Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Alright, we suffered enough. We spent the past few editions looking at unrestricted free agents at the point guard, shooting guard, and small forward positions. There wasn’t much meat on the bone there, especially when you factor in how the Phoenix Suns roster is currently constructed, where the deficiencies are, and where the opportunities actually exist.

In case you missed any of those breakdowns and want to circle back through the unrestricted free agent pool, here you go.

Now we get to the fun part. The power forward position.

This list carries some genuinely interesting names. It’s also one of the larger position groups and an area of real need for Phoenix. There’s no denying this team lacked size last season. In true Suns fashion, they leaned heavily into perimeter play and three point shooting. I understand the philosophy. Basketball is still won and lost in the paint.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the power forwards.

I’ll start by saying I believe the proper move for the Phoenix Suns next season is starting Rasheer Fleming at power forward. Yes, he’s young. He’s also not that young. He was a three-year starter in college and will be 22years old when the season begins. If you want to develop players, you have to give them opportunities. He has the size, the length, and the three-point shooting ability to be impactful on both ends of the floor.

Starting with that premise, I look at the list above through the lens of depth. Who could the Suns realistically bring in as a backup power forward if the roster spot exists? I don’t expect massive turnover this offseason. Most NBA teams turn over around 40% of the roster year to year. Phoenix is leaning into continuity and development, which should lower that number significantly. 40% would mean 6 players changing out. My guess is it’ll maybe two. Amir Coffey potentially not returning and whatever happens with Mark Williams. That’s probably the extent of it.

So you pick your spots carefully.

I’d be interested in taking a flier on Marvin Bagley III in Phoenix. Veteran minimum type player. Still relatively young at 27. He could provide some energy and scoring punch off the bench when needed.

You could also look at Jeremy Sochan, who everyone convinced themselves was the buyout savior that would change the season for the Suns. I said it then and I’ll say it now, he’s basically a Ryan Dunn archetype. Still, if you’re looking for a player who fits the mold and fills a pure depth role, I wouldn’t hate it.

Dean Wade has gotten a lot of attention lately after being linked to Phoenix. I could absolutely see the fit if the Suns move off Royce O’Neale. You could probably bring Wade in on a similar contract, and he essentially becomes your Royce replacement off the bench, only three inches taller. He’s not some elite defender, still, he can hit the three and takes up space.

So what do you think? When you look at this list, who stands out to you?

Let us know in the comments below.

I’ve spent most of this current playoff run trying to reacclimate to this environment. I should be used to this, right? I’m a veteran Spurs fan. This is a franchise that made the playoffs for 22 consecutive years. They didn’t just make the playoffs, they made deep runs. Battles. Marathons. Titles. Heartbreak. We have, collectively, been through it all. I should be used to this. I should have a handle on it.

So why does it feel like I’m falling apart at the seams?

The last few days, in the wake of what happened in Game 4, have not been fun. The elbow heard round the world felt like it rippled through every aspect of my day-to-day. Everyone had an opinion on it. Takes were flying everywhere. You have people coming out of the woodwork breaking down footage from various elbows thrown by various nefarious characters throughout history, gleefully speculating on the potential ramifications for our boy. Even once the actual judgment was rendered, the conversation around what happened to Vic felt like something that threatened to envelope this entire playoff run. Was this the breaking point for this young Spurs team? Were the lights finally getting too bright? Was Wemby becoming a villain?

I wanted to defend Victor. People needed to know that the Wolves were baiting him. Not just that, but physically they were practically trying to hurt him. Arm pulls. Elbows to the back. Shots to the face. You name it, and Vic had been on the receiving end of it. Hell, he got a taste of the whole menu on the exact play where it all boiled over. The Wolves were provoking him. The refs were either biased or incompetent. The media was too quick to judge. No one else has ever been treated as unfairly as this. Man, I just wanted to shout it to the heavens. I wanted to shout loud enough so someone, anyone could hear me. I know I’m biased and I know it doesn’t matter, but I felt this real, visceral yearning to be understood and have someone outside my own circle of Spurs voices tell me, “we hear you. We get it.”

That’s obviously a little bit insane.

The rational person in me understands the shades of grey and that the noise is just that. Noise. It doesn’t have any bearing or effect on anything unless I let it. Problem is, the intensity of the playoffs has this way of fooling around with the “rational” knobs on my dashboard.

I don’t remember it being like this. I don’t remember sweating the small stuff when Tim and D-Rob went 6 games in the second round with the Lakers back in 03. I was simply bummed about the losses and psyched about the wins. I mean, they went 6 games in every series that year, including the Finals. It was just a part of the trip.

Seriously, I go back and think about all those playoff runs and, more than anything, I remember it being fun. I looked forward to it all season. We had watch parties and the games were on national television and it felt like, for once, the whole world was locked in on what the Spurs were doing. It was everything I loved about sports and it was all happening in my backyard. We were watching our cool older brothers go out there and take on all comers. We were watching Coach Pop, our grumpy old dad with a heart of gold, gradually solidify himself as a basketball genius who seemed to have all the answers. I don’t think I ever worried for a single second about the Spurs back then. Even when they lost, I knew they’d be back. They always were.

I’m a bundle of nerves these days. What gives? I should be older and wiser. Experienced. Savvy. I should be the one preaching patience and calm because, after all, I’ve been there before. Instead I’m out here ready to go to war with First Take’s Nick Wright because he has the audacity to say “It’s unacceptable to elbow people in the face.” I don’t care if he’s right, I don’t like his tone!

I could blame social media. I could blame the league. I could blame society. Shoot, I could probably download an astrology app and start blaming the cosmos if I really put my mind to it. But, deep down, I think I’m starting to understand that I’m the problem. It’s me. Hi.

I’m no longer watching these games through the childlike, optimistic lens of someone who has only known success. It’s not necessarily that the Spurs won all the time, but they were good all the time. I didn’t need to worry because they had it figured out. It’s certainly possible that like, maybe they didn’t at the time! Who can say? But when I looked out on the floor and saw Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, I felt like they had it under control.

When I look out there now, all I see are the boys. They are supremely talented and they are extremely tall, but they are kids. There’s no getting around it. I see it when Steph starts getting a little frustrated with the contact. I see it when Dylan Harper makes what can only be described as an “oooohhhhhh, you’re in trooooouuubbbllllleeeee” face any time literally anything happens. I see it when Vic is posturing. Acting tougher than he is because he thinks he has to. I see it all, every night, and it doesn’t make me want to go to battle with them. No, it makes me want to give them a cup of tea and listen to their hopes and dreams.

It makes me want to die any time a shot doesn’t go in. It makes me fly into a rage when they don’t get a call. It makes me want to fight people who don’t understand them like I do. It makes me want to defend them to the death, even when they do something wrong.

I just…I worry about them. You know? I get it. It’s an overly emotional, parasocial relationship that is 1000% me projecting my own stuff onto a group of young men who are, quite literally, just doing their jobs. That’s fine. If that’s what you want your relationship with sports to be then, yea, that’s fine. Healthy, even.

But I love these guys. I want them to do well and I want them to do great things, not for me, but for themselves. For the city. For the fans. I want kids who are out there looking up to guys like Vic and Steph and Dylan to feel that same sense of inevitability and pride that I did back in the day. It’s the most pure gift that sports has to offer and when it hits right, it’s like magic. That’s what’s at stake in these games and it feels a whole lot more important than whether or not the Spurs win or lose.

Heading into Game 5, I was a mess. The Spurs? They were not. They came out and handled their business. They were measured in their response to the Wolves’ physicality. The game plan was solid and it was executed perfectly. No one took the ample amount of rage bait offered and no one backed down when the Wolves inevitably mounted their comeback. It was, dare I say, mature. It looked like a group of guys who had it under control.

