The Kentucky Basketball team started practicing earlier this month, and one of the biggest surprise performers thus far has been James Madison transfer Justin McBride. One reason for that is the offseason work he has put in before arriving in Lexington.
McBride, who previously played for Oklahoma State, Nevada, and most recently, James Madison, is listed at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds on Kentucky’s roster list. Those listed numbers are bigger than any of his previous stops, but he is currently in the best shape of his career.
According to one source, McBride has lost 10-12 pounds of fat from his top playing weight at James Madison. That has allowed him to be more mobile in practice, a pleasant surprise to what the staff was expecting of him coming in.
Randle was the SEC Rookie of the Year and an All-American in his one season at Kentucky, so high praise for McBride. However, Pope is not comparing McBride to Randle in terms of talent, but in terms of style.
McBride grades excellent as a catch-and-shoot guy in analytics, shooting 40% from deep last season, an ability that Randle has shown in the NBA. Also similar to Randle, he can use his size to get to his spots in the paint and muscle his way for a rebound.
Having a bully-ball kind of player, who is also efficient from 3-point range, is a welcome addition for a Kentucky program that has struggled with physicality in recent seasons.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks celebrates with his daughter during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
From 2002 to 2020, the Knicks were an abysmal franchise. I know that, you know that, the less said about it, the better.
There are a lot of reasons why one of the league’s biggest teams in the biggest market stayed so irrelevant for so long. Terrible free agent signings, trades, and overall incompetence were big parts, but so was the inability to draft.
They burned top-10 picks on the likes of Mike Sweetney, Channing Frye, Danilo Gallinari, and Jordan Hill in the first decade, passing on guys like Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, Brook Lopez, and DeMar DeRozan.
In the latter era of darkness, they burned top-1o picks on Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox, and Obi Toppin, passing up on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, and Tyrese Haliburton.
All throughout these 20 years, they also failed to effectively hit on mid-first-round picks, didn’t get any production out of second-round prospects, and watched as the picks they traded became guys like Joakim Noah and LaMarcus Aldridge. All that young talent could’ve been wearing orange and blue, but incompetent management bungled it all up.
Sure, there were good picks. Kristaps Porzingis was a bold pick that panned out and RJ Barrett was the predictable, but wise pick after the lottery gods spat on Steve Mills and Phil Jackson’s franchise. But through all the busts and guys who weren’t good enough, there was one pick in the early second round in 2018 that shined through all the dysfunction.
After tiptoeing his way through the graveyard of busts and forgettable has-beens, he’s emerged on the other side as an NBA champion.
Our NBA champion.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mitchell Robinson was born on April 1, 1998, in Pensacola, Florida. He lived there for much of his pre-NBA life, attending Pine Forest High School through his sophomore year, but a major growth spurt turned him into a seven-foot behemoth, prompting him to transfer to Chalmette High School in in Louisiana, where his stock exploded as a junior.
He became one of the best high school basketball players in the nation. As a senior, he averaged 25.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and six blocks a game, leading Chalmette to a district title and their deepest state title run in 32 years. His tremendous season saw him named a McDonald’s All-American, where he scored 14 points and blocked two shots in a game headlined by Michael Porter Jr., DeAndre Ayton, and Mo Bamba.
As a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the entire Class of 2017, he had a wild recruitment. He committed to Texas A&M in April 2015 before his stock exploded, but decommitted after his junior year ended. He then became the best recruit (by a country mile) in Western Kentucky history, enrolling in June 2017.
But after two weeks of practicing with the team, he vanished. He cleaned out his dorm and left campus, deserting and being indefinitely suspended. The big man had second thoughts about his decision, and his godfather, Shammond Williams, was fired as an assistant. He just didn’t want to be there.
He was granted his release and entered the transfer portal, but rules at the time dictated that he was now ineligible for the 2017-18 season. Still seeking a waiver, he visited LSU, Kansas, and New Orleans to see if he could salvage things before deciding in September, on his own, to sit out from organized basketball in his pre-draft season.
It was an unprecedented decision, one that had never been replicated by a serious NBA prospect. He didn’t go overseas, he wasn’t eligible to play in the G-League, and he would just train and wait. It definitely damaged his stock ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft, but his drop ended when the Knicks selected him at No. 36 to pair him with fellow 2017 All-American Kevin Knox in their draft class.
Right out the gate, you could tell this guy was a freak athlete. In his first Summer League, Robinson averaged 13 points and 10.2 rebounds a game, breaking all-time Summer League records for blocks per game (4.0) and offensive rebounds per game (6.2). Even before he officially wore the orange and blue, excitement was palpable.
