As the fallout continues from the explosive reported trade request earlier this month from Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, a new club has reportedly emerged as the potential frontrunner.
According to a report from NHL Insider Nick Kypreos, the Dallas Stars, who are led by former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill, are now Larkin's preferred landing spot in the wake of the Florida Panthers acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.
While Kypreos notes that another former Red Wings executive in Pat Verbeek, a former Detroit teammate of Steve Yzerman who also served under him as assistant GM in both Tampa and Detroit, could try and acquire him for the Anaheim Ducks, the Stars "appear" to be Larkin's preferred destination.
"Frustration and lack of playoff games finally got Larkin to a point where he requested a trade from Detroit with multiple years left on his contract and a full no-trade clause. While Larkin will have some control over his next destination because of that clause, GM Steve Yzerman also has control on if Larkin gets traded at all. There is a strong push for Larkin to expand his list of teams he’s willing to go to. Yzerman will not move him if he feels he’s getting squeezed. Look for Yzerman's former assistant GM, Pat Verbeek, to try and get in on this. However, it appears Larkin's destination of choice is Dallas."
The elephant in the room regarding a potential trade of Larkin to the Stars is whether Detroit could pry away the rights to pending RFA forward Jason Robertson, a Michigan native who has scored 40 or more goals multiple times in his career, to his hometown.
Robertson's contract expires at midnight on June 30, and will also be eligible to receive offer sheets from other NHL clubs.
A likely stipulation from Yzerman would be that Robertson agree to a long-term extension with Detroit before any trade is finalized.
According to multiple unconfirmed reports, a potential December deal that would have brought defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Red Wings fell through due to his reported reluctance to commit to a long-term extension, despite being ineligible to sign one until this summer.
The Stars were not included in Larkin's initial reported short list of teams he'd be willing to accept a trade to; that list only included the Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild.
However, Yzerman reportedly asked Larkin’s representation to expand that list, and they were said to be receptive.
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Brian Burke is officially becoming a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The former Vancouver Canucks General Manager was one of six individuals named to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2026, the likes of which features former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, Keith Tkachuk, three-time World Championship silver medalist Cindy Curley, and legendary goaltenders Carey Price and Pekka Rinne.
Burke, whose career as an NHL executive and with the league itself spans over 30 years, first got his start with none-other than the Canucks as the team’s Director of Hockey Operations in 1987. He spent five seasons with Vancouver before serving as GM of the Hartford Whalers. After six seasons as the NHL’s Director of Hockey Operations, Burke returned to Vancouver — this time adding the role of General Manager to his collection.
During his second stint with the Canucks, Burke pulled off one of the most notable moves the franchise has ever made to this day. In an ambitious draft-day move, Burke acquired the second and third-overall selections in the 1999 NHL Draft, selecting franchise icons and now co-Presidents of Hockey Operations Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
Burke’s career as an NHL executive also features tenures with the Anaheim Ducks (with whom he won his first Stanley Cup), Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He has also owned a variety of WHL franchises including the Tri-City Americans and Chilliwack Bruins.
The 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend takes place from November 7 to 9.
Feb. 9, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke during an NHL press conference for the 2013 Winter Classic between Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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“GOD, I trusted you at the beginning, and I will continue to trust you throughout’’ he wrote on his X account Monday, June 22, followed by a prayer hands and 100 percent emojis.
An accompanying black-and-white photo showed Antetokounmpo from the back wearing his jersey No. 34 as if under the spotlight in a darkened arena.
Does this mean exit?
GOD, I trusted you at the beginning, and I will continue to trust you throughout. 🙏🏽💯 pic.twitter.com/BuRHnQS2NQ
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) June 22, 2026
While Antetokounmpo, 31, has never demanded a trade from the Bucks, the possibility has percolated for months.
The 10-time All-Star forward led the Bucks to the NBA championship in 2021. But since then, the Bucks have only advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs once, and this past season Milwaukee failed to make the playoffs.
The Bucks finished 32-50 in the 2025-26 season.
The Bucks selected Antetokounmpo No. 15 overall in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, and in Milwaukee, he has developed into one of the league’s top players.
The Knicks and restricted free agent Mohamed Diawara are working on a multiyear, eight-figure deal to bring the rookie back to New York, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms.
The deal is not official, but all signs are pointing to it getting done, Begley notes.
