Jayden Quaintance is a very talented basketball player.
Need proof? Quaintance was drafted 20th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Draft Tuesday night, despite potentially needing a procedure that could sideline him for a good chunk of his rookie season.
Players have to have talent to be drafted into the NBA, so that tells you how talented Quaintance is. Even though we only saw him for four games in Kentucky last year, he showed why the Cats coveted him in the transfer portal.
Quaintance missed most of last season, either recovering from a torn ACL or managing the same knee he injured in his freshman season in 2025 at Arizona State. While that knee is fully intact, Dr. Riley Williams III — head team physician and orthopedic surgeon for the Brooklyn Nets and famous for performing surgery on Paul George’s gruesome open tibia-fibula fracture with USA Basketball in 2014– recommended a follow-up procedure that could keep him off the floor for six months, according to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim.
Six months. That’s at least until December.
You have to feel for Quaintance. None of this is his fault. Injuries happen. By the time he takes the floor with the Spurs, if he has this procedure, it will have been nearly two years since he originally tore his ACL. That’s a long time to be dealing with a significant injury.
The good news is that San Antonio is a great destination for Quaintance. A model organization that is coming off an NBA Finals berth and has a budding superstar in Victor Wembanyama. We will see a lot of Quaintance once he’s able to take the floor, given that the Spurs will be on national television many times this upcoming season.
The goal for Quaintance is a long career. That is why caution may be the best approach.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a shot against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Kia Center on February 25, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dean Wade has long been the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ only real option on the wing. That once again proved true this season when they traded De’Andre Hunter in February. Only, this time, Wade actually stepped up?
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Regular Season Stats
5.8 points
4.1 rebounds
1.5 assists
43.9% FG
36.2% 3PT FG
71.1% FT
Wade’s regular season was more of the same. We’ve come to know what to expect here. A 6’9″ forward who can serve as an elite complementary defender due to his agility and underrated athleticism. Wade is stronger than he looks and does a great job of walling off opponents who try to drive past him.
He’s also a savvy team defender who doesn’t get lost in rotation very often. That, paired with his size, makes him the best wing defender on the roster. You can’t overlook that skill set in today’s NBA. Even if the rest of Wade’s game leaves much to be desired.
Wade won’t pull you out of a jam. He isn’t a threat to do much offensively outside of standstill three-pointers and the occasional cut to the basket. His reluctance to shoot the three-pointer can restrict Cleveland’s spacing. That’s made it hard for casual watchers to truly appreciate how valuable Wade is defensively.
That might have changed in the playoffs. At least, somewhat.
Wade started more games than not in the postseason, elevating Cleveland’s defense through two seven-game series in the first round. His efforts on Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes are key reasons the Cavs advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Kenny Atkinson trusted Wade to tilt the scales defensively without costing them too much on offense. He didn’t always win that bet, as Wade was promptly ignored for most of the playoffs. Still, Wade managed to mostly make up for it by being the most impactful defender outside of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Wade’s role with the team shouldn’t be as big as it is. That’s not his fault. The Cavs just haven’t been able to find other players to alleviate the pressure. He shouldn’t be starting for a Conference Finals team, but I maintain that Wade is an excellent piece to have on your bench.
Reports suggest that other teams feel the same way. Wade might have priced himself out of Cleveland, which is worth a passing grade in my book.
Of course, while many of the big names have found homes with professional franchises, front offices have another evening of decisions to make during the second round. After several trades during night one at Barclays Center, the draft order looks a bit different. Expect more trades coming into Wednesday evening, too.
Most players left on the board had no remaining collegiate eligibility. However, a few players (including Isaiah Evans, Meleek Thomas, Henri Veesaar and Jack Kayil) had the option to play in the NCAA next season and instead chose the path to the NBA.
Based on our current intel, here is a basic preview of what the evening could look like when each team is on the clock:
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: The New York Knicks on the clock during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks entered the 2026 NBA Draft with a first-round selection (No. 24 overall), but in a move we could see coming from the West Coast, they quickly shifted direction, moving out of the opening round through a series of trades that landed the franchise plenty of goodies.
The Leon Rose-led front office executed three separate deals, ultimately turning the No. 24 pick into five second-round selections and cash considerations while avoiding adding a guaranteed rookie contract.
