After three straight years, it’s becoming a norm for a UConn player to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft. The only other schools with that distinction in the last three years? Duke and Baylor, a couple of five-star daycares with questionable methods.

I still remember the delight of hearing James Bouknight’s name called. 

But for the streak to continue, they’ll need teams to fall in love with Tarris Reed Jr or Alex Karaban. Both have been projected as fringe first-rounders, but as we saw with Liam McNeeley last year, draft night comes with a lot of uncertainty. 

Since NBA front offices are obviously reading The UConn Blog Dot Com, here is my sales pitch for Reed. You can read Karaban’s here. Maybe this can push them solidly into the first round.

It Pays to Be Big

I found five comparisons based on combine measurements and play style, three from the current generation and two slightly older ones. Combined, they all reflect a sort of best-case, best-floor comparison.

Pace and space is still a thing in the NBA, but some are bucking the trend. Jumbo lineups — like what Michigan did to UConn in the title game — are starting to enter the picture. If you’re trying to stay ahead of the jumbo curve, may I interest you in a 6 ’10 (barefoot), 260 lb. center with ballerina feet, a 7′ 5 ” wingspan, and feathery touch around the rim?

What if he has above-average passing skills, exceptional switchability, and shot mechanics that indicate potential shooting range later in his career?

With the first comparison, let’s aim high.

The Detroit Pistons were the no. 1 seed in the East in part due to Jalen Duren’s emergence as a space-eating low-post anchor with two-way athleticism. 

That’s the almost unrealistic, peak comparison for Reed Jr. out there right now; he comes into the league and picks up right where he left off in April. His rebounding translates, his defense continues to tighten up, the motor is revving, and he shows he can score over NBA size consistently. That’s a lot of “ifs” but that’s also Jalen Duren-lite.

Duren was a one-and-done at Memphis, and came in with more of a pedigree after reclassing into the 2022 recruiting class as the no. 1 player overall. He was 18 years old when drafted, a mammoth project with unlimited tools. 

Reed’s path was a little longer, featuring a change of scenery and a little senioritis needed to unlock the full potential. After an inconsistent run as a Husky, something clicked for him this past March. All that enticing potential was realized and the staff’s vision was fulfilled. 

It doesn’t matter when the light comes on, as long as they turn on. 

Here are the combine measurements for comparison:

Tarris Reed Jr

Height (Barefoot): 6’9.75”

Weight: 263.6 lbs

Wingspan: 7’4.25”

Standing Reach: 9’2”

Standing Vertical: 29.5”

Jalen Duren

Height (without shoes): 6’9.5″ 

Weight: 250 lbs

Wingspan: 7’5″

Standing Reach: 9’1″

Standing Vertical: 37”

Duren’s age and explosiveness make him even more of a freak than Reed Jr, but that’s why he was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was a baby then, and is Tarris’ age now. Duren improved his statistical profile in his first four years, averaging 19.7 ppg and 10.5 rpg last year, earning his first All-Star berth, third-team All-NBA, and defensive player of the year votes.

A team taking Reed isn’t automatically getting the next Jalen Duren. But maybe they’re getting a more NBA-ready, albeit less athletic Jalen Duren. Less ceiling, more polish. Backup big men don’t just fall out of the sky.

Duren is the pie in the sky. Back on earth, can I interest you in a Day’Ron Sharpe comparison?

Sharpe opted out of the combine measurements back in 2021, but the Nets list him at 6 ’10 265, pretty close to Tarris’ measurements. Sharpe was a one-and-done out of North Carolina that fell to Phoenix at pick 29, and promptly traded to the Brooklyn Nets on draft day. He’s been there as a reserve big man, averaging 7 ppg and 6 rpg in 15.5 mpg.

The way Sharpe seals and uses his body is very reminiscent of Reed, except the latter’s post moves are more polished because he’s older. This is probably what scouts see, with Reed’s upside coming from his bullish trajectory and potential to expand his game.

Former Georgetown Hoya Thomas Sorber is another match.

Thomas Sorber 

Height: 6’9.25″

Weight: 262.8 lbs

Wingspan: 7’6.00″

Standing Reach: 9’1.00″

Vertical: 42 inches

Reed is taller, but Sorber is younger and more explosive. He put up nine points and 10 rebounds against UConn in 2025, a game in which Reed played 12 minutes and scored three points.

Sorber tore his ACL in September and never saw the court for Oklahoma City, but if you watched the Spurs take down the Thunder last month, you know his skillset is sorely needed.

Now for the throwbacks. Walk with me down memory lane, fellow millennials.

Al Jefferson

Height (without shoes): 6’8.25”

Weight: 289 lbs

Wingspan: 7’2.5”

Standing Reach: 9’2”

Big Al came into the league smaller but heavier than Reed. Before the one-and-done era, he was a highly-ranked prospect in high school (noticing the trend?). Big Al and Tarris have the below-the-rim post game with an array of moves in their bag. 

Pace-and-space left Big Al behind, but look at some of this footwork.

Awfully reminiscent of Reed this past March, except Reed has flashed the mobility to adapt to today’s game. Big Al played 14 years in the league and finished with career averages of 15.7 ppg and 8.4 rpg. He averaged 23 and 11 in 2008-2009 for the Timberwolves, and was third-team All-NBA in 2013-2014.

I also saw some Derrick Favors comparisons floating around out there on the internet. 

Here are his measurements from the 2010 combine:

Derrick Favors

Height: 6’8.75”

Weight: 245.2 lbs

Wingspan: 7’4”

Standing Reach: 9’2”

Standing Vertical: 31.5 inches

Similar to Duren, Sharpe, Sorber, and Jefferson, Favors was a blue-chip, one-and-done freakazoid prospect. Except he never really ascended to Duren’s heights, or Jefferson’s. Favors played 12 seasons in the NBA, finishing with career averages of 10 ppg and 7 rpg. He was a solid rim-runner who protected the rim well with Rudy Gobert.

Reed is taller by an inch, but Favors was more explosive and younger coming out (the youngest player drafted by the Nets ever). 

Breaking it Down

Five players with very different ceilings. Duren is a franchise cornerstone. Big Al was on his way to being one, until his knees gave out. Favors never ascended, but career earnings of $130 million (Jefferson made $137 mil) is far from a bust. Sharpe looks like he’ll carve out a reserve role for the next decade. The jury’s out on Sorber due to injury.

It sounds silly to rattle off these highly successful comparisons for a player like Reed that’s barely projected to go in the first round. As I said before, there are a lot of Ifs, and that’s why he’s a fringe first-rounder. But it’s hard to ignore the success of these players with similar physical measurements, combined with the switch that Reed flipped in March.

That’s not to say big men of his stature are automatic. In the last decade, James Wiseman Jr and Marvin Bagley had roughly similar measurements and didn’t pan out. However, when you really broke them down, the comparisons didn’t entirely add up; Reed is heavier than both and a different type of player.

Age is Just a Number

There are a lot of factors working against Tarris. His age, the potentially historic draft class, career inconsistency, and overall game trends can all be docked against him. After all these optimistic comparisons, the downsides need to be addressed.

College players at 6 ’10, 260 lbs. are usually one-and-done material. Even if they’re projects, most of the time they’ve been developed in an NBA organization, not the program. All of the comparisons above were five stars, making Reed’s Top 40 four-star ranking out of high school look pedestrian.

Reed represents a different path because he’s three years older. But let’s investigate that a little further.

First, the Juwan Howard factor. How would any of the above players have succeeded under a Howard regime? Second, the NIL landscape informs a lot of ‘stay or go ’ decisions now.

With no NIL around, maybe 15 years ago, Tarris heads to the NBA a year or two earlier with that coveted ‘raw potential’ label. Would Al Jefferson stay another year in college if a school offered more money than he’d make in the late lottery, which was where he fell? And if he somehow didn’t perform, every year in college would tank the sense of his potential, even though he eventually became a force inside.

What would Da’Ron Sharpe’s numbers look like if he stayed three more years? Would he average 19.5 ppg, 13.2 rpg, and 1.5 blocks per game in the NCAA tournament?

For a variety of reasons, Tarris took a little more time to cook. That’s okay! He’s not a senior citizen though; he’ll only be 23 next season. I understand the financial advantages a GM gets from a 19-year-old’s contract vs. a 23-year-old’s. But there are still risks.

A savvy GM should look at the March emergence and see an NBA-ready guy. Given how suddenly he flipped the switch, maybe there’s still more left to unlock. 

His measurements have a pretty good track record at the next level. There are more success stories for guys with Tarris’ combination of size and skill out there than cautionary tales. The college game is more like the G-League than ever before, so age shouldn’t be as big a knock on a player’s draft stock. This applies to Karaban as well, who surely would have gone to the NBA earlier without the benefits of NIL.

There’s no doubt the 2025-2026 Michigan Wolverines had a successful season. For some, what feels like the bow on top of the story is watching the former players realize their dreams and get drafted into the NBA.

Michigan has three players who are likely do be drafted in the lottery of next week’s NBA Draft. What team would you like to see draft Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr.?

Your author is a Detroit Pistons fan who would gladly take any of the three. However, with Detroit picking at No. 21, it’s unlikely any of them will become available barring a trade. Most mock drafts have all three players in the top half of the first round, but the Pistons could certainly use any of them.

Lendeborg would provide a scoring punch to complement Cade Cunningham while not needing to be ball dominant. Johnson could replace Tobias Harris in time and grow into the starting 4 for the team. Even Mara would provide excellent insurance should Detroit not retain Jalen Duren or trade away Isaiah Stewart.

If we take the home team out of the equation, there are still several excellent spots the former Wolverines could end up in.

Mara is one of the best passing center prospects the NBA has seen in years. It would be fun to watch him in Steve Kerr’s offense in Golden State. Similarly, Mara would be an excellent bench option for the Denver Nuggets. While he’s certainly no Jokic, Denver’s entire scheme revolves around its big men being able to pass the ball. Even a team such as the Memphis Grizzlies would be an intriguing fit for Mara since they have slashers up and down their roster.

For Johnson, the San Antonio Spurs would be the dream scenario in my eyes. He could be the bruising, rebound-first big man who could help keep Victor Wembanyama clean. Johnson also screams “Miami Heat culture” to me when it comes to the intangibles.