Diawara, who the Knicks selected with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was expected to get "significant interest from other teams as a restricted free agent," Begley added.
The 21-year-old forward showed promising flashes over 69 games in 2025, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in 9.2 minutes of action. He scored a career-high 18 points on Dec. 29 against the Pelicans. Diawara also played in six playoff games during the team's run to the NBA Finals, averaging 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds over 7.2 minutes.
Diawara made $1.27 million during his rookie season and had a qualifying offer of $2.4 million, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The team's other remaining free agents include: Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Sochan, Ariel Hukporti (restricted), Kevin McCullar Jr. (restricted) and Trey Jemison (restricted). Additionally, Jose Alvarado has a player option for the 2026-27 season, while Miles McBride is eligible for an extension.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 14: Braden Smith smiles during the game during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 14, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Purdue fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The NBA Draft is coming up fast with Round 1 on Tuesday beginning at 8:00 PM and Round 2 coming up on Wednesday also at 8:00 PM. With that in mind if you’re going to vote you need to vote soon so as to not be accused of rigging the vote. STOP THE COUNT!
In this week’s poll I want to know how many of the four Purdue seniors will have their names called over the next two days. Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn are obviously the most likely suspects but Oscar Cluff and Fletcher Loyer are still out there as well. So, will more Boilermakers be a part of the Association come Wednesday evening? Let us know by voting and also leaving a note in the comments.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 20: Allen Graves #22 of the Santa Clara Broncos celebrates during a game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The first round of the NBA Draft is set for Tuesday evening. Let’s take a final look at who the experts have the Cleveland Cavaliers taking with the 29th pick.
J. Kyle Mann projected the seven foot, 22-year-old center out of North Carolina to the Cavs. Mann wrote:
I’m sure you’ve pondered this question at some point or another: What if Quinten Post could put it on the floor a little bit and dunked everything? Well, the answer you’ve been waiting for is Henri Veesaar. So if the (very expensive) Cavs stand pat and make this pick for themselves, Veesaar would be a solid option. He’s the type of versatile big who could provide some spacing at the 4 next to Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen.
Any viable backup big option in Cleveland needs to be able to play with both Mobley and Allen. Veesar projects to do so because of his outside shot.
Veesar connected on 42.6% of his three outside attempts per game during his senior season at North Carolina. That accounted for just over a quarter of his shot attempts. The majority of looks came near the rim. That’s exactly what you’d want to see from a big man’s shot chart.
There are concerns about his defense. Does he have the strength to be a five? Does he have good enough foot speed to keep up with fours? Both are open questions. But he does check a lot of the boxes the Cavs are looking for in terms of fit.
Veesar averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists this past season on .608/.426/.615 shooting splits.
Graves would be another great fit. The 6’9″ wing from Santa Clear averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on .512/.413/.750 shooting splits his freshman year.
This would be a surprising fall from one of the draft’s analytics darlings in Allen Graves. But should Graves actually be on the board for this long, Cleveland Cavaliers fans should be ecstatic. Graves has the size and length to compete at the power forward position, with an expanding offensive skill set that includes making plays for others out of post-up possessions, shooting from three-point range, and operating as a hub from the top of the floor. He may not have elite juice as a ball handler, but he produces on the glass, and lit up the charts as a defensive playmaker. Freshmen who produce with room to grow shouldn’t be ignored in the NBA Draft, especially if they can come in and fill an immediate need off the bench for a team that’s looking to continue taking the next step in the Eastern Conference.
Grubel’s write-up describes the exact player the Cavs need.
Cleveland has had plenty of guys who naturally play the two, but can shift up to the three as needed. They haven’t had many who are naturally positioned for the three, but can shift up to the four. Graves has the skillset to do so because of his size and rebounding capabilities.
The Cavs have a thing for undersized guards. Stirtz would fit that bill at 6’3″, 190 lbs. The 22-year-old guard out of Iowa averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists on .477/.358/.848 shooting splits.
One of the point guards is bound to slide a bit on draft night. I could see that being Stirtz. The Iowa star has had an incredible rise from playing at the Division II level to being a likely first-round pick. This would be a BPA (best player available) pick from the Cavs.
At the same time, this move would muddy what is already a crowded backcourt depth chart. The Cavs just drafted Tyrese Proctor last season, and have been developing Craig Porter Jr. for a few years as well. There really isn’t any more room in the backcourt as presently constructed.
