Category: NBA

Five days until the NBA Draft, which means it’s time to continue our countdown of the best players selected at every draft position in NBA history. Why? Because I wanted to know, I wanted to do the thought exercise…and it sure was an exercise. But along the way, I learned some things I did not know, and am here to report back what I have found.

Recapping yesterday, here is where we currently sit for the players drafted 60 through 51:

Today, we move to the middle of the second round, examining picks 41 through 50. In today’s NBA, this area of the draft is often viewed as a place to find developmental prospects, stash players on two-way contracts, or take low-risk swings on upside. Yet there’s still value to be found here. As I worked through the history of these draft slots, one thing became clear. That wasn’t always the case.

For much of NBA history, players selected in this range often never made an NBA roster. Once upon a time, the draft stretched far beyond two rounds, and there simply weren’t enough roster spots available for everyone selected. The league was different then. There was no G League to absorb developmental talent. There wasn’t a structured pipeline for player growth. Teams drafted prospects and hoped things worked out, but many players either never received an opportunity or chose to continue their careers overseas.

That’s no longer the reality. The modern NBA has created far more avenues for player development, and as you’ll see throughout this list, there are still plenty of hidden gems to be found in the middle of the second round. In fact, one of the players we’ll discuss is, in my opinion, the most impactful second-round pick in NBA history.

So let’s get into it. Picks 50 through 41, and the best player selected at each spot in NBA Draft history.

50. Steve Kerr (1988)

Honorable Mentions:

• Larry Kenon (1973)
• Georges Niang (2016)

Suns Taken at 50:

• Steve Kerr (1988)
• Milos Babic (1990)*
• Joey Wright (1991)
• Charles Claxton (1994)
• Alton Ford (2001)
• Alec Brown (2014)

*traded to Cleveland for Stefano Rusconi

There aren’t a ton of names drafted 50th overall who truly move the needle, which made this one unbelievably easy. The greatest player ever selected at No. 50 is former Sun player and GM Steve Kerr.

Coming out of the University of Arizona, Kerr was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1988. His rookie season in Phoenix was modest, as he averaged 2.1 points per game while trying to find his footing in the NBA. The Suns ultimately traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989 for a second-round pick.

From there, Kerr bounced around the league for a few years as a role player, steadily carving out a niche for himself. Then came 1993 and a move that changed everything. Kerr joined the Chicago Bulls. What followed was one of the most successful runs any role player has ever experienced.

Over the next four seasons, Kerr played all 82 games each year for Chicago. He didn’t start a single game during that stretch, but his impact was undeniable. While he wasn’t a high-volume three-point shooter by modern standards, he was one of the most efficient shooters the league had ever seen. In 1994-95, Kerr led the NBA in three-point percentage, knocking down an absurd 52.4% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

He won three championships with the Bulls before the franchise dismantled its dynasty in 1999. Kerr then landed with the San Antonio Spurs, where the winning continued. He captured two more championships in San Antonio, bringing his total to five as a player.

When it was all said and done, Kerr played 15 seasons in the NBA, won five championships, and retired as the most accurate three-point shooter in league history. His career mark of 45.4% from beyond the arc remains one of the greatest shooting accomplishments the game has ever seen.

49. Eddie Johnson (1977)

Honorable Mentions:

• James Jones (2003)
• Haywoode Workman (1989)

Suns Taken at 49:

• Rich Jones (1968)*
• Earl Williams (1974)
• Ron Ellis (1992)
• Mark Buford (1993)

*opted to go to the ABA

Former Suns player and executive James Jones was drafted 49th overall, but he isn’t the best player ever selected at that spot. That honor belongs to Eddie Johnson. And no, not the Eddie Johnson Suns fans know and love as the longtime Phoenix Suns broadcaster, who was drafted four years later. We’re talking about Edward Lee Johnson Jr., better known as ‘Fast Eddie’.

The 6’2″ shooting guard out of Auburn was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in 1977 and quickly established himself as a productive two-way player. Johnson spent the majority of his career with Atlanta, becoming one of the better guards in the Eastern Conference during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. Johnson earned All-Star selections in both 1980 and 1981 while also receiving All-Defensive Team honors in 1979 and 1980. Over the course of a 10-year NBA career, he averaged 15.1 points per game and developed a reputation as a player who could impact the game on both ends of the floor.

There’s also a Suns connection. Johnson was the older brother of Frank Johnson, who spent parts of seven seasons with Phoenix and later served as the team’s head coach from 2002 through 2004.

On the court, Eddie Johnson’s résumé makes him a clear choice as the best player ever selected 49th overall. Unfortunately, that’s not the entire story. His life after basketball became defined by legal troubles and controversy. Over the years, Johnson was arrested and convicted on numerous charges, including burglary, battery, robbery, drug possession, assault on a police officer, and resisting arrest. It’s an unfortunate chapter that forever impacts how his career is remembered.

When evaluating the 49th pick, the basketball accomplishments are undeniable. The career that followed, however, complicates the legacy of the most accomplished player ever selected in that draft slot.

48. Marc Gasol (2007)

Honorable Mentions:

• Cedric Ceballos (1990)
• Craig Ehlo (1983)

Suns Taken at 48:

• Vann Williford (1970)*
• Dennis “Mo” Layton (1971)
• Cedric Ceballos (1990)
• Brian Davis (1992)
• Malik Hairston (2008)**
• Taylor Griffin (2009)

*opted to go to the ABA
**traded to San Antonio for Goran Dragic

Oooo, I wanted to go with Ceddy in this spot. But as I looked down the list and started comparing career accolades, it’s clear that one guy stood above the rest. Easily. Your older brother is a dominant big man, yet despite standing 6’11”, you still find yourself selected in the second round, 48th overall. That was the story of Marc Gasol.

The Lakers drafted him in 2007, but the then 23-year-old opted to remain in Spain for another season with CB Girona. It turned out to be a wise decision. Gasol won MVP honors in the Spanish League, further cementing himself as one of the best players outside of the NBA.

Then everything changed. The Lakers traded his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal that brought his older brother, Pau Gasol, to Los Angeles. It’s one of those rare trades that worked out beautifully for both organizations. The move helped open the door for multiple championships in Los Angeles. It also opened the door for a long and prosperous career in Memphis.

Gasol finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting and quickly established himself as one of the league’s most skilled centers. By his fourth season, he had earned the first of what would become three All-Star appearances with the Grizzlies. His breakthrough came in 2012-13. That season, Gasol was named Defensive Player of the Year while also earning All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Two years later, he elevated his game even further, landing on the All-NBA First Team in 2014-15.

As the years passed, Gasol became one of the defining players of the Grizzlies’ Grit and Grind era, serving as the anchor of one of the toughest teams in basketball. Eventually, Memphis traded him to the Toronto Raptors in 2019 in a deal that included Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, and Delon Wright. The move paid immediate dividends. Gasol helped Toronto capture its first NBA championship, adding a title to an already impressive résumé.

For the 48th overall pick, it’s hard to ask for much more. Gasol was a three-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, a Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Defensive Team member, and an NBA champion. The pedigree was always there. He simply needed the opportunity to prove it.

