me that he was more famous in Boston than in Utah.

RIP, big man.

I got to know LeBron a little during the draft process. After his first summer game, he had a press conference in a classroom at UMass Boston and talked about all his mistakes.

I walked up to him afterward, pointed to his head and said, "You only made one mistake today -- wearing a Yankees cap."

A number of former Wildcats admitted to me that their school was well over the salary cap long before NIL became a thing... but pretty sure the University of Kentucky never officially made it into the NBA.

Said it many times: I don't believe there's anyone who's ever known, heard or just looked at Emmylou Harris that hasn't fallen in love with her.

Damian Lillard was destined to be an ill fit in Milwaukee.

Bucks lost defense and more when trading Jrue Holiday for Dame's firepower. Then lost even more when Portland dealt Holiday to Boston.

Coach calls me right after latter trade: "How the f*** did Milwaukee not see that coming?"

Anfernee Simons 'Could Be Gone' Quickly as Celtics' Trade Talks Continue: NBA Exec Anfernee Simons could be traded again "if the right move comes along" as the Boston Celtics continue their offseason roster re-construciton.

ICYMI:
So just how does Anfernee Simons fit with the Celtics' rotation? ... And with the C's still open to trades, could that be a moot question?

Also: what's Luke Kornet looking at in the free agent market?

We talk to NBA people for the answers.
bit.ly/3TIInGd

Anfernee Simons 'Could Be Gone' Quickly as Celtics' Trade Talks Continue: NBA Exec Anfernee Simons could be traded again "if the right move comes along" as the Boston Celtics continue their offseason roster re-construciton.

So just how does Anfernee Simons fit with the Celtics' rotation? ... And with the C's still open to trades, could that be a moot question?

Also: what's Luke Kornet looking at in the free agent market?

We talk to NBA people for the answers.

bit.ly/3TIInGd

Anfernee Simons 'Could Be Gone' Quickly as Celtics' Trade Talks Continue: NBA Exec Anfernee Simons could be traded again "if the right move comes along" as the Boston Celtics continue their offseason roster re-construciton.

So just how does Anfernee Simons fit with the Celtics' rotation? ... And with the C's still open to trades, could that be a moot question?

Also: what's Luke Kornet looking at in the free agent market?

We talk to NBA people for the answers.

bit.ly/3TIInGd

From yesterday...

EXCLUSIVE: Celtics Trying to Trade Up for a Lottery Pick in NBA Draft, Sources Say Sources tell Heavy Sports the Boston Celtics are trying to trade up in the 2025 NBA Draft to select a young guard with a lottery pick.

NEW:
Per sources, Celtics trying to move into the lottery. Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis said to be a target.

Plus: Jrue Holiday reportedly very unhappy being dealt to Trail Blazers. Another trade possible.

bit.ly/4k7mxXM

The OKC defense is obviously one of the best the NBA has yet seen... but it doesn't nearly explain all the Indiana turnovers. And if the Pacers had been more poised with the ball, this easily could have been a much different game.

Popeye Jones got a really cool birthday present today.

He got to watch his son Seth hoist the Stanley Cup.

I know the analogy doesn't line up perfectly, but the Rafael Devers trade is giving me Nomar Garciaparra for Orlando Cabrera vibes.

EXCLUSIVE: Celtics Need to Keep Kristaps Porzingis, NBA Insider Says The Boston Celtics enter the offseason with a lot of decisions to make, but one NBA front office vet says there's one change to avoid.

ICYMI:
How good can the 2025-26 @celticsnba.bsky.social be? Second apron concerns will likely play a large role in their offseason -- but NBA sources ( including one in particular) think that, even with the Tatum questions, they'll still be formidable if they are able to stand pat.
bit.ly/43SSs89

a man playing a guitar with the words " would you pray before you twist the knife " ALT: a man playing a guitar with the words " would you pray before you twist the knife "

I honestly believe most Bruins fans are happy for Brad Marchand and enjoy his starring role for the Panthers in this Stanley Cup Final.

But coming in the aftermath of a terrible season for the B's, I'm sure it is, for some, a twist of the cutlery.

a close up of a man 's face with his mouth open . ALT: a close up of a man 's face with his mouth open .

A team won an NBA Finals game taking just 16 3-pointers and making three.

We now take you live to the war room at Analytics Headquarters:

EXCLUSIVE: Celtics Need to Keep Kristaps Porzingis, NBA Insider Says The Boston Celtics enter the offseason with a lot of decisions to make, but one NBA front office vet says there's one change to avoid.

How good can the 2025-26 @celticsnba.bsky.social be?

Second apron concerns will likely play a large role in their offseason... but NBA sources (one in particular) think that, even with the Tatum questions, they'll still be formidable if they are able to stand pat.

bit.ly/43SSs89

EXCLUSIVE: Celtics Need to Keep Kristaps Porzingis, NBA Insider Says The Boston Celtics enter the offseason with a lot of decisions to make, but one NBA front office vet says there's one change to avoid.

How good can the 2025-26 @celticsnba.bsky.social be?

Second apron concerns will likely play a large role in their offseason... but NBA sources (one in particular) think that, even with the Tatum questions, they'll still be formidable if they are able to stand pat.

bit.ly/43SSs89

EXCLUSIVE: Celtics Need to Keep Kristaps Porzingis, NBA Insider Says The Boston Celtics enter the offseason with a lot of decisions to make, but one NBA front office vet says there's one change to avoid.

NEW: Second apron concerns will likely play a large role in the Celtics' offseason... but NBA sources (one in particular) think that, even with the Tatum questions, they'll still be formidable if they are able to stand pat.

bit.ly/43SSs89

a man is laying on a bed with a cell phone laying on his head . ALT: a man is laying on a bed with a cell phone laying on his head .

As they continue to whiff on candidates, Knicks got youth league coaches all over the world like...