I’m not going to stop worrying about them and I’m not going to stop irrationally defending them. I’m not going to stop being nervous whenever they miss a shot and I’m not going to stop thinking they’re perfect little basketball angels who can do no wrong. I’m a bundle of nerves and I am irrationally confident in my convictions. I am the all-seeing, all-knowing duality that is a middle-aged man just trying to get by. I know this and I’m at, relative, peace with it.

I’m a mess and I can’t help it. But the kids are alright. Even when they lose, the kids are alright.

They always have been.

Takeaways:

• Keldon Johnson, have yourself a day. More than any other Spurs player right now, it just makes my heart grow three sizes when KJ gets his stuff rolling and is able to influence the game. He wants it so bad and he cares so much. He’s the heartbeat of this team and when things aren’t going his way, it’s almost like it has an outsized effect on everyone around him. It’s not as simple as missing out on a few extra points off the bench. Your biggest cheerleader goes missing as well. On the flip side, when he gets it going it can make a single contested layup in the lane feel like a quick 10-0 run in and of itself. He’ll swag over to the crowd and bellow and everyone around him gets about 10% more hype. I love it. I love him. I’m not nervous at all about the mood and collective psyche of this team riding on whether or not his jumper is falling, why do you ask?
• 61-61 in the third quarter felt really bad. Like, the moment it happened, I was having a bad time. In hindsight, especially considering the response, it doesn’t feel like all that big of a deal that they crawled back into it. It’ll be one of those things that’s lost to history, but I’m marking it here for posterity: as it was happening, it felt like the world was ending. Dating back to the end of the second quarter, the Spurs had, according to my notes, missed 100 straight shots. Edwards was starting to feel it and I just…yea, we don’t have to talk about it anymore. It was a bad time.
• Dylan Harper being listed as questionable for Game 5 (knee) almost had me listed as questionable for watching Game 5 (diarrhea). I really did not want to go into this game without him because, hey, turns out he’s maybe the third-best player in this series? It’s insane. I mean, all due respect to literally everyone, but what are we even watching with this kid anymore? It’s breathtaking every time he touches the ball. The control he has, the way he can move and operate in so little space, feels like a magic trick. His finishes at the rim are electric. His defense is insane. I honestly almost don’t ever want to talk about it because I’m afraid my eyes are playing tricks on me. Did we mess around and draft Kobe Bryant to pair alongside Vic? How is his real life?

WWL Post Game Press Conference

Do you really think you should be offering to fight various media personalities for their Wembanyama takes?

If the takes are particularly bad then, yea, I mean, I think I’m honor bound. Duty bound. They need to answer for their sins in the octagon.

What even was the take that got you riled up?

Oh who even knows. There were a lot of bad actors out there trying to cash in on the moment. Hard to keep track. As you can imagine, no one has accepted my offer to settle things via the sacred art of hand-to-hand combat so, clearly, they lack the courage of their convictions and will have to live out their days knowing deep in their soul that cowardice is eating away at the very foundations of their being like a virus.

Are you sure they aren’t just being professional and not getting into fistfights about sports?

I’m sure. They’re cowards. I checked.

CHICAGO — The person who now controls the direction the 2026 NBA Draft will take began to go through his memory while inside Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, May 12.

Washington Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins remembers initially hearing about A.J. Dybantsa for the first time when Dybantsa was only 14 years old. They are both from Massachusetts and Dawkins, a former Division-III player, kept hearing about the basketball prospect who would be the next big thing from his area.

Dawkins said he initially saw Cameron Boozer when Boozer was only 15 years old at the NBPA Top 100 camp. Team USA practices, national high school showcases and Nike's EYBL events had Darryn Peterson on the Wizards' radar by the time he was 16.

"We knew we wanted to go on an intentional rebuild," Dawkins explained from the NBA Draft Scouting Combine in Chicago, two days after the Wizards received the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, "so we loaded up on the grassroots spaces, and made sure we were in those gyms watching these guys so you could best predict how deep the talent would be. ... I think pound-for-pound it's one of the best drafts I've seen in a long time."

The Sixers on Tuesday made the decision to part ways with president of basketball operations Daryl Morey after six seasons.

Morey’s tenure had plenty of highs and lows, but he ultimately failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, something the franchise hasn’t done in over 25 years now.

Bob Myers, who serves as president of sports for HBSE, will be charged with filling the role. Here are five candidates who could make sense.

Note: It’s possible Myers hires himself or re-elevates Elton Brand, but those possibilities don’t seem as likely as hiring a new voice.

Dennis Lindsey

We’ll start with some of the hotter names on the market at large. Lindsey is the most experienced of the bunch. He started as a scout with the Utah Jazz way back in 1996, working his way all the way up to VP of basketball operations by 2002. He moved on to the San Antonio Spurs, eventually serving as the team’s vice president before making his way back to Utah as general manager. He oversaw a very successful Jazz run led by Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, eventually being promoted to executive president of basketball operations.

Lindsey did find himself embroiled in controversy after former Jazz player Elijah Millsap accused Lindsey of making racist remarks back in 2015. Lindsey has vehemently denied the allegations, and though the league took no action after an investigation couldn’t confirm Millsap’s story, Lindsey did step down in 2021, moving into an advisory role.

He briefly served as an advisor for the Dallas Mavericks (notably before the team traded Luka Doncic) before stepping into his current role with the Detroit Pistons as Senior VP of basketball operations since 2024. He has a track record of success, but he’s 57 — four years older than Morey. A lot will depend on what the franchise is valuing in its next leader.

Dave Telep

Telep took an unconventional path to becoming an important part of the Spurs’ front office. Telep worked for ESPN as a recruiting analyst, also serving as a sideline reporter and studio analyst for ESPNU. In 2013, he was hired by San Antonio as the team’s scouting coordinator. He’s been with the Spurs ever since, serving as director of scouting then director of player personnel then VP of basketball operations.

Ahead of the 2025-26 season, he was promoted to assistant general manager. The Spurs are one of the best-run organizations in all of sports. Their ability to draft and develop players is nearly unmatched. Telep could conceivably continue the Sixers’ recent success in the draft thanks to his scouting background while potentially bringing in fresh ideas.

Matt Lloyd

Lloyd seemed like an obvious pick for the Chicago Bulls’ recent vacancy, but the organization decided to pluck Bryson Graham from the New Orleans Pelicans for the role. Like Telep, Lloyd’s path was atypical, beginning his career in Chicago as media coordinator back in 1999. He rose to the role of director of college scouting before moving on to the Orlando Magic as assistant general manager in 2012, serving in the role for a decade.

He was then hired by the Minnesota Timberwolves to work under renowned executive Tim Connelly. He was hired as senior VP of basketball operations and then promoted to general manager in 2024. All of Lindsey, Telep and Lloyd have been candidates for high-profile jobs. Lloyd’s unique background could make him stand out for this role.

Nick U’Ren

Yet another candidate with an interesting background, U’Ren started his NBA journey as a video coordinator with the Phoenix Suns back in 2009. He then moved on to the Golden State Warriors as manager of advanced scouting and special assistant to the head coach in 2014. The team’s general manager at the time — Bob Myers. U’Ren is famously credited for the Warriors’ Death Lineup, which helped the team to a title. He was promoted to director of basketball operations in 2018, working under Myers.

In 2023, he was hired as general manager of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. He helped turn an aging team that finished 9-31 in 2003 to a WNBA Finals appearance last season. The Myers’ connection is there, but U’Ren is a pretty intriguing candidate in general. Is he ready and willing to make the leap to an NBA gig such as this? We’ll see.

Vince Rozman

If you like a lot of the work the Sixers have done in the draft in recent years, you can trace a good bit of it back to Rozman. He was hired by Sam Hinkie way back in 2013 as scouting coordinator and climbed all the way up to VP of scouting. He left the organization in 2022, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder as VP of identification and intelligence (whatever the hell that means).