47. Paul Millsap (2006)

Honorable Mentions:

• Mo Williams (2003)
• Gerald Wilkins (1985)
• Alvin Williams (1997)

Suns Taken at 47:

• 2026 will be the Suns first ever pick at No. 47

Paul Millsap is one of those players who always seemed to be around, providing a physical presence and steady production no matter where he played. He’s also one of those players who, in my opinion, benefited from the explosion in NBA salaries that came with the new television rights deals. When he landed his massive contract in 2017, he was getting paid as much for what he had already accomplished as for what he was expected to do moving forward.

And what he accomplished prior to that payday was impressive.

Millsap was a four-time All-Star, a member of the 2007 All-Rookie Team, and an All-Defensive Team selection in 2016. Over the course of a 16-year career, he played for five different organizations and established himself as one of the most dependable power forwards of his era.

His best years came after signing with the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent in 2013. Over the next four seasons, Millsap earned four consecutive All-Star appearances while serving as one of the foundational pieces of a Hawks team that consistently won games and challenged the top teams in the Eastern Conference. During that stretch, he averaged 17.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He impacted every area of the floor. He could score. He could defend. He could rebound. He could create turnovers.

Simply put, he was a problem. Opposing teams had to account for him every night because he affected the game in so many different ways.

When his career finally came to an end, Millsap had played 16 NBA seasons, scored more than 14,000 points, and grabbed over 7,600 rebounds. Those are remarkable numbers for a player selected 47th overall. For someone drafted this late, Millsap wasn’t merely a success story. He became a star.

46. Jeff Hornacek (1986)

Honorable Mentions:

• Jerome Kersey (1984)
• Danny Green (2009)
• Norman Powell (2015)
• James Edwards (1977)

Suns Taken at 46:

• Jeff Hornacek (1986)
• Bruce Dalrymple (1987)
• Ricky Blanton (1989)
• Richard Dumas (1991)
• Gani Lawal (2010)

The 46th overall pick has produced some pretty impressive players over the years. For the Phoenix Suns, it was the draft slot that yielded both Jeff Hornacek and Richard Dumas. You could certainly make the argument that Jerome Kersey is the correct answer here. He won a championship in 1999 and enjoyed an outstanding NBA career. But not for me. I’m going with Jeff Hornacek.

Part of that is admittedly personal. Hornacek is one of the first players I remember watching as a kid when I became a Suns fan. He wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t overwhelmingly athletic. He was simply efficient. Everything he did looked under control.

Hornacek was built in the mold of the old school shooting guard, before the three-point revolution changed the sport. He could shoot it, facilitate, and make smart decisions. During his six seasons with Phoenix, he became one of the most reliable players on the roster, earning an All-Star appearance in 1992 after averaging 20.1 points per game.

That’s a pretty strong résumé for the 46th pick. He’s also one of those players who reminds me a little bit of Mikal Bridges. Not because they played the same way, but because they represent the type of player fans become attached to. The type of player you hate to lose, even when the return is a superstar. The Suns ultimately traded Hornacek to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that brought Charles Barkley to Phoenix. It was absolutely the right basketball move, but that didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye.

Hornacek would later continue his success with the Utah Jazz, helping the franchise reach the NBA Finals in both 1997 and 1998 alongside Karl Malone and John Stockton. When it was all said and done, Hornacek played 14 seasons in the NBA, averaging 14.5 points and 4.9 assists per game. He shot 40.3% from beyond the arc for his career, an impressive mark considering he averaged fewer than two three-point attempts per game during an era when teams simply didn’t prioritize that shot.

For the Suns, he was a fantastic selection out of Iowa State in the 1986 NBA Draft. And for me, he’s the best player ever selected 46th overall.

45. Bob Dandridge (1969)

Honorable Mentions:

• Antonio Davis (1990)
• Lou Williams (2005)
• Goran Dragic (2008)
• Hot Rod Williams (1985)

Suns Taken at 45:

• Ira Terrell (1976)
• Paul Williams (1983)

A couple of players who made an impact in Phoenix were drafted 45th overall, including Goran Dragic and Hot Rod Williams. But this one isn’t particularly difficult. The answer is Bob Dandridge.

The Milwaukee Bucks had themselves quite a draft in 1969. With the first overall pick, they selected Lew Alcindor out of UCLA. Then, when the fourth round arrived, they used the second pick of that round, 45th overall, to select Bob Dandridge out of Norfolk State. Not bad. Dandridge had also been selected by the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA Draft, but he chose the NBA and the Bucks. It proved to be a pretty smart decision for everyone involved.

What Milwaukee received was a player who became one of the foundational pieces of the franchise for more than a decade.

When people think about the Bucks’ 1971 championship team, they naturally remember Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Those are the names that dominate the conversation. But Dandridge was a massive contributor to that title run as well. In the NBA Finals against the Baltimore Bullets, he averaged 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, helping Milwaukee capture the championship.

Years later, he would find himself on the other side of the equation. After joining the Washington Bullets, Dandridge played a key role on the 1978 championship team that defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in seven games. He finished second on the team in scoring during that playoff run, averaging 20.4 points and 7.0 rebounds. To this day, it remains the only championship in franchise history for Washington.

Dandridge spent 13 seasons in the NBA and put together a résumé that is remarkably strong for a player selected 45th overall. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game during his career. The 6’6″ forward earned four All-Star selections, an All-NBA nod in 1979, and First Team All-Defensive honors that same season.

The final piece of recognition came in 2021, when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. For a fourth-round pick, that’s an incredible legacy. And when you’re discussing the greatest player ever selected 45th overall, Bob Dandridge stands in a class of his own.

44. Malik Rose (1996)

Honorable Mentions:

• Mike Muscala (2013)
• Brian Cardinal (2000)

Suns Taken at 44:

• Dennis Stewart (1969)
• Greg McDivitt (1970)
• Andrew Harrison (2015)*

*traded to Memphis for Jon Leuer

We go from a draft slot that produced a Hall of Famer to one that doesn’t offer a particularly impressive list of candidates. The best player ever selected 44th overall is Malik Rose. And while that might not jump off the page, Rose carved out a long and productive NBA career for himself.

Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 before being dealt to the San Antonio Spurs, Rose became one of those players every good team needs. He wasn’t a star. He wasn’t someone you built a franchise around. But he understood his role and played it well. That’s why he lasted 13 years in the NBA.

The majority of his career was spent in San Antonio, where he played eight seasons and became part of one of the most successful organizations of the era. Along the way, he helped the Spurs capture championships in both 1999 and 2003. Those title teams were built around Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and eventually Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. But Rose was one of the role players who helped make everything work.

His best individual seasons came in the early 2000s when he established himself as one of the better reserve big men in basketball. He finished fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2002 and sixth in 2003, recognition that reflected the impact he was providing off the bench.

When his career came to a close, Rose had appeared in more than 800 NBA games while averaging 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds. Those numbers won’t overwhelm anybody. But when you’re evaluating the 44th overall pick, longevity matters. Championships matter. Finding a player who can contribute to winning basketball for more than a decade matters. Malik Rose did all of those things.

43. Michael Redd (2000)

Honorable Mentions:

• Trevor Ariza (2004)
• Eric Snow (1995)
• Isaiah Hartenstein (2017)

Suns Taken at 43:

• Steve Mitchell (1973)
• Ben Davis (1996)

Hey, another guy who spent some time in Phoenix.