That all said, there’s a lot to like about Stirtz’s game.
Among the things this signing signals: The Washington Wizards will select BYU's AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA Draft. Washington now has its point guard of the future locked up and isn't going to select Darryn Peterson.
Trae Young has agreed to terms to return to the Washington Wizards on a four-year, $212 million contract, a story broken almost simultaneously by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
Young, who was traded to the Wizards from the Hawks at the deadline, declined his $48.97 million player option for next season and became an unrestricted free agent. The expectation from many around the league was that Young would take less per year for a longer deal, but he is now set to make more next season ($49.5 million), and his salary only goes up from there. The fourth year of the contract is a player option for $56.9 million.
The large contract is surprising because, in the run-up to trading Young (for nearly a year prior to the February deadline), it became clear there was not much of a market for Young, at least at his current salary. Less than six months later, things flipped, and Washington paid him that and more. It is possible the Wizards will come to regret the bcal
That $212 million for four years figure is essentially the max any other team could have offered Young (with his Bird rights, Washington could have gone higher). It's unclear whether such a large offer was out there from another team for the 27-year-old four-time All-Star. However, the Wizards front office was convinced that, because of the league's new anti-tanking measures, a larger offer than had been rumored around the league would come his way, reports Robins at The Athletic.
Young struggled last season with injuries and averaged "just" 17.9 points and eight assists a game, shooting 33.8% from 3-point range. The season before that, Young was an All-Star who averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists per game, shooting 34% from beyond the arc.
Young joins a team with Anthony Davis as the veteran in the front court, along with the promising young Alex Sarr. That group very likely now gets joined by Dybantsa on the wing.
Washington finished with the worst record in the NBA last season at 17-65, but with Young at the point this is going to be a better, more competitive team in our nation's capital.
When it came to Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators, there was always a lingering seed of doubt that the captain’s future with the organization would continue for much longer.
Not many anticipated that it would end this soon, however.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss the Brady Tkachuk trade to Florida.
With a little over a year before the Senators could formally offer a contract extension to him, the organization unexpectedly traded Tkachuk yesterday afternoon to the Florida Panthers for the ninth and 25th overall selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, Florida’s top-10 protected 2029 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.
Inevitably, when Brady returned to Ottawa following the birth of his second child, Lila, at the end of April, a difficult conversation between him and the organization was necessary. And, obviously, from the information that general manager Steve Staios gleaned from that meeting, it became clear that Tkachuk was uncertain or hesitant about signing an extension with the Senators. Rather than have that distraction linger over the team for the next year, the general manager pivoted and ultimately sent Tkachuk packing.
It is a staggering development at a pivotal point in this franchise’s competitive window.
The Ottawa Senators were an analytical darling, finishing in the top-five in the percentage of shots for (52.85 CF%, 5th), percentage of shots on goal (54.08 SF%, 4th), and percentage of expected goals (54.54 xGF%, 3rd). If the organization had gotten the saves early in the season, this would have been a team that would have finished amongst the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
There is something to be said for the maturation process and finding success with a young core group of players who had grown up together after some challenging seasons.
And Tkachuk could not commit to that.
For some, it will be a bitter pill to swallow. In his episode of the Amazon Prime docuseries ‘FACEOFF: Inside the NHL’ that aired earlier this season, Tkachuk detailed how he had a unique story to tell.
“Everybody ties what he did, and everyone's expecting me to do the same thing,” Tkachuk stated. “It's just two different stories. Matthew on his path, and it worked out for him. My path is chugging along, grinding it out and winning a Stanley Cup for the Ottawa Senators."
A lot can obviously change within a year.
From his thumb surgery, to Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence and the accompanying speculation that occurred, to the post-Olympics gold medal victory fallout and dealing with the ramifications of Kash Patel’s inclusion and Donald Trump’s crack regarding having to include the women’s team for a White House visit, to his Wingmen Podcasts where he and his situation in Ottawa were frequently a target of his co-host brother and father, Tkachuk dealt with off-ice adversity and controversy.
Some of it he had no control over, but over other parts, he most certainly did.
All of it was a distraction.
And that is before even mentioning the omnipresent trade speculation that dogged the captain for the past few years. It was a frustrating development for this market because all of that noise and speculation was fuelled by outside forces, yet Tkachuk still had to respond to it.