Per NBA.com, the Knicks basically completed a one-for-five trade and got a bit of dough in exchange for their No. 24 selection:
No. 47 overall (via Phoenix)
2029 Second Round pick (via Phoenix)
2033 Second Round pick (via Phoenix)
2 future Second Round picks (via Dallas)
Cash considerations (via L.A. Lakers)
And judging by the reports emerging shortly after the first night of the draft was in the books, the Knicks’ approach to moving down the board is far from over.
Phoenix sent No. 47 among the three second-rounders to New York, sources said. So the Knicks now add that 47th pick to Nos. 31 and 55 on Wednesday night. The champion Knicks are now on the clock — and, per sources, they have already received offers of future draft assets for No.… https://t.co/yMrWenlqHW
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Knicks are already drawing interest for their next selection as they prepare to go on the clock at No. 31, and New York already has “offers” (in plural) on the table.
“The champion Knicks are now on the clock — and, per sources, they have already received offers of future draft assets for No. 31 and intend to move the pick prior to the start of night two of the Draft.” — ESPN’s Shams Charania.
As things stand, although likely not for long, the Knicks would enter the second round holding picks No. 31, No. 47 and No. 55, along with multiple additional second-rounders acquired in trades completed on Tuesday.
The expectation, based on Charania’s reporting, is that the Knicks will keep prioritizing financial flexibility to avoid the James Dolan-feared second apron, thus moving further down or entirely out of the current draft in exchange for future assets.
The Knicks are operating close to the NBA’s second apron threshold, where exceeding it would restrict roster-building tools, including trades and exceptions.
By moving out of the first round and the No. 24 pick, New York already removed $3,325,000 potential million from their cap. Dealing the No. 31 pick, although it doesn’t come with a guaranteed or set-in-stone salary, would likely keep another $1.5-to-$2.5 million away from the books. Not only is that great, but by doing so, the Knicks are also stockpiling future assets.
May 13, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens call a play in front of guard Jaylen Brown (7) against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Few leaders in professional sports have more patience at the podium than Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. Stevens is typically verbose, fields more questions than is necessary, and goes into more depth than is required (while also being impressively articulate).
But, on Tuesday night, just moments after the Celtics selected Houston forward Chris Cenac Jr. with the No. 27 overall pick in the NBA draft, Stevens (unsurprisingly) sidestepped questions far more than he typically does.
That’s because the majority of the questions Stevens was asked late Tuesday night did not center around the team’s draft selection — they centered around the future of Jaylen Brown, the Celtics 2024 Finals MVP and five-time All-Star who just so happens to be coming off the best season of his career, only to find himself embroiled in (seemingly very legitimate) trade rumors.
ESPN insider Shams Charania reported on Tuesday night that Brown was explicitly offered by the Celtics in a proposed trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo (who, if you haven’t heard, instead landed in Miami).
The Celtics aggressively pursued Giannis, offering Milwaukee a package featuring 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. The Bucks seriously negotiated with two finalists in recent weeks: Miami and Boston, which were both on Antetokounmpo’s list… https://t.co/BVY37MwP4K
The entire unfolding of the saga begged the question: with Antetokounmpo headed elsewhere, where does the Celtics’ relationship with Brown stand now? Do the Celtics want to bring him back? Does he even want to return?
Last month, on his Twitch stream, Brown said if it were up to him, he’d spend the next 10 years in Boston.
In the wake of these trade rumors, has that changed?
We didn’t get a clear-cut answer about Brown’s future in Boston, nor did Stevens disclose how close the Celtics actually got to pulling the trigger on the trade.
“I’m not going to talk about those types of things, right?” he said in response to the first question of the press conference, which centered around the Giannis trade.
But, we did learn a few concerete things about the nature of the situation.
Brad Stevens and Jaylen Brown have been in regular touch
Brad Stevens was willing to divulge more information about the nature of his communications with Brown, which seemed to imply that Brown was probably not blindsided when the reports of a potential trade first surfaced.
“We had a couple of meetings earlier [at the] end of May, also before he went back overseas a couple of days ago, 10 days ago or so,” Stevens said. “Spent a lot of time just the two of us sitting down together, and then have been, like every offseason, in regular touch with his agent all the way through the last couple of days. Obviously, with all the rumor mill and all that stuff, and his name being splashed all over the place, that’s not easy – but we certainly wanted to be as proactive and upfront with that as possible, and I thought we had really good, candid conversations.”
