BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 6: Wesley Royston #129 and Xavier Villeneuve #21 await testing at the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine at the LECOM Harborcenter on June 6, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Piggybacking off the earlier look into the forwards that could make sense for the Penguins to consider with the 22nd pick in Friday’s NHL draft, let’s take a turn to the blueline.
Be it coincidence or preference, Kyle Dubas has only drafted one defenseman in the first round since he became a general manager in 2018 (the year Toronto took Rasmus Sandin 29th, from – surprise, surprise, the Soo Greyhounds). The last five first rounders Dubas has made (Rodion Amirov [RIP], Brayden Yager, Ben Kindel, Bill Zonnon, Will Horcoff) have all been forwards. Forwards have also been the first pick Dubas made in 2019, 2021 and 2022 when his first selection of the draft was in the second round of those respective years. (He did take a defenseman, Harrison Brunicke, with his first selection of 2024).
Tendencies can sometimes be broken, but that might be worth keeping in mind when handicapping who the first pick of the Pens will be. You wouldn’t go wrong betting on a forward in most years, but there are some intriguing options on the blueline to consider as well.
Xavier Villeneuve
Villeneuve could be the most polarizing prospect in the whole 2026 class. The Athletic’s recent feedback from NHL scouts included such snippets on him as, “the size and lack of willingness to defend scares the hell out of me” and from another “a bit one-dimensional and still questionable risk management”, a third saying “he can look like a mess. Bad defensive reads. A lack of strength to defend” yet another saying “Villeneuve is really bad defensively”. There was more along those lines, you get the picture.
What Villeneuve has going from him getting beyond the flaws is a very dynamic ability to impact the game as an offensive defenseman. He skates like the wind with excellent edge work. He sees the ice well and can make plays like few other. He performed incredibly well in off ice combine testing, showing that he’s one of the best pure athletes in the class. Villeneuve’s style doesn’t make fans of everyone, his positives are bright even if the negatives can be glaring at times, themselves.
To add to the consternation about his game, Villeneuve didn’t have a great draft season where he dealt with injuries and what some saw as a lack of progress in his season when he did play, including a shaky playoff when he likely wasn’t 100% in his return from an injury. Despite the unimpressive season, Villeneuve has such an extreme talent level which has kept him considered in the range to being a late-first round pick. He’ll have some teams that won’t rate him that way due to the question marks and style concerns with the lack of defensive dimension in his game, but he has his fans too.
It’s difficult to say if this is a player the Penguins are truly interested in, because this type of profile is so unique. In this day and age smaller defensemen like Quinn Hughes and Lane Hutson can thrive, yet other high-risk styles like Erik Brannstrom and Ty Smith end up mostly fizzling out. NHL teams strive for game-breakers, yet they also risk drafting a new-age Marc-Andre Bergeron (tiny, dynamic, power play weapon but little else of value). And, who knows, an M-A Bergeron comparison could even prove generous for Villeneuve.
The Pens added three defensemen in the top-100 picks of the 2025 draft, the average size of the trio being over 6’3″ and 200 pounds. Is that the profile they are going to want to stick to, or conversely have they built enough there to expand their horizons to seek something different and go in the direction of skill?
Villeneuve would be an intriguing pick, if only to show the Pens are willing to take on a large degree of tolerance to look for a big swing that could add a significant player to the roster, hedging against the chance that it flames out. Drafting a player with low-end compete and questionable on ice work ethic would be something of a deviation from the profiles of most players selected recently, and could also prove to be a little too risky at 22nd overall when the prospect pool has so many other needs and possibilities to add more of a sure thing. Taking Villeneuve will be the bold move someone will make, whether or not that will be the Penguins is questionable at best.
Tommy Bleyl
Bleyl could be seen as a more moderate version of Villeneuve. Both are nearly the same size (5’11” and about 165 pounds), Bleyl adds a difference in being a right shot defender. Unlike Villeneuve who was seen as having a stagnant season in 2025-26, Bleyl is coming into the draft with his stock on a rapid and massive rise. NHL’s Central Scouting had a 4th/5th round grade on Bleyl at the beginning of the season, he ended up being the 17th ranked North American skater in the final rankings that has him looking at a possible first round selection.
Bleyl’s strength is his skating and offensive ability, he also led the QMJHL in assists from his defense position which speaks to his ability to read and develop plays in the offensive zone. He does have concerns about his overall strength and how his transition to playing in the pros will go defensively, but is considered to be a better gap and positional defender than Villeneuve (which might not be saying that much).
Dubas and the Pens love to stockpile right shot defenders, and they don’t have many in the mold that can lead the rush and could be potential power play options in the NHL. Bleyl offers that dimension and would also make for a good debate to be picked, should he be available at 22.
Ryan Lin
Lin is a player with a lot more detail, maturity and well-roundedness in his game compared to Villeneuve and Bleyl. Being closer to 180 pounds, he’s got a more pro ready body type as well. As such, the Penguins sitting at No. 22 might not be in position to draft Lin. Getting him might require moving up the board a handful of picks, which can be a challenging exercise, though not an impossible one.
Scott Wheeler says of Lin, “Lin does almost everything at a high level, executes the small things extremely well and plays the game with a rare quality, maturity and detail for a D his age. He steers play with his quiet efficiency, feel for the game, puck-moving, A-level hockey IQ, good skating (he could use another gear in straight lines, but his footwork, pivots, edges, surfing, etc., are all high-end), a great stick offensively and defensively, and head-on-a-swivel defensive play and reads (shoulder checks, positioning, etc.). He’s comfortable in any situation and playing with anyone, and excels on both special teams”.
Corey Pronman used Sandin as a comparable to Lin, which depending on how the Pens’ brass sees it would certainly make Lin fit the profile of players that they’ve been interested in previously. The big question here looks more about availability within the Pittsburgh pick rather than concerns about the player. Should Lin still be around at 22, you’d have to think he was a player that will be under heavy, heavy consideration from Pittsburgh.
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Beyond that, the Pens could make what would be considered a reach at 22 for a defender like Jakub Vanecek or Adam Goljer but neither fit the profile of a player that Dubas has selected previously in the first round. Based on the strengths of this draft, there are better defenseman at the top-half of the first round, then a gap in talent. (Wheeler has five defensemen selected in a recent mock in the top-14, then only one from pick 15-24). Based on the overall talent pool, the back-end of the first round is shaping up to be more forward-heavy, which could suggest that Pittsburgh will be adding to that area with their first pick.
ST. LOUIS -- In what will be his last final time at the helm as general manager of the St. Louis Blues guiding the NHL Draft, Doug Armstrong will for the second time in four years have three first-round picks barring trade.
And true to form, in years past, Armstrong has always maintained the mantra that the Blues, who currently have pick Nos. 11, 15 and 29, the ladder two acquired from the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, respectively, pick the best player available on their board when their selection arrives.
They even did such when they had the 10th, 25th and 29th picks in Nashville in 2023. But will that be the case this time? This time, the Blues, who have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in three of the past four seasons, should they make their selections, may be looking at organizational depth.
Should they pick more what they need rather than what they may deem the best player should that player on their board be available?
"I don't want to say what we won't do because then we'll end up doing it," Armstrong said Monday. "But I think we want to get some variety in our picks if possible. We've drafted heavily defensively lately and our organizational depth chart could use players in a couple different slots. We don't want to ask the scouts to jump out of a block to get a position, but we do want to talk about taking a position within a block, if that makes sense.
"So if we have five players in one block that we see somewhat similar, we might say, 'Hey, we're lacking in this area, can we move him up? Tell me the difference between moving up and if this guy's at the top and this guy's at the bottom of the block, is the positional difference great enough?' And that's things that the group will discuss over the next four days. It's a fun four days because our job is to go through every scenario that we can think of and then we get to the draft and then the first phone call is something we never thought of. That's what we like to call in our group, the crazy Ivan's. We've got to be ready for the crazy Ivan's."
The Blues selected Carbonneau, a forward, at No. 19 a year ago; defenseman Adam Jiricek was the 16th pick in 2024. They have focused on the defense position in the later rounds more so in the past couple seasons, so the forward slot, center or wing (preferably a big, powerful one) sounds like the preferred choice at No. 11.
But in a draft where there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut choice past probably Gavin McKenna going to the Toronto Maple Leafs first overall, imagine the scrambling when it gets into the teens when the Blues may make their pick?