Michael Redd was selected 43rd overall in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, and they got themselves a hell of a player. Redd was a sniper. Over the course of his career, he shot 38.0% from beyond the arc on 4.4 attempts per game, a number that would be even more impressive if he played in today’s NBA. At his peak, he was one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, earning an All-Star selection and an All-NBA Third Team nod in 2004.

What I remember most about Redd is how quickly he could fill up the stat sheet. He was one of those players you feared when your team was playing Milwaukee because he could explode at any moment. In November 2006, he dropped 57 points on the Utah Jazz. Later that same season, he hung 52 on the Chicago Bulls. When he got hot, there wasn’t much you could do about it.

For most of his career, Redd was the face of the Bucks franchise. He spent 11 seasons in Milwaukee and developed into one of the most prolific scorers of the 2000s. Unfortunately, injuries changed everything. In 2009, Redd tore both his ACL and MCL. He worked his way back and returned the following season, only to suffer another ACL and MCL tear in 2010. At that point, the injuries had taken a significant toll on both his athleticism and availability. That’s what ultimately derailed a career that looked destined for even greater heights.

By the time he arrived in Phoenix for the final season of his career in 2011-12, he was 32 years old and no longer the player he had once been. He still averaged 8.2 points per game for the Suns, but shot only 31.8% from three, a far cry from the elite shooter who had terrorized defenses throughout his prime.

42. Stephen Jackson (1997)

Honorable Mentions:

• Zaza Pachulia (2003)
• Patrick Beverley (2009)
• Davis Bertans (2011)

Suns Taken at 42:

• Claude Terry (1972)*
• Joe Reaves (1973)
• Kimberly Belton (1980)
• Stephen Jackson (1997)**

*opted to go to the ABA
**waived before the start of the 1997 season

The 42nd overall pick is a draft slot seemingly defined by agitators. You have Zaza Pachulia, whose closeout on Kawhi Leonard became so infamous that it helped accelerate the league’s emphasis on protecting a shooter’s landing space. You have Patrick Beverley, who built an entire career around getting under opponents’ skin. And then there’s Stephen Jackson, who quite literally went into the stands during the Malice at the Palace and started fighting fans. So yes, this draft slot has a type.

Jackson’s story is an interesting one because even his draft position comes with a little controversy. Basketball Reference lists him as the 43rd overall pick, while NBA.com and Wikipedia list him as the 42nd overall selection. So for the purposes of this exercise, I’m putting him at No. 42.

Jackson was originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns, who promptly waived him. He then played internationally before returning to the NBA with the New Jersey Nets in 2000.

From there, he steadily developed into a productive player. At his peak, Jackson could do a little bit of everything. His best statistical season came in 2008-09 when he averaged 20.7 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. He was a versatile wing who could score, facilitate, defend, and provide a level of toughness every team covets.

Of course, no discussion of Jackson’s career is complete without mentioning the Malice at the Palace.

The 2004-05 Indiana Pacers looked like one of the best teams in basketball and appeared capable of making a serious championship run. Instead, the infamous brawl in Detroit changed everything. Jackson was suspended for 30 games for his role in the incident and placed on probation for a year. The event became one of the defining moments of his career. But it didn’t define his entire career.

Jackson continued playing at a high level for years afterward, ultimately spending 14 seasons in the NBA with eight different franchises. Along the way, he won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and established himself as one of the league’s toughest players. That’s probably why the Spurs loved him. He was physical. He was fearless. He was confrontational. He embraced the dirty work and never backed down from anybody.

Honestly, when you think about it, Stephen Jackson was the perfect Spur, wasn’t he?

41. Nikola Jokic (2014)

Honorable Mentions:

• Cuttino Mobley (1998)
• TR Dunn (1977)
• Jarred Vanderbilt (2018)

Suns Taken at 41:

• Phoenix has technically never drafted from this position, although Koby Brea was selected in 2025 via Golden State

We close out today with not only the best player ever drafted 41st overall, but quite possibly the greatest second-round pick in NBA history. And his career isn’t even over yet.

Nikola Jokic has already redefined what a second-round selection can become. In many ways, he’s shattered every expectation that comes with hearing a player’s name called after the first round has ended. Only two second-round picks have ever won the NBA MVP award. One is Willis Reed. The other is Nikola Jokic. The difference is that Jokic has done it three times.

Only four second-round picks have ever won Finals MVP. Willis Reed did it twice. Dennis Johnson did it once. Jalen Brunson added his name to the list this season with the New York Knicks. And then there’s Jokic, who earned Finals MVP honors in 2023 while leading the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history.

That’s merely scratching the surface of what he’s accomplished. This past season, Jokic led the NBA in total rebounds and total assists, a statistical feat that feels almost impossible for a center. He’s an eight-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA selection, a three-time MVP, an NBA champion, and a Finals MVP. And he’s only 31 years old.

What’s remarkable is that we’re still adding chapters to his story. He has played only 11 seasons in the NBA, yet he’s already forced his way into conversations about the greatest centers ever, the greatest international players ever, and eventually, perhaps, the greatest players ever. Who knows where he’ll ultimately land on those all-time lists?

What we do know is this. There has never been a better player selected 41st overall. And there may never be a better player drafted in the second round.

Some pretty impressive names in there, aren’t there? It’s a reminder that no draft pick should ever be viewed as a throwaway pick. Sure, second round selections don’t typically carry the same expectations as lottery picks or first rounders. The odds of finding a star are significantly lower. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be found.

This exercise has shown that organizations can still uncover meaningful contributors in the second round. Rotational players, starters, and in rare cases, even stars. The key is having the infrastructure to support them once they arrive. You need player development. You need patience. You need a system that gives those players an opportunity to grow and succeed. When those pieces are in place, the draft slot matters a little less. 

Talent can emerge from anywhere. And as we’ve seen throughout this portion of the countdown, there are plenty of examples of players who far exceeded the expectations attached to their draft position.

Tomorrow, we continue the journey and wrap up the second round as we explore the best players ever selected from picks 40 through 31.

The 2026 NBA season has officially ended and the New York Knicks were crowned the 2026 NBA Champions. After Game 5, Victor Wembanyama stated, “Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.”

Wemby took some flack on social media for the comment. But mathematically speaking, he was correct.

“According to ESPN Analytics, in the 4 games the Spurs lost in the NBA Finals, they had a 91% chance of winning Game 1 up 13 midway through the 3rd, 72,8 chance of winning Game 2 up 2 points with 1 minute left in the 4th, a 99.6% chance of winning Game 4 up 20 points, and a 95.4% chance of winning Game 5 up 10 points with 7:54 left in the 4th.”

Obviously, there were problems closing out games which will be a major focus next season. But in three of the four games, the Spurs had over 90% chance of winning during the second half. The Knicks did the impossible while the Spurs did the unthinkable.

FYI: I ordered Midrange Theory By Seth Partnow. It should come next week. For anyone who wants to read and discuss along. Thanks for the suggestion Montreal. I assume zsals is in?

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

Joshua Jefferson provides an instant injection of high-IQ basketball, physical rebounding, and unique frontcourt playmaking. Should the World Champion New York Knicks bite?