Mitchell Robinson in a 2018 Summer League game against the Pelicans:
As a rookie, he was an extremely raw product. For a dreadful 65-loss team, he played 66 games (starting 19). After starting the season behind Enes Kanter and Noah Vonleh in the rotation, he was put in the starting lineup in November, but couldn’t stay on the court because of dreadful foul woes. His per-36 average for fouls? 5.7. He would foul out in every single game if he played starters minutes.
As a result, he played just 20 minutes a night. He’d show flashes with a double-double in early November, a nine-block game against Orlando nine days later, another 17/14/6 game against the Magic in February, and a tremendous 19-point, 21-rebound game in a blowout loss to Toronto in March. He was named to Second-Team All-Rookie for his troubles and finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting.
Rookie Mitch was a fever dream. A center with god-given athletic traits that made the sky the limit, even if his offensive game was limited. That playstyle was never sustainable for a long career because of the foul troubles, but it was exhilarating while we saw it. We’ll always have his #26 to remember it by, as he switched his number to 23 to honor two late high school teammates.
He spent much of the 2019-20 season backing up Taj Gibson, as even though he was emerging as the team’s most promising player, his foul trouble necessitated restraint. He slightly improved in that regard and upped his averages to 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. By the time the NBA season was suspended in March due to COVID-19, Robinson had stumbled upon an NBA record.
He had broken Wilt Chamberlain’s record for FG% in a single season, shooting a baffling 74.2% from the field. As crazy as it sounds, he’s exceeded that number since then, shooting 76.1% from the field two years later, but fell just short of qualifying with enough shots to re-break the record.
The first chapter of Robinson’s career closed with the pandemic. The second chapter had begun, one where he was the undisputed starter at center for a rejuvenated team under Tom Thibodeau. His minutes jumped to 27.5/night. His fouls dropped, sacrificing a bit of his bonkers block totals to do so. About 25 games into the season, the first major domino of the next phase of his career fell.
Robinson broke the fourth metacarpal in his right hand on February 12, 2021. He missed about five weeks, returning on March 21. His production was up and down in the ensuing four games, but he went down once again just six days after returning against the Bucks.
A fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot ended his season. The Knicks’ dream run to their first playoff berth in eight years would happen without their starting center, which would have dire consequences as Trae Young and Clint Capela made mincemeat out of Gibson and Nerlens Noel. The injury gave him a long offseason, where the thin, lanky big man bulked up considerably to get stronger in the post (on both ends).
The decision to do that made him look slow and ineffective to start 2021-22. It’s possible for a center to put on too much weight and muscle, especially in the situation of Robinson being a player who relied on athleticism to that point. He played considerably better as the season went on, getting in better shape and ultimately producing a quality year when the rest of the team collapsed around him. He was rewarded with a $60 million extension in the offseason, marking an extreme rarity as a Knicks’ draft pick to earn a second contract.
The following season was more of the same, except team success followed. Robinson was down to 7.4 points a game, but had gotten considerably better on the board, leading the NBA in offensive rebounding for the first time. By the time the season ended, he would finally be unleashed in the first-round series against Cleveland, where he had one of the most dominant series by a low-usage big man in recent history.
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were both All-Stars. Mobley would go on to be a Defensive Player of the Year. Both of them would be picked seven days a week and twice on Sundays over Robinson entering that series. But in that five-game shellacking, he brutalized them so much that he put a dent in both of their reputations that hasn’t been fully buffed out to this day.
He was really starting to come into his own to start 2023-24. He was respected as a premier rim protector and rebounder. The Ringer added him to their Top 100 rankings. His rebounding was on another level. In a 16-game span from late October to late November, he averaged 11.5 rebounds a game. This was it. This was where he would take the next step.
We now begin the third stage in Robinson’s career. In a loss to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in early December, his ankle gave out. A stress fracture in his left ankle seemed to have ended his season, with the Knicks applying for a disabled player exception for deadline flexibility. For months, they assumed he was done for the year.
But he did return. After missing 50 games, he popped back in off the bench on March 27, 2024, backing up his good friend and breakout player Isaiah Hartenstein. His role from there would be limited due to the injury’s proximity, but he still made a major impact when he did play.
He had 8 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a Game 1 win against the Sixers. He was a +20, taking on the assignment of Joel Embiid and staring the former MVP straight in the eye. It was a heavyweight battle for the ages.
Until it wasn’t. Embiid yanked down Robinson by his ankles in Game 3, re-aggravating his ankle injury and taking him out for the next game and a half. He’d return to play Games 5 and 6, along with Game 1 against Indiana, but would soon be shut down once again with the injury. Initially, it was believed not to be that bad, but his injury held him out a lot longer than anyone expected.
