Riley pushed all his chips in to land Giannis. Breaking down the blockbuster trade, the fit with Bam Adebayo, and what's next for the Miami Heat.
Nobody should be surprised. That's the first thing to understand about what happened Monday night, hours before the 2026 NBA Draft was set to begin in Brooklyn. The Miami Heat trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't shocking. It isn't unexpected. It is, in fact, the most Pat Riley thing that has happened in the NBA in years, and he has been doing Pat Riley things for decades.
Riley cleared the deck when Jimmy Butler walked out the door at the deadline last year, took a long look at the roster he had left, and decided the only logical next move was the biggest one available. That's who he is. That's always been who he is. You don't get to 81 years old with Riley's résumé by playing it safe and hoping the ping pong balls bounce your way. You pick up the phone, you make the call, and you find a way to get it done. Monday night, he got it done.
The Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, including the 13th overall selection Tuesday night -- which turned into Nate Ament, who could be the steal of the draft at that selection -- a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-rounder. That's the whole medicine cabinet. Every asset Miami had been quietly stockpiling since the Butler era ended got shipped to Wisconsin in one transaction.
Riley and the Heat didn't dip their toes in. They cannon-balled off the high dive.
John Fisher / Getty Images
Let's talk about what they gave up, because it matters. The Bucks chose Miami's offer over a Celtics package that reportedly included Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, which tells you everything about how aggressive Riley was willing to be. Herro was the centerpiece heading to Milwaukee, a former Sixth Man of the Year and the kind of scorer that most rebuilding teams would love to have. Ware is a 20-year-old center with legitimate upside. Jakucionis was a first-round pick from this cycle who hadn't played an NBA game yet. And three unprotected first-rounders going out the door means Miami is betting everything -- and I mean everything -- on this working.
Now for the part that's going to generate debate all summer.
The fit isn't obvious. Giannis and Bam Adebayo together create one of the most suffocating defensive frontcourts in the history of the league -- two of the best defenders at their respective positions, both capable of guarding one through five, both elite rim protectors, both the kind of players that opposing coaches design entire game plans around. On that end of the floor, this pairing is genuinely terrifying. Erik Spoelstra is going to have a field day.
But offense is where the questions live. Giannis operates best in space, attacking the rim in a straight line, using his combination of size and athleticism to punish defenses that can't contain him one-on-one. Bam is a brilliant offensive player in his own right -- skilled in the post, lethal as a pick-and-roll operator, one of the best passing big men in the game. The issue is that they both need the paint to do their best work. Put them together, and you have two of the most physically dominant players in basketball fighting over the same real estate. It's more than fair to question Miami's ability to build a true contender around Giannis and Bam, especially on par with the reigning champion Knicks.
And then there's the roster around them. After sending out Herro, Ware, Jaquez, Jakucionis, and a small fortune in picks, what exactly is left? The Heat's depth chart after the trade is thin, which doesn't begin to cover it. Portis comes over from Milwaukee, which helps at backup center, but the situation gets worse when you factor in Norman Powell. The veteran wing is an unrestricted free agent this summer and one of the more coveted players on the market, and with Giannis's $58.5 million salary now on the books and the second apron looming, Miami almost certainly won't have the financial flexibility to bring him back. That's a 20-point-per-game scorer walking out the door right as their most important acquisition is walking in.
This team is going to need to find shooters, wings, and secondary playmakers in the bargain bin of free agency and the buyout market, all while navigating cap constraints that leave very little room for error. The roster construction puzzle that Miami's front office is going to be solving right up until opening night just got significantly more complicated.
Here's the counterargument, and it's a legitimate one: Maybe none of that matters.
Antetokounmpo still averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 62.4% from the field this past season in the 36 games he played. When healthy, he is still one of the three or four best players alive. Pairing him with Bam and turning Spoelstra loose on a defensive scheme built around two generational defenders is a formula that could make up for a lot of offensive inefficiency. The Heat under Spoelstra have always been more than the sum of their parts. They've won playoff series with rosters that had no business winning playoff series. They went to the Finals with Butler and a collection of castoffs. What they do with two legitimate stars and a Hall of Fame coach is a different conversation entirely.
The goal now for Miami is to get Giannis signed to an extension. He becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million supermax in January 2027, and if he doesn't sign it, he could opt out the following summer and walk. That's the sword hanging over everything here. If Riley can get the extension done -- and the expectation is that he can, given that Giannis chose Miami over Boston when he could have gone either way -- then this is a franchise-altering move that sets up the Heat for the next four or five years. If he can't, Miami just gave away its entire future for one year of a 31-year-old coming off an injury-plagued season.
The irony of all of this is that the Lillard era in Milwaukee indirectly delivered Giannis to South Florida. The Bucks waived Dame, signed Myles Turner, went 32-50 anyway, and Giannis watched all of it from the sideline while his knee healed. The relationship between player and franchise deteriorated quietly, and Riley was positioned perfectly to take advantage. That's not luck; that's decades of understanding how the league works and being ready when the moment arrives.
Should it have been more surprising? Probably not. Riley has been doing this his entire career, finding a way to the table when the biggest names become available by outworking everyone else in the room and betting on himself to figure out the rest later. He got Shaq. He got LeBron. He got Jimmy. Now, he's got Giannis.
The fit questions are real. The roster concerns are legitimate. The risk is enormous, and everyone in South Florida knows it.
But this story isn't really about Pat Riley anymore. It's about Giannis Antetokounmpo. It's about what happens when one of the most dominant players of his generation gets a fresh start, a new challenge, and an organization that believes championships are the only acceptable outcome. Miami has done more with less before. Now it has something it rarely gets: a player with a résumé that already belongs among the all-time greats. The question isn't whether Giannis can elevate the Heat. It's whether this partnership can unlock one more level in a career that still feels unfinished.
Everything about this move is a gamble. But if you're going to bet on someone, betting on a two-time MVP still in his prime is a pretty good place to start.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy raised eyebrows with their viral draft room interaction Tuesday night.
After joking that the two were arguing about the best golf course in San Francisco, Dunleavy downplayed the moment as a whole while speaking to reporters after the 2026 NBA Draft, adding that there were “probably some talks about trades” before the team selected Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick.
More details about that conversation were shared by The SF Standard’s Tim Kawakami on Wednesday morning, who reported, citing multiple sources, that Dunleavy and Lacob were “brushing off a moderate offer” for the No. 11 pick.
Mike Dunleavy reacts to Joe Lacob's reaction here: "He was just getting a little anxious about us taking Yaxel." https://t.co/2Bvh7cNG2B
“From our standpoint, we knew we were going to pick Yaxel at 11, he was the guy,” Dunleavy told reporters. “But you just want to flush him out, make sure you’re not missing anything that falls in your lap or makes a ton of sense. So that’s what we were doing. And I think Joe was like, ‘Come on, just let’s go ahead and pick the guy.’ I said, ‘Joe, we have time. They give you five minutes.’ He was just getting a little anxious about us taking Yaxel.
“The good thing was, because we were on the clock, nobody could swoop in and take him ahead of us. So I was willing to be patient with it.”
Now that that’s cleared up, hopefully everyone can move on from the viral moment.
When asked about what led to the seemingly awkward exchange between him and the Warriors owner Joe Lacob Tuesday night during the NBA draft that has since gone viral, Dunleavy said the two got into an argument over the best golf course in San Francisco.
