Category: NBA

There is precedent, both recent and in the past, of standout Arizona players going undrafted but still quickly finding their way into the NBA. Tobe Awaka will try to join that list.

The reigning Big 12 Conference Sixth Man of the Year has signed a 2-way deal with the Chicago Bulls, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Tobe is heading to the Windy City 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RZvMhYJtmW

— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) June 25, 2026

The 6-foot-8 Awaka, who played two seasons at Arizona after beginning his career at Tennessee, is likely to play for Chicago in the NBA Summer League next month in Las Vegas. Per the terms of a 2-way contract, Awaka will be limited to a certain number of games with the Bulls during the 2026-27 season while spending the rest of the time with their G League team, the Windy City Bulls.

It’s a similar scenario that Caleb Love found himself in a year ago after going undrafted and then signing with the Portland Trail Blazers. Love, who was the 2023-24 Pac-12 Player of the Year, averaged 10.4 points in 49 games with the Blazers as a rookie and 24.7 points in 10 games in the G League.

Other undrafted Arizona players to go on to play on in the NBA as rookies include Keshad Johnson with the Miami Heat in 2024-25, Alonzo Trier with the New York Knicks in 2018-19 and TJ McConnell with the Philadelphia in 2015-16.

Now that the 2026 NBA Draft is behind us, let's get our report cards ready for each front office based on all the decisions made in their war rooms.

After ranking the best and worst picks from the first round of the draft at Barclays Center in New York, with both rounds complete, let's take a look at the final hauls for each team:

Atlanta Hawks

• No. 8 — Kingston Flemings
• No. 23 — Zuby Ejiofor
• No. 52 — Henri Veesaar

The Hawks got a potentially franchise-changing point guard in the lottery who should play a strong defensive role alongside Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. While they may have reached for Ejiofor in the first round, Veesaar was a huge steal that late in the second. They improved their frontcourt.

GRADE: B+

Boston Celtics

• No. 27 — Chris Cenac Jr.
• No. 40 — Dillon Mitchell

The Celtics targeted two former high school standouts who both tested well for their positions in terms of verticality and agility at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. Mitchell is probably ready to contribute sooner than Cenac but both are immensely talented with developmental promise.

GRADE: B

Brooklyn Nets

• No. 6 — Mikel Brown Jr.
• No. 28 — Joshua Jefferson
• No. 43 — Tyler Bilodeau

Despite not getting one of the coveted top-four picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Nets still had a fairly impressive draft. Brown and Bilodeau are two of the most impressive 3-point shooters in the class and Jefferson brings ready-to-contribute versatility and above-average playmaking for his position.

GRADE: A-

Charlotte Hornets

• No. 14 — Hannes Steinbach
• No. 18 — Christian Anderson

The Hornets walked away with two top-20 picks who both have an elite skill that should carry over to the pros. Steinbach is the best rebounder in the class, without a doubt, and Anderson has a very strong case as one of the best shooters. Even if they just got two specialists, it's enough to improve both aspects for Charlotte.

GRADE: A-

Chicago Bulls

• No. 4 — Caleb Wilson
• No. 15 — Dailyn Swain

During his first draft, Bulls executive Bryson Graham walked away with two players who are potentially able to contribute at a high level as soon as next season. He made a significant improvement to their young core and perfectly hit their goals for size, length, athleticism, and physicality.

GRADE: A

Cleveland Cavaliers

• No. 34 — Meleek Thomas

All things considered, the Cleveland Cavaliers walked away with a fairly good value with a talented one-and-done freshman by snagging the Arkansas sharpshooter on the second day of the draft. The Cavaliers surely considered selecting him before trading out of the first round, so even if he is not a hit, this was savvy maneuvering to pick up extra assets.

