Category: NBA

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Final mock draft roundup highlights several prospects linked to the Warriors at No. 11 ahead of tonight’s NBA Draft.
• ESPN’s Marc Spears explains how the Warriors can end up potentially trading for Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III. 
• Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

The NBA Draft is finally here, with the marquee offseason event set to take place Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. PT on ABC and ESPN. The Golden State Warriors hold the No. 11 overall pick, and after weeks of pre-draft workouts, rumors, and speculation, it’s finally time to find out which prospect will officially be headed to the Bay Area.

But before commissioner Adam Silver approaches the podium, here’s one final mock draft roundup to get a sense of who experts believe the Warriors will select:

• The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie: Brayden Burries, Arizona, Guard
• ESPN’s Jeremy Woo: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
• NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Forward
• The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
• Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor: Karim Lopez, New Zealand, Forward
• SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
• ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel: Brayden Burries, Arizona, Guard
• Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Forward
• The Sporting News’ Stephen Noh: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
• CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
• USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky: Karim Lopez, New Zealand, Forward
• Tankathon: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Forward

Of all the potential names listed, Arizona’s Brayden Burries would be the most intriguing fit for the Warriors. He checks several boxes for Golden State as a big guard who can shoot, defend, and thrive playing off Stephen Curry’s gravity. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Burries brings much-needed size and physicality to the backcourt while also offering the type of two-way upside that could help the Warriors both immediately and in the years to come.

“The chance for me to come here and play with Curry … I'd be honored.”

After his Warriors workout, Brayden Burries says he would love to play with Steph Curry. pic.twitter.com/GGjnjEjf5v

— Joseph Dycus (@joseph_dycus) June 18, 2026

If Burries does not fall outside of the top 10, Michigan’s trio of Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson would also be solid fallback options. Ideally, the Warriors could trade down and acquire an additional first-round pick from a team such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Oklahoma City Thunder, allowing them to select one of the Michigan frontcourt players while also adding a guard like Alabama’s Labaron Philon.

Regardless of who is selected, the wait is finally over. The Warriors will officially be on the clock, and by the end of the night, they should be welcoming at least one new addition to their roster.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, June 23rd:

Warriors News:

NBA mock draft 2026: Real drama starts at No. 5 with the LA Clippers | The Athletic

Burries worked out with Golden State last week and is seen as a potential fit with the Warriors as a perimeter creator who can help take some of the burden off Stephen Curry as an offensive driver, while also fitting in nicely on defense as a stout, switchable guard.

This would be a home run for the Warriors if he fell to No. 11. But I wonder if there would be some synergy to a team, even including the Warriors, moving up to No. 9 still to get him if Dallas does decide to trade down. A number of teams in this range of the draft would love to have a two-way guard like this who can dribble, pass, shoot and defend.

What they’re saying about five frontcourt Warriors prospects in 2026 NBA Draft | NBC Sports Bay Area

Comment: “I know (the Warriors) liked what they saw in his workout. He’s not going to take you to the promised land, but he’ll give you a lot of things that will help you get there.”

Comment 2: “He’s a plug-and-play guy. He does everything. He can initiate offense, shoot threes and post up. He’ll adapt to the NBA pretty quickly. (The Warriors) need help on the wings. If Yaxel is there and (the Warriors) don’t take him, I’d wonder why.”

The Warriors’ Draft Plan Is Becoming Clear — Marc Spears

NBA News:

Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to Heat for haul of players, picks | ESPN

The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in Tuesday’s NBA draft), one pick swap and one second-round pick, sources told ESPN.

The Heat are sending to Milwaukee unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033 along with No. 13, a pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-rounder, according to sources.

The trade does not include any additional teams — it is a one-to-one move, sources said — but both the Heat and the Bucks will execute the deal July 6, which leaves the framework open to see whether there are opportunities to expand.

Three-team trade sends Nic Claxton to the Bulls, Julius Randle to the Nets, and draft compensation to the Timberwolves

Just in: Minnesota is sending Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. The Timberwolves will acquire Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28. pic.twitter.com/TvADMMNDlg

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors fans believe the team should not trade the No. 11 pick in the NBA Draft

With those long odds, it makes sense why many fans appear to prefer a more measured approach. The No. 11 pick gives the Warriors an opportunity to add an inexpensive young player to a roster that badly needs an injection of youth, athleticism, and long-term upside. In a draft class widely regarded as one of the deepest in recent years, holding onto the selection may ultimately prove more valuable than chasing another short-term move.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

NBA teams are sniffing around the league’s next disgruntled star.

Anthony Edwards, the enigmatic Minnesota Timberwolves forward, could be the next significant piece to request a trade from his current team now that Giannis Antetokounmpo was dealt in a blockbuster to the Miami Heat.

Just minutes before the Antetokounmpo trade was completed, the Timberwolves traded Julius Randle and their No. 28 pick to the Nets in exchange for the No. 33 pick in a salary dump that shows Randle was a negative asset on the open market.

“My question is: What’s Ant Edwards thinking?” ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst said on the “Hoop Collective Podcast.”

“If you were to say who’s next after Giannis? We would have said Ant. And that [the Randle trade] happened at the exact same time as the Giannis trade. It’s fascinating.”

“The NBA vultures are swirling around Ant in anticipation of him potentially becoming the next superstar who’s available in the trade market,” Tim McMahon responded.