Again, Rozman offers an option with a background in scouting, which should allow the team to keep functioning well around the draft. He also has plenty of familiarity with the organization and surely has many fans still in the building. Rozman would feel like a breath of fresh air as a younger executive while still being a candidate who offers comfortability to ownership.

Two years removed from an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Wagner men’s basketball program got a high-profile addition this week — just not one that can directly help it on the court.

Former NBA superstar and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady has joined the Seahawks as a strategic advisor, the university announced on Wednesday, May 13.

According to a release, McGrady’s role with the Staten Island school will include “development of sustainable structures related to Name, Image and Likeness investment…providing strategic guidance to the men's basketball program in areas including marketing, player development, and expanding Wagner's reach beyond its traditional areas of engagement on and off the court.”

Adding a legend to the program🏀⭐️

Wagner College has named Tracy McGrady Strategic Advisor to men’s basketball. McGrady will advise the College on the development of sustainable structures related to NIL.

🔗 Read more at https://t.co/dKbDLMTw3N#Toughnesspic.twitter.com/OlFaDui2ec

— Wagner Men's Basketball (@Wagner_MBB) May 13, 2026

REQUIRED READING: March Madness gets bigger. Some fear it got weaker: 'I don’t want to see it diluted'

The move will unite the 46-year-old McGrady with his son, Laymen, a 6-foot-4 freshman forward who transferred to Wagner last month after redshirting last season at Oral Roberts.

A seven-time NBA All-Star as a player, McGrady becomes the latest former NBA standout to join a college basketball program as an advisor. Last month, John Wall was named the president of basketball operations at Howard. Last year, Shaquille O’Neal joined Sacramento State as its general manager, Steph Curry returned to Davidson, which he led to an Elite Eight appearance in 2008, as its assistant general manager and Trae Young accepted a position as the assistant general manager at Oklahoma, where he played his lone college season in 2017-18.

McGrady will balance his responsibilities at Wagner with his work in the media as an NBA analyst for NBC and on his podcast, “Cousins,” with former Toronto Raptors teammate and cousin Vince Carter.

Wagner, which competes in the Northeast Conference, went 14-17 last season under first-year head coach Dwan McMillan.

"The challenges college athletics face today, especially at the mid-major level in a city like New York, can be very difficult, and I am looking forward to helping coach McMillan and his staff in every way possible to raise the profile, the level of talent and the business opportunities both on and off the court for his young athletes as they grow not just in basketball but as leaders,” McGrady said in a statement. “My hope is to help create an environment where all involved can stay, grow together, and really master their game and life skills over time. Stepping into this role is really personal for me since I did not go to college. 

“Being around this community, where gritty coaches like P.J. Carlesimo and Dan Hurley got their start, excites me just as much as basketball. It is a priority for me that goes well beyond wins and losses in the NEC. It is about making sure potential is realized both for the short and the long term for these dedicated athletes and the staff."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tracy McGrady joins Wagner basketball as strategic advisor

The 2026 NBA draft has been hyped up for its depth of exciting guard talent, with 5 or 6 guards projected to go in the top 10. This of course has excited Mavericks fans, as there is no other team with a more desperate need at guard.

But due to multiple meaningless late season wins, the Mavericks could be in an unenviable position where none of those great guard prospects are available.

But what if there was a guard who posted a rim FG% higher than Kingston Flemings. Shot better from three than Darryn Peterson and had more assists per game than Keaton Wagler. A guard who will surely be available wherever the Mavericks select.

That guard, would be none other, than LaBaron Philon Jr.

The basics

LaBaron Philon Jr. was born Nov. 24 2005 in Mobile, Alabama. He would attend Baker high school in Mobile county, where he would become a consensus 4-star recruit and ON3’s number 5 point guard in the 2024 recruiting class.

He would sign with the University of Alabama, where he would end up starting 29 games as a true freshman.

His freshman season was up-and-down, as he regularly showed flashes of elite two-way upside, but was held back by poor shooting efficiency.

Philon would declare for the 2025 NBA draft, but would return to school after a lackluster combine performance.

This decision was the correct one, as Philon would show marked improvement in almost every aspect, average 22 point and 5 assists per game, while leading the Crimson Tide to the Sweet 16.

For his efforts, Philon was recognized as a Third-team All-American, and First-team all SEC.

Now, he will return to the combine, and most likely become a top-15 pick.

The good

• The biggest improvement for Philon in his sophomore season was the massive improvement in efficiency. Philon posted a below average TS% of just 54.9% as a freshman, compared to an elite mark of 62.9% as a sophomore. Philon was efficient at every level, shooting 65% at the rim, and nearly 40% from three, as seen below.

• His shot diet was also elite, as a vast majority of his shots came from either behind-the-arc, or at the rim. leading to 80th percentile MOREY percentage. Furthermore, most of his shots were unassisted, meaning he was creating almost all of his three’s and layups. These three’s came from a variety of platforms, as he was simultaneously deadly off-the-catch, and on his dribble jumpers, as seen below.

• Unlike some other’s in this class, Philon has a truly refined handle, with counters to almost anything a defense can throw at him. He also possesses real first-step quickness which allows him to beat defenders with one move. This handle extends to his paint scoring, as he utilizes a variety of strep-throughs and euro-steps to slither around rim protectors. All-in-all, Philon possesses the best handles in this class, and combined with real athletic juice, gives him an elite scoring profile.

• The final piece of the Philon puzzle is his size, standing at 6’4 in shoes, with a nearly 6’7 wingspan. These measurables lead to real defensive upside, especially if you look at his freshman statistics. Philon posted a 3.3 DBPM as a freshman, which was 81st percentile. This was one of his big strengths as a prospect last year, and gives me hope that he could become a real weapon on both sides of the court in the future.

The bad

• Philon’s primary weakness is his frame and lack of strength, which shows up on both sides of the court. Offensively Philon can struggle with bigger, stronger defenders, often settling for tough threes or layups. But this lack of strength really shows defensively, as he can simply become a target for bigger slashers. This will become a much bigger issue in the NBA, with bigger wings being able to hunt Philon whenever they please. This leads to the interesting conundrum with his defense; is he year 1 Philon? Or year 2 Philon?
• With his offensive load massively increasing, it led to less effort and focus defensively. His defensive numbers were just plain bad, posting a drastically reduced DBPM, STL%, and OREB%. This has brought up an interesting question about whether the year 1 metrics were inflated due to him defending weaker offensive players, or did the increase in role lead to the decrease in production. Either way, the physical limitations will make his defense a massive question at the very least.

• While Philon shot 39.9% from three, his FT% was only 79.8%, which makes his three point shooting a little bit questionable. Usually, a players FT% is a great indicator for three-point shooting in the NBA, and since Philon is just Ok, it makes his shooting a small concern.
• Finally, Philon lacks the elite physical tools that are often required in a star guard. Whether this be: elite vertical athleticism, a lighting quick first step, or overwhelming positional size. This forces Philon to be entirely reliant on his craft and skill, which can become a problem for guard like him in the postseason.

Fit with the Dallas Mavericks

Of all the guards in this class, Philon might have the most versatility in how he could be used. In the Mavericks context, I think he would fit perfectly, as he could both start next to Kyrie Irving, or be a sparkplug off the bench.

In the long-term context, Philon is the exact type of guard that would be perfect next to Cooper Flagg, as Philon’s size will allow him to compete on the defensive end, which is a requirement in today’s NBA. Furthermore, he is not a player who requires constant touches to be effective, as he can be just as deadly off the ball as he is on.

The ability to learn from Irving is an underrated part of any guards transition with the Mavericks, but Philon would benefit extra from the tutelage.