(Brown, for those curious, is represented by agent Jason Glushon, who also represents teammate Sam Hauser (and former Celtics Al Horford and Jrue Holiday).
The fact there has been a steady flow of conversations is a good sign in the sense that if the hope is to mend the a relationship, at the very least, Brown wasn’t completely blindsided.
“I just try to be as upfront as possible and as candid as possible at the beginning, long before any of any talks begin,” Stevens said. “Our guys understand that being here and being in the limelight, they’re going to have a lot of attention on them regardless, and then they also understand that there are things that are exaggerated at this time of the year, and then there are things that are real.”
At the same time, Brad Stevens did not provide assurance that Brown would return to Boston
Stevens was plainly asked: Is Jaylen Brown going to be a Celtic next season?
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of this — I’m never gonna predict the future, but like every indication, everything that I think about over the past few year has been building around those guys, right?” Stevens said. “And so obviously, you never know, but at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing, he’s been an amazing teammate, great person to be around, and whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires, or before, there’s a lot to celebrate. We have a great relationship and an open relationship where we talk about everything, but I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as ‘This is our team.'”
I’ve re-listened to this answer multiple times, and I’m still not entirely sure what to make of it. On one hand, Stevens says that over the last few years, he’s looked at everything through the lense of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and he praises Brown as a teammate and their relationship. At the same time, he didn’t offer any assurance that the current plan is for Brown to be on the roster next year, and he had a very clear opportunity to do so.
Stevens was also asked whether he believes that the recent trade rumors have impacted the franchise’s relationship with Brown, and declined to answer. He did note, on several occasions that completely understands that it’s hard to be in trade rumors.
“You would have to ask him,” Stevens said. “I mean, it’s not fun, and I’m empathetic towards that. It’s not fun to be through that, and at the same time, I think my job is to be as candid and upfront as possible prior to, and have tried to do that.”
Asked Brad Stevens about whether he still gets the sense that Jaylen Brown wants to be in Boston from their conversations:
“I’ll always keep our conversations private… I think it's appropriate, regardless of what the content of those conversations are like, but I think what I… pic.twitter.com/khcjOmK1eS
Stevens also acknowledged that the team prefers things don’t become as public as they have in recent days.
“As you know, we try to keep things as close to the vest and quiet as possible, and at the same time, knowing that the rumor mills is the rumor mill, and there’s going to be a lot of noise out there, that’s why you meet and be upfront as possible,” Stevens said. “But listen, I can’t say enough good things about Jaylen.”
Where do things go from here? It’s possible that Brown is traded in the days ahead, providing clarity on the team’s next steps. It’s also possible that Brown goes live on Twitch and discusses his thoughts on the situation, which could also provide some clarity.
One thing is for certain: Stevens’ late-night press conference raised more questions than it answered. Only time will tell what the future holds.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: The New York Knicks on the clock during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You’re telling me Leon Rose didn’t pick at No. 24 and instead decided to trade back multiple times to accumulate future second-round picks?
The Knicks entered Tuesday night with the 24th pick. They then traded back three different times (technically). They came out the other side with the No. 47 pick and four additional future second-round picks that will be known at a later time.
Phoenix sent No. 47 among the three second-rounders to New York, sources said. So the Knicks now add that 47th pick to Nos. 31 and 55 on Wednesday night. The champion Knicks are now on the clock — and, per sources, they have already received offers of future draft assets for No.… https://t.co/yMrWenlqHW
As of right now, the Knicks will enter Wednesday night with No. 31, No. 47, and No. 55. They are currently on the clock and appear likely to trade it… again. Never a dull moment with this front office.
You might’ve asked yourself once or twice tonight. Why the hell did the Knicks do this? Why not just pick one of these exciting college players? Why does Leon Rose do this every single year?
To answer those questions,
That’s the subject of this article. Keep reading.
See above.
We’ll never know. Somewhere in his sick, twisted, mega agent mind, compels him to use the draft as his own personal bingo card. Maybe he’ll tell us on the Roommates Pod later today. I’ll try to elaborate my reasoning at the end.
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Why did the Knicks do this? Point blank, it’s about Brock Aller’s speciality: the cap.