The Basics

• School: Iowa State
• Position: Power Forward
• Height: 6’7.75” (barefoot) | 6’9″ (listed)
• Weight: 246 lbs
• Age: 23 (Born November 21, 2003)
• 2025-26 Stats: 16.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 47.1% FG, 34.5% 3PT, 70.0% FT
• Projected Draft Range: Late first to early second round (20–35)

The Numbers

Jefferson is one of the most bizarre and productive frontcourt anomalies in recent college basketball history. He became the first player in Big 12 history to rack up 450+ points, 250+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 70+ steals, and 25+ blocks in a single season. One number to take special note of is the 4.8 assists per game. For a guy built like a linebacker, carrying a 246-pound frame with a 6’10.75″ wingspan, operating as a primary hub of an offense is rare. He posted a 28% assist rate, ranking third among all forwards in college basketball.

Even better, he maintained nearly a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio (4.8 to 2.5), so he isn’t just hurling wild passes out of double teams. Combine that with a robust 1.6 steals per game (an 8.1% steal rate as a junior), and my, my, my, what an analytics darling!

Skills That Pay the Bills

• High-Level Processing & Playmaking: Jefferson plays like a point guard trapped in a power forward’s body. He is an exceptional short-roll passer, an elbow handoff hub, and a guy who can grab a defensive rebound and lead the break himself. He drops bounce passes on a dime to cutters and processes defensive rotations a step ahead of everyone else.
• Physicality and Functional Strength: At 246 pounds with a rock-solid lower base, Jefferson embraced contact against the collegiate opposition. He carves out position inside effortlessly, converts below-the-rim hooks, and boxes out with discipline, anchoring himself for 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Defensive Event Generation: He might not be a vertical rim protector, but has very active hands. He anticipates passing lanes, strips bigs on the block, and triggers fast breaks.

Concerns

• Functional Athleticism: The combine confirmed a 27-inch standing vertical and a 33-inch max vertical. He lacks pop and has heavier feet laterally. In space, quicker NBA wings are going to test his lateral agility, and he won’t rescue anyone as a weak-side shot-blocker.
• Shooting Hesitancy: While his 3-point stroke ticked up to a respectable 34.5% on 3.1 attempts per game, the film shows a guy who frequently passes up wide-open looks to back down into a contested post-up. Scouts at the combine noted that while his mechanics look sound and tight, his confidence is streaky. A 70% free-throw clip also leaves some questions about his ultimate ceiling as a knockdown spacer.
• Age & Ceiling: Turning 24 during his rookie season, Jefferson is an older prospect.

The Knicks Fit

Think of Jefferson as a hybrid connective piece who could be an ideal bench multi-tool. If Mike Brown could deploy Jefferson with the second unit, making as a secondary facilitator from the high post or elbow. He plays with the high-IQ, physical, dive-on-the-floor toughness that we love to see. Jefferson can give you backup power forward minutes, play small-ball center in ultra-specific configurations, and hit the glass hard. At worst? He hangs out in the G-League with Westchester while adjusting his defensive footwork to the pro pace.

NBA Comparison

• Best-Case Comparison: James Johnson / Boris Diaw
• Median Outcome: Kyle Anderson (Slower-paced, highly intelligent decision-maker who fills the stat sheet without elite verticality)
• Low-End Outcome: Grant Williams without the lock-down lateral quickness

The Verdict

Drafting him at 24th seems like a stretch. But at 31st? Go for it.

Read all our draft profiles here.

Go Knicks!

We’re just a few days away from the NBA Draft, and there are multiple storylines headed into Monday.

Will AJ Dybantsa go #1? What will the Oklahoma City Thunder do with two picks in the top 20? Will one of the teams in the top 5 trade out?

But another notable storyline headed into the draft is Jayden Quaintance, who is seeing his stock continue to fall. Some mock drafts have the former Wildcat falling as low as 25th overall after once being viewed as a near-certain lottery pick.

24 players received a green-room invite for the draft, and Quaintance was notably left off the list.

Jeremy Woo from ESPN has Quaintance going 25th to the Los Angeles Lakers, and noted the questions about Quaintance’s medicals could cause teams to pass on him.

“He is unanimously viewed as a first-round talent and is drawing consideration as high as the teens, but where he ends up might be predicated on how team doctors individually view his case,” Woo wrote.

The potential is certainly there for Quaintance to come in and be a strong rim protector off the bat, with the ability to be a lob threat on the offensive end. His defensive ability and potential could be enough for a team to take a chance earlier in the first round, but it looks like Quaintance might have to wait a little bit to hear his name called if things continue at this pace.

Tweet of the Day

UK is making a sizable investment in its new AD.

Headlines

What international scouts are saying about Nikola Kusturica – KSR

A lot to like about Kusturica.

Details on J Batt’s UK Contract – Herald Leader

A lot of incentives on the table.

Zoom Diallo bringing energy, leadership – Vaughts Views

Good to see from Kentucky’s new point guard.

CFP leaders facing questions over 24-team field – ESPN

Will the SEC and Big Ten agree on a 24-team playoff?

Ronaldo and Portugal stunned in matchup with Congo – Bleacher Report

An impressive showing by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Latest on the Protect College Sports Act – Yahoo Sports

Interesting read for those paying attention to this piece of legislation.

Could we actually see LeBron as a Warrior? – CBS Sports

I think he ultimately ends up back in LA, but it’s on the table.

U.S. Open Predictions – SI

Who do you have winning?

Burrow says Bengals remind him of 2019 LSU – ESPN

Burrow is feeling confident heading into the season.

Updated NBA Mock Draft – Yahoo

Will Dybantsa or Peterson be the #1 pick?

There might still be a debate about the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The early consensus centered around BYU's AJ Dybantsa. The analytics reportedly favored Duke's Cameron Boozer. The speculation has now shifted to Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, or perhaps all three still being considered, with less than a week until the Washington Wizards are officially on the clock with the first selection of the draft.

But AI hasn't wavered in terms of the top of the 2026 draft class. Since the draft lottery was conducted last month, and the Wizards, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies wound up with the top three picks, Microsoft Copilot's AI chatbot has consistently churned out the same prospects for those first three choices when prompted by USA TODAY Sports.

The same is not true for most picks outside of the top four prospects (Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson). There was again a shift in selections made in the first AI mock draft since the conclusion of the NBA Finals, particularly in the latter half of the first half, based on the latest intel.

Here's a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, including the chatbot's reasoning for making each first-round pick:

The NBA Draft is barreling closer to us. The Cleveland Cavaliers have the 29th pick in this year’s draft. Let’s take a look at who the experts have them taking in our latest mock draft roundup.

Yahoo Sports – Sergio De Larrera

Kevin O’Connor’s latest mock draft has the Cavs opting for the 6’5” 20-year-old out of Spain. O’Connor writes:

Keon Ellis and Dean Wade will be free agents this summer, and Max Strus will be in one year. It may be time for the Cavaliers to get a wing — one with more skill — in the developmental pipeline alongside Jaylon Tyson. De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.

De Larrea played 28 league games for Valencia this past season. He averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 assists, and three rebounds per game in 18.3 minutes per outing. He did this on .443/.407/.833 shooting splits.

The question here is fit. The Cavs need more options on the wing — no one will argue with that — but they preferably need ones that are 6’7” or over. The Cavs have plenty of undersized wings that are naturally shooting guards, but can shift up to the three. They don’t have anyone whose best position is the three. Even Wade, their starting small forward in the playoffs, is best suited to play a different position.

De Larrea could be the best prospect available at this spot, but it’s fair to wonder whether this team needs another undersized wing.