Eventually, speculation regarding his future led to this answer during his end-of-year media availability.
“I haven't had the chance to talk to Steve (Staios), but I feel like I've answered this hundreds of times,” Tkachuk explained. “None of those things ever came out of my mouth. And quite honestly, it's just getting frustrating. It's becoming a distraction. I've been fully committed to this team, to the city, and it's just becoming a distraction and frustrating to (continue to) do it.”
Tkachuk chose his words carefully, but whenever he spoke about his level of commitment, it was impossible not to notice that he always used the present or past tense. There is no doubt that Tkachuk would have played out the remaining two years of his contract here before testing unrestricted free agency, but he conveniently never referenced any prospective commitment to this city or the organization beyond what was left on his deal.
So understandably, Steve Staios had to have a frank discussion with the captain regarding his future. When it became clear that the odds of Tkachuk remaining in Ottawa were remote, the general manager pivoted and got ahead of the situation. And after seeing the discourse in Detroit following the revelation Dylan Larkin had requested a trade, the Senators and Tkachuk’s representatives deserve credit for keeping this situation under wraps until a trade was being finalized.
Now the Ottawa Senators and Staios have work to do.
For a team in its competitive window, their core is ready to win.
Not landing a young and NHL-ready asset in return was a blow, but it was not for a lack of trying. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Senators had inquired on Anton Lundell, but were rebuffed by Florida general manager Bill Zito, who viewed Lundell as a key foundational piece.
Despite giving the Senators a list of teams that he would be interested in waiving his no-movement clause for, including the Minnesota Wild, who Michael Russo indicated made a “huge offer”, the reality was that Tkachuk’s full no-movement clause gave him control of the process.
He ultimately wanted to be in Florida with his brother, and it left the Senators accepting a package laden exclusively with futures.
The silver lining is that this accrued draft capital and cap space afford the organization a ton of flexibility in terms of the direction it can take.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta indicated that the Senators really like Dallas’ Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent. The caveat is that, as a restricted free agent who is also American, a Brady-less Senators team may not necessarily be high on the list of places where he’d be willing to sign a long-term extension.
If Robertson is not a realistic option for the Senators, the market is not exactly laden with established high-end talent that teams are looking to move.
As an organization that needs to maximize the value of the picks they have accrued, the best opportunity to add a high-end player may be to draft one. Armed with seven first-round picks across the next four drafts, the Senators have the capital to move up in this year’s draft.
In the Senators’ official press release announcing the trade, general manager Steve Staios said, “This was not a decision we took lightly, but ultimately we did what we felt was best for the long-term future of our hockey club. We now possess cap space and draft capital and will be actively working to improve our roster.”
It could be reading too much into his wording, but if the organization viewed a Tkachuk deal within that “long-term future” lens, it stands to reason that moving up in this year’s draft would align with that vision.
The best trade in franchise history was made under similar circumstances when the Senators dealt Alexei Yashin to the New York Islanders for Bill Muckalt, Zdeno Chara, and the second overall selection in the 2001 NHL Draft that became Jason Spezza.
Regardless, the Senators need to maximize the value of its draft picks.
We do not even have to go too far back in history to recognize that follow-up trades after significant departures can create buzz, but have the potential to fall short of expectations.
Following Daniel Alfredsson’s free agent departure, the Senators traded a significant opportunity cost to the Anaheim Ducks for Bobby Ryan. Ryan was a decent player, but he was never a dynamic one who could move the needle. Ultimately, the organization would have been better served holding onto the assets they moved out.
It may take a season or two for whoever the Senators could pick to turn into an impactful player, but if said player is adjudged to be the best value, that should be the route the team should take. At least a player on an entry-level contract would theoretically allow the organization to allocate more money towards free agency.
Whatever the case, for a front office renowned for its analytical approach and for exploring every avenue through due diligence, having flexibility is key.
As for Brady, it’s a disappointing end to his career in Ottawa.
He was the face of the franchise and the captain of a Canadian market. He was one of the most productive players in this team’s modern existence, and his goal-scoring, shot generation and physicality made him one of the most unique players in the NHL. After years of clamouring for a Gary Roberts-type during this organization’s heyday, Ottawa finally had one.
He was also an unbelievable contributor to this community through his philanthropic work. Unfortunately, when this team was finally trending in the right direction and playing the right way, he left. Not only did he leave, but he chose the path of least resistance that flew in the face of everything he had said previously.