First, Ian Begley reported the team was targeting a Christmas return. Then January passed. He was still in street clothes. By the time he returned on February 28, 2025, that bum left ankle had cost him a baffling 108 games of his career. The injury had a big domino effect, as it resulted in Hartenstein pricing himself out and the Knicks getting desperate to trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.
At this point, the injury woes were piling up. He was close to something truly special, but the Knicks were now forced to effectively keep him on a leash with his playing time. The team’s defense fell off big time with him injured in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. They needed him.
When he returned, he played 15 minutes a game behind Towns. He had a few strong games, notably a 14/14 game in 20 minutes against a depleted Sixers team, but the real test was playoff intensity.
He certainly had his moments. He grabbed eight offensive rebounds in Game 5 against Detroit. Despite not doing much scoring, his mere presence was a major part of the Knicks’ two comeback wins against Boston. With the starting lineups’ ineffectiveness mounting, Robinson was inserted into the starting lineup in Game 3 against Indiana for his first playoff start since 2023, but was ineffective against their fast-paced playstyle.
Heading into 2025-26, a critical contract year for the longest tenured Knick, the training staff had enough. After his first healthy offseason in a good bit, they enacted strict rules. His minutes would be capped, he would not play back-to-backs, and he would occasionally be held out for multiple games to manage soreness when it arises.
To their credit, despite him missing Opening Night and having some odd absences, he made it through completely healthy. His 60 games played were the most since 2021-22. He still managed to make 16 starts, but he was only playing 19.6 minutes a game.
His impact was present as ever. Whatever role the Knicks needed from him, he provided. He still grabbed back-breaking rebounds, his touch around the rim tremendously improved, and he got lift back in his leaps. His FG% was back up to 72.3 percent. He had re-emerged as a big lob threat. His per-36 averages of 7.7 OREB and 16.1 rebounds a game were jaw-dropping.
In a season more defined by his consistency, he still managed to put up a big 21/16 game off the bench and grab a career-high 22 rebounds against Indiana in mid-March. By playoff time, the secret weapon was intact, and even got a first-place vote for Sixth Man of the Year for his troubles.
How did he do come playoff time? He had some good games, namely Game 2 against Atlanta, but struggled in others. He was somehow a +29 in 8:35 in that Game 6 bludgeoning before getting ejected for a fight with Dyson Daniels.
He sat out of Game 2 against Philly (likely matching Embiid’s injury flare-up), but was otherwise extremely durable (except for the broken pinky, I guess). Oh yeah, he also postered him.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 31: A general view of street art of New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson dunking on Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid on May 31, 2026, in Midtown Manhattan in New York, NY. This art is based on a photo taken during Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The New York Knicks are the 2026 Eastern Conference Champions and are playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Knicks were NBA champions in 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
He was effective throughout the postseason, even if the stats didn’t jump out at you.
…except for the Hack-a-Mitch. We haven’t mentioned this whole time that Robinson is one of the worst free-throw shooters in NBA history. No matter how hard he works on it, he just can’t crack it. He would get repeatedly played off the floor in this postseason due to it, and it impacted his play. Mike Brown was handcuffed at times. I guess the silver lining was that teams who utilized it immediately got the worst karma ever (cough cough, Cavs and Spurs).
Robinson’s postseason was missing the big moment. Then Game 5 of the NBA Finals rolled around.
In a series defined by Towns’ foul trouble and Robinson’s inability to cover all the minutes for a variety of factors, he was the one thrown onto the court in the final minutes as the Knicks looked to finish off the comeback and close out a championship.
With 26.1 seconds left, the Knicks led by three with Josh Hart at the line. A made free throw would give them firm control of this game, but a miss would allow the Spurs to have a glimmer of hope.
The ball was released from Hart’s hands and rolled off the rim. In the moment, Robinson is jostling with 7’5″ Victor Wembanyama.
Time slows down.
Robinson is the only player on this roster who experienced the dark ages. His first career game was coached by David Fizdale. The executive who picked him was Steve Mills. They went 17-65 when he was a rookie.
He came into a franchise that was looking not just for a star, but for foundational pieces. Frank Ntilikina was a bust. Kevin Knox was a bust. RJ Barrett was just okay. Kristaps Porzingis, with whom he was briefly teammates, was traded.
He lived through Fizdale’s dysfunction. He lived through the nightmare of the 2019 draft lottery. He lived through Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving spurning them for Nic Claxton’s Brooklyn Nets.
He was on the court when Vince Carter ended the 2019-20 season with a memorable final basket. He was in the starting lineup when the Knicks returned from COVID-19 in late December 2020.
Throughout every era this team has gone through since, from dysfunction to revival to disappointment to steady ascension. It had brought him here. To this moment.