Lendeborg has become a bit of a lightning rod in NBA Draft circles. His stock has slipped slightly thanks to a nagging injury, as well as his age. He is one of the most “plug-and-play” prospects in this draft, but the NBA loves upside. Lendeborg is likely closer to his ceiling already than many of the other projected lottery picks. However, I would love to see him be taken by a team like the Spurs as well.

The most common location for Lendeborg in NBA mocks drafts, by far, is the Oklahoma City Thunder. As a team in win-now mode, taking an experienced, high-floor player like Lendeborg makes a ton of sense. However, as a fan, I don’t want to see him be corrupted by the Thunder players and their flopping factory.

Where do you want to see Mara, Johnson and Lendeborg get drafted? Which do you think will go off the board first? Is there a chance any slip to Detroit at No. 21? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

While there has been much debate about what the future holds for LeBron James, the reality is that there have been only a few viable options.

It never felt realistic that he would move across the country for a likely retirement tour. Cleveland would need to do an immense amount of cap gymnastics to offer him anything more than a minimum contract. Ultimately, that leaves the Lakers and Warriors as the legitimate options.

And wouldn’t you know it, as free agency nears, it appears those are the top two options. On Thursday, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported on a number of things about the Lakers, including where LeBron’s free agency stands just weeks away.

Still, the prevailing sentiment, according to more than half a dozen sources around the league, is that James will likely return to the Lakers if he comes back, with the Golden State Warriors presenting a realistic second option.

This comes on the heels of a different ESPN reporter, Marc Spears, reporting that LeBron was likely to return to the Lakers. Even if one-third of the league is supposedly tampering to ask about LeBron, there’s been basically no indication he’s going to leave LA. In fact, the opposite is true.

What’s also true, though, is that the Warriors not only keep coming up, but no one is denying they’re an option, either. They will, however, be limited in the contract they can offer LeBron, as McMenamin explained.

The most the Warriors, as currently constructed, would be able to offer James is the $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, $37 million less than what he made last season.

The Lakers technically could offer James a maximum of three years and $182 million to stay, but nobody around the league expects the team to offer James anywhere close to that.

However, L.A. could beat the Warriors’ offer with a deal in the $20 million to $30 million range, still re-sign Reaves and have money remaining to build out the rest of the roster.

The main selling point for the Warriors is the opportunity to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green and that’s about it. Jimmy Butler will be out half the season and while that core is fun on paper, they’re not going to be competitive, and certainly not as compeitive as the Lakers with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Is that really a compelling enough situation for LeBron to go to in lieu of the Lakers? Was the 2024 Olympics not a good enough final ride for LeBron and Steph?

All of this is working under the assumption we know LeBron’s thinking, which we don’t. But it really does feel like LeBron and the Lakers reuniting one more time is the likeliest outcome.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

For the next month before the 2026 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at No. 22. Next up in this series is St Johns’ Zuby Ejiofor.

Ejiofor quietly put together one of the more impressive senior seasons in the country at St. John’s, emerging as one of the better defensive anchors in college basketball and a legitimate NBA prospect in the process. He was not a household name heading into the year, but his combination of length, motor and playmaking ability for a big made him impossible to ignore by the end of it. Most mocks have him going somewhere in the late first to early second round, but for a Sixers team that needs physicality, rebounding and energy off the bench, he is worth keeping a close eye on as the draft approaches.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 37 games, 30 minutes, 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.1 blocks, 53.6% FG, 30.5% 3P, 71.8% FT

Team: St Johns

Year: Senior

Position: PF/C

Height & Weight: 6’7.5” | 245 lbs

Born: April 20, 2004 (22 years old)

Hometown: Garland, Texas

Strengths

Ejiofor’s calling card is his defense, and it is not close. His combination of lateral quickness and a 7’2″ wingspan allows him to credibly guard one through five, switching onto guards on the perimeter without getting eaten alive and protecting the rim against bigger bodies. That kind of positional versatility is exactly what modern NBA rosters are built around. He anchored the St. John’s defense this past season, averaging 2.1 blocks per game and posting a 4.9 Defensive Box Plus/Minus, numbers that reflect just how disruptive he is as a rotational shot-alterer on and off the ball.

His rebounding is equally impressive. He crashes the glass with an elite offensive rebounding rate driven by instincts, motor and length rather than size alone. The effort and instincts are there regardless of the matchup.

Despite boasting impressive defensive intangibles, his playmaking ability is what really sets Ejiofor apart from other athletic, high-energy bigs. His comfort putting the ball on the floor and finding open teammates is a genuine differentiator. He averaged a career-best 3.5 assists per game as a senior, functioning well in dribble-handoff actions and short-roll situations, reading the floor and finding cutters reliably. Most players in his archetype are catch-and-finish guys. Ejiofor has shown flashes of something more, even leading St. John’s in assists for the season.

As a finisher, he is efficient and decisive. He converts around 54% of his field goals overall, operates at 97% accuracy on dunks, and finishes close-range attempts at a 59% clip. He does not need plays drawn up for him to be productive.

His combine showing in Chicago helped his cause. He shot the ball well enough to plant a seed of doubt in scouts who had written off his offensive range, and his athletic testing backed up everything the tape suggested about his mobility and explosiveness.

Weaknesses

At 6’7.5″ barefoot, Ejiofor lives in the tweener space that might make NBA teams nervous. He is not a true center against physical fives, and his wingspan only covers so much ground when a bigger body has established post position. That size gap shows up most in heavy traffic rebounding situations where length alone cannot compensate.

As a four, the questions shift to whether he can consistently guard faster perimeter players away from the basket without losing his defensive edge. His versatility is his calling card, but tweener bigs can be exposed quickly at the NBA level when matchups get uncomfortable or a team runs a switch-heavy scheme. That said, the league has been trending bigger and longer for years now, which makes the tweener label at least somewhat subjective depending on who you ask.

One of the bigger focal points offensively is his lack of floor spacing. He shot around 31% from three on low volume in college, making him a reluctant shooter that defenses can afford to sag off. Without that perimeter threat, his presence in the half-court can tighten the paint for teammates and limit offensive flow around him when the ball isn’t in his hands.

He is best used as a finisher off rolls, cuts, and put-backs rather than someone you can run plays for when things slow down. He tends to back defenders down and work out of the post rather than operating as a vertical threat, which means longer and more athletic rim protectors can give him trouble when he is trying to generate his own look. That is a fine role, but it puts a ceiling on how much he can be asked to do. Teams drafting Ejiofor need to be clear-eyed about what they are getting: a high-floor, ready-now backup big who can impact winning immediately, but likely within a defined lane.

Positional Fit

Ejiofor projects most naturally as a backup center or small-ball five, though his tweener size ensures the positional conversation will follow him into draft night. The jumper is ultimately the variable that determines how the position question gets answered. If it develops into even a passable perimeter threat, defenses have to respect him on the floor and the positional limitations become far less relevant. If it does not, he risks getting squeezed out of the four by more switchable wings and out of the five by bigger, more physical bodies. How his skills translate are a real question, but his physical tools, athleticism and motor might make up for a lot of his deficiencies early on. In the right system, Ejiofor can carve out a role from day one with room to grow.

Draft Projection

Ejiofor’s draft projection ranges quite a bit, with the higher end sitting in the mid-to-late first round, putting him right in line with where the Sixers are selecting at 22. Most mock drafts have him going in the late first round to a handful of contenders such as the Celtics, Cavaliers, Timberwolves and Nuggets. Ejiofor would slot in nicely with any of these teams, who are all in need of a versatile defensive big alongside their established talent.

There is something to be said about a player who just goes out every night and does what you expect them to do. Jarrett Allen is one of those guys for the Cleveland Cavaliers, even in a year where he saw his shot-making efficiency take a slight dip. Nevertheless, it was another positive season for Allen on both ends of the floor. The question now, heading into the offseason, is whether he will be on the roster next season.

Regular Season Stats

• 15.4 points
• 8.5 rebounds
• 1.8 assists
• 63.8% FG
• 10% 3PT FG
• 70.9% FT

For the sixth-straight season in a Cavaliers uniform, Allen averaged at least 13 points and eight rebounds per game. His offensive game is what it always has been, a rim-runner and paint janitor that can be relied upon to get up for the routine dunker spot lob. He profiled as an ideal fit next to James Harden in the starting lineup, feasting on the excellent pick-and-roll passing chops of the Cavs’ point guard. Sure enough, Allen’s stats ballooned after Harden arrived in Cleveland to round out an otherwise excellent season.

Prior to the Harden trade, Allen was having a fairly underwhelming regular season for his standards. The shot-making efficiency was below his usually elite standards, and the rebounds had taken a step back as well. Allen’s defense has always been at least good, if not elite on certain nights. After the All-Star break, Allen’s defense did pick up in a meaningful way — falling in line with what was a career month of February. In fact, in that month, Allen averaged 22.3 points per game on 74 percent shooting, adding 11.5 rebounds per game and more than a block per contest with nine double-doubles.

Another ho-hum, solid season for the Cavs’ starting center, but the story will always go back to postseason performances. The lights were not too bright for Allen in these playoffs, as he scored in double-digits in 13 games and notched a double-double in three of those.

If there was a knock on Allen this past season, it would be that he was available for only 56 games, down from the full 82 he played the year prior. That is the lowest number of games played for Allen since 2021-22, despite playing 27.1 minutes per game. But Allen was very good in the games he played.

Allen’s future will be the big topic of the offseason for the Cavs, as his contract is excellent value and he has a very high floor with generally good activity on both ends. It is fair to wonder if Allen’s play this past season impacts the front office’s plans to reshape the roster. The Cavs could, and likely will, run things back with the front court of Allen and Evan Mobley. That would not be the worst thing in the world, especially if the Cavs get another season like they just did out of Allen. Based on his career stats and consistency, assume more of the same for next year.

Grade: B+

Yesterday, I discussed ways the Bucks could upgrade the roster around Giannis while again dipping into their draft cupboard. For those of you who were against this, today is for you. We’re going to explore ways the Bucks can upgrade the roster, whether or not Giannis stays, without losing a pick in any future draft…. and maybe even gain picks. In this scenario, they can still acquire some really talented players, but without Giannis, they’re not big-time needle movers. None of them by themselves can make the team meaningfully contend.