He followed Matthew’s path.
He had a chance to write his own story and be his own person, and he balked.
That is his legacy here.
By Graeme Nichols The Hockey News
Move coverage of the Brady Tkachuk Deal at The Hockey News at the links below:
The Hockey Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2026 on Monday, and multiple names familiar to fans of the Detroit Red Wings were included.
Among the names heading to Toronto later this year include Keith Tkachuk, Patrice Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Carey Price, and Brian Burke.
However, a pair of notable former Red Wings players who more than proved their worth of being enshrined in the Hall of Fame during their respective playing careers were once again snubbed.
Henrik Zetterberg, the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner who is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, along with goaltender Chris Osgood, who won the Stanley Cup three times (twice as a starter) and accumulated 400 career wins, will have to wait another season.
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026
Zetterberg has already earned well-deserved inductions into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame along with the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
A late-round gem discovered by the Red Wings, Zetterberg was selected 210th overall in the 1999 NHL Draft, and would burst onto the scene as a rookie in the 2002-03 season on a club still chalk-full of future Hall of Fame players.
He was snubbed for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, falling short to St. Louis Blues defenseman Barrett Jackman. However, Zetterberg would go on to become one of the best defensive forwards in recent hockey history.
His best production came between 2005 and 2011, including a 43 goal, 49 assist campaign in 2007-08 that culminated not only in the Stanley Cup, but the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Upon the retirement of fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom in 2012, Zetterberg would be named the 36th captain in team history. His 960 points rank fifth overall in team history.
Osgood, whom the Red Wings selected with the 54th overall pick in the 1991 NHL Draft, spent the early years of his NHL career in Detroit. He saw significant action during the regular season and the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs before the club acquired Hall of Fame goaltender Mike Vernon from the Calgary Flames.
Named Detroit's starter for the 1996 postseason, Osgood also handled the bulk of the workload the following season. However, coach Scotty Bowman turned to Vernon's veteran experience for the 1997 playoffs, a decision that helped lead Detroit to its first Stanley Cup in 42 years while Vernon captured the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Vernon was traded to the San Jose Sharks later that summer, leaving Osgood as Detroit's unquestioned starter. He responded by backstopping the Red Wings to a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship in 1998.
After Detroit acquired Dominik Hasek, Osgood was placed on waivers before the 2001-02 season and claimed by the New York Islanders. In his first year on Long Island, he helped lead the Islanders to Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Osgood was traded to the St. Louis Blues the following season, where he remained until the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
Following the lockout, he returned to Detroit on a one-year contract and formed a goaltending tandem with Manny Legace.
Though he spent most of the next two seasons backing up Hasek, Osgood took over during the 2008 playoffs after Game 4 of Detroit's opening-round series against Nashville and carried the Red Wings the rest of the way to their 11th Stanley Cup title.
While Osgood struggled during the following regular season, he was again named Detroit's playoff starter and received Conn Smythe Trophy consideration as the Red Wings finished one win shy of repeating as Stanley Cup champions.
Eventually supplanted as starter by Jimmy Howard, Osgood won his 400th career game in December 2010, and called it a career later that summer with 401 career wins, which currently rank 15th all time.
His 317 victories with the Red Wings are second in team history behind only Terry Sawchuk.
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Trades around the NHL may be picking up right now, but the Montreal Canadiens have been quiet so far. While this is the case, the possibility of the Habs making a trade before or at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is certainly there.
The Canadiens are entering the summer with some roster needs to address, with a top-six center and right-shot defenseman being their most notable. This could lead to the Canadiens looking to free up some cap space.
Because of this, let's take a look at three Canadiens who could be traded before or at the draft.
Brendan Gallagher
Brendan Gallagher is an obvious trade candidate for the Canadiens. Gallagher was honest following the Canadiens' playoff run that his time with the Habs was coming to a close. The Canadiens have been looking to find him a new home, and ridding of his $6.5 million cap hit would offer Montreal a good chunk of money to make an upgrade elsewhere.
Samuel Montembeault
It would not be surprising in the slightest if the Canadiens traded Samuel Montembeault this off-season. He dropped to the No. 3 spot on the Canadiens' goalie depth chart and simply is no longer a fit on their roster because of it. With this year's free agent market being weak, there could be some teams out there willing to take a chance on Montembeault because of his past success. His $3.15 million cap hit would also be good for the Canadiens to move on from.
