Rory McIlroy leaves himself another monster putt, this time on 3. He doesn’t judge this 70-footer particularly well, leaving himself a ten-foot tester for his par. It’s always dying to the right of the cup, and he drops to +1. Emiliano Grillo also takes a step backwards, finding the bunker to the right of the par-three 17th, and having found himself shortsided, leaving himself too much to do after the chip out. Grillo slips back to level par for the tournament.
Emiliano Grillo birdies the par-five 16th – statistically the second-easiest hole on the course today – and he moves into red figures for the week at -1. The 33-year-old Argentinian, whose best finish by far at an US Open was his tie for 19th last year, is now four-under par for his round today.
We're just days out from the 2026 NBA Draft, and with that the trade rumors are coming in hot. Here is a roundup of some of the latest talk and speculation around the Association.
Celtics, Spurs among teams linked to Isaiah Stewart
The Detroit Pistons have to pay Jalen Duren this summer. Combine that with how Paul Reed showed out in the playoffs, and the Pistons are making physical defensive center Isaiah Stewart available this summer, something first reported by Sam Amick at The Athletic.
It makes sense for Boston, which is looking to upgrade its front line heading into a season where it expects to contend for a title. Stewart would be a defensive upgrade and bring some needed physicality to the Celtics. San Antonio is looking for a physical presence who can both play alongside Victor Wembanyama at times and serve as a solid backup big. Miami needs talent up front (especially if they have to trade Kel'el Ware in a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal), while the Bucks need talent everywhere.
Stewart, at 6'8", is a very physical defensive presence in the paint who blocked 1.6 shots per game last season and held players to a league best 43.8% shooting at the rim when he was the primary defender. He's not much of an offensive player, but he did average 10 points a game on 55% shooting last season.
Celtics discussed Gobert trade
As noted above, and with all due respect to Neemias Queta (who had a solid season for Boston), the Celtics knew they needed an upgrade at center if they planned to contend last season with Jayson Tatum back, and they still need that going into this coming season.
That led the Celtics to ask the Timberwolves about Rudy Gobert at the February trade deadline, reports Fischer at The Stein Line. The idea was likely at its core a Derrick White for Gobert swap. Fischer notes Minnesota is not actively shopping Gobert, but their GM, Tim Connelly, is aggressive and at least open to considering an unexpected trade.
Minnesota eyes other trades
With Donte DiVincenzo out for much, if not all, of next season, the Timberwolves are looking for wing and guard depth — that's why they like Boston's White.
They also have their eyes on Josh Giddey, reports Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Take this one with a grain of salt. Giddey needs to have the ball in his hands to be effective, and Minnesota doesn't want to take the ball out of Anthony Edwards' hands. Plus, Giddey does not come cheap, he is just entering the second season of a four-year, $100 million contract. Hard to imagine Minnesota making that move.
Fischer adds this interesting note: Minnesota has been more open to putting Julius Randle in trade talks than Gobert, while Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid remain "off-limits."
Grizzlies hope Morant becomes Plan B
It's no secret that the Memphis Grizzlies are looking to trade Ja Morant this summer. They tried to find a deal at the February trade deadline — when they sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah — but nothing emerged. This summer, the Grizzlies are hoping that Morant becomes the "Plan B" for a team that strikes out in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic. Miami is the obvious name here, although the Heat remain the frontrunner to land Antetokounmpo if he's dealt.
"The only two teams I have heard and I will pick one of them is New Orleans and Sacramento. I will probably push it the New Orleans way."
New Orleans wants to win now, and pairing Morant with Zion Williamson would be an interesting dynamic (at least for the handful of games when both are healthy during a season). Sacramento is resetting from its older core and Morant, 26, could be a key part of that.
Other Trade Rumors
• Boston has its eyes on Trey Murphy III and may try to make a deal for the New Orleans two-way wing. The Celtics could throw a couple of first-round picks in a deal.
• Portland reportedly would like to get in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if Boston makes him available. Except, right now, he's not really available. Maybe in an Antetokounmpo trade (Boston would want that straight up), but don't bet on Boston just shopping the All-NBA player coming off the best season of his career.
"I always need shooters around me because normally they double me quite a lot, so I think that I need shooters and some centers that jump a lot, defend, and put up blocks."
The Lakers know the blueprint and are looking for those kinds of players, but the supply side of that equation is making things difficult.
CJ Kayfus hit a three-run homer in the first game but Steven Perez got lit up in relief.
Bo Naylor went 2 for 4 with two homers including an inside-the-parker to walk it off, where the Railriders’ outfielder seemed to forget what the score was. Oops. Franco Aleman had another scoreless outing.
Ralphy Velazquez has raised his Triple-A OPS to .700… now to see if he can take the next step.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 9: Pitcher Troy Melton #52 of the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 9, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Troy Melton gave the Tigers six innings of one-hit ball on Saturday, leading them to a 4-1 victory and a series win over the Chicago White Sox. Dillon Dingler and Jake Rogers both had great games by their respective standards, and contributions from Kevin McGonigle, Spencer Torkelson, James Outman, and Tyler Holton were key in this one. Kenley Jansen locked up his 485th save to finish this one off.
Things did not begin well for Troy Melton, but they would get much, much better after the first batter. The second pitch of the game was a fastball on the inner half of the strikezone and Sam Antonacci lifted it to right field for a solo shot. Melton retired Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi, and Colson Montgomery without difficulty from there, though the only thing he was commanding decently was the fourseamer early on.
Antonacci robbed Dillon Dingler of a flare single with a leaping grab at second base in the bottom half. That helped lefty Sean Newcomb to a 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
The White Sox continued to take their hacks at first pitches from Melton in the second, but it only led to two quick outs. Melton started to find the handle on his cutter and slider, but still had zero feel for the splitter. Braden Montgomery waited out a few errant splitters and drew a two-out walk. Jake Rogers tried to backpick him and Torkelson couldn’t handle the throw. Montgomery took second while Melton challenged the pitch correctly as Rogers was otherwise occupied. Rogers got the error despite the ball being right to Torkelson. It ultimately didn’t matter as Melton carved up Tristan Peters with a good curveball for a swinging strike three and his first strikeout of the game.
Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, getting a rare start against a lefty, grounded out weakly in the bottom of the second, while in between them, Spencer Torkelson whiffed on a Newcomb fastball to strike out. The lefty wasn’t showing much beyond a good, well located fastball, but early on that was plenty.
