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

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.

The NBA has reached the point where having ball handling and secondary creation is necessary throughout your five-man lineups. In watching the Dallas Mavericks at any point throughout the season, it was abundantly clear that they lacked that. This June, the Mavericks will start rectifying that with the NBA Draft. While a combo guard with playmaking upside isn’t the first thing you’d think the Mavs should draft, the choice of Brayden Burries might make itself.

The basics

Brayden Burries (born September 18, 2005) was born and raised in San Bernardino, California. Burries was born into a family of athletes, as his father, Bobby, played basketball at Cal State San Bernardino and is a member of the school’s hall of fame. Not to be out done, his mother Hannah played college softball at the University of Tennessee before playing basketball at CSSB as a grad transfer.

Brayden was a consensus five-star guard coming out of Eleanor Roosevelt High in Eastvale, California (just southeast Los Angeles and north of San Diego). After a standout junior year, Burries was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Following his senior year, Burries committed to Tommy Lloyd and the Arizona Wildcats. That turned out to be an excellent decision for Burries, who put together an elite campaign.

In just under 30 minutes per game, Burries averaged 16.1 points per game, which was complimented by five rebounds and two-and-a-half assists per contest. Burries had several fantastic performances away from McKale Center. He scored 28, including 20 in the second half, in a road win at Alabama in December. In January, Burries had 29 in a road win at AJ Dybantsa and BYU. Burries finished as an honorable mention All-American (USBWA and Associated Press), first team All-Big 12 team member and one of five finalists for the Jerry West Award, which is given to the best shooting guard in the country.

The good

• Burries was an efficiency God throughout the season. Arizona played a system which discouraged three-point shots, as they were bottom five in the country in terms of three-point rate. Even still, Burries was able to get up three pointers on nearly 42% of his shots, making over 39% of them. In the NCAA Tournament, Burries shot 52% from deep while increasing his three-point attempt rate from 42% to 54%. Burries has a good stroke, meaning there should be some scalability here. At just over four attempts per game in college, Burries could reasonably be expected to nearly double his attempts from three in the NBA.

• As far as guards go, there are few that clear the glass better than Burries. On the season, Burries hauled in 5.9 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes. In the NCAA Tournament, that number ballooned to 7.3 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes. The former was in the 94^th percentile of guards last year, while the latter was in the 97^th percentile, per CBB Analytics. Burries is not the tallest, but he uses his body well and has a knack for the ball to help finish possessions on the glass.

• On the year, Burries has a 62.3% true shooting percentage, which was 94^th percentile among guards. In the NCAA Tournament, Burries had a TS% of 66.5%, which is truly outrageous. There is no area on the floor where Burries was inefficient. Per CBB Analytics data, Burries shot over 56% from two-point range, including over 65% at the rim, 39% from deep and 80% at the foul line. Those are all green light indicators.

• Burries has shown flashes on the defensive end that make me believe he’ll be a strong defender in the NBA. When Arizona faced Arkansas in the Sweet Sixteen, Burries drew the primary defensive assignment on Darius Acuff. In that game, Acuff scored 28, but was just eight of nineteen from the floor, including a paltry one-for-five from three-point range. Burries has a good frame, plays physically and has the basketball smarts to beat his man to the spot. Is it likely that he’ll be a “defensive stopper” in the NBA? Maybe not. But there’s a level to Burries where he is an excellent point of attack defender on many of the league’s best guards.

The areas of concern

• Because Burries shared the floor with Jaden Bradley for most of his minutes, there were not a ton of chances for him to showcase his playmaking chops. He was solid in the secondary creation role, but in the limited time when Burries was on the floor without Bradley, it looked a bit rough. In the Big 12 this year, only Burries, Honor Huff and Donovan Atwell played more than 1,150 minutes and had fewer than 100 total assists. I think there’s more to unlock here, especially on an NBA spaced floor. Think of VJ Edgecombe, who struggled with a compressed floor at Baylor. There’s some of that here, too.