Since the Bucks have ample room under the tax line and the first apron, they should be in the business of taking on bad contracts if it also nets them draft assets. You might remember that in order to sign Myles Turner last summer, Milwaukee had to create every bit of cap room they could. That meant trading Pat Connaughton’s $9.4m expiring salary to Charlotte, and giving them two future second-round picks for the trouble. Now they’re going to be in Charlotte’s place, taking on teams’ unwanted money.

We begin in the Rocky Mountains, where you’ll find a squad with significant financial concerns this summer…

Christian Braun

The Nuggets need to cut a lot of payroll if they want to keep Peyton Watson in restricted free agency this summer. Braun’s five-year, $125m rookie-scale extension starts in July, but swapping him for Kyle Kuzma would only save them $1m in 2026–27, which is when they need the flexibility most, to say nothing of the future. Receiving Bobby Portis would instead save them $7m, and with five years remaining on that deal, Denver would have to give Milwaukee at least one of the firsts they control in 2026, 2031, or 2033. Their firsts from 2027–30 are encumbered by protections. Braun took a step back after his breakout third season, but he’s just 25 and is a nice player overall.

Cam Johnson

Johnson was widely discussed as a potential Buck last offseason and has a $23.1m expiring deal. Swapping the 30-year-old straight up for Portis is legal and would save Denver $8.6m. He shook off a slow start and actually set a career-high in three-point percentage, though he dealt with injuries a fair bit too, missing 28 contests. Perhaps Milwaukee could squeeze a couple second-rounders out of Denver for helping them save. The Nuggets only have two available to trade: no. 49 this year and their 2033 pick. They also have their 2028 second, but it’s protected only for picks 31–33, so if they don’t have one of the league’s worst records, it goes to Washington.

Zeke Nnaji

The forward has two years left (the second a player option) on his rookie-scale extension signed back in 2023. He showed some promise as a 22-year-old back then, but probably not enough to justify the four years and $32m he received. Denver would certainly like this one back. Milwaukee can help them here too, in the event that any of Gary Trent Jr., Gary Harris, or Taurean Prince opt into the final year of their minimum contracts. Swapping one of them for Nnaji could save the Nuggets up to $11.1m over the next two seasons. That’s definitely worth multiple seconds.

These Denver moves would be smart regardless of whether Giannis leaves or stays, particularly if Milwaukee can get a future first for bailing them out. But now I want to talk about some truly distressed assets. Admittedly, you’d have to squint for these to make sense, but if the Bucks can get some picks out of them, it softens the blow.

Ja Morant

I don’t think Giannis plus Morant necessarily makes the Bucks a top-tier contender in the East, but despite the baggage, I could learn to live with it. There are obviously long-term maturity/off-court issues with him, plus significant injury problems in recent years. There was some belief that Morant and Taylor Jenkins didn’t get along well by the end, though I’ve also heard those reports may be overblown. It’s anyone’s guess how they’d gel with a new franchise.

With two years and $87.1m remaining on his contract, the 26-year-old will probably fetch a similar return as Trae Young this past deadline: salary matching without picks attached. Morant is owed $38.1m more than the value of Young’s 2026–27 player option, which he reportedly plans to decline. Memphis would save $48.4m between now and 2028 if they took back Kuzma and Portis in return.

If I’m Jon Horst, I’d insist on the Grizzlies including draft assets for that bailout. Memphis has 14 firsts and 9 seconds in their cabinet between now and 2033. From a business perspective, getting any additional value alongside Morant, without trading picks, is a sound move. On the court? Maybe not, but a 32-50 team doesn’t exactly have a leg to stand on when debating how good the fit would be. 

Kyrie Irving

Another option in a similar vein is Irving, whom Jeremy discussed late last month. Again, there are baggage and health concerns: he’s coming off a torn ACL that has sidelined him since last March. He also just turned 34, a full year older than Lillard was in 2023. He’s guaranteed several million less than Morant, but unlike him, Irving can opt out of his $42.4m final-year salary next summer. The age and injury demerits make for a trickier case: Dallas would only save about $7.5m next season if they swapped him with Portis and Kuzma, so what’s in it for them? They’re not facing financial constraints. They might need a pick to be convinced, and I’d only do that if it’s heavily protected or a swap.

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Like I said yesterday, the Bucks are going to do something. But whatever happens with Giannis, I would really like them to deal with Denver. Yes, I wish the Nuggets had more than some crappy seconds to offer for Nnaji, but one of their future firsts in any deal would be an absolute coup. Whatever calls are being made, it would be a missed opportunity to restock if trades like the above aren’t being discussed.

If you haven’t seen it already, Greg Finberg wrote about reports about Trae Young planning to decline a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Go ahead and read that article and come back because I’m not going to rehash all the details — I’m here to look at what the Wizards should do.

The calculus for Young looks straightforward. He can get a new contract, the free agent pool is shallow, and he and his agent figure he’ll get a maximum contract. I suspect they’re correct. Several teams have money to spend and want to get better. And there’s a still pervasive view that Young is an elite offensive weapon.

The Wizards are at least somewhat in agreement — team presdient Michael Winger said they viewed Young as the top free agent this summer, so they traded for him to get him early.

But being the best free agent this summer is not the same thing as being worth a maximum contract. Being an elite offensive weapon (assuming that’s true) is not the same thing as being an elite player. Or being worth a max deal.

The question the Wizards front office needs to answer is whether the team would be better off over the next 3-5 years paying Young a maximum salary than they would be to either a) negotiate a lesser deal (if possible), or b) letting him depart and using the financial flexibility to acquire future assets.

I think the Wizards essentially answered this question when they traded for him. And you’ve probably already guessing which direction I’m leaning, but let’s go through it anyway.

Let’s start with this: the Wizards paid next to nothing of any meaningful value to acquire Young. They gave up Corey Kispert, a limited wing who offers good shooting and not much else, and CJ McCollum, a good player mostly in the deal due to his large salary and expiring contract.

That the Wizards got Young for so little is meaningful in at least couple ways. First, it’s testament to Young’s perceived value at a maximum-level salary. And second, the acquisition cost is low enough that the Wizards don’t need to think about it when making the should he stay or should he go decision. Their are no future picks dangling overhead — they gave up nothing of consequence.

There was a time when Young really was among the game’s best players. In my all-around production metric, Player Production Average, where average is 100 and higher is better, Young scored a 195 one season, which followed a 160, which followed a 165. That’s serious production — All-Star level in that 160s range, All-NBA bordering on MVP-conversation level at 195.

But that 195 was in 2021-22. Four years ago. Since then, four seasons, 7,606 minutes and a 142 PPA. Still pretty good but a long way from that elite status of 2022. During that time, the Atlanta Hawks were better on offense with Young on the floor by about the same amount they were worse on defense. In terms of driving wins, the Hawks were about the same whether he played or not.

Over that span, Young’s offensive possession usage stayed high while his efficiency sagged back to around average. It’s kind of impressive that he was able to remain even that efficient given his heavy offensive load and small stature. It’s also apparent that the drop in efficiency makes him less able to drive high-level team offense.

Young is a genius passer, though the creativity does come with turnovers. The shift in officiating has contributed to a modest reduction in trips to the free throw line, which is a further drag on his efficiency. The big issue is his shooting — subpar conversion rate on twos, and below average shooting on threes.

Some of the three-point shooting is the level of defensive attention he gets. Some of it shot selection. Which is to say, he takes a lot of hard shots — extreme range, heavily covered, stepbacks off the dribble. Sometimes all of those things on the same shot.

What happened in his brief appearance in a Wizards uniform last season is barely worth talking about. It totaled five games and 104 minutes, and while he looked pretty good personally, a) the sample size was too small to be meaningful, b) the team was worse on offense and better on defense when he was on the floor, and c) the sample size was too small to make item B mean anything.

That’s the past. The Wizards are buying the future — ages 28 to 31 or 32. Broadly speaking, this is an okay time to spend heavily on a player. The “normal” career arc is for a player to peak in their mid-20s (for a smaller guard like Young, peaks typically happen a little earlier) and then maintain into their early 30s.

Young’s career arc is already more like an exaggerated version of the small guard trajectory than the broader NBA population. Meaning: his best season was probably that 195 at age 23. His production has been down since then. Still pretty good, but not close to that elite level.

I haven’t talked much about Young’s defense, but it has to be addressed. Because, depending on the metric you use, he could well be the NBA’s worst defender. I’m not quite willing to go with absolute worst, but it’s fair to say he’s among the worst. As Bum Phillips once said of Earl Campbell, “He may not be in a class by himself, but it don’t take long to call roll.”

Young’s offense is still good enough that he’s probably a net positive overall — at least in the regular season — despite the defensive woes. We can worry about the postseason when the Wizards get back there.

At this stage in the rebuild, I think it’d be a poor decision to give Young a maximum contract, even if it’s for “only” three years. In my estimation, it would instantly be a bad contract that would saddle Washington with an expensive, declining player for however long the contract runs.

If Young can truly get a maximum contract from another team, the smart business decision would be to do one of two things: 1) facilitate the move and try to extract draft picks or young players, or 2) let him leave. The financial flexibility will pay off — there are always more opportunities to be had, and they’ll probably come along sooner than we’d think.

Bottom line: the Wizards are trying to build a contender. Now is not the time to make a multi-year, $200 million dollar bet on a small guard who’s already declining.

This 2025-26 New York Knicks season finally concluded last weekend, surprisingly and euphorically, in the middle of a month that fans have long awaited watching their team compete in. It was a dramatic, grueling road to the NBA Finals that climaxed in a 4-1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, and the franchise’s first NBA championship in 53 years.

Looking back and trying to grade each individual player on their season will be impossible without a curve, as they accomplished what they and 29 other teams set out to at the start of the year. Here are the final end-of-season grades for the Knicks...

Jalen Brunson: A++

Captain. NBA Champion.

And now, Finals MVP.

What more can you say about Brunson? The savior fans craved and sought out in the likes of LeBron James in 2010, Kevin Durant in 2016 and Kawhi Leonard in 2019, actualized in this 6-foot-2 second-round pick. He averaged 26 points and seven assists a game during the regular season, leading the team to 53 wins through an evolving offensive system and a catastrophic 2-9 stretch.