GRADE: B+

Dallas Mavericks

• No. 9 — Morez Johnson Jr.
• No. 25 — Sergio De Larrea
• No. 48 — Tobi Lawal
• No. 56 — Vsevolod Ishchenko

If we learned two things about the new Dallas Mavericks front office during the 2026 NBA Draft, it's that they trust new head coach Dusty May (reuniting him with one of his collegiate national champions) and they value verticality. Johnson and Lawal were two of the bounciest prospects at the combine, which is notable. They also may use their other two picks as draft-and-stash candidates.

GRADE: B

Denver Nuggets

• No. 35 — Trevon Brazile
• No. 49 — Bryce Hopkins

You can make the case that Brazile was one of the most athletic prospects at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, so adding someone like that to the roster in Denver should help next season and beyond. Otherwise, however, this was a fairly forgettable draft for the Nuggets.

GRADE: B-

Detroit Pistons

• No. 17 — Ebuka Okorie
• No. 53 — Ugonna Onyenso

The Pistons returned solid value outside of the lottery with Okorie, who could exceed expectations from his draft position based on what we saw during his one season at Stanford. Onyenso is a big man who fell a bit further than expected, so this was good value.

GRADE: B+

Golden State Warriors

• No. 11 — Yaxel Lendeborg
• No. 54 — Lajae Jones

Golden State valued ready-to-play prospects to play alongside Stephen Curry, which makes sense as his window for contention nears its end. Lendeborg should earn a lot of minutes for the Warriors next season but there are still concerns about how well he scales considering he will turn 24 years old at the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

GRADE: B-

Houston Rockets

• No. 31 — Bruce Thornton

While he didn't get a ton of pre-draft buzz, Thornton actually had the best analytical profile of any prospect drafted outside of the first round. He was absolutely worth trading for as early as they did, especially considering how badly they needed a point guard last season.

GRADE: A

Indiana Pacers

• No. 38 — Braden Smith

There is not exactly a great track record of success for NBA players under 5-foot-11, though if someone were to buck that trend, Smith is a fair candidate. He was impressive during his time at Purdue and the former Indiana high school star will get a chance to shine for his hometown team.

GRADE: C+

Los Angeles Clippers

• No. 5 — Keaton Wagler
• No. 36 — Baba Miller
• No. 55 — Nick Martinelli
• No. 57 — Narcisse Ngoy

There was not much of a clear strategy here by the Clippers, who got different types of players in this class, including a player they may plan to use as a collegiate draft-and-stash at Auburn next season. It seems likely Wagler will translate well to the NBA and NCAA veterans Miller and Martinelli could carve out roles, too.

GRADE: B

Los Angeles Lakers

• No. 24 — Cameron Carr

It surprised some fans that Carr was still available this late into the first round but his fall was a blessing for the Lakers, who suddenly have a hyper-athletic young wing who is also more than capable of shooting 3-pointers, as well. This was a solid draft for Los Angeles.

GRADE: A

Memphis Grizzlies

• No. 3 — Cameron Boozer
• No. 21 — Karim López
• No. 32 — Richie Saunders

All three of these players may have gone too low in the 2026 NBA Draft. Boozer could have gone No. 1 overall in many other classes, López could make his opponents look foolish for letting him fall this late, and Saunders was only still available in the second round because of an injury he has already nearly recovered from.

GRADE: A+

Miami Heat

• No. 37 — Ryan Conwell

This was a solid pick by the Heat, who still will walk away with someone who should earn minutes in their suddenly depleted rotation despite trading a lottery pick in order to land Giannis Antetokounmpo before the draft began.

GRADE: B+

Milwaukee Bucks

• No. 10 — Brayden Burries
• No. 13 — Nate Ament
• No. 60 — Malique Lewis

Milwaukee chose two necessary gambles on Burries and Ament and if even one of them hits, it will put the Bucks in a much better position than they otherwise were. It is possible neither looks particularly great next season but both should get strong opportunities to develop.

Grade: B+

Minnesota Timberwolves

• No. 33 — Isaiah Evans
• No. 59 — Trey Kaufman-Renn

Minnesota likely considered Evans in the first round before trading into the second but otherwise came away with a fairly underwhelming draft class after trading away Julius Randle in a salary dump. It's unclear what the long-term plan is right now for the Timberwolves.