Drew Romo flew out to start the third. Melton, trying to get inside on Antonacci, hit him, but Miguel Vargas flew out to center field, and Benintendi grounded out to first in another quick inning for Melton. The right-hander finished the third at 39 pitches.
Hao-Yu Lee flew out to right to open the bottom of the third and Jake Rogers took a called striked three. The White Sox had their bullpen warm as Newcomb was only scheduled to throw around 45 pitches, but things were going well, and Will Venable stuck with Newcomb against Zach McKinstry, who whiffed on 96 mph up to complete three perfect frames.
Melton got a weak fly out from Colson Montgomery to open the fourth, mixing in some good curveballs now. Grichuk bounced a cutter to McGonigle at third for the second out. Jacob Gonzalez bounced out to Lee at second just as Melton’s pitch count topped 50.
Will Venable did turn to RHP Tyler Davis in the bottom of the fourth. He walked Kevin McGonigle on four straight pitches, and the Tigers had the leadoff man on. Dillon Dingler got tied up with a good fourseamer and popped out on the first base side in foul territory. Vierling pulled a pair of two strike pitches just foul of third base, and battled his way back to 3-2 and through a 10 pitch AB before Davis yanked a fastball wide to issue a walk. Davis then fired three straight balls to Riley Greene. Greene swung at a fastball on the inner edge, pulling it foul, and then got jammed, blooping one to Montgomery at shortstop for the second out. That left it up to Torkelson, and Davis continued to be pretty wild, walking him on five pitches.
And so, Kerry Carpenter stepped into a perfect matchup for him, and Venable wanted none of it, turning to lefty Joe Rock instead. And after starting Carpenter with Newcomb facing him the first time, AJ Hinch now turned to fan favorite, Jahmai Jones. He fouled a ball off his shin and was in obvious pain, and then struck out on a slider that backed up and never broke into the zone as boos rained down from the crowd.
Good times.
James Outman took over for Jones, playing center field as Vierling moved over to right field. Melton got Braden Montgomery to open the fifth, but then walked Peters on four straight. That brought Chris Fetter out for a quick factory reset. It worked, as the right-hander carved up Romo with a nasty curveball for a swinging strike three and his second punchout. Melton fell behind against Antonacci, worked it back to 3-2, and then missed the lower outside corner to walk him. It was initially called a strike three, but Antonacci correctly challenged it. So it was Melton versus Vargas, and the Tigers’ starter came after him, blowing him away with 98 mph to strand both runners in the first stress of the outing.
Rock got a weak flyout to right from Lee in the bottom half, then a grounder from Rogers. McKinstry hung in there to draw a walk and turn the lineup over. Rock slung a pair of sliders in for strikes to get ahead of McGonigle, but the rookie eventually got a fastball and lined it up the middle for a single and the Tigers first hit of the game. Dingler followed suit, inside outing a fastball in and lining it for an RBI single to right field. McKinstry scored and McGonigle went first to third with ease. Tie ballgame. Vierling popped up a slider to shallow center field, and we were onto the sixth in a 1-1 game.
Melton was at 71 pitches to start the inning, so this was probably his final frame. Hao-Yu Lee made a nice diving stop to get Benintendi on a hard grounder to start things off. Melton dusted Colson Montgomery with a good slider for the second out, and then did the same thing to the right-handed Grichuk for his fifth strikeout of the game on his 84th pitch.
The breaking stuff really came around as the game progressed and they ditched the splitter. As usual, Melton’s strength is the mix of stuff he can throw, and the fact that he rarely makes a mistake over the middle. He issued three walks as a result, but only allowed one hit, Antonacci’s solo shot which started the game. He racked up 11 whiffs, getting one or more with six different pitches.
6.0 IP, ER, H, 3 BB, 5 K.
Riley Greene made an opposite field bid on a Rock slider as the lefty continued to pour them in, but it fell shy on the warning track for the first out of the bottom of the sixth. Torkelson got a sinker and smoked it to the wall in right center field for a one-out double. Outman got a breaking ball first pitch and torched a hard grounder through the right side of the infield for an RBI single. Nice job there, and the ball was thrown away by right fielder Braden Montgomery so Outman beat feet to second base. Lee lifted a deep sac fly to right field, allowing Outman to tag and take third, but that left it up to Jake Rogers. If I don’t sound confident there, it’s because I was not at all confident. Instead, Rock fired an 0-1 fastball in there and the Tigers backup catcher ripped an RBI single to left center field. 3-1 Tigers. That move to take second from Outman paid dividends.
Rock was clearly shook, and then Tigers fans decided to serenade the airwaves with Take Me Home, Country Roads, perhaps learning from the absolutely epic World Cup invasion of fans who know how to produce chants, sing songs together, and generally live it up. Of course, the John Denver staple has recently spread well beyond West Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains. As a result, Rock walked Zach McKinstry. Unfortunately, McGonigle smoked a line drive right to Gonzalez at first, ending the inning.
Tyler Holton took over in the seventh, and Venable pinch-hit Chase Meidroth in for Gonzalez. He bounced out, but Braden Montgomery bounced one down the first base line for a double. Junior Perez then hit for Tristan Peters. Holton carved him up with a backfoot cutter for the second out of the inning. Drew Romo grounded out to McGonigle, and that was that. Still 3-1 Tigers.
It was quickly 4-1 Tigers, because Dillon Dingler was up first against RHP Trevor Richards. A 1-1 fastball got vaporized 430 feet to straightaway center for the best catcher in baseball’s 17th home run of the season. DING DING.
Vierling, Greene, and Torkelson went in order from there, and we were onto the eighth with a 4-1 lead.
Hinch stuck with Holton against Antonacci, and the left-handed hitter ripped a leadoff single to right to open the inning. Vargas lifted a shallow fly ball to right field to Greene. The wind was blowing the ball toward the foul line, but Greene caught it and then dropped it on the transfer. Third base umpire Rob Drake thought otherwise and ruled a no catch, but Greene immediately fired to second to get Antonacci, who had no chance. Edgar Quero hit for Benintendi, and Holton popped him out to Lee at second. That left it to the dangerous Colton Montgomery, but Holton absolutely carved him up despite Rogers missing a call that should have been challenged. A sweeper that started at the shortstop’s head dropped in for strike three to end the top of the eighth.
Outman pulled another sharp grounder ball to the right side to open the bottom half against lefty Chris Murphy. Antonacci slid for it but couldn’t hang on, and it bounced away for a leadoff single. Lee flew out to center field, but Outman got a big jump and swiped second base easily. Rogers struck out, and McKinstry lifted a fly ball to center to end the inning.