• With Burries standing at just 6’4”, there are legitimate concerns about small off-guard’s that don’t have play-initiation pop. It’s not an architype that you would necessarily like to draft in the top ten, but those guys can be very productive NBA players. Derrick White and Quentin Grimes are guys like Burries. Those aren’t generational stars, but to varying levels they are both great in a role.

• Burries is an older freshman, as he is nearly 21 years old already. Teams will ding him on this, because of course they will, but that’s not a real issue. it’s not like he’s 25 years old.

Fit with the Mavericks

Burries would be a seamless fit for the Mavericks in both the near and the long term. In the near term, Burries slots in nicely at the two, next to a healthy Kyrie Irving in the back court and as a nice compliment to Cooper Flagg. In the long term, Burries is never a guy you’ll have to worry about fit with. He’s never going to be a guy who needs plays run for him, but he will be one of the biggest connecting tissues on your team. While he won’t fill the point guard role for the Mavericks, it’s safe to assume you can plug him into your rotation for the next ten years.

NBA comparison

Two guys who are pretty good comps are those that I mentioned earlier, Derrick White and Quentin Grimes. If you’d like a more aggressive comp, perhaps Bradley Beal could be out there if he does get a bump from his shot diet. All three of those guys are going to be scoring guards with a sprinkle of secondary creation, something I think is well within Burries’ reach.

Khris Middleton was shipped to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. Middleton’s inclusion was all about salary. His contract made the money work both ways, and more importantly for the Mavericks, expires this summer. That gives them the financial relief they need as they begin a new era with Cooper Flagg as the focus.

Middleton was a positive for the Mavericks on the court, though. He provided a steadying veteran presence for a Dallas team that spent the entire season in a state of limbo, perhaps even turmoil at times. Some would say he helped a little too much, leading to wins the Mavericks didn’t need, for lottery reasons. Either way, Middleton remained a pro’s pro during his short stretch in Dallas this season.

Season in review

Middleton had a respectable year, his 13th season in the NBA. Over 63 games with the Mavericks and the Wizards, he averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He shot 36 percent from behind the arc for the season.

In 22 games with Dallas, he posted similar numbers: 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He did shoot better once he arrived in the Metroplex, though, upping his percentage from deep to 39 percent.

Middleton had a chance to be waived so that he could latch on with a playoff team, but ultimately decided to stay on with the Mavericks. Maybe he didn’t get any explicit interest from a contender, or perhaps he and his management are thinking it’ll be easier to get one last deal in Dallas since they’ll own his Bird rights (more on that later).

Whatever the reason, Middleton provided a veteran, highly professional player for Jason Kidd to deploy through March and April. There was no chance the former Bucks star was going to lift the Mavericks, but he played entertaining ball here and there. I’ve always enjoyed Middleton’s game, the slow rhythm of his moves, the quietness to his game. Those 22 games won’t mean much in the long-term, but they were a fun watch, something desperately needed the dregs of the NBA season.

Best game

Middleton’s best game probably came at the worst time if you wanted the Mavericks to drop in the standings. On March 12th against the Memphis Grizzlies, Middleton scored 35 points, shooting 8-of-10 on 3-pointers. He also had a couple steals and rebounds, propelling Dallas to a win over a team just below them in the standings. As a result, the Grizzlies will have just a few more lottery balls than the Mavericks. But it was a fun throwback game from Middleton.

Contract status

Middleton’s contract ends this season. He is an unrestricted free agent this summer, freeing up roughly $35 million of salary for Dallas.

Looking Ahead

The Mavericks will not be prioritizing Middleton this summer. He may find some suitors across the league who think he has something left in the tank, or maybe he chases another competitive situation, albeit in a bench role where rarely plays. There’s a chance the Mavericks bring him back on a minimum or close to minimum salary so they have a veteran around for what will likely be a young team.