All of his compatriots are gone. Barrett is a Raptor. Julius Randle is now in Brooklyn. Immanuel Quickley is also in Toronto. Obi Toppin is in Indiana. Knox is… somewhere. Tom Thibodeau is maybe enjoying retirement. Fizdale and Mills are hopefully rueing their tenures here.
Everyone who was around him when he was a young pup is gone. The only player in the organization who was here before Brunson changed everything in July 2022 is Deuce McBride, who’s the only other one to experience a losing season in New York (37-45 isn’t even that bad).
Regardless of how this series goes, regardless of if this is his final game in New York because of his impending free agency and lucrative market, he’ll go down as the bridge between eras. The one bright spot in a depressing post-Melo world that lived to see the Knicks be relevant.
But relevant isn’t good enough. It never was good enough.
He outmuscled the still-maturing Wembanyama and gobbled up the offensive rebound, kicking it out before he could be intentionally fouled. OG Anunoby would make one of his free throws, providing the distance that the Knicks needed. Of course, there’d be more free throws and dramatics to follow, but making it a two-possession game fundamentally changed everything.
The man who’s spent the last four years as the greatest offensive rebounder on the planet did it in the biggest spot of his entire career, broken pinky and all. Maybe he didn’t need to do it to become a champion, but he did nonetheless. And then he got to ride one of his massive monster trucks at the parade.
If this is it, thanks for everything, Big Mitch. You’re an NBA champion.
–
(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
Days after the Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s been another blockbuster trade. The Charlotte Hornets reportedly will send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and a haul of draft picks and swaps.
The draft picks going back to Charlotte include Minnesota’s 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), Charania said.
Ball, who turns 25 in August, spent his first six seasons with the Hornets after being drafted third overall in 2020. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 303 regular-season games, winning Rookie of the Year in 2021 and being named an All-Star in 2022.
Now, Ball will join the No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 draft — Anthony Edwards — to form an explosive backcourt. The Timberwolves are coming off their fifth straight postseason appearance, which ended with a second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Ball has never played in a playoff game in his career.
For the Hornets, this deal comes after their best season in a decade. They went 44-38 but lost in the Play-In as they still seek their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Reid, who turns 27 in August, will add some much-needed size and experience to Charlotte’s young roster. The seven-year veteran was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2024, with 48 games of playoff experience.
The real haul for the Hornets, though, could be the treasure chest of draft picks they just acquired. While the Timberwolves are projected to be a strong team next season, the picks are spaced out over the next seven years. Charlotte could eventually add some high-end talent, or use these assets in other future trades.
Days after the Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s been another blockbuster trade. The Charlotte Hornets reportedly will send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and a haul of draft picks and swaps.
The draft picks going back to Charlotte include Minnesota’s 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), Charania said.
Ball, who turns 25 in August, spent his first six seasons with the Hornets after being drafted third overall in 2020. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 303 regular-season games, winning Rookie of the Year in 2021 and being named an All-Star in 2022.
Now, Ball will join the No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 draft — Anthony Edwards — to form an explosive backcourt. The Timberwolves are coming off their fifth straight postseason appearance, which ended with a second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Ball has never played in a playoff game in his career.
For the Hornets, this deal comes after their best season in a decade. They went 44-38 but lost in the Play-In as they still seek their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Reid, who turns 27 in August, will add some much-needed size and experience to Charlotte’s young roster. The seven-year veteran was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2024, with 48 games of playoff experience.
The real haul for the Hornets, though, could be the treasure chest of draft picks they just acquired. While the Timberwolves are projected to be a strong team next season, the picks are spaced out over the next seven years. Charlotte could eventually add some high-end talent, or use these assets in other future trades.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has a new job with his old team. But he wasn’t traded away by Boston in any deal related to the NBA Draft this week, contrary to recent rumors.
He instead returned to Colorado, where his old college in Boulder introduced him as its first president of basketball strategy. This is a volunteer job that White, 31, will work on the side as he tries to help the Buffaloes get back to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time since 2024, when they also had three NBA draft picks.
Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo called the hiring “transformational” at a news conference June 24.
White himself said he doesn’t “know too much about college athletics” and its turbulent current landscape but hopes to serve as a resource for the program in several ways, including by giving $2 million to the men’s basketball program.
“The first thing I want to do is learn,” White said. “I know that I’ve learned a lot in the NBA, but this is a whole new position, whole new title, whole new everything that I don’t really know that much about.”
Why Derrick White is latest to join this trend
This is the latest in a recent string of college basketball programs hiring former players who currently are in the NBA. The general goal is to leverage the star power of the player to help attract recruits in the age of unlimited annual player transfers and the constant need to come up with more money to pay players. At Colorado, the football team similarly leveraged the fame of coach Deion Sanders to help generate buzz and rebuild a dormant brand after hiring him in December 2022.