GRADE: B-

New Orleans Pelicans

• No. 58 — Jaron Pierre Jr.

There is not much to say about the Pelicans, who traded away their first-round pick to get Derik Queen last season. While they reportedly did whatever they could to get in the first round this year and potentially wanted Ament, they only had a late second-round pick to add to their young core.

GRADE: C+

New York Knicks

• No. 39 — Jack Kayil
• No. 47 — Tyler Nickel

The Knicks seemingly used this draft to duck tax penalties, avoiding opportunities to add young players to their core and instead finding a potential draft-and-stash candidate in Kayil while also adding a handful of second-round picks in the process.

GRADE: C+

Oklahoma City Thunder

• No. 12 — Aday Mara
• No. 16 — Bennett Stirtz
• No. 41 — Otega Oweh

Once again, the Thunder managed to add talent in the draft, grabbing multiple players who have obvious ways they can contribute at the next level. Mara is massive and he knows how to play within his role while Stirtz was one of the more NBA-ready floor generals in the class.

GRADE: A

Orlando Magic

No picks

Philadelphia 76ers

• No. 22 — Labaron Philon Jr.

Philon effectively fell into the lap of Philadelphia's new front office and should project as someone who can easily outperform his draft position both next season and beyond.

GRADE: A-

Phoenix Suns

• No. 30 — Koa Peat

Even if he isn't exactly ready for NBA minutes, the Suns took a swing on Peat, who went to college nearby. It was a smart move for a team that could use young talent.

GRADE: B

Sacramento Kings

• No. 7 — Darius Acuff Jr.
• No. 29 — Alex Karaban
• No. 45 — Emanuel Sharp

The Kings did a great job finding shooters, adding Acuff as well as Karaban and Sharp. All three should knock down big shots at the next level. Acuff and Karaban do not project as good defenders but Sharp should help in that regard.

GRADE: B+

San Antonio Spurs

• No. 20 — Jayden Quaintance
• No. 26 — Tarris Reed Jr.
• No. 42 — Ja'Kobi Gillespie
• No. 44 — Maliq Brown

The Spurs did a great job improving their already impressive defense by adding Quaintance, Reed and Brown. All three should make for a fearsome fit next to Victor Wembanyama.

GRADE: A

Toronto Raptors

• No. 19 — Allen Graves
• No. 50 — Jaden Bradley

Even if this may have felt a little high for Graves after he came off the bench as a freshman in a non-major conference, the Raptors got a skilled and impactful player. They also found a capable backup guard in Bradley.

GRADE: A-

Utah Jazz

• No. 2 — Darryn Peterson

Any time you walk away with the player some consider the most talented player in the class, you're going to deserve good marks. Peterson is potentially the missing piece to turn the Jazz back into an exciting team.

GRADE: A

Washington Wizards

• No. 1 — AJ Dybantsa
• No. 46 — Felix Okpara
• No. 51 — Izaiyah Nelson

This was a great draft for the Wizards, who not only landed the No. 1 overall pick in Dybantsa but also managed to find two NBA Draft Combine standouts with Okpara and Nelson.

GRADE: A

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Draft grades by team: Which front offices did the best?

The Utah Jazz just had one of the best drafts in team history, and will come into this season with Darryn Peterson. He’s the best prospect to be drafted by the Jazz in team history, considering how high he was projected to go.

The question for the Jazz this upcoming season is, should he start or come off the bench? In some ways, the question will be: is he so talented that it outdoes the lack of NBA experience? It’s going to be fascinating to see just how it pans out.

(Note: I had to prepare this before the draft, and I wasn’t 100% who the Jazz would draft, that’s why it also mentions AJ Dybantsa.)

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

That’s a wrap on the 2026 NBA Draft.