So, it was Kenley Jansen time again. The big right-hander notched his 484th save on Friday night, but the three hitters he faced wouldn’t be seeing him again in this one.
Grichuk grounded out to McKinstry at shortstop to start the inning. Chase Meidroth dropped down a perfect bunt down the third base line on the first pitch he saw for a single. Jansen got right in Braden Montgomery’s kitchen, and he popped out to McGonigle. That left it to Perez, as the Tigers led Meidroth take second base. Jansen got a little wild and walked Perez, and no one liked that as Drew Romo came to the plate as the potential game-tying run, but he lifted a fly ball out to Outman to end the game.
Nice to get a series win. Melton and Dingler were great. Outman and Rogers had good games. Tyler Holton did a great job. And Jansen gets save number 485. The Tigers will hunt the sweep of their AL Central foes on Sunday.
RHP Keider Montero will take on a tough right-hander in Davis Martin at 1:40 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Jun 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of a tifo during the game between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 06: Manager Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros looks on during batting practice prior to the game against the Athletics at Daikin Park on June 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joe Espada has done a far better job than you think.
Much has been made again this season over Astros manager Joe Espada’s performance. For the third straight year, Espada has been asked to take a highly injured roster filled with Triple-A players and get elite results.
In his first season, he was able to keep the team together through it’s first half struggles and lead them to a Division Title.
In his second season, he kept an injury ravaged team in the hunt all season, and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.
Now in his third season, and managing on the final year of his contract, Espada has again had to deal with a team devastated by injuries in both importance and volume. The Astros record is not where fans or management want, but it is hard to win Major League games with half your roster being Triple-A talent.
Many media and fans alike have stated that they believe Espada is on the hottest of seats, and others have called for his outright immediate termination.
So exactly what kind of job has Espada been doing? The numbers (thanks to our friends at @TigersData) are going to surprise you:
This chart from @TigersData on X shows two different metrics. The first is Bullpen Situation and the second is Pinch Hitter situation.
In Bullpen Situation, the grade is based on going to the bullpen with runners in scoring position (RISP) and 2 outs, and whether or not the new pitcher stranded the runner(s) or allowed the inherited runner(s) to score.
In this situation, Joe Espada ranked 9th in MLB, with his move to a new pitcher stranding the runner(s) 15 out of 20 times.
In Pinch Hitter Situation, the grade is based on going to a pinch hitter with RISP and either the batter reached base or drove in at least one runner.
In this situation, Espada ranked 11th in MLB, with his pinch hitting decision being successful 7 out of 16 times.
That would cumulatively make him a Top 10 manager in MLB based on game altering decisions that managers are entrusted to make.
Now let’s peel the onion back a little further.
This chart from @TigersData shows the expected change in Win Probability that the manager’s decisions in those bullpen and pinch hitting situations created.
Here, you will notice that despite the fact Espada ranked 9th and 11th in Bullpen and Pinch Hitting actual success, the expected win probability added was negative, rating at -0.43. That left him 20th in the ranking.
How can this be?
It’s because Espada has been getting success with players who were not expected to succeed.
When considering the Astros injury-depleted roster, you must understand that often times, Espada has been required to make pinch-hitting decisions with Triple-A players more than any manager should be asked to. Yet, he has chosen the right player at a Top-11 rate.
He has chosen the right bullpen arm to be a stopper in an inning at a Top 9 rate, despite the injuries and underperformance of the bullpen that left it with an MLB-worst ERA through the first two months of the season.
Analytically, his choices have been expected to fail. They are succeeding.
Espada is maximizing the talent on his team, directly in the face of what the metrics say he should be getting from those plyaers.
Forget making chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what, he’s making Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Espada has the respect of the clubhouse, he knows his players, and he is getting the most from them.
Those are the marks of a manager who should be extended and appreciated, not one who should constantly have his job security or job worthiness questioned.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: If the Suns stay at 47 in the draft, they’re most likely going to get a developmental player with identifiable flaws. What player flaw would be the biggest red flag to you?
Ashton: This is a player question, and the easy answer is size or ability to see the court. The NBA combine has taken the measurements, but many of the top picks opted not to play in the 5-on-5 play.
Which leads me to my next point, the answer to the question. The biggest flaw is the player’s character. Yeah, they had the interviews with mealy-mouthed or just plain stupid questions, but is the player just a little too big for their britches? I am talking about the type that thinks it can make an impact on the league immediately, when very few rookies or even second-year players can. You have to be humble and hungry enough to organically grow within a system. And when that system eventually trades you, shrug it off and realize you are making serious money as an adult playing a child’s game.
Voita: I’ve spent the past week reviewing prospect videos, looking at scouting reports, and formulating who I want the Suns to take if they stay at 47 or decide to move up. And without a doubt, the biggest red flag to me is basketball IQ and the ability to process the game.
I think that’s what has made Oso Ighodaro so valuable, his ability to process and react. He understands what’s happening around him and knows how to make the right decision. That’s a skill that translates.
When you get down to the second round, you’re going to find players who might not be the most athletic. They might not shoot well. They might be liabilities on defense. They might not have ideal size. But if they don’t have the ability to process the game, everything else is a wasted skill. Athleticism only takes you so far. Size only takes you so far. Shooting only takes you so far. If you can’t read what’s happening on the court and react accordingly, those tools become much harder to maximize.
That’s why, as I’ve gone through these prospects, basketball IQ has become the trait I value most. Because if a player can process the game, there’s at least a foundation to build on.
Rod: There are some red flags that I’d say are more positional than others (ie, a center who is a poor rebounder is much more of a problem than a PG who is a poor rebounder), but overall, I’m going with low BBIQ. Unfortunately, that is also one of the things that can’t really be measured, and teams will just have to estimate based on past, pre-NBA performance and interviews. A player can have some of the greatest skills in the world, but if he can’t figure out how to best use them, he’s not going to be a strong asset to the team.
Q2: If the Suns were to trade one of Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale in the offseason, which would you prefer that they keep?
Ashton: Let me think, if I say trade Grayson Allen, then all the Duke fans on the board will hound me. If I say trade Royce O’Neale, then all the “size matters” fans will hound me.
Put me in the category that “size matters” (it fits 😉 and keep RO. GA is just too often injured for my taste, though he has the clearer upside. But if I am being honest, with all the trade speculation going on, I actually put a higher percentage that both will be packaged for some unnamed asset. Maybe the desert heat is getting to me.