Colorado head men's basketball coach Tad Boyle had a more colorful way to sum up the larger college sports environment Wednesday:
“College athletics is a little messed up right now.”
So he wants White to help navigate it with his background as an NBA champion and Colorado native. Boyle, Colorado’s all-time winningest coach, even was moved to tears at the news conference as he enters his 17th season in Boulder.
Here is a list of NBA players hired at their old colleges
These NBA players are generally volunteering their time and sometimes giving their old colleges money, too.
∎ Steph Curry, Davidson: The Golden State Warriors legend appears to have started this trend when he was named assistant general manager for the men’s and women’s basketball teams at his alma mater in March 2025. He was helping set up an eight-figure fund to help support them.
∎ Trae Young, Oklahoma: The current Washington Wizards star was announced in late March 2025 as the assistant general manager for men’s basketball at his alma mater, Oklahoma. He also made a $1 million donation to the program.
∎ Desmond Bane, TCU: On June 22, TCU announced the Orlando Magic guard and former TCU player would serve as the program’s “chief basketball officer” to help advise the team and serve as a “liaison to the NBA.”
∎ Damian Lillard, Weber State: Last August, Weber State named the Portland Trail Blazers star as the general manager of its men’s basketball program to help serve as an advisor and mentor of his former college team.
∎ Terance Mann, Florida State: The current Brooklyn Nets guard was named as Florida State’s assistant general manager in April 2025. His job is to help support “strategic roster management, optimization of talent acquisition and developing future professional basketball players,” according to the school.
What are the upsides and downsides to these roles?
Any money and publicity can help these programs break through in a crowded college basketball landscape. That’s what these NBA players bring to these colleges at a minimum. It’s just not clear how involved they can be in college recruiting and roster management when their day jobs as NBA players take priority for much of the year.
Being a good pro basketball player also might not always translate into being a good college general manager, but it could. Some cases might seem like marketing gimmicks as a result. For the schools, there’s still almost no downside to it if these players are giving their time, money and names to the effort with no compensation in return.
“Obviously, I’m busy,” White said of his job with the Celtics. “But like if someone got a question and they want to reach out to me, I want to be a resource to the players. I want to be a resource to the coaching staff.”
What is Derrick White getting into here at Colorado?
This is the kind of profile Colorado hopes to leverage after struggling to navigate the wide-open transfer era that started in 2024, just as Colorado was peaking with three NBA draft picks whom Boyle had developed as high school recruits: Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson.
This past season, the Buffs finished 17-16 and lost three of their top four scorers to the transfer portal, including freshman leading scorer Isaiah Johnson, who left for Texas.
Boyle said White’s role would be “fluid” but he would help with recruiting and as a team resource to tap into for learning.
“We have a job title, but I’m not sure we have a job description,” Boyle said.
A parting joke from Tad Boyle
Boyle, 63, said White also could help with a transition plan for a new coach whenever Boyle departs the program.
But what is the first thing he wants White to do in his new role?
“The first thing I would say is I want to get a good lawyer, a local judge and get a temporary restraining order to get an extra year of eligibility for Derrick,” Boyle said. “That’s what I would like to do first.”
Boston, MA - December 19: Former Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas sits next to Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm. The Celtics played the Miami Heat at TD Garden on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
In May, the Boston Celtics reunited with legendary guard Isaiah Thomas by hiring the former two-time All-Star as a professional/collegiate scout.
The plan, as previously reported by The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, was for Thomas to work from his hometown of Seattle and relay intel to Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. But as the organization prepared to make its two selections (No. 27 and No. 40) in this year’s NBA Draft, Thomas went to great lengths to assist Boston in any way possible before, during, and after the Celtics made their selections.
When the draft combine began in Chicago over six weeks ago, Thomas joined Celtics executives in attendance to help the team interview prospects. The 37-year-old, formerly selected with the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, underwent his first combine, watching from the perspective of an organizational representative rather than a player. There, Thomas also helped Boston evaluate talent before it became time on Tuesday night to make their first of two selections.
Boston selected 6-foot-11 forward Chris Cenac Jr., 27th overall, out of the University of Houston. The following day, after the 19-year-old shook commissioner Adam Silver’s hand at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and officially became a professional, Thomas met face-to-face with Cenac at Boston’s practice facility in Brighton, Massachusetts.
“Excited for the young killa!!! Let’s getit,” Thomas posted on X over a photo taken with Cenac at the Auerbach Center.
Thomas stuck around the practice facility for the second night. He joined Stevens in Boston’s draft room, awaiting the organization’s turn to make its pick at No. 40. When the time arrived, and the Celtics went with 22-year-old forward Dillon Mitchell from St. John’s, Thomas made the call to submit Boston’s selection on behalf of the team — a moment the Celtics shared across their social media pages.
