Category: NBA

If the NBA’s Western Conference represented a different class of competition than the East, nobody told the New York Knicks. Mike Brown’s team extended their playoff win streak to 13 games after stealing two tight games in San Antonio, and are now playing their first NBA Finals games in Madison Square Garden in 27 years with a 2-0 series advantage. The Spurs have looked more terrestrial than their reputation, but they’ve held leads late in both games, and perhaps the real difference between conferences is showing up in the fatigue factor in the final minutes.

The market for NBA Finals MVP on FanDuel is a valuable measure of the impact that each player has had on the series so far. It’s also a look beyond the box score to consider the narratives that are likely to close out the season.

Jalen Brunson (+115)

Brunson shook off a slow start to game 1 (including multiple injury scares) to take over in the fourth quarter and nailed tough looks down the stretch. Conventional wisdom and historical precedent have suggested that a team can’t win a championship if their best player is short. But this is nothing new to Jalen Brunson, who’s carried his teams to titles at every level of his career. 

He hasn’t been an efficient shooter to start the series (33.9% FG), but he’s found ways to force his impact; scoring 30 points in the opener and grabbing five steals to go with his 20 points and six assists in game two. The Knicks’ offense evolved when Towns became more of a facilitator, but Brunson’s penetration and pull-ups are still the team’s primary options in crunch time.

Karl-Anthony Towns (+165)

Maybe the best argument in Becky Hammon’s favor is that the Knicks are on the precipice of a championship because of the play of their big man, Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s challenged conventional wisdom about his own play during this win streak, using his size to play physical defense and wear on Wemby, while grabbing 12.5 tough rebounds.

Towns has unlocked the Knicks’ offense by serving more as an offensive hub and highlighting his passing, but he’s still the best shooting big man of all time. He sank 3 three-pointers while shooting an efficient 66.7% from the floor in game two, and could easily catch fire and come out of his matchup with Wemby as the most impactful big man in a short series.

Victor Wembanyama (+380)

Even with his team down two games, Wemby has looked like the best player on the floor for significant stretches. He shot over 50% from the field for 29 points in game two while logging nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Those are star numbers, but the Spurs will need him to resemble something more superhuman if they’re to overcome their size and youth disadvantages and climb back from down 0-2.

Nobody has won the Finals MVP in a losing effort since Jerry West in 1969, and it would take an effort at least as impressive as West’s 40-point triple-double in game seven to repeat the honor. If anyone in the league could pull off those kinds of numbers though, it’s Victor Wembanyama.

Longshots

There’s still plenty of basketball left, and a handful of players have made steady impacts that could explode with the right combination of adjustments and luck. 

Mikal Bridges (+17500) has regained his form as a dynamic two-way threat. He scored 20 points in game two, and has been a connective tissue and clutch shooter throughout the Knicks’ win streak.

OG Anunoby (+17500) has shown no fear, nailing jumpers and dunking on Wemby for 17 points in each contest. He’s also been an imposing force on defense, totaling six blocks and assists through two games.

Stephon Castle (+25000) has played beyond his years, cutting down his turnovers while scoring in double digits and holding up well on defense.

Dylan Harper (+25000) didn’t even make a postseason tournament with Rutgers last year, but he’s looked more than comfortable on the game’s biggest stage. The rookie has only shot 1-7 from deep in the first two games, but he’ll keep seeing more minutes.

United States President Donald Trump isn't expected to show up uninvited to Game 3 of the NBA Finals. He'll be inside Madison Square Garden as the guest of New York Knicks owner James Dolan, and Trump made clear the two go way back.

"Well, I’ve been a Knick fan for a long time, and I’m also a Jim Dolan fan," Trump told reporters last week when asked about his plans to be in attendance when the Knicks host their first NBA Finals game since 1999 on Monday, June 8. "He’s a nice guy, OK? He spent a long time wanting to win, and he’s a competitive guy. He’s got a team that’s amazing.

"They're really great, a great team. I'm happy for Jim (Dolan) because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team," Trump added.

NEW YORK (AP) — In the NBA Finals, celebrity row property is worth $1 million.

The New York Knicks announced that was the winning bid in an auction for two seats for Game 3 on Monday night, the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999.

The winning bid was split by the law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP and private equity firm Veritas Capital. The fundraiser benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and the Knicks said it was the largest single donation in the history of the foundation, which works with MSG’s companies to assist children at need in the tristate area.

The seats are located in section VIP 10, row AA, seats 25 and 26, right off center court. It’s impossible to know what they would usually cost, because the team doesn’t sell them. Instead, they are given to the celebrity fans such as Tracy Morgan and Timothée Chalamet who are courtside fixtures.

Seats everywhere in the building are expensive. The cheapest upper-deck seats available Sunday night were going for more than $6,000 on secondary markets like StubHub, SeatGeek and VividSeats. The experience of being courtside went for more than $75,000.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Donald Trump hates the NBA, but he loves attention. This has manifested itself by creating hell at Madison Square Garden for thousands of basketball fans in order to get some camera time, with Trump set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City on Monday night.

There is no shortage of receipts when it comes to Trump’s public disdain for the NBA. Trump rescinded his invite to the Warriors in 2017 after the team was hesitant about visiting the White House. In 2018, he preemptively banned both finals teams from the White House. In 2020, he was gleeful that the NBA had declining ratings. The same year, he mocked the low ratings of the NBA Finals and blamed them on LeBron James’ politics. In addition, he has joyously shared links to any article that seemingly spells trouble for the NBA, especially when it comes to TV ratings. This is par for the course when it comes to the president, who has done the same with the NFL when it comes to criticizing sports, yet when there’s an opportunity to get himself on camera via an invite from an owner, he’ll jump to it.

Knicks owner James Dolan, noted Trump supporter and shitty musician, invited the president to attend Game 3 of the Finals at Madison Square Garden. In doing so he’s displaced thousands of die-hard fans who love the NBA, and have supported the Knicks in spite of Dolan’s horrible ownership tenure.

With ticket prices soaring into the tens of thousands of dollars, one of the most popular events for Knicks fans have been watch parties outside Madison Square Garden. Those have been cancelled by the NYPD and Secret Service for Monday, citing security concerns with the president in attendance. In addition, fans who are actually attending the game will go through more rigorous “TSA-style” security screenings, which have resulted in fans being told to arrive two hours before tip-off, transforming the sporting event into an airport security line. That’s not all, as a ban on all bags is in effect as well — which includes clear bags typically allowed into NBA arenas. It’s unclear if the bag ban will also impact medication and childcare needs, which are typically allowed.

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has made alternate plans in response to the MSG watch ban, announcing a 5,000 person watch party in Manhattan’s Bryant Park, some eight blocks away from the arena. It’s a nice gesture to make up for some of the ban, but won’t nearly accommodate the number of fans who would have been outside the arena had Trump not attended the game. It’s estimated that 10,000 fans were in attendance for the watch party on West 33rd Street for Game 1, with the Eastern Conference Finals topping 6,000 fans.

All of this was unnecessary. Dolan chose to invite President Trump, which is his prerogative — but in doing so, he actively alienated the lifeblood of his organization: die-hard fans who have supported the Knicks, warts and all, over the 20-year NBA Finals drought. These are people who bleed blue and orange, who have been priced out of being inside the arena so the exceedingly wealthy can buy tickets. Now they’re being pushed back from being in close proximity to the arena, in service of a vanity appearance from a president who knowingly hates the NBA and its players.

Let them eat cake.

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The NBA Finals move to the Big Apple when the San Antonio Spurs take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Our NBA player prop projections have you covered with NBA picks for this pivotal Game 3.

For more analysis, be sure to check out our complete Spurs vs. Knicks predictions on June 8.

Spurs vs Knicks computer picks for Game 3

Spurs	Knicks
Harper u5.5 rebounds -115	Hart u4.5 assists -112
Champagnie o9.5 points -115	Towns o3.5 assists -150
Fox o14.5 points -112	Brunson u26.5 points +100

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Spurs Game 3 computer picks

Dylan Harper Under 5.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 3.83 rebounds

This is the one and only five-star play our model found for this game, sitting with a 25.75% EV edge. Dylan Harper has been a beast on the boards, but our projections call for fewer rebounding chances for the guard at MSG tonight.

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Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 points (-115)

Projection: 11.25 points

Julian Champagnie took only five threes in Game 2, but still finished with eight points. The San Antonio Spurs need him to knock down outside looks to avoid a 0-3 hole, and his volume will be high enough to reach 11 points.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet champagnie Now at bet365!/span

De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-112)

Projection: 16.26 points

After a sluggish Game 1, De'Aaron Fox found his groove in his last outing with 20 points. Mitch Johnson has proven he is riding with his veteran PG, and he'll continue to get plenty of shots.

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Knicks Game 3 computer picks

Josh Hart Under 4.5 assists (-112)

Projection: 3.48 assists

Josh Hart has had a rough NBA Finals thus far, playing just 18 minutes in Game 2. While that was mostly due to foul trouble, our model doesn't see Hart's playmaking having much impact tonight.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hart Now at bet365!/span

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists (-150)

Projection: 4.97 assists

Karl-Anthony Towns has been doing it all for the New York Knicks this series, eclipsing this assist total in both games. KAT is averaging nearly six assists per game in the postseason, and our model calls for him to dish out four more tonight.

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Jalen Brunson Under 25.5 points (+100)

Projection: 24.87 points

The Spurs have made it clear they're willing to let anyone but Jalen Brunson beat them. JB scored just 20 points on horrible efficiency, and one can only assume he'll get the majority of the defensive focus tonight at MSG.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet brunson Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 3

Location	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date	Monday, June 8, 2026
Tip-off	8:30 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
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Besides the stars on the court, a number of big names will flock to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 8.

President Donald Trump is expected to attend the game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, the first at the iconic Manhattan arena in nearly three decades.

Days after repealing bedtimes for the youngest Knicks fans, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also set to be in the stands.

In addition to the politicians, several famous faces could be in attendance as well.

Here's a look at all the VIPs that could show out.

Second verse, same as the first. In Game 2 of in the NBA Finals, the Spurs looked better than in Game 1, which they lost in the last minute to the New York Knicks. The defense was tighter, the offense was more disciplined, and the Spurs once again kept Jalen Brunson under wrap — until they didn’t. After another heartbreaking loss where the Spurs had a chance to win or, at worst, take it to overtime, the turnover of all turnovers handed the Knicks a 2-0 lead as the series heads to New York.

With that, I continue Fraternizing with the Enemy with Russell Richardson, editor-in-chief of our Knicks sister site Posting and Toasting, as we discuss what went right and wrong, and if the Spurs have one last push in them or if Knicks just flat out have their number this season. Click the links if you would like to revisit Part 1 or Part 2.

J.R. 

What a game. What an incredible game! Loved the ebb and flow. Loved the tension. Loved the comeback and taking the lead. Loved forcing the Brunson miss and rebound to bring it up the court with a chance to make sure that overtime was the worst possible result. Man, there is nothing like the final moments of a huge game with tons riding on it when it comes down to the final possession. 

I’d say that’s right about the point where I stopped loving things. From the point of that rebound it was either bad things or not so bad. But there were no good things. What a game, but how … what’s the word? I need a word for a pain so big that you can’t simply use the word pain because it’s too small to cover the enormity of the loss. The kind of pain that, as you come to terms with it, keeps growing to the point that you wonder if it’ll overwhelm you. A pain that you can’t get your arms around. A pain that makes you re-examine who you are and how you approach the things that matter. Excruciating. That’s the word. 

After you’ve found the right word, there’s nothing left to do but find the silver linings. I mean, of course, there are plenty of things to do besides that. There’s wallowing in the pain of a 0-2 series. There’s torturing yourself with the frustration of coming up short. There’s bemoaning missed calls and bad plays and missed free throws and turnovers. There is all of that. But none of that is constructive and so I refuse to do that to myself. I reject the idea that my fandom (the state and the core of my rooting for a team) would be something that turns me to bitterness. Never! So finding silver linings it is.

Wemby has come through in the clutch all season. He’s taken the measure of the moment and made not just big but huge plays. For him to see his best fall short is just the kind of pain that forces more focus and development and teamwork. That’s the kind of pain that makes a team dig deep and turn 2013 into 2014. Oh, it’s excruciating. But they either get hurt enough to learn from — really learn and improve— or they get back to 2-2. There’s no pressure on them now. After three straight days of “will NY sweep?” it’s free and easy from here until the series is tied or it’s all over.

R.R. 

Boy were my briefs tight in the final two minutes! When Victor Wembanyama put the Spurs ahead, 103-102, my voice squeaked like a 12-year-old eunuch’s. Thank goodness my baby-making days are over. Can you imagine explaining that to the specialist? “Everything was fine until that 14-0 run and then—sssnap!” 

That particular pain you speak of is all too familiar to us in New York. That existential dread still gives us shivers. You see, while the Spurs were hanging five championship banners, we went 53 years without one. (Not me personally, I’m old but not that old!) While you were partying, we were always talking about next year, and how Kevin Knox just needed a little refinement, and how Phil Jackson would lead us to the Promised Land (if he’d quit napping at team practices). Silver linings? Silver linings?? We had orange and blue skies, but they were always trimmed by strands of twinkling silver.

What we would be saying in your position–and you can trust my expertise on this, because Knicks fans have been in your position practically since Dr. Naismith hung his peach crates–is that there is no team more dangerous than one that has been summarily written off. Down 2-0? Ho Ho Ho!No sweat! This is the exactly the adversity Elfrid Payton needs to kick in the next gea–

Sorry. Had a gnarly flashback to the 2021 playoffs. My therapist calls this basketball-induced PTSD.

Returning to 2026: I thought San Antonio’s response to Game One mostly worked. They doubled the paint aggressively, got better games from De’Aaron Fox and Wembanyama, and defended more physically. Even Tony Brothers shook his head when Carter Bryant dropped an elbow on Jalen Brunson from the top rope. Ol’ Tone didn’t blow his whistle, but he did admonish the behavior with a stern head shake. Did you see the clip of Wemby nearly snapping Jose Alvarado’s neck? I hope Brooklyn has good chiropractors.

So, the fact that they threw a mightier haymaker and still came up short doesn’t bode well for your guys. Meanwhile, Brunson is primed to have a breakout game; Josh Hart hasn’t yet had one of his random five-three-pointer games; OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are playing defense like cops from El Salvador; and the ghost of Willis Reed has possessed the body of Towns. The most encouraging thing about heading home up 2-0 is that the Knicks haven’t even turned the dial all the way up yet.

Some on our side are speculating that Johnson might start Harper in place of Fox in Game Three. Fox’s ankle issues seem to be hindering San Antonio’s offense. Harper, being bigger, stronger, and more physical, would attack downhill, create tough pick-and-roll problems with Wembanyama, and force Brunson into heavy defensive work, opening up opportunities for the Spurs’ shooters and star big man. What do you think? Do you think Johnson will make the change?

J.R.

Nossir. Uh uh. Nope. 

As much as I would love to see Dylan’s minutes increase, if Fox is healthy enough to play, I don’t see Mitch starting Harper. I’m not saying Pop would’ve done it, but one of the things that happens when you replace a living legend is that you deal with a lot more second-guessing of the kind that would’ve been waived away with a breezy, “The guys got five rings and do you think you know more about basketball than he does!?”

I love Mitch. I feel certain that he’s the right guy. I think San Antonio has their Eric Spoelstra in Coach Johnson. You know, the guy who started in the Heat’s system as a video coordinator and worked his way up to being Riley’s right hand man, and eventually successor. That’s Mitch, only swap South Beach for the Alamo and slicked back hairdo for a white beard and a smirk. 

My take on Mitch from early season: it doesn’t matter if he’s the best qualified guy to take the Spurs to the Finals this year. It only matters that he’s the guy who will be able to grow with the team so that he’s finals-ready when the team is. Only there was a problem with that neat little take of mine. The team went out and made the finals! So we’re seeing what it looks like when a franchise’s 22-year-old best player who’s learning on the fly and is being coached by a first-full-year head coach who’s (say it with me) learning on the fly. So much potential that the sky is the limit. How high will they fly this year? No one knows but it’s been entertaining so far!

Yes, even Game 2 was stunningly entertaining – like a cinematic masterpiece that leaves you so emotionally impacted that you have to spend $10,000 in therapy to get over it. Costly, sure. But entertaining. 

So, with the ghosts of Elfrid Payton and Stephon Marbury hanging in the wings, and with the words “it might just be crazy enough to work” echoing in the halls, the series moves back to MSG. Would you agree that the pressure is on the Knicks at this point, or would that only happen should the Spurs take Game 3?

R.R.

How you thought about coach Mitch is kinda how we regarded coach Thibs. He was going to be the bridge—the Mark Jackson to the Steve Kerr, if you will. Tom was hired to install discipline, fundamentals, and a winning culture. He had never (head) coached a team to the Finals, nor did we expect him to. When the team reached the ECF last season, our heads were sent reeling. 

The camp was divided. The curmudgeon had delivered on one major dream (the ECF); did he deserve a chance at a Finals run, or were his weaknesses the last obstacles to glory? Leon Rose & Co. went with the latter. I’d say their choice has been vindicated.

One criticism of Thibs was that the Knicks’ offense became predictable: dribble handoffs at the top, drive-and-kicks, and heavy Brunson iso-ball. Mike Brown was hired to change that. Throughout the regular season, though, the offense looked eerily similar. Remember, this is not a young roster but one of seasoned vets, with pride and ingrained beliefs about their personal skills. (OK, psst—the problem was mostly KAT, but shhh. We love him now!)

Only in the playoffs has Mike Brown’s scheme been realized. The Knicks have consistently moved the ball and involved everyone in the offense. They’ve executed at a speed unseen from them before. In fact, I suspect their game plan—which is to push the pace to tire out Wemby—had the same deleterious effect on their stamina in Game Two. When they became winded, the old habits emerged. Late possessions became sloppy. Luckily, they snapped out of it enough to salvage the game, with special thanks to Captain Clutch.

Brunson was mauled for much of the night and never found a rhythm. In yet another massive moment, he hit the tying shot, recovered Wembanyama’s turnover, and scored the winning point. That’s why his jersey sells like hotcakes. The 2024-25 Clutch Player of the Year, remember.

To your question: the pressure should be on New York, with a chance to effectively slam the door with a Game Three victory on their home turf. But they are playing with such confidence that I doubt they’re overly concerned. Truly, an impartial juror would look at this scenario and say, “Duh. Can I go home now?” New York defeated the Spurs four out of five times between the regular season and postseason (pretty good for the purported underdogs, no?). Could San Antonio flip the script, unlock some cheat code, and win four of the next five? It’s possible. But don’t bet your kid’s college tuition on it.

This will come as a bit of a surprise to Duke fans, but the nation’s second-most hated NBA player?

According to RotoWire, it’s former Blue Devil Jayson Tatum.

He’s also the second-most hated NBA player nationally, including in Los Angeles, which is understandable given the intensity of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, and also, for some reason, Hawaii.

He’s also the most-hated in the Southeast, which we would put down to UNC and Kentucky fans, primarily.

The only guy more hated than Tatum? Draymond Green,and that’s no surprise, given his erratic and often offensive behavior.

According to RotoWire, “His combination of genuine superstar talent and a perceived smug on-court demeanor makes him the perfect villain for anyone not rooting for Boston.”

Okay, makes sense from a particular point of view, probably. To us, though, and probably most Duke fans, he’s a likable guy. He clearly adores his son, Deuce, and also puts the kid and his mom in his TV ads.

Part of it is naturally Boston. Either you like the Celtics, or you don’t. But a bigger part of it is probably Duke. And with Jon Scheyer doing a great job at Duke – in some ways, arguably better than Mike Krzyzewski – Duke hatred, which took a brief break after Coach K retired, is not going away anytime soon.

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Here’s my latest conversation with J.R. Wilco of Pounding the Rock. After a pair of nail-biters in San Antonio, the NBA Finals shift to Madison Square Garden with the Knicks holding a 2-0 lead and the Spurs searching for answers. In the latest edition of our ongoing Finals correspondence, J.R. and I discuss Game Two’s emotional whiplash, whether San Antonio has another adjustment left to make, and which team is actually feeling the pressure as the series heads to New York.

Here are links if you missed part 1 and part 2.

J.R. 

What a game. What an incredible game! Loved the ebb and flow. Loved the tension. Loved the comeback and taking the lead. Loved forcing the Brunson miss and rebound to bring it up the court with a chance to make sure that overtime was the worst possible result. Man, there is nothing like the final moments of a huge game with tons riding on it when it comes down to the final possession.

I’d say that’s right about the point where I stopped loving things. From the point of that rebound, it was either bad things or not-so-bad things. But there were no good things. What a game, but how … what’s the word? I need a word for a pain so big that you can’t simply use the word pain because it’s too small to cover the enormity of the loss. The kind of pain that, as you come to terms with it, keeps growing to the point that you wonder if it’ll overwhelm you. A pain that you can’t get your arms around. A pain that makes you re-examine who you are and how you approach the things that matter. Excruciating. That’s the word.

After you’ve found the right word, there’s nothing left to do but find the silver linings. I mean, of course, there are plenty of things to do besides. There’s wallowing in the pain of a 0–2 series. There’s torturing yourself with the frustration of coming up short. There’s bemoaning missed calls and bad plays and missed free throws and turnovers. There is all of that. But none of that is constructive, and so I refuse to do that to myself. I reject the idea that my fandom (the state and the core of my rooting for a team) would be something that turns me to bitterness. Never! So finding silver linings it is.

Wemby has come through in the clutch all season. He’s taken the measure of the moment and made not just big but huge plays. For him to see his best fall short is just the kind of pain that forces more focus and development and teamwork. That’s the kind of pain that makes a team dig deep and turn 2013 into 2014. Oh, it’s excruciating. But they either get hurt enough to learn from it—really learn and improve—or they get back to 2-2. There’s no pressure on them now. After three straight days of “Will NY sweep?” it’s free and easy from here until the series is tied or it’s all over.

R.R. 

Boy were my briefs tight in the final two minutes. When Victor Wembanyama put the Spurs ahead, 103-102, my voice squeaked like a 12-year-old eunuch’s. Thank goodness my baby-making days are over. Can you imagine explaining that to the specialist? “Everything was fine until that 14-0 run and then—sssnap!” 

That particular pain you speak of is all too familiar to us in New York. That existential dread still gives us shivers. You see, while the spurs were hanging five championship banners, we went 53 years without (not me personally, I’m old but not that old!). While you were partying, we were always talking about next year, and how Kevin Knox just needed a little refinement, and how Phil Jackson would lead us to the Promised Land (if he’d quit napping at team practices). Silver linings? Silver linings?? We had orange and blue skies, but they were always trimmed by strands of twinkling silver.

What we would be saying in your position–and you can trust my expertise on this, because Knicks fans have been in your position practically since Dr. Naismith hung his peach crates–is that there is no team more dangerous than one that has been summarily written off. Down 2-0? Ho Ho Ho!No sweat! This is the exactly the adversity Elfrid Payton needs to kick in the next gea–

Sorry. Had a gnarly flashback to the 2021 playoffs. My therapist calls this basketball-induced PTSD.

Returning to 2026: I thought San Antonio’s response to Game One mostly worked. They doubled the paint aggressively, got better games from De’Aaron Fox and Wembanyama, and defended more physically. Even Tony Brothers shook his head when Carter Bryant dropped an elbow on Jalen Brunson from the top rope. Ol’ Tone didn’t blow his whistle, but he did admonish the behavior with a stern head shake. Did you see the clip of Wemby nearly snapping Jose Alvarado’s neck? I hope Brooklyn has good chiropractors.

So, the fact that they threw a mightier haymaker and still came up short doesn’t bode well for your guys. Meanwhile, Brunson is primed to have a breakout game; Josh Hart hasn’t yet had one of his random five-three-pointer games; OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are playing defense like cops from El Salvador; and the ghost of Willis Reed has possessed the body of Towns. The most encouraging thing about heading home up 2-0 is that the Knicks haven’t even turned the dial all the way up yet.

Some on our side are speculating that Johnson might start Harper in place of Fox in Game Three. Fox’s ankle issues seem to be hindering San Antonio’s offense. Harper, being bigger, stronger, and more physical, would attack downhill, create tough pick-and-roll problems with Wembanyama, and force Brunson into heavy defensive work, opening up opportunities for the Spurs’ shooters and star big man. What do you think? Do you think Johnson will make the change?

J.R.

Nossir. Uh-uh. Nope.

As much as I would love to see Dylan’s minutes increase, if Fox is healthy enough to play, I don’t see Mitch starting Harper. I’m not saying Pop would’ve done it, but one of the things that happens when you replace a living legend is that you deal with a lot more second-guessing of the kind that would’ve been waved away with a breezy, “The guy’s got five rings, and do you think you know more about basketball than he does!?”

I love Mitch. I feel certain that he’s the right guy. I think San Antonio has its Eric Spoelstra in Coach Johnson. You know, the guy who started in the Heat’s system as a video coordinator and worked his way up to being Riley’s right-hand man and eventual successor. That’s Mitch, only swap South Beach for the Alamo and a slicked-back hairdo for a white beard and a smirk.

My take on Mitch from early in the season: it doesn’t matter if he’s the best-qualified guy to take the Spurs to the Finals this year. It only matters that he’s the guy who will be able to grow with the team so that he’s Finals-ready when the team is. Only there was a problem with that neat little take of mine. The team went out and made the Finals! So we’re seeing what it looks like when a franchise’s 22-year-old best player (who’s learning on the fly) is being coached by a first-full-year head coach who’s (say it with me) learning on the fly. So much potential that the sky is the limit. How high will they fly this year? No one knows, but it’s been entertaining so far!

Yes, even Game 2 was stunningly entertaining—like a cinematic masterpiece that leaves you so emotionally impacted that you have to spend $10,000 in therapy to get over it. Costly, sure. But entertaining.

So, with the ghosts of Elfrid Payton and Stephon Marbury hanging in the wings, and with the words “it might just be crazy enough to work” echoing in the halls, the series moves back to MSG. Would you agree that the pressure is on the Knicks at this point, or would that only happen should the Spurs take Game 3?

R.R.

How you thought about coach Mitch is kinda how we regarded coach Thibs. He was going to be the bridge—the Mark Jackson to the Steve Kerr, if you will. Tom was hired to install discipline, fundamentals, and a winning culture. He had never (head) coached a team to the Finals, nor did we expect him to. When the team reached the ECF last season, our heads were sent reeling. 

The camp was divided. The curmudgeon had delivered on one major dream (the ECF); did he deserve a chance at a Finals run, or were his weaknesses the last obstacles to glory? Leon Rose & Co. went with the latter. I’d say their choice has been vindicated.

One criticism of Thibs was that the Knicks’ offense became predictable: dribble handoffs at the top, drive-and-kicks, and heavy Brunson iso-ball. Mike Brown was hired to change that. Throughout the regular season, though, the offense looked eerily similar. Remember, this is not a young roster but one of seasoned vets, with pride and ingrained beliefs about their personal skills. (OK, psst—the problem was mostly KAT, but shhh. We love him now!)

Only in the playoffs has Mike Brown’s scheme been realized. The Knicks have consistently moved the ball and involved everyone in the offense. They’ve executed at a speed unseen from them before. In fact, I suspect their game plan—which is to push the pace to tire out Wemby—had a deleterious effect on their own stamina in Game Two. When they became winded, the old habits emerged. Late possessions became sloppy. Luckily, they snapped out of it enough to salvage the game, with special thanks to Captain Clutch.

Brunson was mauled for much of the night and never found a rhythm. In yet another massive moment, he hit the tying shot, recovered Wembanyama’s turnover, and scored the winning point. That’s why his jersey sells like hotcakes. The 2024-25 Clutch Player of the Year, remember.

To your question: the pressure should be on New York, with a chance to effectively slam the door with a Game Three victory on their home turf. But they are playing with such confidence that I doubt they’re overly concerned.

Truly, an impartial juror would look at this scenario and say, “Duh. Can I go home now?” New York defeated the Spurs four out of five times between the regular season and postseason (pretty good for the purported underdogs, no?). Could San Antonio flip the script, unlock some cheat code, and win four of the next five? It’s possible. But don’t bet your kid’s college tuition on it.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely do you think returning to San Antonio with the series tied for Game 5 is, and why do you feel that way? 

Mark Barrington: There’s a fact in statistics that seems counterintuitive to people who aren’t into mathematics. In a large data set, low probability events aren’t all that uncommon. So there’s a chance. The Spurs came close to winning Game 2, but their inexperience got the better of them as they couldn’t close the deal. The Knicks have all the momentum, and if an eight-day layoff before Game 1 didn’t throw them off, the two-game layoff between Games 2 and 3 shouldn’t bother them. Three teams have lost the first two games at home in the finals: 

The 1993 Suns, led by Charles Barkley, extended the Finals to 6 games by winning Game 3 on the road in a 3 OT thriller, and also won Game 5 over Michael Jordan’s Bulls before losing 99-98 in Game 6 at home, back in the days of the 2-3-2 format.

The 1995 Magic were swept by Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets, even with a young fella named Shaquille O’Neal on the roster.

The history of the 2026 Spurs finals run has yet to be written, but if any team can break the trend, it would be the Silver and Black, who are one of the most resilient teams in the history of the league. The Spurs have to make a statement in Game 3, and if they can win a triple overtime thriller like the Suns did way back in 1993, it could get interesting. 

My head says that it’s extremely unlikely that the Spurs can win two on the road after losing the first two at home. It’s never been done before in the Finals. Let’s watch the Spurs try to make some history on Monday and Wednesday.

Bill Huan: I would be absolutely shocked if it’s tied 2-2 after going to MSG. Not that it’s impossible the Spurs come back in the series, but the way the Knicks are clicking and the environment in the Garden makes me quite confident that it’ll be 3-1 heading back to San Antonio for Game 5. With that said, this team has surprised me every step of the way this season and risen to every occasion, so if anyone can do it, it’s them.  

Devon Birdsong: Having seen a young upstart Finals-caliber team come back from 0-2 against a Finals-caliber older veteran team back in 2012, I know it’s probably more possible than the naysayers are willing to admit. As long as they don’t look defeated (and they haven’t in interviews), I’d say it’s 4 out of 10 that they do it. That still doesn’t leave the odds in their favor, though. I think, mentally, they have to win game three in a landslide for their own confidence. If they do that, they’ll probably extend it to six or seven games. And I don’t know why, but I think they’re gonna extend it. The margins have been so thin. Surely they have some good fortune coming their way.

Jeje Gomez: If I have to assign a number to it, it would be a five, which I understand is insanely high against an elite opponent that matches up well against the Spurs. But I could see one of those dominant San Antonio performances coming in Game 3, a night in which they look like the unstoppable force they have resembled at times these playoffs. After that, maybe they can keep Game 4 close and be the ones who come out on top that time around. The Knicks have looked like the better team this series, and at this point, not even a sweep would surprise me, but what has characterized the Spurs this season is that they have a low floor but an insanely high ceiling, so they could pull off something crazy.

If you were Mitch Johnson, what adjustment would you make, and would it involve changing the starting lineup?

Barrington: I don’t think that the Spurs have made any major strategic mistakes so far. You could have played Harper more late in Game 1, but in Game 2 Fox’s play showed why Coach Johnson trusted De’Aaron as a finisher. The biggest adjustment has to be in the mentality of the players. They have to play with confidence and within the system. They have to not get down when a foul doesn’t get called or a bounce goes wrong. They have to find that balance between playing with abandon and being in control and trusting your teammates. I’ve seen them play that way for short stretches in the first two games, but winning in Madison Square Garden will require them to do it for 48 minutes. I think that Coach Johnson needs to get them ready to play mentally and keep playing the pressure defense that led them to a comeback in Game 2. The Spurs’ stars can’t wait until late in the game to get involved in the offense; they have to be sharp right from the opening tip. I don’t know if that’s going to be enough against a historic juggernaut like this year’s Knicks. We’ll find out this week.

Huan: It starts with seeing what happened during that fourth-quarter comeback in Game 2. For starters, I would change the lineup by inserting Harper in for Champagnie, and on defense, let Castle guard Brunson one-on-one without sending help. Then, have Wemby guard KAT and do not help off the shooters. Offensively, they need to take advantage of having three guards and continue attacking Brunson, and if that’s not working, then run more Fox-Wemby two-man game. 

Birdsong: I really don’t think there have been as many glaring matchup issues as I thought there would be. I think it’s important that Mitch start to go with the hot hand out of the three guards, whatever combo that might be, by the fourth quarter. But, outside of giving Bryant some minutes on Towns, just to see, I think the right lineups have been used, and I think the narrow margins testify to that. Otherwise, I think it really comes down to scheme. I really do not want to see much five-out being used. They just haven’t figured out how to use it consistently unless Wemby is white hot from outside, and it makes it harder for Wemby to get position. The defense has been playing great, but the problem is that the offense is getting stagnant. Personally, I’d like to see them pick-and-roll the Knicks at every available opportunity with Wemby and one of the star guards. Regardless, they need to put as much offensive pressure on Towns and Brunson as possible. But in the end, I don’t care what they scheme as long as it works consistently. 

Gomez: Part of me wants to overreact to the two losses and make sweeping changes, but the more I look at the roster, the more convinced I get that there are simply not many options in terms of personnel in the rotation. I know some people hope Harper starts over Fox, which I could be talked into, but it doesn’t seem like a massive shift, considering Harper plays a lot already. If Barnes had looked better, maybe starting him to add some size could make sense, but at this point, it feels he’s no longer the serviceable starter he once was. Ultimately, it feels like the Spurs just need to be smarter and they need one more player to contribute. My hope is that Keldon Johnson will be able to give them some good minutes of size and energy, mostly. In terms of Xs and Os, there are adjustments to be made, but I don’t see Mitch Johnson doing anything drastic. So I guess my adjustment would be to simply tell the team to play better.

A few Spurs have disappointed. Has there been anyone who has pleasantly surprised you with their play in the Finals?

Barrington: Harper has played very well, but I can’t say that I’m surprised by that, since my expectations for him were very high going into the series. I think I’d go with Vassell, who has elevated his game in the playoffs and always brings the intensity on both ends of the court, and has made some of the best defensive plays of the series for the Spurs. His excitement and love of the game show in how he plays, and there’s no way it doesn’t rub off on the other players.

Huan: I’d say Harper has stood out the most, although what he’s doing isn’t too surprising. He might honestly already be the Spurs’ second-best player, and they need to use him accordingly. I’ve been banging the drum on his minutes the entire run, and it’s still too low. He should be getting the Barnes/CB minutes and play over 35 a game. It’s not a coincidence that his +7 through two games leads the entire team. 

Birdsong: I hate to come off as a killjoy, but honestly, almost no one has surprised me positively. If they had, I think the Spurs would have at least one win. The one exception being Fox’s offensive performance in the last game. But that’s really just because he’s been injured since the Minnesota series, and playing through it, so kind of a low bar to begin with. Still, if he can play like that for the rest of the series, the Spurs really might have a chance. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the offense has been more stagnant since Fox’s injury. They need him to be at some semblance of his best to have a real shot at this. 

Gomez: Dylan Harper has been surprising me all season long, and not because I’ve failed to adjust my expectations. Every time he looks improved, I start looking for other things he should get better at, and he normally does. The shot hasn’t been falling from outside, but other than that, he’s been great. I can’t blame anyone for getting accustomed to a 20-year-old rookie looking like a star who is not afraid of the big stage, because Harper has done it all playoffs, but I’m still often in disbelief about how good he is.

When I first profiled Karim Lopez back in October, I mentioned him as a polarizing international prospect worth keeping an eye on. Now, with rumors circulating that new Mavericks President Masai Ujiri could view Lopez as a prototypical Dallas target, it’s worth revisiting my thoughts on a prospect I have followed for almost three years.

The basics

Lopez is a 19-year-old forward who measured in at 6’8, 221 pounds with a 6’11.5 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine, paired with a 38-inch vertical. Born in Mexico, Lopez has represented Team Mexico at the international level since his U-15 days, giving him an unusually seasoned competitive resume for his age.

He spent the last two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL, one of the world’s most competitive and demanding professional leagues, where he was tested nightly against older, stronger competition.

The good

His coming-out moment arrived in October 2024, when the Breakers faced the Utah Jazz in an NBA preseason exhibition. Lopez, then 17, put up 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in just 25 minutes against NBA-caliber players.

This season, Lopez is averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.2 steals in 25 minutes per game, while shooting 49 percent from the field. Those are legitimate numbers for a teenager in a professional league.

Areas of concern

The concern is his three-point shooting. Lopez is connecting on just 32.6 percent of his three attempts per game, a drop of roughly eight percentage points from where he stood in October. For a player at his size and role, perimeter shooting isn’t just a complementary skill; it’s a prerequisite for playing in modern NBA spacing. That regression is what will likely keep him from shooting up any draft boards at the NBA draft later this month.

Fit with the Mavericks

Lopez has a real future in this league. His athleticism and physical profile suggest he can contribute as a rookie off the bench and hold his own against NBA second units. With continued development, a Sixth Man of the Year trajectory is genuinely plausible early in his career.

But that’s exactly the problem for Dallas. The Mavericks don’t need a high-upside bench piece. They need a foundational starter, someone capable of growing alongside Cooper Flagg and shouldering real responsibility from day one. With limited draft capital, they can’t afford to spend a pick on a player whose ceiling, however respectable, doesn’t move the needle on their timeline. Lopez may well become a valuable NBA contributor. Just not for this team, not with this pick.

NBA Comparison

Lopez’s size, strength, and mobility resemble Deni Avdija and John Collins. If Lopez’s shooting numbers improve, his ability to drive to the basket and finish around the rim should allow him to become a versatile offensive weapon in the NBA as he develops over the next couple of years. Both Collins and Avdija are somewhat limited on the defensive side of the ball, but are still solid NBA starters.

Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman delivered his requisite end-of-season interview with the media a few days ago, several weeks earlier than he probably would have liked. His answers made it seem like the team will be running it back, indicating that this group has another attainable gear to hit.

Altman is standing behind head coach Kenny Atkinson, praising James Harden for assimilating as well as he could, and noting how great the front court is, and will be, next year. He also heaped praise on Evan Mobley during his press conference in a way that makes it sound like the team is very unwilling to part with him. 

“All Evan has done is impact winning,” Altman said. “He’s been remarkable for us in terms of our ascent the last five years. He’s a huge part of what we do.” 

All signs point to a team that will look very similar come October. But the uncomfortable truth is that the only way for the Cavs to meaningfully upgrade this offseason is to trade Evan Mobley.

While a run to the conference finals is no small feat, the Cavs got there in a way that feels much worse than reality. They ended up losing more games than they won in the playoffs with a record of 8-10, failed to close out several winnable games against inferior teams, and then were beaten down in historical fashion to conclude their campaign. Had the Cavs, say, swept Toronto, dispatched of Detroit in six games, and then lost to New York in a hard-fought series, the discussion would be different. As it stands, this team is not as close to the NBA Finals as the front office thinks.

The team already dove headfirst into the deep end of the pool with the trade of Darius Garland, and that was met with raised eyebrows. Moving on from Mobley would be even more daring, but also much more rewarding. He would fetch a hefty package in return, but it would have to be for a player who is better right this very second. The Cavs cannot trade him for a few decent players and draft capital to make up the difference. The tightrope they are walking is championship or bust. 

Someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo would be the ideal outcome, a player that instantly levels the Cavs up in a meaningful way and can serve as the alpha. It is unclear if he would be willing to sign an extension to remain in Cleveland beyond next season, making a move risky. But the reward is their best shot at a championship with one of the five best players in the league. 

What about Jaylen Brown? Him and Mitchell are exceptionally close friends, and he took a major step forward as a scorer and playmaker with Jayson Tatum out. Sending Mobley to Boston may not be the best idea karmically, but a three-team deal that avoids that is possible. Brown fits as the two-way player that would glue things together. 

Oklahoma City, upon being eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs, was instantly linked to Mobley in a potential trade, according to The Athletic. The Thunder have some interesting trade chips in All-Pro Jalen Williams and the other lanky young power forward in Chet Holmgren. With plenty of picks at their disposal, Oklahoma City can feasibly send a very high-end player and then some. 

Trading Mobley, of course, comes with risks. He is an elite defender and has continued to grow on offense, though not as quickly as the Cavs need. However, he would be an excellent blue-chip prospect in Milwaukee and profiles as a Victor Wembanyama deterrent for the Thunder. But there is no denying that, if the Cavs are to make another run with Donovan Michell as the head of the snake, trading Mobley is an unfortunate reality.

Sure, Jarrett Allen could get you a good player in return, but it won’t be a great one. The Cavs cannot simply waive Harden and unlock cap space — they are so far over the cap that all that would do is let a good player walk for nothing. A Mitchell trade is not happening, at least not this summer. They don’t have enough draft capital to swing anything meaningful. LeBron James circa 2014 isn’t walking through that door, and the diminished 2026 version might not either. Internal progression from Jaylon Tyson and Tyrese Proctor is not nearly enough to bring the Cavs up an echelon. That leaves Mobley as the ticket to something better.

If the Cavs are serious about maximizing their window to win a championship, trading Mobley has to be on the table as an option. It isn’t a requirement that they trade him, and the Cavs aren’t in dire need of a superstar, but they do need to get better. If trading Mobley achieves that in a meaningful way, and as painful as it may be, it must be considered.

Welcome to smokescreen season. The NBA Finals are underway, and the draft is just around the corner. The players in this class have already been measured and tested at the combine, and many have pulled out to return to school with millions flooding the marketplace in NIL money. The workout circuit has been popping lately, and there’s already some early rumors about who certain teams are preferring.

There remains some mystery at the top of the draft with the Washington Wizards holding the first pick. BYU forward A.J. Dybantsa has been the front-runner to No. 1 since the lottery determined the draft order, but Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer could still steal that honor from him. Boozer is our top player in the class.

This mock draft is informed by tracking workouts and rumors around the league, plus my own reporting with league sources. The first-round of draft will be here before you know it on Tuesday, June 23. Here’s how we see the draft playing out at the moment.

1. Washington Wizards – A.J. Dybantsa, F, BYU

I still think there’s a chance Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer go with the No. 1 pick, but Dybantsa continues to feel like the frontrunner at this point. This draft is starting to remind me of the 2022 class when the Orlando Magic were reportedly leaning toward Jabari Smith Jr. over Chet Holmgren with the top pick until they decided to select Paolo Banchero at the 11th hour. I would take Boozer No. 1 overall for any team, and I think he’s a great fit in Washington. Part of the reason why Dybantsa still feels like the favorite to go first though is because there’s always a chance Utah trades up for him. I love Dybantsa’s shot creation potential in Washington, but he does feel like an odd defensive fit there. Ideally, you want Dybantsa surrounded by a team of dirty work All-Stars, and that’s not Washington’s makeup right now. Fortunately, Dybantsa is still only 19 years old, and the Wizards will have a long timeline to build around him.

2. Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

I detailed why I love the fit between Peterson and the Jazz last week. He feels like a perfect complement to Keyonte George in the backcourt as a movement shooter who can cause chaos defensively with deflections, steals, and blocks. Of course, it’s possible Peterson regains the explosiveness he showed in high school that briefly had him looking like the top player in the class. The more time passes from his bizarre freshman year at Kansas, the better the long-term idea of Peterson looks. He would be a home run pick for Utah at No. 2.

3. Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer, F, Duke

The Grizzlies are one of the best drafting teams in the league, and I feel confident they would select Boozer at No. 1 if they won the lottery. Boozer consistently grades out as the best player in the class in analytics models with a long history of production and influencing winning at every level. I’m not smart enough to build one of those models, but I’m also not stupid enough to completely discount them. Boozer’s statistical dominance also matches my eye test, because he’s great at almost everything. Concerns about his athleticism are overblown. I think Boozer and Zach Edey would absolutely mash teams inside and out. My hot take is the Grizzlies would quickly become a Western Conference contender with Boozer if their key players can stay healthy.

4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina

Wilson isn’t a shot creator, a shooter, or a center. So what is he? There are real questions about how the North Carolina forward translates to the NBA with a thin 210-pound frame and a raw dribble-pass-shoot skill set, but at a certain point he’s too productive to pass up. Wilson’s entire statistical profile is green, meaning he was above average in just about every rate stat. He’s an explosive play-finisher near the basket, he has real post-up scoring moves with step-throughs and spins, and he can recover to make game-changing plays defensively even with some poor technique and awareness on that end at times. The Bulls just need talent in the door, and Wilson is bursting with long-term upside if they can continue to refine his skill set.

5. Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois

The early read on this choice is that it’s going to come down to Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler. I have Brown higher on my board, but Wagler feels like a cleaner fit in LA next to Darius Garland. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Clippers look to trade down. Wagler’s off-the-dribble shooting was so impressive in his breakout freshman year, and should continue to fuel his NBA success. If Brown goes in this spot, Wagler could fall to the Hawks at No. 8.

6. Brooklyn Nets – Nate Ament, F, Tennessee

Rival teams believe Ament’s range is 6-10. There are some unconfirmed reports that the Nets are targeting the Tennessee forward at No. 6, and I’m buying it. Ament seems like he fits Sean Marks’ draft history as a highly-touted high school recruit who can theoretically do everything on the floor — it just didn’t always work out that way at Tennessee. Ament was considered the fourth best player in this class entering college, and his role with the Vols where he led the team in usage didn’t do him any favors. This would feel really high for him to me, and I would probably give it a poor grade if it actually happens on draft night. With that said, I still think there’s a pathway for Ament to be a pretty good NBA player as a third or fourth option who can space the floor, attack once the advantage is created for him, and use his length to impact the game near the rim defensively. Michigan’s Aday Mara is another name to watch here.

7. Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas

The worst kept secret in the draft is that the Kings love Darius Acuff. Somehow, they are still able to land him despite falling all the way to No. 7 with the league’s fourth worst record. Acuff is a polarizing player largely because of his defensive shortcomings, but there’s no doubt he was a prime time performer at Arkansas who fills an obvious need at point guard in Sacramento.

8. Atlanta Hawks – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville

I’m a big fan of Brown for his pull-up shooting, passing creativity, and ability to get to the rack off the bounce. The Hawks should be thrilled if he’s somehow on the board at No. 8, because to me he’s a top-5 player in the class. There are real questions about Brown’s durability and shot-selection, but there’s no denying his talent. The Hawks were relying on CJ McCollum to create offense for them in the playoffs last year, and Brown is a natural long-term replacement after the franchise finally moved off Trae Young this season.

9. Dallas Mavericks – Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

There are reports that Burries is trying to land in Dallas to play next to Cooper Flagg. I like the vision even if I’m a bit skeptical Burries has the shot-creation upside to eventually be a star. The Arizona guard is a well-rounded player who defends and rebounds better than your average two-guard, and he’s a really good three-point shooter. Flagg would have to stay in more of a shot-creator role if Burries is the pick, but maybe that’s what Dallas wants. I personally wouldn’t have him as the best player available in this scenario, but Burries’ lack of a glaring weakness makes him a malleable guard who should be able to hang in the playoffs. It’s easy to understand the appeal of that with the No. 9 pick.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama

The Bucks are reportedly interested in Ament, Karim Lopez, and Philon according to ESPN. It’s hard to really know Milwaukee’s intentions until we learn if they’re keeping or trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. A Giannis trade feels more likely than ever, but we’ve said that before, and all he has to do is sign a contract extension to end the drama forever. The Bucks’ young guards in Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. are actually much better than most people realize, so I don’t really think they need to go point guard. Philon’s shifty off-the-bounce game will be appealing to teams looking for shot-creation, and I wouldn’t be stunned if he eventually lands in the top-10 with Dallas as another option.

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

The Warriors are believed to be interested in Lendeborg, Mara, and Lopez according to ESPN. Lendeborg deserves to go much higher than this, in my opinion. Yes, he’s going to be a 24-year-old rookie, but he’s made the exact improvements you would hope to see from a player in their age-22 and age-23 season, and he has unique physical gifts that will help him adjust to the NBA level quickly. Lendeborg basically has the frame of an NBA center, but he showed at Michigan that he’s comfortable playing on the perimeter in a complementary role at both ends. Read my feature on Yaxel’s wild journey to get to this point.

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

Mara could be in play as early as No. 6 to the Nets, and I’d be surprised if he fell past the Thunder at No. 12. The 7’3 big man shouldn’t be counted on to play full-time center minutes early in his career, so I like the idea of him joining a deep frontcourt where he can be in more of a platoon situation. The Thunder also drafted Thomas Sorber in this range last year, so it’s possible they don’t want another big man. I’m skeptical that the best way to defend Wemby is with another giant — especially one as slow-footed on the perimeter as Mara — but it’s still a nice option to have in the bag when the Thunder and Spurs inevitably meet again. Mara’s passing is really special, and he could help add a little more flavor to the OKC offense if he continues to develop.

13. Miami Heat – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers

Lopez is reportedly getting looks from teams in the second half of the lottery, so this could be the end of his range. Will the Heat actually be making this pick, or will they have already traded it for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Milwaukee has a reported interest in Lopez too, so I feel like he makes sense at No. 13 either way. I’m a bit skeptical of Lopez’s defense and outside shooting, but his ball handling as a big, strong forward is really intriguing.

14. Charlotte Hornets – Morez Johnson, F/C, Michigan

Hornets lead executive Jeff Peterson has already indicated the team wants to re-sign Coby White, which would potentially take away the need from drafting another guard here. Charlotte has a need for more beef inside, and Johnson is uniquely suited to address it with his ability to play the four or the five. Johnson is long and strong and really athletic for someone his size. It could be argued that his upside isn’t very high unless he develops a consistent three-point shot, but his impact has always gone beyond the numbers to this point in his young career. The Hornets had a noticeable lack of physicality in the play-in tournament, and Johnson would change that.

15. Chicago Bulls – Kingston Flemings, G, Houston

Could Flemings really fall this far? I’ve viewed the Houston guard as a potential top-5 talent throughout this cycle, and he’s reportedly in play as early as No. 5 to the Clippers. It would be shocking if Flemings fell out of the lottery, but we typically get one draft night surprise every year, and the depth of this point guard class means someone is bound to fall at least a little bit further than expected. The Bulls brought in Flemings for a workout last week, and would likely jump at the chance to add this type of talent in the mid first-round.

16. Memphis Grizzlies – Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky

I had Quaintance as a top-4 pick coming into the season, but he had a nightmare year where he only played four games at Kentucky after rushing back from an Achilles tear. He explained his decision to shut it down this season when I asked him about it at the combine, but he did say he’s about 95 percent healthy right now. Last time he was right physically, JQ looked like an elite paint protecting prospect as a 17-year-old at Arizona State. The Grizzlies feel like the type of franchise that would take a chance on him. I figure that Ebuka Okorie and Bennett Stirtz could also be in the mix for Memphis.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford

Is Okorie the fastest-rising prospect in this draft class, or am I spending too much time online reading people who aren’t actually informed about the intentions of NBA teams? Okorie is still only No. 27 on ESPN’s board which is typically the best indication of a prospect’s range, but there are some people who like him way more than that. Jonathan Wasserman had Okorie at No. 8 on his big board, and I would bet there are front office executives who are similarly high on him as they go back and watch the tape for his season at Stanford. OKC badly needed another ball handler in the Western Conference Finals, and they didn’t trust Nikola Topic enough to give him a shot. Okorie has the ball on a string and a blazing first step. He would be a good value in this range in my mind.

18. Charlotte Hornets – Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston

ESPN reported that Cenac’s realistic landing spots begin with the Hornets at No. 14, and they’ve been mocking him to Charlotte since the start of the season. Cenac is the only real stretch five bet in the first-round unless you really believe in North Carolina’s Henri Veesaar. The Houston big man is pretty raw in terms of his feel for the game, but his jumper is sweet and he has a great frame after measuring at 240 pounds with a 7’5 wingspan at the combine. I wouldn’t hate Charlotte walking out of this draft with two bigs.

19. Toronto Raptors – Bennett Stirtz, G, Alabama

The Raptors could really use a guard who can suck up some ball handling responsibility while also being a good enough shooter to space the floor. Stirtz checks both boxes. The senior guard created everything for Iowa this season and basically never came off the floor. His scoring and playmaking off the dribble is really impressive, but I also like his ability to move without the ball as a spot-up shooter. Toronto has the bodies to protect him defensively. I’d really like this fit.

20. San Antonio Spurs – Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington

The Spurs are focused on winning a championship, so this pick is a secondary concern for now. I’m going with Steinbach here because he’s both the highest-rated player on my board, and feels like a good positional fit on the roster. The German feels stuck between a power forward and a center, but that’s no big deal as two big lineups start to take over the NBA again. San Antonio doesn’t have a two-big look it can go to, and Steinbach is excellent at the league’s other emerging trend right now: crashing the offensive glass. The Spurs need more depth in the frontcourt, and Steinbach’s elite skill on the glass would give him a pathway to minutes early in his career.

21. Detroit Pistons – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech

The Pistons made a sneaky trade at the deadline to get a first-round swap with the Timberwolves, and it paid off by moving them spots up in the draft order. Detroit has been tied to Stirtz, Okorie, and Duke shooter Isaiah Evans, but with the first two off the board, I’m going with Anderson. The Texas Tech guard had a private workout with the Pistons in May. He’s widely considered one of the best shooters in this draft class, and he would allow Cade Cunningham to spend more time playing off the ball. Anderson is the smallest likely first-round pick in this class after measuring at 6’1 barefoot and 180 pounds, but his skill level is high and worth betting on.

22. Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara

Philly has a new front office leader in Mike Gansey who was just introduced last week, so the bulk of their draft work is likely coming over the next couple weeks. I’ve been mocking Allen Graves to the Sixers throughout the pre-draft process because he feels like he offers the most upside at their biggest position of need. I was surprised to see Graves land at No. 17 on ESPN’s big board, which is the highest I’ve seen him from a mainstream outlet so far this season. The Santa Clara sixth man was uncovered by some wonderful nerds on Draft Twitter, and now seems like a lock to go in the first round. His wildly strong defensive playmaking and reliable spot-up shooting would give the Sixers something they don’t already have at the position.

23. Atlanta Hawks – Dailyn Swain, F, Texas

Swain will be the steal of the draft if he falls this far. There are informed analysts who view him as a top-10 prospect in this class, but it seems like the league has never been quite as high on him. Swain is a damn good wing defender who made a huge leap as a slasher and scorer this past season. The big hang up is his slow and hitchy three-point shot, but it’s worth noting that after going 11-for-54 from three his first two seasons combined, Swain finished 32-of-92 (34.8 percent) just this year. Swain and Mikel Brown Jr. would be a blockbuster draft class for the Hawks.

24. New York Knicks – Cam Carr, G, Baylor

Carr is drawing interest in the 10-20 range, and he’ll probably go higher than this. He has obvious utility with an outstanding intersection of length (7’1 wingspan), outside shooting, and vertical athleticism (44 dunks, 3.9 percent block rate) as a 6’5 wing. I’m a bit lower on Carr because I question his shot-creation and passing while wondering how his thin frame will hold up defensively. There feels like a talent drop-off after these first 24 players in this mock go off the board.

25. Los Angeles Lakers – Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State

The Lakers are primed to have the second most available cap space in the NBA this summer at around $48 million, but they have to make decisions on Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura. LA could use some defense and toughness around Luka Doncic with this pick. Jefferson gets the nod over Zuby Ejiofor for me because he can do the dirty work while still being able to space the floor out of three-point range. I like Jefferson’s ball handling and playmaking for such a strong forward. If the shot keeps developing, he could be a cost-controlled two-way forward on his rookie deal.

26. Denver Nuggets – Koa Peat, F, Arizona

Peat had the toughest decision of the withdrawal deadline to make, but I actually think he made the right choice by staying in the draft. His money surely would have been bigger at Arizona for a hypothetical sophomore season, but he risked falling off the NBA radar completely if he didn’t improve in important areas. There should still be room for him at the end of the first round with much of the depth in this class getting drained by NIL dollars. His intersection of weight, passing, and offensive rebounding will be interesting even if his shot is completely busted right now.

27. Boston Celtics – Zuby Ejiofor, F/C, St. John’s

Ejiofor has been the busiest man on the workout circuit with 13 confirmed team workouts so far, including one with the Celtics. The St. John’s big man might be a tad undersized for a center, but he still has a big frame after measuring at 6’7.5 barefoot and 245 pounds with a 7’2 wingspan. While he’s not a proven outside shooter yet, Ejiofor is comfortable operating with the ball in his hands as a playmaker or scoring around the rim. He moves well for someone who is this strong, and he always showed a strong feel for the game with the Johnnies. He should be a premium target for every team in the mid-20s.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas

Tim Connelly loves a guy who could be charitably described as a ’walking bucket’ after trading up for Rob Dillingham and resuscitating Bones Hyland’s career in recent years. Thomas fits right in. He’s a good off-ball scorer with a quick trigger from three-point range, and he’s shown enough juice off the dribble to offer some shot creation upside. Thomas just isn’t very big after measuring at 6’3 barefoot and 189 pounds with a 6’6.75 wingspan at the combine.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers – Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina

The Cavs have plenty of talent in their frontcourt already with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but they’ve never had a real stretch-five option. Veesaar could be that after hitting 42.6 percent of his threes on 94 attempts with North Carolina this season. I really enjoyed watching Veesaar’s high-low game with Caleb Wilson, and I think he could have similar success

30. Dallas Mavericks – Isaiah Evans, G, Duke

Evans is No. 24 on ESPN’s big board, and he’s already had a workout with Detroit picking at No. 21. The Mavs probably wouldn’t expect him to be on the board with this pick, but if he is, he would add volume three-point shooting around Cooper Flagg.