ESPN – Tarris Reed Jr.

Jeremy Woo has the Cavs taking a 22, 6’11 center from UConn. Woo writes:

After making a strong case for himself by putting up three 20-plus-point games in the NCAA tournament, Reed has built momentum on the workout circuit and is trending toward the late first round. His mix of length, physical heft, rebounding instincts and offensive skill make him an appealing plug-and-play role player, and he should appeal to contending teams.

Frontcourt depth is an obvious area of need for the Cavs as they try to maximize their current window, making this an intriguing fit.

Reed averaged 14.7 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 60.7% from the field for the Huskies.

Having another big would be incredibly useful. The Cavs haven’t really had a competent third center in the Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley era. Reed could be the answer, although it’s fair to point out that he wouldn’t be the cleanest fit.

Ideally, you’d want a third big who could play alongside both Allen and Mobley. For a big to be able to do that, they would need to be able to space the floor offensively. Reed doesn’t do that. He’s taken just seven triples in 136 college games. And as a 58.2% free-throw shooter, it doesn’t seem like this is an untapped skill.

Reed is a good and talented player. He just might not be the most ideal archetype for a backup big, which is becoming a theme in this latest round of mock drafts.

Bleacher Report – Sergio de Larrea

Jonathan Wasserman also has the Cavs taking De Larrea. Wasserman writes:

Sergio de Larrea is currently producing for Valencia in the EuroLeague playoffs, which is why he couldn’t attend the combine.

He’s now put together consecutive years of accurate three-point shooting and strong playmaking rates, and is sure to draw first-round consideration.

Shooting and playmaking are things the Cavs could use. This may be the best bet from a talent perspective. However, it would be nice if the Cavs had more people on the roster between 6’7” and 6’9”.

As of now, it seems like momentum is picking up for De Larrea to be the Cavs’ selection late in the first round.

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

The NBA championship celebrations are nowhere near over, as New York Knicks will take part in a time-honored NYC tradition for the first time in franchise history.

A ticker-tape parade will be thrown in honor of the champs up downtown NYC’s iconic Canyon of Heroes, where many other championship teams have been celebrated throughout the year. It could end up being the largest in the city’s history.

Follow The Post’s live updates from the Knicks Championship parade for the latest city chaos, celeb sightings and sports reaction.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the parade‘s date shortly after Game 5’s final buzzer on Saturday. In a later press release, the mayor said, “We have dreamed of this moment for generations. This Thursday, our city will rise to the occasion.”

It’ll be sunny and slightly humid as the team makes its way up Broadway on floats (and a custom truck, in Mitchell Robinson’s case). In addition to every member of the championship team and coaching staff, the floats will also feature past Knicks icons Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Patrick Ewing.

Some celebrity row mainstays, like Spike Lee and Ben Stiller (who confirmed to Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart that he and HBO are working together on a documentary about this season), will be in attendance as well.

Following the parade, the team will receive the keys to the city from Mayor Mamdani in a ceremony at City Hall. The TV voice of the Knicks, Mike Breen, will emcee the ceremony; Alicia Keys is set to close it out with a performance of “Empire State of Mind.”

When is the NY Knicks championship parade? What time does the Knicks parade start at?

Today’s (June 18) Knicks ticker-tape championship parade is expected to begin around 10 a.m. ET.

Knicks championship parade TV channels

If you live in the New York area, you can watch coverage of the Knicks ticker-tape parade on all local news networks — CBS New York, NBC New York, FOX 5 and ABC7 New York — in addition to the Knicks’ TV home, MSG Network.

How to watch the NY Knicks championship parade for free

DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching TV live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes all of the local news and sports networks like MSG as part of its 125+ channels.

If you live outside of the New York area, you can tune in to the Knicks championship parade using the NBC New York News channel with a Peacock Premium Plus ($16.99/month) subscription.

Knicks championship parade route

The Knicks championship parade will start around Battery Park and travel about one mile north up Broadway. The parade will end at City Hall, where a ceremony will take place afterward.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

While the Knicks are on parade, Sebastian Crosa will be working to get the grade. 

Rather than lining the streets of lower Manhattan Thursday — whooping for the 2026 NBA Champions, led by Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and his favorite player, Josh Hart — the middle schooler, 12, will be one of the thousands of devastated kids and teachers stuck inside classrooms due to the statewide Regents exams. 

The ticker-tape spectacle begins at 10 a.m., with tip-off near Battery Park before moving up Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes to City Hall, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani will present the Knicks with keys to the city. 

Follow The Post’s live updates from the Knicks Championship parade for the latest city chaos, celeb sightings and sports reaction.

It’s a sight that Crosa likely won’t be able to see in person. 

“It’s upsetting because, obviously, we’ve been waiting for this moment a long time,” Crosa, a Brooklyn public school student, exclusively told The Post. “The parade is really important, and everyone should be able to experience it.”

The seventh grader, with a bleeding heart of blue and orange, launched a Change.org petition this week, imploring Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mamdani and the state Department of Education to “cancel NYC schools on June 18 to allow students, educators, and all proud New Yorkers to participate in the parade and revel in this rare and momentous occasion.”

Crosa, who told The Post he only expected to receive 100 signatures in support of his plight, has garnered over 3,100 endorsements from equally outraged basketball buffs, hoping the powers-that-be have a last-minute change of heart.  

But the tween’s formal plea — drafted mere moments after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, reclaiming the title of world champs for the first time since 1973 — comes as a long shot following Mamdani’s announcement that class, as well as the Regents, will undoubtedly be in session during the ticker-tape festivities. 

“I know that many New Yorkers have built their entire lives around this team,” Mamdani said Monday. “And for our students … I will still encourage them to be studying hard for their Regents exam.”

The standardized end-of-course tests are given to high schoolers in grades 9 through 12 as a requirement for graduation. 

And while Crosa won’t be taking the exam this year, the Knicks fanatic is expected to be in his assigned seat for a full day of learning Thursday — unless, of course, his petition causes a buzzer-beater miracle the likes of Anunoby’s breathtaking Game 4 winning score. 

“I know it might be difficult for them to cancel school [or reschedule] the tests at this point, but I figured the petition was worth a shot,” said the tenacious tyke, a self-crowned “leader” among his peers. “The whole city needs this and wants this. So somebody had to do it.”

Colleen, 47, mom to Crosa and younger brother Lucas, 10, says she’s proud her eldest boy is “fighting for what he believes in,” but “disappointed” that he and other students have to fight for their right to party in the first place. 

“This generation of kids has gone through a lot of historical events and moments that have been difficult,“ said Colleen, a clinical psychologist. “This is a historical moment of joy, unity and perseverance that they can finally celebrate.

“While I don’t think that these [parade and school scheduling] decisions were made lightly or without thoughtfulness, I am disappointed.”

She and her Knicks-loving family are not alone. 

Peeved parents and educators alike are echoing Crosa’s day-off appeal across the internet. 

“This message is for Zohran Mamdani,” began one Knicks extremist, an NYC teacher known exclusively online as @Subwayratmom, in her cyber supplication. “Zo…I feel that you, as the mayor, have the power to either cancel school, cancel Regents or move the parade. 

“We have to teach until June 26, and that’s a really long time in teacher years,” she continued. “And we’re ready to be outside.” 