The dozens of Celtics scouts, executives, and other team representatives surrounding Thomas opened up a round of applause for their newly-hired scout.
For years before his unofficial retirement following the 2023-24 season, Thomas frequently publicized his desire to rejoin the Celtics — at any capacity. He’s now back with Stevens, his former head coach, and Jaylen Brown (for now), his former teammate, contributing behind the scenes to the organization’s pursuit of its next championship.
Thomas never reached the mountaintop during his illustrious three-year run as Boston’s “King of the Fourth,” but still managed to — against all odds — leave a mark in the team’s storied history as one of the best to sport a Celtics uniform.
Now off the court, Thomas will strive to help the Celtics achieve NBA glory in a different, but still impactful role, as part of his return to Boston.
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball on the Portland Trail Blazers center court logo during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 31, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Portland Trail Blazers entered the offseason searching for stability at head coach, and while they found a new man to put in charge, they have triggered league-wide backlash with how they finalized their hire.
The Blazers signed former Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori on what was initially described as a multiyear agreement, only for details to reveal a true one-year guaranteed deal with team options and incentive-based pay.
Pistons HC J.B. Bickerstaff called out the unconventional structure of Micah Nori's contract with the Trail Blazers 😳
Nori’s deal with Portland includes only one guaranteed year, with team options on the second and third years of the deal. The contract also includes a… pic.twitter.com/trffOkEFBg
That structure, however, should surprise nobody. Enter world-renowned frugal penny-pincher Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon.
Since taking over, Dundon has faced repeated criticism for cost-cutting decisions across the organization. The Athletic reported measures such as limiting travel accommodations—no two-way players allowed in postseason trips—cutting staff expenses—salaries down and team broadcasters fired—and previously offering below-market deals to coaching candidates, including interim coach Tiago Splitter before he left for another job—Dundon reportedly refused to offer Splitter more than $1-$1.5 million.
Against that backdrop, the Nori contract just reinforced the growing perception that Portland Tommy D is only and blatantly prioritizing financial flexibility and keeping his pockets safe over long-term investment and building a professional, competitive, let alone winning, basketball team.
J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach of the Detroit Pistons and president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, publicly blasted the Blazers’ approach and deal signed with Nori on Wednesday.
“I understand his story and his journey to get to the spot where he was able to get this opportunity, and I don’t want to take away from what should be a special moment for him, for his family, and a job that’s well deserved and earned,” Bickerstaff told ESPN. “That’s first and foremost.”
Bickerstaff then emphasized that his criticism was not aimed at Nori, a longtime assistant finally receiving a head-coaching opportunity, but at the conditions attached to it and the precedent set by accepting the deal.
“But I feel like he was put in a situation that he shouldn’t be put in with having to make a choice of this nature because of the structure of what the contract is,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s unfortunate that you have a dream, and from our perspective, it’s like someone’s taking advantage of your dream and devaluing what we feel like coaches have earned over the years.
“You think about the sacrifice, the time, the growth that coaches have helped and done with the NBA, and then for someone to come in and attempt to devalue the work that coaches have in this league is extremely disappointing.”
The concern extends beyond Nori’s salary and term with the Blazers, but more worryingly into how such a short, incentive-laden deal could affect team dynamics.
“It changes the math on where a coach stands, and it creates an environment where how do you hold players accountable when it looks like you are easily replaced and removed if things don’t go the way that players may see it going,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s almost, which is disappointing, a mindset of the substitute teacher being there with no guarantee or support [regarding] what it looks like long term or in the future.
“I’ve talked to a lot of coaches — head coaches, assistant coaches — who are extremely concerned. It’s a very serious matter to us as coaches to make sure that we protect the value of coaching staffs. It’s years and years of work that coaches have put in to put ourselves in this position and to put future coaches in the position where our value remains and isn’t disregarded because of a power flux of ownership.”
On top of that pile of excrement, Nori’s deal also comes after a delightfully turbulent coaching stretch in Portland that might not have an end in sight and could make it hellaciously hard for the Trail Blazers to escape from and rebuild the appeal of the position to future candidates.
Former head coach Chauncey Billups was extended before being removed from the organization following legal issues, leaving Portland paying for his contract while restarting its head coach search. Splitter took over and was willing to say, but Dundon decided against it, and Tiago is now about to lead the Chicago Bulls.
At the end of the day, the reaction from Bickerstaff and others highlights a fear about contracts such as the bizarre one offered by the Blazers and signed by Nori, as they could reshape expectations for coaching security across the league.