Voita: I’d prefer to keep Grayson Allen. Perhaps that’s me being contrarian. I still think he has a lot of good basketball left in him, and his skill set is one the Suns could use coming off the bench. Yes, he can shoot, but he can also facilitate and get to the rim. There’s more to his game than simply standing behind the three-point line waiting for kick-outs.
I also don’t know if I can go through another season of watching Royce O’Neale become a turnstile on defense.
If Royce is gone, there’s more opportunity for Rasheer Fleming to earn starting minutes and work through everything that comes with that role. That’s another point in Grayson’s favor in my book. Yes, he makes more money. But if you keep him around and he has a good season, he becomes a much more valuable asset next offseason. That’s why, if I’m choosing between the two, I’m keeping Grayson.
Rod: I’d keep Royce over Grayson for two reasons. First, he’s on a cheaper contract. Second, he’s much less injury-prone. Although I think Grayson is the more talented player overall, the biggest difference between the two is simply availability to me.
Q3: I read some speculation that, unless Fleming, Dunn, and/or Maluach prove ready to start this fall, the Suns’ starting lineup could be Booker, Green, Goodwin, Brooks, and Williams (or Ighodaro). What are your thoughts on this starting lineup?
Ashton: I am good with it. I stated last week in this space to just run it back and keep it below the repeater tax. Of course, someone has to go. That may very well be CG (that sucks) or Mark Williams, which makes Oso the starter at center. Meh, but it is what it is. I would prefer the veteran, but I think he is not taking the qualifying offer and is taking his skills to another team that is willing to pay more.
Do the Suns lose more games? ESPN has projected as such (10th in the West). This should not surprise anyone, as that is about where I have them as well. Anything above that is another good and surprising year.
Voita: It’s not ideal, but I would much rather have that lineup than one that starts Collin Gillespie.
Goodwin might not have the ideal size for the position, but you’re also not asking him to facilitate the offense the way you would with Gillespie. That’s important because it prevents you from once again running out three-guard lineups, something we’ve seen enough of over the past few seasons. If Goodwin is your starting small forward, he at least gives you an added presence on the glass. Rebounding matters, and that’s one area where he can provide value despite being undersized.
So while I wouldn’t call it the ideal starting lineup, and I’d still love to see Dillon Brooks playing small forward next season, it’s a lineup I find acceptable. Especially if the goal is to continue to develop Rasheer Fleming. The more minutes Fleming gets at power forward, the more opportunities he’ll have to work through the growing pains that come with the position. If the organization truly believes he’s part of the future, then those reps matter.
Rod: First off, I hope the person who wrote that was wrong. As much as I like Goodie, I think his best role on this team is coming off the bench. My preferred starters (for now) would be Book, Green, Brooks, Fleming, and Williams (if he’s still with the team). If Williams is no longer on the roster, Oso certainly has the most experience, and I wouldn’t mind him starting, but I’d want to see a LOT of Khaman off the bench too…like a near 50/50 split in court time for the two of them, with the one playing the best that night finishing.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
APPLE POD:
Suns Trivia/History
On June 20, 1969, the Suns officially signed Connie Hawkins as a free agent after the Suns had won a league-sponsored coin toss over the Seattle SuperSonics to determine who got the rights to him. Hawkins had been playing for the ABA’s Pittsburgh Pipers the previous season after having been unjustly banned from the NBA. Hawkins had the ban rescinded after suing the NBA, which then lifted it and settled out of court.
On June 20, 1993, the Suns were down 3 games to 2 in the NBA Finals but led the Chicago Bulls 98-96 in the final seconds of the 4th quarter. The Bulls had the ball and, although Westphal’s sole instruction on the play was for none of the players to double-team any of the Bulls (even Michael Jordan), Danny Ainge left John Paxson to try and either steal the ball or foul Horace Grant, who had missed all five of his shot attempts in the game and wasn’t a good crunch-time free-throw shooter. Grant saw Paxson alone 25 feet from the basket and fired a perfect pass, and Paxson then made a three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left, giving the Bulls a 99-98 lead. A last-second shot attempt by Phoenix’s Kevin Johnson was blocked by Grant, and the Bulls won the series 4-2.
On June 20, 2021, the Suns defeated the LA Clippers 120-114 in the first game of the Western Conference Finals. In this game, Devin Booker got his first-ever triple-double (regular season or playoffs) with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
On June 21, 1972, KTAR radio hired Al McCoy to call Phoenix Suns games beginning with the 1972-73 season, replacing Joe McConnell, who had called the Suns for 2 years. McCoy was well-known in the Valley (since 1957), and previously was the voice of the Phoenix Roadrunners hockey.
On June 21, 1987, the Suns traded Ed Pinckney and a 1988 2nd round draft pick to the Sacramento Kings for Eddie Johnson. In his 3 and a half season with Phoenix, EJ averaged 18.4 ppg, averaged 36.3% from three, and won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 1988-89. He was the first of four Suns players to win the award. The others were Danny Manning (1997-98), Rodney Rogers (1999-00), and Leandro Barbosa (2006-07).
On June 21, 2018, the Suns drafted Deandre Ayton with the 1st pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. They later drafted Zhaire Smith with the 16th pick and promptly traded Smith and a 2021 1st round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for Mikal Bridges, whom the Sixers had selected earlier with the 10th pick.
On June 24, 1998, 2nd-year player Steve Nash was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Pat Garrity, Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, and a 1999 1st-round draft pick (Shawn Marion was later selected).
On June 25, 1993, after 5 seasons with Phoenix, the Suns released 34-year-old power forward Tom Chambers. Chambers was a three-time All-Star with the Sun, averaged 20.6 points (7th best All-Time) and 6.6 rebounds per game, and his 7,817 point total ranks 12th on the list of All-Time Suns scorers. His 27.17 ppg average in 1989-90 is still the best single-season ppg average in franchise history.
On June 25, 2015, the Suns drafted Devin Booker in the 1st round (13th pick) of the 2015 NBA Draft.
On June 26, 1996, the Phoenix Suns used the 15th pick in the NBA Draft to select Steve Nash. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the (then) relatively unknown player. This was because, despite his impressive college accomplishments, Nash had not played in one of the major college conferences.