Sharon, a mother whose daughter will be neck-deep in Regents testing while more than 1.25 tons of confetti fill the Big Apple skies, separately begged, “Due to this win, all the kids and adults would like to be at the parade. Reschedule the Regents, please.”

Molly Vozick-Levinson, 39, a director at a private preschool in Manhattan, isn’t bound by the do’s and don’ts of the DOE, nor are her students — some of whom are still in diapers — being forced to take state exams. 

Still, the lifelong Knicks lover tells The Post that it’s “irresponsible” for city and state officials to “tempt” students to skip the Regents by scheduling the parade on a school day. 

“Some kids might be tempted to skip their exams, because they think that they might fail anyway,” said Vozick-Levinson. “It’s a huge temptation: ‘If you skip your exams, making the wrong choice for your education, you will get to do something fun.’

“That just seems irresponsible to me,” said the administrator, admitting, however, that she plans to skip out of work early to revel in the fanfare. “I just want to breathe the same air as the New York Knicks. If I get a glimpse of at least one Knick, I’ll be so happy.”

Laverne Mickens, 53, a fourth-grade teacher and Brooklyn native, not only agrees that locals should skip out on their responsibilities, but she’s encouraging it. 

“Take state exam or see the Knicks parade — like, are you serious?” said Mickens, whose husband, Cory, will be in attendance while she cares for their disabled sons. “Skip school and call out of work — this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“The last time they won, I’d just been born 53 years ago,” Mickens, a college scholarship specialist, raved. “You don’t know if they’re going to win next year, or if this will ever happen again. 

“You better go to that parade.”

Three best big men Warriors could take at No. 11 overall pick in 2026 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA is going big again, and the Warriors have taken notice. 

Signing stretch big man Al Horford was a top priority last offseason. The Warriors then brought in all 7 feet and 2 inches of his former Boston Celtics teammate Kristaps Porzingis at the NBA trade deadline. That kind of size is something Golden State has never seen before, and it certainly enjoyed the idea of it. 

But Porzingis now is an unrestricted free agent. Horford turned 40 years old on June 3 and has a $6 million player option. Draymond Green has a much more expensive player option at $27.6 million. The Warriors also hold a $2 million team option on Quinten Post after two seasons as a former second-round pick. 

Looking to the frontcourt could be a priority for the Warriors this offseason, starting with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

These are the three best options for the Warriors to consider.

Aday Mara, C, Michigan

Might as well start as big as we can go. Literally. Mara measured in at 7-foot-3 barefoot at the combine and 260 pounds with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a 9-foot-9 standing reach. 

He then moved well for someone that big, helping answer questions about whether Mara can guard in open space at the next level. For the champions in his one season at Michigan, Mara was a shot-blocking machine, swatting 2.6 shots per game. Mara played his best during March Madness when he had five multi-block games, including two three-block games and one four-block game. 

The intriguing part of Mara’s game beyond taking up so much space defensively is his vision offensively. While his offensive game might be seen as limited right now, he’s an elite passing big man, which always is going to be music to Steve Kerr’s ears. 

Mara is one of the draft’s bigger wild cards, and he would change plenty about the Warriors. 

Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan 

Next up is someone who was a huge help to Mara in Michigan’s frontcourt. Mara is passing to Johnson in the first three clips above, either cutting, making a move in the post or soaring to slam an alley-oop. Defensively, Johnson’s relentless motor and versatility made life much easier for Mara, too. 

That’s where Johnson would immediately enhance the Warriors. He brings a winning play style and an injection of badly needed athleticism. His tape does the talking, and Johnson only helped himself at the combine. Here’s a star who has awfully similar measurements to him: Bam Adebayo. 

Can Johnson develop his offensive game like Adebayo has? Shooting 78.2 percent from the free-throw line, and going 10 of 25 (40 percent) from the 3-point line in Big Ten play, is encouraging. 

Johnson can guard all three levels right now. He had 10 rebounds in the national championship game, five on offense and five on defense, as the rest of Michigan’s starting five combined for 13 total. The growth of his offense will just be a bonus on top. 

Hannes Steinbach, C/PF, Washington

After a proven track record internationally in Germany, Steinbach helped his case as a freshman at Washington. He was extremely efficient, averaging 18.5 points per game and hauling a nation-leading 11.8 rebounds per game. He might have the strongest hands in this year’s draft. That sentence alone should make Warriors fans happy. 

Steinbach has the size to play the 4 or the 5, and has the potential to stretch the floor. He shot 34 percent from three last season but also shot 75.9 percent on free throws and projects to be able to extend his range. And he also can run the floor well for his size. 

As a passer, Steinbach isn’t Mara. As a defender, he isn’t close to Johnson. But his offense might easily outweigh both those categories, and his rebounding, especially on the offensive glass, is another reason to believe. 

Statistically, Steinbach had one of the more productive freshman seasons in recent history. He’s just 20 years old and already has pro experience, giving him youth and maturity on his side.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

When I woke up on the morning of Thursday, June 11, I was not in the best mood I’ve ever experienced. Nope. These finals games for an East Coaster with an earlier bedtime are tough, and when they go down to the wire and my heart is racing at midnight and I’m looking at maybe a 1.00 a.m. sleep time if I’m lucky. When the games end in a devastating and quite frankly borderline embarrassing loss for the team you would like to see win at the hands of the team you absolutely would not like to see win, it’s even worse.

The last few weeks being a Nets fan who lives in Brooklyn has not been the most fun I’ve ever experienced either. You know why. The city worked up into a frenzy over the other team, their merch everywhere, not a drop of news on our front for weeks other than what seemed like a nice vacation that MPJ took with the boys and vague, unverifiable and very perishable draft rumors. Yuck.

So I woke up cranky. On the phone with my girlfriend I told her I was in my “Quarterly Bad Mood”. I received texts about the Nets moving back to New Jersey, etc. I continue to get asked by people I do or don’t know very well, “who I’m rooting for”(???).

Then, amidst all this, on my commute to the office, the subway doors opened and looking right at me in the little area between the seats was a tall, older gentleman, maybe in his 60’s, proudly wearing a crisp, white flat-brimmed Brooklyn Nets cap! Mood completely flipped! So, I get off that subway and call my friend Drew who is also (albeit much more casually) a Nets fan and elatedly declare us “So Back!!.” The power of seeing someone else displaying their allegiance on the morning I was feeling so down about my team turned it all around. I kid you not I ordered a Nets cap shortly thereafter. The day had brightened. Hope was not lost. It was found again in the dank air of subway tunnel.

To be a fan of this team has not been and will never be for the faint of heart. We are cursed so uniquely with bad luck that I don’t think we have any rivals in that specific category. We aren’t the Kings, a poorly run franchise who can’t get out of their own way for anything. We don’t quite feel like the Mets, cursed with something deeper, darker, more twisted than any mortal minds can fully comprehend. We are just a franchise for whom nothing seems to go right. KD’s foot, draft lottery luck, COVID vaccination policies, Ben Simmons yips, the list goes on.

But bizarrely, against all odds, where we sit right now as I am typing this all out, I actually feel… pretty good? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudge anyone an ounce of frustration about how the last six years have gone, I am not here to preach. You can be mad that your basketball team is bad. The point of the sport is to be good. But I would argue that for me and my journey with this team, the ideal would be having a team that is good for a prolonged period of time in a way that feels exciting and sustainable. And we are slowly but surely tracking towards that place. Plus, I’m just not prone to pessimism or complaining! See again: “Quarterly Bad Mood”. And I understand why many, many, many Nets fans seem to be in a bad place right now, but may I suggest… A little bit of a step back and a deep breath to go along with it?