Kirby Dach
Kirby Dach is another Canadiens player who should be watched leading up to the draft. If the Canadiens do not view the pending restricted free agent as a part of their plans, it would make sense for them to try to move him elsewhere. The former third-overall pick could interest some teams looking for help down the middle.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Mikel Brown Jr. speaks with the media during the 2026 NBA draft prospect availability at Lotte New York Palace on June 22, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The next-to-last mocks are rolling out and the top 20 prospects have spoken at the annual Green Room press conference in Manhattan and there appears to be two headlines as fans await the NBA Draft at Barclays Center Tuesday night, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The first is easy: Mikel Brown Jr. the 20-year-old, 6’5″ lead guard from Louisville appears to be the clear favorite for the Nets over the three other backcourt players. Multiple mock drafts, led by ESPN and Bleacher Report, have Brown as the pick at No. 6.
The second headline is a bit more complicated and uncertain. In the last 24 hours, Nets have met and/or worked out two prospects, Morez Johnson Jr. of Michigan and Chris Cenac of Houston, both of whom are tabbed as mid-first rounders. Is that an indication that at this late stage of the process that the Nets believe they are going to acquire a second first rounder? It’s been something they’ve planned.
As Erick Slater tweeted, Brown — and his family — already has a relationship with the Nets, specifically Sean Marks and Jordi Fernandez…
The Nets met with Mikel Brown Jr. at the combine, then flew to Orlando to meet his family, then hosted him in Brooklyn for a workout:
Mikel Brown Jr. told me he’s met with the Nets three times:
“I’ve definitely built a relationship there. Talking constantly with Mr. Marks and Coach Jordi. The biggest thing [Marks] emphasized if I get selected there is building that relationship with Jordi. You gotta have a… pic.twitter.com/NrHEGv3Dxj
That sounds mutually assuring. Brown was one of the college game’s top player and seems to tick off more boxes than his rival lead guards. He plays on both ends of the court.
In NBA Combine measurements, among the four guard prospects, Brown finished second in height (6’3.5”), first in standing reach (8’ 4.5”), wingspan (6’ 7.50”) in anthrometric measurements; second in both the shuttle run (2.89 seconds), third in 3/4-court sprint (3.24 seconds), and max vertical (39.5 inches). Similarly, he tied for first in spot-up shooting (72%) and free throw shooting (100%), second in 3-point shooting (62.0%).
Moreover, Brown is high character, a bit deal for the Nets after the Big 3 debacle. He knows what to say, too, as evidenced by his comments today and his confidence is sky-high, telling reporters that he believes he can play either guard position in the NBA. “Absolutely.”
As a freshman, Brown averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game for the Cardinals. He scored 45 points during a 118-77 win over N.C. State, breaking Cooper Flagg’s ACC freshman single game scoring record…
The man has range. In fact, he led the four lead guards in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet with 27, even though he played only 21 games compared to the 30-plus the others played. A troublesome back injury kept him out of the NCAA Tournament but he says he’s been cleared.
In addition to Brown’s comments, there was another from Keaton Waggler that seemed to hint that he’s gotten interest from the Clippers who hold the fifth pick…
Keaton Wagler confirmed to me that he canceled his workout with the Nets:
“I already worked out for the Bulls, and I was going to the Clippers. That’s 4 and 5. Hearing from them and knowing where I stood, I knew I didn’t need to work out for [the Nets]. But still meeting with… pic.twitter.com/6fHTLUEAm4
The Clippers passing on Wagler and taking Brown could of course change things, as could success in moving up into the top four, but increasingly, both seem unlikely. What about the others? Brian Lewis reported that Kingston Flemings has neither met with nor worked out for the Nets and Darius Acuff while having worked out with the Nets didn’t seem at all enthused and he seemed to dismiss concerns about this defense…
Darius Acuff Jr. said he worked out for the #Nets in Brooklyn. He said it went well & defense was part of the discussion. "Yeah. Of course. Every team you go to makes you play defense, so you do different defensive drills. You've got to show you can defend a little bit." #NBA
On the prospect of the Nets getting another pick in the first round, there was what could be construed as news. After Mike Scotto reported Sunday that the Nets had brought Morez, the 6’9″ Michigan PF, in for a workout on Sunday, Chris Cenac, the 6’11” Houston big, told Slater and the others that he too visited HSS Training Center on the weekend and said the Nets saw him as a good fit…
Chris Cenac Jr. told me he met with the Nets yesterday:
“We had a great conversation. They definitely think it’s a fit there. We’ll see tomorrow.” pic.twitter.com/H4GbFfB8MI
Neither Johnson nor Cenac is projected near the No. 6 pick. Both are generally seen as mid-first rounders, with Johnson coming in at No. 12 in ESPN’s latest mock and Cenac No. 24. The Nets, of course, will have 35 future picks available on Draft Night: 14 firsts and swaps (10 of which are tradeable) and an NBA record 21 seconds (all of which can be moved) to offer teams that might be interested in saving some cap space in return for a first Tuesday night.