Grade: B+

Dallas needed a veteran who could play competent basketball alongside Flagg and eat minutes, and that’s exactly what Middleton provided. This season started weird, got worse, and continued to be a barely functioning wreck, but Flagg developed and had a good enough season to win rookie of the year. Middleton was a part keeping things afloat for the last two months, and that’s exactly what you want from a veteran nearing the end of his career.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.

Player Snapshot

• Position: PF/C
• Age: 23
• Contract Status: Rookie-scale contract, team has a club option in 2027-2028, UFA in 2028-2029 if not resigned
• SunsRank (Preseason): 10
• SunsRank (Postseason): 8

*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.

Season in One Sentence

In his sophomore year, Oso Ighodaro showed that there is room to grow, but the prospect has the potential to be something special.

By the Numbers

The Iron Man suited up for all 82 games and had some nice stats.

The Expectation

Coming into this year, Oso Ighodaro was expected to continue to grow as a backup big and prove that he deserved to be part of the rotation. Last season, the big man saw sporadic playing time and did not get much burn until the season was dust. This had the fans questioning what his role could truly be on the roster, especially with the front court getting two new additions. Would Ighodaro get lost in the shuffle or rise through the cracks to make a name for himself?

The Reality

Well, Ighodaro definitely proved his worth, even if his role did change throughout the year. To begin the year, he was the big man Jordan Ott trusted the most, getting the start with Mark WIllimas getting to game speed. This was a bit too much for Ighodaro to handle, but who else would they throw into the fray, their rookie? Ighodaro dealt with tough matchups against Nikola Jokic and Ivica Zubac to start the season, and it had fans ready to ship the big man away, not even a week in.

That is where it all started to change for Ighodaro, though, as when Williams returned, he found himself in his true role: the backup center. This is where his and Gillespie’s connection began to brew as the duo quickly realized their pick-and-roll would be a feast for opponents. This allowed Oso to find multiple trips to the boom room and get comfortable in the rotation. He also used his passing to make plays for Gillespie.

Then, towards the end of the season, Ighodaro began to see starts again as Williams was out for the playoffs. Against a dominant OKC team, the Suns were going to struggle anyway, but without their best big, it was just too much size for Oso to handle.

Throughout the season, Ighodaro proved that, in the right role, he can be successful and was a steal at pick 40 last year. He definitely has areas to grow, too, but for someone who did not have high expectations when he was drafted, he has definitely exceeded them in the eyes of many.

What It Means

There is no hiding that I love what Ighodaro brings to this team. I even made a drop for him on Suns Planet Pod because I’m such a fan of his game. He truly is one of those underrated pieces that may not have the stats to show it every game, but gets better in every performance.

Since the Suns have him under contract for at least the next year, I see him continuing to fight in this rotation next season. With the uncertainty of Mark Williams returning, this means Ighodaro could be in line for a starting opportunity, depending on the other offseason moves.

If Ighodaro can continue to improve, as he stated at the end of the year, by working on his areas of weakness, he could truly mold himself into one of the best bench bigs in the association. He already added some size from last year, so if he continues to get stronger and tune his jump shot, as he alluded to, he can find himself getting picked back up on the club option and landing a comfortable extension.

Defining Moment

Oso’s defining moment came early on in the season when the Suns took on the Indiana Pacers. After a struggling start with getting guys fully healthy, the Suns gave the Pacers the belt. Before people knew they would be tanking, the Suns showed they were in a different class than Indiana this year, and a big reason was Oso Ighodaro.

In this game, he posted up 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks while shooting 78/0/60 from the field with a +52 on the court. This is the highest +/- of any Suns player in the play-by-play era and the third highest all-time in the NBA. To achieve something like this, put Ighodaro on fans’ radar, as even though +/- is not the end-all, be-all stat, it showed he could be part of the future in this role.

This gave Ighodaro the confidence, as did the fans, in their second-year project, which was looking better than advertised. In a year where the whole team overachieved, it was great to see the young guys participate in that as well.