Windhorst added that Edwards has been annoyed with the team since it traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in return for Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who is also out with a torn Achilles.

“Ant has really been frustrated since Towns got traded, just about how he gets double-teamed,” Windhorst said. “They have to do something this offseason about addressing the Ant double-team situation, especially knowing you may not have DiVincenzo.”

Randle scored 21.1 points per game last season, though his 6.7 rebounds per game marked a career low.

Meanwhile, Towns just played a huge role in the Knicks winning their first NBA championship in 53 years — and has been a trusted complementary star for Jalen Brunson.

“I don’t think Ant was the biggest Julius Randle fan,” Windhorst said. “And I don’t think [the issue is] Randle being traded. It’s Randle being traded as part of a salary dump. I don’t think that Ant was like, ‘No, no, don’t trade Julius, never.’ Because there was some significant disconnect between those players by the end of the season.”

Windhorst added that the Timberwolves’ President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, appears to be in the last year of his contract and that Minnesota wants to re-sign him.

The apparent provocation is that Connelly hasn’t re-upped his deal for fear that Edwards will request a trade in the near future, and Connelly does not want to be the one to trade him.

“As far as I know, Tim Connelly is in the last year of his contract. And I don’t think it’s because the Wolves don’t want to extend him,” Windhorst said. “I think the Wolves do want to extend him. So process that however you want to process that. Keep that in mind as we go forward with Ant Edwards.”

There’s a surprising amount to cover on the podcast today in the depths of summer. That’s because of the huge news that Dusty May is leaving Michigan and heading to the NBA and quite frankly I don’t blame him. I talk to Ryan about the reasons why I would rather be an NBA coach than a college coach right now and I don’t think you’ll be too surprised to hear them. Then, we look at the chances that Braden Smith gets drafted in the first or second round of the NBA Draft that is Tuesday (today) and Wednesday. Smith finds himself on a lot of NBA mock draft boards and is hoping to find a sticking place in the NBA. Perhaps he will be reunited with Zach Edey? That would make for some fun basketball.

Then, we continue our look at the 2026-2027 men’s basketball roster and focus on incoming sharpshooter Jacob Webber.

The day has arrived.

No more mock drafts and, soon enough, we’ll know exactly how Mike Gansey and the Sixers used the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

I’ve changed my mind so much over the last few weeks, but now that the day is here, I have it narrowed down to five players who I think would be the best realistic fits for the Sixers at 22. So, no trade-ups for [insert your favorite Michigan frontcourt player]. Let’s dive in.

Dailyn Swain, Wing, Texas

It’s hard to imagine Swain falls to 22, but several mocks have him slipping into the Sixers’ range. Many draft experts consider Swain a lottery-level talent because of his ability as a shot creator at 6-foot-7. As we saw in the playoffs, the Sixers could absolutely use more pure bucket-getters and serious help on the wing. With three years of college experience, it’s not crazy to think Swain could help anchor bench lineups as a rookie. Defensively, Swain should be solid-to-good at the next level thanks to his 6-foot-10 wingspan and athleticism.

The biggest knock on Swain — and the biggest reason he could be available — is his jumper. He struggled mightily from deep in his first two seasons at Xavier before shooting a respectable 34.4% this past season. His touch inside the arc and 81.5% mark from the free throw line are positive indicators. Where Swain struggled most was shooting catch-and-shoot triples, with his release being a bit long and slow. If he can work out those kinks, his ceiling is high.

Check out Will Rucker’s draft profile on Swain and why he believes the former Longhorn has star potential.

Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara

Graves is a tricky player to project. He’s got a Swiss Army Knife skillset offensively, was an impact off-ball defender last season and has ideal power forward size. You could easily see him sliding in at the four for the Sixers with his ability to rebound and shoot. He could even potentially be used as a five in small-ball lineups.

But the level of competition and Graves’ lack of high-end athleticism make me a little nervous. He also found himself in foul trouble an awful lot. Still, that point forward archetype is intriguing, especially for the post-Joel Embiid era. If he’s there at 22, I’d be willing to take a bet on him.

Check out Harrison Grimm’s draft profile on Graves and why Graves was an analytics darling at Santa Clara last season.

Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford

The Sixers can’t take another small guard!

Right, because the Knicks really struggled with Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado. There’s no way it could work!

In all seriousness, if Okorie is the best player on the board (and he very well could be!), the Sixers should take him. He’s a far different player than Jared McCain. He’s longer, more athletic and is an elite ball-handler who lives in the paint. While he doesn’t project to be an all-world defender, he should be able to hold his own with a 6-foot-8 wingspan and a sturdy 186-pound frame.

If Quentin Grimes walks, the Sixers will need a reliable third guard off the bench. Okorie should be able to have a role as a rookie. He shoots it well enough (35.4% on high volume and mostly pull-ups) and should be skilled and strong enough to take on NBA defenders. In this league, shot-creation is at a premium. Okorie did so at an elite level at Stanford.

Rucker believes Okorie has a chance to be special, even likening the Sixers potentially taking him at 22 to the franchise selecting Maxey 21st overall in 2020.

Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky

Quaintance is 18 years old, has All-Defensive Team potential, has flashes offensively and might even be able to play a little power forward. Sounds perfect, right? In a vacuum, Quaintance seems like a dream fit for the Sixers. It’s all going to come down to the medicals for the Kentucky big man. As a 17-year-old playing at Arizona State, he tore his ACL. He didn’t see the court much in 2025-26 because of lingering issues.

There was a point where people believed Quaintance could be a top-five pick — that’s the talent level we’re talking about here. If the medical reports are bad enough to have him dropping him down into the 20s, it’s a pretty big red flag. I wouldn’t blame Gansey and the front office either way. Gambling on a player with this potential is bold, but if the medicals look that rough, you can understand why they’d pass.

Rucker broke down Quaintance’s game and what makes him a tantalizing prospect.

Zuby Ejiofor, PF/C, St. John’s

Full disclosure: Ejiofor might have been my favorite player to watch in college basketball this past season. He’s tough, physical, athletic, unselfish, has a ridiculous motor and is super versatile. Players like that who stand at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan don’t grow on trees. The dude is just a winning basketball player.

The obvious concerns are that he’s a tweener and his shooting might dictate how good of a pro he ultimately becomes. For the Sixers, his combo big versatility could be a great asset. Is 22 a bit rich? Maybe, but he’s one hell of a player and a lot of fun to watch.

Grimm explained why he believes Ejiofor should be in play for the Sixers at 22.

Honorable mentions

Arizona’s Koa Peat, Houston’s Chris Cenac, Jr., Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson and UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. interest me to varying degrees.

Peat’s skillset as a bruising, athletic power forward is an ideal fit for the Sixers, but I have serious concerns about his jumper. He has a floor as a junkyard dog forward, willing to do all the little things, but I’m not sure his ceiling is super high without a better shot.

Cenac is intriguing because of his size, skill and ability to rebound. It’s a bit concerning that he plays like a guard in a pure center’s body offensively. He also seemed to struggle processing things at times. Was that just inexperience or a sign of a bigger issue? Cenac is going to need plenty of seasoning at the next level.

Jefferson was awesome at Iowa State. He’s sort of a lesser version of Graves, but is an even better passer. The biggest knocks on Jefferson are going to be his age (23) and athletic ability. He was one of the poorest testers at the combine, but the production this past season is hard to ignore.

For Reed, 22 might just be a little rich, but there definitely should be interest for a Sixers team that’s repeatedly struck out on the backup center position. There’s nothing super special about Reed — he’s just a good big man. He’ll set good screens, roll hard, protect the rim, hit the glass and even has decent footwork in the post to go get his own bucket from time to time. For the Sixers, that type of steady play from a Joel Embiid backup would be nice.

Dear 2025-26 Knicks, 

With the NBA draft hours away, the championship parade over, and the memorable and clinching game 5 over a week in our review mirror, it felt like the perfect time to pen (electronically) a letter to you.

Man, what a ride it’s been. For some the ride has been just a few weeks long. So many around the world joined to root for the Knicks at different points during the playoffs because they wanted to see their partner, family, friends, and or neighbors happy. And you captured their hearts as their fandom quickly evolved from that. It went from clueless bystanders to fans that witnessed the on-court dominance and the chemistry and characters that made this team so likeable. 

For others, that journey has taken place over years. They watched Kristaps Porzingis become the beacon of hope for a franchise and a city that was starving for something to believe in. And then they sat there and watched as his injury and eventual trade took all of that away in what felt like a matter of days.

And for many, it’s the last decades. Generations of embarrassing ineptitude, directionless leaders, heartbreaking losses, and foolishly convincing ourselves that the impossible was actually possible. 

Regardless of how long the journey has been, though, it’s led us to you, this team, and this season. A team that was so relatable because of the way you carried yourselves and embodied the city. Like Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at the championship parade just last week, you not only won in New York City, you won like New York City. The 25-26 Knicks had their blemishes. You guys weren’t perfect. There was the 2-9 stretch during the cold and dark days of the New York winter. There were games two and three against the Hawks. Jalen Brunson, and even in your wins, there were slow starts, and plenty of stretches that made fans want to pull their hair out. But that made you guys oddly easy to root for and easy to love, kind of like a family member. 

Sure, you guys annoyed us at times. Many times, actually. But amidst the very clear imperfection, there was a group of guys that made it their ultimate goal to win in and for the city. You guys sacrificed. You guys trusted and believed in each other. You guys became more than the sum of your parts. And most importantly, you guys always came through. 

And you gave us THE season. A season to remember. A season to talk about for ages. A season that many can die happily knowing they got to witness and experience. And all of the trauma from the past and the frustrations from earlier were part of a journey we can now look back at and smile at. Because you guys, through balanced offense, intense defense, unrelenting will, and dramatic comebacks, rewarded us for years of patience and loyalty with the long coveted Larry O’Brien trophy

What’s interesting, though, is that for other championships I’ve witnessed, the main thing that comes to the top of my mind is the trophy itself and maybe the championship game(s). But with this one, it’s so much more than that. Media outlets will measure this championship with the usual metrics. They’ll talk about the net rating, the point differential, and the records of the teams you’ve beaten. And all of those things are nice to recognize. But for so many Knicks fans, this championship will be measured in memories. This triumph is that much sweeter because of the memories of fathers and mothers watching with their kids, because of the fans who wiped away tears after the Reggie Miller shot and the Tyrese Haliburton shot, because of the time spent believing in Michael Sweeney, Felton Spencer, Clarence Weatherspoon, Eddie House, Andy Rautins, Sergio Rodriguez, Moochie Norris, and because of everything that you guys went through. 

Jalen getting overlooked. KAT losing his mother and so many other family members to COVID. OG losing both his parents and then not being able to play in the Finals when he was a Raptor. Mikal watching his 2-0 lead to Milwaukee slip through his fingers. Josh being traded multiple times. Mitch battling back from multiple injuries. 

They all sucked in the moment. It hurt. But all of the heartbreak, setbacks, and doubters also made watching you guys lift the trophy that much sweeter. I’ve never wanted a championship more for any group of players.

To Jalen, the overlooked, All-NBA silent assassin and the savior of not just a franchise but a city, scratch that, entire state. To KAT, the selfless, continuously evolving big man, who proves on a nightly basis that being an elite person matters just as much as being an elite player. To OG and Mikal, the wingstop duo that continued to do the dirty work and made the team function the way it needed to. To Josh, the heart and soul of the team. To Mitch, Deuce, Landry, Jose and the bench unit that always had at least one guy ready to change the game. To Mike Brown, the head coach who came in under almost impossible circumstances, yet managed to take the team over the top with his humility, willingness to change, and collaborative attitude. Thank you.

Thank you for the countless unseen hours in hot, humid gyms in the summer. Thank you for never giving up. Thank you for a lifetime of unforgettable memories during an unforgettable year. And thank you for bringing us a feeling we had been chasing for half a century, and thought we may never get to experience. 

Here’s a toast to you, a team that ended a 53-year drought and will forever be etched into history. 

It is finally here. Draft day, the day in which franchises hitch their hopes to the prospect of a prospect prospering under their colors. And while I still don’t like that the NBA Draft has become a two-night event, that doesn’t mean it comes without intrigue for the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns currently hold the 47th overall pick and aren’t scheduled to make their selection until tomorrow night. But given the aggressiveness we’ve seen from the organization in recent drafts under the direction of Brian Gregory, no night is safe. If Phoenix somehow finds a way into the late first round, I wouldn’t be surprised. That’s part of what makes tonight interesting. The Suns may not be scheduled to participate, but that doesn’t mean they won’t.

So what should they ultimately do?

It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves for the better part of two months. We’ve tried to balance need versus talent, knowing that whoever is drafted isn’t expected to make an immediate impact. That’s reserved for teams at the top of the lottery that are desperate for instant contributors. For Phoenix, this selection is more about depth and development.

What would I like them to do? I see two paths.

If they stay at 47, I think Jaden Bradley is the move. He would likely be a two-way contract player, leaving an open roster spot on the big league club and allowing the Suns to maintain both flexibility and cost control. That doesn’t mean he isn’t someone who could eventually impact the team.

He’s the type of guard I find myself liking more the longer I watch him. He plays fearlessly, gets into the paint, finishes through traffic, and displays many of the traits modern combo guards need to survive offensively. What stands out most is the combination of pace, toughness, and playmaking. He’s a really good distributor, especially when navigating traffic, and he has a natural willingness to attack defenders.

Bradley also has sneaky athleticism and creates separation in ways that look very similar to what many successful smaller guards do at higher levels. I see a little Brunson in him. He knows how to touch the paint and still create separation.

Defensively, he’s probably never going to wow anyone, and he still needs to improve fighting through screens. As a playmaker, there’s room to grow when it comes to seeing the entire floor. But the shooting numbers are encouraging, the jumper looks smooth, and there’s enough skill here that if developed properly, he can become a very useful NBA guard.

At minimum, he feels like an ideal two-way contract candidate with a pathway toward becoming a rotation player. At maximum, he could become the backup point guard to Collin Gillespie two years from now if the Jalen Green experiment ultimately runs its course.

But what if the Suns move up?

I don’t know what it would take to get there. With multiple teams holding multiple picks, including the Knicks, Kings, and Grizzlies, there’s certainly opportunity for movement. If Phoenix can find its way into the late first round or early second round, I’d love to see them draft Zuby Ejiofor.

If you’ve been reading along this offseason, you know this is the guy I love most. When I wrote my article outlining how to fix the Suns from start to finish, the plan involved trading Royce O’Neale and a pick to Memphis for Taylor Hendricks and an earlier draft selection. The reason was simple. I wanted a shot at Zuby.

Why?

Because he embodies everything the Suns claim to value when it comes to player traits. He brings qualities that directly contribute to winning basketball. He’s technically sound, attacks the glass, plays aggressively, and consistently makes the kinds of plays coaches love. What stands out most is the motor. He plays with heart, desire, and toughness every possession. He’s the kind of player who embraces physicality and competes with an energy that can change the feel of a game.

Simply put, he’s a motherfucker in all the right ways. When I watch him, I think back to my pre-draft lover affair with Obi Toppin in 2020. This is Temu Toppin, and I’m here for it.

The shooting still needs work, and he may not be the cleanest fit in Phoenix. But considering where he’s projected to be drafted, the value is incredibly appealing. You could bring him off the bench, play him at the small forward spot, and suddenly become bigger, more athletic, and tougher as a team. Players with his mindset and willingness to do the dirty work are always valuable.

Yes, lineups featuring him and Oso Ighodaro would be interesting. That might not be something you seriously explore until next season or even the season after that. And who knows where the Suns will be by then.

So now that we’ve arrived at draft day, those are the two paths I’d prefer to see Phoenix take. There are plenty of prospect names out there. There are plenty of paths available.

That’s the beauty of draft night. Months of scouting reports, mock drafts, workout rumors, and thought exercises all give way to a few decisions that can alter the direction of a franchise. Maybe the Suns stay patient and take a developmental swing at 47. Maybe Brian Gregory gets aggressive and moves up the board again. Either way, the philosophy remains the same: find players who fit the culture, embrace the work, and help build whatever comes next.

LAS VEGAS — Aces coach Becky Hammon sees no reason to apologize for her take that 2026 NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson wasn’t a “1A” star. 

But Hammon did acknowledge Tuesday that Brunson showed “he was that 1A dude” as he led the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years.

“Jalen, all he did was prove history wrong, he proves he’s an outlier,” Hammon said after the Aces’ shootaround. “So you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas, and I thought he played brilliantly, especially down the stretch.

“I mean, he was that 1A dude,” Hammon continued. “But apologize, I’m never gonna apologize for having an opinion. That’s what ESPN pays me for.” 

Hammon infamously said in 2023 that the 6-foot-2 Brunson was too small to be the lead star on a championship team.

“If your best player is small, you’re not winning,” Hammon said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” back then. 

When the Knicks got on a roll during the playoffs, Hammon doubled down on her stance. 

“I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said,” Hammon said in May. “I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago, I stand by it. There’s no air to be cleared. I said what I said. 

“(If) he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong. Good for him.” 

Brunson cemented himself as one of the Knicks’ best players in franchise history.

Hammon would argue that he’s the best.

“Let me just piss off Knicks fans again and say, I think he’s the greatest Knick ever,” she said. “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.”

For nearly four decades, Ice Cube has helped shape Los Angeles culture.

From helping launch N.W.A. and putting South Central Los Angeles on the global map through music, to starring in iconic films like Boyz n the Hood and becoming a fixture in the city’s sports scene, Cube has spent his career building brands rooted in his hometown.

Now, the Los Angeles native is betting on the future of another one of his creations: the BIG3.

The 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz announced plans to go public through a SPAC merger with Graf Global Corp. at a reported $290 million valuation. If completed, the deal would allow everyday investors to buy stock in the league under the ticker symbol TONT later this year.

For Cube, the move is about more than raising capital. It’s about changing who gets to participate in the business of sports.

“Most leagues are owned by a bunch of billionaires,” Cube told Front Office Sports. “Fans, all they get to do is watch, buy some merch, get a ticket, and bet on the games. But they can’t invest. We want to change that. In my vision, we’re here 100 years, not just 9.”

That vision has helped carry BIG3 from a startup idea in 2017 into a league entering its ninth season. The concept was simple: give former NBA players a competitive platform to continue playing at a high level in a faster-paced 3-on-3 format.

The league has attracted recognizable names throughout its run, including Allen Iverson, Joe Johnson, Dwight Howard, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers. Games are broadcast nationally on CBS, while ratings reportedly increased more than 25 percent last season.

Cube believes the appeal goes beyond nostalgia.

“We don’t just want your name,” he told Front Office Sports. “We want your game.”

The public offering also comes after years of challenges attracting investors. Cube told Front Office Sports that NBA ownership rules prohibiting team owners from investing in competing men’s basketball leagues have complicated fundraising efforts for BIG3.

Despite those obstacles, the league continues to expand. Four franchises currently have ownership groups in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Detroit, while additional teams remain available for purchase as BIG3 pursues long-term growth.

BIG3 opened its ninth season at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, where all eight teams tipped off the season before the league embarks on a nationwide tour, a fitting backdrop as Ice Cube’s league prepares to go public and pursues its biggest growth phase yet.

For Cube, the goal isn’t simply to build an alternative basketball league. It’s to create a sports property where fans can become stakeholders in the future he believes can last generations.

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

The summer of optionality is here for the Lakers. With few players on the books, the Lakers can have more cap space than any other team, allowing them to be as aggressive as they want this offseason.

However, having flexibility is only good if you know what to do with it.

Under the leadership of President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka, the Lakers had some great hits and some tough misses.

Pelinka was able to trade for Anthony Davis, win a title and then move on from AD to acquire Luka Dončić in what’s considered one of the most one-sided deals in NBA history. But he also broke up his championship team, traded for Russell Westbrook and hasn’t found a long-term solution at center for the Lakers.

So, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we ask fans how much belief they have in the team’s decision makers ahead of free agency.

This feels like a litmus test of one’s Lakers optimism.

If you look at the good Pelinka has done, then voting on having a lot of confidence makes sense. This means you value his big trades and recognize how he has made small deals that have had a big impact, like trading Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard at the deadline this year.

Now that the Lakers have open roster spots, cap space and their superstar in place, Pelinka will cook and turn this franchise into title contenders.

Another positive is that Pelinka has new people in the organization to help him improve this team. The Lakers hired Rohan Ramadas as assistant general manager and brought on Tony Bennett as an NBA Draft advisor. With these additional people on the payroll, the Lakers front office will find a quality player with the No. 25 pick and make the right moves in free agency.

But if you see that the Lakers were not much of a factor in attracting interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and think the reason LA doesn’t have a center is that the front office can’t get a deal done, then voting with little to no confidence makes sense.

From that pessimistic angle, the Lakers’ optionality will amount to minimal changes. They’ll likely re-sign Austin Reaves, bring back LeBron James and sell the fanbase on end-of-the-rotation players other teams walked away from as being diamonds in the rough that will blossom with Luka as their teammate.

The Lakers will end this summer still far away from being a threat to the Spurs or the Thunder in the West.

So, what do you think? Do you believe the Lakers front office can build out a better team, or will this summer end with more excuses and less execution? Let us know by participating in our SB Nation Reacts survey.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

At long last, the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga is over … on paper, at least. On Monday, the day before the 2026 NBA Draft, news broke that a deal had been struck to send the two-time MVP to the Miami Heat. While the trade can’t be made official until July 6, it was hashed out long in advance of that date to ensure that the draft picks were handled before selection day (the Heat are sending the No. 13 overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks).

And with that, we can fully end any hope of the Golden State Warriors acquiring the 31-year old superstar. The Dubs made a strong push at this year’s trade deadline, only for Antetokounmpo to stay put in Milwaukee. By the time the season ended, any momentum the Warriors had towards an acquisition had been drained. For weeks now, we’ve heard that the Warriors were no longer heavily involved in any Giannis discussions. And now it’s pretty easy to see why.

Golden State never had a chance at competing for Antetokounmpo, now that we can see what the winning bid was. The Warriors could match the pick haul that the Heat gave up (unprotected first-rounders in 2026, 2031, and 2023, a pick swap in 2030, and a second-rounder in 2033). They could compete with the intriguing, but unproven young talent that Miami is sending to Wisconsin (Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakučionis).

But there were two things that the Dubs simply could not compete with: Tyler Herro, and Giannis’ desires. Any trade for Antetokounmpo was going to involve a player on a large contract to make salaries work. For the Warriors, that would have meant Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler III — aging players entering the final years of their deals. Herro, on the other hand, is an extension-eligible 26-year old All-Star, who the Bucks can either build around, or flip at the deadline to signal a full-on rebuild.

And then, of course, there’s the case of what Antetokounmpo wanted. While there had been speculation that Antetokounmpo would be excited at the possibility of pairing up with Steph Curry, reports had surfaced that there was a limited number of teams that he would be willing to sign an extension with. The Heat were one of those teams; the Warriors were not. And so it seems that Golden State would not have been willing to risk a trade for Antetokounmpo, even if they possessed the pieces necessary to get it done.

In the end, it’s just good news for the Dubs that he is staying in the Eastern Conference. Whatever hopes Golden State has of contending in the coming years are benefitted from Antetokounmpo not making his way to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will make a bag in Miami.

The former Bucks star could sign a lucrative four-year $275 million extension with the Heat until the 2030-31 season as soon as six months from now, or $214 million for three years should he take advantage of his player option.

Antetokounmpo’s willingness to sign a long-term extension played into the Heat’s interest to trade with Milwaukee to avoid a one-year rental situation.

Antetokounmpo is set to make $58.4 million in his 2026-27, with a player option for $62.7 million the following season.

The Heat had an advantage in terms of contract value because Florida is one of nine US states without an income tax.

In contrast, Massachusetts, home of the trade talk runners-up Celtics, has a 9% millionaires tax, and Wisconsin has a 7.65% income tax on earnings in excess of $431,060, according to Sportico.

Sportico estimates, assuming all factors remain the same, the 10-time All-Star would make $198.3 million after taxes if he signs an extension with the Heat, compared to $181.7 million if he joined the Celtics.

Antetokounmpo’s current contract is the seventh-highest annual salary in the NBA, but it would become the highest should he sign the four-year extension.

The 31-year-old joined the Heat on Monday in a trade that also brings Bobby Portis to Miami. The Bucks got Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap and one second-round pick in return, per ESPN.

Milwaukee chose the Heat package over the Celtics’ in order to allow new head coach Taylor Jenkins the chance to imagine the next generation of the Bucks, rather than focusing on another veteran-filled team with win-now aspirations.

The Heat title odds jumped from 30-1 to 18-1 after the trade and 6-1 to win the Eastern Conference, behind the Knicks and Celtics.

Antetokounmpo will chase his second career title after leading the Bucks to the championship in 2021.

The NBA draft is tonight, and the Cleveland Cavaliers currently hold the 29th pick. The options for the team seem to be vast as they look to navigate not only the prospect pool but the salary cap. According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, the team is putting all options on the table.

Fedor describes that the Cavaliers at this point are “currently exploring the possibility of moving out of the late first round”. It appears the team not only could move out of the first round, but possibly the entire 2026 draft.

According to Fedor, it also appears that the current estimated pool of players available at 29 don’t excite the Cavaliers. However, “if the Cavs view a group of prospects on the same talent tier, they could move back, still get one, save money and possibly add more draft capital, either this year or in a future draft.”

Some players that have been linked to the Cavaliers that could be tied to this player pool are Zuby Ejiofor (St. Johns), Alex Karaban (UCONN), Tarris Reed Jr (UCONN), Henri Veesaar (UNC), and Jaden Bradley (Alabama).

Another option floated in the article is that the first could be used as a sweetener to take a big salary to shed some cap. Attaching the first rounder with someone like Dennis Schroder would be the most likely avenue to avoid having to pay Schroder his remaining $31 million over two years.

The Cavaliers would be best to trade the pick with Schroder to shed his massive cap hit. As Dean Wade is generating interest around the league, it’ll be better for the team in the short term to get off the Schroder cap number.

While draft picks are the exciting asset to have, for the unknown of what the player could become, the Cavaliers have shorter timelines not suited for developing a project, which is likely what they will get with the 29th selection or picks in the second round.

To demonstrate this, look at the Cavaliers’ most recent first-round draft pick. Jaylon Tyson was selected with the 20th pick in 2024 and just started to crack the regular rotation a year later than he was drafted.

While this class is considered to be deep, the talent once you hit the 20s always comes down to team preference over talent level. Unless the Cavaliers have someone on their big board who magically falls to them, it seems more than likely that they will not retain the player drafted tonight.

Dusty May’s late-June departure for the NBA is incredibly rare. It has been done before, but it hasn’t been done since another Michigan coach, John Beilein, left for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019. The dream of a Michigan dynasty under May is now dead, so what should Michigan fans expect next year?

Obviously there are still a ton of moving parts that will need to be settled. Michigan’s roster will be in a state of flux. However, we can look at some historical precedent to see how well teams have performed the year after their coach left for the NBA.

John Beilein, Michigan to Cleveland Cavaliers in May 2019

As Michigan fans are painfully aware, the last NCAA head coach to leave for the NBA immediately as a head coach was a legendary figure in Ann Arbor. With most of available college coaches already taken, Warde Manuel pivoted to program legend Juwan Howard, who was an NBA assistant coach at the time.

Howard inherited a program that was firing on all cylinders. He largely kept the train moving in the first year, finishing 19-12 and headed for the NCAA Tournament before the pandemic canceled the tournament.

Billy Donovan, Florida to Oklahoma City Thunder in April 2015

Donovan experienced a bit of a down year in his last season at the helm of the Gators. Florida went 16-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament. Florida then hired Mike White, who marginally improved the team in his first season by going 21-15 but still missing the tournament. This wasn’t a crazy improvement, but it was marginally better than Donovan’s last season.

Fred Hoiberg, Iowa State to Chicago Bulls in June 2015

Hoiberg had built a perennial tournament team at Iowa State, which was relatively rare. The year he left, the Cyclones were a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament before being upset by 14-seed UAB. To replace him, Iowa State hired Steve Prohm out of Murray State. He lost more than half of the roster from the previous season, but did an excellent job and built a 4-seed in his first season. The Cyclones went 23-12 and made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Brad Stevens, Butler to Boston Celtics in July 2013

Brad Stevens coached two seasons at Butler after his magical run to the National Championship. When he left for the Celtics, Butler was also moving up from the A-10 to the Big East. Incoming coach Brandon Miller had a tall task ahead of him. Not only that, but Butler’s best returning player, Roosevelt Jones, got hurt and missed the season. Needless to say, the Bulldogs had a reasonable slide back to reality. Butler finished 14-17 and did not play in a postseason tournament.

Mike Montgomery, Stanford to Golden State Warriors in June 2004

Montgomery was at Stanford for 18 years before jumping to the NBA. His replacement, Trent Johnson, went 18-13 in his first season with the Cardinal. Stanford made the NCAA Tournament as an 8-seed but lost in the Round of 64. For context, in Montgomery’s last season at Stanford, they went 30-2 and were a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Stanford lost both Montgomery and Josh Childress, who was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Leonard Hamilton, Miami to Washington Wizards in May 2000

Many people forget Leonard Hamilton spent 10 seasons as the coach at Miami. In his final season, the Hurricanes went 23-11. They were a 6-seed in the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Miami replaced Hamilton with Perry Clark, who struggled mightily in his first season. The Hurricanes went 16-13 and missed the NCAA Tournament in 2000-01. Miami would be stagnant for a few years before eventually hiring Jim Larranaga.

Lon Kruger, Illinois to Atlanta Hawks in June 2000

In Kruger’s last season at Illinois, the Fighting Illini went 22-10 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a 4-seed. However, Kruger leaving was a blessing in disguise as they replaced him with Bill Self. Self quickly built Illinois into a juggernaut, going 27-8 in his first season at the helm. Illinois was a Big Ten co-champion and made the Elite 8 as a 1-seed.

Tim Floyd, Iowa State to Chicago Bulls in July 1998

Tim Floyd’s last season was largely a disaster, as the Cyclones went 12-18 and missed the big dance. He was replaced by Larry Eustachy, who went 15-15 in his first year. Eustachy lost most of the roster he inherited, as they elected to transfer. He would eventually turn the program around, but the first year was a struggle.

Rick Pitino, Kentucky to Boston Celtics in May 1997

Pitino appears twice on this list. In his most recent trip from the NCAA to the NBA, he left Kentucky after losing in the National Championship with guys like Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson and Jamaal Magloire. Pitino was replaced by Tubby Smith, who managed to keep nearly the entire roster intact. Smith one-upped Pitino by winning the National Championship in his first season. This was the best case scenario for Kentucky.

John Calipari, UMass to New Jersey Nets in May 1996

Coach Cal made a name for himself at UMass. In his last season with the Minutemen, Calipari took the team to the Final Four on the back of Marcus Camby, though it would eventually be vacated as Camby was given gifts in the recruiting process. UMass promoted Bruiser Flint from within. Unfortunately the wheels fell off for UMass, as they struggled to a 19-14 record with a first round exit in the NCAA Tournament.

P.J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall to Portland Trail Blazers in June 1994

Carlesimo coached at Seton Hall for 12 years before eventually leaving for Portland. In his final year, the Pirates went 17-13 and made the NCAA Tournament but lost in the first round. Carlesimo was replaced by George Blaney, who went 16-14 and missed the NCAA Tournament in his first year.

Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV to San Antonio Spurs in June 1992

Tarkanian had built a behemoth of a basketball program. Having won a National Championship in 1990, taken the team to the Final Four in 1991 and the Elite 8 in 1992 it was only fitting that the NBA came calling. However, NCAA investigations heavily clouded the end of Tarkanian’s tenure. He was replaced by Rollie Massimino, who went 21-8 in his first year. They made the NCAA Tournament but lost in the Round of 32. UNLV’s program would eventually unravel, but things stayed partially intact.

Rick Pitino, Providence to New York Knicks in July 1987

Pitino was only at Providence for two years (similar to May), but those two years were wonderful for the Friars. Providence lost in the Final Four in Pitino’s second and final season before leaving for the Knicks. They replaced Pitino with Gordon Chiesa, who was only at Providence for one season and went 11-17.

It’s draft day in Brooklyn. The Utah Jazz, after beating the lottery odds, will make the most consequential draft pick franchise history.

Since May, rumors have circulated around Utah in every which way. Will the Jazz trade up for the first overall pick? Will they trade down to three? Maybe they’ll take Cameron Boozer over Darryn Peterson if both are on the board at second. Maybe they’ll swing for the likes of Jaylen Brown and get out of the draft completely.

Of course, behind each of these rumors is a front office trying to hide their hand and gain an advantage against the competitors. The consensus has BYU’s AJ Dybantsa going first overall to the Washington Wizards. Carlos Boozer (a scout for the Utah Jazz) beleives that teams will regret passing on his son. Darryn Peterson will have you beleive that he’s slated to hear his name first tonight:

Darryn Peterson on only working out for the Washington Wizards with the No. 1 pick: “Just a decision that was made. I’m definitely not dodging any team. Whoever takes me, I’m going to come in and be delighted to be there. Wherever that happens to be, they’ll get the best me.” pic.twitter.com/MObTY3XmxD

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 22, 2026

Regardless of how the draft shakes out, Jazz fans can rest assured that they will get one of three extremely polished, talented, and promising young players in Dybantsa, Peterson, or Boozer. Each have the potential to change the trajectory of the franchise for the forseeable future. Each are worth getting excited for.

As a reminder, the NBA Draft will continue the two-day format again this year. Round one will take place today and air on both ABC and ESPN, while round two will take place tomorrow exclusivley on ESPN. In round one, each team will have five mintutes to make their selection. That slims down to four minutes per selection in round two.

How to watch:

When: June 23rd, 7:00 PM Mountain Time

Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

Channel: ABC, ESPN

The Portland Trail Blazers were dealt a bad hand to start the 2025-26 NBA season, with their head coach, Chauncey Billups, indicted in October 2025 on federal wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges.

Still, despite having to change their coaching staff on the fly just one game into the season, the Blazers exceeded expectations, earning a spot in the Play-In Tournament and earning the Western Conference's No. 7 seed.

Their decision to not bring back head coach Tiago Splitter certainly had fans scratching their heads. But the Blazers have found a new sheriff in town, Micah Nori.

Rip City, welcome our new head coach, Micah Nori! pic.twitter.com/XG0Rnc2ZjI

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 23, 2026

An assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the last five seasons, Nori has been with five teams as an assistant over the last 17 seasons. Here's what to know about the new head coach in Portland.

Who is Micah Nori?

Widely regarded as one of the top assistants in the league, Nori possesses strong communication and relationship skills, reportedly beating out Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and former Blazers' interim coach Tiago Splitter for the job.

Involved in NBA coaching ranks since 2009, Nori has served as an assistant for the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves in his career.

Has Nori ever been a head coach?

Not during the regular season. However, during the Timberwolves' 2024 playoff run, Nori was forced to step up for parts of the postseason after head coach Chris Finch suffered a knee injury when Mike Conley collided with him on the sidelines.

Finch has gone out of his way to sing Nori's praises over the years.

"He is elite in what I call the small pieces of the game," Finch said per The Athletic. "Small not that they are unimportant, but small in that they are often overlooked. He’s elite with lineup combinations. Elite with rotations. Elite with special situations, whether it’s [after timeouts], end of game or just understanding how to maximize possessions."

Did Nori draw interest from other teams?

The Athletic reports that Nori also drew interest from the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls, though the Bulls job went to former Blazers' interim head coach Tiago Splitter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: What to know about Micah Nori, Portland Trail Blazers' new head coach