Another mid-first prospect, Karim Lopez spoke about how he thought his workout with the Nets (and up against Nate Ament) went…
Karim Lopez told me his workout with the Nets that featured Nate Ament went "great":
“It was a great workout. I did really good. [The Nets] were pretty happy. The feedback they gave me is that they love my competitiveness, they love how hard I play, my IQ, stuff like that.” pic.twitter.com/UC4StXsmjy
However, the team many considered the best candidate for such a move, the Oklahoma City Thunder, made two moves in the past 24 hours that would see to eliminate them. OKC controls the 12th and 17th picks and was projected to be at or above the second apron. Instead, they agreed to send Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks for two seconds and trade Nos. 12 and 17 for the Mavericks No. 9.
The most likely possibilities other than the Thunder? The Knicks at No. 24? As their owner noted, they’re close to the second apron and he’s not willing to go over it. Using the 24th pick would require them to guarantee the player chose $3.4 million next season and $17.4 million over the full course of his contract. The Bulls also have two first at Nos. 4 and 15 but they are a rebuild as well and it might take a lot of unfree that second pick..
Of course, things can change. Often do. See you Tuesday night at Barclays. We plan full coverage.
It appears the Vancouver Canucks could be losing two veterans come free-agency.
Earlier today, CHEK TV's Rick Dhaliwal reported that veterans Teddy Blueger and Derek Forbort are expected to test free-agency come July 1. Both players just wrapped their respective two and one-year deals with Vancouver.
Blueger skated in 35 games for the Canucks in 2025-26, having missed the bulk of the season due to injuries. The center scored an impressive nine goals and eight assists in this span of time, the likes of which made him an intriguing trade candidate come the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
The forward first signed with Vancouver in free-agency, joining the club for their playoff run during the 2023-24 season. During that season, Blueger tied a career-high in points with six goals and 22 assists in 68 games, setting a new personal record for assists in a single season with 22.
Blueger signed a contract extension with Vancouver in 2024, joining the Canucks for two more years at $1.8M AAV.
Mar 9, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander (21) and forward Teddy Blueger (53) and defenseman Derek Forbort (27) celebrate ForbertÕs goal against the Dallas Stars in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Forbort played in two games for the Canucks this season, missing the rest of the year due to an injury that ultimately did not recover as planned. Prior to 2025-26, he skated in 54 games for Vancouver in 2024-25, cementing himself as a solid penalty killer for the team while logging two goals and nine assists.
Before signing back-to-back one-year deals with Vancouver, Forbort spent time with the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings.
The Canucks' other pending unrestricted free-agents include forwards Evander Kane, Curtis Douglas and Joseph LaBate, defenceman Guillaume Brisebois, and goaltender Jiří Patera.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers works against the defense of Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of a game at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers. Rivals, but they have a lot in common. Both have long, heated rivalries with the Spurs, are in the Pacific division, and made the Finals this decade. While Los Angeles has more top-end talent with Luka Donćić and Austin Reaves (who is highly likely to resign, assuming he opts out), both are in a holding pattern when it comes to building out their teams.
Neither is anywhere close to competing with the Western Conference’s best, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder swept both, but the Lakers were after beating the Houston Rockets in the first round. Doncic missed the whole series.
Phoenix knows they want to build another Finals team with Devin Booker leading the helm, while Los Angeles has signaled they want to raise their 18th banner around a backcourt of Doncic and Reaves. The rest of both teams’ long-term rosters are more uncertain. Sure, don’t be surprised if LeBron James returns to the Lakers for his 24th season, and if Dillon Brooks gets an extension after his career year, but neither is in a position to drastically improve their rosters this summer to the point where they can be considered viable threats to compete with the Spurs and Thunder, so their best strategy may be to stay patient.