"It's probably a couple players wider, but we see a distinction, and then we see probably not a lot greater than other years but more the just the number of players in that group of eight, nine, 10," Armstrong said. "... I think it's exciting, especially when you have the number of first-round picks that we have. Our amateur scouts have put a lot of work in since the trade deadline making sure we're prepared to select that 11, 15 and 29 to move up a few slots, to move into the late teens, early 20s. There's a lot of different options that we have and obviously the landscape has changed in the NHL regarding player movement, so our pro scouts are excited over that part. Everybody's excited for this week to see how it unfolds."
If the Blues don't pick in their positions, what would it take to move up? The Ottawa Senators, who acquired the ninth pick on Sunday from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade, sound like they're open for business should the Blues want to move up a couple spots. Do the Blues trade picks for young players? All options are on the table.
"That's the one constant. That hasn't changed in our game," Armstrong said. "You let people know what you're considering to do and then that's probably a Thursday-Friday thing more than it is a today thing for the teams looking to move and for the teams looking to move up. There's very rarely much movement in that area. I think going from 11 to two, three or four would be seismic, and I haven't seen a seismic move like that in a long time. But maybe moving up two or three slots with our available picks is something. Then you have to weigh that with what you're giving up to move up. I haven't seen a lot of difference from this year. I'm not saying there won't be a difference, but that usually comes Thursday night and early into Friday morning as people have to make real decisions."
When Armstrong said "seismic," it likely means the Blues aren't in a position to pay the price of what it would likely cost to get into the top five. Their best bet is somewhere getting to perhaps No. 8 (Winnipeg Jets), maybe No. 7 (Seattle Kraken) but that's about as high as it sounds without giving up a boatload.
"Maybe Toronto, maybe San Jose this year. There's been teams, Dallas went to four ... usually go through a lot of pain to get that pick," Armstrong said. "So when you're lucky enough to win a lottery, you haven't gone through (just) six months of pain to earn a top three or four pick. I think there's always a difference in ... there's a line usually at every draft and that line is usually at three or four. Sometimes it's at one when it's a [Connor] McDavid. Sometimes it's a two or three. This draft seems to have more volatility to it where you've seen at least, I've seen at least four players go one, but I've seen nine players probably in the top five. That has more variety to it than I've seen in the past. So there could be a little more movement this year because of that variety. We have nine on our list and someone has three and then you make that move. You work in your blocks, I guess."
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The Trevor Zegras era in Anaheim was one full of high highs, but came crashing to earth with an unceremonious thud exactly one year ago today when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for center Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
The Anaheim Ducks drafted Zegras with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, and he’d be the first of seven top-ten selections in consecutive years made by the Ducks through their long rebuild process.
During two of the darkest years in the Ducks’ franchise history, Zegras became one of the faces of the NHL, dazzling with highlight-reel plays on a seemingly shift-by-shift basis. He was the Calder Trophy runner-up in his rookie year of 2021-22, scoring 61 points (23-38=61) in 75 games, and would follow it up with 65 points (23-42=65) in 81 games during his 2022-23 sophomore season.
A lengthy contract negotiation following the expiration of his ELC in 2023 caused Zegras (along with Jamie Drysdale) to miss the majority of the 2023-24 training camp, the first under then-new head coach Greg Cronin. After a surprisingly difficult start to the season, where he was attempting to play through injury, Zegras landed on IR with a lower-body injury (osteitis pubis) early in the season.
He would return to the lineup after missing 20 games, only to break his ankle seven games later. He’d finish the 2023-24 season missing a total of 51 games and only scoring 15 points (6-9=15) in 31 games.
During Zegras’ second stint out of the lineup, Jamie Drysdale was traded to Philadelphia, and speculation surrounding Zegras’ future with the Ducks began. From there, his name was in trade rumors for the next 18 months until his eventual departure seemingly became an inevitability.
With rumors and speculation swirling for the duration and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek appearing non-comital toward his talented forward’s future with the organization, Zegras totaled 32 points (12-20=32) in 57 games during another injury-riddled 2024-25 season.
Zegras’ hands are only rivaled by his vision and creativity on the ice. His game lacks the pace and intensity that many covet, but by all accounts (including former head coach Greg Cronin), he attempted to tweak and alter his game to fit the club’s system and intended direction.
On May 8, 2025, the Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their next head coach. The system Quenneville intended to and eventually implemented, along with his previous success with comparable stylistic players to Zegras like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Huberdeau, had optimists believing a Zegras bounce-back season with the Ducks in 2025-26 was in the cards.
To add to that notion, on June 12, 2025, five weeks after Quenneville was hired, the Ducks acquired Chris Kreider, an offseason training partner and friend of Zegras. With a new compatible coach and a new compatible teammate, it seemed like Verbeek was making moves to get the most out of Zegras as he was entering his prime NHL years.
Zegras was traded 11 days after Kreider was acquired, and that idea was put to rest for good.
Zegras, of course, had his bounce-back year with the Flyers, notching a new career high in points by scoring 67 (26-41=67) in 81 games and leading Philadelphia back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season and advancing to the second round.
The Ducks found success of their own in 2025-26, making the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 with Ryan Poehling playing a huge role on the Ducks’ bottom six and penalty kill all season. He was one of their most effective two-way, shutdown forwards and contributed a career-high 36 points (11-25=36) in 75 games and added five more (4-1=5) in 11 playoff games.
Poehling will continue to be a significant part of the Ducks’ build toward contention, as on March 5, he signed a four-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $3.75 million.
With the second-round pick acquired in the trade, the Ducks selected forward Eric Nilson (45th overall in 2025), son of former NHL forward Marcus Nilson (48), out of Djurgardens IF in Sweden.
Nilson played the 2025-26 season for Michigan State in the NCAA, scoring 11 points (3-8=11) in 35 games during his freshman season and adding three points (1-2=3) in seven games for Sweden at the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal. Nilson projects as a competitive, two-way, middle-six center at the NHL level.
Verbeek’s cited intention of this trade stemmed from roster construction, as he felt Poehling filled a specific role he was looking for, and Zegras did not. Critics of this trade will reference timing as their biggest gripe.
As the months of trade rumors piled up, it became clear Zegras wasn’t in Verbeek’s long-term plans for the Ducks. It was also clear from the second that the trade was submitted that Zegras was sold at his lowest possible value after back-to-back seasons of poor production and injury came on the heels of back-to-back 60-plus point seasons to begin his career.
Those who felt the value was off will suggest Zegras’ value could have been increased by playing any number of games under Quenneville. Others will argue his value could have increased by simply waiting a week or two until the dust of the draft and free agency settled. Much like in 2026, the 2025 offseason, whether analyzing the trade or free agency market, didn’t provide enough available players for the number of teams looking to add top-six forward talent.
Ryan Poehling had an excellent first year with the Anaheim Ducks and will likely remain an impactful piece on the depth chart through his prime years in the NHL. Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden compared Eric Nilson to William Karlsson at the time of his draft, and if Nilson reaches 80% of what Karlsson became, the Ducks will be overjoyed.
The snag with this trade will remain timing, as one may have hoped for a more sizable return when moving on from a talented former face of a franchise (and for a brief period of time, a former face of the NHL).
The Philadelphia Flyers may have missed out on a Brady Tkachuk trade that was never going to break for them, but they can still go out and strike a deal for a power forward to complement their current forward group.
With a bit of luck in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Flyers were able to come away with top prospect Porter Martone, who is now the only stereotypical power forward the organization has in its long-term top-six.
Owen Tippett has developed a power forward game, though he isn't exactly the type to muck it up like a Tkachuk would.
Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny will, but they don't have the size to back up the bark.
To bridge the gap, and to get the power forward goal-scorer Flyers fans have long wanted, the front office can instead consult the NHL trade market.
The low-hanging fruit here, of course, is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, whose name has been dangled in trade rumors all year long. Plus, it has been widely reported that the 23-year-old nearly ended up on the Montreal Canadiens at the NHL trade deadline.
In any event, Knies remains with the Maple Leafs, who could still be motivated to find a trade in the right situation.
The 6-foot-3 left winger has scored 52 goals across the last two seasons, and still managed a career-high 66 points in what was an overall catastrophic season for the Maple Leafs.
Knies can hit, fight, and most importantly, score, and his age and continued ascension make him an obvious target for the Flyers.
Should the Flyers want to find their Tkachuk alternative at the center position and knock down two needs at once, they need only to look at his Ottawa Senators.