The Warriors general manager then said it was a joke, and that the pressure of the moment with possible trades led to anxiety.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy appear to disagree on what to do with the pick pic.twitter.com/LGKd0hvQav
“This is a really strong draft, so once we got to No. 9, No. 10 and No. 11, I felt like we were going to be anxious to see who falls there,” Dunleavy told reporters after taking Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11. “But we felt like at No. 11, no matter what happened, we were going to get a good player.
“As far as the discussion with Joe and I … at that point there were probably some talks about trades and things like that. But ultimately we were all in agreement to land on taking Yaxel. I think Joe was like, ‘Come on, let’s go ahead and pick the guy’. He was just getting a little anxious about us taking Yaxel.”
Dunleavy and Lacob’s exchange happened moments before the team ended up staying at No. 11, despite fielding trade offers.
The toss-up for the Warriors front office was reportedly between Arizona guard Brayden Burries — who went to the Bucks with the No. 10 pick — and Lendeborg.
Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy talking in the corner in a viral moment. @TheDunkCentral/X
Mike Dunleavy explained his viral interaction with Joe Lacob in the Warriors' draft room tonight pic.twitter.com/DzYawbAvzg
While he’s an older rookie at 23, Lendeborg won a national championship at Michigan this past season after transferring from UAB.
Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while appearing in 40 games and starting 39.
The Warriors added one of college basketball’s best big men. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
The forward was also named Big 10 Player of the Year and was a consensus First Team All-American.
The 23-year-old, though on the older side for a rookie, will offer youth to a Warriors team headlined by 38-year-old Steph Curry, 36-year-old Draymond Green and 36-year-old Jimmy Butler.
We’re back like Mack The Knife and ready to dig into some off-season conversation.
After an extended break, we thought it might be nice to fill some of the pre-free agency vacuum by chasing some wild hares, particularly when it comes to a very specific vein of trade conversation — De’Aaron Fox.
Following San Antonio’s Finals loss (still feels to soon to type that), and an extended rough stretch while playing injured, the NBA world is a-twitter (pun intended) with ideas about how the Spurs should move on from Fox, in spite of the Spurs somewhat public declaration of support.
So, as far as this edition of the Mailbag is concerned, I’m going to be taking you through a bunch of those proposed trades (which a bunch of Spurs Twitter users were lovely enough to provide) and ranking them according to various scales of feasibility and fit.
As always, feel free to drop related (and unrelated) questions down below in the comments for use in future mailbags. If you have questions that didn’t get answered today, you can continue submitting it (and others) in the comments below, as we will absolutely be combing through them.
Additionally, you can also submit questions in the comments on our Twitter Mailbag posts, just as you would in the comments here. And of course, you can always DM me your question directly. (Please note that rhetorical questions and declarative statements are less likely to make the mailbag)
All right, now let’s get to it!
Ok, since we all seem to be on the subject of what to do with De'Aaron Fox lately, I'd love to see your best trade proposals
Make them as realistic or outlandish as you like, but drop them here, and I'll see if I can use them in a special Fox-centric @poundingtherock mailbag
Ok, I felt the need to embed the above tweet so that we all can see and understand that I told people that their ideas could be as outlandish as they were realistic.
Was this the right call? I have no idea. I do know that I spent an almost equal amount of time laughing and facepalming.
De’Aaron Fox + Keldon Johnson + three 2nd round picks (’26, ’29, ’30) for Giannis Antetokounmpo submitted by @ChiChiandPato
To be fair, this person admitted to a bit of pie-in-the-sky trolling, but this is obviously unrealistic for several reasons, chief among them being the complete lack of reported interest in the Alamo City on the part of both Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Front Office. The Spurs do have a solid combination of assets and salaries with which they could make an offer, but to do so for one guaranteed season of a soon-to-be 32-year-old who is pretty athleticism dependent is almost certainly a no-go for San Antonio, and Fox’s postseason swoon makes it even more unlikely that the Bucks will see him as a favorable asset (and that’s without considering Keldon’s postseason inconsistency). Much more likely the Bucks would want to make a demand for Dylan Harper, and I think we can all agree that that’s a no-go, even without considering shipping out the ’27 Atlanta, ’31 Sacramento, and/or the ’30 Minnesota swap.
Grade: -1/10(Updated Grade -1,000/10, the Miami Heat had to gut their team for Giannis)
De’Aaron Fox for Ja Morant + Ty Jerome submitted by @flygodd22
The lack of picks here actually feels somewhat realistic, given Memphis’ reported desire to move on from Morant. However, San Antonio seems like one of the most unlikely destinations due to: 1. A pretty significant personal character conflict for the franchise, 2. Already possessing a high-floor + high-ceiling back-court of the future in Castle and Harper that would again become cramped with Morant, 3. No evidence that Morant would be willing to adapt his ego and/or playing style accordingly, 4. Bigger needs at other positions, 5. Visible decline and an injury history that suggests that Fox is still the better and more reliable option. If the Spurs front office is going to take a risk, it’s probably not going to be on another guard, and almost certainly not on someone who has consistently displayed the opposite of their preferred ‘over themselves’ ethos. You risk upsetting the chemistry of a Finals team, the possibility of adding an internal power-struggle between Morant and your unquestioned franchise pillar, more guard rotation issues, and the possibility of it all ending up dead money anyway due to injury/regression. And according to Sam Amick, the Grizzlies are hoping to dangle Morant as a ‘Plan B’ for teams that miss out on Giannis. In other words, Memphis is hoping to take advantage of a desperate sucker. That’s just not the Spurs. Nor should it be. Unless the Spurs could somehow get draft assets back (and a blood-oath on pain of self-immolation from Morant for best-behavior), I don’t see this happening.
De’Aaron Fox to The Clippers + Kawhi Leonard to The Heat + Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jović to The Spurs submitted by @RomanSATX
Yep, it’s our first three-team trade, and I felt nauseous just typing it out. Ignoring the fact that no one really seems to know what the hell is going on with Leonard, The Clippers, and the theoretical consequences of their arboreal money-laundering scheme, there are still the issues of Wiggins being the wrong size forward, Jović being a milquetoast rim protector whose long-distance shot fell off a cliff, and neither player helping much with the rebounding issues. Add to the equation that the Heat are pretty Spursian in their ability to elevate and make use of role-players, and you basically get that Jović is a lesser version of Kornet who will be paid more than Kornet, for more years, and that Wiggins solves none of San Antonio’s issues at the 4 (though his contact will be expiring), and only increases the existing log-jam at the 3. And the Spurs get no picks. I would rather have someone give me a pedicure with a cheese grater than to have to watch a trade like this go down.
Grade: 1 chum bucket full of my disgust
De’Aaron Fox for Luka Dončić submitted by @HarperEasy2
I have almost no complaints about this trade other than some recently developing concerns that Spurs fans have been infected by whatever one-sided trade-related malady it is that ails the brains of Los Angeles Laker fans. Still, you can’t really call this sort of thing an impossibility anymore, and if the Lakers were to fire Rob Pelinka and then hire Nico Harrison, all bets are off. Even then, though, there would have to be some picks involved. Nico Harrison loves him some picks.