Let’s break this down because I feel like there are a few misconceptions about some things or different angles at which to view situations that I’d like to present, starting with…

The Five (Former) Rookies

If I hear one more basketball pundit on a podcast where they are paid to know about and talk about and opine about basketball chortle as they refer to the Nets as having drafted “Five Point Guards” I am going to combust. Egor is a playmaking wing. Traore is a point guard. Powell is a 3-and-D wing. Saraf is maybe kind of a point guard, more likely a bit of a combo guard. And for God’s sake, Wolf is a nearly 7-foot tall forward who can also pass and shoot a little bit for a guy his size. Let’s take a look at that again… Ok one…. One and a half….. Ok yeah. One and a half point guards. Got it. You could get creative with it and just make an entire lineup out of this group! You’d have to fudge some positions a bit and I’m not saying this is the Lineup of Death or anything, but:

Traore (6’4”)

Powell (6’5”)

Saraf (6’6”)

Denim (6’8”)

Wolf (6’11”)

Heck, they could all be still growing!

Would not look ridiculous just purely on paper positionally. Certainly not if a few of them are eating enough cheeseburgers this summer because three of them were born in 2006(!!) and still skinny!

Traore, Saraf, Demin and Powell ranked among the 20 youngest players in the league. And for Egor and Nolan, I saw flashes of some useful players. I think we need to remember that not a single one of these picks was like a “can’t miss top 4 pick prospect oh my god you can’t screw this one up” guy. You cannot just expect your No. 8 pick to be an All-Star in year 1. You want that guy to be a starting caliber player and as far as I can tell Egor is tracking in that direction. Some muscle, some experience, some improvement at the rim, you have yourself a starting caliber wing. The 3-point shooting last season was a revelation and if that sticks, it’s a huge plus skill for a guy that size.

The rest of them mostly profile as interesting depth players, which for guys taken in the late first round is pretty good! Do you know what Yang Hansen, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Asa Newell did last year? Not much! And you know what that is? Fine, too!

Do I believe in Ben Saraf? No. I’ll go on record right now and say if I am betting against one, it’s him. But can Traore, Powell, and Wolf all be productive depth pieces on a good basketball team in a year or two? Absolutely. And that’s all they need to be. Will they better? You have to hope so.

The 2018-19 team we all loved (and the team I was covering the most when I wrote of NetsDaily back in the day) was built on the backs of Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, D’Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen. Solid players, good players, winning players in some cases, but not All-Stars (God bless D’Angelo’s All-Star appearance that year but like, in the perennial sense of the word).

Also, what is the problem with taking five rookies? It gets scoffed at and never ever actually dissected by some of these basketball analysts but I would love to hear… Why is that bad? This team needs players. More importantly, it needs young players who can develop. They had 5 picks. They used them and three other rooks a total of an NBA record 6,400 minutes last season. I guess the argument could be they could have traded one of the picks? But traded it for… what?… another pick? In the future? Spoiler alert for later but, we already have those. Also could we have? You don’t know what was on the table! I like that we took five rookies, take the swings! You need the swings! Historically we have been lacking in swings!

If one of these guys is a starter and three of them are productive bench players, I truly am happy and that can make up the bones of a well-rounded NBA roster. Next year will be instructive, and we’ll see what happens, but for the most part I feel good about where the rookies are right now.

The Sixth Pick

I turned my phone off and went on a walk during the Draft Lottery. My stomach hurt the whole time, I knew deep in my bones something bad was going to occur. But wow did it SUCK to turn that phone back on and see where we landed. To be honest I wasn’t even 100% sure we could fall that far. It sucks, again I am here to agree that falling that far sucks, but…

In my life as a Nets fan, which goes back to 2002 but really in an earnest, conscious way starts in 2009 (auspicious, I know), I and we have had so few young prospects to really sink our teeth into. Brook Lopez was one and he is a beloved Nets legend. We had Derrick Favors for about 28 minutes. There was a brief moment where I really honestly had to believe in MarShon Brooks. We’ve had late-round hits, we’ve had misses, but as I mentioned earlier the draft is unpredictable and anyone outside of the top picks you just have to try to find a diamond in the rough and hope for the best.

At No. 6 … it hits a little bit different. It’s actually an incredibly unenviable spot for Sean Marks. He has to nail it. There’s a cluster of guards, a few wildcards, trade-down options, but no matter what happens nothing is going to fall into his lap. The GM’s in the top of this draft barely have to do anything, just take the guy the other ones didn’t. No one would bat an eye if Boozer goes second or fourth. Peterson drops to No. 3? Ok, sure, no bad options! Wilson would be a steal at No. 4 and a great pick at 3!

But regardless of what we do and who we choose, we will be getting a guy with the highest pick we’ve had since God knows when. I mean it’s since 2010 and Derrick Favors, but I was 14 years old when that happened. I’m literally 30 years old now. It’s not that we’ve forgotten what it’s like to root for a high-potential young guy like that, I don’t think we even know how! Genuinely! Like I don’t think we have the collective experience to understand what that player’s journey might look like and how to act and respond accordingly to it. We have to brush up.

But if we nail it, and we take someone like, I don’t know, Acuff, and he starts to show real flashes of star potential, it is going to be so much fun. And then, all of a sudden, you’re developing a young core with some real wind in their sails. Which brings me to…

Cap Space/Draft Picks/Maneuverability

Lumping all of these together because they all combine to do whatever the opposite of making my stomach hurt is. My heart rate slows down when I pull up Real GM’s Future Nets Draft Picks page.

I, like many of you reading this I’m sure, were here for the Dark Times. No notable players, no picks, no cap space, no hope. It was bad. Really bad. As bad as it can possibly get, essentially. And the scary thing is, this could refer to a couple of different periods in recent memory.

Where we are now is so, so far away from the light. Even if we have to swap our pick next year we have the Knicks pick and the presumably swapped Houston pick. The year after that we have the most incredibly convoluted Real GM pick swap explanation I have ever seen but ultimately netting out in our favor as far as I can tell (go ahead and read it and report back if you have a law degree). We have the Denver pick eventually, some more Knick picks, one million second rounders, one or two others shoved in there somewhere… It’s a lot. And that is a very good thing. And more valuable than ever given the new Draft Lottery rules. 

We also have cap space. Beautiful, gorgeous cap space. The second-most in the league right now according to Spotrac and a couple of pretty easy ways to create more. Marks could use that to throw a max at Austin Reaves, take on a bad contract for more draft equity, or just use it to acquire some solid players and raise the floor of what this team can do in the immediate future… or maybe a secret fourth option I haven’t thought of yet. Point being, we have options, options, options.

Did you hear that? Options! We have maneuverability! We are RICH with both money and possibilities! We are NOT the 2016 Nets. Hell, we aren’t even the 2023 Nets. Is this going to be a good basketball team next year? No!! But we are on our way!