The Knicks are operating as if the second apron is a hard cap that they will not exceed. Unlike the last two years, where they were physically hard capped, they have an open runway to exceed it. At some point, the brain trust deduced it wasn’t worth it. I personally disagree, given what this will mean for retaining this championship roster, but I’m just a lowly part-time, non-credentialed writer, while they’re making six figures (or more) in an NBA front office.
We’ve speculated for the past few days whether this was a feeling or their confirmed direction. We now know that they are dead serious. Barring a tremendous change of heart, the Knicks will not exceed the second apron in 2026-27.
Now that we’ve established that, here’s where the draft comes into play:
The No. 24 pick in the draft holds a slot value of $3,325,000. The 2026-27 veteran minimum is estimated at $2,457,000. That’s a difference of $782,000. For some reason, they decided to swap picks with the Lakers out of the kindness of their heart, saving them $130,000. When the Knicks selected likely EuroStash Sergio De Larrea with the 25th pick, you figured they’d just let him keep playing in Spain and pocket the money.
Now that he’s off to Dallas, they can do that anyway. They save the full $782,000 by not using a first-round pick.
This now gives them $16.9 million in second-apron space, with five roster spots to fill (or $21.4 million with six, depending on Jose Alvarado’s player option). This is a misleading figure, as we know the set amount that the Knicks are required by law (or at least CJ McCollum’s CBA) to fill those spots with.
So I have created a new(?) term. Effective apron space.
How does it work? Take however many open roster spots you have and multiply it by the vet min, which is $2.457m. Subtract your current apron space by this new number and you get effective second apron space.
If we assume Alvarado opts in, the Knicks have $4.63 million in effective apron space. That means they can add that money to a vet min and stay beneath the second apron, a number which comes out to $7,087,000. That’s above the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, which is nice.
If they had selected Cameron Carr and signed him to the full rookie scale, that space goes down by $782,000. It might not seem like much, but when you have two players hitting free agency who will demand sizable salaries, every penny counts.
Now, you might be asking, how do second-round picks fall into this equation?
Well, my dear friend, I have good news. The second-round exception is the cheat code for gaining more space. This is a Brock Aller niche.
A new feature in the CBA to make the second round more important, teams are now able to effectively go beneath the league minimum for roster spots if they sign their second-round picks to standard contracts.
The current estimate allows teams to sign any second-round draft pick to a three-year, $6 million contract with a critical Year 1 salary of a measly $1,361,000. That’s $1,096,000 beneath the vet min.
So, even though Shams Charania is saying that the Knicks are trying to trade out of No. 31, let’s say they keep the pick and select Isaiah Evans, someone who they were interested in at No. 24 and fell through the cracks. They’d now be able to sign him for nearly $2 million less.
It would also add an extra million to the team’s effective apron space. One second-round exception brings it up to $5.726 million, which would allow you to spend up to $8,183,000 on a player’s first-year salary, whether it’s Landry Shamet or an external TPMLE player.
If you sign two, which is in the realm of possibility? The space is up to $6.822 million, which would raise the number to $9,279,000.
Let’s do some diner napkin math. Let’s say Shamet’s market value allows you to sign him for, let’s say, four years and $32 million. Considering what he did in the playoffs, this feels fair, especially if he wants to stay in New York.
That would give him a Year 1 salary of about $7 million, which would eat into your effective apron space considerably. Without a second-round exception, you have no room to sign anyone else above the vet min.
With one, you could give an extra player up to two years and $7.46 million total under the mid-level exception.
With two? That number spikes to two years and $9.71 million. That’s an enticing amount for veterans looking to chase a ring.
So in summary, why did the Knicks do this? They did this because they want to stay beneath the second apron, do as much as they can in terms of retaining their talent, and put themselves in the best position to add externally.
They believe veterans will be more ready to help the team in their championship defense than rookies, a very short-sighted goal, but one we can all get behind because we are firmly in a contention window. No ifs, ands, or buts.
If you came here solely for the cap stuff, feel free to click off. If not, humor me below as I talk about Leon’s mindset come draft time, which I could put in a different article but I won’t. I’ll even bridge this with the highlights of the guy we had for 30 minutes!
One thing is abundantly clear about Leon Rose in his six years as the President of Basketball Operations of our beloved New York Knicks.
It’s that he doesn’t give a flying f— about building through the draft.