De’Aaron Fox + Luke Kornet (or picks) for Immanuel Quickley + Jakob Poeltl submitted by multiple people/accounts
This was the most popular submission by far, and it came with different variations of picks and/or Kornet, and it looks fairly rational on the surface. Poeltl is familiar with San Antonio and their system, and is still an above-average rim defender and rebounder, and a decent passer for his position. And Quickley is capable of handling bench and starting duties as needed, can definitely shoot the three, and has also has an ideal disposition for joining the roster seamlessly. Both players are more than capable of spot-starting and offer high-floor depth. However, issue number one is that Poeltl is on the decline, and his health has been an issue pretty much since he got to Toronto, and he’s about to get really expensive proportionate to his value (with 3 years fully guaranteed) which is why Toronto would be looking to get off him. Issue two is that Quickley still has 3 years left on a contract that’s about 20% of the cap, which is a bundle for a player who will get a lot of his minutes with the bench. I don’t think that this is a bad trade, per se. But I do feel like it presents just as many problems as simply keeping Fox, especially with his current trade value probably being lower than the Spurs would like. It may raise the floor, but almost certainly doesn’t raise the ceiling, and if Kornet is in the swap, it actually doesn’t really help depth. Most of all, it doesn’t really reduce cost. And if it doesn’t reduce cost or raise the ceiling, I don’t see the Spurs doing it.
Grade: 4.5/10 (depending on asset variation)
De’Aaron Fox for Julius Randle + Donte DiVincenzo submitted by multiple people/accounts
This was the 2nd most popular submission, and I understand the reasoning. Randle and DiVincenzo actually fill needs for the team, potentially raising the floor and the ceiling. DiVincenzo is a dead-eye shooter with terrific off-ball skills and is a decent defender capable of adding to the starting unit and/or the bench. Randle is a unicorn in terms of talent at Power-Forward, and at his best, is capable of stretching the floor, defending forwards and big men, making sharp passes, and out-rebounding bigger players. ‘At his best’ remains the operative phrase, though, as Randle has been confoundingly inconsistent over his career, season-to-season, game-to-game, quarter-to-quarter. Ironically, Randle’s inconsistent execution and effort level have been among the most consistent aspects of his game at each of his stops. It’s unlikely he would have bounced around so much for a player with his skillset had he been capable of greater focus and (per both reporters and fans) actually listening to his coaches. When you add DiVincenzo’s almost certainly year-long Achilles rehab to the equation, this is basically the Morant trade, just with better positional fits. If this trade featured Naz Reid instead, it might really be interesting, but Reid is as beloved and valued by his team and Minnesota fans as DiVincenzo is (Thilo Widder of Canis Hoopus gave glowing reviews of both during Fraternizing with the Enemy), and because of that, I expect the Wolves to hold onto both of them. Likewise, I expect the Spurs to avoid a solo swap for Randle. At best, they might help facilitate something for the Wolves for an asset (as they seem very motivated to move Randle), but considering Minnesota’s status as a Western Conference contender, I doubt it.
Grade: 4/10 (because of positional fit)(Updated Grade: 3/10, Minnesota had to send assets to trade Randle to the Nets, but it was really just a pick swap. Not worth it.)
De’Aaron Fox + pick for Kevin Durant submitted by multiple people/accounts
I’ve started to see this one more over the last several days, and again, I understand the reasoning need-wise. The Spurs need scoring, shooting, and size. Durant offers all three, and then some. His arrival has been a longstanding desire for a large cohort of Spurs fans since his tenure at the University of Texas, and then gained more steam around the NBA’s 75th anniversary, when Durant put on a George ‘Iceman’ Gervin jersey for a photo-op. And to be clear, the money works, and Durant’s contract only lasting two seasons seems ideal. Theoretically, the skill-set fits. But nothing about Durant has been simple over his career, and the injuries have really started to stack up over recent years. There have been rumors about Durant sabotaging team chemistry long before his recent stint with the Rockets, and once again, a lot of fingers are being pointed. Will Durant try to force an extension as he has in the past, and then throw a trade-value sabotaging fit when denied? Will he be willing to play second (or even 3rd) fiddle again in pursuit of more titles? Will he want to play within the relative confines of San Antonio’s system? Will he respect the still-developing head coach and younger ascending talents as his star begins to wane? All important questions when it comes to one of the most perplexing yet undeniably pure talents of his generation. However, I think the biggest factor is likely going to be Houston’s reluctance to send him to the Spurs, a long-time rival and current opponent for regional dominance as well as Western Conference seeding. The last time these two teams got together for a trade was 2007, when the Spurs shipped Luis Scola to Houston. Prior to that, you have to go back to 1992. Prior to that? 1984. In fact, the Spurs and Rockets have combined for exactly 4 trades with each other, total. It’s an interesting thought exercise, but it’s just not happening. If it does, though, you might want to think about buying a lottery ticket.
Grade: 5/10 (too many questions + too little chance)
De’Aaron Fox + late 1st to The Nets, Michael Porter Jr. + a Spurs 2nd to the Kings, Domantas Sabonis to The Spurs submitted by Yours Truly
Ok, hear me out. The Nets badly need a point guard, and just took on Randle and his salary as they continue their rebuild (ie: hoarding picks). With Randle in the fold, it feels like Porter could be on the move, and the Kings could really use his shooting, scoring, and relative youth + cap reduction. The Nets get a 1st and an upside play that Fox will return to form, allowing them to either keep or trade him for more assets. The Spurs get Sabonis, who is not only slightly cheaper than Fox, but only has two years left on his contract. And Sabonis is actually a pretty compelling fit for San Antonio when you break it down. Not only is he capable of playing both Center and Power-Forward, he’s also arguably the best passing big-man outside of Nikola Jokić (I’m not putting Karl-Anthony Towns over Sabonis until I see some consistency), is a tenacious rebounder, and averaged .389 from three over the 3 consecutive seasons prior to last year. In short, the Spurs would be able to use him the way that the Knicks have used Towns, except that Sabonis is a more efficient scorer and is smarter when it comes to fouls. And while Sabonis does showcase some defensive vulnerability, he’s had a positive Defensive Box Plus/Minus for most of his career, and will be protected a bit when playing with Wemby or Kornet. The biggest issue with this trade is feasibility. After getting fleeced by the Spurs twice in the past couple of years, will the Kings want to deal with them again? Will the Nets want more compensation? Do they want to keep Porter? Will their owner force them to make win-now moves? (as he has in the past) Will both teams try to extract maximum value from the Spurs? It’s just a lot of moving parts and ‘ifs’ and supposedly the Spurs don’t want to move Fox anyway. The fit could be amazing, and the trade has upsides for each team, but it just seems like a major stretch. Man could it be fun, though.
Grade: 5/10 (too many unknown variables)
Good Fit + More Feasible
De’Aaron Fox + Multiple 1sts for Jaren Jackson Jr. submitted by @DonMegaBets
If you wanna talk about fit, this might be even better than Sabonis, though Jackson is decidedly not as impressive a rebounder or passer. Offensively, Jackson’s a more consistent floor stretcher on a higher diet of long-distance shots, and is a pretty efficient scorer in his own right, but it’s the potential for outright defensive terrorism that gives this mouth-watering potential. You’re talking about pairing two of the most smothering rim protectors since San Antonio’s Twin Towers, both of whom can switch back and forth between the 4 and the 5 any given possession, and who can legitimately space the floor like no other front-court. I really only see three issues: 1. Jackson has had some trouble staying healthy as of late, 2. Juggling Jackson’s contract (and possible future contracts) in addition to other budding Spurs stars and Wemby, 3. Danny Ainge. The first issue I would feel less concerned about when considering the reputation and kid-glove handling of the Spurs medical team, and shrewd playing time allocations. The second issue just feels like champagne problems. ‘Oh no! How can they afford to pay all the great players they have on the roster?!’. The third issue, however, is almost certainly the biggest one. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to steer clear of wheeling and dealing with Danny Ainge. For starters, he already pulled off a small heist in order to land Jackson, and there’s no indication that he’d want to move him. Secondly, Ainge has a long history of fleecing teams + extracting maximum value once he knows they want a player. There are no discounts, no real weak moments, no real leverage. Ainge is going to get what he wants, or no dice. And that means this almost certainly empties the last of the San Antonio’s excess pick hoard. Would it be worth it? Yeah, probably. Would the Spurs actually do it? I sincerely doubt it.