Whether the Blazers’ approach becomes a one-off experiment or a model others attempt to replicate is still unknown. For now, if you want to know more, check out fellow SBN blog Blazers’ Edge and Dave Deckard’s extraordinary post about the situation.
The Warriors once again will have veteran depth at the center position.
Al Horford will decline his $6 million player option for the 2026-27 NBA season and intends to sign a new two-year, $14 million deal with Golden State, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported Thursday morning, citing sources.
Golden State's Al Horford is declining his player option and intends to sign a new two-year, $14 million deal to stay with the Warriors, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Horford, 40, becomes only the 13th player in NBA history to reach 20 seasons. pic.twitter.com/Tuu4oYb9hV
The Warriors originally signed Horford to a two-year, $11.6 million contract last offseason, with the fully guaranteed contract utilizing the team’s taxpayer mid-level exception.
“I want to see it through,” Horford told ESPN. “[Jimmy Butler’s ACL injury] kind of put a damper on things. Jimmy is a very special player, and he was doing so much for us. I feel like things were starting to turn.”
“Me being here a year, being acclimated with [coach Steve] Kerr, with Steph, with everybody else, I feel like we can continue to take steps forward and have a better season.”
In 45 games (13 starts) with Golden State last season, Horford averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game on 42.6-percent shooting from the field and 36.1 percent from 3-point range in 21.5 minutes per game.
The 40-year-old big man will provide the Warriors center depth, potentially behind veteran free agent Kristaps Porziņģis, who Golden State reportedly is working toward an agreement with this offseason after acquiring the big man from the Atlanta Hawks before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Horford will play in his 20th NBA season with the Warriors, and potentially 21st if he plays out the second season of his new deal.
“It’s hard to believe,” Horford told ESPN when asked about becoming just the 13th player in league history to reach a 20th season. “It’s something that, for me, I’m very grateful. It’s just so hard to be in this league for that amount of years. There’s a lot of commitment, a lot of sacrifice and time. I still feel like I’m able to contribute and have an impact on a team.”
Days after the Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s been another blockbuster trade. The Charlotte Hornets reportedly will send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and a haul of draft picks and swaps.
The draft picks going back to Charlotte include Minnesota’s 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), Charania said.
Ball, who turns 25 in August, spent his first six seasons with the Hornets after being drafted third overall in 2020. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 303 regular-season games, winning Rookie of the Year in 2021 and being named an All-Star in 2022.
Now, Ball will join the No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 draft — Anthony Edwards — to form an explosive backcourt. The Timberwolves are coming off their fifth straight postseason appearance, which ended with a second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Ball has never played in a playoff game in his career.
For the Hornets, this deal comes after their best season in a decade. They went 44-38 but lost in the Play-In as they still seek their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Reid, who turns 27 in August, will add some much-needed size and experience to Charlotte’s young roster. The seven-year veteran was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2024, with 48 games of playoff experience.
The real haul for the Hornets, though, could be the treasure chest of draft picks they just acquired. While the Timberwolves are projected to be a strong team next season, the picks are spaced out over the next seven years. Charlotte could eventually add some high-end talent, or use these assets in other future trades.
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 second round has come and gone, meaning the 2026 NBA Draft is officially concluded.
For the third time in four years, the Mountain West did not have anyone drafted within the top-60. Last year, the conference had two names — Nique Clifford and Kobe Sanders — hear their names called with the 24th and 50th picks, respectively. Alas, there still should be multiple former players from Mountain West programs who will be on a roster by the start of Summer League, which begins next month.
Without further ado, let’s dive into it!
Corey Camper Jr., G, Nevada:
Team: Phoenix Suns
The Suns have signed Nevada G Corey Camper Jr. as an undrafted free agent, per @ontimeagencygrp.
Camper Jr. averaged 16.6 PPG/4.8 RPG/2.7 APG/39.9 3P% and was All-Mountain West First Team this past season. pic.twitter.com/9AO58b97Jp
Skinny: I am probably higher on Camper than most individuals. Truthfully, I thought he was a better prospect than former Nevada guard Kobe Sanders coming out of school. To me, he completely flew under the radar since he wasn’t invited to either the G-League Elite Camp or the NBA Draft combine last month.
Camper averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals in his lone season with the Wolf Pack, shooting 45.3 percent from the floor with a 57.4 percent true shooting percentage. Camper was one of the Wolf Pack’s most impactful defender most nights, defending multiple positions. His shot also became far more consistent in the second half of the season, shooting 43.3 percent from deep in MW. There will be questions as to whether that’s a fluke (since it was his only good shooting season) or for real. Color me biased, but I think it’s the latter. There is legitimate 3-and-D upside here — one worth betting on, at least.
This is a developing news story. Stay tuned for more updates!