In 2021, he punted the No. 19 pick for a future conditional Hornets pick that never conveyed. He kicked the can down the road and eventually used it with Kevin Knox to get Cam Reddish. He then traded him and the 2023 first to get Josh Hart. Think smarter, not harder.
In 2022, he got a second chance at a lottery pick after a disappointing season. With some spectacular players on the board, he traded it to OKC for three firsts, two of which were conditional, and one of them never conveyed (the Wizards pick, which is now the #31 pick and a 2027 2nd).
Two picks later, he traded back into the draft for Jalen Duren and swung him to Detroit alongside Kemba Walker in a salary dump. The full three-team move saw the Knicks give up their lottery pick, effectively, for a top-4 protected 2024 Bucks pick and two conditional picks. The salary dump started a process that got them Jalen Brunson.
In 2024, he had two consecutive first-round picks to use after the Mavericks successfully robbed us of a lottery pick with shameless tanking the year prior. He then traded one of those picks for a lot of seconds (more on that later) and used the other on a project in Pacôme Dadiet, who would agree to take $800,000 less. They used that extra money to fit Karl-Anthony Towns under the second apron.
Essentially, none of the picks he’s had over the years has he kept. Since 2020, only four players have been announced as Knicks and have stayed Knicks:
Obi Toppin (No. 8, 2020)
Jericho Sims (No. 58, 2021)
Trevor Keels (No. 43, 2022)
Pacôme Dadiet (No. 25, 2024)
Everyone else, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Deuce McBride, Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, and Mo Diawara, were announced as someone else’s pick. The Knicks have now made a baffling 18 trades in 6.5 drafts under Leon Rose. The only year they didn’t make one was when they physically did not have a pick to trade.
The Knicks’ front office is a perfect one for a professional sports franchise.
They don’t care about your feelings. They don’t care about the fans’ wants. They care about one thing.
Winning.
Rose operates like he’s playing NBA2k MyGM. There’s no emotion, there’s no considering the wants of others, it’s all about what he needs.
Knicks fans begged to trade Julius Randle and “Play the Kids” in 2022. He responded by doubling down with the Brunson signing and eventually traded almost every one of the kids (and Randle, eventually) for upgrades. It resulted in a Larry O’Brien Trophy. The roster that fans dreamed of in 2022 would’ve never even gotten us to the ECF.
Fans want a new toy every year. We barely saw any of Mo Diawara, and yet everyone can’t get enough of drooling over his potential. That’s how starved we are in terms of “shiny new toy syndrome”.
This is a front office that traded four unprotected firsts, a Bucks’ first, and a pick swap for Mikal Bridges, who’s currently the team’s fourth option. It’s the biggest overpay in NBA history in regards to true talent level and value, yet it doesn’t matter. He fit like a glove and is an NBA champion. Who the hell cares about those picks now?
Would Danny Wolf have brought us here? Would some 10th grader in a few years? Odds are, no!
This draft was simply a continuation of what Rose has done as President of Basketball Operations. A lot can be done on the margins, so you must take advantage of any margins you can.
By collecting five seconds, the Knicks have partially restocked a quickly deteriorating war chest. Remember what they traded for Jose Alvarado? Two seconds. How’s another few Jose Alvarado’s sound in the future?
Those are moves made on the margins. Moves that separate the good FOs from the great. It’s Sam Presti-esque, who I firmly believe is the only POBO better at his job than Rose, all things considered.
Speaking of Presti, the two are best friends on draft night. Remember when I said the Knicks traded the No. 24 pick in 2024 for a bunch of seconds?
The full details were that they traded that pick to the OKC Thunder for five 2nds (sound familiar?). They then used some of those to trade up for Tyler Kolek later in the draft.
The player that Presti selected? Dillon Jones, who was salary-dumped a year later, was waived by the Wizards and won a championship as a two-way player for the Knicks last week. Sure, Presti’s outsmarted us a few times with Ajay Mitchell and kinda Jalen Williams, but you take small wins when you can get ’em.
The Knicks are definitely not done in this draft, one way or another, so there’s still another chapter of the book to be written. One thing is for certain, though.
The Knicks are playing chess. A lot of other teams are playing checkers.