Grade: 6/10 (Ainge seems unlikely to do it)
De’Aaron Fox + 1st for Lauri Markkanen submitted by @TheFinalQuan
Full disclosure, I’ve never been big on Markkanen, but he sure looks like a perfect fit in this scenario. Within the context of this Spurs team, he’s basically Kevin Durant-lite. He’s a very efficient shooter from all three levels who adds size, rebounding, and scoring punch, minus all of the drama. The contract is basically a perfect swap, and Markkanen should be able to slide right into the existing ecosystem without much trouble. The defense isn’t great, but his size + the Spurs existing corral of defenders should make up for a lot of that. And with only three years left, the Spurs should be able to move off of him pretty quickly if it doesn’t pan out. The snag is, once again, Danny Ainge, who will probably be prefectly content waiting until he gets exactly the offer he want, as keeping Markkanen really isn’t a problem for him, even if the Jazz draft another forward. With no real rumors of discord or desire to move him, you can expect Ainge to extract a premium for Markkanen’s services. And the Spurs don’t make a lot of trades to begin with, so I wouldn’t bet on this one happening. These are two trade partners who really prefer to dictate their own terms. Spurs fans would owe the front office yet another apology if they pulled it off without getting disemboweled by Ainge, though. But that’s a tall order.
Grade: 7/10 (or higher, depending on cost)
De’Aaron Fox + Multiple 1sts (2-3) for Trey Murphy and Herb Jones submitted by @DonMegaBets
For the perfect mixture of fit and feasibility, though, I think this feels right. The fit isn’t quite as compelling as some of the other propositions, but it’s close, as Herb Jones has seemed like an ideal Spur since he arrived in the NBA, and Murphy shares a somewhat combined profile of two previous Spurs additions in Rudy Gay and Harrison Barnes. Per ESPN’s Marc Spears, the Pelicans are actually looking to move Murphy, and they are exactly the kind of team the Spurs like to take advantage of. The entire organization is in a state of flux with “at least 25 vacancies across basketball operations and business departments so far’, including the medical and analytics departments, which were reportedly “gutted”, which doesn’t bode well, disregarding new president of basketball operations Joe Dumars’ already inconsistent front-office history. The real question in this scenario will be whether the Pelicans will try to continue their long-standing win-now attempts to build around Zion Williamson, or if they’re only interested in collecting assets. If it’s the former (or even an attempt to do both at once) this suddenly becomes very feasible, and might not even cost San Antonio their coveted 2031 Sacramento Kings swap. A front-office in flux and in search of direction (in combination with the right mixture of desperation), with good players who are being ignored for flashier options, is the perfect recipe for a good-old-fashioned Spurs heist. I still don’t think the Spurs are trading Fox this season, but of all the trade ideas, this one seems actually seems possible.
Grade: 8.5/10 (Joe Dumars is the epitome of chaotic good)
Well, that’ll do it for this edition of the PtR mailbag! Let us know your thoughts and/or drop your trade ideas in the comments below. We’ll see how things go tonight in the Draft. And, as always, Go Spurs Go!
Sunrise/ Sunset/ Since the beginning it hasn’t changed yet/ People fly high begin to lose sight/ You can’t see very clearly when you’re in flight — “On Your Way Down” Allen Toussaint
To be honest I didn’t pay much attention initially when Pat Kelsey was first asked Monday morning about not being invited to attend the NBA Draft.
He was diplomatic, commenting how Mikel Brown Jr. only had so many invites, etc, etc.
Then he said this, and my ears perked up.
“Although he was only here for one year, that young man is going to be celebrated and remembered and revered around here for a long, long time.”
I. Don’t. Think. So.
At least that’s my sense from feedback by the Commentariat, conversations along the way, and my own conversion on the issue.
I still didn’t pay a lot of attention. For me, the NBA Draft is a curiosity, far from an obsession.
However when Louisville’s Dean of Sportswriters Eric Crawford returned to the subject later in the interview, I rethought my dismissal that it wasn’t any big deal in these environs.
I’ve thought about it a lot between then and now, just having viewed the part time U of L mercenary take the stage in his bespoke white, pink and baby blue tux, the fitting of which was videoed by his team.
To which attire he added a Brooklyn Nets hat.
Let’s set aside for a moment the underlying dialog about the true extent of MB’s injury, considering how bad the kid’s back really was that “caused” him to sit out over a third of the Cardinals’ games, including the post season.
What I know is Pat Kelsey had Brown’s back during the step aways. Season long. As late at his presser.
“He’s got an ‘it’ about him. … I’m well aware of how special of a player I coached. I’m more proud of how special of a human being Mikel is.”
Unlike Bill Self who publicly wondered aloud how much his eventual No. 2 pick was truly injured last campaign, PK has never never had a discouraging word for Brown.
The very least Brown and his team — Read: Helicopter Father — could have done was bring Pat Kelsey along Tuesday night. To show some respect. Gratitude for PK’s indulgence.
They did not.
For shame.
I’m firmly of the opinion it was a disgrace.
It’s high time that you found/ The same people you misuse on your way up/ You might meet up/ On your way down — AT
* * * * *
During the season, I was an apologist for Brown.
I was close by in the gym when his back went out during a game. Memphis State, right?
Having had a troublesome back through the decades, I observed the signs in the PG’s hobble during his down time.
A fellow Cardinal hoopaholic advised Brown told him, he’d had back issues previously.
Thus I was inclined to accept he simply wasn’t sandbagging after his breakout national TV performance against UK.
Of course, I was dazzled by his game in early February against a North Carolina State gang mailing it in, “coached” by Will Wade who was already packing to move to Baton Rouge.
I was still dismayed that he matched the individual game point record of four year icon Wes Unseld in ’67. Just didn’t feel right, worthy.*
*I’ve had a former Cardinal, member of the family, share that he’d heard Brown’s dad was upset because Kelsey pulled him before he could break the record. ????
In retrospect I now find it suspect that Brown shut it down once and for all as a Cardinal after hitting but 2/10 in a late February L at Clemson, following by five days his atrocious shooting night in a loss to the Tar Heels on February 23.
How conveeeeeniant!!!
Then came his remarkable full recovery when NBA tryout season and combine dawned.
With the same no lumbar issues that didn’t seem to plague him in AAU and for the USA squad before he came here.
* * * * *
So, I’d offer he dropped by for a cup of coffee. Shared a couple of almond croissants with us against UK and a jayvee Wolfpack contingent.
Then moved on. Without giving a legit thank you to his coach.
Sayonara, dude.
* * * * *
I read a piece this morning about Steve Spurrier. In it, he lamented like many the current state of roster movement in college sports, how different it was in his heyday of the 90s.
How his recruiting pitch was, “You’ve got a home to come back to.”
Jordan Nwora comes back for visits.
Donovan Mitchell comes back for visits.
Chucky Hepburn, though a senior one and done is properly revered, and comes back for visits.
Mikel Brown Jr.?
If the over/ under on how many times he comes back was 1, I’d bet the under.
BRONX, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 9: The Bronx Zoo transforms into a vibrant display of autumn colors as fall foliage surrounds its animal habitats in New York, United States on November 9, 2025. Visitors enjoy the mix of wildlife and seasonal scenery, with golden leaves creating picturesque views across one of New York City's most famous attractions. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
The Knicks entered Tuesday night with the No. 24 pick. They left with no first-round picks… but five additional second-rounders, a bag full of cash, and what feels like another Leon Rose-Brock Aller masterclass.