In the playoffs, he had a historic performance, encapsulated by a dominant 32 points, 36 points, and then 45 points to close out the NBA Finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns: A+

For someone who couldn’t seem to find his role throughout the season, Towns shook that off along with any noise surrounding his game and put together the best 100-game defensive campaign of his life. He turned around the Knicks 2-1 hole to the Hawks in the first round, outperformed Joel Embiid, and helped his team take control of the Finals from the outset.

If he didn’t dominate Victor Wembanyama in New York’s back-to-back road wins to kick off the championship round, it’s possible they aren’t holding the trophy right now.

OG Anunoby: A+

Knicks fans can take their pick as to why Anunoby deserves this grade. His full season of elite two-way play, his 49 percent three-point shooting in the playoffs, his 21 points per game in the NBA Finals, or the ridiculous tip-in that gave his team the championship edge in Game 4.

Mikal Bridges: A+

He wasn’t everybody’s favorite for the last two seasons, but Bridges has proven himself ready for the big moment time and time again. From the closeout game of the first round through the Conference Finals, Bridges averaged 19 points on a ridiculous 68 percent effective field goal rate and had big shooting performances in Games 2 and 5 of the NBA Finals, locking up every guard he faced along the way.

Josh Hart: A+

Hart brought what he usually does all season: a little bit of everything, all-out hustle and heartbreaking hustle plays for the opposition. But this time, he got to do it on the biggest stages and came through with a lights-out 26-point on five threes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and hit 40 percent of his threes in the NBA Finals to keep Wemby and the Spurs honest.

Mitchell Robinson: A

Robinson was pivotal to this championship chase, stepping up against the arguable best player in the world with Towns in foul trouble, and securing an offensive rebound of a missed free throw in Game 5 that helped the Knicks seal the deal. 

He had his lowlights, and the free throws desperately need work, but nonetheless, he helped get them over the line.

Miles McBride: B

Deuce’s injuries kept him from establishing a strong rhythm, but given enough time, he performed to expectations, lacing threes and defending his tail off. Unfortunately, a muted playoffs (outside of a monster Game 4 in Philly) and worse NBA Finals left it on a sour individual note, but his contribution to this chip shouldn’t be dismissed.

Landry Shamet: A

Shamet shook off another shoulder injury and early postseason benching to help the Knicks pull off one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. His sweet shooting carried into the NBA Finals with some big buckets in Games 1 and 2.

Jose Alvarado: A

Despite falling out of the rotation and only seeing spot playoff minutes, Alvarado was always prepared to step up if Brunson needed a breather or extra ball handler. He’ll forever be a New York legend for two huge shots down the stretch of their miraculous Game 4 NBA Finals comeback.

Jordan Clarkson: A-

Came into the season known for being a sparkplug scorer, Clarkson struggled and fell out of the rotation after big games to win the NBA Cup, then completely reinvented himself. He worked his way back through defense, paint touches and veteran steadiness that proved key in the postseason, even if it didn’t jump off the stat sheet.

Tyler Kolek: B+

Masterful games on Christmas and the NBA Cup show he’s ready to fill some shoes in the coming years. Didn’t get his chance these playoffs, but he will soon.

Mohamed Diawara: B+

Showed endless potential in the regular season but couldn’t sniff postseason burn. Should be a big part of the Knicks’ future plans.

Ariel Hukporti: A-

Stepped up when called upon in the regular season, and didn’t get the call much in the playoffs. But when he did, he helped hold the Knicks defense down, even coming up with a massive block in the clinching game of the NBA Finals.

Mike Brown: A+

Was brought in to be more collaborative, more dynamic offensively, but most importantly, to get the Knicks over the hump. He did it in year one, under enormous expectations with little room for error.

Less than one week away from the 2026 NBA draft, we still don’t know much about the Sixers’ plans.

We’re starting to get word of some prospects whom the Sixers have brought in or will bring in for a predraft workout. We can make guesses based on big boards and their biggest needs, but the draft is unpredictable. Especially down at No. 22, expect the unexpected.

Adding to the intrigue of this year’s draft is the front office turnover, with Mike Gansey replacing Daryl Morey as the Sixers’ president of basketball operations. Jameer Nelson replaced Elton Brand as the No. 2 in charge, too, while Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment president of sports Bob Myers plans to be involved in high-leverage decisions including the draft, trades and free agency. Got all that?

Gansey said during his introductory press conference that he helped run the Cleveland Cavaliers’ draft in recent years. His previous picks could hint at where he’d be leaning at No. 22, and how (if at all) that might differ from Morey and Co.’s past approach.

Morey’s history

Morey’s front office made 10 picks between 2020 and 2025. Their draft history might be the best part of his Sixers resume.

The Sixers hit two home runs with Tyrese Maxey at No. 21 in 2020 and VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 in 2025. Jared McCain (No. 16 in 2024) looks like a solid double at least—albeit for the Oklahoma City Thunder now—while Isaiah Joe (No. 49 in 2020), Paul Reed (No. 58 in 2020) and Adem Bona (No. 41 in 2024) are all clear steals based on their draft slot. The jury remains out on Johni Broome (No. 35 in 2025), and I still believe in Charles Bassey (No. 53 in 2021), damn it.

Year	Prospect	Pick	Class	Age
2025	VJ Edgecombe	3	Freshman	19
2025	Johni Broome	35	Senior	22
2024	Jared McCain	16	Freshman	20
2024	Adem Bona	41	Sophomore	21
2021	Jaden Springer	28	Freshman	18
2021	Filip Petrušev	50	Sophomore	21
2021	Charles Bassey	53	Junior	20
2020	Tyrese Maxey	21	Freshman	19
2020	Isaiah Joe	49	Sophomore	20
2020	Paul Reed	58	Junior	21

One thing jumps out about the Sixers’ draft history under Morey: They drafted freshmen with all four of their first-round picks (Maxey, Edgecombe, McCain and Jaden Springer). They always preferred upside over more established options in that range.

When the Sixers were on the clock at No. 16 in 2024, both McCain and Dalton Knecht were still on the board. Knecht, a fifth-year senior, was a first-team All-American at Tennessee after averaging 21.7 points per game while shooting 45.8 percent overall and 39.7 percent from deep. McCain averaged only 14.3 points per game at Duke, but he shot 41.4 percent from deep.

When the Sixers took McCain, some fans were frustrated that they didn’t take Knecht since he was seemingly more of a sure thing. This past season, Knecht averaged 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Lakers. McCain was the right pick at the time, and he continues to be so.

If the Sixers continued their freshman-only ways in the first round, they could take Chris Cenac Jr., Allen Graves, Koa Peat or Hannes Steinbach. Jayden Quaintance is also younger than all four of them despite being a sophomore. At least one of those players figures to be available at No. 22, if not more.

Will Gansey follow in those same footsteps, though?

The Cavs’ history with Gansey

It’s unclear exactly when Gansey took over the Cavaliers’ draft room. But since he ascended to assistant general manager in 2017, the Cavs had draft picks all over the first round, giving Gansey plenty of experience with a bunch of different scenarios.

On the high end, the Cavs took Evan Mobley (No. 3 in 2021) and Darius Garland (No. 5 in 2019), both of whom developed into All-Stars. Granted, they also whiffed on the No. 5 overall pick in 2020 (Isaac Okoro) while Onyeka Okongwu, Deni Avdija, Devin Vassell and Tyrese Haliburton were all still on the board.

The Cavs did snag Jaylon Tyson with the No. 20 overall pick in 2024, and he turned into a quietly key contributor for them in his sophomore season. In 66 games (42 starts), Tyson averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in only 26.9 minutes per game while shooting 49.3 percent overall and 44.6 percent from three-point range.

Tyson is more akin to the type of prospect whom the Sixers should realistically hope to land at No. 22 rather than a miracle like Maxey. Finding a future star at that spot would be incredible, but if nothing else, the Sixers need a solid single or double there. They can’t afford a total whiff.

During his introductory press conference, Gansey hinted at the types of prospects that he’d be looking to bring in.

“With the draft coming up, for example, you’re talking to plenty of coaches and people who have been around these [prospects],” he said. “You want to bring in good people. If they don’t want to be here or you don’t feel they fit our culture, then we don’t want them.

“We want people who want to be in Philadelphia. I want competitiveness. I want toughness. I want guys who hate to lose. Those are the kinds of people I’m going to target and want to bring onto this roster.”

With that said, there’s no easy way to gauge intangibles like competitiveness and toughness. That’s where the Sixers need to do their due diligence by talking to coaches and staffers who worked with those prospects.

Luckily, the Sixers already seem to have begun placing a premium on those characteristics even under Morey. Edgecombe’s ferocity on the court might have helped separate him from Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey as the Sixers deliberated who to take at No. 3 last year.

So, as you’re poring over draft profiles and big boards for the next few days, pay close attention to the prospects’ character reports. As much as the Sixers will prioritize upside and fit, they’ll also be hunting for prospects with that dawg in them.

The impact of NIL

Even if Morey had stayed in charge, the Name, Image and Likeness era would have forced them to change their draft approach regardless.

Five years ago, an NBA-record 353 players initially filed as early-entry candidates for the 2021 draft, and 217 early-entry players remained in the draft. This year, only 71 players filed as early-entry candidates—the lowest mark since 2003, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress—and only 31 stayed in the draft.

Now that players can (legally) rake in millions in college via their NIL rights, deciding whether to stay in the draft is much tougher for those who aren’t projected to be high lottery picks. The number of early-entry candidates has plummeted accordingly in recent years.

Florida forward Thomas Haugh, UConn guard Braylon Mullins and Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas were all showing up as possible mid-first-round picks in mock drafts during March Madness. All three chose to return to school for another year, which thinned out the back half of the first round.

In March, former Memphis Grizzlies vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger noted at The Athletic that “most draft model will say that you shouldn’t really draft” seniors, “especially the 23-year-old ‘super seniors’ coming off their fifth year.” He added that “those draft models are now almost certainly wrong” because of NIL.

It used to be a red flag if players returned to school for that many years. Now, the allure of NIL money might be too tempting to turn down for those who aren’t projected to go in the top 10 or 15, particularly if the following class isn’t expected to be as strong.

So, while Morey and Co. prioritized freshmen in the first round, don’t be surprised if the Gansey-led Sixers take a wider view of prospects. NIL is effectively forcing their hand.