This takes time and patience and a huge deal of effort. Not to mention luck where, again, we are fighting an uphill battle. Not every team has Victor Wemby, Stephen Castle, and Dylan Harper fall into their laps during a rebuild…

Then, of course, there’s Jordi Fernandez and his merry band of nine — count ‘em — nine assistants. Nobody has a bad word to say about him, most of all his players. For the first time since he was hired in April 2024, his marching orders are to win games, not “play the probabilities,” a nice euphemism for tanking. Moreover, Joe Tsai had his contract and those of his assistants ripped up and extended, each with a raise as well.

On Friday night, after spending a beautiful evening having drinks with friends not far from the Barclays Center, I stopped by my bodega for a snack. The guy behind the grill was, as he always is, wearing a New Jersey Nets cap. Cool guy. I guarantee someone reading this knows where I’m referring to but I’ll dox myself for the sake of the story, who cares.

After I ordered my sandwich I told him “Hey, love your hat!” which to be clear, I have 100% said before. But he works in a bodega and serves God knows how many people a day so he has absolutely no idea who I am. He gave me a thumbs up, I went to peruse the drinks (I got a Vanilla Coke) and when he handed me my sandwich both him and the other guy who is always there said with big smiles “Here you go Nets fan!” Another sign!

I emailed NetsDaily after getting off that subway on Thursday, asking if I could write this piece and I kid you not me and a guy wearing a KEVIN GARNETT Nets jersey high-fived on Thursday evening. Yep, I figured, Nets universe is healing despite what happened on the other side of the East River.

Other teams might have such hallowed celebrities as A Couple of the Haim Sisters, Bobby Bacala, and Donald J. Trump showing up to their games. There have been more bandwagon fans created in the last two weeks than ever previously considered possible. You may be getting asked yourself who you’ve been rooting for in the NBA finals despite a lifelong, loud, and proud affiliation with the Nets. Again, it’s been a rough few weeks…

So for those of us still here, clicking on NetsDaily, reading to the end of this gratuitously long essay, sifting through the swap rights in 2028, looking up Egor’s stats for the 897th time, that logo will continue to really mean something. The hat means something, the jersey and the t-shirt… More likely than not those are your honest to God fellow Nets fans. No one in their right mind would spend money on the merch for any other reason right now.

I was in Hong Kong in April and witnessed with my own two human eyes a man wearing a crisp 2003 Eastern Conference Finals Champions T-shirt, if only I knew how to speak Cantonese… We are everywhere, don’t let anyone ever tell you we aren’t. (China, for reasons quite clear, is a special case, it’s not unique.)

We will be back, it’s a matter of when, not if. And I refuse to let anyone put my team down except for myself when I’m feeling a bit cranky. In the meantime, the other guys can enjoy their damn parade and some of my fellow Nets fans will no doubt call me pollyannish. Meh!

And you know what else: in the celebrity sweepstakes, I’ll take Ethan Hawke every day of the damn week, Thursdays included.

For the last few days, Jazz fans have been hearing rumor after rumor about the contract negotiations between Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz. In multiple reports, we heard different updates on how the negotiations had left Kessler and his representation frustrated. They expected more than a five-year, $140M offer. Those things are still likely true, but the story took on a life of its own, and it was reaching a point where Jazz fans were becoming frustrated. It was a valid frustration too. Kessler is a valuable player and was supposedly going to be a part of the core going forward. Now, it felt like Kessler wasn’t as interested in that.

Today, Kessler put some of those worries to rest with a timely Instagram post.

From Kessler:

I’ve seen what’s being said, and I want it to be clear that I have always wanted to be here – I love this city, these fans, my teammates, my coaches – that’s real to me. You don’t grow roots where you don’t want to be

It’s the perfect message from Kessler to assuage Jazz fans who were getting frustrated. Kessler has been a big part of the current Jazz roster and was considered an important, maybe even vital, part of the future.

This has to be a little frustrating to Kessler, who was probably aware that the situation could get tough, but I doubt he wanted it to get to the point where fans would turn on him like what was happening. It very well might have been all his agents doing the negotiating and losing control of the situation. Now, Kessler has taken control of it, and it will likely get the fans and public perception off his back while negotiations continue. It’s not clear how long the negotiations will last, but it is nice to know that Kessler wants to be part of the future. A future that is looking very bright.

The Big Apple is ready for a big celebration.

The New York Knickswon their first NBA Finals in 53 years when they beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 on Saturday, June 13.

It is their first time hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy since 1973 and the city is preparing for a party fitting of the occasion. MVP Jalen Brunson and his teammates will celebrate with the city at the Knicks' championship parade on Thursday, June 18.

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike is right on the border of being picked in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Ike is currently ranked as the No. 64 best available prospect, according to ESPN.

Even if he ends up going undrafted, that doesn’t mean the Aurora, Colorado native can’t find his way to making the league down the road. The best way to do that is by being signed on a two-way contract, splitting his time with a big club and its G League squad.

The 24-year-old has been 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 also grabbed 7.5 rebounds per game and 31 double-doubles across that span.

As a 6-9, 250-pound leftie, he’s a tad bit undersized for the center position at the next level. Ike, who does have a 7-5 wingspan and 9-2 standing reach, will look to play a sort of throwback, brute-strength power forward position primarily.

The way that he improved his ability to stretch out the floor and controlled his personal anger after frustrating foul calls that didn’t go his way was quite noticeable throughout his final collegiate campaign at Gonzaga. Nine reported NBA franchises took notice as well this offseason while bringing him in for workouts leading up to next week’s draft.

• Boston Celtics

• Orlando Magic

• Atlanta Hawks

• Minnesota Timberwolves

• Charlotte Hornets

• Oklahoma City Thunder

• Detroit Pistons

• Los Angeles Lakers

• Sacramento Kings

Ike mentioned in his post-workout interview with the Sacramento Kings that he has visited 11 total teams, all looking into taking a chance.

Few has had at least one alum drafted in four of the last five years. Can Ike make it five of the last six? Even if he fails to do so, recent Zags have found major success after grinding their way through the G League. 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.

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

Trae Young staying in Washington for too long isn’t a sure thing.

The former Hawks guard has declined his $48.97 million player option to become a free agent, according to Andscape’s Marc Spears. It cannot be officially announced until Monday.

Washington is still seen as the leader to sign the point guard even as multiple teams are expected to show interest, according to ESPN. Young expected max-contract interest from his suitors, Spears reported.

Young is most notably known for his time with the Hawks, the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2018. The guard spent eight years with the franchise and led the Hawks during three playoff runs.

The furthest the team went was the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, where they eventually lost to the championship-winning Milwaukee Bucks. Young became a Madison Square Garden villians during that run as the Hawks needed just five games to beat the Knicks in the first round.

In the 2024-2025 season, Young led the NBA, averaging 11.6 assists per game. But that season was his last full one in Atlanta. When the 2025 season came around, the guard sprained his right MCL in the fall and missed 22 games.

He averaged only 19.3 points per game, his second-lowest mark other than his rookie season. That led to the Hawks trading him to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. He played just five games for Washington because of injuries.

The deal worked out for both teams: Washington grabbed a star player to help in their rebuild, while the Hawks still made the playoffs before losing to the Knicks in the first round.

But now Washington has no guarantee of keeping Young. The Wizards also have another aging star in Anthony Davis, which could lead to a quick rebuild with Washington owning the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Wizrds could land a star like BYU forward AJ Dybansta or Kansas wing Darryn Peterson to join other promising youngsters, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson.

Free agency negotiations in the NBA begin on June 30.