The fireworks for the 2026 NBA Draft seemed to go off a day early. The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Miami stole the headlines in the morning, and when the NBA Draft itself got underway... it largely followed the chalk and stayed to form. There were no shocking trades, no wildly unexpected picks, just a lot of smart choices.
That's reflected in the grades for the first round. Let's break it down by team.
Washington Wizards: A
AJ Dybantsa (1)
This was not a no-brainer — there were three players legitimately worthy of being the No. 1 at the top of the draft. Washington, however, made the best choice for them. Dybantsa is a 6'9" wing who can score from all three levels and lit up college basketball last season. When I saw him play in person, what stood out was that he is a tough shotmaker, a skill needed by elite players in the league. Dybantsa seems a natural fit between Trae Young at the point and Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr on the front line. Washington nailed this.
Utah Jazz: A
Darryn Peterson (2)
Utah got the best fit for its roster out of the top four picks in this draft — and there are plenty of people around the league who would argue they may have drafted the best player. Going into last season, Darryn Peterson was the guy on top of everyone's draft board — he was seen as the most explosive athlete in the class and the player with the highest upside. His one season at Kansas did not play out like he or the Jayhawks envisioned, but multiple NBA teams talked to him, looked at his league medical evaluation, and came away largely unconcerned about his future. Pairing Peterson with Keyonte George in the backcourt — and Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler along the front line — makes a very good starting five.
Memphis Grizzlies: A
Cameron Boozer (3), Karim Lopez (21, via OKC and Detroit)
Memphis has a vision for how it's retooling this roster, and Boozer is a perfect fit and crown jewel for it. The Memphis front line is now Cedric Coward, Boozer and Zach Edey, with Lopez coming off the bench — that is a foundation you can build around. Boozer just does everything well: Can score inside and out, has elite footwork, is a good screener, can get you rebounds, defends the paint, and most importantly, just processes the game fast and at a high level. Nice bit of work by Memphis to pick up five second-round picks to move back from 16 to 21, with a series of trades with Oklahoma City and Detroit and still get a big with potential in Lopez.
Chicago Bulls: A-
Caleb Wilson (4), Dailyn Swain (15)
The last time Chicago drafted a North Carolina star near the top of the NBA Draft, things worked out pretty well for them.
The Bulls hired Tiago Splitter as coach in part because he showed real player-development skills in Portland (Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson), and now that gets put to the test. Wilson was the only pick to make at four and he has the upside potential of the three players above him, but he's also a bit more raw and there needs to be work. Swain is even more of a project, a fantastic athlete and slasher who needs to develop his jump shot, improve his decision making and more. All that development of really athletic forwards is something Chicago has historically struggled with, but Splitter deserves a chance to change the narrative.
LA Clippers: B
Keaton Wagler (5)
Wagler was not really on NBA teams' radar until the past year or so, when he shot up to No. 5 after an impressive season at Illinois, where he led the nation's best offense. This is a smart pick by the Clippers because they needed some size and someone who can play off the ball next to Darius Garland in the backcourt, and Wagler is that. He can shoot, is a good passer and has handles. I'm always a little cautious with guys who fly up draft boards, but with his shot, it's not like he's going to flame out. He's going to be good, and maybe someday an All-Star, he has that potential.
Brooklyn Nets: A
Mikel Brown Jr. (6), Joshua Jefferson (28, via Minnesota)
I'll admit my bias here, I am higher on Brown than most, I think his combination of pace, shooting and vision is built for the more open game in the NBA. He's got to get stronger and make better decisions at points, but Brooklyn is a great fit. Having Brown running pick-and-rolls with just-acquired Julius Randle, that is going to be a tough play to stop. Jefferson is also a nice late-round pick. There is a lot to like about Jefferson's feel for the game and the way he can do a little bit of everything — he can defend, he can pass, he can do whatever is called for.
Sacramento Kings: A-
Darius Acuff Jr. (7), Alex Karaban (29, via Cleveland trade)
Sacramento got the guy they wanted and needed. Sacramento didn't just need someone to become the focal point of their offense, they needed someone entertaining for a starved fan base to rally around. Acuff is that guy. His high-end player comp is Damian Lillard (although he's built a little more like Jalen Brunson). The only knock (and why they get a minus on this grade) is that Acuff is an undersized guard who can't defend, which tends to be an issue in the NBA. Karaban can develop into a solid role player. He's a movement shooter who can defend a little and has good size.