With his inconsistent play and energy concerns, Deandre Ayton left many unimpressed in his first year in the purple and gold, which is why there have been so many reports of Los Angeles looking to upgrade at center. With the team having “phantom cap space,” as ESPN Insider Brian Windhorst says, people in the NBA are calling their cap space mainly because of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura’s cap holds. The Lakers are not in a position to upgrade their five spot, meaning it might be best for them to stand pat or sign players to short-term deals in the process.
As their series against the Thunder showed, even if Doncic was healthy, they lacked the defensive presence to compete with West’s best. Los Angeles lost by 18 or more points in three of the four games, and allowed at least 125 points in two of them. To acquire the defensive and center presence needed to compete with Oklahoma City and San Antonio, patience might be what they need to exercise most right now, and the same can be said for the Suns.
Lacking draft assets and a flurry of premium young players, even if management believes Booker can be the same player that led the team to the 2021 Finals, to compete with the likes of Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Phoenix needs to recognize that they are not a lone All-Star away or better injury luck from returning to the top of the West. They already tried that method of teambuilding.
While having the Unanimous Defensive Player of the year and the reigning NBA MVP are the anchors for San Antonio and Oklahoma City’s dominance in their Finals runs, neither were one-man teams like LeBron James carried the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Finals in 2018. When the Thunder won the title in the 2024-2025 season, Jalen Williams had a 40-point Finals game, and Alex Caruso came off the bench and had multiple 20-point ones. On the Spurs way to the Finals, Stephon Castle went for 32 in their closeout game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, and Julian Champagnie hit six threes in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Both teams created rosters that were not reliant on their best players to be perfect in every game.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – JUNE 16: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates a dunk against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter in Game Five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 16, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. | Getty Images
As the New York Knicks just showed with their patient and methodical approach to team building, which got them a title nearly four years after signing Jalen Brunson. Along with his iconic game-winner in Game 4 of the Finals, OG Anunoby averaged 20 points in the Knicks’ playoff run, Landry Shamet shot 48% from three, and Karl Anthony-Towns was willing to take a backseat and play more as a distributor for the betterment of the team. The Knicks acquired Anunoby in 2023 and Towns and Shamet in 2024. New York built a team that was balanced and versatile.
Putting flex tape over your team’s biggest issues by adding a superstar and gutting the rest of your team’s assets doesn’t work. Just ask the Suns how it worked when they added Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in a five-month span.
Whether it’s the Suns resigning Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin to short-term deals or the Lakers getting Austin Reaves to not resign for the max, flexibility needs to be a priority for both teams.
Just because Los Angeles had a better season than the Lakers doesn’t mean they should take a different approach from the Suns. Making rash decisions just to slightly improve for next year can do more long-term damage than staying pat can.
Matt Foley lived in a van down by the river. Bill Foley wants to put a basketball team in a stadium down by the casino.
Yes, after years of professional sports leagues avoiding Las Vegas, Sin City could be completing the superfecta of franchises. Vegas already has the NHL's Golden Knights and the NFL's Raiders. The A's of Major League Baseball are expected to move there in 2028.
And the NBA is likely next.
Golden Knights owner Bill Foley has announced that he will be pursuing an NBA franchise. Foley has hired Morgan Stanley to serve as the "exclusive financial adviser" in an effort to "structure an ownership platform" that will be built around his existing holding.
"Las Vegas has earned its place among the great sports cities in America, and an NBA team belongs here," Foley said.
Earlier this year, the NBA decided to target Las Vegas and Seattle as the locations for a pair of expansion franchises.
"This is the NBA's decision to make," Foley said. "Our job is to provide the league a Las Vegas option that is ready, credible, and built to last."
Obviously, other potential owners could get involved. In the end, it likely will come down to money. Likely, a whole lot of it; the expansion fee is expected to land between $7 billion and $10 billion.
The final number will become highly relevant to the valuation of NFL franchises when they are sold — and to the expansion fee the NFL would charge if/when expansion is on the table.
Recently, UFL co-owner Mike Repole casually said the NFL is "talking about two more expansion teams," as if it were already a given. The NFL has officially (or unofficially) said nothing about expanding.
Given the current push for more inventory, expansion could be as inevitable as an 18th regular-season game.