No matter where, or how Philon plays, he would be a seamless fit for the Dallas Mavericks, both now, and for the future.

Player comparison

Philon is a very interesting player, but a player comparison I love is Andrew Nembhard of the Indiana Pacers. Not only do they have incredibly similar measurables, but their play-styles are also very similar. Nembhard is a very versatile two-way combo guard who can fill a variety of roles, which is exactly what I think Philon will do in the NBA. Obviously Nembhard isn’t the flashiest player, nor is he a true #2 option, but he’s a great player, and one that every NBA team would covet.

Final thoughts

LaBaron Philon Jr. doesn’t have any one skill that outshines his other guard contemporaries, but he may be the most well-rounded guard in the class.

He possesses an NBA-ready skillset, while also having tremendous upside as an offensive creator. His length and defensive priors show a player that is at least willing to defend, even if he isn’t the most physically gifted.

While physical tools are flashy, betting on: feel, skill and effort usually work out in the long run.

I can’t say I was surprised that the Detroit Pistons dropped Game 4 in Cleveland and saw their 2-0 series lead tighten to 2-2. The Pistons are a talented but incredibly imperfect team, the Cavaliers have loads of dangerous players, and Cleveland is undefeated at home in these playoffs. A seven-game series suddenly becoming a three-game series? Not shocking. What was shocking was just how lost Detroit looked on the offensive end in a decisive third quarter that saw Cleveland go on a 22-0 run and take full control of the game. The Pistons looked unsure, unconfident, and for the first time in these playoffs, Cade Cunningham seemed like he didn’t really trust his teammates. Needless to say, that can’t happen again as the series shifts back to Detroit for Game 5. If Detroit holds serve at home, which would keep the Cavs winless on the road, they will take the series. If the Pistons drop the game tonight, I wouldn’t have much hope of a rebound in a potentially series-clinching game in Cleveland.

Game Vitals

When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: ESPN
Odds: Pistons -3.5

Analysis

Cade Cunningham needs to learn how to navigate the hard trap. Ausar Thompson needs to not have his worst game on both ends of the floor. A Detroit Pistons big man needs to step up in a big way on either offense or defense — Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, Paul Reed, I don’t care who, it just has to be somebody. Also, it’d be nice if the team could scheme some open looks for Duncan Robinson and it’d be even nicer to see Tobias Harris score 20-plus again. All of those are the key ingredients for a Pistons victory tonight. It isn’t complicated.

We know what this team is, and we know what this team is not. We know where it will struggle the most and what can happen when it is able to leverage its many strengths. Cade can be a killer. Defense can lead to early offense. The Pistons can dominate the paint.

Detroit doesn’t really need any magic tricks, it just needs several players to perform up to their own standards. Or, to put it more crassly, important players need to stop puking all over their own shoes.

Frankly, I don’t need to see Jalen Duren be a 30-point, 15-rebound beast and flip the narrative on what has been a bad playoffs for him. I need him to defend, rebound, and score a few opportune baskets and second-chance opportunities. I don’t need Ausar Thompson to become a perimeter threat that he is not. He just need to not find himself in foul trouble and stay on the floor to be impactful on both ends the way we know he can be. I don’t need Cade Cunningham to go shot-for-shot with Donovan Mitchell. I need him to set the tone and pace of the game, orchestrate the offense, and stop turning the ball over. His offense will be there. It always is. I do need Paul Reed, I think. I just do.

Finally, let’s talk about free throws briefly. Detroit got a terrible whistle in Cleveland, and it wasn’t much better in Game 2. In the past three games, the Cavs have shot 35 more free throws than the Pistons in the past three games. That feels pretty important in a series where the margin of victory on either side hasn’t eclipsed 10 points.

JB Bickerstaff did after Game 4 exactly what Kenny Atkinson did after Game 1 — complained about the officiating. It worked for Kenny. Will it work for JB? My crystal ball says the Pistons are going to get to the line much more tonight than they did in Game 4. The Cavs weren’t called for a single foul in the first quarter. That’s just weird. But I don’t expect Detroit to stop fouling. They foul a lot. It’s part of their game plan and DNA to not give the opponent easy buckets. But there can’t be such a wild disparity for Detroit to have a chance.

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-2)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2)

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Question of the Game

How many minutes should Paul Reed play in tonight’s game?

Takeaways on Morey's track record leading Sixers' front office  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Daryl Morey’s six-year run leading the Sixers’ front office was certainly eventful.

With Morey out and the Sixers searching for his replacement, let’s run through his tenure and a few takeaways: 

No shortage of bargain signings 

It would be a stretch to label all veteran-minimum contract signings “zero risk.” Those players still take up roster spots and it’s natural to expect the occasional hit.

Still, Morey’s front office was unquestionably good at adding low-cost veterans. Andre Drummond (2021), Kelly Oubre Jr. (2023) and Guerschon Yabusele (2024) all signed minimum-salary deals, took on significant roles and played quite well relative to their salaries.

Morey also picked up multiple young players who ultimately stepped into rotation spots. Justin Edwards, Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker are recent examples of two-way signings who went on to earn standard NBA contracts. 

Deadline disappointments 

The Sixers had several important trade deadlines that didn’t pan out as the team hoped.

Aiming to improve the Sixers’ chances of deep playoff success, Morey made deals for George Hill in 2021, Jalen McDaniels in 2023 and Buddy Hield in 2024. There was decent logic behind all the moves, but none of those players helped in the postseason the way the Sixers envisioned. 

At his last deadline, Morey traded Jared McCain to the Thunder for draft picks and didn’t think any worthwhile deal for a player was available.

Those picks — No. 22 overall in this draft, one second-rounder in 2027, and two second-rounders in 2028 — will now belong to Morey’s replacement. 

“We thought that the draft picks we got would help us more in the future — and could’ve helped us this deadline,” Morey said in February. “The picks we got were offered to many teams and nothing materialized for a player that we thought could move the needle with those picks now. But we feel like going forward, those picks will help us build the team in the future in a good way.”

Harden-centric star trades 

Morey waited out two unpleasant trade request sagas. He executed a swap centered around Ben Simmons and James Harden in 2022, then shipped a discontented Harden to the Clippers the next year.

All things considered, it’s hard to be highly critical of Morey’s ultimate haul in either trade. The contentiousness, rumors and uncertainty weren’t fun for anyone involved, but Morey was right to be patient. At a minimum, neither trade truly derailed the Sixers. 

Not much gained from open roster spots 

Morey liked to leave a roster slot or two open for the sake of in-season flexibility. 

The broad philosophy is fine, but the Sixers didn’t get great value from their midseason buyout signings. Kyle Lowry (2024) and Cameron Payne (2026) were buyout contributors during the Morey era. Other signings included veterans Anthony Tolliver,DeAndre Jordan, Dewayne Dedmon and Lonnie Walker IV. 

Of course, when you cut an extra player or two before a season, that generally means a little less investment in your team’s youth. The Sixers waived Isaiah Joe before the 2023-23 season and the Thunder were glad to grab him.

Outstanding draft nights 

When draft night came around, the Sixers’ front office tended to shine under Morey. 

At the moment, Tyrese Maxey (21st), McCain (16th) and VJ Edgecombe (third) all look like high-quality first-round selections. And we’d view Joe (49th), Paul Reed (58th), Charles Bassey (53rd) and Adem Bona (41st) as above-average second-rounders. 

The Sixers also fared well with draft-night trades, including moves that landed Danny Green, Seth Curry and De’Anthony Melton.

Big-money commitments 

The Sixers pushed many of their chips in on the trio of Joel Embiid, Maxey and Paul George during the 2024 offseason.