With the New York Knicks crowned champions and parading down Broadway, the other 29 teams can now focus on what’s next. With the 2026 offseason set to begin with the NBA Draft on Tuesday and Wednesday, let’s take a look at which teams project to have the best and the worst futures.

The general idea is that if you were to pick an entirely new team to root for, which team would you pick so that you would have the most enjoyment for the next five or so years?

The factors I considered when ranking these teams include: how likely is the team to win the championship?, how many regular season and playoff wins will they give their fans to enjoy?, how many draft assets, current and future, do they have to build or rebuild their team?, and do they have a superstar or young player with the potential to be a superstar on their roster?

I’m sure there will be plenty of disagreement with my rankings, whether I have a certain team too high or too low, so let me know how stupid I am down in the comments.

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1. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs were so incredibly ahead of schedule this last season. They were projected to win 43.5 wins before the season and ended up blowing that number out of the water with 62 wins and a trip to the NBA Finals. While they did lose in five games to the Knicks, they still project to be one of the best teams in the NBA for years to come.

San Antonio has the best young superstar in the NBA, Victor Wembanyama, who at age 22 is already one of the best players in the league. They have an incredible amount of young talent around Wemby, including fellow lottery picks Stephon Castle and another potential star, Dylan Harper.

The only issue they currently have is De’Aaron Fox’s four-year, $221 million contract after playing so poorly in the Finals. This will not be an issue now, with most of San Antonio’s best players on rookie deals, but they will likely need to trade Fox away before guys like Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper get expensive.

The combination of the Spurs’ incredibly young and talented roster, Wembanyama especially, while being currently tied for the best odds to win the 2027 title, puts them at the top of these rankings.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Sitting narrowly behind the Spurs are the Thunder. The two teams that won the most games in the 2025-26 season are currently tied for the best odds to win the 2027 championship.

If the Thunder don’t make any cost-cutting moves, they will owe a luxury tax bill upwards of $210 million on top of the almost $260 million in player salaries they have on the books. If they want to get under the second apron, they will have to move on from players like Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort. If they stay at their current salary level, making in-season trades will become very difficult, if not impossible.

OKC has the draft assets and cost-controlled players like Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain to keep its team intact while also being affordable under the second apron, but its stockpile of first-round picks is not as unwieldy as it once was.

A case could be made to put the Thunder at the top of these rankings, but the Thunder just have a few more questions to answer than the Spurs do, which lands them at number two.

3. New York Knicks

Each of these teams in the top three could be interchangeable with their ranking. While the upside for the Spurs and Thunder is rooted in players and picks, the case for the Knicks being this high is more of a subjective one.

They don’t have the draft assets or young players like some other teams, but they are coming off of one of the most joyous playoff runs in the history of sports. That feeling will likely carry over into next season as they attempt to defend their title.

The second apron will likely cost them players like Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet, but with Jalen Brunson on his below-market deal, the Knicks will be able to retain their top-five players while still having flexibility to add smaller pieces to replace the bench pieces they might lose.

Ultimately, the Knicks are the reigning champions who will be running back their team for at least another season, if not longer. Given that, the third spot on this list is the lowest they can be.

4. Boston Celtics

The next five teams on this list could all arguably be put in this spot. The reason I have the Celtics is that they have proven to be able to put together a high-quality team almost regardless of circumstance.

Boston has won 50 or more games in five straight seasons, including last season, in which they were missing Jayson Tatum for most of the year. They are also just two years removed from winning the championship in dominant fashion.

The Celtics have also been one of the teams on the list to potentially trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and are seemingly the only team that would be able to trade for him while still being able to compete at a championship level, with Jaylen Brown likely being the main trade chip.

The only downside with the Celtics is that they may look to stay below the luxury tax next season to reset the repeater tax, which would greatly hamper their ability to improve the team for next season while saving ownership a boatload of money.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Despite a disappointing regular season, an unceremonious end to their playoff run in the second round, and little to no draft capital, the Timberwolves are still in as good a spot as any team moving forward, including a superstar player entering his prime, talented young pieces like Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid ready for larger roles, and few players on above-market rate contracts.

The Wolves have been one of the most successful teams in the NBA for the past five seasons. While they do not have an NBA Finals appearance to show for it, they are the only team to make the playoffs each of the last five seasons and win at least one round in each of the last three.

Their previous playoff success and the ever-growing superstardom of Edwards are the main reasons for optimism moving forward. The Wolves still have a lot of questions moving forward, including what to do with Julius Randle after an excruciatingly bad playoffs, but they have proven to be an extremely competitive team, even with an ill-fitting roster.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

Like many teams around them in this area of the rankings, the Lakers have a superstar in Luka Dončić, but do not have many draft assets. What they do have, unlike many other teams, is financial flexibility and potentially cap space this summer.

LeBron James and Austin Reaves are both set to be free agents. While losing James, and especially Reaves, would be a big hit for the team and the fan base, it might be the reset the Lakers need as they build around Dončić.

What the Lakers do with that flexibility, and if they can retain one or both of James and Reaves, this offseason will determine whether they rise or fall in these rankings come the start of next season.

7. Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokić is the sole reason the Nuggets are this high, and the good reason. The three-time MVP and one-time Finals MVP continues to stack up historic seasons as he has finished in the top two in MVP voting each of the last six seasons and in the top ten each of the last eight.

The downside is that Denver had a spectacular flameout against the Wolves in the Playoffs while having the fewest draft assets in the NBA to improve the team. They also have an owner seemingly unwilling to spend big money on the team, which may cost them Peyton Watson in free agency this offseason.

The Nuggets still have the fifth-best odds to win the 2027 title, so they can’t be put lower than seventh on this list, but they seem to be on thinner ice than any other time in the Jokić era.

8. Detroit Pistons

It’s really tough for me to square the 60-win regular season with their performance in the Playoffs. The 60 wins signal that Detroit was a championship-caliber team, but at no point during the postseason did they look like one.

In the end, the Pistons did win a ton of games last season, including a Playoff series. They also have a more-than-solid young superstar in Cade Cunningham, plenty of financial room to add talent and salary, and they also have all of their draft picks to upgrade their roster.

9. Houston Rockets

These next three teams have talented rosters, but all have large looming questions to answer. For the Rockets, it is what happened to their locker room in the second half of the season. Watching them both in person and on TV, it seemed like everyone involved hated playing with each other.

Losing both Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams was a huge blow to the team’s chances in the Playoffs. An offseason to refigure the roster should help to fix the positional deficiencies they had by the end of the season, but the flameout in the Playoffs against a Laker team missing both Dončić and Reaves leaves a really poor taste in everyone’s mouth.

Unlike many teams in this area of the rankings, the Rockets do have plenty of draft capital they could trade to help improve the roster. Also, unlike other teams, their best player will be 38 years old next season and just missed five of his team’s six Playoff games.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

Similar to the Timberwolves of the past couple of seasons, the Cavaliers were disappointing during the regular season, but did enough during the Playoffs to make the Eastern Conference Finals before being absolutely decimated by the Knicks. The Darius Garland for James Harden might end up being the correct move for the Cavs, but it did move up the team’s timeline somewhat significantly.

Kenny Atkinson might disagree, but Cleveland, as currently constructed, will need to improve on their current roster to jump into true championship-contender status. What makes it tough is that if Harden opts in to his $42 player option, the Cavs will enter the offseason over the second apron with multiple roster spots still left to fill.

The Cavaliers could look significantly different heading into next season. How they navigate this offseason will determine whether they are a whole lot higher or lower on this list 12 months from now.

11. Indiana Pacers

The main reason the Pacers are not higher is a small bit of skepticism that they can replicate the type of team they were two seasons ago, when they came a win away from winning the title. Most of my worry would be with Tyrese Haliburton’s health and how quickly he can return to his 2024 and 2025 form.

Giving up a pair of first-round picks, including what ended up being the number five overall pick, for Ivica Zubac is a tough trade, although Zubac should be a good fit for the Pacers, who lost Myles Turner last offseason. The Pacers, injury report willing, should once again be one of the better teams in the East and have most of their picks remaining to re-tool their roster if needed.

12. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are the first team on this list whose ranking has as much or more to do with their assets and the future of their roster.

I don’t know how good they will be this upcoming season, but they have a very talented roster that includes Jaren Jackson Jr, Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, and the number two overall pick that is most likely to be either Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer. Utah also has extra draft picks that could come in handy as the team gets more expensive.

Utah does have contract negotiations with Walker Kessler and Keyonte George that have already seemed to hit a bit of a snag, which will likely be a large focus of their summer after next week’s draft.

13. Dallas Mavericks

If I had done these rankings before the NBA Draft Lottery in 2025, I think the Mavericks would have been dead last. With the trade of Luka just months prior, the Mavs fan base was in one of the worst spots imaginable.

While the pain from losing Luka is probably still felt in Dallas, winning the Cooper Flagg lottery has helped heal those wounds at least a little bit. Replacing Nico Harrison with Masai Ujiri and moving on from Jason Kidd have also likely improved the vibes in Mavs land.

The Mavs are still in rebuilding mode and will need to continue to stack talent on their roster, but Flagg is as good a rebuild head start as a team could ask for. It will be interesting, especially from the Timberwolves lens, to see if Dallas trades Kyrie Irving or decides to hold on to him

14. Charlotte Hornets

For the first time in a long time, things seem to be looking up for the Hornets. Kon Knueppel had an outstanding rookie season, setting 3-point records all over the place as Charlotte finished the season going 28-10 in the second half of the season.

Along with a solid roster that should compete for a top-six next season, they are also among the teams with the most draft capital in the NBA, including the 14th and 18th picks in this year’s draft. They are still a move or two away from contender status, but things are looking up in Charlotte.

15. Washington Wizards

Last month’s Lottery results played a big role in the ranking for many teams, none more so than the Wizards, who won the number one pick. They will likely select AJ Dybantsa and add him to their young core that includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and others.

The weirdest part about the Wizards’ roster is the trades for Anthony Davis and Trae Young. It’s hard to fault them for buying low on two former All-NBA players, but their fit with a team that seems to be rebuilding is an awkward one. Young has also indicated that he is going to decline his nearly $49 million player option, but that might not be the right thing for the Wizards.