Cozens, 25, has dished out north of 200 hits in each of his last two seasons, comes with 30-goal upside, at a minimum, and can do a bit of everything.
His 17 minutes of average ice time tell us that he isn't being used as a No. 1 center, and perhaps he never will be, but with the Flyers, Cozens would get that opportunity.
Philadelphia covets Cozens's 6-foot-3 size, as well as his being a right-shot center, which head coach Rick Tocchet can use for matchup purposes.
Senators center Shane Pinto certainly deserves some consideration, but he cannot provide the same elements Cozens can despite the Flyers reportedly preferring the former the most.
While with Knies, the Flyers have already made one deal with the Maple Leafs, while talks with the Senators have been ongoing for sometime.
The Senators are reportedly interested in defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, so that is a logical starting point between the two sides.
Last but certainly not least is Dallas Stars superstar Jason Robertson who, while he doesn't bring the nastiness Tkachuk, Knies, and Cozens might, still plays a game that allows his size and hockey IQ to do the talking.
Undoubtedly a far better player than Tkachuk, Robertson, 26, is a pending RFA with three 40-goal seasons under his belt, which includes a 109-point campaign back in 2022-23.
It goes without saying that 100-point players don't grow on trees, and this is as good an opportunity as any for the Flyers to nab one for themselves.
Robertson is a complete 200-foot player who is among the most impactful forwards in the entire NHL.
That's someone the Senators could conceivably target to replace Tkachuk, but the Flyers have plenty of ammo of their own to compete with the package Florida just sent to Ottawa.
In any case, the Flyers will have to give in order to get, with no player on this short list coming in at a minimal price tag.
Player: Sergei Murashov Born: April 1, 2004 (22 years old) Height: 6’2” Weight: 185 pounds Hometown: Yaroslavl, Russia Catches: Right Draft: 2022, Pittsburgh Penguins (fourth round, 118th overall) 2025-26 Statistics: Five NHL games played (1-1-2 record, .897 save percentage, 2.56 goals against average) and 38 AHL games played (24-9-8 record, .919 save percentage, 2.20 goals against average). Contract Status: Signed through the 2026-27 season at a $936,000 cap hit before hitting restricted free agency ahead of his age-23 season.
Mursahov took a few major steps toward coming the Penguins’ potential goaltender of the future this season.
Part of that involved Murashov making his NHL debut during a four-game stretch in November, followed by one appearance in mid-December.
Murashov spent most of the season in the AHL, where he ranked third in the league in both goals against average (2.2) and save percentage (.919) during the regular season.
He improved those numbers even more with a 2.11 GAA and .931 SV% in the postseason as he helped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins reach the Eastern Conference Final of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Penguins general Manager Kyle Dubas said last fall he felt goaltenders had the best chance of succeeding in the NHL after putting together “a very long stretch of dominant play at the American League level.”
With Murashov having achieved that and with Stuart Skinner hitting unrestricted free agency this summer, there’s a chance Murashov could be one of the goaltenders on the Penguins’ roster to start next season.
HDSV%: .800 HDGAA: 0.79 GSAA: 0.31 Shots Against/60: 22.25 Saves/60: 20.14 HD Shots Against/60: 3.97 HD Saves/60: 3.18 Rush Attempts Against/60: 1.32 Rebound Attempts Against/60: 2.38 Average shot distance: 36.31 feet Average goal distance: 21 feet
It’s difficult to draw any major conclusions from these numbers, which took place over just five NHL games. Murashov faced 15 higher-danger shots and made 12 high-danger saves over that span.
— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 28, 2026
Questions to ponder
Kyle Dubas said at the end of the Penguins’ regular season that whether Murashov could continue taking on a heavy workload during the WBS Pens’ conference finals run would serve as a “massive test” for the goaltender.
Murashov went on to start all six games of the series for the WBS Penguins before the team was eliminated in Game 6 overtime by the Toronto Marlies.
But that run is likely not enough to secure Murashov his spot in the NHL next season. Joel Blomqvist also had a strong season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he posted a .913 SV% and 2.40 GAA in 26 games.
“My full expectation is that the two of them, Sergei and Joel, will be competing for a roster spot here this year… They both have earned, over years now, the chance to compete for that,” Dubas said in his end-of-season media availability.
The major question for Murashov next fall will be whether he is able to build on his AHL success to beat out Blomqvist, who has 15 games of NHL experience from the 2024-25 season, for a roster spot in Pittsburgh.
Ideal 2026-27
The ideal next season for Murashov could be earning a roster spot with the Penguins out of training camp and functioning as a tandem, potentially alongside a more experienced netminder, as he adjusts to the NHL.
Who that other goaltender would be remains to be seen, although Arturs Šilovs is an option should the team re-sign him in restricted free agency.
Bottom line
Murashov has already proven himself to be one of the best goaltenders in the AHL. The big question for next season will be whether he is ready to make the jump to the next level with the Penguins.
Final Grade
Murashov’s work with the Penguins arguably came over too small of a sample size for a grade at the NHL level, although the Penguins ultimately went 1-2-2 over his five appearances.
His grade at the AHL level has to be an A. Murashov was stellar throughout a campaign that led to him being named to the league’s Top Prospects Team as voted on by AHL general managers at the end of the season.
With just a few hours left until the 2026 NBA Draft, fans will soon know exactly where each prospect will begin their professional careers.
Following the NBA draft combine and weeks of pre-draft workouts, front offices will finalize their decisions this evening. After extensive conversations with folks around the league, we have more intel on when each prospect might hear their name called during draft nights at Barclays Center for the first round on June 23 and and the second on June 24.
Our mock draft includes data from CBB Analytics. We also spoke with P3, a sports science and athletic training company that uses biomechanical data and movement profiling to evaluate players and project NBA outcomes, to better understand how certain prospects translate physically to the next level.
While news of two big trades broke late night on Monday, June 22 – one involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and the other involving Julius Randle – neither can be executed until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, which is the start of the new league year. So, those 2026 picks remain with their current teams in our mock draft, although those teams will be selecting players on behalf of their trade partners.
Following our own conversations as well as other trusted reporting, here are our latest predictions.
Note: All heights and wingspans (as well as the distance between the two) are listed to the nearest inch and players were measured without shoes.
The Wizards have narrowed their choices down to two players: AJ Dybansta and Darryn Peterson, both of whom have already reportedly conducted workouts for Washington.
"I'm super confident in myself being the No. 1 pick. But you never know. There's been crazy stuff that happens on draft night," Dybantsa told USA TODAY Sports.
While he is prepared for various scenarios, especially after Washington re-signed Trae Young to a long-term contract extension, the Wizards remain far and away the most likely outcome. He would be a fascinating fit next to Young and Anthony Davis, who could help him play alongside veteran talent early in his career.
While we had Duke forward Cameron Boozer mocked to the Utah Jazz in every mock draft we published for more than a month, all of the intel suggests the Jazz plan to select Darryn Peterson to join Keyonte George in their young backcourt.
According to The Athletic's Tony Jones, the Jazz were "genuinely torn" about who to select once on the clock, and Boozer remained "firmly in the mix" at No. 2 overall. However, though he was no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Peterson is the most talented player in this class.
It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. Even though he did not have an official workout with the Jazz, he confirmed that he did meet with the organization over the weekend before the draft.
Any front office that values versatility and advanced metrics could very likely have Duke freshman Cameron Boozer at No. 1 overall on their big board considering he had one of the most statistically impressive freshman campaigns we have ever seen.
Those are two defining traits the Grizzlies have valued while drafting, and their franchise will enter a new chapter of their organization with this pick.
As the national collegiate player of the year, he wasn’t a human highlight reel. But he performed better than expected during athletic testing at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. He offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set, and he can bring a culture of winning back to the Grizzlies after multiple championships in high school and playing on an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16.
Bryson Graham, who was recently hired as the new executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, has a simple task: Select whichever of the four top players is still available.
North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is not just a consolation prize. He is a perfect fit for what Graham wants to build in Chicago, as he values size, length, athleticism, and physicality. Wilson did more than enough to earn this placement before his thumb injury.
According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded and was one of the best vertical athletes who tested at the combine in Chicago. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.
“I feel like I’m a game changer," Wilson told USA TODAY Sports. "Whatever needs to be done to win, that’s what you’re going to get from me.”
He added that he doesn't just see himself as a traditional post player, showing pride in his ability to make reads in the open court and create for others as well.
