Former NBA guard Kenny Smith, who has been an analyst for “Inside the NBA” for since 1998, has joined the prospective ownership group of Marc Lasry and Steve Apostolopoulos, sources tell NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).

According to Haynes, the group is still in contention for a potential NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas. Haynes hears Smith has raised 20 percent of the bid.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

• A few noteworthy trades have happened in the NBA G League over the past week. The Westchester Knicks have acquired the returning player rights to veteran NBA guard Elfrid Payton in a trade with the Austin Spurs, according to the team (Twitter link). The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston’s affiliate) have acquired the rights to Sean Pedulla in a four-team deal after he was waived by the Rockets, though the second-year guard has since signed a two-way contract with the Kings (Twitter link via the Vipers). The Coachella Valley Lakers (Twitter link) have acquired the rights to Micah Potter, Stanley Umude, James Banks III and Isaiah Miller from Austin in exchange for the rights to Malik Williams. Potter is currently on a non-guaranteed standard contract with the Trail Blazers.
• John Hollinger of The Athletic names his 12-man All-Breakout team for the 2026/27 season. In addition to obvious selections like Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Spurs guard Dylan Harper, Hollinger’s breakout candidates also include lesser-known names such as Bulls forward Leonard Miller and Grizzlies two-way guard Javon Small. Young big men Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors), Alex Sarr (Wizards) and  Kel’el Ware (Bucks) are among the other players on Hollinger’s list.
• In a column that was released shortly after Monday’s deadline, Hollinger of The Athletic explains why he’s “at least somewhat bullish on all seven” of the rookie scale extensions that were signed this offseason. Hollinger was “perhaps the most suspicious” of the five-year, $157.5MM deal Keyonte George signed with the Jazz, but he still thinks the rising young guard has a chance to live up to that contract, which includes $2.5MM in unlikely incentives and begins in 2027/28.