Washington is likely still years away from competing, but Dybantsa (or whoever they take) alone puts them in the top half of this list.

16. Philadelphia 76ers

I think the 76ers best represent the middle-of-the-road team in the NBA. Like they did this last season, they should again have a pretty solid team that can compete and in the Playoffs, but it’s tough to see the path to greatly improving their team that got swept by the eventual champion in the second round.

Joel Embiid and Paul George make a combined $110 million, which makes building around the team’s two young stars, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, a bit precarious. Embiid and George are still good to great players, but due to injuries and age, neither will likely live up to their lofty salaries.

17. Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers had a nice bounce-back season as they made the Playoffs for the first time since trading Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They also have access to future Milwaukee Bucks picks, which have a chance to be super valuable if/when the Bucks move on from Antetokounmpo.

The worrying part is the new owner, Tom Dundon, who has been cutting costs left and right to a worrying degree. Maybe that worry will become unfounded as Dundon’s Carolina Hurricanes did just win the Stanley Cup, but the concern is that when the Blazers’ roster requires spending extra money, ownership might not be willing to do so.

18. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks had two chances at a top-four pick in the lottery with both the Pelicans and Bucks picks, but neither came through. Still, they had had a solid 2025-26 season and took two games off the Knicks in the Playoffs, something no one else was able to do. With no standout asset or superstar, though, the Hawks are in the bottom half of the fan rankings.

19. Memphis Grizzlies

Speaking of the Lottery, after fullying bottoming out and embracing the rebuild following the trades of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr, the Grizzlies won the number three pick and will likely end up with either Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, or Caleb Wilson.

They also have a ton of extra draft capital after liquidating their roster, and still have one more trade to make with Ja Morant still on their roster. They have done a good job getting value with their trades, but they can’t be any higher on this list as they project to be one of the worst teams in the NBA next season.

20. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are a very difficult team to rank. Recently re-signed head coach Steve Kerr said it best when he called his team a “fading dynasty.” Steph Curry and, to a lesser extent, Draymond Green are still great players, and the Warriors will get Jimmy Butler back healthy next season, but lack the roster depth beyond their top players.

Maybe the Warriors can swing some crazy transactions this offseason. There have been rumors of LeBron heading to Golden State if he leaves the Lakers. Even so, this current version of the Warriors seems far away from competing at the highest levels in the Western Conference, and the future seems rockier than it’s been in over a decade.

Curry still being on the roster keeps the Warriors out of the bottom ten, as fans can still watch their franchise legend play great basketball on a good but not great team.

21. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are also a very difficult team to rank. They made a home run trade, swapping Ivica Zubac for Benedict Mathurin, who ended up being the number five overall pick in a great draft, and a future Indiana first-round pick. The James Harden for Darius Garland trade also made a ton of sense for them.

The Kawhi Leonard Aspiration scandal and the penalty they will possibly receive from that still looms over the franchise. The Clippers feel like a team stuck between competing and a rebuild. Maybe a potential trade or not of Leonard will signal which way they plan to go.

22. Orlando Magic

I could be ranking the Magic too low, given that most teams do not have a trio of players at the same caliber as Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane. Unfortunately, Orlando’s talent only translated to 45 wins and the eighth seed.

While the Magic likely would have upset the Pistons if not for an injury to Wagner, their offense performance in Games 6 and 7 was so putrid it signals that something needs to change in Orlando. The problem is that already sent out multiple draft picks to acquire Bane and are already bumping up the second apron, which makes improving a roster during the season nearly impossible.

23. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors feel like a team stuck in the middle. A solid enough roster that won 46 games and took Cleveland to a Game 7, but they lack a true superstar who could carry a team through the playoffs, and will be paying Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and R.J. Barrett a combined $102 million next season. They don’t have any extra future draft picks, but have all of their own as well.

With the new lottery rules, maybe being stuck in the middle isn’t so bad anymore.

24. Brooklyn Nets

Likely the biggest loser on draft night (along with the Pacers) was the Nets. They finished with the second-worst record in the NBA and ended up with the sixth pick to show for it. On top of that, their roster is devoid of any standout talent and is a long way away from putting together a quality team.

On the bright side, the Nets have the best treasure trove of draft assets available to them, with multiple first-round picks coming to them each of the next few years. That saves them from the bottom of the fan rankings, but it still projects to be a long time before the Nets can turn that draft capital into an actual winning team.

25. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls finally bottomed out and cleaned house. It is a welcome sign for a franchise that has been stuck in the Play-In tournament for far too many seasons. Next season, Chicago will have a new front office, a new coaching staff, and what at the moment seems to be one of the least talented rosters in the league.

The saving grace is that the Bulls got lucky on lottery night and have the number four pick, a great spot to be in a draft that appears to have four top-tier prospects. They also have the number 15 pick in this year’s draft, but that is the only extra first-round pick they currently have from another team.

While the teardown is a welcome sign, it also came a year or two too late. Now with the new flattened lottery odds, it may be tough for the Bulls to add talent after this year’s draft.

26. Phoenix Suns

The Suns had a very successful 2025-26 season, given the expectations. They won 45 games and made the playoffs before being swept out by the Thunder. It was likely a welcome sign for Suns fans that the team rebounded after the disaster of the season prior.

Still, the Suns are still recovering from the Kevin Durant trade in many ways. They have multiple of their first round draft picks that are out the door and did not receive nearly as much value from the Rockets as they sent out for Durant a few years prior.

The half-decent team they put together keeps them out of the cellar of the fan rankings, but still might be a rough few years ahead for the Suns.

27. Miami Heat

While the Heat might be in a pole position to trade for Giannis, everything else about where their franchise is going does not inspire confidence. Their roster is okay, as they won 43 games last season, but it is fairly uninspiring past Bam Adebayo. Even if they do swing a Giannis trade, I don’t see how they are able to put a quality team around him and Adebayo with what is left.

If the Heat do acquire Antetokounmpo, I will revisit this ranking. Until then, not really sure what the plan is down on South Beach.

28. Milwaukee Bucks

It made sense for a while for the Bucks to wait until the last possible moment to part with Giannis, but now feels like the right time. The Bucks are still many years away from controlling their own first-round pick, and their roster is in really rough shape talent-wise.

If Milwaukee does move on from Giannis, their ranking could move up if they get a good package back, but could also hit rock bottom if the Heat’s reported offer is all they get. If they do hold on to Antetokounmpo heading into the season, things might get ugly.

29. Sacramento Kings

I’m sorry, Kings fans. They do have some extra draft picks, including the Timberwolves 2031 first-rounder, and Domantas Sabonis could get a half-decent return in a trade, but with this being the fan rankings, I kinda have to put the Kings about as low as possible.

It feels that until the Kings get new ownership, nothing is going to change.

30. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans have some talent on their roster, but as we saw this last season, it just does not work well together. Zion Williamson, mostly due to injuries, has not lived up to the hype for him coming into the NBA, and probably needs a change of scenery at this point.

We will see if Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, or Herg Jones are on the move this summer. Maybe with the new lottery rules, the Pelicans will elect to keep much of that talent on the roster to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings.

With a better-run organization, there would be some hope that they could either turn things around with this roster or flip certain pieces into better-fitting ones, but that’s the problem. Ownership does not seem invested in turning the team around, and the front office has made many poor decisions, including trading away the team’s first-round pick before a 26-win season.

The Knicks' first title in 53 years brought the whole city together. A first-person report from the Canyon of Heroes.

OG Anunoby is at the free-throw line. He misses the first. My entire body tenses. The second shot falls. The Knicks are up by 4. The Spurs inbound the ball. The clock reads 7.7. San Antonio has no timeouts and less than eight seconds to bring the ball up the floor and somehow score 4 points. Any rational basketball fan would say that the game is all but over. Although, if you're a Knicks fan, it's that "but" that keeps your lungs from filling completely. In a game that was essentially over, I felt exactly like Quint from Jaws describing his rescue from the wreckage of the Indianapolis, "You know that was the time I was most frightened? Waitin' for my turn." Letting yourself believe would be tempting the fate of God. No matter how intellectually certain victory seemed, there was always that nagging doubt, a voice screaming this doesn't happen for Knicks fans. But, like Quint, our turn finally came. The Knicks are NBA champions once again, 53 years after the years of Clyde Frazier and Willis Reed. Those 53 years were the 1,100 men that went in the water, and we all know only "three hundred and sixteen men come out, the sharks took the rest." Sharks with names like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Reggie Miller, and Tyrese Haliburton.

The jubilation of New York City over the past month reached its pinnacle today when, at long last, New York City had a parade to celebrate their very own New York Knickerbockers entering the Canyon of Heroes and the books of history. The New York Post is reporting today's parade as the largest ticker-tape parade in Big Apple history. Knicks fans flooded lower Manhattan, hoping to catch a glimpse of the team that brought the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Madison Square Garden. Knicks fans were so desperate to figure out ways into the celebrations that I heard from two different attendees (who asked not to be named) about the ways they skirted around the law. One man claimed he walked the parade route at 3 a.m., trying to find hidden access routes past the barricades. He said he had found the perfect spot and even buried a set of bolt cutters there, but his access was blown when some less-than-careful teenagers stumbled upon his entry and their babbling alerted the cops. Another attendee showed me his homemade "all-access" badge, which, along with his confidence, succeeded in granting him access to the closed-off ceremony plaza. Knicks fans are devoted.

Fittingly, Mike Breen, the voice of the Knicks, was the emcee of the ceremony at City Hall, in which Mayor Zohran Mamdani presented everyone in the Knicks organization with a key to the city. The oppressive heat and humidity muted the crowd response slightly, so the Knicks City Kids didn't get the response they were probably expecting, but once the champions came out, a crowd of fans, celebrities, and former players (John Starks was in the crowd chomping on a rather large cigar) "paid homage to their heroes" in the parlance of Walt "Clyde" Frazier.