Atlanta Hawks: A-
Kingston Flemmings (8), Zuby Ejiofor (23)
There is a distinct plan for the retooling in Atlanta and Flemmings fits right in — he is a high-level defensive point guard. If Quin Snyder puts him on the floor with Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, that's some shut down perimeter defense. I'm not as high on Flemmings as some others, he's going to have to learn how to be an NBA point guard (like NFL quarterback, it's an adjustment) but I like how Flemmings fits the overall plan. Ejiofor is another quality defender, plus he is a high-motor player who could bring real energy off the bench.
Dallas Mavericks: B
Morez Johnson Jr. (9), Sergio De Larrea (25, via Lakers and Knicks)
First, Dallas poaches Michigan's coach, Dusty May, then they draft one of his star players — that duo just won a national championship. Dallas needs defense along the front line and Johnson, 6'9", is the best defensive forward in this draft, plus he can play some small-ball five. I thought this was a little high to take Johnson in a deep draft, but he was a flat-out winner in college, and May clearly believes he can bring that to the next level. De Larrea is considered the best young player in the Spanish ABC league, he's got a high basketball IQ and he has great skills. It's a big jump to the NBA, but the Mavericks might have a steal here.
Milwaukee Bucks: B
Brayden Burries (10), Nate Ament (13, via Miami)
Burries was absolutely the guy to draft here, the best player on the board at the moment. He's a strong all-around player who can defend, score at all three levels, is physically strong and just does a lot of things well. My concern with Burries in Milwaukee is he's not a No. 1 option on a team searching for one after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he could be thrust into that role. Ament was the perfect pick for a rebuilding team, a player with good athleticism and a lot of upside who has not lived up to that yet, but with some development could be a steal.
Golden State Warriors: A
Yaxel Lendenborg (11)
Golden State needed some size and defense at the forward slot (outside of Draymond Green) and they got it with a plug-and-play guy in Lendenborg. He is older (almost 24) but comes in the door NBA-ready, both as a quality defender and someone who can score a little in the flow of an offense. Lendenborg can help the Warriors win now and be part of their future.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A
Aday Mara (12), Bennett Stirtz (16, via Memphis)
Two very smart picks by Oklahoma City, good young players who need a little development, headed to maybe the best player development team in the league. It's not an accident the Thunder took Mara on a team that already has Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren — they have seen Victor Wembanyama up close and know they need all the bigs they can find to beat him. Stirtz is the kind of guy who may not play much as a rookie for OKC, then suddenly explode on the scene in his second season. He can shoot and he's an unflappable floor general. Both Mara and Stirtz are going to thrive with the Thunder.
Charlotte Hornets: B
Hannes Steinbach (14), Christian Anderson (18)
Charlotte came into this offseason looking for more size up front and more shooting. Check and Check. While I'm not as high on Steinbach as some, he's an elite rebounder who has good hands, and the Hornets could use that. Anderson should fit in well with Charlotte, as he may be the best shooter in this class, and the Hornets need shooting. Kon Knueppel, the best shooter from last year's draft, now paired with Anderson, the best shooter in this draft, is good team building — you can never have enough shooting. Anderson's lack of defense could hold him back.
Detroit Pistons: B
Ebuka Okorie (17, via Memphis/OKC trade)
Oklahoma City needs to add playmaking next to and behind Cade Cunningham, and Okorie is a perfect fit that way. He is arguably the best driving guard in this class, getting downhill and touching the paint almost at will. He's got to improve his decision-making when he gets to the paint and his 3-point shot, but the fit here with Detroit makes sense.
Toronto Raptors: B-
Allen Graves (19)
Graves was a favorite of the analytics community going into this draft, but in reality, he's a bit of a project for Toronto. There's a lot to like, he's a high-IQ player who helps a team win the possession game. But it's one thing to do that at Santa Clara and another in the NBA. This may take a minute.
San Antonio Spurs: B
Jayden Quaintance (21), Tarris Reed Jr. (26, via Denver trade)
San Antonio clearly went into this draft with a plan to find some big man depth to play behind (and take some load off) Victor Wembanyama. Drafting Quaintance is a bet on his health and the Spurs' medical staff. The question isn't whether he has the skills to be a high-level NBA rim protector and rolling big man who can finish — he has shown that when healthy — it's his knee issues that kept him out most of the season. There were teams that saw his medical report and slowly backed away, but his upside as a finisher and rim protector is undeniable if healthy. Reed was a solid big man last season who stood out during the NCAA Tournament, when he averaged 19 points and 13.5 rebounds a game in UConn's run to the NCAA title game. He's a physical bruiser.