With the second round completed Wednesday, June 24, teams can now sit back and assess the additions they’ve made, the trades they’ve executed and get to work on figuring out how to incorporate these young players.

The Summer League will be a good indication on the quality of these picks, but this was widely regarded as a deep and talent-laden draft, so there should be plenty of optimism around the league.

That’s also why, if teams didn’t quite execute their vision, or if they were caught off guard by how the board settled, it could be costly.

Here are the winners and losers from the 2026 NBA Draft:

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS TRACKER: Where top players not picked in 2026 NBA Draft signed

WINNERS

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies, who may be looking to offload Ja Morant and fully commit to a youth movement, aced this draft. They found balance. Memphis got arguably the most polished hooper in the draft at No. 3 in Cameron Boozer, the consensus national college basketball player of the year who should shine from Day One. But the Grizzlies also nabbed a promising project in Karim López who is only 19 but has years of pro experience in the National Basketball League in Australia.

The masterstroke was the trade for former Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart at incredibly low value simply because Memphis took the salary off of Detroit’s books. Stewart is a physical defender who sets the tone, something the young Grizzlies will need moving forward.

Chicago Bulls

It always helps when you shoot up the lottery, but the Bulls rose to the occasion. Chicago did trade out of both its second-round picks, but Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Dailyn Swain at No. 15 are excellent fits for new Bulls coach Tiago Splitter.

Wilson is a touch raw and will need to add bulk to his frame, but he boasts excellent size and length, he’s extremely athletic and plays with physicality. Swain can get to the cup, though he needs to refine his jumper. Splitter likes for his teams to run up the floor and read opposing defenses while attacking the paint. Both Wilson and Swain fit that perfectly.

Miami Heat

No, they didn’t have a first-round pick, but the No. 13 selection they had held was the centerpiece of the deal that shipped two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo to Bayside. The Heat, however, hollowed out their roster to acquire Antetokounmpo, so they needed to maximize their return on their second rounder.

Sensing that, the Heat aggressively moved up four spots from No. 41 to take an NBA-ready guard, Ryan Conwell, who fits Miami perfectly. He was a senior and has experience (which the Heat love), he’s a dynamic athlete, he’s a plus defender and he helps solve a glaring roster issue: shooting. Last season at Louisville, Conwell converted 112-of-325 (34.5%) shots from 3-point range and posted eight games in which he drained at least five 3-pointers.

LOSERS

Indiana Pacers

Some of this was out of their control and goes back to the draft lottery, when the Pacers had to see their No. 5 pick conveyed to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade. Assuming Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) can return to full health, the Pacers will have a solid roster.

But missing out on a high lottery pick will sting, and it will put pressure on Zubac to ensure it was worth it. Indiana’s lone selection was in-state fan favorite Braden Smith from Purdue, and the Pacers had to trade into pick No. 38 to get him.

New York Knicks

Yes, they are fresh off of their first NBA title in 53 seasons, and yes they already have a complete and balanced roster, but New York took a calculated risk to defer. Essentially, the Knicks do not want to go over the second apron, so by trading out of their selections — the Knicks did so six times in both rounds — they were able to save a little bit of cap space. New York also stashed away a bunch of future second-round selections.

But this was a generationally deep draft, one that could’ve injected even more talent into their roster. It could go down as something of a missed opportunity, especially since it will be tough for them to re-sign both Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet.

Dallas Mavericks

This was an odd draft for the Mavericks, who have undergone some significant changes over the last month-and-a-half. Masai Ujiri is now in charge of the operation, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt, given his track record. Dusty May is making the jump from the NCAA champion Michigan Wolverines to new Mavericks head coach.

Morez Johnson Jr. is a fine player and more of a defensive presence, but taking him at No. 9 — even though he played under May at Michigan — is a bit of a premium. Sergio de Larea at No. 25 is more of a project, and Tobi Lawal at No. 48 is a flyer on an uber-athletic wing. It’s hard to see any of them making a significant impact on a roster that needs help now.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won, lost NBA draft? Grizzlies excel, Knicks at risk with trades

The Utah Jazz are coming away with one of the greatest draft opportunities in all of team history. The #2 pick could not have happened in a more talented draft. The question is, did they make the right pick? Here is a roundup of all the draft grades around the league, telling us how the Jazz did.