According to Spotrac, Embiid is set to make approximately $58 million next season. George’s 2026-27 salary is about $54.1 million, Maxey’s $40.8 million.

The Sixers’ current core has obvious strengths and weaknesses. Embiid and George’s irregular availability the last two seasons clearly complicates any hypothetical trade proposals. 

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Donovan Mitchell looked like he was in for a long night against the Detroit Pistons before erupting for 39 of his 43 points in the second half of Monday’s series-tying win.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star guard leads his team back into the belly of the beast in Game 5 of this Eastern Conference semifinal, with the Cavs pegged as underdogs in Detroit.

Our Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions focus on Mitchell’s matchups and projected output, giving you my best NBA picks for Wednesday, May 13.

Donovan Mitchell prop pick

Donovan Mitchell best bet: Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists (-120 at bet365)

Donovan Mitchell took over in the second half of Game 4, so you can excuse him for not sharing the ball as he powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to the win.

Mitchell finished with just two assists on four potential dimes, with both coming in the first half.
 
The Detroit Pistons will aim to keep Mitchell out of the paint in Game 5, meaning quicker help and tighter coverage to force Spida to get rid of the basketball. He scored 14 of his 43 points inside the key, and Detroit can’t afford for him to find a rhythm again tonight.

If the Pistons can tighten those defensive screws, we will see more drive-and-kick and dump-downs from Mitchell, prompting more playmaking from the Cavs shooting guard. 

Mitchell recorded nine total assists on 20 potential dimes in the opening three games of the series, including four assists in Game 3. He’s topped his assist prop only once in the playoffs, driving his passing total down from 5.5 O/U to its current stand of 3.5 O/U.

Having averaged almost six assists in the regular season, Mitchell is projected for five dimes in Game 5, with his models ranging from 4.4 to as high as 5.3. That’s more than enough to get past his dwindling assist total.

Donovan Mitchell same-game parlay

The Pistons' offense needs to be better in the halfcourt if it can’t convert defense into transition buckets. Detroit is emphasizing movement, both the ball and cutting, heading into tonight. That will prompt more points, especially with Detroit playing at home.

After collecting two dimes in the first half, Mitchell's 67% shooting streak in the final 24 minutes had the Cavs jumping on the shoulders of their star. Projections for tonight call for at least four dimes as Detroit tries to take the ball out of Mitchell’s hands.

Mitchell has also been active on the glass in this series. Cleveland’s bigs are selling out hard to box out the Pistons' offensive rebounders, and that’s left the Cavs' guard with a surplus of rebounding chances. Mitchell pulled in five boards in Game 4 and is forecasted for another five rebounds tonight.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes, from the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history to underappreciated icons to the athletes who will eventually become all-time Buckeye greats.

You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.

When some people think of sports heroes, oftentimes it is someone who is on a team for an extended period of time. Even though Mike Conley was only at Ohio State for a year, he was not only tremendous on the court for the Buckeyes, but after turning professional, he has been one of the most respected players in sports.

Just look at the way Conley has conducted himself while in the NBA, appearing in over 1,200 games without being whistled for a technical foul.

The prize of Ohio State basketball’s 2006 recruiting class was undoubtedly Greg Oden. Conley played alongside Oden at Lawrence North in Indianapolis, winning three state championships in four years. Oden and Conley decided to commit to Ohio State together, where they would lead the Buckeyes to an appearance in the national title game in the one year of college basketball they would play before declaring for the 2007 NBA Draft.

During his freshman season at Ohio State, Conley averaged 11.3 points per game and dished out 6.1 assists per game, which would be the top mark in the Big Ten. The point guard would be named to the All-Big Ten First Team, as the Buckeyes would win the regular season and conference tournament titles.

Conley’s most memorable performance came in the thrilling overtime victory against Xavier in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Oden fouled in the second half, leading to Conley willing the Buckeyes to victory by scoring 11 of his 21 points in the game in overtime.

Following the title game loss to Florida, Conley, Oden, and Daequan Cook all declared for the 2007 NBA Draft. Oden was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, while Conley was drafted with the fourth pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.

In his first professional season, Conley averaged 9.4 points per game and 4.2 assists per game as he adjusted to life in the NBA. Starting with his sophomore campaign, Conley became a reliable piece for the Grizzlies, appearing in at least 70 games in six of the next seven seasons.

In 2011, Conley made the playoffs for the first time in his NBA career, helping the Grizzlies beat San Antonio in the first round before losing to Oklahoma City in seven games in the conference semifinals. The 2012-13 season would not only see Conley be named to the NBA’s All-Defense Second Team, but Memphis would also make it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before being swept by the Spurs.

After inking a five-year contract with the Grizzlies in July 2016, Conley was eventually traded to the Utah Jazz in July 2019, since it became obvious Memphis was going to be rebuilding. Conley’s first season with the Jazz was interrupted by COVID-19, but it did give the guard a unique opportunity to help raise money for charity.

By winning a virtual H-O-R-S-E competition, Conley and the NBA raised $200,000 for charities.

Despite taking the top spot in the Western Conference during the 2020-21 regular season, Conley and the Jazz were never able to make it past the second round in the three full seasons he was in Salt Lake City. One positive to come from his time in Utah is that Conley was named an All-Star for the first time in his career after being voted into the 2021 game.

Teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert left Utah prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, and eventually, Conley was traded to Minnesota in the middle of the season. After a first-round exit in his first season with the Timberwolves, Conley and Minnesota have made it to the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons.

If the Timberwolves are able to beat San Antonio on Tuesday night, Conley will be one win away from his fourth appearance in the WCF.

Including the playoffs, Conley has played in nearly 1,350 games in the NBA. It’s obvious he isn’t quite the same player as he used to be, but he is still a valuable piece to Minnesota, giving the team veteran depth, which has been needed in the playoffs after the Timberwolves have dealt with injuries to Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, and Donte DiVincenzo.

The most impactful performance so far in the playoffs from Conley came in the first game against San Antonio when he scored 12 points and dished out six assists in the 104-102 win over the Spurs.

Despite not yet making the NBA Finals or winning a title as a pro, one thing Conley can hang his hat on is that he has won the NBA Sportsmanship Award four times, which is the most of all time. It’s hard to remember there ever being anything negative said about how Conley handles himself on and off the court.

Even though he was only in Columbus for a short amount of time, he has been a player that all future Buckeyes should model themselves after when it comes to carrying themselves.

As the Knicks patiently await their foe for the Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers continue to battle in the second round. Who should New York be rooting for?

When you’re a true contender, you don’t worry about specific matchups as much as overall preparedness for whatever may face you in a postseason run. But both potential rivals offer a unique set of challenges and advantages, so it’s worth exploring to see which might be the better matchup for the Knicks... 

Pistons

The good news for the Knicks is they beat this very team, almost down to the player, last season in the first round. It wasn’t an easy series, with a combined winning margin of eight points that took six games and a slew of clutch playmaking to advance. 

The Pistons haven’t changed much save for a few new complementary pieces and Isaiah Stewart being available. They’re still coming with the rough-and-tumble, grind you down and beat you up style, and are largely reliant on Cade Cunningham's stardom to generate enough offense.

The Knicks have changed, though, coming in with a deeper team of more trustworthy options, and an offense that’s been scorching through the playoffs. New York had an offensive rating of 111 against Detroit last season, and have been converting at 124.8 this postseason, albeit against lower-level defenses.

They’ll have to keep up that level of output to really separate from Detroit. Transition will be their easiest point of attack, so they should continually push the pace like they have been, especially off misses.

In the halfcourt, expect more Karl-Anthony Towns initiation, especially with the stingy Ausar Thompson blanketing Jalen Brunsonand the likelihood of Jalen Duren guarding him on the perimeter -- spacing out their lead shot-blocker. The split actions the Knicks abused the Hawks and 76ers with won’t create as many easy chances against a sharper, more physical defense like Detroit’s, so they’ll have to be ready on their second and third actions.