Philadelphia 76ers: B
LaBaron Philon Jr. (22)
In the modern NBA, you can't have enough shot creations, and while the 76ers have some dynamic guards in-house already (Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe), Philon could be a high-level reserve. He is a high-IQ, very skilled player who can run a team and get buckets. There are questions about his ceiling, but at pick 22 it's worth the risk.
Los Angeles Lakers: A-
Cameron Carr (24, via trade with New York)
The Lakers have very defined needs this summer and shooting is one of them. Carr is a knockdown 3-point shooter (37.4% last season for the Bears) and an athletic slasher who can put the ball on the floor and attack closeouts. In an ideal world, he develops into a Derrick Jones Jr.-type player who would thrive alongside Luka Doncic.
Boston Celtics: B
Chris Cenac Jr. (27)
In the playoffs, Joel Embiid showed the Celtics they need more depth and size inside, and Cenac brings that… or has the potential to. Cenac is a development project, a player who has all the tools Boston would want in a big man — size, athleticism, some shooting — but it has never all come together for him. Maybe Boston can develop him.
Phoenix Suns: B+
Koa Peat (via reported trade with New York)
For my money, Peat is a good player to take a flyer on at the end of the first round. He was a top-10 high school recruit with plenty of tools, but it has never come together for him. He was more highly recruited but took a back seat to Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley at Arizona. Peat's a Phoenix native, maybe going home — and with not much pressure on him to play right away — he can develop and start to show us why he was so highly recruited. If not, well, this is where the Suns did okay because this is where you should take big swings in the draft.
They also ended the night with $3.4 million in financial flexibility. If the Knicks selected a player at No. 24, they would have owed that player $3.4 million in 2026-27.
Every dollar counts for the world champs as they navigate the second round of the draft and free agency on a tight budget.
Entering the second round of the draft on Wednesday, the Knicks have roughly $211 million in committed salary to 11 players. That means they have about $10.8 million in room before they hit the second apron.
Given that, it will be nearly impossible for them to re-sign both Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet as things currently stand. They would need to shed significant team salary to make a competitive offer to either player.
Both players figure to have aggressive suitors in free agency.
The Lakers are in the market for a center.
As noted Tuesday, they were among a group of teams to contact New Orleans about potential Yves Missi trades. New Orleans obviously didn’t like Los Angeles’ offers ahead of the draft. If the Lakers miss out on targets like Missi, logic says they will be interested in Robinson when he hits free agency.
If Robinson leaves the Knicks, they would either need to convince a veteran free agent to take less money in signing with them or they would need to acquire a center via the trade market.
The same is true for Shamet. If they lose the sharp-shooting reserve, they would need to get creative to replace him.
In addition to Robinson and Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Sochan, Ariel Hukporti (restricted), Kevin McCullar Jr. (restricted) and Trey Jemison (restricted) are free agents. Bench favorite Jose Alvarado has a player option. He agreed to push the decision date on the player option to after the draft. This probably gives the Knicks flexibility as they navigate the draft and the second apron. It would be a surprise if the Knicks and Alvarado didn’t come to an agreement if he declines the option.
As far as the second round, the Knicks have three picks on Wednesday (No. 31, No. 47 and No. 55). The other four second-rounders they acquired on Tuesday will be in future drafts.
ESPN reported that the Knicks are likely to trade out of the No. 31 spot.
What about those later picks? St. John’s Dillon Mitchell has supporters within the organization. But drafting Mitchell – or any second-rounder – would cost the Knicks in team salary for 2026-27.
This is where the second apron factors in. Do the Knicks spend team salary on a rookie or save it for a veteran who can help them right away?
Just my opinion: it’s surprising to see a team that has never been shy about spending money operate with financial restraint right after they win the NBA title. Maybe owner James Dolan ultimately changes course on second-apron restraints. In doing so, he’d give New York an easier path to retain its free agents. If not, Leon Rose and his group will have to get creative over the next two weeks to fill out the 2026-27 roster.