A few notes and links…
Let’s start with the obvious: the Knicks did not trade out of the first round because they hated Sergio de Larrea as I did, or even Koa Peat, Cameron Carr, or any other prospect at reach. Every report coming out before and afterward pointed in the same direction, which is none other than avoiding the second-apron and keeping the title-winning core together. It isn’t simple, but New York is simply operating like the savviest franchise.
As SNY’s Ian Begley pointed out, New York saved itself roughly $3.4 million in first-round salary obligations by moving out of Round 1 and letting others pay for the 24th-best prospect. Can’t complain, let alone if Sergio was the bet.
Even with all the maneuvering from Tuesday and all the surprises yet to come, the Knicks currently have roughly $211 million committed to 11 players, leaving about $10.8 million before reaching the second apron. Not exactly the type of cushion that lets you sleep comfortably, considering all of Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, Ariel Hukporti, Jeremy Sochan, Kevin McCullar Jr., Trey Jemison, and Jose Alvarado don’t have a contract in place right now.
Speaking of Alvarado, Sean Deveney spoke to an Eastern Conference executive who described his upcoming market in the most terrifying way possible.
“Oh, it would be a cluster. He’s the kind of guy you want on the bottom half of the roster if you’re a contender. So all the teams that were after him before will be after him again, and they can all bump him to $6 million with an (cap) exception or go higher, go into the midlevel for him. And you’d have to add some teams to that mix, too.”
Linked to both Alvarado and Tuesday’s dealing and wheeling: remember that New York originally acquired Alvarado by sending two second-round picks and a Frankensteinian Dalen Terry-Guerschon Yabusele body to New Orleans. Suddenly, those freshly-acquired five second-rounders Rose grabbed don’t look quite as random, do they? Keep ’em coming!
If you are still lost amid all the draft sennanigans and deals and cap issues and stuff like that (which I have publicly admitted to being) and you haven’t read Michael Zeno’s breakdown of the cap implications and Knicks situation, do it right now. The entire piece is basically a love letter to Brock Aller, and the argument is simple: second-round contracts are cheaper, they create more flexibility, and could massively help New York retain all/most veterans while staying under the apron.
If you don’t love Nate, fear nothing. I’d keep loving him for you.
Pour one out for the St. John’s crowd, even if it hurts not to have Zuby Ejiofor around. The Red Storm standout ended up going No. 23 to Atlanta, one pick before New York’s original No. 24 selection. Fun what-if: had Zuby been available for the Knicks, would we be talking about trading out of the first round? Worth Weisioning.
Jalen Brunson announced his first children’s book, Jalen Plays It All, and I don’t know why you haven’t preordered it yet.
Speaking of Brunson! Becky Hammon refused to apologize for her take that she couldn’t be the No. 1 option on a title team. “All he did was prove history wrong,” she said, adding that ESPN doesn’t pay her to cancel her own opinions. Stay strong, Becky!
Only wow, she actually admitted being wrong a few hours later, in what sounded like a simple “Here you have it, leave me alone” type of statement. See, Becky’s initial comments sucked, and she knows it. She knows it so much, and it became so clear that she was wrong, that now she’s just trying to escape the spotlight, one she couldn’t bear, in the only possible way. Throwing the rock and hiding her hand as quickly as possible, at the start of a Las Vegas Aces press conference, trying to evade endless loops in X as if this wasn’t the year 2026 of our Lord. Good luck escaping history, Becky.
Not happy with her comments, she went on to say the following thing about Jalen Brunson, probably, perhaps, one has to imagine, thinking that she was being so clever as to make me mad once again, in a plot twist only meant to deflect attention from his initial and unmistakable remark. And in doing so, she inevitably fell for the trap a second time, now finding herself waiting for another eventual round of backlash. Some people never learn, I guess.
“Let me just piss off Knicks fans again and say, I think he’s the greatest Knick ever. Give them something else to talk about… I’ve always been a Jalen Brunson fan. I was a fan of his at Villanova, in Dallas and why this comment went off the rails, I have no idea because it was clearly a historical and analytical take.”
Adam Silver keeps trying to avoid saying the League is going 32 while sounding increasingly locked into the upcoming expansion. The commish said Seattle and Las Vegas remain the focus and, in a new/confirmed development, he floated the 2028-29 season as the first one featuring the Sonics and the Gamblers.
Celtics Corner I: Shams Charania reported before the draft and post Giannis-to-Miami that Boston is “listening, engaging, and discussing” trade offers for Jaylen Brown.
Celtics Corner II: Brad Stevens then said Brown is “a big part of us,” but the funniest thing is that literally five seconds later, he added, “you never know… I don’t want to predict the future.”
Celtics Corner III: These two statements seem somewhat contradictory.
Celtics Corner IV: I support whatever creates the most chaos, and it doesn’t look like the C’s are escaping this messy situation with their duo intact. If it doesn’t break by July, it will by September. And if it stays together all the way up to next season’s tip-off, I would be watching and waiting for the Brown Stream That Bombs It All. Here’s the link, click the notifications button!
Old “report” brought back to life a couple days ago: the Knicks “could pursue” OAKAAK Tim Hardaway Jr. for his third stint in Manhattan. The internet remains undefeated.
Enjoy Round 2.
In honor of him getting his jersey retired, he’s the great Pau Gasol singing “How to Save a Life” pic.twitter.com/SWfuORZPu5
Indiana Fever center-forward Aliyah Boston (7) is introduced Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the first half of the Fever’s season opener game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s the third quarter of a late May game against the Valkyries and the Fever are looking to cap off a third-quarter rally that saw them overturn a seven-point deficit to take the lead.
With 20 seconds remaining, a miscommunication by the Golden State defense allows Kelsey Mitchell to find Raven Johnson in the corner for a three that ignites the home crowd.
In a moment that could hardly better define the highs and lows associated with playing rookies, Johnson’s excitement after the shot quickly transforms into overzealousness. Without a single player on either team having yet crossed half court, she fouls Veronica Burton 94 feet from the basket to send her to the free throw line.
As cliché of a rookie mistake as it was, it was also a perfect teaching moment, and Aliyah Boston took advantage.
Standing at half court, she waits for Johnson, puts her arms on her shoulders and offers advice. Despite being just 24 years old and in her fourth year in the league, Boston has become one of the team’s leaders.
Boston isn’t new to the role. By her own admission, she’s a natural talker. But talking is not leading, nor is it necessarily communicating, either. Those are skills she’s had to develop over the years, something she credits her college coach, Dawn Staley, for helping kickstart.
It’s also something that came along by necessity. When injuries ravaged the Fever last season, Boston became the point guard of sorts at times. Point guards are vocal leaders, so Boston had to assume that role as well.
All those experiences and circumstances have led to this season, where Boston has blossomed into a leader and a constant voice for the Fever, whether in practice, the locker room, a huddle or during the game.
In this moment against the Valkyries, it’s allowed her to help refocus Johnson in a tight game. The results are immediate as Johnson opens the fourth quarter with a flurry of activity, scoring or assisting on the first seven points of the period for Indiana — including setting up Boston for a layup — as the lead extended to double digits en route to a victory.
Leadership is often demonstrated in the moments behind the scenes and away from the cameras, but that game and that moment offered a rare chance for fans to see how impactful it can be.
It’s been clear for multiple years that the Fever have three stars in Caitlin Clark, Boston and Mitchell.