Defensively, things are simpler. Ignore Thompson when he’s on the court, and don’t let Cunningham get going.

Last year it was OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges who worked to slow Cunningham down, to mixed success. Expect those two to take on the assignment once again.

Cavaliers

The Cavs are another former playoff foe of the Knicks, this time dating way back to 2023. They’ve since flipped Darius Garland for James Harden, one last all-in play.

New York has some huge advantages in this potential matchup.

Cleveland has no clear answer for Brunson, is routinely dominated on the interior by the Knicks bigs, and had a massive midseason trade mess with some of their cohesion.

Harden and Donovan Mitchell will be sought out and picked on relentlessly by Brunson, who will otherwise primarily be defended by Dean Wade or Jalen Tyson. They don’t have great options other than throwing aggressive coverages to get the ball out of his hands, but he and his teammates will be prepared to take advantage -- especially when a rotation comes down to one of those star guards again.

Cleveland has been one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the postseason, though they are making it up with extra possessions on the other end. Expect New York to lean on their big lineups, including Towns and Mitchell Robinson more in this matchup to really dominate the glass.

The Cavs will test the Knicks with their raw talent offensively. If Mitchell and/or Harden are just going off, there’s not much you can do about it. They’ll also be actively hunting Brunson, who needs to keep up his level of defensive intensity.

Mitchell and Harden are also high-level playmakers, so just throwing traps and hedges their way won’t be the easy solution. Towns will have to keep playing the best drop coverage of his life, and be ready to switch onto these guys if he has to.

The Cavaliers' bench is also solid, leaving New York without a clear advantage there. This would likely shape up to be a big Brunson-or-bust series.

Verdict

Does the devil you know beat the devil you don’t? Or is banking on another postseason flameout from Cleveland's star guards burdened with that reputation the hope?

Ultimately, if the Knicks want to win a championship, they’ll have to be ready for whichever team meets them next round.

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Things are supposed to be easier for the No. 1 seed, right?

The Detroit Pistons have found themselves in two tight series to start the NBA Playoffs. This Eastern Conference semifinal set with the Cleveland Cavaliers is knotted at 2-2 as it swings back to Motown for Game 5 tonight.

Our Cavaliers vs. Pistons props dissect the individual efforts for both teams, giving you my best NBA picks for Wednesday, May 13.

It's all part of our full Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions for this pivotal clash.

Best Cavaliers vs Pistons props for Game 5

Player	Pick
James Harden	Over 2.5 threes	+115
Tobias Harris	Under 18.5 points	-105
Jalen Duren	Yes - Double-Double	+130

Game 5 Prop #1: James Harden Over 2.5 threes

+115 at bet365

Lost in the glow of Donovan Mitchell’s 43-point explosion in Game 4 wasJames Harden’s 5-for-9 night from beyond the arc.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' veteran guard is starting to find his range after a 1-for-11 start to the series from distance. He dialed in for 3 of 7 3-pointers in Game 3 and continued to cook in Monday’s victory.

Two of those triples were on pull-up jumpers with the Detroit Pistons playing passing perimeter defense, and the other three makes were generated in dribble-drive kickouts to Harden’s waiting hands. 

All five 3-point makes were graded as “open” to “wide open” with seven of his nine 3PAs coming without a defender within at least four feet. In the first two games in Detroit, Harden just wasn’t getting that same space (or making his shots), going 1-for-7 on those graded attempts.

Projections for Game 5 have Harden’s treys ranging between 2.4 and 3.0, with the majority of models at 2.9 or higher. He’s bagged three or more 3-pointers in six of his 11 playoff games.

Game 5 Prop #2: Tobias Harris Under 18.5 points

-105 at bet365

Pistons veteran forward Tobias Harris has stepped up in the postseason, serving as one of the biggest surprises. 

With Jalen Duren struggling, Harris is averaging more than 20 points in the playoffs after putting up just north of 13 per game in the regular season. 

That hot streak has boosted his points props from 13.5 O/U to 18.5, with Harris playing Over his scoring total in the first 10 postseason games before coming up short of his inflated total in Game 4.

Harris, who is shooting almost 47% from the field in the tournament, finished 6-for-17 with 16 points on Monday, going Under his closing total of 18.5 points. He played 36 minutes despite suffering a hip injury in the most “old man” way ever: getting crossed up by Mitchell midway through the first quarter.

Regression is ripe for Harris at this point in the postseason, and a lingering hip injury is just the spark to start that slide. His player projections all come in south of his current O/U of 18.5 for Game 5, with a low of 14 points.

Game 5 Prop #3: Jalen Duren – Double-Double 

+130 at bet365

Duren stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 250 pounds. That makes his postseason disappearing act all the more puzzling. How could someone so big just… POOF!... into thin air?

Duren, who averaged almost 20 points per game in the regular season, is struggling to score double digits in the tournament. He’s also having a tough time with the Cavaliers’ lengthy frontcourt, drawing more whistles (8) than total rebounds (6) the past two games.

A return to the Motor City sparks the Pistons’ big body, who averaged 20.3 points and 11.4 boards inside Little Caesars Arena this season. 

The potential for boards is there for Duren, who’s been in position for 31 rebounding chances the last two contests but has secured only six of those misses. And while he’s not shooting at his normal volume, he is making what he’s taking the past two games: shooting 9 for 16 from the floor.

Duren has stayed Under his scoring prop in all but one of the Pistons’ 11 playoff games and is 2-9 O/U versus his rebounding totals. His player projections are tough to trust at this point, but all forecasts call for 10+ points and 10+ rebounds in Game 5.

Duren recorded the fifth-most double-double efforts in the regular season, and the “Yes” option in this market is now paying out at plus-money, something you’d rarely see with his props. Asking for 10 and 10 seems realistic, even with his current struggles.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Dalton and Tristi's NBA mock draft 1.0: Who Warriors, Kings pick in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Washington Wizards officially are on the clock. In a loaded class that can be full of future stars, the Wizards will get to choose first with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. 

For the Kings and Warriors, the ping pong balls didn’t bring the same kind of luck. 

The Kings entered the draft lottery with the No. 5 pick and dropped to No. 7. To make matters worse, the Jazz, whom the Kings were tied with and lost a coin toss to at the end of the season, jumped to No. 2. The Warriors stood pat, starting at No. 11 and leaving the lottery with the same pick.

Can the Kings find a franchise savior? Will the Warriors add a player who can help Steph Curry enough as a rookie? Dalton Johnson and Tristi Rodriguez try their hand at all 30 first-round picks in our mock draft 1.0.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU 

Adding Dybantsa to a possible team of Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Will Riley would have the Wizards finally finding some magic in D.C. Dybantsa has the makings of a franchise star, and the Wizards have the young players to build something special. –Dalton Johnson

2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

While Utahns certainly would have welcomed AJ Dybansta back home to begin his pro career after finishing high school there and then competing at BYU, they’ll be fully content with Darryn Peterson’s services. That Peterson-Keyonte George backcourt duo is going to be a nightmare for opponents. – Tristi Rodriguez

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer, PF, Duke 

Boozer’s dad works in the Jazz’s front office and played four seasons for the Bulls. Naturally, his son slots right between both teams as the safest pick in the draft. –DJ

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina

The Bulls’ surprising 6-1 start to the 2025-26 NBA season (their best since 1996-97) gave Chicago fans something to be excited about, but that didn’t last long. Caleb Wilson’s infectious smile alone will bring a joy back to the Windy City, but his passionate play will give the fanbase something to look forward to for more than just two weeks. – TR

5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois 

The Clippers traded 7-foot center Ivica Zubac and wound up with the No. 5 pick in a season where they also acquired All-Star point guard Darius Garland. Wagler’s length at 6-foot-6 and ability to score on and off the ball make him a good fit in the backcourt next to Garland. –DJ

6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas

After falling in the draft lottery once again, the Nets will have to make the best of their situation – whatever that means for a cursed franchise. Not cursed, however, are players under the John Calipari coaching tree entering the NBA (Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyrese Maxey, etc.). Maybe a good omen for Brooklyn? Hey, we said maybe. – TR

7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

I mean … it’s written in the name, right? The last time the Kings had a true natural two-way star guard was … Doug Christie in the early 2000s. Now 20-something years later, Christie’s defensive-minded approach hasn’t changed as coach of the Kings. Kingston Flemings is a Doug Christie guy on paper.