The Clippers received this pick from the Indiana Pacers as part of a package involving Ivica Zubac, and while there is wide speculation they could trade this pick, they are closely linked with several guards in this range. As such, whether it's their front office or another on the clock at No. 5 overall, look for any team on the clock to potentially call on Illinois standout Keaton Wagler.
“I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder,” Wagler told USA TODAY Sports. “Just trying to go out each game and prove myself and do whatever it takes to win.”
Wagler reportedly "emerged as the more impressive prospect" during a recent head-to-head workout for the Clippers against another lottery-caliber guard, per Jake Fischer. He explained why he canceled his workout with the Brooklyn Nets, on the clock next at No. 6 overall, following the visit.
The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini reach the Final Four. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, and he is a cerebral basketball player who is a good rebounder and playmaker as well.
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr.
DRAFT AGE: 20
TEAM: Louisville
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Florida
HEIGHT: 6-4
WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+4)
During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like talented Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., even though they drafted three point guards last season.
He said he met with the Nets three times during the pre-draft process and completed a second workout for Brooklyn, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because they were unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Brown's draft stock has improved during the pre-draft process as he has shown teams a clean bill of health. “I got cleared by the medical staff from the league at the Combine, so we’re all green,” Brown Jr. told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel like myself again.”
The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including a 45-point outing against NC State, before his injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.
The Kings need a potential star, and it is widely speculated that their front office is targeting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. in this class.
En route to the Sweet 16, despite significant defensive deficiencies, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists as well.
P3’s evaluators highlighted his “really impressive start-stop tools” and ability to generate separation in multiple directions, key traits for a high-usage guard translating to the NBA.
It is also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college, and one would expect there are few scenarios where he falls below this pick. If his name is called earlier, though, Kingston Flemings could also make sense here.
8. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Kingston Flemings
TEAM: Houston
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Texas
HEIGHT: 6-3
WINGSPAN: 6-4 (+1)
DRAFT AGE: 19
With the pick the Hawks received from New Orleans, Atlanta is expected to pick a big or a guard, and one potential target is Houston freshman Kingston Flemings.
"He can pretty much do it all. He can defend, he can shoot, and his playmaking is really underrated. And he’s a high-IQ, high-character guy," Chris Cenac Jr., his teammate at Houston, told USA TODAY Sports. "Any organization that gets him is going to get a great player and a great person."
Flemings' smaller wingspan did him no favors at the combine but he measured with a 40.5-inch max vertical and elite speed across all his agility testing, projecting as one of the fastest guard prospects since De'Aaron Fox. He helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it is difficult to imagine he will be available past the Hawks on draft night.
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries
TEAM: Arizona
POSITION: Guard
BORN: California
HEIGHT: 6-4
WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+2)
DRAFT AGE: 20
After hiring Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations and Mike Schmitz as general manager, the Dallas Mavericks can add a lottery talent to grow alongside Cooper Flagg. One name to consider is Arizona freshman Brayden Burries, who is consistently linked to the organization.
Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. He was then an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four, where he played against new Mavericks head coach Dusty May.
Overall, the All-Big 12 guard displayed his tantalizing talent, and he has proven productivity. Burries is able to defend, relocate, move the ball, and make 3-pointers off the dribble. Our intel suggests he is in consideration as high as No. 5 overall as he impressed several decision makers, including Clippers head coach Ty Lue, during the pre-draft process.
While it is unclear which (and how many) picks the Milwaukee Bucks will actually have in the 2026 NBA Draft due to ongoing trade rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament.
The All-SEC forward averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking this forward, with a standing reach exceeding 9-foot-1, in the lottery.
It is worth noting that Bucks executive Jon Horst and head coach Taylor Jenkins reportedly recently traveled to meet with Ament during the pre-draft process, per Jake Fischer. Jimmy Haslam, a co-governor for the Bucks, recently took a larger role with Milwaukee's ownership group and also made the largest donation to the University of Tennessee in school history.
11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López
TEAM: New Zealand (International)
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Mexico
HEIGHT: 6-8
WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
DRAFT AGE: 19
Karim López had a low usage rate and played fewer minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros, but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. According to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, his "range" starts at this pick to Golden State.
The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30 earlier this year. According to someone with knowledge of the situation who did not have authority to speak publicly on the matter, Warriors executive Mike Dunleavy attended that game.
Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup. López measured well, weighing just shy of 222 pounds and with a 38-inch max vertical. Our intel suggests he is also a serious consideration for the Bulls at No. 15 overall and is unlikely to fall past the San Antonio Spurs at No. 20 overall.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara
TEAM: Michigan
POSITION: Big
BORN: Spain
HEIGHT: 7-3
WINGSPAN: 7-6 (+3)
DRAFT AGE: 21
Oklahoma City tends to like low-usage big men, like Aday Mara, with high assist percentages as well as high block and steal percentages.
While leading his team to the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents rarely attempted field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics.
He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large players like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) as front offices value bigger bodies to throw at Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder are expected to consider Mara's teammate, Morez Johnson Jr., as well.
German big man Hannes Steinbach, who will get looks starting as early as around No. 10 overall, should get some serious interest from teams around this range, including the Bucks.
The center reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten center is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, Steinbach was one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He impressed during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr.
TEAM: Michigan
POSITION: Big
BORN: Illinois
HEIGHT: 6-9
WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
DRAFT AGE: 20
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season and thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois; he can bring that same mentality to the Hornets, who are searching for a new big man.
He should have interest as high as No. 9 overall, where he could reunite with his former coach Duty May on the Mavericks.
Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a very trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson was a big winner during measurements at the combine, recording a 39-inch max vertical and testing with elite agility for his position.
15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Cameron Carr
DRAFT AGE: 21
TEAM: Baylor
POSITION: Wing
BORN: Minnesota
HEIGHT: 6-5
WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+8)
The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament, and the player who improved his draft stock the most during the combine was Baylor junior Cameron Carr.
He scored 30 points in a five-on-five scrimmage, recorded a 42.5-inch max vertical and had great physical measurements. This should grab the attention of teams that tend to like athletic prospects, which new Bulls executive Bryson Graham indicated.
According to P3’s internal models, Carr grades as a 95th-percentile athlete with a rare “hyper flexor” force-production profile, a combination evaluators described as “double unique” for pairing elite explosiveness with unusually fluid movement mechanics.
The All-Big 12 wing brings shooting touch in addition to his athleticism and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season.
Despite his age and the ankle injury, he will intrigue teams like the Grizzlies, who have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade. The Grizzlies have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past.
A few years ago, research indicated that the Memphis front office tends to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Big Ten Player of the Year was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Chris Cenac Jr.
DRAFT AGE: 19
TEAM: Houston
POSITION: Big
BORN: Louisiana
HEIGHT: 6-10
WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+7)
Regardless of whether or not the Thunder trade this pick, one name to consider is Chris Cenac Jr., whose range begins around No. 14 overall.
Cenac played into his role and caught fire at the perfect time. In his first NCAA tournament game, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal.
“I got to earn my minutes. I got to do the little things … defending, rebounding, spacing the floor,” Cenac told USA TODAY Sports. "Whatever team takes me… they’re getting a winning player that loves winning and is going to buy into whatever to help that team win."
Cenac also impressed at the NBA Combine, posting a 37-inch max vertical and strong agility numbers for his size.
P3 places Cenac within its “bigs plus” model, a rare archetype combining traditional size with wing-like mobility. Evaluators pointed to his “unique tools” and described him as a potential “matchup nightmare” due to his movement profile and physical traits, which suggest his significant untapped upside.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic): Christian Anderson
DRAFT AGE: 20
TEAM: Texas Tech
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Georgia
HEIGHT: 6-1
WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+5)
The Hornets could find a fairly compelling player in Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who is a potentially perfect fit and received a green room invitation to attend the 2026 NBA Draft.
After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs. Even though he is a bit undersized, there are few better offensive creators in this class than Anderson.
After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned him a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Tarris Reed Jr.
DRAFT AGE: 22
TEAM: Connecticut
POSITION: Big
BORN: Missouri
HEIGHT: 6-10
WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke.
There is plenty of interest in Reed from teams starting at No. 16 overall, based on our intel, and he is unlikely still available by No. 29 overall. After receiving consistently positive feedback during the pre-draft process, the Spurs could make a lot of sense for the big man.
During the combine, he did the dirty work, recording 5 rebounds with 1 steal and 1 block in his first game and then scored 17 points (7-of-9 FG) with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the second. Reed also tested with elite agility for his position. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.
