Las Vegas – Cooper Flagg’s first and likely only NBA Summer League is over.
The Dallas Mavericks have shut down the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft after two summer league games, according to a person who spoke Sunday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not revealed the move publicly.
Flagg – who spent his lone college season at Duke before making the leap to the NBA – averaged 20.5 points and five rebounds in his two games in Las Vegas. It’s not uncommon nor unexpected for teams to shut down top picks or NBA rotation players who are on summer rosters early; for example, San Antonio shut Victor Wembanyama down for the summer after two games in Las Vegas after he was the No. 1 pick in 2023.
Flagg put a variety of skills on display in his two games, including bringing the ball downcourt quite a bit. He was the main attraction in Las Vegas, and seemed to handle the spotlight with ease.
“I’ve been through all this before, same thing going into college, same expectations, same people talking about you,” Flagg said after a 31-point effort against San Antonio on Saturday. “So, it’s just trusting the work, trusting all those hours, just knowing what I can do.”
Summer League in Las Vegas runs through July 20.
Jackson signing official
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s signing of a $239.9 million deal that keeps him under contract for the next five seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies finally became official Sunday, one day after the team reached a buyout agreement with guard Cole Anthony to facilitate the move.
Jackson (Michigan State) is now under contract through 2029-30, after renegotiating the final year of his current deal and getting a raise to $33 million for the coming season. The extension kicks in in 2026-27, starting with a salary of $46.2 million.
The sides reached the agreement two weeks ago, but the Grizzlies needed to clear the space required to make the move happen before Jackson could actually sign the contract. He averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Grizzlies in 74 games this past season and was an All-Star for the second time in his Memphis career.
A three-time All-Defensive team pick – and the 2023 NBA defensive player of the year – Jackson has averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 407 career games with Memphis.
Jackson had surgery for a turf toe injury earlier this month and will be re-evaluated likely sometime around the start of training camp this fall, though the Grizzlies haven’t given any indication how long he will be sidelined to start the season. He suffered the injury in his right foot during offseason basketball activities, the team had said, adding that he is expected to have a full recovery.
Locking up Jackson is part of a plan by Memphis to continue building around him and star point guard Ja Morant. Memphis was swept by eventual champion Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs in April.