Mock	Link	Jazz Grade
SB Nation	https://www.sbnation.com/nba/1119813/nba-draft-instant-grades-for-every-2026-first-round-pick	B+
Athletic	https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7382887/2026/06/23/nba-draft-grades-analysis-2026-vecenie-hollinger/	B
ESPN	https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49147426/2026-nba-draft-grades-winners-losers-sleepers-best-picks-value-reaches-all-30-teams-classes	A-
Yahoo	https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/2026-nba-draft-grades-second-round-pick-by-pick-analysis-002235518.html	A+
CBS	https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-analysis-round-2/	A

This group of draft grades gives the Jazz a GPA of 3.66. That puts the Jazz average at an A- or in the 90-92% range. Not bad for the Jazz, who come away with one of the most heralded guard prospects in decades. Darryn Peterson is the type of player who will change everything for the franchise. Peterson is the type of prospect who has every career outcome on the table if he reaches his potential. What do I mean by career outcome? Things like All-Stars, All-NBAs, MVPs, and Hall-of-Fame. Those are the types of things that Peterson could potentially reach with his level of talent.

I’d say picking a player like that is definitely worthy of an A-. It’s grades like these that remind me that some teachers are curmudgeons and just want to give a low grade. You can’t win no matter what you do.

FanDuel now has the Rookie of the Year odds added. It looks like Darryn Peterson is tied for second with AJ Dybantsa behind Cam Boozer.

The second round of the draft came and went mostly unceremoniously, but a few trade rumors cropped up during the broadcast. One of them involved the Spurs and an unlikely trade target. While discussing Kawhi Leonard’s future, his “former teams” were listed among those “keeping an eye on” the situation, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Bobby Marks:

"I think there's a lot of playoff teams keeping an eye on what happens with Kawhi Leonard"

"What playoff teams?"

*Silence*

Marks: "Maybe his former teams" pic.twitter.com/3Nibdt2q3A

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 25, 2026

Now, bear in mind that Marks was reluctant to name any potential trade destinations, first saying that several playoff teams were interested. Brian Windhorst confidently suggested that the Pistons were one of them before Marks, prompted by host Malika Andrews, sheepishly said that “maybe” Leonard’s former teams, the Raptors and Spurs, would be potential landing spots. It wasn’t a strong report naming San Antonio as actively engaged in talks. The Silver and Black were mentioned as a franchise that is, again, keeping an eye on things.

That said, the fact that insiders even mentioned the Spurs as a team potentially trying to acquire Leonard is shocking, given how messy their breakup was. For those who don’t remember, here’s a short and incomplete summary: The team’s medical staff and Leonard’s doctors disagreed on the diagnosis of an injury. The first disagreement led to Kawhi refusing to play while cleared. Tensions rose until the future Hall-of-Famer and his controversial representative and uncle, Dennis Robertson, forced their way out. Instead of sending him to Los Angeles, as Leonard wanted, San Antonio’s front office sent him to Toronto, where he won a title before signing with the Clippers in free agency.

Leonard has been repeatedly injured since the initial trade and for a sizable part of his Clippers tenure, but had a bounce-back year in 2025/26, playing 32 minutes a night on the 65 games he suited up for and posting a career-high in points per game. His fantastic performance on the floor was often overshadowed by an off-court scandal. The NBA is currently investigating the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap to pay Leonard by funding a sponsor that gave him a large deal without asking anything in return from Leonard. In the past, Robertson had reportedly asked for no-show endorsement deals, among other things, but the league found no evidence of wrongdoing back in 2019.