21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Dailyn Swain
TEAM: Texas
POSITION: Wing
BORN: Ohio
HEIGHT: 6-7
WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+4)
DRAFT AGE: 20
After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and helping lead the Longhorns to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball.
The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed across the board on both ends, scoring efficiently in the paint and in transition. Another appealing element is his effectiveness in isolation, where he can create for himself against defenders. Swain is quick, bouncy and a solid rebounder, and his 81.5% free-throw percentage suggests promising shooting touch. While he has three years of college experience, he’s still just 20 years old, the same age as several NCAA freshmen.
P3 categorizes Swain as a “kinematic mover,” a fluid, efficiency-driven archetype that allows players to “get wherever they want on the court” and has produced the highest density of NBA All-Stars in its data.
Expect the Pistons to have serious interest in Swain, based on multiple people who spoke to USA TODAY Sports, though Detroit will also strongly consider shooters like Christian Anderson and Isaiah Evans if they are available.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Labaron Philon Jr.
TEAM: Alabama
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Alabama
HEIGHT: 6-3
WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
DRAFT AGE: 20
The Philadelphia 76ers have a new front office led by president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson. One name they may have their eyes on with the first-round pick they acquired after trading Jared McCain is Labaron Philon Jr. from Alabama.
Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Ebuka Okorie
TEAM: Stanford
POSITION: Guard
BORN: New Hampshire
HEIGHT: 6-1
WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+7)
DRAFT AGE: 19
When the Hawks are on the clock, expect them to consider a player like Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization.
The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue teams in this range, who may like the high assist-to-turnover ratio he recorded (2.3) last season.
24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves
TEAM: Santa Clara
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Louisiana
HEIGHT: 6-8
WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+4)
DRAFT AGE: 20
The Knicks have prioritized scrappy, high-motor players capable of winning the possession battle through rebounds and turnovers like Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves. That's an area where Graves stands out among the best in this class and is likely one of the reasons he chose to turn pro rather than return to college.
The WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year turned heads after posting 30 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Feb. 7 against Washington State.
The only players under 21 with a higher box plus-minus, per Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. All teams that prioritize analytical modeling in the pre-draft process will have this prospect ranked highly, which is why he is often linked even higher than this to teams like the Spurs.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Koa Peat
TEAM: Arizona
POSITION: Wing
BORN: Arizona
HEIGHT: 6-7
WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+4)
DRAFT AGE: 19
Arizona forward Koa Peat is potentially an appealing option for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is naturally bouncy and athletic with a strong frame and a near 7-foot wingspan. Peat is also a solid rebounder and passer for his position and the Lakers likely have serious interest in him due to his size and physicality.
The All-Big 12 forward will need to improve his jumper to carve out consistent, high-impact minutes at the next level. But he’s still worth first-round consideration based on his body of work so far. Peat arguably had the most interesting decisions to make when it was finally his turn to announce if he would stay in college or turn pro.
26. Denver Nuggets: Meleek Thomas
TEAM: Arkansas
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Pennsylvania
HEIGHT: 6-3
WINGSPAN: 6-7 (+4)
DRAFT AGE: 19
The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent on 3-pointers during his 21 games as a starter last season.
He was efficient using off-ball screens and handoffs and occasionally showed some on-ball flashes as a pick-and-roll ball handler as well. He led the SEC in corner 3-pointers made (32) last season, per CBB Analytics, and his plus-four wingspan gives him solid length as a young guard who is still improving on both sides of the court. Thomas answered one of the biggest questions in college basketball when he decided to turn pro rather than return to the NCAA.
27. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Evans
TEAM: Duke
POSITION: Wing
BORN: North Carolina
HEIGHT: 6-6
WINGSPAN: 6-9 (+3)
DRAFT AGE: 20
Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers.
Duke sophomore Isaiah Evans scored 218 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked third-best among ACC players last season. He also matched 30 corner 3-pointers, according to CBB Analytics, which trailed the top-ranked high-major player (34) by just four field goals made. Expect the Celtics to potentially have Evans higher on their big board than other teams might. UConn's Alex Karaban, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization, also fits the bill.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Jack Kayil
TEAM: International (Alba)
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Germany
HEIGHT: 6-4
WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+2)
DRAFT AGE: 20
Much like with the Heat at No. 13, the Timberwolves will be making this selection on behalf of the the Brooklyn Nets, who acquired the pick and Julius Randle from the Minnesota. The Nets, in turn, are sending the No. 33 pick (third pick of the second round) to the Timberwolves.
One player the Nets may have their eyes on is Jack Kayil, who surprisingly decided to stay in the draft as an international candidate after initially committing to play for Gonzaga next season. He was likely confident in the feedback that he received during the pre-draft process if he chose to not play collegiate basketball.
Kayil was named the Basketball Champions League Best Young Player in Europe after averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per 36 minutes across 65 appearances this season.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Henri Veesaar
TEAM: North Carolina
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Estonia
HEIGHT: 6-11
WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+3)
DRAFT AGE: 22
We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes will have him high on their priority list. He presumably felt comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered "at least $6 million" in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.
Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. Evaluators are "consistently expressing concern around his medicals" about the big man, per ESPN's Jeremy Woo.
The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, though, and he showed elite flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class is still a worthy gamble. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers, regularly swatting shots on the perimeter.
While his draft stock is not what it once was due to health concerns, his youth and frame give him an opportunity to become a special player in the NBA.
SECOND ROUND
31. New York Knicks (via WAS): Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's)
32. Memphis Grizzlies (via IND): Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State)
33. Brooklyn Nets: Sergio De Larrea (Valencia — International))
34. Sacramento Kings: Trevon Brazile (Arkansas)
35. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA): Alex Karaban (UConn)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 12: Kasparas Jakucionis #25 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 12, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
KJ, you need a bedroom?
As a Milwaukee-area resident, I’m very excited about the prospect of Kasparas Jakucionis joining the Bucks.
Also as a Milwaukee-area resident, I’m pretty bummed the Giannis era is officially coming to an end. But the writing had been on the wall, so here we are.
ESPN reported late Monday. night that KJ is part of the package the Heat are sending to the Bucks in return for Giannis and former Bull Bobby Portis.
It’s also being reported that the second-year guard out of Illinois was a possible hang-up in a deal happening all day. The Bucks seem pretty high on KJ, and the Heat were, too.
Kasparas Jakucionis was Miami's version of Boston's Hugo Gonzalez hang-up. Had been hearing all day the Heat did not want to part with the Illinois product on top of their Herro-Ware-Jacquez-No. 13 structure. That's an All-Star guard, three recent first-round picks still on…
Good sign about his value moving forward. I think this is a really good opportunity for him to get a lot of time to grow. He’s still so young, so the future is bright.
Mar 5, 2025; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jake Bloss (39) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Today’s subject is in kind of an unusual spot as regards his prospect status. Bloss actually debuted two years ago, and as he turns 25 today (Happy Birthday, Jake) he’s on the fringes of what’s typically considered prospect eligibility. He’s also coming back from Tommy John surgery, which has eaten up the last 14 months for him when he would normally have been breaking into the MLB rotation. All that means the excitement about him is a little muted for a former top 100 prospect on the cusp of the majors. We ranked him as the system’s #6 prospect coming into the season, and he’s undoubtedly a key part of the organization’s medium term hopes, but right at this minute the buzz is lacking. He’s back at AAA as of last week, though, and given the state of the back of the Jays’ rotation he might become a factor of the big league club soon if he looks up to the challenge.
His rehab outing Statcast data offers some immediate intrigue. Last time we saw Bloss for a full season, in 2024, his four seamer sat 92-95 and touched 96. It’s a small sample size, with only 95 heaters tracked (we only have public StatCast data for his three appearances with A Dunedin and one with AAA Buffalo), but since coming back he’s sitting 95.8mph and regularly cresting 97. His hardest single pitch in 2024 was equivalent to his average in 2026, and he hasn’t thrown a pitch classified as a four seamer this season as slow as his average from the earlier year. There were hints before he went down with the elbow injury last year that he was taking a step forward with his velocity, but what we’re seeing right now is a big leap. The pitch was already considered to be above average in spite of middling velocity because Bloss gets great extension and generates a lot of backspin and vertical carry. That’s all preserved, so if he maintains most of the velocity gain as he gets fully stretched out his fastball has improved from solid to an easy plus pitch.