But sometimes even if something is implied, it’s still best to make it known. So, this preseason, head coach Stephanie White took aside the trio and told them the obvious.
This is your team.
“I think we’ve kind of known that from the jump that it’s really just like, we got to — the three of us like as a unit — we have to make sure that we lead the team in the right direction,” Boston told SBNation of White’s preseason message. “I think it’s always different, especially last year with [Clark] being out, so it was like kind of just finding that group again. But I think, honestly, like we’re doing a pretty good job of it.”
Setting aside the multiple All-Star selections in the last two seasons from the three, they are also among the most tenured players on the roster. The roster turnover since the arrival of Boston and Clark in consecutive drafts leaves them as three of the four longest-serving Fever.
For Boston, even if talking comes naturally, White’s message was a reassurance that the team needed her to speak up. She took that vote of confidence and ran with it this season, and her team has taken notice.
“I think the thing that really stands out is Aliyah’s constantly the one talking in our huddles,” Clark said. “She’s the first voice we have there…She has a very strong voice and you constantly hear it whether it’s in-game, whether it’s on the bench in a timeout, whether that’s in the locker room on not just game days, but even on practice days too.”
Being the vocal leader also hasn’t taken away from Boston’s production either. If anything, the opposite has been true.
She’s averaging 17.2 points, the most of her career, while still grabbing 8.6 rebounds per contest. Much of her jump in scoring can be attributed to her improvement as both a 3-point shooter, where she’s shooting 44.7% on 2.5 attempts per game, and at the free throw line, where she’s shooting 83.8%.
“I think talking about the game is always great and I think it allows you to just see and understand it a lot more, understand teams, player tendencies,” Boston said. “I think the more that you watch, the more you talk about it, it just makes it clearer.”
As great as Boston has been this season, ask just about anyone with the Fever, and they’ll point to last season as the moment Boston took a leap in many ways.
It was a year marred by injuries for the Fever. As quickly as the team would make an in-season signing, another player would fall by the wayside with the point guard position being the most common point of attrition.
To help alleviate the burden of the rotating new faces, the Fever did what they do so often: lean on Boston.
“At times she was our point guard last year,” Clark said. “And if you’re the point guard, you got to communicate a lot, you got to know what’s going on, you got to be on the same page as a coach and you have to be able to get your teammates where they need to be.”
Boston became one of only three players in league history to have at least 350 rebounds and 150 assists in a season last year. She also realized how impactful she can still be as a communicator even if she wasn’t a point guard.
“I think that just my positioning, how we wanted to play, I think that definitely was a super big part of it,” Boston told SBNation. “So for this year, I’m just trying to make sure that I continue on that path.
“I think you can still lead from the post. I know the guards have the ball a lot, but I think being able to just communicate and talk about what I’m seeing is always going to be crucial.”
On top of everything else, the interplay between Boston and Clark remains one of the most reliable actions for any team in the league. What continues to make Boston particularly difficult to defend is her passing ability. As quickly as Clark can find Boston on a roll to the rim, the latter can hit the former on a backcut.
Boston is one of only two players in the league this season with a total rebound percentage and an assist percentage both above 20%. The Fever are putting the ball in her hands more than ever before, evidenced by her career-high 27.8% usage percentage, and she’s repaying them with career numbers.
“She’s solid,” White said. “She doesn’t get too high, she doesn’t get too low. Certainly, every player gets frustrated at times, but she’s an elite communicator. You trust her to make the right play and to make the right read. She brings people together. She’s a connector, which is so important, and she just continues to lead by example and be a vocal leader for our team.”
Those lessons learned from a challenging 2025 season are paying dividends for Boston in 2026. As a team, the Fever have struggled to find consistency this season. Offensively, Indiana is averaging the most points per game in the league. Defensively, they’re allowing the third most.
Not surprisingly, highs and lows have followed them. A recent four-game win streak included a game-winner from Clark in Washington. But that streak came shortly after an ugly loss in Portland, when they trailed by as many as 26.
What remains most consistent throughout it all, though, is Aliyah Boston, who just keeps improving.
The Warriors drafted a prospect who holds a prestigious place in college basketball history.
Not only is Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who Golden State selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night, a highly touted prospect and a national champion with the Wolverines, but when he played for the University of Alabama at Birmingham for two seasons from 2023-25, made college basketball history with a do-it-all performance for the ages.
In last 20 years, only one DI player has had, over the course of his entire career (same game or not),
a game w/ 30+ pts a game w/ 20+ reb a game w/ 8+ ast a game w/ 9+ stocks (stl+blk) a game w/ 40+ minutes & 0 TO
Lendeborg began his collegiate career at Arizona Western College, where he played junior college ball from 2020-23 before transferring to UAB and eventually Michigan ahead of the 2025-26 season.
That stat line Lendeborg produced in the Blazers’ 94-77 win over East Carolina in the AAC Tournament on March 15, 2025 is a product of the unique skill set he possesses that Golden State hopes translates to the NBA.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If I had a nickel for the amount of times a former Indiana men’s basketball star who wore No. 1 was involved in a blockbuster NBA trade… well I’d have two nickels.
Kel’el Ware, who spent a single season with Indiana in 2023-24 before being selected by the Miami Heat in the first round of that year’s NBA Draft, has reportedly been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a massive deal in exchange for former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
He averaged 11.1 points, 9 rebounds and 0.7 assists while shooting 53% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range in 22.1 minutes per game for the Heat this past season. He’ll have an opportunity to prove himself in Milwaukee.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Hoosiers today:
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: Cameron Boozer is interviewed with his father Carlos Boozer during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Laura June Kirsch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the NBA Draft, and after being taken by Memphis with the #3 pick, Cameron Boozer made it clear that he didn’t understand why he wasn’t seen by many as a likely #1 pick.
He has a point, but let’s look at the other side of the argument.
Boozer is seen, somewhat unfairly, as not highly athletic. By conventional measures, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson are more athletic. They do jump higher and run faster.
But as we learned during the run-up to the draft, Boozer rated better on his athleticism than many people expected. In some metrics, for instance, he surpassed UNC’s Caleb Wilson.
But athleticism is not always the ultimate metric. The gold standard there is still Michael Jordan, but that guy refined his game endlessly, and he became a great scorer, great defender, and great ball handler.
He mastered his craft, in other words.
Arkansas’s Darius Acuff has mastered some of his craft, but not defense. We’ve talked a lot about the importance of going to a solid organization, and Acuff, unfortunately, went to Sacramento. He won’t get what he needs there, so if he becomes a good defender, it’ll be because he wants to, and so far, he’s shown no desire to defend.
You can’t measure athletic intelligence by measuring athletic ability. Tim Duncan is widely regarded as a better player than Karl Malone, James Worthy, Charles Barkley, or Clyde Drexler. A quiet presence on the court, Duncan was called the Big Fundamental, and he rarely made foolish mistakes.
He mastered his craft.
Of all the players in the draft, no one has mastered his craft to the level Boozer has. That’s been called a high floor, with the implication that his potential ceiling is not that impressive.
But this guy walked into his first college event, an exhibition game at Tennessee, and scored 24 points, pulled down 23 rebounds, and handed out 6 assists.
Keep in mind that Tennessee regularly beats opponents into the ground. It’s a Rick Barnes trademark.
As an 18-year-old, Boozer consistently dominated older players while at Duke, and his consistency was ridiculous.
But can that translate into success in the NBA?
Well, we won’t know for sure until we do, but you can look at some precedents. You can start with a whole cruise ship full of guys who were drafted over the years who were far more athletic than Boozer. There are hundreds of guys like that who never made a dent in the NBA, and often didn’t make the league at all.
