NBA Daily Digest: Peterson answers, Mitchell commits, Acuff closes

Six Summer League finals filled the NBA window while the regular-season and playoff boards stayed empty. The best rookie head-to-head belonged to Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson, who put up 25 points and 12 assists against Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer. Off the court, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell's extension moved from rumor cycle to front-office math.

Peterson is the cleanest lead because he controlled a game that was close for three quarters. Utah got seven players into double figures, but the separation came from the Peterson-Cody Williams backcourt and a 32-25 fourth quarter. The direct matchup with Boozer mattered too: No. 2 pick against No. 3 pick, both carrying real creation work rather than just finishing plays. 1

Atlanta's Zuby Ejiofor gave the other Salt Lake City result its center of gravity. The Hawks were down 26-11 after one quarter, then outscored Oklahoma City 50-32 over the next two. Ejiofor's 19-and-15 line gave Atlanta enough half-court ballast while guard Kingston Flemings added 12 points, five assists and three blocks. 2

Mitchell is the day's firmest transaction headline. ESPN's free-agency file lists Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell agreeing to a four-year, $273 million extension, with the deal graded B-minus because of the age-curve and roster-flexibility risk attached to a small scoring guard making more than $68 million per year. 7

Boston's explanation for the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade also became clearer. Celtics president Brad Stevens said the move was driven by salary-cap pressure and future flexibility, specifically the problem of tying roughly 70% of the cap and a high share of usage to two players. He also said Jayson Tatum was not consulted before Brown was traded to Philadelphia. 8

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic gave Denver a different kind of market signal. He said he still wants to be with the Nuggets "forever," but he plans to wait until next summer on an extension, when he can sign a five-year supermax worth around $350 million. 9

There was no regular-season injury report to parse, but two Summer League availability notes mattered. Brown returned to game action for Brooklyn after not playing since late February, giving the Nets a first look at their No. 6 pick. Utah Jazz center Kylor Kelley left the Grizzlies game with an injury and did not return. 14

The larger participation rule for Las Vegas is still simple: unless a team has a specific injury or workload-management reason, NBA.com expects most 2026 draft picks and undrafted rookies to participate to some degree. That keeps the rookie watch wide open when the full 30-team field begins. 10

Las Vegas Summer League opens July 9 in the United States and runs through July 19. All 30 teams are scheduled to play at least five games, with the first four games for each team running from July 9-16 before the July 18 semifinals and July 19 championship game. 10