His sinker appears to have made the same gains, going from 93.3mph to 95.0. He’s spinning both fastballs harder by about 80rpm, which has preserved their total movement in spite of the velocity bump (slower pitches break more because they have more time to accelerate in whatever direction their spin is taking them before reaching the plate).
He also seems to have made changes to his secondaries. His changeup has gotten harder, but by only 1.3mph (87.2 up to 88.5mph), and he’s actually gotten better at killing the spin on the pitch, reducing the rotation by 100rpm. The result is that it has more drop and a bigger velocity gap off the fastball. The slider, like the fastballs, has picked up about 2mph and about 100rpm, breaking harder to cover the same distance in less time. His curveball, interestingly, hasn’t seen the same gains in spin rate but is now almost 2.5mph harder, leading to less glove side break and a slightly more up and down shape.
There have been the hiccoughs with command that you’d expect from a guy coming back from surgery, and he’s still only partially stretched out. Bloss probably won’t be ready for the majors for a few weeks yet. The leap his stuff has taken during his rehab creates reason to be excited for him when he arrives, though.
AJ Dybantsa averaged more than 25 points a game with BYU last season. Photograph: Chris Gardner/Getty Images
The No 1 overall pick will be ...
AJ Dybantsa looked like a pro among college kids in his lone season at BYU, becoming just the fifth Division I player in the last 40 years to average more than 25 points per game while shooting better than 51%. Even beyond the numbers, Dybantsa’s natural length and ability to create his own shot make him look more like a future All-Star than Kansas’s Darryn Peterson, whose load-management habits stand in stark contrast to Dybantsa’s workhorse approach. Andrew Lawrence
AJ Dybantsa. Let’s not overthink this: yes, Peterson has shown flashes of the highest ceiling, and Cameron Boozer likely has the highest floor. But it’s been clear for months now that Dybantsa, who has real superstar upside, will be going first overall. We’ve just had too long to examine the choices, and are making it more complicated than it really is. Claire de Lune
AJ Dybantsa. Washington anoint the BYU freshman the best franchise cornerstone 1A since Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. He led Division I in scoring at 25.5 points per game on 51% shooting. We are living in the greatest era of basketball talent. Consider yourself blessed. Lee Escobedo
This will be a good draft for …
The one-and-done college star. This year’s draft could see those players dominate the top 10, a major validation of the pay-for-play era in college sports. Gone are the days when elite prospects felt compelled to bypass campus altogether in order to maximize their earning potential. Thanks to NIL, they can earn millions, develop against high-level competition and arrive in the NBA better prepared than ever. AL
Faces of the franchise. In stark contrast to a draft like 2024, which contained very few blue-chip prospects, this year’s is littered with them. Beyond just the obvious of the clear top four in Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Caleb Wilson in some order, there’s also players such as Darius Acuff Jr and Brayden Burries with tremendous upside. CDL
So-called Victor Wembanyama stoppers. This class is loaded with physical, switchable bigs. Of course, Wemby is sui generis. Don’t be duped by a dollar-store double. To stop him, smart franchises will stockpile mass and mobility to beat the Alien and win the war of the worlds. LE
Which international player is worth keeping an eye on?
Sergio De Larrea has to intrigue more than a few NBA GMs. The Valencia guard was eligible for last year’s draft but withdrew to continue polishing his game in Spain. Scouts have long been enamored with his basketball IQ and feel in the pick-and-roll, traits that could earn him rotation minutes early in his career while he works to improve his strength and perimeter shooting. AL
Karim López, a promising Mexican prospect who played for the New Zealand Breakers this past year, isn’t one of the biggest names in this draft. While he’s a little bit of an unpolished gem, he held his own among much older and more experienced players in the National Basketball League. CDL
Jack Kayil. This 20-year-old German combo guard has done everything right and has still gone unrecognized. He led Alba Berlin to the German title as their starting point guard. Word is spreading on his talent, although it took long enough. First-round talent. LE
Which team drafted best last year?
With apologies to the Dallas Mavericks – who, some may loudly argue, never should have been in the No 1 position – I’ll go with the Hornets. Charlotte not only landed a bona fide star in Kon Knueppel to complement franchise man LaMelo Ball, but also a pair of solid two-way players in Liam McNeeley and Ryan Kalkbrenner. AL
While Cooper Flagg was a no-brainer No 1 overall pick, and Knueppel had a historically impressive rookie season, the Spurs yet again showed their drafting prowess when they took guard Dylan Harper second overall. He didn’t have the same opportunities to showcase his gifts in the regular season as others at the top of the draft, but he looked solidly like San Antonio’s most confident and composed player in the NBA finals, which, as a rookie, is absolutely unfathomable. CDL
The Knicks. The Spurs made the obvious pick with Harper. But nobody’s talking about Mohamed Diawara. He’ll be in New York’s rotation next season – OG Anunoby-lite, a strange blend of size, skill and joy. Voilà, he finally broke the Knicks’ tradition of whiffing on French bums. LE
Unheralded prospect to watch
Allen Graves isn’t a household name, largely because he played at Santa Clara. Yet there’s no question he has the size (6ft 8in, 226lbs) and lunch-pail traits – diving for loose balls, crashing the boards and scoring with his back to the basket – that will make GMs of a certain generation fall in love. In an era obsessed with versatility and upside, Graves feels like a back-to-the-future prospect. AL
I loved watching Arizona at this year’s NCAA Tournament, and Koa Peat, who isn’t projected to go until late first-round or early in the second, was a standout. He still needs to develop a jumpshot, but he has good size and solid ball-handling skills, and is a willing passer. He looked right at home in the big moments in the big dance. CDL
Karim López. The Mexican forward is built like an enforcer but dances like a wing. He averaged nearly 12 points against grown-ass men in the NBL. He scores in the paint, passes out the pocket, does it again. He doesn’t play like someone still figuring it out. Draft him! LE
The top 10 will be* ...
1) Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa, forward, BYU
2) Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, guard, Kansas
3) Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer, forward, Duke
4) Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, forward, North Carolina
5) Los Angeles Clippers – Brayden Burries, guard, Arizona
6) Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr, guard, Louisville
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates his first inning three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with teammates Cody Bellinger #35 (C) and Ben Rice #22 at Yankee Stadium on April 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Brian Murphy and Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru: With Phase 1 of the All-Star Game voting process concluding on Thursday, several Yankees have a good chance of moving on to Phase 2. Ben Rice is the second-most-voted first baseman behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and should advance. The same can be said about Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge (who won’t be able to play), who are fourth and first, respectively. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is fourth with 419,777 votes, and the second-ranked second baseman, Ezequiel Durán, has 531,182. As a reminder, the top two vote-getters in every position advance to the next phase, along with the top six outfielders.
NJ Advance Media | Randy Miller: The Yankees added right-hander Yerry de los Santos to their active roster on Monday. He was one of the hottest arms in Scranton, working 8.1 scoreless innings in seven June games. He occupies Elmer Rodríguez’s roster spot after he was sent down following his start on Sunday. De los Santos has a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 MLB innings this year and a 3.41 mark in Triple-A across 31.2 frames.
ESPN Press Room | Courtney Clawson: Former Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott, who tossed a no-hitter in pinstripes on September 4, 1993, will be honored in the 2026 edition of the ESPY Awards to be held in New York on July 15th. He will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ceremony. Abbott went on to have a highly successful career in MLB despite being born without a right hand.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks reacts during a timeout in the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whether the championship hangover has anything to do with Jose Alvarado’s taking his time to decide on his future, we don’t know for sure. What we know, according to reports emerging late Monday, is that Jose won’t make a final call on whether or not to execute his player option until Friday, June 26, instead of the initial date set for yesterday, June 22.
Alvarado can return to the Knicks without having to negotiate at all if he picks his $4.5 million player option, which will delay his unrestricted free agency until July 2027. He can opt out of it, however, and become a UFA next week, forcing the Knicks to renegotiate a deal in the open market to bring GTA back to Manhattan, while fighting against other potential external bidders.
While the reigning champion New York Knicks assess their trade options for picks No. 24 and 31 in this week’s NBA Draft, sources say reserve guard Jose Alvarado has agreed to move the decision date on his $4.5 million player option for 2026-27 from tomorrow, June 22, back to June…
Jake Fischer reported the development on X, adding a very interesting spin to it.
