Insider Shams: The Thunder send Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks in exchange for two second-round picks. After this deal, Oklahoma City's luxury tax bill drops from $213 million to $152 million; meanwhile, over the next eight years, the Thunder now hold a total of 12 first-round picks and 15 second-round picks, including two first-rounders this year.

On June 22, Beijing time, the Thunder sent Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks in exchange for two second-round picks. Even before the offseason began, it was clear to everyone that the Thunder needed to reduce their payroll; if they kept the current roster, they would face a massive luxury tax bill, and Wiggins became the first domino to fall in their salary-clearing efforts.

NBA reporter Michael Scotto reports that multiple teams across the league are closely monitoring whether the Thunder will make Luguentz Dort available. Dort has a $18.22 million team option for next season, and several team executives interviewed predict that Oklahoma City will pick up the option and then consider putting him on the trade market. If that happens, the Lakers and several other teams are reportedly interested in acquiring Dort.

Some readers might see this headline and immediately rush to the comments without even reading the article. After all, when Dong Lu is mentioned, public perception has always been mixed—both love and hate. But setting aside the controversies, the noise, and the recent surge in hype, it's undeniable that the "China Football Juniors," a grassroots youth training project he founded and has cultivated for nearly a decade, is the most groundbreaking private youth development initiative in Chinese football over the past ten years.

I've grown a bit tired of watching the FIFA World Cup, so tonight I tuned in to a friendly match involving the Chinese men's basketball team. They ultimately beat the Australian men's team 91-81, securing a strong start. This game served as an important warm-up before the World Cup Asian Qualifiers, with a match against the Dutch team coming up next. Let's talk about the contest that just ended. This Australian squad was no pushover—they were quite young, mostly under 24, though obviously not their full national team. That needs to be made clear first.

Last night, the Chinese men's basketball team defeated the Australian men's basketball team 91-81. This was the team's third warm-up match this summer. The Australian team was certainly not their strongest lineup; most players were starters from the NBL, along with some NCAA rotational players, essentially a makeshift squad assembled for practice. Although it was just a warm-up, the opponents provided a decent level of intensity and overall strength, which served as good training for the Chinese team.

On June 22 Beijing time, with the NBA free agency period still some time away, the basketball world continues to await clarity on the future plans of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne revealed on a show today that even the Lakers' front office is uncertain about James' decision: whether he will remain with the Lakers, test the waters as a free agent with other teams, or retire outright.

On June 22, Beijing time, the game ball that witnessed one of the most iconic game-winning moments in modern New York basketball history is heading to auction. Sotheby's will open bidding on July 1 for this basketball, which was used by OG Anunoby when he completed the game-winning putback in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

Congratulations, congratulations. Shams, the insider: CJ McCollum has signed a one-year, $21 million early extension with the Hawks, including a 7.5% trade bonus. A trade bonus means he receives a cash reward if traded, with the specific amount based on the contract terms. In January of this year, the Hawks sent "New York Mayor" Trae Young to the Wizards in exchange for CJ and Kispert, and no draft picks were involved in the deal.

On June 22, Beijing time, Lakers beat reporter Woike answered fans' questions online, covering topics such as Doncic’s future with the Lakers and the team’s search for a center. One fan asked: “Does the Lakers’ management take Doncic’s upcoming free agency seriously? Or do they rely on the Lakers’ prestige, making only minor tweaks each year, assuming all stars will willingly stay?”