From a purely basketball-related standpoint, Leonard could be a great fit in San Antonio. He’s not the All-NBA defender he once was, but he can still guard multiple positions, and he’s a deadly scorer with the size to play either forward spot. He would represent a significant upgrade as a starter over either Devin Vassell or Julian Champagnie. He has championship experience and can create for himself in the clutch. If he’s healthy enough to play 60+ regular-season games and be in rhythm for the postseason, he’d make the team better.

The question is, how would the Spurs acquire him? The simplest transaction would be to trade De’Aaron Fox for Leonard, but such a move seems unlikely. Not only did general manager Brian Wright assure the media and fans that the franchise had full trust in Fox despite a poor showing in the Finals, but even if San Antonio was willing to trade Fox, why would the Clippers agree to such a deal? They drafted Keaton Wagler fifth overall in the 2026 draft and have Darius Garland making a lot of money on their books, which makes them unlikely to covet another guard. A third team would likely be necessary.

Beyond the logistics of a potential trade, would Leonard be happy returning to the Spurs? And would Spurs fans embrace him after all the drama? The decision-makers seem to have made their peace with what happened, with Gregg Popovich scolding fans for booing Kawhi back in 2023, but Leonard never expressed remorse for how things went in San Antonio, and a lot of fans haven’t forgiven him. Leonard is also extension-eligible, which could make things awkward fast if he doesn’t commit to the team or the front office hesitates to offer him long-term money.

For now, this is only a rumor. It’s completely possible Leonard stays with the Clippers or is traded somewhere else. There’s even a very small possibility that his contract is voided if the league finds evidence of cap circumvention after ending the investigation. Nothing seems imminent.

It will be interesting to see if the rumor turns into a report soon, as the league approaches the more hectic time of the offseason, free agency. At this point, a reunion seems unlikely for many reasons, but stranger things have happened in the NBA.

---

So, Spurs fans, how would you feel about Leonard potentially returning to San Antonio? Let us know in the comments.

The Phoenix Suns are already getting to work after not selecting anyone in the second round of the NBA Draft. According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, Nebraska’s Sam Hoiberg intends to sign a contract with the Phoenix Suns after not getting drafted to a team.

Hoiberg, who was Big-Ten All-Defensive team last season, played four years at Nebraska, where his father Fred, who used to coach the Chicago Bulls, is the coach. A 6’0,” guard, the 23-year old senior averaged career-highs in points, steals, rebounds and assists, playing more than 32 minutes per game as he helped his school’s men’s team reach their first ever Sweet 16, where they lost to Iowa. Hoiberg shot 55% from the field, 38% from three and 75% from the charity stripe during the 2025-2026 campaign.

While the contract details haven’t been announced yet, it’s likely that his contract is a two-way deal considering Phoenix’s limited roster space and reported intentions of retaining center Mark Williams in free agency.

After resigning Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie in the last week, Hoiberg’s signing is an extension of management’s efforts to solidify the team’s guards spots after dealing with injuries to Goodwin, Devin Booker and Jalen Green throughout the season.

Center Narcisse Ngoy secured a spot in the NBA before officially starting his college career.

The Clippers hold the rights to the 7-foot-1 Frenchman after trading with the Atlanta Hawks for the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA draft on Wednesday, June 24.

Ngoy is said to have a 7-foot-7 wingspan but has a raw skill set on the offensive end, according to Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports.

He helps address a positional need for the Clippers roster, but he will not be available for the franchise next season.

Ngoy will play for Auburn this upcoming season after committing to the program in March before deciding to enter his name in the draft.

Ngoy played professionally for the French Pro B league. He averaged a double-double and led France's second division in blocks per game.

He will serve as an interesting case study for NBA teams.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clippers to stash Auburn center Narcisse Ngoy after second round draft

Jaden Bradley is heading to the Six.

The Arizona point guard was selected 50th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Bradley will play only a couple hours from where he grew up in Rochester, New York.