Important Future Dates
June 23 – NBA Draft First Round, 8 ET (ABC/ESPN) June 24 – NBA Draft Second Round, 8 ET (ESPN) June 30 – Teams can begin negotiations with all free agents July 1 – Official start of the 2026-27 league year and moratorium period July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One of the great joys about being a fan of a team is sharing the experience with other fans of your team. That is why many of us wear our team’s gear around town – a “Go Spurs” greeting from a total stranger who sees your Spurs hat means that the two of you are no longer total strangers, at least for that moment. And that moment can becomes minutes, or more, if the two of you turn that greeting into a conversation. Most of you reading this live much closer to San Antonio than I do here in LA, so my “Go Spurs” encounters are few and far between – and that much more special. Last winter I had one on a bus coming back from skiing in Park City with my super-daughter. I also still remember one in Cancun, Mexico where a guy in a #21 Duncan jersey was thrilled to run into someone who wrote for Pounding the Rock.
That shared connection is why fans gather at each other’s houses, or at outdoor watch parties, or at the home stadium when the team is on the road to watch on the Jumbotron. Of course, best of all is being at the game itself, even if some participants in the front row spend the game looking down at their phones, or even worse, fall asleep in their luxury suites. If all goes extremely well, all the fans of one special team get to gather one last time for that season with a victory parade.
Knicks fans were the lucky ones who had their victory parade. Apparently, two million fans attended the parade. Two million! There were more people at the Knicks’ victory parade than the entire population of the cities of twenty-five of the NBA’s thirty teams.
Perhaps because New York is the media capital of the country, the media was all-in celebrating the Knicks victory, whether on the national nightly news, morning talk shows, or late night TV. Of course, that the Knicks had not won since 1973 mattered too. That was a long time ago: The top song of 1973 was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn. The highest-grossing movies were The Exorcist and The Sting, and the most popular TV shows were All in the Family and The Waltons. Put another way, the car I drove in law school was a used maroon 1974 Chevy Vega.
That car had not been built the last time the Knicks won the NBA Championship. Neither that car or I attended the Knicks’ victory parade.
I watched the games at home with friends, family and food – all very good, except for the outcomes of four of the five games. But while those outcomes, and the overall outcome, were very much not good, sharing those games with others brought the same sense of camaraderie that sports fans love to share. Long-time Laker season-ticket holder Mike jumped on my Spurs bandwagon early, and sat next to me for the games talking out what “we” (the Spurs) need to do in the next quarter, the next possession of (after a loss) the next game.
Two women who sit near my office at work would say “Go Spurs” as I left early to get home in time for that night’s tip-off – and we all then avoided talking about Game Four until very late in the afternoon the day after. A long-time friend called me near the end of the series to tell me that even though his mother and the rest of his family were from New York and Knicks fans, he was rooting for my Spurs because he wanted me to be happy. That meant a lot.
Many post-series conversations with sympathetic friends ended with how bright the Spurs’ future is. And while we all recognize that the future is not promised to anyone, I do like the “future is bright” mindset. Known as The Lil Ol Band from Texas, ZZ Top sings:
Things are going great, and they’re only getting better I’m doing all right, getting good grades The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades I gotta wear shades, I gotta wear shades I gotta wear shades
Other end-of-season thoughts
The outcome drives the narrative. Jalen Brunson was an easy choice for Finals MVP. And people are praising him as a “winner”, with the Knicks’ championship as proof. But the outcome drives the narrative. Most would agree that two plays that turned the Finals were Victor Wembanyama’s pass to Stephon Castle’s back at the end of Game Two and OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in to win Game Four. Both of those came off misses by the Finals MVP — Brunson missed a runner with the score tied that led to Victor’s rebound, followed by his disastrous turnover. People forget that after the ensuing foul, Brunson bricked the first free throw before making the second to give the Spurs the chance to win the game on their last shot — which would have made Brunson the goat for the missed free throw. On the OG tip-in, Brunson fired up a long three-pointer that missed. If that brick had gone anywhere else than the perfect volleyball-like set for OG, Brunson’s ill-advised three would have been the story. And if both of those plays had gone differently, the Spurs would have headed back to San Antonio with a 3-1 lead, with all the momentum and confidence to finish the Finals at home. But those plays broke the other way, resulting in Brunson rightfully winning the Finals MVP. The outcome drives the narrative.
A bit more on Brunson. His output in Game Five was historical, scoring 45 of the Knicks’ 94 points. He took 27 shots and had 3 assists. (I have played with guys like that.) Brunson’s game joins the list of all-time memorable close-out performances. These include Magic Johnson’s 42 point, 15 rebound and 7 assist game in his rookie year against a powerful 76ers team led by Julius “Dr. J” Irving; Michael Jordan’s 45 point game against the Utah Jazz in the Bulls’ 87-86 clincher in 1998, including MJ’s game-winning shot over Bryon Russell (after MJ subtly shoved Russell away); Tim Duncan’s 2003 near quadruple double (21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks in Game Six against the New Jersey Nets, no, they have not always been the Brooklyn Nets), which the Spurs won by the ugly score of 88-77; and most recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 50 points (out of a team total of 105), 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks, on 16 for 25 from the floor, and his stunning 17 for 19 on free throws by, frankly, a bad free throw shooter. In honor of the Knicks, let’s also include Walt Frazier’s Game Seven win over the Lakers in 1970: 36 points, 19 assists (an NBA Finals Game 7 record), 7 boards, 5 steals (unofficial), 12-for-17 from the field and 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Now we need to consider the elephant in the room, or more appropriately perhaps, the giraffe in the room. Have NBA fans soured a bit on young Victor Wembanyama? (Spurs fans have not.) The two million Knicks fans at the victory parade spent the last two weeks rooting against Victor. As mentioned above, the New York media is also very influential. And the narrative of Victor shoving little Brunson away ignored Brunson’s grab of the jersey which led to the shove. Coming after the elbow of Naz Reid (again after several uncalled fouls), the inadvertent elbow to KAT’s neck and the non-called “landing zone” foul on Brunson. Victor leading the team off the court without congratulating the winners did not sit well with many, including this ex-coach. Victor remains a thoughtful, funny, intense, fascinating and extremely compelling and competitive young man. I hope he does some soul-searching about both his game and his reaction to frustration. I am sure that Spurs legends, including Pop and the Great Duncan will be more than happy to assist.
Often a game, or a series, just comes down to making shots. In the Finals, the Knicks’ top four scorers (Brunson, OG, KAT and Bridges) combined to shoot 41% from three. The Spurs’ top four scorers (Victor, Harper, Castle and Fox) combined to shoot 27% from three. Yikes. Even with good shooting from Vassel and Champagnie, the Spurs still only shot 34% from three as a team — worse than the 40% by notorious bad shooter Josh Hart. in the Finals.
Some commentators have compared the 2025-2026 Knicks to the 2014 Redemption Finals Spurs’ championship. The comparison is based on (1) both teams “putting it all together” for a magical 5-game Finals victory and (2) a big scoring margin throughout the playoffs. From my recap of the Redemption Finals in 2014:
“After winning the NBA Championship Sunday night, several Spurs went out of their way to say that this wonderful season, and the way they dominated the Finals, made last year’s loss OK. Essentially, last year’s defeat gave them a common pain. That common pain bound the Spurs together in a common goal. They decided to do everything they could to make this season’s ending different. Perhaps included in that was the desire to play so well that the Spurs would not lose on the sort of freak plays that led to the Game Six loss last year – which means not allowing close games. As a result of that common goal, this year’s Spurs crushed teams in the playoffs. It takes 16 wins to become NBA Champions. In 12 of the Spurs 16 wins, the margin of victory was 15 or more. The Spurs essentially eliminated the margin of error that leads to close losses. One missed shot, funky bounce or bad call (or one Ray Allen step back three from the corner) doesn’t matter as much when you are winning by 20 points.”
I would love to see the 2026-27 Spurs take that same attitude. This season, Spurs and their fans really enjoyed the journey, but the team just missed reaching the destination. Next season, the Spurs hope to again enjoy the journey, and then reach the destination.
Finally, as is my tradition, like “One Shining Moment” at the end of March Madness, I will end this season with a list of Favorite Memories. I hope these Favorite Memories will sustain me (and you) during the barren wasteland of the NBA offseason — some from the distant past, some from the recent present. Upon further reflection, many of these are both Favorite Memories and things I look forward to seeing again when NBA play begins anew.
Michael Cooper in a defensive stance,
The Joker triple doubling,
The late great Jerry West dribbling hard right and pulling up for a clutch jumper,
The Spurs Beautiful Gaming the Miami Heat off the floor in the 2014 Redemption Finals,
Robert Horry spotting up in the last minute of a playoff game,
DannyGreen!! snuffing out an opponent’s fast break,
Wilt finger-rolling,
Dylan Harper attacking the hoop, finishing with either hand,
Steph Curry sprinting around the court, using multiple screens, looking for a split-second opening to catch, shoot and make a three — from distance!,
Magic Johnson running the middle dishing this way, wait, no, that way,
Patty Mills sprinting over to help a teammate to their feet after taking a charge,
Rick Barry under-handing,
Giannis Euro-stepping,
The Oui Frenchman tear-dropping,
Dirk step-backing,
My Man Manu Ginobili dunking all over Bosh,
Earl the Pearl spin-dribbling,
A Shooter heating up, with the crowd joining in,
Stephon Castle defending,
Pistol Pete behind-the-backing,
The Great Duncan blocking a shot, controlling the ball, and throwing the long bounce outlet pass,
Dr. J dunking,
Victor pointing at the rim for a lob without needing to use the words “throw it up there”,
And in honor of the NBA champion New York Knicks and their two million fans, enjoying each other’s company one last time as the long season ends, celebrating.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 19: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves slides into home plate in the sixth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park on June 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Join us and discuss the game in the comments below, as the Braves look to take a big series win behind Chris Sale.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA- MAY 08: Mitch Bratt #38 of the Reno Aces pitches against the Sacramento River Cats during the first inning at Sutter Health Park on May 08, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Introduction
There were three rookies getting their very first taste of the big leagues on the D-Backs’ active roster in Ryan Waldschmidt, Tommy Troy, and most recently LuJames Groover. They represent a growing youth movement for the D-Backs that has helped fuel them into the postseason chase alongside their usual veterans. It hasn’t been completely smooth sailing for the trio as they have a combined 0.5 bWAR, a .237/.329/.338 slash line, and none of them currently has an OPS+ over 100. Of course, Waldschmidt is the only one with over 100 ABs so a small sample size qualifier is in effect, but they’ve all had the expected growing pains to one degree or another as they become more accustomed to the speed and skill that’s required at the big league level. However, all three of them are obviously position players and their emergence made me wonder if there were any pitching prospects who might make their debut and contribute to the team at some point this year. Of the team’s top 30 prospects, nearly half are pitchers of some kind with half of those sitting either at AAA Reno or AA Amarillo, giving them a realistic opportunity to make their debut this season. I am excluding players that have already made their debut like Yilber Diaz and ones that have injuries precluding them from contributing like Cristian Mena who will miss the remainder of the season. Additionally, since beginning writing this article, both Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka have gone down with injuries, adding more urgency to these prospects’ debuts.
Mitch Bratt
The youngest of the three players listed here, the organization’s 14th-ranked prospect is also arguably having the best season of the three on the list too. In 11 starts with Reno, he’s pitched to an impressive 2.84 ERA, a 0.947 WHIP, and a .190 BAA. That’s particularly noteworthy given the elevated offensive environment the entire Pacific Coast League represents and that it’s Bratt’s first taste of the highest levels of the minor leagues. Since coming over from the Rangers as part of the Merrill Kelly trade, he has done nothing but impress the club – prompting them to add him to the 40-man roster in the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. That move definitely increases the likelihood for Bratt to make his debut this season alongside his left-handedness for a starting rotation that leans righty pretty heavily, but given his age (he’ll turn 23 in July) and his lack of experience at AAA, he faces an uphill battle to get a call this year. But if and when he does make his debut, he’ll need to take advantage of his excellent control to make up for a lack of velocity on his fastball that usually sits in the 90-93 range that he can place excellently.
Kohl Drake
The other headliner in that Kelly trade at last season’s Deadline, Drake has gone in the other direction so far with his new organization. Drake was the Rangers’ 13th-ranked prospect before the trade and immediately slotted in at nearly the same place within the D-Backs’ system this year. Unfortunately, while he’s the more experienced player between he and Bratt with 21 starts at AAA, he has looked overmatched there to this point. He struggled to a 7.15 ERA in seven starts between Reno and Round Rock last year with a WHIP of 1.705 in those appearances. Those numbers have all worsened so far this season with a 7.83 ERA and 1.759 WHIP in 14 starts and he’s particularly struggled walking batters with 4.3 walks per nine. Even by the inflacted PCL standards, those kinds of statistics just simply aren’t very competitive. Still, he’s shown enough potential at the lower levels that if the coaching staff can fine tune his pitch mix and control, he could compete for a backend rotation spot at the end of this season or the beginning of next season.