“While the reigning champion New York Knicks assess their trade options for picks No. 24 and 31 in this week’s NBA Draft, sources say reserve guard Jose Alvarado has agreed to move the decision date on his $4.5 million player option for 2026-27 from tomorrow, June 22, back to June 26.”
According to Fischer, the Knicks are discussing draft-day trades and talking with other teams about potential packages involving their No. 24 and No. 31 selections, with New York also in possession of the No. 55 pick.
Truth be told, nobody should be surprised about this report nor the possibility of the Knicks moving one—if not more—of their draft picks, following James Dolan’s second-apron comments a few days ago.
The back page: SECOND THOUGHTS
— Knicks could still go over apron to keep team mostly intact
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 23, 2026
The New York Post quoted ESPN’s Bobby Marks on Tuesday as he explained New York’s cap situation, potential moves, and implications. Most importantly, the first-round pick at No. 24 comes with a pre-assigned guaranteed salary of $3.6 million. No second-round pick has a guaranteed deal set from the get-go, with teams and prospects negotiating their contracts afterward.
“I think there’s still a priority to re-sign your own free agents, even if it means exceeding the second apron.
“I think there’s two ways to look at (the No. 24 pick). There’s that way where you’re moving out of the first round and maybe you’re picking up more seconds or a future first down the road because it does give you an extra $3.6 million in flexibility.
“We’re projecting them at $13 million under the second apron including their first-round pick. So they’d get roughly another $3.6 million more in flexibility if they trade it. So that is one way to look at it. The other way to look at it is they make the pick because they say, ‘We got all these high salaries in the starting lineup. We need young players on our bench on low-salary controllable contracts to be a rotational player down the road when these players eventually get older.’ So I think there’s two ways to look at it. It wouldn’t surprise me if they did either.”
According to the NYP’s Stefan Bondy, in the same article, the Knicks are, in fact, looking to trade the pick and having talks on multiple fronts.
“Trading the pick helps financial flexibility and, according to league sources, the Knicks are exploring multiple deals. Not coincidentally, Alvarado agreed to push back the deadline for his player option from Monday until after the draft (Friday). There are a lot of unsettled money matters.”
Last year, the Phoenix Suns signed their No. 31 pick to a four-year, $8.7 million deal with an average yearly salary of $2.2 million. The No. 55 pick ended up signing a multi-year two-way deal worth $636k.
The Knicks entered the offseason with around $202 million in guaranteed salaries, including the money baked into Alvarado’s player option and Pacome Dadiet’s team option, worth nearly $3 million. The second apron starts at $221 million, which means that, right now and without assuming both Alvarado and Dadiet will return, the Knicks are at around $195 real guaranteed million and have $25 million of room to maneuver.
New York Knicks updated salary cap situation.
They can give Mohamed Diawara up to four years, $11.3 million with his Non Bird rights. His minimum over four years is $10.6 million.
They are still free to go above the second apron by re-signing their own free agents. pic.twitter.com/ZDrniXN5Iy
Following Monday’s report of Mohammed Diawara’s expected re-signing for a total of around $10.5 million, that figure shrank to, according to Yossi Gozlan, $10.8 million in space before hitting the second apron.
However, the Knicks still only have 11 players in their active roster and under contract for next season, and are bound to lose Landry Shamet ($2.3 million last season), Mitchell Robinson ($12.9), and Jordan Clarkson ($2.3) to unrestricted free agency, while Ariel Hukporti ($1.9), Trey Jemison, Dillon Jones, and Kevin McCullar are restricted free agents. Pacome Dadiet’s future in New York hinges on the Knicks picking the $3 million team option in his deal.
Apr 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) and head coach Joe Mazzulla against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Well, that was interesting. Now what? Certainly the team is going to move forward with contingency plans, but before we move on, I thought I’d look at some of the immediate aftermath of the trade that never was.
I believe this is what the kids these days call “cope.” Basically it means rationalizing to make yourself feel better about something that didn’t go your way. Some situations absolutely call for that approach, so let’s get into it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a big risk – specifically with injures, but also with his personality, style of play, and the upcoming contract extension that he was sure to get. If this deal had gone through, everything would revolve around him for the next several years (including his eventual decline).
Jaylen Brown is still a Boston Celtic (at least for now) – He’s a franchise icon, Finals MVP, and just coming off his best season ever. If anything, this latest set of events should have him even more motivated to prove his worth to the world. (I’m not sure how thrilled he’s going to be after all this though. We have no way of knowing just how much communication has been going on behind the scenes with him and the Celtics. He’s a pro though, and understands that this is part of the job.)
Hugo Gonzalez is still a Boston Celtic. I worry a little bit that he will be perceived as the “deal breaker” that the Celtics wouldn’t give up. Sometimes that hangs on a player for years to come. But the team values Hugo for good reason. He has special tools and upside that we will get to see develop for years to come.
The cost on top of Jaylen was prohibitive. From the start I thought that Brown alone would be enough to trump the Miami offer. Clearly I was wrong. Over the last week or so I talked myself into including a pick or maybe two. The Bucks insisting on including Hugo and even more picks or players was just too high of a price.
Those draft picks could be critical to building out a roster around some very expensive veterans. This new era of 2nd aprons requires teams to invest in developing cheap talent, and productive guys on rookie scale contracts is just the thing.
The Heat will be formidable now, but they also have some of the same issues that the Bucks had. Just how far can Giannis, Bam, and their supporting cast get them? We’ll see if they have any more moves in them, but they are completely out of picks and that’s their core now.
At least we’ll never have to hear about “the Miami Heat trade package” ever again.
Back to the Celtics, as I alluded to in a prior column, we still have Brad Stevens, and I’m pretty sure he has a Plan B ready. Or rather, a spreadsheet of alternative options he’s going to systematically assess and act upon. Draft night could and should be very interesting now that the bottleneck of Giannis has been cleared up.
And of course we have to go back to the ultimate consolation. This core group already has an NBA Championship. They achieved the goal that every team out there is striving for. That can’t be forgotten or diminished.
Call it cope if you want because that’s exactly what the situation calls for. Unless you were one of the many that was dreading this deal from the start. In which case this is a huge sigh of relief and perhaps even validation.
Regardless, the Celtics aren’t going to be a rudderless franchise with no clear path forward (as the Miami Heat might have been if they missed out – which is probably why they were desperate enough to pay the price that they did). We still have a championship core and several different paths to add to the team going forward.
We will, of course, be tracking the next logical question. What’s next? Stay tuned.
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on December 6, 2024 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens took his biggest swing yet since stepping into the organization’s front office five years ago — and whiffed.
In the late hours of Monday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo officially joined the Miami Heat and ended an ongoing bidding war this offseason with Boston’s Eastern Conference foe. The Milwaukee Bucks, in return, landed a haul from South Beach that included Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, a pick swap, and a second-round selection.
Stevens and the Celtics, although described as aggressive in their pursuit of bringing the Greek Freak to Boston, fell short.
The Celtics and Heat were the two premier landing spots said to have Antetokounmpo’s commitment to sign an extension. But in the final days, as the Bucks considered bids from both franchises, Stevens and company weren’t willing to go the extra mile to provide Milwaukee a bundle that aligned with their direction in moving on from the two-time league MVP.
BROOKLYN, NY – JANUARY 23: Jaylen Brown #7 and Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Bucks, building for the future without Giannis, wanted to dig deeper into Boston’s bench with youngsters such as Hugo González and Baylor Scheierman catching Milwaukee’s interest, Charania reported. Brown, with three years left on his current contract and extension eligible in July, wasn’t enough to sway Milwaukee’s front office or ownership after pushing Miami to the limit.
González, selected in the first round of last year’s draft, blossomed into a steal after being taken by Boston at No. 28. Scheierman, drafted 30th overall two years ago, also became a crucial depth piece after the pair inherited a minutes increase while the Celtics turned their first 62 games without Jayson Tatum into an unforeseen run at securing the No. 2 seed in the East.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla made quick work of González’s development, watching the 20-year-old from Spain flash his intense defensive potential across 74 appearances throughout his rookie year. His 14.6 minutes off Boston’s bench were enough to convince Stevens (and the Bucks) that González is poised to continue growing into an underrated asset capable of being a game-changer in the coming years.
Not being able to pry González — and possibly more — away from Boston made the difference to Milwaukee.
Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam became a “driving force” in choosing Miami’s offer instead, according to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports. Haslam, also co-owner of the Cleveland Browns, wasn’t willing to risk losing the 2024 NBA Finals MVP with no clear signs that Brown was sold on Milwaukee — especially after Myles Garrett forced his trade to the Los Angeles Rams before Giannis officially departed the Bucks.