On the more positive side, you can point to Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokic, Reggie Miller, John Stockton, Steve Nash, Andre Miller, and Shane Battier, to name a few, who all managed to thrive in the league despite perceptions that they were not “athletic.”
If you’ve never seen them, YouTube is just full of videos of 1980s players who were vastly more athletic than Bird who just marvel that they couldn’t stop him, even if he told them exactly what he was about to do to them.
Realistically, there’s what you might call a graph between athleticism and intelligence. You could be the most brilliant player in history, but without at least minimal athleticism, you won’t get to the NBA.
Conversely, if you have superb athleticism and a low basketball IQ, your chances of making it are pretty minimal.
We don’t want to pick on Sean Stewart, but the former Blue Devil is a good example, because the guy is physically gifted beyond most people’s dreams. But at Duke, we watched his teammates physically shove him into position on defense multiple times. For whatever reason, he just didn’t get it, and it cost him.
You don’t get that with Boozer. And what you see with him is that if you take away his drive, he can step out and shoot. He is also a brilliant passer who (and this is important) has strong wrists. He can zip a pass through two or three defenders before they realize what just happened.
On a break, if he’s up against a guy who could block his shot, he has a sweet Euro Step, and that’s just one example of his superb footwork. And if that fails, well, he can pass his way out of it.
The point is, you can deny him certain things, but you can’t deny him everything, and he will gut you. He’s just too sound. We haven’t really talked about his rebounding, but watch him work the boards. He gets great position, and he’s strong enough to hold it.
So while the proof is in the pudding, we’ll see where the points on the lines on the graph intersect. Our guess is that Boozer’s athleticism is more than acceptable, but his IQ is off the charts. And as others before him have proved, it’s better to be reasonably athletic and smart than it is to lack game smarts and be highly athletic.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: An overall photo of 2026 NBA Draft stage before the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Hannah Ally/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In case you missed it, the NBA draft has been turned into a two-day affair since 2024. After a relatively tame day one yesterday, teams are now on the clock for the second round today.
Draft Info
What: 2026 NBA Draft Round 2 When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 @7:00 pm CT Where: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY) TV: ESPN
Wolves Notes
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 13: RoccoZikarsky of Timberwolves warms up before the NBA game 34 between Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors in San Francisco at Chase Center on March 13, 2026 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
What to Expect in Round Two
A year ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves were in the most enviable spot in the second round, holding the first pick. However, the result was an uninspiring thud, as President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, ended up moving down 14 spots, getting two future second picks, and some sweet cash considerations along the way. Rocco Zikarsky was the resulting pick, a relatively mysterious giant. Nothing wrong with that.
The most disappointing part, though, was when Connelly came out and publicly stated post-draft that the second round was difficult for them as it was “largely agent-driven.” This essentially confirmed that the Wolves’ front office wasn’t fully prepared for what unfolded that day.
Will his group be better prepared this year?
After the Randle trade on Monday, Minnesota now holds the 33rd and 59th picks in the second round. I mentioned yesterday that some view second round picks as more valuable asset chips compared to late first round picks. It really comes down to the flexibility of deals that second rounders can sign. They can sign two-way contracts, “Gupta Special” non-guaranteed deals, etc. First rounders, in contrast, are given guaranteed deals for two years plus two more years of team options.
Will Connelly turn these minor assets into some more considerations of the greenback variety? Or will he pull another rabbit out of his hat as he did in 12 years ago, drafting a three-time MVP with the third or 41st pick in the second round?
For reference, some notable players drafted early in the second round in the last five drafts: Ryan Kalkbrenner (34), Kyle Filipowski (32), Ajay Mitchell (38), Jaylen Wells (39), Andrew Nembhard (31), Jaylin Williams (34), Max Christie (35), Herb Jones (35), Ayo Dosunmu (38).
Here are some names of guys from late in the second round: Quinten Post (52), Cam Spencer (53), Ariel Hukporti (58), Jaylen Clark (53), Trayce Jackson-Davis (57), Gui Santos (55), Jabari Walker (57), Sandro Mamukelashvili (54), and Aaron Wiggins (55).
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: AJ Dybantsa poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Washington Wizards during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Happy Wednesday everyone. In case you haven’t heard, the Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. So after one entire month of spamming you this guy’s name (and even a few other prospects), we finally know what the Wizards are moving in with their young roster.
The last time the Wizards selected a No. 1 overall pick, it was in 2010. John Wall was the selection, he was the franchise player, but he was also the first player for Washington’s rebuild at the time. Unlike 2010, the Wizards have been rebuilding for three seasons. They only very recently have acquired two All-Stars in Trae Young (who will be a Wizard for the next four seasons) and Anthony Davis. Now that Dybantsa is in the mix, there’s a lot of optimism right?
First, let’s look at where people put their money. How good do they expect the Wizards to be? Unfortunately, according to FanDuel as of 6 a.m. ET on June 25, 2026, the Wizards are the 11th most likely team to win the Eastern Conference with +20000 odds. Based on that number alone, NBA fans nationwide (and beyond) would say no. They expect the Wizards to still be rebuilding, even if they are no longer expected to be the absolute doormat.
That said, betting markets can’t be the only way we look at this kind of stuff. How do the fans think? Let’s go to the Wizards’ Draft Party last night at The Anthem, a concert venue at The Wharf.
Good morning, here’s how Wizards fans reacted to the No. 1 pick when AJ DYBANTSA WAS SELECTED! (Video from the Wizards’ IG stories) pic.twitter.com/ES0JM3Z3y6
How about the Wizards front office when they called him? (I still wonder how NBA teams get the phone numbers of players … it’s probably an agent phone and it’s probably a scripted call for social media. But still.)
Sometimes, you have to go off of vibes when you’re talking about a “rebuilding” vs. a “contending” era. And my vibes give me a clear answer: Yes, AJ Dybantsa is the player who ends the Wizards’ rebuild. Sure, the Wizards will change their roster over the next few years. Sure, the Wizards are NOT NBA championship contenders. Hell, they probably won’t contend for the Southeast Division in 2026-27 because the Miami Heat (as usual) are bringing in superstars.
But is the worst stretch of Wizards basketball in franchise history over? Do we know WHO the Wizards WILL have five years from now? Yes. And that means the rebuild (at least from a tanking perspective) is finally over.
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver under the board showing the 2026 NBA draft first round results at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Though the stakes weren’t as high as recent drafts for the San Antonio Spurs, it was a consequential one due to the glaring roster holes revealed during the recently concluded NBA Finals loss. They made an attempt to address them last night by drafting two big, defensive-minded centers using their own pick at 20th and trading for the Denver Nuggets 26th pick:
26th selection (via trade with Denver) Tarris Reed, Jr. (UConn) – 6’11” 265 lb.
Below is a review of the entire first round, but first, a few quick observations:
Gratitude: That the Giannis trade happened (no more speculation on the sports networks and interwebs, AND we only have to play that team twice a season!)
It was really nice to have them formally introduce the entire draft class (well, the ones that they anticipated would go in this first round) in alphabetical order by last name from A-Z before the festivities began.
Did not realize that University of Houston’s Chris Cenac, Jr.’s last name was pronounced “SEH-NACK“.”
Santa Clara’s Allen Graves came in noticeably trimmer than what his highlights showed.
And now onto the picks! (For the Spurs-specific comparisons, the following players were not eligible for actual considerations: Tim Duncan, Victor Wembanyama, and Manu Ginobili.)