The entirety of City Hall Park was closed off with several moats of barricades, so even with a press pass (real or homemade) it took some doing to get through. I made it through security at 6:30 a.m. and found a spot directly across from the dais, nestled between a cable news video village and one of five confetti cannons that, when fired, covered City Hall Park so completely in orange and blue confetti that I almost lost some of my own video equipment. From the moment I landed in my spot to the final speech, there was a consistent roar from the crowd behind me on Broadway. Every 20 minutes or so we would hear a large swell of noise before it diminuendoed back to its steady ambient. Inside the park, the audience ran deep with Knicks devotees, such as superfans John Turturro and Ben Stiller, and members of the extended Knicks media universe like 7PM in Brooklyn podcast co-host The Kid Mero and Roommates Podcast co-host Matt Hillman. Josh Safdie had what looked like an Arri camera on a shoulder rig filming the speeches, no doubt for the upcoming A24 documentary he and Stiller are making on the Knicks.

Sports still seem like the most socially acceptable reason for grown men to cry. Parade attendee Peter Abbadessa admits to getting a little emotional when the final second ticked off the clock. Abbadessa said, "It means everything to me as a fan and as a New Yorker. My family, we've been in New York here since 1896. It's everything to bring this city together. It's a dream come true." And it's true: the Knicks are unique among New York sports teams in that they don't split the city — they unite it. Yankees or Mets. Giants or Jets. Rangers or Islanders. All the other New York fan bases are split, but in New York there's only one NBA team that matters, and for too long was a source of nothing but heartache and disappointment. Photographer Chris Bacarella said this championship "felt like watching the ’07 Giants on steroids."

The joy this Knicks run has sparked has been nothing short of magical, and it extended beyond the confines of New York, as the Knicks fans travel, so does the jubilee. Los Angeles writer and comedian Colby Smith needed to do nothing more than leave his apartment in a Staten Island Ferry T-shirt: "And a guy pointed at me and goes 'we did it bro.'" After each game of this Knicks' final run, New Yorkers spilled into the streets across the five boroughs, hugging and high-fiving strangers, chanting together, crying together, feeling together. I've never felt a coming together like this before in this city. There's a reason why comedian Desus Nice called this the "reverse 9/11." Parade attendee Nick B. said, "I think my biggest concern about winning was that it'd be this momentary burst, like after all these years actually winning would ultimately be a letdown. It's almost been the opposite — it's been sustained joy over days."

The post-championship Knicks have already given us a plethora of perfect moments, most of them coming from OG Anunoby, starting when directly after winning a title OG went live from the Knicks locker room for 18 seconds, during almost all of which he spent asking his celebrating teammates how to turn it off. Jeremy Sochan hasn't seemed to have worn a shirt since Game 5. Mikal Bridges similarly went on Instagram Live completely faded and demanded a "big-headed" statue for Jalen Brunson. The starting five has appeared hungover on daytime talk shows and hungover on late-night talk shows, and there's something very beautiful about their celebrations paralleling the good-hearted debauchery occurring throughout the city. This title has become a great coming together. All walks of life are joining their celebrations. Even non-Knicks fans are feeling the energy. Even the amount of ire toward the hated "bandwagon fans" was kept surprisingly at a minimum. Comedian Alise Morales watched Game 5 from the Del Close Marathon, a 24-hour improv comedy festival hosted by UCB. She said, "It was definitely a mix of huge lifelong Knicks fans, new fans, and out-of-towners who were just excited to be experiencing New York at such a high point ... It was honestly one of my favorite moments in my 15 years in NYC. People were just so hyped to be together and be celebrating." The relief of winning was so great that the die-hard Knicks fans opened their arms and embraced the love, no matter where it came from.

The city is alive. New York Forever.

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Ticker.

Tape.

Parade.

My guy Jordan Clarkson grabbed my phone to get his POV
💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙💙🧡💙#CHAMPIONS#KNICKSpic.twitter.com/FyVTCGf0KG

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 18, 2026

James Dolan

On the future of the Knicks:

“We’re gonna keep working to bring you even better basketball. Although it’s hard to imagine that we get much better than this. But we will, right fellas?”

On delivering a championship to New York City:

“When I look out over the Knick fans here, you all don’t look older than 53 years. Some of you weren’t waiting 53; you weren’t born yet, but we’re very, very happy to have brought you a championship. I’m very proud of our team.”

53 years & it was still worth the wait 🗽🏆

[📸: via/ IG mitch.ritter ] pic.twitter.com/ImxzTjVFY5

— Complex (@Complex) June 19, 2026

Mike Brown

On Knicks fans and playing at Madison Square Garden:

“Playing in front of you guys when we had our ups was fantastic, but you’re the most knowledgeable foundation in the whole NBA. Your guys’ energy when we had our downs was off the charts, and I want to thank you for it. There’s nothing better than walking into the iconic building of MSG and getting down night after night after night in front of you guys. You guys made us feel the energy that brought us over the hump when we didn’t feel like playing, when our game wasn’t at the top again.”

"There's a lot of people

Who have a lot of opinions

But when you prove em wrong

You don't have to say shit to them

Nah

They don't deserve it.

Thank you"

–– Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/03Y1Hck4eb

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 18, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On believing the Knicks would finish the job:

“Somehow, some way. I knew we were going to find a way to get this done. Most importantly, thank you to the fans. Not gonna lie, though, y’all. Y’all are some pretty hard critics, but we appreciate it.”

On winning the championship:

“Damn, we really did it, dawg.”

On his critics and doubters:

“There’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you really ought to, you don’t have to say s–t to them. Nah, they don’t deserve it.”

Update: https://t.co/4t6MW3WiPupic.twitter.com/iQAIu5iOcP

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 18, 2026

Miles McBride

On the championship parade:

“Couldn’t have imagined a better turnout. Thank you, Knicks nation.”

"We both made it"

–– Ariel Hukporti & @alanhahn interview each other from the float

Live coverage @KnicksMSGNpic.twitter.com/jXcnL9sXCK

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 18, 2026

Tyler Kolek

On being mistaken for a fan and nearly tackled by the cops:

“I swear I’m on the team, bro.”

Now that I have service I present to you… Josh the champion pic.twitter.com/RxYprfngyI

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) June 18, 2026

Leon Rose

On Mike Brown and the coaching staff:

“Mike Brown and our entire coaching staff, you came in this season with enormous expectations and completely exceeded them, and you did it with so much class that resonated with New Yorkers.”

Clyde's got the keys 🔑

Walt Frazier is leading the Canyon of Heroes parade in a 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton 🗽 pic.twitter.com/ufc2r35XfU

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 18, 2026

Walt Frazier

On the championship parade crowd:

“This has exceeded any expectations I ever saw that we had. I mean, when we played, everybody was from the USA, so mainly our audience was black and white, but now they’re Hispanics, they’re Chinese, all different races that follow the NBA. It’s just been a magnificent thing to witness.”

On the 1973 celebration:

“That day was a lot of hoopla for us. Maybe we had 200 people here and some dignitaries, so we were very happy with that.”

On seeing the city embrace the Knicks:

“They would be amazed at what has happened to the Knicks and how they’ve really captivated the city this year. This has exceeded any expectations I ever thought that we’d have.”

pic.twitter.com/San0dVxjv9

— Memes (@PardonMyMeme) June 18, 2026

Carmelo Anthony

On the championship’s impact:

“The whole city won. New Yorkers are, as they say, ‘lit’ right now.”

After getting a key to the city, Brooklyn born Knicks star Jose Alvarado is eating rice and beans at Toñita’s playing dominos with congressional candidate Antonio Reynoso, his campaign tells me. pic.twitter.com/DMseqx5Am6

— Jeff Coltin (@JCColtin) June 18, 2026

Spike Lee

On attending his first championship parade:

“I’ve never been to a parade ever. But I’m glad it’s this one!”

here is Mamdani's entire speech at the Knicks parade, which is easily the best speech I've ever heard at an event of this sort pic.twitter.com/FiTxy81Yq3

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 18, 2026

Zohran Mamdani

On New York during the Knicks’ championship run:

“New York City has just had some of the two most magical months in as long as any of us can remember. Over these past few weeks, as the Knicks kept winning, our city has come together as one.”

On the 53-year wait:

“For 53 long years we have watched, and we have waited. We have watched from nosebleeds and through gritted teeth, on televisions in the windows of electronic stores, and from projectors balanced on fire escapes. We have watched alone in our apartments with our heads in our hands, shoulder to shoulder at bars where the signal flickers, alongside friends and family who we wish, more than anything, could be here today, sharing this moment.”

On finally seeing a championship in New York’s streets:

“We waited without ever knowing if this day would come. We waited because we knew deep down in our sick, suffering hearts that it would. New York City, this team has done it. The New York Knicks are NBA champions.”

On the parade bringing the city together:

“So often, when this city comes together, it is because we are forced to by a moment of tragedy or adversity. What a gift it is to be brought together by pure, unfiltered joy.”

On why the championship reflected New York City:

“Let’s not pretend that this was inevitable. If you will allow me, I want to travel back in time. Eight days, Game 4, nine minutes and 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Knicks are down 20. The analytics guys, the sports betting companies, the pundits who watch from far away, they do what they do. They run the numbers, they calculate the odds, they write the Knicks off, they give the Spurs a 99.6% chance of winning the game, a 99.6% chance of tying up the series 2-2, of reclaiming the momentum with the next game in San Antonio, a 99.6% chance of silencing the Garden of another year of watching and waiting, but there is one thing that the pundits just don’t get about this team, they just don’t get about this city. It is in that .4% that we go to work.”

On New York’s identity:

“Most of all, it’s in that .4% that the Knicks do what New Yorkers have always done. When we are told something is impossible, we find a way, we win. Standing here before what feels like the entire city, there is a Jalen Brunson quote I can’t stop thinking about. ‘You are allowed to think about the worst possible scenario, but you got to go out there and do something about it.’ The Knicks did not just win for New York City, they won like New York City. What is New York if not your back up against the wall, a dream that feels just out of reach, a rent payment you don’t know how you’ll ever make? What is New York if not 99.6% of the world stacked against you, and who are New Yorkers if not people who hear those odds and smile, who look at a .4% chance of success and ask, why are you giving me a head start? This is our city. This is our team.”

The Onion doesn’t miss: https://t.co/QyPqn1x9l8pic.twitter.com/MlcSrEPnOJ

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 18, 2026

Mark Levine

On New York’s resilience:

“We do not back down, no matter how far behind we are. We were down on 9/11, and we came back. We were down in (Hurricane) Sandy, and we came back. We were down during COVID, and we came back. We were down against the Cavs, against the Spurs and we came back. We are New York. We don’t stop fighting. You should be afraid of us. We are the champs because of the New York Knicks.”

best city in the world pic.twitter.com/Wiibns4Ko0

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) June 18, 2026

Aaron Judge

On New York sports success:

“A Knicks championship in June and a Yankees World Series in October would bring world peace. There’s a lot of winning going on in New York, so we got to keep that going. I like the team we have. I like the opportunity we’ve got in front of us. It’s going to be an exciting rest of the year.”