Spencer Giesting
By far the most dark horse candidate on the list, Giesting has never been a ranked propsect, but has absolutely feasted in his time with Reno so far this season with a 2.87 ERA and a 0.973 WHIP in six appearances and 12.1 IP. Originally an 11th round pick out of the University of North Carolina, Giesting was mostly deployed as a starter for the beginning of his pro career with decent results at the lower levels with a 3.67 ERA at AA last year, but struggled as a starter at AAA with a 6.47 ERA. But since moving to the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever (MIRP in the FanGraphs parlance), the lefty has been a completely different player – increasing his strikeout rate from 8.7 per nine to 13.8 this year. He isn’t currently on the 40-man roster which likely does slightly decrease the likelihood of making his debut, but he’s also Rule 5 eligible this season and has opened enough eyes that the team will probably have to protect him from being scooped by an opportunistic club. Even still, it isn’t often that you’re able to develop a mid-rounder into a productive bulk reliever, but the “deceptive lefty” may be able to parlay an unusual delivery into a bullpen role that could desperately use such a pitcher.
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 02: Reliever Matt Moore #55 of the Los Angeles Angels delivers a pitch during a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 2, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 5-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have been searching under every rock to build up their pitching depth after recent injuries have decimated their staff. After acquiring Connor Seabold and Randy Dobnak earlier this week, today they signed veteran pitcher Matt Moore to a minor league deal.
Not to be confused with the former Chiefs quarterback of the same name, Matt Moore has spent 13 years in the big leagues with the Rays, Giants, Rangers, Tigers, Phillies, Angels, Guardians, and Marlins. The 37-year-old has a career 4.39 ERA, spending his early career as a starter, but transitioning to a reliever later in his career.
The lefty was once one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and was an All-Star for Tampa Bay in 2013 as a starter. He had Tommy John surgery the next year, but bounced back to have a solid season in 2016. He missed most of the 2019 season with a knee injury, and played in 2020 with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan.
He returned to the States in 2021, and converted to the bullpenin 2023, posting a 1.95 ERA in 63 games with the Rangers. He last pitched in the big leagues in 2024, making 51 appearances with the Angels, posting a 5.03 ERA. Moore signed with the Red Sox last year, but experienced arm soreness and was released before ever making an appearance in the organization.
The Royals are currently without starters Kris Bubic and Cole Ragans, as well as relievers Nick Mears and Carlos Estévez.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Marcus Smart #36 and Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While this summer has long been circled as one of change for the Lakers, the list of players they’re interested in retaining from last year’s roster is growing.
Even on the heels of a second straight 50-win season, the playoffs made it clear the Lakers, as currently constructed, are not close to contending for a title. It’s with that in mind that an eyebrow might be raised at the multiple reports now indicating the team has interest in bringing players back from last year’s team.
In a recent article for ESPN, Dave McMenamin reported that the Lakers are interested in re-signing two guards, and playoff heroes, from last season.
The Lakers are interested in retaining Marcus Smart and sharpshooter Luke Kennard, sources told ESPN.
Now, all of this interest doesn’t mean they have to bring these players back. And it’s entirely possible, and perhaps likely, that their interest is dependent on other things happening or in the right situation. Maybe they have interest in bringing back Smart if he picks up his option. Or maybe they have interest in Kennard if they miss on some other targets first.
In a vacuum, there are plenty of reasons to bring these players back. All of them, at some point or another, had a moment this season or even during the playoffs that helped the purple and gold win games.
At the same time, both were exposed as the postseason went along. Kennard became less effective with each passing game. The limitations of Smart’s game and the downsides of him being forced into such a prominent role were readily apparent against the Thunder, too.
Both are positive role players, but both have clear ceilings on how much they can contribute when the games really start mattering. And that’s the problem present for the role players the Lakers reportedly have interest in retaining.
How many of them can you envision playing in an NBA Finals? Or even the Western Conference Finals? That can’t be the sole requirement for players the team signs, but it has to be part of the calculation, and not an insignificant part of it.
It’s unlikely the Lakers are interested in bringing them all back as that would go against the whole idea of reshaping the roster this summer. But there should be some strong discussions about how many of them are worth re-signing.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: E.J. Liddell #9 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts before being ejected during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets are looking to add some new, young, talent in a few days. It’s only fair that they lost a dash of it this past week. After all, they were not only the youngest team in the NBA this past season. Sean Marks has said they were the youngest roster on any NBA roster in 20 years!
E.J. Liddell, who appeared in 26 games for Brooklyn during the 2025-26 season, officially signed a two-year deal with Greek club Aris B.C. who made a big deal of signing the 6’6” 25-year-old. Having signed a two-way deal with the Nets this past autumn, he was set to be a restricted free agent this offseason. Instead, he’s opted to hit the road early.
“Thank you Brooklyn and Long Island for another year in this league,” Liddell wrote in an Instagram post in mid April. “It’s been a year full of growth and lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life. One thing I can say I learned is that through habits & discipline you forge a character rich with courage and peace.”
He’s unlikely to be the only one of the younger Nets from last season to move on. There were reports this past week from two NBA cap mavens, Keith Smith and Yossi Gozlan, that the Nets will likely pass on team options for Malachi Smith (Liddell’s high school and NBA teammate) as well as Day-Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams and Josh Minott, saving cap space but retaining their free agent rights, which would permit them to re-sign or even extend them later in the Summer. Expect to see word on those decisions days after the second round takes place at Barclays on Wednesday. Next Sunday is the deadline for Sharpe and Williams’ team options, a day later it’s Minott’s turn.
Timing, as we’re about to find out again, plays a critical part in free agency, who can sign when and how. Gozlan, for example suggested the Nets could use the $9.4 million MLE which works out to $29.5 million over three, to sign Sharpe. Liddell, being older and with less NBA experience, is different. Similarly, we don’t know what the Nets are planning with fellow two-way, the 27-year-old Tyson Etienne.
The New Orleans Pelicans originally drafted Liddell out of Ohio State in 2022. He bounced from Atlanta and then to Phoenix as a portion of the Dejounte Murray trade. He spent the 2024 season with the Chicago Bulls organization as a two-way before linking up Brooklyn this past season.
While the Nets likely never saw Liddell as a long-term building like the other youngsters they currently have rostered, he had a handful of inspiring moments during his Brooklyn tenure. Starting all of the team’s final five games this past season, he averaged 18.4/5.8/1.8 and hit a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds on April 9th vs Indiana.