OBSERVATION: This pick was traded to Memphis, and then ultimately ended up in Detroit. Memphis received the 21st pick and 5 future second round draft picks.
UNOFFICIAL PLAYER COMP: Non-Spurs: Right-handed Jalen Brunson (throwing my keyboard out the window) / Spurs: Taller Patty Mills
OBSERVATION: This pick was part of the previous complicated trade and ultimately went to Memphis – essentially cementing Ja Morant’s departure.
UNOFFICIAL PLAYER COMP: Non-Spurs: (ancestrally) Eduardo Najera / (stylistically) Ricky Rubio / Spurs: what they thought Kyle Anderson would turn out to be
OBSERVATION: San Antonio sent Denver a 2026 second round pick (and 2 future seconds) for the UConn big man. The fact that they went after Reed instead of Alex Karaban was an eye-opener.
OBSERVATION: This selection went to Brooklyn as part of the trade featuring Julius Randle earlier in the week. It is really cool to see when players not featured in the draft room come straight out of the crowd like Jefferson did.
UNOFFICIAL PLAYER COMP: Non-Spurs: Domantas Sabonis / Spurs: late career Rudy Gay
Cenac started 36 games for a Houston team that finished with a 30-7 record and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
One of the most glaring roster weaknesses for the Celtics coming into the offseason was a lack of frontcourt depth and talent. Cenac has an exciting skill set and can play power forward or center.
Here’s a breakdown of what Celtics fans need to know about the team’s newest rookie.
Cenac has an intriguing skill set at just 19 years old, and he improved a lot during his freshman season.
“He’s raw. That’s the first thing we have to mention,” CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter said on NBC Sports Boston’s draft show Tuesday night. “He could only play (for Houston coach Kelvin Sampson) if he rebounded. Rebounding is literally the lifeblood of that program, and he was one of the best rebounders in this class. I put him up there near the top. He rebounds outside of his area, he chases offensive rebounds, he was a high-motor player all the time.”
Cenac also has the ability to shoot 3-pointers or attack from the midrange.
“I think what Boston’s idea here is — he has great measurables at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan,” Trotter added. “He plays really hard, so you don’t have to teach effort. He can stretch the floor. He made over 30 3-pointers this season and took a bunch of pull-up jumpers.”
Cenac played a little too much on the perimeter for Houston and didn’t get to the basket enough offensively, but with the athleticism and size he brings to the floor, the Celtics should be able to correct those weaknesses.
“Just a good young player, energetic, plays hard,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said after making the pick. “Excellent athlete, long, fits a position of need. Some things that we were a little short on this year from an athletic perspective, I think with this size and his strength.”
Can he make an impact right away?
Unless injuries crush the Celtics’ frontcourt depth, Cenac probably won’t be a consistent part of the rotation during the 2026-27 campaign.
He’s only 19 years old and needs to develop in a lot of ways, including adding some strength and muscle to his frame.
“I hope we’re good enough that it’s hard for any 19-year-old to come in here and be good right out of the gate,” Stevens admitted Tuesday night.
The Celtics, to their credit, have done a good job developing centers of late. They turned Neemias Queta into a Most Improved Player Award candidate and a legitimate starter. Luke Kornet made a meaningful impact in his time in Boston. Luka Garza had a productive 2025-26 season, too.
Cenac also should benefit from not being thrown into the fire too early. He should be able to develop his skill set at a pace that’s best for him and not be rushed.
“With his size and his length, when you play in the program he’s played for, he’s been taught well and been held to a high standard,” Stevens said. “I like that and he’ll undoubtedly come here and be eager … he’s got a lot to learn.”
The 2026 draft class is loaded with talent. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Winners
The tanking teams
After a season that featured multiple teams participating in the most egregious display of tanking in NBA history, Adam Silver responded by implementing new rules that will supposedly stop the tactic. However, those rules will not go into effect until next season, which means the biggest losers were the biggest winners on draft night.
The Washington Wizards (AJ Dybantsa), Utah Jazz (Darryn Peterson), Memphis Grizzlies (Cameron Boozer), and Chicago Bulls (Caleb Wilson) picked up generational players in what is considered the deepest draft in years. Among the teams who won by tanking, the Wizards stand out – they are poised to improve significantly after drafting Dybantsa No 1 overall. Adding Dybantsa as the centerpiece on a team that features two former All-NBA picks, Trae Young and Anthony Davis, could lead to the Wizards making the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
The Jalen Brunson Effect
After leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, Brunson proved that shifty guards with a knack for scoring can anchor title-contending teams. In an era where 3-and-D wings were previously considered the gold standard, Brunson’s feats may have reshaped the NBA: six guards were selected in the top 10 of this year’s draft.
Peterson, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr, Darius Acuff Jr, Kingston Flemings, and Brayden Burries are all aggressive guards who, like Brunson, can take over in the fourth quarter and dictate the outcome of games in critical moments.
Peterson will battle Dybantsa for rookie of the year honors and garner more attention for the often-forgotten Jazz. Brown (Brooklyn Nets) and Acuff (Sacramento Kings) will have multiple explosive scoring nights. And Wagler (LA Clippers) and Flemings (Atlanta Hawks) will be essential lead guards as their teams fight for playoff positions.
The new big men of the Thunder and Spurs
Big men Aday Mara, Jayden Quaintance, and Tarris Reed Jr are set to play key roles as the Thunder and Spurs aim for a title run. Mara (7ft 3in) will attempt to solve the Thunder’s glaring inability to stop Victor Wembanyama.
On the Spurs’ end, Wembanyama appeared fatigued at times while battling the physicality of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson in the NBA finals. The Spurs’ backup center, Luke Kornet, failed to stabilize the team during the non-Wemby minutes.
Quaintance (6ft 10in) and Reed (6ft 11in) will allow Wembanyama to play more minutes at power forward, freeing the Frenchman to utilize his overall skillset. And the Thunder will hope that Mara’s pairing with Chet Holmgren becomes Wembanyama’s kryptonite.
Losers
Labaron Philon Jr
In some cases, a player can lose by entering the draft a year too early or too late. If Philon had entered the 2025 draft, he probably would have been selected as a late lottery pick or mid-first rounder.
The highly-skilled guard from Alabama averaged 22 points a game and erupted for 35 points against Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. However, Philon fell to the Philadelphia 76ers at No 22 because an abundance of elite guards were present in this year’s draft.
Philon would be a starter on most NBA lottery teams. Instead, he will begin his career behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the Sixers.
Dusty May’s first draft
In 24 hours, Dusty May was announced as the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, and his former Michigan player Morez Johnson Jr was drafted by the Mavs. Johnson is an enforcer who will do the dirty work in the paint next to the versatile Cooper Flagg.
Although there’s a feelgood story here somewhere, drafting Johnson at No 9 appears to be an overreach.
Johnson was projected to be a mid-first round selection, with the ceiling of a high-value role player. With Kyrie Irving returning from injury, the Mavs should have drafted a high-scoring guard such as Burries or Dailyn Swain.
Blockbuster moments
One of the most intriguing aspects of past NBA drafts was the drama of the unexpected. At any moment, a shocking blockbuster trade could change the landscape of the league while becoming fodder for a desperate news cycle.
This year’s draft lacked the suspense and intensity of moments such as Kobe Bryant being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Lakers; the Philadelphia 76ers trading Jayson Tatum to the Boston Celtics for Markelle Fultz; and the Atlanta Hawks trading Luka Dončić to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young.
But while this year’s draft lacked intrigue and controversy, the overall talent will be analyzed for years to come.
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