The 6-foot-3 Bradley capped off a prolific collegiate career with a senior season for the ages. He earned Big 12 Player of the Year honors, averaging 13.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds. Bradley was a Big 12 All Defensive Team selection and a Third Team All-American (NABC, USBWA, The Sporting News).

Bradley led Arizona to Big 12 regular season and conference tournament championships. He was named the Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Bradley played a standout role in Arizona advancing to its first Final Four in 25 years.

JB is heading to the North 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5IHsRmvVF2

— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) June 25, 2026

Bradley joins a Raptors franchise coming off a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. Toronto’s point guards include Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead.

Bradley was the third Arizona player selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, joining Brayden Burries (10th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks) and Koa Peat (30th overall to the Phoenix Suns).

Arizona’s three draft picks are the program’s most since 2022, when Bennedict Mathurin, Dalen Terry and Christian Koloko were selected.

Veesaar slides, Awaka goes undrafted

The bigger surprise of the draft was the fall of former Arizona big man Henri Veesaar, who had to wait until pick 52 to hear his name called. The North Carolina product turned down a reported $5 million NIL deal to remain in the draft with the hopes of being selected in the first round.

Veesaar instead slid to the late second round, when the Atlanta Hawks traded with the Los Angeles Clippers to draft him. Veesaar’s fall will serve as a cautionary tale for college players with remaining eligibility who face the choice of returning to school for a large payday or chasing their professional dreams.

Arizona forward Tobe Awaka went undrafted after averaging 9.3 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior, winning Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, but ended up reportedly signing a 2-way deal with the Chicago Bulls.

ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo ranked Awaka as his top undrafted player.

My top-ranked undrafted players:

Tobe Awaka (48)
Aaron Nkrumah (52)
Nate Bittle (55)
Milos Uzan (57)
Noam Yaacov (58)
Oscar Cluff (59)
Kylan Boswell (62)
Michael Ajayi (63)
Jaden Henley (64)
Nick Boyd (65)

— Jeremy Woo (@JeremyWoo) June 25, 2026

Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal is headed to the NBA. In the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, the Dallas Mavericks used the No. 48 overall pick on Lawal.

Here’s Lawal hearing the news.

Dallas selects Tobi Lawal with the 48th pick! pic.twitter.com/iFVi5qZ5hx

— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 25, 2026

The 6-foot-8 Lawal is a native of London, but did not start playing basketball until he was 16. He moved to the United States, where he played at Lee Academy in Maine. Lawal would commit to VCU, where he played for two seasons, before transferring to Virginia Tech after the 2023-24 season.

Lawal became a starter for the Hokies in 2024-25, appearing in 30 games and averaging 12.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. In 23 games last season, Lawal averaged 12.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. For his career, Lawal shot over 58% from the field.

Lawal impressed NBA teams at the 2026 NBA Combine, recording a 40-inch standing vertical jump and a 45.5-inch maximum vertical jump. The maximum vertical jump is tied for the second-highest in the history of the NBA Combine.

Air Lawal has landed in the League 🛬 pic.twitter.com/1AtyBCVEVY

— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) June 25, 2026

While second-round NBA draft picks are not guaranteed roster spots, Lawal’s athleticism gives him a shot to become a contributor early in his career. He can play defense and run the floor. He’s an excellent finisher around the basket, but his outside shot remains a work in progress.

Lawal is the first Virginia Tech player selected in the NBA Draft since Nickeil Alexander-Walker went in the first round in 2019. Alexander-Walker was recently named the NBA’s most improved player for 2025-26.

Congratulations to Tobi. We’re pulling for you.

The Lakers got to work immediately on signing undrafted free agents as soon as the draft ended on Wednesday.

First, they signed AK Okereke to a two-way deal, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Undrafted Vanderbilt forward AK Okereke has agreed to a two-way NBA deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2026

At Vanderbilt last season, Okereke averaged 9.6 points per game while shooting 40% from the 3-point line. In his junior season at Cornell, he averaged 13.9 points per game, shooting 59.5% from the field, but just 32.1% from three. His 3-pointer improved significantly in his final season.