Stevens’ run at landing Antetokounmpo indicates a real desire to upgrade Boston’s roster after a second straight playoff exit against a lower-seeded opponent. Both times, the Celtics failed to make it past the semifinals, going 9-9 at TD Garden.
Moving forward, Stevens will look elsewhere to take the next step toward revamping Boston’s roster before Opening Night in October.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: NBA Draft prospect Darryn Peterson talks to the media during the 2026 NBA Draft Player Availability on June 22, 2026 at Lotte New York Palace in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s Draft Day Eve! With less than 24 hours left before the NBA Draft, there are more news and rumors that continue to leak out about both the potential pick for Utah, as well as with the Walker Kessler situation.
Is the Walker Kessler situation still in flux?
A few days ago, the Walker Kessler situation appeared to be in better shape after Kessler put out a post saying that he loves Utah.
It was the right move for Kessler if staying in Utah was the goal. It certainly appeared to mollify Jazz fans who were frustrated with Kessler’s refusal of Utah’s 5-year $140M offer. But it’s now been 5 days, and there’s still no deal.
On Ryen Russillo’s podcast, Sam Amick gave some insight into why that might be.
Amick mentions that one of the issues is the five years. Apparently, they want more flexibility with the contract. That could mean two things. It could mean that Kessler thinks he’ll outplay that contract. If he consistently hits an outside shot and improves in other areas, he could be right. In that case, he could likely earn even more on his next contract, and so a shorter contract makes sense. The other reason is that he would want a shorter contract to get out of his current situation sooner.
It’s not the greatest optics for Kessler right now. The Jazz’s 5-year, $140M offer has been widely considered very fair for Kessler. Maybe he is going to get a better offer on the market, but the longer this goes on, the tougher it’s going to be to hide his real intentions, whatever those are.
Another interesting point from Amick is that he mentioned all the recent Cam Boozer rumors could have been a message from the Jazz that they can get a cheaper option if they need. Whether that’s the case or not, it sends a message that Utah is willing to move on if they have to.
Finally, Amick also talked about how some players who have to go through a tanking situation tend to think they’ll be rewarded on the other side for going through with everything their team requested. It certainly seems like Utah is doing that with this offer. Kessler was asked to sit at times when he could have played, but he also has missed legitimate time with multiple injuries.
All in all, it’s easy to get frustrated if you’re hoping for a Kessler signing. The longer this goes on, the more fan frustration may start heating up again.
Darryn Peterson had a secret workout with the Jazz
This was a rumor that Bill Simmons revealed on his latest podcast right at the end.
On the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, @BillSimmons just casually throws out, “I heard Utah maybe had a secret workout with Peterson this weekend.” 👀 Bill & @HousefromDC say the #UtahJazz should draft Cam Boozer
Peterson also went on to say that he’d be happy to play with whoever drafts him.
Darryn Peterson on only working out for the Washington Wizards with the No. 1 pick: “Just a decision that was made. I’m definitely not dodging any team. Whoever takes me, I’m going to come in and be delighted to be there. Wherever that happens to be, they’ll get the best me.” pic.twitter.com/MObTY3XmxD
These things don’t mean that he’ll be the for-sure pick for the Jazz if he is available at #2, but they are definitely things you like to hear if you’re rooting for the Jazz to draft Peterson.
In this week’s Injury Report, Francisco Lindor is due to return from his calf strain this week. Bobby Witt Jr. looks to avoid the injured list as he manages a Grade 1 MCL sprain. And we await an update on Jeremy Peña after he departed Monday’s game with a hamstring issue. All that and more as we recap all of the relevant injury news around baseball.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Corey Seager (concussion)
Seager has been sidelined since June 12 after experiencing concussion symptoms following a collision at the plate on June 11. After he was held out of the lineup for a few days, the team placed him on the 7-day concussion injured list. He took part in on-field baseball activities on Sunday and is scheduled to take live batting practice on Tuesday. He’ll be evaluated after to determine the next steps, but he can be considered day-to-day with a chance to return this week.
The Phillies have the best record in baseball (33-16) since Don Mattingly took over as manager.
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Francisco Lindor (calf)
The Mets will get Lindor back as soon as Wednesday after a two-month absence with a left calf strain. The 32-year-old star shortstop is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse and will get at least one more game in on Tuesday after going 0-for-4 in his first rehab game on Sunday. Lindor’s return this week will move Bo Bichette back to third base and squeeze Brett Baty and MJ Melendez out of playing time, though neither has done much to take advantage of their opportunity and could be dropped in most formats.
Bobby Witt Jr. (knee)
Witt was removed from Thursday’s game against the Cardinals with right knee discomfort after landing awkwardly in the fourth inning while fielding a ball. It was the second instance of knee discomfort this month. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 MCL sprain. The team has not placed him on the injured list, instead holding out hope that he’ll be ready to join the lineup in the next couple of days. Of course, we can’t rule out a trip to the injured list if he doesn’t bounce back as quickly as we hope. But rushing back, given that it’s the second time he was pulled with knee soreness, could also be counterproductive if he’s at risk for a setback. Still, the team is encouraged by his workout prior to Monday’s game against the Rays.
Noah Schultz (knee)
Schultz made his second rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday, striking out four with one walk over 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He got up to 57 pitches in the outing, tossing 38 for strikes. It seems like the next goal will be to get to 70 pitches in his next start, after which he could possibly return to the White Sox rotation. At most, we’re looking at another two starts on his rehab assignment, putting him back in Chicago in the next two weeks.
Munetaka Murakami (hamstring)
In the first update since early June, White Sox manager Will Venable stated that Murakami was “getting up to 80 percent in his running” and increasing the intensity of his hitting. Venable also said the 26-year-old slugger would head out on a rehab assignment as soon as he feels 100 percent. It sounds like we could still be at least a couple of weeks away from getting Murakami back in the White Sox lineup.
Jared Jones (elbow)
Jones was forced to depart in the third inning against the Rockies on Sunday after taking a comebacker off the back of his pitching elbow. X-rays came back negative, but we should know more after further evaluation. He’s considered day-to-day and hopefully won’t have to miss his next start scheduled for Saturday against the Reds.
Jack Leiter (ankle)
Leiter was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 19, with a right ankle impingement. The injury apparently stems all the way back to a start in Texas against the Pirates on April 22, when Leiter slipped on the on-deck circle while fielding a play. He’s been pitching through the issue since, and it’s played a role in his mechanics. The 26-year-old right-hander had given up 15 runs over his last three starts and holds a 5.29 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts over 80 innings. Leiter has flashed some skills, but has been terribly inconsistent, especially as the injury has gotten worse. Hopefully, a couple of weeks off can get him right and ready for a better second half.
Ryne Nelson (elbow)
Jordan Lawlar (hamstring)
Nelson was another breakout hopeful who has struggled this season. He was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow. It was reported that Nelson is dealing with a partially torn forearm flexor. This is likely an injury that will end his season, or at least keep him out until well into the second half. Either way, the 28-year-old right-hander could be dropped in all formats, with a 4.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts over 83 1/3 innings. The Diamondbacks also lost outfielder Jordan Lawlar to the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. The injury comes after just six games back following his recovery from a fractured wrist. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated that Lawlar could miss 4-6 weeks.
Will Smith (neck)
Teoscar Hernández (hamstring)
Kyle Tucker (back)
Smith has been on the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation for the last two weeks. He received a cortisone shot in his neck to address the issue, and manager Dave Roberts indicated optimism that Smith could return in early July. Meanwhile, Hernández is close to returning from a left hamstring strain that’s kept him on the shelf since May 30. He’s set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. While Smith and Hernández are on their way back, Tucker was removed from Monday’s series opener against the Twins with lower back spasms. Roberts downplayed the concern following the game. It doesn’t seem like Tucker is in danger of missing much time, but he could be on the bench for a day or two.
Jeremy Peña (hamstring)
Peña fouled off a pitch in the sixth inning against the Blue Jays on Monday and was unable to finish his at-bat, instead departing to the locker room with a trainer. After the game, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters that Peña was dealing with a right hamstring cramp. While that sounds like he might’ve dodged a bullet, he’ll undergo further evaluation on Tuesday to determine the severity of the issue. Peña had already missed five weeks earlier this season with a hamstring strain.
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