Grade: B+

Even if he was not a positive every night for the Suns, I would say Oso showed up for most of them. Not to mention that he was Iron Man and played all 82 games this year, with a team plagued with injuries, that is also a positive.

Ighodaro proved this year that the skepticism around him should not be discussed. Yes, there are areas he can grow, but with every young player, there are, and he will specialize in that this offseason. For the year he had thought, he definitely put trust in him and this coaching staff. Something that is not quite seen with many second-round selections in their sophomore season.

Therefore, I think he deserves a B+ rating for showing more positive than negative. If the plan continues for Ighodaro, he could be a staple of this bench unit and continue working with his Big East partner, Collin Gillespie, to torch opposing teams.

The team with the worst record in the NBA had never won the draft lottery since the league reformed the odds ahead of the 2019 draft. The Washington Wizards changed that on Sunday, capitalizing on a truly awful 17-win season that featured blatant tanking to earn the type of lottery luck this franchise desperately needed.

The Wizards haven’t won 50 games in a season since 1978-79. That might be the single most pathetic stat in the NBA, but winning the lottery suddenly gives D.C. some hope. Washington already made a pair of bold trades for veterans during the season, first landing Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks, then pulling off a shocking deal for Anthony Davis. There’s already some decent young players on this roster, headlined by 2024’s No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr, last year’s No. 6 overall pick Tre Johnson, and jumbo creator Kyshawn George.

If the Wizards nail the first overall pick, they could turn this thing around pretty quickly in the East. What does “nailing it” actually look like, though? Washington will have several good options in front of them. Let’s go through them, and pick the best one.

Take AJ Dybantsa at No. 1

Our instant mock draft had the Wizards selecting BYU forward A.J. Dybantsa with the first overall pick. This feels like the clubhouse favorite for what the Wizards will do at No. 1, and it would be a sensible and defensible position.

The Wizards can theoretically throw out a lineup with Anthony Davis at center, Alex Sarr at power forward, Tre Johnson at shooting guard, and Trae Young at point guard. Dybantsa slides in nicely at small forward, and his shot creation could make the whole lineup work. Dybantsa is the best in the class when it comes to manufacturing a good look for himself by leveraging a wicked first step, fantastic driving ability, the power to play through contact, and the length and touch to rise and fire over contests. Johnson’s movement shooting would be a natural fit as a floor spacer, Sarr and Davis could eat inside, and Young could put more focus into his off-ball game, which has admittedly never been a strength.

The Wizards really don’t even need to be thinking about fit. They just won 17 games, and then simply need the best talent possible in the door. If they think that’s Dybantsa, taking him at No. 1 makes sense.

Take Cameron Boozer or Darryn Peterson at No. 1

Cameron Boozer is the No. 1 player on our 2026 NBA Draft board. Boozer’s ability to impact winning has been evident since high school, and he was immediately the best player in college basketball as an 18-year-old freshman. He’s five years younger than the second-best player in college basketball, Yaxel Lendeborg. It took a miracle to keep him out of the Final Four this year. All of that has to count for something. Worry about his athleticism at your own peril, but that hasn’t stopped Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Steph Curry from becoming generational icons. Boozer brings scoring efficiency, extra possessions via offensive rebounding, and playtype versatility that no other prospect in this class can match. Washington should seriously consider taking him at No. 1.

Darryn Peterson was supposed to be the No. 1 pick at the start of the season, but a strange set of injury issues with cramping and soft tissue strains in his lower body dulled his freshman season at Kansas. If you’re pro-Peterson, there’s an easy argument to make that his injury issues shouldn’t be long-term. It wasn’t that long ago that Peterson was dropping 58 points on Dybantsa when they faced off as high school seniors. Peterson’s three-point shooting was much better than advertised when he showed up to Kansas, and if he regains his explosiveness after getting healthy, he could still emerge as the top player in this class.

Peterson spent much of this season as the mainstream No. 1 on most boards. Boozer is the analytics darling who feels like the people’s champ at No. 1. The point is that Dybantsa is nowhere near the consensus No. 1 like Cooper Flagg was last year, and taking someone else with the first pick would be totally fine for the Wizards.

Trade Down

Let’s go back to the 2017 NBA Draft. A younger version of myself wrote that the Boston Celtics had to take Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 overall pick because he was simply too good to pass on.

Whoops. You get what you pay for here, and this website is free to read.

The Celtics made a brilliant decision by trading down to No. 3, drafting Jayson Tatum, and setting up a future championship core alongside Jaylen Brown. The Wizards are likely to have a similar option this year, especially with Dybantsa’s connections in the state of Utah. Jazz owner Ryan Smith reportedly helped bring Dybantsa to Utah Prep for his senior year of high school, and then played a role in him going to BYU. I assume the Jazz would take Dybantsa if they had the No. 1 pick, and I think they would be willing to trade up to get him.

Utah could toss Washington a future pick or two to swap No. 1 and No. 2. Utah could take Dybatnsa, Washington would then choose between Peterson and Boozer, and they would get an extra asset or two out of it. The Wizards could also trade with the Grizzlies (picking No. 3) or the Bulls (picking No. 4) depending on which player they really want, and how much they could get back in the deal.

One player is probably not changing the Wizards’ life unless they turn into a future MVP. Leveraging more future assets as the team moves into more of a win-now phase would be smart business if they’re not totally sold on Dybantsa at No. 1.

What should the Wizards do?

If I was running the Wizards, I would make a trade with the Jazz to swap No. 1 for No. 2. I’d get an extra asset or two, then I would take Cameron Boozer, since he’s the top player on my board.

Trading out of No. 1 set up the Celtics for a future championship run. The idea of the Wizards building their own championship team feels comical because they’re the Wizards, but hey, crazy things can happen in the East.

Boozer was asked about his draft position at the combine, and said “If a team wants to hang a banner in the rafters, I’m definitely the guy.” That should be good enough for the Wizards.

After the Lakers were booted from the playoffs by a younger and faster Thunder team, Luka Doncic reminisced about what could’ve been. 

In March, the Big Three were healthy. They had gone on a 15-2 run. They were soaring. 

“We thought we were gonna compete for a championship,” Doncic said.

But those hopes dimmed amid a string of injuries to Doncic (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique), and ultimately came crashing down against a second-round opponent that was deeper and vastly superior on both ends of the court. 

Now a franchise that views anything short of winning a championship as failing needs to hit the drawing board. Lakers’ president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka shared his vision during his exit interview Tuesday. 

The priority is building around Doncic, but he believes the Lakers can do that while keeping their Big Three together. 

“Of course, we want that core to be back together,” Pelinka said.

There are a lot of moving pieces for the Lakers this offseason, including impending decisions by free agents James, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard. Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton have player options.

One of the biggest dominos will be James.

The 41-year-old reiterated that he’s uncertain about his future after the Lakers’ Game 4 loss to the Thunder on Monday. Pelinka said if James chooses to return for his 24th season, the Lakers would welcome him back. 

“Of course, any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster,” Pelinka said. “That’s a blessing in itself just with what he does.”

For that to work, James would need to agree to a significant pay cut from the $52.6 he earned this season. 

James, who averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, proved that he’s willing to sacrifice and do what’s best for the team after embracing becoming the team’s third option this spring. Would the Lakers be able to find a better “role player” than him? No. 

And if James chooses to return, the Lakers would seemingly be the best situation for him considering his family has made LA their home and he has played for the franchise for the last eight seasons.

But before making any decisions, James wants to confer with his wife, daughter and sons, as well as do some introspection over whether he’s still “in love with the process.”

As for Reaves, who’s expected to turn down his $14.9 player option to become a free agent, he has made it clear he loves playing alongside Doncic and wants to keep playing with James. 

Pelinka anticipates a deal working out between the two parties. 

“He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker,” Pelinka said of Reaves, who averaged a career-high 23.3 points on 49% shooting from the field, 36% from deep this season. “And we feel the same way. We want his Odyssey to continue to unfold in the Purple and Gold.”

But if the Lakers bring back their core, do they have enough maneuverability to construct a roster that can compete with top echelon teams?

Therein lies the rub.

The Lakers have three first-round picks and it’s no secret they’re going to try and target Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. 

But if there’s one thing they learned from their series against the Thunder it’s that they need more depth. 

They’re too top heavy. The Thunder had 13 players who were playing well. The Lakers were lucky if they had six.

“I think depth is really important, athleticism and youth,” Pelinka said. “We have a lot of components of that on our roster, but we need to add to it.”

The Lakers also desperately need to bolster their defense and acquire more shooters who can spread the court for Doncic. Pelinka hopes to find some diamonds in the rough who they can develop.

He pointed to the fact that Ajay Mitchell was a second round draft pick. Mitchell torched LA with 22.5 points a game while also playing lockdown defense in their second-round series.

“There’s ways to add to your roster if you commit to doing the hard work and commit to the process of adding the right pieces,” Pelinka said.

But for the Lakers, everything starts and stops with Doncic, who averaged a league-leading 33.5 points a game, was third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6).

He’s their now. He’s their future.

Pelinka plans to meet with Doncic on Friday or Saturday. He praised Doncic for being open about the style her prefers to play and whom he wants to play alongside.

“We’re in constant communication with him and his team,” Pelinka said of the Slovenian superstar. “I plan on seeing him before he takes off to go home and spend time with his daughters.”

It’s going to be a very active offseason for the Lakers. 

Right now there are far more questions than answers. 

But this much is for sure: The Lakers are going to need to make some major tweaks to be able to compete for their 18th championship. 

“We’ve got to find a way to have a roster that will compete with any team in the NBA,” Pelinka said. “That’s what we do here.”

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There is a certain amount of arrogance that you have to have when you become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

When the front office hands you the keys to basketball’s most glamorous franchise, the one draped in 17 championship banners and impossible expectations, you’re not allowed to have excuses. 

That is why what JJ Redick has done in his first two seasons as head coach of the Lakers deserves far more credit and respect than he’s getting nationally. 

In fact, here’s currently getting ridiculed. 

Last-second substitutions aside, let’s be honest about the situation Redick inherited when he was hired back in the summer of 2024. 

Redick didn’t take over the 1996 Bulls or 2017 Warriors. He inherited an aging top-heavy, injury-riddled roster featuring a 40-year-old LeBron James and a walking MRI in Anthony Davis. But Redick was still under constant pressure to win every single night. That’s what comes with the job. 

Oh, and did we mention he had never coached before at any level?

Not in college, not as an assistant, not in the G League. Nowhere. 

Redick went from sitting across the table from LeBron on a podcast talking basketball philosophy, to holding a clipboard and coaching LeBron on the court. 

Everyone thought Redick would fail spectacularly. 

Instead, he won 50 games in Year 1.

Then he followed that with 53 wins in Year 2. 

Not since Phil Jackson had any Lakers head coach had back-to-back 50-win seasons, and Redick accomplished the feat in his first two years ever doing the job. That matters. 

It matters because coaching in today’s NBA is less about X’s and O’s and more about managing egos, adapting on the fly, and convincing millionaire superstars to sacrifice parts of themselves for the greater good of the team. 

Redick already has a long list of coaching accomplishments. He was gifted Luka Doncic in the middle of last season and had to start from scratch on how to get the most out of a roster that had no rim protection. He guided them to the No. 3 seed in the West.

This season, Redick’s greatest coaching accomplishment was convincing LeBron to become the third option. Something he’s never done before.

“I’ve never been a third option in my life,” said James. “So to be able to thrive in that role…that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career.”

Redick convinced one of the greatest players of all time to be selfless and humble. That does not happen unless a coach has complete trust inside the locker room. 

Despite having “three quarterbacks” Redick got buy-in from three ball-dominant creators to find a way to play together. Normally, that’s a chemistry disaster. Instead, it became one of the more selfless Lakers teams in years. 

“JJ did an amazing job of fitting all that together,” said Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. “It was incredibly impressive.”

Redick spent two seasons coaching without the benefit of practice days. Without roster balance and without a reliable center. It felt like the Lakers were constantly trying to patch leaks in a sinking boat, while simultaneously racing the fastest teams in the league. 

Redick’s decision to switch to zone midway through the season was a great example of adaptability. Early in the season, the Lakers did not have the foot speed to survive in man-to-man coverage. So Redick switched to zone. The players all would later admit that the communication required to play zone sharpened them defensively when they switched back.

Now that’s coaching. 

And when Doncic and Reaves both went down with serious injuries on April 2, the season should have collapsed right there. Any other team would have folded and started booking their tickets to Cancun. 

Instead, Redick recalibrated again. 

He shifted LeBron back to the number one scoring option. He unlocked Luke Kennard, and he unleashed Rui Hachimura. 

Redick understood Kennard’s game from years of watching him dating back to high school and college. Redick did what nine other coaches couldn’t do, and challenged Kennard to handle the ball, create offense, and make reads off the dribble instead of being a spot-up three-point shooter. The result was a triple-double in his first game. A little over a week later, came a stunning 27-point performance in Game 1 of the first round series with the Rockets that sparked the eventual upset. 

Redick helped develop a hesitant and overwhelmed Hachimura into one of the most dangerous playoff shooters the NBA has ever seen. Hachimura shot 56.9% from three during the postseason and looks more confident than at any other point in his career. That’s coaching. 

The season didn’t end the way anyone wanted. A sweep is never how you want to go out.

But without Doncic, the Lakers were trying to survive against the youngest, deepest, and most athletic team in basketball. The reigning Champion OKC Thunder. 

And that’s not an indictment of Redick. If anything, the fact that the Lakers remained competitive at all says more about him than the sweep itself. 

And now, for the first time under Redick, the Lakers will enter the offseason with real financial flexibility and a clearer understanding of their identity. They will have plenty of cap space to spend. They have Doncic as their centerpiece. Most importantly, they have a coach who players genuinely believe in. 

Two years ago, everyone mocked the hire, but Redick is no longer a podcast host pretending to coach. 

He’s a real one.

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The postseason has been tough for Keldon Johnson.

Ever since winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, he’s struggled to maintain the vitality that earned him the league honor.

This season the Spurs had seven players average scoring in double figures. *Harrison Barnes was 5 points from the Spurs having eight players in double figs, which would have been an NBA first. Ever since then, Keldon’s scoring dropped off.

In his first playoff series versus the Portland Trail Blazers, KJ averaged just over 6 points per game.

Against the Timberwolves, he’s scored 11, 9, 11, and 4 in the first four games. Better, but not stellar.

Last night, Keldon reignited early, bringing a spark off the bench, which is saying a lot considering the game Victor Wembanyama was having.

Johnson’s signasture highlight came on his psterization of Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert.

It was vintage KJ all night as he scored 21 points on 8 of 11 shooting. He hit one three-pointer and added two steals to that viral block.

Johnson’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time.

After sitting out the majority of three quarters in Game 4, Victor Wembanyama came out swinging, scoring 18 of his 27 points in the first quarter. He cooled considerably in the latter half of the game, leaving the Spurs looking for scoring.

Although De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper played, their participation was a game time decision. With so much uncertainty coming out of the locker room, KJ was a driving force.

It was Keldon who embraced the moment, riding that patented high energy into timeouts and ramping up his team and the crowd, just as he has done all season.

Look for Keldon to continue to bring passion to Game 6, where the Spurs head into hostile territory, returning to the City of Lakes.

A Game 6 win sends the Spurs into the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017.

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