On attending Game 4:

“I went to Game 4 with my wife. We were kind of worried in the third quarter, but we knew the Knicks. Like [Jalen] Brunson said: They show up about thirty minutes late, take care of business. That was a special game. Never forget it.”

Ja Rule speaks on the artists that performed at the Knicks parade pic.twitter.com/7y0LlTVwCO

— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) June 18, 2026

RZA

On Wu-Tang’s role in the Knicks’ run:

“At the end of the day, the first thing goes to the hard work of the coach and the players. But energy is everything. Energy can multiply. And so when the Wu-Tang came with that energy, we put a spark. So I like to tell people, we lit that wick that led to that explosion.”

On the Madison Square Garden vibes after the Game 4 performance:

“The building felt different after our performance. I think eventually that energy resonated and just permeated into our great New York team. Bong bong.”

On which other game could Wu-Tang have saved:

“Game three. I’m only saying game three because, look, if Wu-Tang would’ve performed, I don’t think the President would’ve took a nap. Our President, he’s a New Yorker. When that Wu joint would’ve been on, he would’ve been like, ‘Yo, you know what? Let’s keep the party rocking.’”

My favorite video I’ve ever taken.

Absolutely surreal. pic.twitter.com/XP5UVrvtq8

— Dylan Burd (@Dylan_Burd) June 18, 2026

Kendrick Perkins

On Vincent Goodwill calling the title a participation trophy:

“That was a bunch of bulls–t. It was all the way disrespectful, and when I heard him say it, the first thing came to mind is that your ass never was an athlete then. You couldn’t have never participated or been a basketball player or played on anybody’s team talking that type of nonsense. That was the most asinine thing that I’ve ever heard.”

On Goodwill’s disrespect of current and past champions:

“You disrespect the guys who are champions by saying it’s a participation trophy. Like what the f–k are we talking about? Do you know that one in those eight teams that won over the last eight years, one of them was Steph Curry. And I guarantee you if you go ask Steph Curry which one of them was his greatest championship, nine times out of ten he’s going to say the fourth one, not just because he won Finals MVP but because he had to overcome the obstacle of being a defensive liability. And he did that.”

On the need for more media responsibility:

“As the media, we have a f–king responsibility, man, to make sure that we say and do the right things. We don’t go on the stage, on the platform, right after somebody just been crowned champions and call that s–t a participation trophy. Even if you’re thinking that, you don’t say that.”

"Need that for the parade"

–– Josh Hart IG comment 3 days ago on this Alex Moss pendant which he he's been wearing since pic.twitter.com/cBQcFOHr6E

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 18, 2026

Alex Moss

On creating the Knicks Larry O’B pendant:

“I knew they were going to win. I f—king knew they were going to win this thing. So I made it.”

On supporting New York creators:

“I think that it’s important to embrace people from this city who are doing great things for the city. We live and breathe New York, everyone in the company. Imagine if someone like Jason of Beverly Hills was making the Knicks pieces. It just doesn’t make sense.”

NUEVAAAYOOOOOOOLLLL MI GENTE LATINO AND SOCHAN pic.twitter.com/lNHjqiTsM6

— sports live tweeter yadira (@jonmoxIeys) June 18, 2026

Stephen A. Smith

On Jalen Brunson saving the NBA from French-mad copycatters:

“He [Brunson] literally saved the NBA because if Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs had captured an NBA championship, everybody would be evolving their game planning, their drafting, their analysis and everything that come with it. Everything would have been evolving around ‘How we do knock off the [7-foot-4] alien from France?’”

On Brunson’s influence on basketball:

“To see him [Brunson] play and to use his marvelous footwork, basketball IQ, poise, seasoning and fearlessness… to see him do that, just think about what that would mean to everybody. Think about what that does for the game of basketball. Without him winning this title, our default position would’ve been ‘How are we going to deal with the [7-foot-4] alien’?”

On drafting taller players to counter Wembanyama:

“You would’ve seen cats who might’ve been inferior talent, but they would’ve still turned around and drafted them anyway just because they were 6-foot-10 or 6-foot-11 or 7-feet tall because you need height when you’re going up against Wemby.”

On the Knicks being the best team in the East for 2027:

“We’re gonna keep it a buck. [The] New York Knicks shouldn’t be the favorites next season, even if they are the champions. If you know basketball and you’re covering basketball, you know what happened this year. You could look at this team and legitimately say the New York Knicks deserve to be the favorites coming out of the East. Without question, the Knicks should be the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in next year’s NBA Finals — not the Celtics. I don’t give a damn if Jayson Tatum is healthy, okay?

On the Thunder being the No. 1 team in the West:

“We can’t put anything past the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder were in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder were without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, your second and third [best] scorers.

“When [Williams] is healthy, you can’t key on [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] the way [the Spurs] did, double and triple teaming him. As a result, the reigning two-time MVP is free to get loose…so gotta look at it from that standpoint. Ajay Mitchell, some were debating whether he was better than Jalen Williams or not, that’s how much of a stud they both are, and they were both out.”

On his 2027 NBA Finals prediction:

“If they’re healthy, they beat the Spurs in the conference finals. Spurs ain’t in the Finals, they beat the Spurs and they would’ve been favored over the Knicks. So I think because that’s the reality, Oklahoma City is number one, Knicks number two and then everybody else is behind them. I believe right now, if you’re making a prediction, it should be the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder will meet one another in the NBA Finals next year.”

The Dallas Mavericks could use all the draft help they can get next week, and should be looking for picks in any trades they entertain. We previously looked at trade scenarios with the Sacramento Kings for Malik Monk, the Philadelphia 76ers for former MVP Joel Embiid and the Oklahoma City Thunder for Isaiah Joe. Today we look at a potential opportunity with the in-state rival San Antonio Spurs.

Once again joining me for this potential transaction are MMB’s Jack Nowicki and Bryan Porter.

The trade proposal

The Mavericks use their Traded Player Exception (TPE) to take on Keldon Johnson, and boost their draft capital by way of the Spurs’ 2027 first round pick and 2030 first round pick (which originally belonged to Dallas) for P.J. Washington.

The discussion

Mike: Ok, so this one admittedly took me a minute to really digest. I personally value Washington highly, but just have no real sense for what he’d go for on the market. I was afraid he wouldn’t fetch two first rounders, but it could make sense here. The Spurs don’t really “need” the picks, and a young vet like Washington could add a ton of value to them either starting in place of Julian Champagnie, or coming off the bench in Johnson’s role. My big question is would they want to give up an expiring and picks, in exchange for Washington and his three remaining (albeit relatively bargain) years? Bryan, you proposed this version of the trade – how do you see it as a win for both teams?

Bryan: For San Antonio, one of their recurring issues in the playoffs was the inability to protect the rim when Victor Wembanyama was pulled out of the paint. They also showed an inability to get defensive rebounds if Dylan Harper wasn’t crashing the glass with the bigs, and they lacked big forwards to throw at larger shot creators and post scorers in the clutch. Washington answers all that at a more than reasonable price for a Spurs team looking to carry their surprising form into next year. They could have this for the cost of a player who is beloved by the organization but who was ineffective for most of the playoffs, the 20th pick (even in a good draft) and a relinquished pick swap that likely wouldn’t amount to much if Masai Ujiri does his job properly anyway. Most importantly, they keep Washington away from Oklahoma City and the Denver Nuggets who faced similar issues this post season. For the Mavericks, we send out a valuable role player who has endeared himself to the fanbase, but replenish some draft capital for a move toward young talent this offseason. 

Mike: All compelling arguments! I was especially intrigued by the notion of an added bonus for San Antonio by way of preventing another West contender from having Washington’s services. You rarely ever hear of a team’s rationale being that, but you have to believe it factors into some of these trades. The Mavs would be wise to leverage that angle when and where they can.

What say you, Jack? Are you on board with this one, or do you have a counter argument as to why this either won’t work or the Mavs should pursue another avenue?

Jack: I agree with all of Bryan’s arguments listed above, as this trade makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Spurs are incredibly young and talented, but as we’ve seen in recent years, future success isn’t guaranteed. Adding an instant-impact veteran who fills a massive void in the frontcourt should be the top priority for the Spurs this offseason. While Washington had an up-and-down year last season, most of that could be attributed to a bad roster around him with a void of reliable playmaking. Washington would feast off Wembanyama’s gravity offensively, while further boosting the big-man’s shot-blocking impact. The Mavericks would obviously massively benefit from this trade seeing as they not only gain another pick in a great draft, but start the process of regaining their future picks. The main holdup in this deal could be Keldon Johnson, as his off-court value was massive for a young Spurs team last season.

Mike: I came into this discussion leery of the Spurs’ desire to give up their end of this deal, but have to admit I’ve been swayed a fair bit. Washington could be a huge pickup for San Antonio. As effective a front office as the Spurs have, the Mavs having Ujiri gives me confidence they won’t be pushed around (especially if they can leverage those other contenders). I could see the Spurs trying to finagle the deal so Harrison Barnes can be incorporated in lieu of Johnson (would have to be some sort of sign-and-trade, as Barnes if an unrestricted free agent). Barnes played 77 games and appeared in every playoff game… until he was outright benched for the final three games of the Finals. Throughout this season, he had some oddly limited minutes. If Dallas engages with the Spurs, I’d say they need to be careful not to get saddled with Barnes unless the haul of picks is too compelling to say no to. Getting Johnson gives the Mavs a vet leader to replace the one they’d be losing, and gives them a lot of contract flexibility. I’m more sold than I was that both teams could be big winners with the trade as proposed.

Bryan: The key question regarding Johnson is this: is he at the starting line for a longer arc of growth as a playoff player, or is this just about what we can expect from him going forward? As an off-ball slasher who isn’t a great connector or shooter, his game is certainly more suited to regular season play with a regular season whistle. Will the Spurs bank on further internal growth or decide to seek an upgrade?

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