While defense is Fleming’s strength, his explosiveness with the rock in his hand can be useful for Sacramento, a team in need of a starting point guard since shipping De’Aaron Fox to NBA playoff paradise alongside Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio

Flemings averaged 5.2 assists and 1.8 turnovers in 37 games with Houston. He also averaged 1.5 steals per game, but his defensive style shows more when watching his film versus looking at a stat sheet. His active hands and ball pressure create havoc for opponents. 

The 19-year-old shot an efficient 47.6 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range while averaging 16.1 points as Houston’s primary option. – TR

8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO): Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville

Atlanta’s first-round playoff exit exposed some of its weaknesses. The Hawks need another consistent shot creator to pair with CJ McCollum, and Mikel Brown Jr. – whether with his shooting from 30 feet away or his explosive dunks – might be the answer. – TR

9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona 

Burries is a combo guard who can slide in as an early contributor and grow alongside the Mavs’ Cooper Flagg-led future as someone who does a bit of everything. As a freshman, Burries led Arizona in total 3-pointers (70) and steals (59). –DJ

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee 

The Bucks are in a bad place. Giannis Antetokounmpo wants out and they know it, so they might as well take the massive upside swing on Ament. –DJ

11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan

Though the Warriors didn’t rise in the draft lottery after a season in which tanking wasn’t their problem, they’re still sitting pretty at No. 11. General manager Mike Dunleavy has never drafted higher than 19, and this is the move that will kick off such an important offseason. Taking Lendeborg is the safe pick. But that doesn’t mean upside is out the window. 

Lendeborg is 23 years old and will be 24 before playing in an NBA game. So what? As a shooter, Lendeborg has improved from 3-point range every season. He went from shooting 35.7 percent from three on 1.9 attempts per game his final year at UAB to taking 4.5 threes per game at 37.2-percent clip. 

The versatile forward measured in a tad under 6-foot-9 barefoot at the combine and is a strong 241 pounds with a wingspan over 7-foot-3. If the Warriors keep their pick, they need a rookie that will be part of the rotation. Lendeborg is the first answer. –DJ

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, C, Michigan

OKC’s cap crunch might lead to some tough decisions around Isaiah Hartenstein, meaning they could be on the hunt for a new big. Aday Mara could soak up some of those frontcourt minutes alongside Chet Holmgren. — TR

13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama 

The Heat will take the best player available and be happy Philon is there. Philon made the leap as a sophomore and averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game on 50.1-percent shooting with a 39.9 3-point percentage. –DJ

14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan

The Hornets need to strengthen their frontcourt depth with a floor-spacing big, and they can find that in the versatile and physical Morez Johnson Jr. — TR

15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor 

This could be the prospect rising up draft boards after measuring in at 6-foot-4.5 barefoot at the combine with a wingspan just under 7-foot-1. Carr was a scoring machine as a junior at Baylor, averaging 18.9 points per game on 49.4/37.4/80.1 shooting splits. –DJ

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX): Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston

As Memphis focuses on frontcourt athleticism and versatility, Chris Cenac Jr. is a player who can make an impact on both ends of the floor. — TR

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers 

The rich get richer. Lopez has been a pro since he was 14 years old and has an NBA body at 19 with the traits to form a role as a rookie as his shot continues to develop. –DJ

18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky

As the NBA constantly evolves, one thing that won’t ever go out of style is rim protection and high-level shot blocking. That’s what Jayden Quintance brings with his active and disruptive defense. — TR

19. Toronto Raptors: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara 

Graves started just four games as a redshirt freshman at Santa Clara. He’s also seen as an analytics darling, shooting 41.3 percent from three at 6-foot-9 while also averaging 1.9 steals per game. –DJ

20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington

An interior menace (as if the Spurs don’t already have one standing 7-feet-4), Hannes Steinbach averaged a nation-leading 11.8 rebounds per game at Washington. — TR

21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Meleek Thomas, SG, Arkansas 

The new-age Grit and Grind Pistons need shooting and more scoring. Thomas checks both boxes after averaging 15.6 points per game and shooting 41.6 percent beyond the arc in the same freshman backcourt as Acuff. –DJ

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas

Ironically enough, one of Dailyn Swain’s NBA comps is Kelly Oubre Jr. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound athletic forward/wing will offer frontcourt support to complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. — TR

23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford 

The Hawks would be adding two of the most interesting guards in the whole draft. Okorie came out of nowhere to average 23.2 points per game as a freshman with the opposing team’s scouting report having all eyes on him. –DJ

24. New York Knicks: Koa Peat, PF/SF, Arizona

Mike Brown appreciates more than anybody a well-rounded player who’s capable of doing a little bit of everything on the floor. Koa Peat is that guy. — TR

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina 

With Luka Doncic leading the Lakers, they need more talent at center. In comes Veesaar, who averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and shot 42.7 percent from three as a 7-foot senior. –DJ

26. Denver Nuggets: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa

With a need for increased offensive firepower and facilitation when Jamal Murray sits, Bennett Stirtz is an option as a high-IQ playmaker and shooter for Denver. — TR

27. Boston Celtics: Amari Allen, Wing, Alabama 

Josh Hart averaged 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in four games against the Celtics this season, plus went 11 of 23 on 3-pointers. Here’s how they can find their version of Hart. –DJ

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech

Despite drafting Rob Dillingham in 2025, the Wolves could use Christian Anderson to ease the creative burden on Anthony Edwards. — TR

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SA) – Isaiah Evans, Wing, Duke 

It’s a wing league, and Evans has all the looks of a trusted shooter on the wing who averaged 15.0 points per game as a sophomore and shot 38 percent in his two years at Duke. Evans can get forgotten because of Boozer, but he was a big reason why Duke had the kind of success it did last season. –DJ

30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Tarris Reed Jr., PF/C, UConn

Tarris Reed Jr. turned heads during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game, recording four double-doubles during March Madness. — TR

When Daryl Morey was hired by the Sixers as president of basketball operations immediately following the NBA bubble in 2020, Philadelphia fans rejoiced. It felt like a savior was joining the front office to right the ship and deliver the championship Morey’s former colleague Sam Hinkie longed for when facilitating The Process.

Morey was handed a starting five of Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris, Al Horford and Joel Embiid, a group designed to compete in the early 2000s, not the three-point and space-heavy offense the league was trending towards at the turn of the decade.

Fast forward to 2026, Embiid and Morey were the only two remaining from that original group, and the Sixers have still not made it out of the second round of the playoffs.

And now, Morey is gone. The team announced on Tuesday they’ve parted ways with the long-time executive after six seasons.

Unfortunately, the Sixers find themselves in a dire cap situation that leaves very few doors open in terms of drastically changing the roster for next season — in large part thanks to Morey and ownership.

But first, the things that Morey could not control that led us here:

• Embiid’s health was perhaps the biggest factor into yet another unsuccessful season in 2025-26. The center missed 44 games during the regular season and three games in the playoffs. Even with the unlucky nature of the injuries, having your highest-earning player’s status be so unpredictable on a game-to-game basis makes the job for any executive more difficult.

• Paul George was suspended 25 games during the middle of the season for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Yes, the rest might have led him to perform at a high level during the playoffs. But who knows how helpful George would have been during those games to earn a higher seed in the East, perhaps avoid the Play-In and tougher side of the bracket altogether? The Sixers went 13-12 in the games he missed, where four losses were within a 15-point margin.

• Tyrese Maxey injured his right pinky finger on March 7 against the Hawks late in the game after a collision with Adem Bona. He missed 10 games and the Sixers went 6-4 without him thanks to a relatively light schedule during that stretch. Although he put on strong performances after returning, it appeared to bother him and affect his shot selection in round two against the New York Knicks.

With regards to these uncontrollable factors, almost every other failure from the Sixers season can be attributed to Morey’s actions — or inactions — when constructing the roster.

It was hard to ignore the team’s most glaring issue this playoff run — depth. Between both the Celtics and Knicks series, the Sixers’ bench got outscored 394-224. No one on the bench scored more than eight points in any game against New York, as Nick Nurse heavily relied on his starters.

The issue for Morey is when you canvass the league and spot a full playoff-caliber bench unit of former Sixers that he let go for one reason or another, and think what a series of miscalculations and misevaluations he made.

Julian Champagnie was on a two-way deal with the Sixers in 2022-23, spent most of the season with the Delaware Blue Coats and averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.5 threes, 1.9 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.6 steals in 18 appearances. He also showed in two games for the Sixers, not making a shot on two attempts. He was waived on Feb. 14, 2023.

Although the numbers don’t necessarily pop, it’s the motive behind his release which draws ire with the front office’s decision-making.

It would have taken some optimistic projecting from Morey to foresee just how valuable Champagnie is to the Spurs’ current day team, but no GM in the league would have given Mac McClung (a 6-foot-2 guard who can’t shoot) a higher chance to stick in the NBA over Champagnie (a 6-foot-7 wing who can rebound and had shooting potential). McClung won the Slam Dunk contest in a Sixers jersey that season, but has played in 15 NBA games in the years since. Champagnie started 68 games for a 62-win team in 2025-26.

Champagnie was signed by the Spurs on a two-way contract just two days after he was waived by the Sixers. In this year’s playoffs, he has been one of the best shooters in the league and has been the second-leading rebounder on the team behind Victor Wembanyama, naturally.

Isaiah Joe was drafted in the second round by the Sixers in 2020, Morey’s first draft in Philadelphia. He signed a three-year deal and was instantly one of the best shooters on the roster. He played 41 games his rookie season, shooting 36% from three. His second year, he played 55 games and shot 33% from three, but saw only 11 minutes per game under Doc Rivers.

Morey chose to cut Joe before the 2023-24 season for roster flexibility amidst a crowded depth chart, and likely as a way to get under the luxury tax. Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton and Danuel House Jr. were the guards rostered at the time. Morey spent three second-round picks to acquire Buddy Hield at the trade deadline that season, a player with a very similar skillset to Joe. Hield had mixed results as a Sixer, to say the least.

Joe got picked up by the Oklahoma City Thunder and immediately saw a jump in playing time and his shooting splits from deep. Joe has always been undersized, but he flashed potential and always gave effort defensively. Playing in a system like the Thunder’s has allowed him to blossom into a lethal bench weapon that we are seeing in this year’s playoffs.

Paul Reed (aka Bball Paul) was drafted by Morey late in the second of the 2020 draft. Thanks to Rivers, we did not see many minutes of Reed until the end of the 2022-23 regular season and playoffs, where we saw real flashes of his extreme athleticism. Eventually, he morphed into a reliable backup big man for Embiid the following season, playing all 82 games in 2023-24 and having a strong playoff run as Embiid recovered from a sprained LCL.

By no means was Reed a perfect player as he was susceptible to some questionable decision making, but his physical presence on the glass and in the paint could not be denied and he flashed plenty of skill.

The Sixers waived him in the summer of 2024 for … cap flexibility. The $7.7 million Reed was slated to earn that year from the Sixers was non-guaranteed, so the Sixers used part of that money to help them sign Caleb Martin. The following trade deadline, Morey traded Martin to the Dallas Mavericks for Quentin Grimes.

Reed is now a valuable member of the Detroit Pistons, who earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season. Despite spot minutes in the playoffs, the Pistons have outscored their opponents by 11 when he is on the court.

Jared McCain, the 16th overall selection in the 2024 draft, was traded to the Thunder before the deadline for the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 draft and three second-rounders. As a rookie in 2024-25, McCain exploded in the regular season for 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game on 38% shooting from deep before tearing his meniscus in December.

As he recovered, fans were enticed by the idea of seeing McCain with a healthy and regrouped roster after the doldrums of the 2024-25 season in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, McCain tore the UCL in his right thumb during training camp, leading to minimal playing time and trust amongst the coaching staff once he recovered and required time to shake off the rust.

McCain is now thriving with the Thunder, creating runs on his own with a scorching microwave scoring ability in the playoffs. He is leading the NBA in playoff three-point percentage amongst remaining teams at 54.2%. Hindsight is obviously 20/20, but McCain’s performance is making Morey’s decision look worse:

“I’m quite confident we were selling high,” Morey said. “Obviously, time will tell. We weren’t looking to sell. I’ll be frank. Teams came to us with aggressive offers for him. You could say, ‘Yeah, that’s because he’s a good player.’ I agree with that. We thought this return was above, for the future value of our franchise, what we could get. The only higher point would’ve been during his run last season. Otherwise, we feel like we did time this well.” (click here for more)

Whether you agree with each decision given the context is one thing, but to ignore the idea that if even two of these four playoff-level role players were still on the Sixers, there’s a chance this year’s playoff run — and future outlook of the team — looks much better from a depth perspective.

Instead, Morey has shackled the Sixers from a cap standpoint, signing George to a max contract through the 2027-28 season, then extending Embiid on a max deal with a player option for 2028-29. This means the Sixers now have almost 90% of their cap space tied to three players; the aforementioned two and Maxey.

They are $14 million under the luxury tax, meaning they will likely be able to only re-sign one of their three outgoing unrestricted free agents — Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr. or Andre Drummond. Outside of that, the team will have to work around the margins with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (if they still below the tax), worth $15 million, and minimum contracts. That does not sound like a path towards bringing in a playoff-caliber bench unit, at least not through free agency.

The new executive in charge should not trade Embiid, as doing so could include attaching draft assets, which could randomly end up in the top five given the new draft lottery odds. Barring an obscene act of desperation, this seems unlikely according to many reports.

Trading George might not be an awful idea, as long as it does not jeopardize the team-building capabilities down the line, especially for when Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are both in their primes concurrently. Finding a trade partner with a salary close to George’s might be worth another post in its entirety.

The new front office should have its sights on the draft, where Morey had a strong history running the war room for the Sixers. Click here to see some prospects Harrison Grimm has circled for the Sixers at pick 22.

For the mess Morey seemingly saved the Sixers from in 2020, he has thrown them right back in it for the 2026 offseason. Even with Morey gone, it’s worth noting the issues in front of the Sixers will be there no matter the man or woman tasked in captaining the ship. The question becomes which direction Josh Harris wants to go?

There could be a repeated run-it-back strategy with two of the riskiest players in the NBA from a health standpoint for as long as their talent sustains. With Harris deciding to start fresh, it could suggest a shift to the younger portion of the roster, building around Maxey and Edgecombe, without pressure to contend. Or maybe the dual timeline continues … for now.

Daryl Morey didn’t turn out to be the savior who got the Sixers back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001.

And now his successor has a lot to clean up.