Los Angeles wasn’t done with their two-way signings either. They also brought on Pete Suder of Miami University, last season’s MAC Player of the Year.

Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a two-way contract with MAC Player of the Year Peter Suder. He led Miami (OH) to a 31-0 regular-season record and shot 42% from 3-point range this season. Keith Kreiter and Sam Cipriano of Edge Sports completed the deal. pic.twitter.com/4LmGvTIM01

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 25, 2026

Last season, he averaged 14.8 points and shot 42% from 3-point range. His best performance this past season came against Buffalo where he scored 37 points in a double overtime win while hitting seven 3-pointers.

The guard will now be part of the Lakers franchise as another piece that can bolster the backcourt.

The Lakers’ two remaining two-way signings from last season, Chris Mañon and Drew Timme, both were expiring this year. The Lakers can have up to three players on two-way deals, meaning there is one more opening for the team.

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

The Lakers have agreed to terms on a two-way contract with former Vanderbilt forward AK Okereke, a source confirmed to the California Post on Wednesday night. 

Okereke, who went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2 assists in his lone season with the Commodores after three seasons at Cornell.

He started his college career with the Big Red in 2022 as a walk-on, playing four games as a freshman before becoming a fixture in the rotation during his sophomore season. 

Okereke was a full-time starter at Cornell as a junior in 2024-25, averaging 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals. 

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward led the Ivy League and ranked 18th nationally in field goal percentage as a junior, shooting 59.5% from the field, including 67% on 2-pointers. 

Okereke shot 40% on 3-pointers (40 of 100) at Vanderbilt. He started in 35 of the 36 games he played with the Commodores. 

Okereke’s path to the Lakers should sound familiar.

Chris Manon, who spent the 2025-26 season on a two-way deal with the Lakers, played at Cornell from 2021-24, transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024-25 and went undrafted before the Lakers signed him last summer.

Gonzaga Bulldogs’ Graham Ike may have gone undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, but the 6-9 forward will still get his NBA shot in Northern California.

His agent, Fess Irvin of Fess Irvin Basketball, told The Consensus NBA Substack that he will sign a free agent deal with the Golden State Warriors. The nature of the deal is an Exhibit 10 contract.

The Golden State Warriors have agreed to a deal with undrafted free agent Graham Ike out of Gonzaga, his agent Fess Irvin tells @TheConsensusNBA.

Ike measured 6-foot-9¾ with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and 9-foot-2 standing reach, bringing size, physicality and interior presence.

— Aryan (@Ary_Report) June 25, 2026

An Exhibit 10 is a one-year, non-guaranteed training camp deal that pays the league minimum salary. This partnership gives Ike a chance of possibly making the 2026-27 opening day roster on a standard contract or spending the majority of his time with the Golden State’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, on a two-way contract.

The Warriors currently have the maximum three players signed to a two-way deal. If he’s waived before the start of the regular season, Ike would most likely join a G League roster as a full-time player.

The 23-year-old native of Aurora, Colorado, was a proven winner and scoring threat throughout his three seasons in Spokane, Washington. During that 101-game stretch under coach Mark Few, Ike averaged 17.8 points on a shooting split of 58.9 percent from the field, 35.8 percent on three-pointers, and 79.6 percent at the free throw line. The 2025-26 West Coast Conference Player of the Year and Associated Press’s Third Team All-American also grabbed 7.5 rebounds per game and 31 double-doubles across that span.

Recent Gonzaga alums have found success after grinding their way through the G League to the NBA. Just take a look at Los Angeles Lakers forward Drew Timme, Dallas Mavericks guard Ryan Nembhard, and Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith, who all went undrafted.

Ike’s first chance at proving the doubters wrong will come at the 2026 California Classic, a summer league taking place inside both the Golden State’s Chase Center and Sacramento Kings’ Golden 1 Center from July 3 through 6.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho