The Los Angeles Clippers may have selected Narcisse Ngoy with the 57th overall pick in the NBA Draft, but the center didn’t choose the organization.
On Thursday, Ngoy revealed on social media that he would be returning to college for the 2026-27 season.
“I am thankful for the LA Clippers’ confidence in me. I fully intend to honor my commitment to Auburn University, and I am looking forward to wearing the Auburn Tigers jersey for the 2026-27 season,” Ngoy wrote in a post to his Instagram story.
The LA Clippers selected Narcisse Ngoy with the 57th overall pick in the NBA Draft, but he revealed on social media that he’ll be going back to college. Instagram/nnarsix
Clippers draft pick Narcisse Ngoy thanks Clippers — and says he plans to play for Auburn Tigers next season pic.twitter.com/5InJuBAQaP
Ngoy committed to Auburn in March and never formally declared for the NBA Draft or went through any process.
However, international players above the age of 22 are automatically included in the draft pool for that calendar year with new NCAA guidelines allowing him to keep his eligibility.
President of the LA Clippers, Lawrence Frank seen here in 2022. NBAE via Getty Images
The Clippers have transformed the meaning of the NBA’s ‘draft and stash,’ an avenue for teams to draft a player who doesn’t play for them the following season but allows the organization to retain the player’s rights while he plays elsewhere, which typically meant internationally.
For Ngoy, that is not the case. The Frenchman still has two years of eligibility remaining in college, and when he decides to join the NBA, it will be in a Clippers uniform.
The Clippers made multiple selections in the 2026 NBA Draft, headlined by Keaton Wagler out of Illinois with the fifth overall pick.
LA selected Henri Veesaar with the 52nd pick, but traded the center to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the No. 57 pick (Ngoy) and cash considerations.
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Kawhi Leonard spent only one season of his 14-year NBA career with the Toronto Raptors and he made it count.
Leonard led the Raptors to their first NBA championship in franchise history, while securing the second Finals MVP award of his career. That led to his first contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, which was a three-year, $103.1 million deal.
Kawhi Leonard spent only one season of his 14-year NBA career with the Toronto Raptors and he made it count. Getty ImagesLeonard led the Raptors to their first NBA championship in franchise history, while securing the second Finals MVP award of his career Getty ImagesThat led to his first contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, which was a three-year, $103.1 million deal. NBAE via Getty Images
Since then Leonard has signed two contract extensions with the Clippers, the first in 2021 after he declined his player option for that season and then re-signed with the team on a four-year, $176.3 million max extension.
The latest contract extension came in 2024, where Leonard signed a three-year, $152.4 million deal that kept the two-time Finals MVP in Los Angeles through the 2026-27 season.
The Raptors are interested in reuniting with the small forward and Leonard is reportedly open to signing an extension with Toronto, per NBA insider Jake Fischer.
While Kawhi Leonard’s preference is to remain with the Clippers, league sources say the two-time Finals MVP would be open to signing an extension with Toronto, amid the Raptors’ own interest in reuniting with Leonard.
However, there are rumblings about Leonard’s availability on the trade block this year. Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat have also been linked to Leonard, but the 34-year-old wouldn’t have interest in inking an extension with either team.
Perhaps Leonard is also nostalgic about his former teams as he is reportedly only considering signing an extension with either Toronto or the San Antonio Spurs.
Ultimately, a reunion scenario would only transpire if the Clippers made Leonard available on the trade block. Currently, the team believes they “still have avenues to fortify their roster around Leonard and remain in Western Conference contention,” according to Fischer.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: The sneakers worn by Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 12, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the NBA Draft receding into the rear view mirror, it’s time to find out who is going to get Summer League and training camp invitations. As you might expect with the California and Salt Lake City minor summer league events coming up about a week from now, the teams involved with those might be a little bit quicker on the uptake on that issue, and so:
According to DraftExpress, the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to Exhibit 10 contract terms with former Marquette guard Chase Ross.
NEWS: Marquette’s Chase Ross has agreed to an Exhibit-10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell DraftExpress.
14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game this season.
This is not a real NBA contract for Ross. This is a training camp invite with an option for the team to assign Ross to the Coachella Valley Lakers, their G-League affiliate, after camp is over. Sure, it’s possible that he really impresses someone in the Lakers’ front office or head coach JJ Redick or whatever, and finds his way onto the Los Angeles roster when the season starts, but that’s not the point of what the Lakers are doing here. This is more along the lines of the old-timey college football/basketball “preferred walk-on” recruiting. They definitely want him in Summer League and camp, but maybe that’s about it, and expecting more is probably expecting too much.
Chase Ross was not good for Marquette as a senior in the 2025-26 season. Yes, he finished the year at 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals, all of which were career highs while increasing his minutes per game by less than three per night. However, he shot a career worst 29.5% from behind the three-point line, and in an eight game stretch in the middle of the year, he averaged just 10.1 points per game and shot 17.6% from behind the arc. In Big East play, he shot just 38% from the field.
The most optimistic view of Ross relative to a professional future is that he excelled in a secondary or tertiary role behind Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones in the backcourt. No one is going to be asking Chase Ross to lead the way for the Los Angeles Lakers as long as Luka Doncic is alive and well, so I will carve out space to say that because all he has to do is prove he can be A Cog In The Machine, there’s a chance he could find a way to latch on in the league.
With that said, when he was asked to step up his game as a senior leader — much like he would have to step up his game in order to hang with NBA players — Ross failed to answer the call. I’m not optimistic here, but it’ll be nice to have at least one guy to pay attention to during Summer League across the next couple of weeks at the bare minimum.
RENO, NV - MARCH 18: Nevada Guard Corey Camper Jr. (4) looks on during a break in the action late in the game during a first round NIT Tournament college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Nevada Wolf Pack on March 18, 2026, at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, NV. (Photo by Greg Ashman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a deal with undrafted free agent Corey Camper Jr. out of Nevada, per One Time Agency Group. Nevada Athletics announced that it is an Exhibit 10 contract with the Suns after going undrafted.
Camper Jr. spent his senior season at Nevada, averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season, while hooting 45.3 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three. Camper, a 6-foot-5, 181-pound prospect profiles as a wing player, likely a shooting guard at the next level.
— On Time Agency | We Are Player-Driven (@ontimeagencygrp) June 25, 2026
Camper Jr. played two junior-college seasons and two years at UTEP before transferring to Nevada for his senior season. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors.
An Exhibit 10 deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed minimum-salary NBA contract for undrafted rookies that comes with an invitation to Summer League and training camp, which could secure a spot for Camper on the Suns’ preseason roster.
So far, the Suns have done the following:
Pick 30: Koa Peat – Forward (Arizona)
Undrafted FA: Sam Hoiberg – Guard (Nebraska)
Undrafted FA: Corey Camper Jr. – Wing (Nevada)
Camper Jr. will join a Suns Summer League squad that will likely feature Koa Peat, Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea and Sam Hoiberg.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Rokas Jokubaitis #32 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game on July 16, 2024 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You might or might not like what the New York Knicks did in the 2026 NBA Draft. Hell, you might or might not like the draft entirely, because there were 30 second-round picks and only one of them wasn’t traded among all the cap maneuvering and asset stockpiling across the Association.
First and foremost, you should get familiar with the two dudes that are actually (we expect) part of the Knicks roster for the upcoming season, which are Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel and German international guard Jack Kayil. Young bloods!
With that out of the way, the funniest part of the draft and the Knicks’ trades on both Tuesday and Wednesday is that you never know what might come with those sorts of ancillary, seemingly meaningless, filled-with-random-stuff deals.
And if you don’t believe me, ask Keith Smith. Shortly after the Knicks traded out of the first round, Smith pointed out that by adding the draft rights to French prospect Melvin Ajinca, the Knicks now have the rights for 17 (!!!) players.
After acquiring the draft rights for Melvin Ajinca as part of their draft night trading, the New York Knicks now hold draft rights for 17 players!
In all of my years of doing this, I've never seen a team come anywhere close to that number of draft rights held at one time.
Of course, we (probably just me) here at P&T take all things Knicks very seriously and couldn’t let the opportunity pass without tackling every one of the dudes whose rights belong to NYK, so you know the professional team from Stashtown, the Stash Squad, from younger to older, so the disrespect gets increasingly higher.
Get some popcorn and sit tight, this is definitely going to be a hella long ride down memory lane.
F — Melvin Ajinca, 21 (2024 Draft) — ASVEL Basket
Ajinca is the new headliner of the Knicks’ collection because he is young enough (just damn 21 years old, three years younger than some prospects that just got drafted!) to make this whole exercise feel slightly more meaningful. The French wing was drafted 51st overall in 2024, originally by the Knicks, shipped to Dallas, then returned to New York through the 2026 draft-night trade chaos.
At 6-foot-8, Ajinca is the one name in the list you can talk yourself into with a straight face. He played this past season for ASVEL in France and the EuroLeague, getting real minutes against grown professionals. The shooting still needs work, but size, athleticism, age, and wing tools will always keep the door open for a potential NBA stint.
C — James Nnaji, 21 (2023 Draft) — Baylor Bears
Nnaji is probably the second-most interesting name on the list, and maybe the strangest in terms of development path. The 7-foot Nigerian center was selected 31st overall in 2023, never signed an NBA contract, bounced through Europe, had his rights land with the Knicks in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and then somehow became a… NCAA Baylor Bear?
Anyway. Nnaji has NBA size, length, and defensive tools. The offense remains raw, but the Knicks do not need him to become Hakeem Olajuwon in case of absolute emergency. They would settle for a large human who can screen, rebound, block shots, and avoid turning every catch into a turnover.
G — Hugo Besson, 25 (2022 Draft) — Tofas
Besson was the 58th pick in the 2022 draft, and his rights came to the Knicks from Milwaukee in the Jericho Sims trade. He is now with Tofas in Turkey, which is not exactly the route you’d imagine someone would take to become Jalen Brunson’s backup.
The French guard has bounced around a bit, including stops in New Zealand, France, Serbia, Italy, and Turkey. That is concerning for the Americans reading, but we in Europe are simply accustomed to this type of living, believe me. He can handle, shoot, and score, but he would need a big jump to become more than an emergency stash name.
G — Rokas Jokubaitis, 25 (2021 Draft) — Bayern Munich
Ah, Rokas. The one-time golden child of Knicks Summer League and still, undoubtedly and undisputedly, the No. 1 stash in my heart. The lefty Lithuanian guard was picked 34th in 2021 and arrived in the same draft-night deal that brought Miles McBride to New York, which means the Knicks already won this transaction even if Rokas never crosses the Atlantic.
Jokubaitis signed with Bayern Munich through 2028 after a season with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He also suffered a significant knee injury during EuroBasket, which complicates his future. When healthy, he is a smart pick-and-roll guard with EuroLeague experience. The Knicks’ backcourt, sadly, has never really opened the door for Rokas.
G — Ognjen Jaramaz, 30 (2017 Draft) — Cedevita Olimpija
Jaramaz is one of the rare players on this list who was actually drafted by the Knicks. That alone gives him a special place in Stashtown. The Serbian guard was selected 58th overall in 2017 and has built a long European career with stops at Partizan, Bayern Munich, Baskonia, and Cedevita Olimpija. He has played EuroLeague basketball, national-team basketball, and enough high-level games to count as a legitimate pro. Too bad the NBA ship has sailed.
F — Juan Pablo Vaulet, 30 (2015 Draft) — Estudiantes
Vaulet is a 2015 stash classic. He was drafted 39th overall by Charlotte, had his rights traded around the league, and eventually landed with the Knicks in the Mikal Bridges trade.
The Argentine forward currently plays for Estudiantes in one of Spain’s lower-level divisions. He has good size, international experience, and a respectable career overseas. He also turns 31 next season, so this is less “future Knick” and more “old asset available for silly trade packages.”
G — Nikola Radicevic, 32 (2015 Draft) — Lietkabelis Panevezys
Radicevic was picked 57th overall by Denver in 2015 and eventually came to the Knicks in the Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel salary-dump deal with Detroit. The Serbian guard is back with Lietkabelis in Lithuania after a career that has taken him through Spain, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Lithuania.
He is a real professional guard. He is also 32, which makes an NBA arrival hard to imagine unless Brock Aller finds a new exploit in the CBA.
C — Wang Zhelin, 32 (2016 Draft) — Shanghai Sharks
Wang Zhelin is one of the more accomplished active players on the list. The 7-foot Chinese center was selected 57th overall by Memphis in 2016, had his rights routed through the Lakers, and landed with the Knicks in 2022.
He has spent his career in China and currently plays for the Shanghai Sharks. He has been a CBA star, a multiple-time All-Star, and a domestic MVP. That matters—only just in China.
F — Luka Mitrovic, 33 (2015 Draft) — CSKA Moscow
Mitrovic was Mr. Irrelevant of the 2015 NBA Draft, selected 60th overall by Philadelphia. A decade later, the Knicks acquired his rights in a 2025 draft-night pick swap, because of course they did.
The Serbian forward currently plays for CSKA Moscow after a long career with Crvena Zvezda and other European clubs. He is a smart, experienced frontcourt player with real credentials overseas.
F/C — Bojan Dubljevic, 34 (2013 Draft) — Retired
Dubljevic was picked 59th overall by Minnesota in 2013 and became a Valencia Basket legend rather than an NBA player.
The Montenegrin big man retired in June 2026 after a decorated European career, including a long run in Spain and later stops with Zenit and a return to Zaragoza. The Knicks still hold his NBA rights, for some reason.
F — Latavious Williams, 37 (2010 Draft) — Al-Ittihad Jeddah
Williams was the 48th pick in the 2010 draft, selected by Miami. The Knicks acquired his rights from New Orleans in the Jose Alvarado trade, which means he is part of the same family tree as GTA, which is nothing remotely close to bad.
Williams has never played in the NBA, but he has played basically everywhere else, including the G League, Spain, Israel, Korea, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
G — Sergio Llull, 38 (2009 Draft) — Real Madrid
Llull is the crown jewel of “great player, never coming over” draft-rights lore, and in Spain, we’re still debating from time to time whether or not he did right or wrong nearly 20 years later. Denver selected him 34th overall in 2009, Houston famously bought his rights but could never convince him to come to Texas, and the Knicks acquired them in the Austin Rivers sign-and-trade in 2020.
He has spent nearly two decades with Real Madrid, winning basically everything there is to win in Europe. EuroLeague MVP. EuroLeague champion. Spanish champion. Big-shot maker. Absolute legend.
F — Emir Preldzic, 38 (2009 Draft) — Orlovik Zepce
Preldzic was selected 57th overall by Phoenix in 2009, then went on a draft-rights tour through Cleveland, Washington, Dallas, Indiana, Toronto, Philadelphia, and finally New York. He has been in more NBA transactions than many actual NBA players.
The veteran forward currently plays for Orlovik Zepce in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At his peak, he was a skilled, versatile forward with ball-handling chops and a strong career in Turkey. At 38, the dream is not the NBA. The dream is being included in another trade and confusing another fan base.
G — Petteri Koponen, 38 (2007 Draft) — Retired/Coach
Koponen is special because he is the only first-round pick in the Knicks’ Stash Squad. Philadelphia selected him 30th overall in 2007, and he eventually came to New York from Dallas in the original Ajinca-Hukporti-Koponen weirdness of 2024.
He retired as a player in 2022 and later moved into coaching—because which squad doesn’t have a coach, right?—including a stint with the New Zealand Breakers. So yes, the Knicks hold the draft rights to a retired Finnish guard who is already a coach. You read that right. Mike Brown, watch out.
F — Tadija Dragicevic, 40 (2008 Draft) — Retired
Dragicevic was selected 53rd overall by Utah in 2008. His rights bounced from Utah to Dallas to Chicago to Houston to New York because second-round rights seemingly never expire.
The Serbian forward has retired after a long European career. He never played in the NBA. He will not play for the Knicks. But his rights remain in New York, which means he is technically part of the club’s vast international empire.
G/F — Brad Newley, 41 (2007 Draft) — Retired
Newley was selected 54th overall by Houston in 2007 and came to the Knicks in 2022. He built a long career in Australia and Europe, including NBL stops with the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United, then retired after the 2023-24 season.
This is another “not a prospect, still a (dumb) asset” situation. Newley is not walking through any door. He might be having trouble walking outright (I’m getting there).
F — Axel Hervelle, 43 (2005 Draft) — Retired
Hervelle is the oldest player on the list and the elder statesman of the stash. Denver selected him 52nd overall in 2005, back when Mike Sweetney was still a Knick, Jamal Crawford was still young, and Madison Square Garden had yet to go through the full Isiah Thomas experience.
The Belgian forward retired in 2020 after a strong European career with Real Madrid, Bilbao, and Spirou. The Knicks acquired his rights in 2020. Why? Because the transaction worked for them!
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 16, 2023,...
The NBA’s offseason rhythms don’t slow down for anyone.
And the immediate question that followed — with the official start of free agency a week away — is how Reaves’ new nine-figure deal will affect the Lakers financially this offseason?
The quick answer? Minimally.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (right) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (left) during Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series. AP
Because Reaves didn’t officially sign the contract, his $20.9 million cap hold (which allows the Lakers to maintain his Bird Rights and go over the salary cap line of $165 million to re-sign him) is on the Lakers’ books instead of the $41.3 million salary he’ll have for 2026-27.
From here, the Lakers have multiple paths they can choose from when entering free agency.
They have five players (LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes) slated to become unrestricted free agents and two more players (Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart), having until Monday to decide whether they’ll opt into their player options or opt out and become free agents.
The Lakers can relinquish everyone’s cap hold but Reaves’, which would create around $48 million in cap space.
They could use the cap space to re-sign their own players, sign other unrestricted free agents, make offer sheets for restricted free agents or use in trades to acquire players without having to send out players who make an equal amount of salary.
If the Lakers took this route, they’d also have the $9.4 million room exception.
And then from there, officially re-signing Reaves would be the last order of business.
But if the Lakers decide to stay over the cap, they could maintain the rights to re-sign most of their own free agents. They’d also have access to the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which they could use to sign one player or multiple free agents, which they did last season with Ayton and Jake LaRavia.
Reaves’ contract may be significant, but it isn’t slowing the Lakers down this offseason.
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Rumors about LeBron James potentially returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a farewell tour this offseason have been flying around for months. Brian Windhorst of ESPN added fuel to that fire on Wednesday during a radio interview on ESPN Cleveland.
"I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron, obviously LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs," – @WindhorstESPN says the Lakers would KILL to get Jarrett Allen in a trade for LeBron. pic.twitter.com/WiFmIABUiE
“There is a thought process out there in Los Angeles — and I think if the Cavs were interested in this, the Lakers would sit up at attention right now — that they would sign-and-trade LeBron for Jarrett Allen,” Windhorst said. “And I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron.
“Obviously, LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs. But your pathway to pay LeBron the money is to trade Jarrett Allen for him. The Lakers would kill for Jarrett Allen. Kill for him! They would do that deal in 17 tenths of a second.”
Even if the Cavaliers were willing to send Allen to the Lakers for LeBron in a sign-and-trade, they’d have other obstacles to overcome. But as Windhorst said, that would be their cleanest path to add LeBron this offseason unless he’s willing to sign a veteran-minimum contract with them.
How realistic is a LeBron/Allen S&T?
If the Cavaliers were to acquire LeBron via a sign-and-trade, that would hard-cap them at the first apron for the entire 2026-27 league year.
Current projections have the first apron landing at roughly $209 million. The Cavs are currently projected to have more than $222 million in salary on their books for next season, although that figure includes James Harden’s $42.3 million player option. Harden is widely expected to decline that option and sign a multiyear deal at a lower annual salary to help the Cavs duck below the second apron.
Allen is set to earn $28 million flat this coming season. Unless LeBron agreed to take significantly less than that, he wouldn’t help bring much financial relief to the Cavs. They’d likely have to look at salary-dumping Max Strus ($16.7 million), Dennis Schröder ($14.8 million) and/or Sam Merrill ($9.2 million) to give themselves enough flexibility under the first apron to round out their roster after acquiring LeBron.
If the Cavaliers did acquire LeBron via sign-and-trade, they’d also potentially price themselves out of being able to re-sign Dean Wade, Keon Ellis or any other free agent who’s expected to receive more than a minimum contract. That’s not a problem for the Lakers to worry about, though. On their end, the transaction would be easy to swing regardless of whether they operate as an over-the-cap team or a cap-space team.
If the Lakers went the over-the-cap route, they could sign-and-trade LeBron for Allen while maintaining their free-agent rights to Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and the rest of their free agents. Choosing this path would hard-cap them at the second apron, but they’re already hard-capped there after sending cash to the New York Knicks to trade up for Cameron Carr, so that’s inconsequential.
If the Lakers went the cap-space route, they could absorb Allen into their $50-plus million of potential cap space. However, they might have to renounce their rights to both Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes to create that kind of wiggle room.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN recently reported that Luka Dončić has been in “constant communication” with the Lakers this offseason and has made it clear that he wants them to add an “A-list center.” It’s unclear whether Allen fits that mold, although Dončić has had plenty of success with his archetype in the past.
Allen isn’t a three-point-shooting “unicorn” big man. He’s hit exactly 20 threes across his nine-year NBA career, 11 of which came within his first two seasons. A grand majority of his offense comes within 10 feet of the basket. He’s not much of a pick-and-pop threat.
However, he’s a sturdy screen-setter and would be a potentially potent pick-and-roll partner for Dončić. Allen averaged 3.4 points per game off rolls this past season, which was tied for the eighth-highest mark leaguewide. He’s a strong rebounder and a decent shot-blocker, too.
If the Lakers don’t believe they can make a realistic run at Jalen Duren or Walker Kessler in restricted free agency, Allen might be the best available option this offseason. He just turned 28 in April, too, so he isn’t far off from Dončić in age.
Trading LeBron for Allen would be a clear downgrade in terms of talent, but it would better balance the roster by solving the Lakers’ need for an upgrade at center. Since LeBron could hypothetically leave them empty-handed by signing elsewhere in free agency, getting something of real value for him would be better than that alternative.
If LeBron does leave this offseason, the Lakers probably won’t receive a massive haul for him. However, the Cavaliers likely would require the Lakers’ cooperation since a sign-and-trade seems like the most realistic pathway for them to acquire LeBron.
That could result in the Lakers landing a former All-Star center who’s smack dab in the middle of his prime.
Tobi Lawal has followed Jeremy Sochan and Amari Williams in going from the UK Under-19 development league to the NBA [Getty Images]
Britain's Tobi Lawal says he is going to "live" in the gym as he bids to establish himself as an NBA player after being selected in the NBA Draft.
The 23-year-old was picked 48th overall by the Dallas Mavericks after two years as a starter in the college game at Virginia Tech.
The 6ft 8in forward only began playing competitive basketball when he was 16 and developed his game with the City of London Academy.
He then left south London to play at high school in Maine before spending his first two years in college at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Like many prospects selected in the second round, he is viewed as a project player so will now focus on "getting a better feel for the game".
"I hope this provides inspiration to young kids that anything is possible," he said.
"I'm touching close to what I could be and how good I could become. I definitely believe that it can help me become as great as I want to be.
"In London it is hard to get in the gym. Now the gym is right next to my house. I love being in the gym. I love growth - as a person, in my faith and as a player. Now I can do that, I'm going to live there."
Lawal was one of 30 players picked during the second round of the NBA Draft in New York, which concluded on Wednesday.
The first 30 players were picked on Tuesday, with the Washington Wizards selecting former Brigham Young University small forward AJ Dybantsa first overall.
AJ Dybantsa was the leading scorer in the United States college system last season with an average of 25.5 points per game [Getty Images]
The draft can help NBA franchises turn around their fortunes, while relatively unheralded prospects can become NBA legends.
Victor Wembanyama, for example, was the first overall pick in 2023 and he not only helped the San Antonio Spurs end their play-off drought this year but they went all the way to the NBA Finals.
They were beaten by the New York Knicks, with this year's Finals Most Valuable Player being Jalen Brunson, a second-round pick in 2018. Others include Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green and Dennis Rodman.
The Washington Wizards had this year's first pick and were expected to go for 19-year-old AJ Dybantsa instead of point guard Darryn Peterson after giving Trae Young a contract extension.
After a 17-65 record last season, the Wizards are expected to improve with the 6ft 9in Dybantsa joining a core which includes Young and Anthony Davis, and they hope to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2020-21.
With the second pick the Utah Jazz had to choose between Peterson and power forward Cam Boozer, son of Jazz legend Carlos, who now works in their front office.
Yet they plumped for Peterson so the Memphis Grizzlies took Boozer, who won multiple awards as a freshman with Duke last season, with the third pick.
They also collected five future second-round picks to move back from 16 to 21 in the first round, where they made 19-year-old Karim Lopez the first Mexican-born player to be drafted in the first round.
The 6ft 8in forward was the highest-rated prospect in this year's class from an international league having played for the New Zealand Breakers the past two seasons.
The Grizzliesalso acquired former first-round pickIsaiah Stewart and with the 32nd pick selected versatile guard Richie Saunders, who is 25 and was a late bloomer after serving a two-year church mission prior to starting college.
Despite finishing with the NBA's top record for the second straight year, the Oklahoma City Thunder had two top-16 picks.
They were expected to challenge for back-to-back championships but were upset by San Antonio in this year's play-offs.
The Spurs, led by the 7ft 4in Wembanyama, could be OKC's biggest rival in the Western Conference for years to come so they remedied that by using the 12th pick on 7ft 3in Spanish centre Aday Mara. They then added point guard Bennett Stirtz with the 16th pick.
Trades agreed for Antetokounmpo and Ball
Several teams traded picks and players this week as they aim to rebuild their roster for the 2026-27 season, with two big-name veterans set for blockbuster moves.
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to join the Miami Heat, with the Milwaukee Bucks choosing Miami's package over that of the Boston Celtics, which would have included their five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown.
The Bucks used one of the picks they acquired from Miami to select Tennessee forward Nate Ament 13th overall, shortly after taking Arizona guard Brayden Burries with the 10th pick.
The 2021 champions then completed the draft by selecting Malique Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago with the 60th and final pick. The 21-year-old forward has spent the past two seasons playing for South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Miami's anticipated trade for Antetokounmpo, though, has transformed them from afterthoughts to legitimate contenders, with their championship odds having been slashed in half this week.
Only Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Boston and the New York Knicks are seen as having a better chance of becoming the 2027 NBA champions.
This week's other big trade has seen the Charlotte Hornets agree to send guards LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in exchange for Naz Reid and a host of draft picks, according to reports.
Minnesota, who lost to San Antonio in the play-offs, made the moves after star player Anthony Edwards said he would ask for a trade if they did not build a championship-level roster around him.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 12: Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks reaches for the ball against Adem Bona #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With free agency about to start in the coming days, the Milwaukee Bucks have an answer in regards to the future of center Jericho Sims.
Sims played in 67 games for the Bucks last season, averaging 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for Milwaukee.
With the roster looking very different compared to last year after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, there is a lot of opportunity for players to earn minutes and roles within the roster. Sims will likely compete with Kel’el Ware and Myles Turner (if he’s on the roster by the start of the season) for playing time at the center position.
Sims began his career as the No. 58 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the New York Knicks out of the University of Texas. Sims spent the first three years of his career with the Knicks before being traded in the middle of his fourth season from the Knicks to the Bucks. Sims had his first full year in Milwaukee during the 2025-26 campaign and showed flashes of potential throughout the year.
With the Bucks entering a new era under head coach Taylor Jenkins, it will be intriguing to see how he fits into Milwaukee’s new system and how much he can grow as a player.
Brew Hoop community, how do you feel about Sims’ return to the Bucks? Let us know in the comments section below.
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 29: General Manager Bobby Webster of the Toronto Raptors listens in to press conferences during the Toronto Raptors' media day at Hotel X on September 29, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Draft is over. We let our immediate thoughts marinate and after sitting in the Toronto Raptors’ post-draft press conference availability, here are our final grades:
Rebecca: B
Allen Graves
It’s not hard to see why the Raptors see value here. An obvious option as a pick and pop player with solid shooting last season. He has good size and can probably contribute as a spacer immediately if his numbers stay consistent with the jump to the NBA. Graves had a fairly small sample size (only 93 attempts).
I also don’t love some of his decision-making, especially in the paint. This could be due to a lack of capable shooters around him in Santa Clara but he forces possessions inside rather than kicking to the open shooter. That should be easy to fix, especially with options like Walter and Barrett in the corner.
Overall – I think most of us agree that we wanted a centre or point guard.
Jaden Bradley
A point guard!
For what’s available at this point in the draft, I really like this pick. He’s a big guard who has plenty of experience in his four years in college. He can easily slot in and support off the bench which matches the Raptors’ timeline a little bit better.
He’s shown drastic improvement defensively, and with solid three-point shooting, he can help space the floor for the bench.
Josiah: B+
The Raptors made two very Raptors picks in Graves at No. 19 and Bradley at No. 50. Both have intriguing defensive potential, with Graves’ sky-high steal rate at Santa Clara a key pillar in his analytics-friendly profile and Bradley’s point-of-attack defensive pressure. Both have questions on the offensive side of the ball. The wisdom of the crowds (and it is a very crowded mock draft space indeed) has Graves ranked a little lower than No. 19, and Bradley a little higher than No. 50, but the fit in Toronto could smooth both of those pre-draft projections.
Toronto has drafted at least one player in the 6’7-6’9 height range in every draft since 2020. They’ve taken a player from college with every pick since Bruno Caboclo (now only two years away!) in 2014. Grades for players approximately four seconds into their NBA careers aren’t exactly a science, but in a draft process that’s more art anyways, I’ll trust the quality draft history.
Kristian: A-
It’s become a tradition synonymous with this time of the NBA calendar for Raptors fans. We get ourselves excited – and attached – to players we’ve invested hours watching on YouTube or reading about during commutes. When it’s finally time for our picks to be announced, we stand or sit in front of the TV with bated breath, before subsequently going through a violent swing of emotions because the Raptors front-office again chose to go with what they believe internally.
While we’ve had our misses, the Raptors have traditionally drafted well, particularly with later first-rounders. I believe Allen Graves will join a growing list of prospects we eventually learn to be grateful for. If most things fall into place, Graves could provide Head Coach Darko Rajakovic with an Al Horford-Boris Diaw type of player. At pick 19, that’s an absolute steal, knowing how much of a two-way force both players were. Go watch some footage of either player in their primes and tell me that archetype wouldn’t look great next to Scottie Barnes.
As for Jaden Bradley, there’s immense value in bringing on a senior with an established portfolio. The 2025-26 Big 12 Player of the Year is expected to come in and challenge the veterans.
That’s the goal of these young guys, to push the player ahead in the depth chart,” said Assistant General Manager Dan Tolzman. “He’s not going to take a back seat.”
“He’ll come in and fight.”
Julian: A-
Allen Graves
Graves is the prototypical Raptors pick. A big forward with two-way chops who the Raptors won’t have to hide on defence. I understand the logic behind the Graves pick: Vision 6’9″ and all of that, but after adding Collin Murray-Boyles last year, I believed that we were finally in a position to start drafting for fit.
Free agency is never a sure thing for Toronto, and while our reputation has improved greatly since the 1990s and 2000s, the Raptors have never been a destination for FAs, which is part of the reason I am wary about the belief the franchise has in being able to add size and guard play without the draft.
I think Graves has the potential to slot in well into lineups as a backup forward where CMB is playing the 5, but I am concerned that due to the similarity of play-style between him, Boyles, and Scottie, he won’t get the minutes he deserves to prove that he can hang with the big dogs, just like CMB benefited so much from last year. Nevertheless, if anyone can develop Graves, it would be us. I was shocked at last year’s pick and have been extremely pleased with the results. I’m willing to give my faith to the Raptors again.
Jaden Bradley
If the first round is about taking swings at prospects, second round conservatism is far from a bad thing. Bradley has shown what he can do on the college court, and taking a senior for the experience amidst a bunch of players all hitting that 22-24 age range is a great idea for team fit.
Bradley looked cool, calm, collected, and in control during March Madness, and getting that level of veteran talent out of the draft is more than worth it. 3-and-D is a phrase that has been overused ad nauseam, but Bradley himself has made it clear that he sees that as a big part of his role here in Toronto
Getting a guard that will be hard to either target on defence or sag off during offence is always going to be a good move, and will save the energies of Scottie Barnes and CMB, redirecting defensive attention where it is really necessary. Having someone else to drop dimes and shoot threes alongside – or in stead of – Quickley and Shead is not a bad thing at all. And if the minutes aren’t there, time in the G-League is nothing to be ashamed of in this franchise – Bradley will bring high quality play alongside intangibles wherever the Raptors choose to slot him in.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 25: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on January 25, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Austin Reaves’ new $185-million deal guarantees him a deal richer than any undrafted player has ever received.
The deal coming in at such a big number might have Laker fans thinking they just offered him the max and got it over with, but that’s far from the case.
Reaves mentioned feeling relief that an agreement was reached, and that’s likely because, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Lakers weren’t initially offering him a max deal.
On Thursday’s episode of “First Take,” Windhorst said the Lakers were offering Reaves much less, putting his future with the team in question.
“Austin Reaves, from what I understand, two days ago was somewhere around $30 million a year in his offer from the Lakers. A very good contract. It is a far cry from what they offered him yesterday. What they offered him yesterday and what he agreed to was more than $45 million a year. That’s a 50 percent increase in like 24 hours. That’s why Austin Reaves was falling down on the golf course yesterday. Because he got his contract offer up 50 percent.”
Of course, paying him less would’ve been ideal for the franchise, but even less ideal would’ve been watching Reaves flourish in Detroit and having fans wonder why LA let a homegrown talent like that walk away.
The Lakers couldn’t risk that, so they did the smart thing and paid Reaves the max to ensure he’d remain in Los Angeles.
The Lakers’ front office does deserve credit for being tough negotiators here. They tried to get a deal done for less than the max, but didn’t mess around when it became clear that’s what it would take to keep him.
Now, the Lakers have their backcourt locked up, and considering how quickly they reportedly went from an offer around $30 million to one over $45 million, it’s unlikely there are any hurt feelings over this process.
In free agency, the market dictates what one is worth. Clearly, there was some interest in Reaves as a max player from other teams, so the Lakers stepped up and made sure they had a fair offer on the table.
But before they just gave Reaves a higher number, they tried to do something team-friendly, and that was a good way to go through this process.
While the 2026 NBA Draft is now in the rearview mirror, the Lakers are still making roster moves. A move they made June 25 is sure to bring a lot of smiles to basketball fans.
Jon Chepkevich ofDraft Express broke news on Thursday that the Lakers have signed Robbie Avila to an Exhibit 10 contract after Avila wasn’t drafted.
This contract means that Avila has agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed deal for the league minimum salary with the Lakers.
Former Saint Louis forward Robbie Avila (right) signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Lakers. AP
This Exhibit 10 contract can also be converted to a two-way contract, which would then result in any bonus money (which can reach up to $75,000) becoming guaranteed.
Avila is a 22-year-old, 6-foot-10 center who played his first two college basketball seasons at Indiana State before transferring to Saint Louis.
He averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game with the Billikens during his senior season, which was enough to earn him A-10 Player of the Year honors.
Avila has become a college basketball fan favorite because of his unique, eccentric look. He doesn’t have the typical body type of a basketball star, plus the glasses he wears on the court have provided several hilarious nicknames, including “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” (which is fitting, now that he’s with the Lakers).
Now Los Angeles didn’t sign Avila because it would go over with fans. He’s a versatile forward who is an excellent passer for his size and position. Plus, Avila shot 41% from 3-point range during his senior season and 37.9% from 3 throughout his college career, which shows he can expand the floor.
As the night closed on the second round of the NBA Draft, the New York Knicks, fresh off their NBA Championship, finally made (and retained) two draft picks. However, that's a story for another time. The real story is that, during the NBA Draft, the Knicks acquired the draft rights to three international players, which means that the Knicks now hold the draft rights to 19 different international players.
Yes, you read that right. The Knicks hold the draft rights to 19 different international players. If you wanted to follow Basketball Reference’s leadand only count active players, the Knicks hold the rights to 13 international players. No other NBA team currently holds the rights to more than four.
So what are the Knicks doing? Is there a benefit to them holding the draft rights to this many players?
In short, no. Having the draft rights to international players does have a benefit, especially for a team like the Knicks, who are relatively cap-strapped, since they don't want to go over the second apron. If you have the draft rights to an international player, you can technically have that player as part of your organization without having to pay them. So if you, like the Knicks, drafted a 20-year-old guard from Germany and didn't want him to count against your salary cap, you could keep him in Germany for another year or two and allow him to grow and develop his game without having to count him towards your salary cap. Those players could then come stateside to be a part of your team or be used in a trade as a little sweetener. For the player who is retired, like some of the players the Knicks have the rights to, there's no real reason beyond the team simply not wanting to renounce the rights.
For the Knicks, it's grown into something else. One of the players they acquired the draft rights to this season is 39 years old and was drafted back in 2009. The Knicks also retain the rights to three players who are over 40 years old, including one who is 43 years old now and was drafted back in 2005.
So, who are these players the Knicks have the draft rights to, and will any of them ever play in the NBA?
New York Knicks International Draft Rights
James Nnaji
Nnaji is one of the few players fans may know on this list because he made headlines when he enrolled in college and played at Baylor despite having already been an NBA draft pick. He averaged just 1.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18 games for the Bears. Nnaji was taken by the Pistons with the first pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He was almost immediately traded to Boston and then Charlotte within two days. The Knicks acquired him in October 2024 as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns deal. He's just 21 years old and still an active player who played for the Knicks in summer league last year.
Rokas Jokubaitis
There was a lot of hype around Jokubaitis from long-suffering Knicks fans. The Knicks originally drafted the Lithuanian point guard with the fourth pick in the second round back in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has played in the summer league for the Knicks twice, averaging 9.8 points and 3.8 assists in 2024-25. He's just 25 years old, but he no longer seems like a realistic option to ever play for the Knicks.
Melvin Ajinca
Ajinca was originally drafted by the Knicks in the 2024 NBA Draft and immediately traded to Dallas. Two nights ago, the Mavericks traded the 21-year-old French forward back to the Knicks. He played 63 games for ASVEL Basket this past season, averaging 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while shooting 36.6% from the field. Even though he's young, he's a long shot to ever play for the Knicks.
Hugo Besson
Besson is one of the youngest players on this list and is currently active. The 25-year-old French point guard was drafted by the Pacers in the 2022 NBA Draft and immediately traded to Milwaukee. The Bucks then traded his rights to the Knicks in February of last season, along with Delon Wright. Besson played in the summer league in 2024-25 and played 23 minutes a game in Turkey this season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 46 games.
Tadija Dragicevic
Dragicevic is the first of the 40-year-olds that we'll discuss (I'm 41, so this is an OK topic of conversation). The 6'9" Serbian power forward was originally drafted by the Jazz in 2008 and has since had his rights traded four times. The last of which was a 2020 trade from Houston to New York. Dragicevic was 34 years old at the time the Knicks acquired his rights.
Bojan Dubljevic
Dubljevic is a Montenegrin power forward who was originally drafted by the Timberwolves in 2013. They traded him to Portland six years later, and then the Knicks acquired him from Portland in 2023 when he was 31 years old. Even then, he was not going to come play in the NBA, and that's even less likely now at 34 years old, even though he is still playing in Spain and averaging 20 minutes a game with 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds a game.
Axel Hervelle
Hervelle is 43 years old and was drafted by the Nuggets in the second round in 2005. He was traded to the Rockets in 2009 and then later acquired by the Knicks in 2020 when he was 37 years old.
Ognjen Jaramaz
Jaramaz is one of the few players originally drafted by the Knicks. The Knicks took the Serbian shooting guard with the 28th pick of the second round in the 2017 NBA Draft, and he played in NBA summer league for them that season. He played in the Adriatic League this season, averaging 6.5 points and 2.2 assists per game at 30 years old.
Petteri Koponen
Koponen is one of the only first-round picks on this list. He was drafted by the 76ers with the 30th overall pick in 2007 but was immediately traded to Portland. Portland traded him to Dallas in 2011 before the Knicks acquired him in June 2024, when he was 36 years old.
Sergio Llull
Llull is one of a few international players the Knicks acquired the rights to from the Rockets in 2020, along with Austin Rivers. The Spanish point guard was originally drafted by the Nuggets in 2009 and was immediately traded to Houston. Lull is still playing in Spain at 37 years old and is also an Olympic Silver Medalist.
Luka Mitrovic
A Serbian power forward, Mitrovic was drafted by the 76ers in the 2015 draft and was traded just a month later to the Kings. The Knicks acquired the 33-year-old last June in a trade with the Clippers that also sent Mohamed Diawara to the Knicks in exchange for Kobe Sanders. Mitrovic played summer league for Sacramento in 2016-17 and is currently playing in Moscow, where he averaged 5.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists this season.
Mojave King
King is a 24-year-old guard from New Zealand who was drafted by the Lakers in the second round in 2023 and has already been traded four times. The most recent of which was when the Rockets dealt him to the Knicks just two days ago. He played in the G League back in the 2023-24 season and averaged 11.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while playing in Australia this season. He did shoot 41.1% from beyond the arc, but he still seems like a long shot to ever make it to the NBA.
Brad Newley
Newley is one of the 40-year-olds to whom the Knicks own the draft rights. The 41-year-old was originally drafted by Houston in 2007 and traded 10 years later to the Lakers. The Knicks then acquired his draft rights in 2022 when he was 36 years old.
Emir Preldzic
The Turkish forward owns the honor of being the most traded player on this list. He was originally drafted by the Suns in the 2009 NBA Draft and has been traded seven different times. The Knicks acquired him in 2021 from the Suns when he was 33 years old. At 38 years old now, it's safe to say that Preldzic is not coming over to the NBA.
Nikola Radicevic
Radicevic was another Denver draft pick, originally selected in the 2015 draft and traded five years later to the Pistons. The Knicks acquired the 32-year-old back in 2022 in a deal that sent Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel to the Pistons. Radicevic is playing in Lithuania and averaged 8.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.
Juan Pablo Vaulet
Vaulet is relatively young for this list at 30 years old. The Argentine forward was drafted by the Hornets in 2015 and immediately traded to the Nets. He was traded back and forth between the Nets and Pacers a couple of times, and then traded from the Nets to the Knicks in July of 2024. He is still playing in Europe and averaged 10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 20 minutes per game this season
Latavious Williams
Williams is the lone American on the list. The 37-year-old was drafted in the middle of the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Heat and immediately traded to the Thunder. The Thunder traded him to the Pelicans in 2015, but he was traded to the Knicks in the Jose Alvarado deal this year. Williams has played 11 international games in the last two seasons, including eight games this season in Venezuela.
Wang Zhelin
Zhelin is a Chinese center who was originally drafted by the Grizzlies in 2016. The Knicks acquired the 32-year-old from the Lakers in 2022 in exchange for the rights to Louis Labeyrie (more on that below). Zhelin is still playing in China and averaging 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds a game.
Chinemelu Elonu
Elonu is 39 years old. The 6'10" 235-pound (maybe when he played) Nigerian center played at Texas A&M from 2006 to 2009 and was a 2nd round pick of the Lakers in the 2009 NBA Draft. The Knicks just acquired his draft rights last night.
Louis Labeyrie
Labeyrie is a fun one because the Pacers drafted him in 2014 and then immediately traded him to the Knicks. The French forward actually played in the Summer League for the Knicks, but never came over to join the team. They traded him to the Lakers in 2012, but clearly coveted his draft rights again, so the Knicks traded for the 34-year-old during this year's draft. He played in France this season and averaged 5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Nick Boyd #2 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts while playing the High Point Panthers during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors have signed undrafted free agent guard Nick Boyd out of Wisconsin to an Exhibit 10 contract, per ProMondo Sports (presumably his agency). Boyd was actually ranked higher in Sam Vecenie’s draft rankings for The Athletic than Warriors second-round pick Lajae Jones (53 vs. 99). Exhibit 10 deals are non-guaranteed but include small bonuses (less than $100,000) designed to incentive players to join a team’s G-League affiliate when they likely do not make the team. Exhibit 10 contracts primarily function to help NBA teams fill out their rosters, which expand to 21 in the offseason for summer league and the preseason. Each team is allowed up to six Exhibit 10 contracts. They may be converted to a two-way deal prior to the start of the regular season as well.
Boyd spent the first four years of his college career at Florida Atlantic, where he was recruited and played under new Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May. Boyd came off the bench as a freshman, but redshirted his sophomore year to focus on his development. He was the team’s starting point guard when he returned, helping them on their Final Four run in 2024. He saw his playing time decline the following season, however, and he transferred to San Diego State.
After one season as a floor general in the Mountain West, Boyd transferred to Wisconsin. In his lone season in a Power-Four conference, Boyd’s production exploded. He led the Badgers in scoring, averaging 20.7 points per game, while averaging 4.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 48.0%/36.5%/83.0% shooting. They finished the season 24-11 and ranked 25th in the final AP poll.
Vecenie describes Boyd as an “Undersized but crafty floor general who gets paint touches but is already 25.” Boyd is limited by a 6’1 frame and 6’2 wingspan and no elite tools. He is a solid driver and finisher for his size and has flashed above-average catch-and-shoot ability, but has struggled as a pull up shooter. He is a good passer with decent vision, but is not exceptional.
With LJ Cryer already on a two-way contract, it seems like Boyd would have an uphill battle to a two-way deal or roster spot unless the Dubs fail to sign another ball handler in free agency and opt to promote Cryer to the active roster.
(@LawMurrayTheNU) June 25, 2026