The Nets have plenty of flexibility — there’s that word again — in building the 2026-27 roster. To begin with if they do decline team options on those four, they will have around $50 million in cap space to work with. As noted they have the Room MLE and a lot of smaller deals. They currently have 15 players under contract at the moment, including seven of whom are likely to be on rookie deals making a total of $35.1 million or around 21.3% of the salary cap.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Ariel Hukporti #55 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are interviewed by Monica McNutt after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over the last five years, the Knicks have only made six draft picks. They’ve routinely kicked the can down the road for future flexibility and trade pick after pick to bolster a squad that eventually went on to win an NBA championship.
Four of those six draft picks came in 2024. Pacôme Dadiet was picked 25th, Tyler Kolek was picked 34th, and Kevin McCullar Jr. was picked 56th. As the draft came to a close, the Knicks decided to go with another international player, this time a big man, to provide depth.
Little did they know he’d be getting important minutes in the NBA Finals in Year 2.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Ariel Hukporti #55 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Ariel Hukporti was born on April 12, 2002, in Stralsund, Germany, on the shore of the Baltic Sea to Togolese parents. Like many European kids, his first love was soccer, but he quickly outgrew the game due to his rapid growth as a kid and his displeasure with being stuck on defense. Standing nearly six feet tall before even turning 10, he started playing basketball at age 11.
He played with several youth teams and gained interest from several premier Bundesliga clubs, parlaying that into representing Germany on an international stage at the FIBA U16 and U18 European Championships from 2017-19. In 2018, he won a gold medal at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, a biannual tournament that’s treated as a U18 World Championship due to FIBA’s lack of a tournament of their own. He started his professional career that summer, signing with Riesen Ludwigsburg.
He spent his two years there as a bench player, slowly earning more time in 2019-20 while gaining notoriety by heading to America to play at the 2020 Basketball Without Borders camp in Chicago during All-Star Weekend, winning MVP of a camp that also consisted of Josh Giddey, Bennedict Mathurin, and Joshua Primo.
During the pandemic, Hukporti decided to leave Germany to sign with Nevėžis Kėdainiai out in Lithuania for the 2020-21 season. He briefly considered entering the 2021 draft as an early entry, but withdrew during the process.
After a year there, he went to Australia to join Melbourne United of the NBL. All of these press releases talk about Hukporti as this big NBA prospect, and at age 19, he was in a great situation to go out and put himself firmly on NBA Draft radars with a strong year in the NBL.
He averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds across 27 games in his first year there, but disaster struck in the following preseason, where he tore his Achilles tendon. Sidelined for a whole season, he was put behind the 8-ball when he returned in 2023-24, but he improved considerably and finally entered the 2024 NBA Draft.
Being 22 with a recent Achilles injury, his stock was low, nearly slipping all the way out of the second round. In the chaos of Leon Rose’s wheeling and dealing on draft night, the Knicks traded the No. 51 pick for $1 million and the No. 58 pick, which became Hukporti.
As an older prospect, there was a degree of expecting a high enough floor that he would be able to play relatively quickly. He impressed in Summer League heading into his rookie year, but entered fourth (fifth?) on the depth chart. Only being on a two-way deal didn’t help.
Fortunately for him, injuries to Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa opened an opportunity for him to get some run, as he and another former No. 58 pick, Jericho Sims, would compete for the backup center spot. While he played in garbage time in the first two games, his first chance to play real minutes came on October 28 against the Cavs, when Karl-Anthony Towns battled foul trouble. His first real highlight was sadly erased by a ref’s whistle.
He’d get another chance in mid-November against the Nets, playing 30 minutes with Towns injured and putting up 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and four blocks.
Outside of those early cameos that put him on the radar, his chances would be limited. Achiuwa returned in November, and despite Sims being traded at the deadline, the impending return of Robinson was always going to put a cap on his playing time. A torn meniscus in late February ended his season, but he had turned heads in a way no other rookie on the team did.
James Dolan made a rare appearance in the Knicks’ locker room to congratulate Ariel Hukporti on his minutes in the win over the Rockets last night, per @Krisplashed
Hukporti: “I was actually quite surprised because he never actually comes… but it was good to hear from him.” pic.twitter.com/qsevTtZQTQ
Entering 2025-26, Hukporti was firmly entrenched as the team’s third center and even earned the Opening Night start in October due to injuries to Robinson and Josh Hart. Throughout the season, he’d be the next man up on back-to-backs and bide his time in blowouts. He had occasional flashes, including a 6-point, 7-rebound, 3-block performance against Orlando in early December and an 8-point, 16-rebound, 4-block performance against Atlanta in January.
His best performances were usually reserved for garbage time or in blowout wins, but he was tasked with staying ready. Throughout the Knicks’ playoff run, they had to battle constant foul-trouble concerns with Towns facing guys like Joel Embiid and Victor Wembanyama, and Robinson’s free-throw woes, which allowed Hukporti to enter 10 games and play 75 total minutes, ranking 11th on the roster.
He was +22 in 17 minutes in Game 1 against Philly. He played a seven-minute stint in a fully competitive Game 2. He didn’t play much against Cleveland or in the first three games against San Antonio, but he was needed soon enough.
In Game 4, KAT picked up two fouls in under a minute. He would be limited to just nine minutes in the first half, forcing Hukporti and Jeremy Sochan to pick up the slack, with Robinson not conditioned to play extended minutes. His 3:27 stint wasn’t productive, but the team won his minutes in a horrendous first half that gave way to immortality.
In the potential clincher in Game 5, Hukporti was again called upon in the third quarter with Towns back in foul trouble and the looming threat of the Hack-a-Mitch. With the Knicks down 14 in the third quarter and in danger of fully punting the game away, the second-year center flew in from out of nowhere to swat Luke Kornet at the rim.
ARIEL HUKPORTI with a great block on Luke Kornet alley-oop attempt (with replays) pic.twitter.com/WAGTiGepMs
Did that possession change immediately result in something? No, but the lead never grew to the 16-point mark it would’ve reached if Kornet dunked that. It was the first big momentum shift in a second-half comeback that will go down in franchise history.
That’s what Hukporti’s contribution was to this championship. He always stayed ready. He found a way to make an impact when needed for brief stretches in big games against big-time players. That’s all that’s asked for out of your third-string center, and with Robinson’s pending free agency and second apron concerns, maybe he’ll parlay it into future playing time.
Congrats, Huk!
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(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