A look at the winners and losers of the first round of the NBA draft:
Winners
76ers
A home run of a pick, landing Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22. He should’ve gone in the late teens at worst.
The 76ers found a gem in Labaron Philon Jr. late in the first round of the NBA draft, The Post’s Zach Braziller writes. Getty Images
He was one of college basketball’s top guards last season, averaging 22 points, five assists and shooting 39.9 percent from distance on 6.1 attempts. He’s terrific going to the basket, has a sweet jumper and made a major leap from his freshman to sophomore season.
Teams were concerned that he would struggle to hold up defensively at only 176 pounds.
But with Philadelphia, he’s a third guard, behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. That’s a heckuva young trio, all 25 or younger.
Spurs
San Antonio addressed a major weakness that hampered it in the playoffs: big man depth behind Victor Wembanyama.
They used the 20th pick on Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance, then traded for a second first-round pick, and used No. 26 on Connecticut’s Tarris Reed Jr. Quaintance is a lottery-level talent with injury questions after playing in just four games this past season after ACL surgery.
The Spurs drafted Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance to provide some big man depth behind Victor Wembanyama. Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
It was a worthwhile gamble. Odds are, he won’t play much next year, but could be a major factor in time. Reed is not a prototypical NBA big man, because he doesn’t shoot 3s or guard well in space. But he’s physical, tough and can be an enforcer type.
Thunder
Did Oklahoma City find an answer for its Wembanyama problem? Aday Mara, the Thunder’s pick at No. 12, is at least an option.
The 7-foot-3 center is a defensive dynamo who helped lead Michigan to its first national championship in 37 years in April. The more size you can throw at Wemby, the better.
The Thunder drafted 7-foot-3 Aday Mara with the No. 12 pick of the draft with hopes that he can be another big man to help contain Victor Wembanyama. Getty Images
At No. 16, the Thunder added Iowa sharpshooting guard Bennett Stirtz. At worst, he’s a court-spacer. Don’t count him out from being more than that, though.
Losers
Clippers
Keaton Wagler over Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings and Mikel Brown Jr.? The three players the Clippers passed on for him at No. 5 will all be better pros. Wagler isn’t a bad prospect — he just isn’t as good as the aforementioned players.
He doesn’t guard like Flemings and doesn’t have the offensive ceiling of either Acuff or Brown.
Keaton Wagler (above) is a nice player, but the Clippers made a mistake drafting him over Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings and Mikel Brown Jr., The Post’s Zach Braziller writes. AP
Suns
Phoenix traded into the last pick of the first round for Koa Peat, a one-and-done wing out of Arizona who isn’t much of a shooter and doesn’t project as a lockdown defender.
Bizarre. Peat should’ve stayed in school, and the Suns could’ve done much better, whether it was taking Duke wing Isaiah Evans, North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar or Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas.
Knicks fans
Coming off the franchise’s first championship in 53 years, they wanted a fun toy to add to the revelry.
When it came close to their time to pick, Knicks fans started dreaming of keeping the local star home, and picking Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s.
The Hawks beat them to the punch, snagging the Big East Player of the Year with the 23rd pick.
Odds are, the Knicks weren’t making a pick anyway. They made a number of maneuvers to save money and move out of the first round.
Knicks fans did get excited for a moment when they picked Spanish point guard Sergio De Larrea, with the idea of stashing him overseas for a year. But they traded him, too, sending the Spaniard to the Mavericks.
It was a buzzkill night, but if it helps the Knicks bring back two of Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson, it will be a win in the end.
Golden State may not have drafted a franchise-changing player but it picked up a sleeper that can come in and immediately make an impact.
With the No. 11 pick in the first round the Warriors selected Yaxel Lendeborg. He's an NBA-ready prospect who is coming off a national title at Michigan. Lendeborg was a splash selection who was the highest rated prospect on Golden State's board.
He's not someone who commands the ball. He wasn't that guy in college. He's a stud. A ball player. He does whatever is needed for the team. He led Michigan in scoring with 15.1 points per game. He ranked second on the team with 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks a game.
He is the prototypical player the Warriors needed. Lendeborg brings size, length and defensive range that allows him to guard multiple positions during on-ball defensive switch situations. He is a capable shooter who can't be left alone off the ball. He shot 37% during the 2025-26 season at Michigan. He attacks the rim, where he is an efficient finisher through a combination of strength and touch.
Best of all, he's not a ball stopper. The offense doesn't get stagnant when the rock is swung his way. Lendeborg is seen as a connective player. He passes, he screens away and keeps the flow of the offense moving.
Golden State Warriors draft grade: B+
Who is Warriors' second rounder, Lajae Jones?
The Warriors received a B+ grade for their overall draft, not just their first rounder. In the second round, they continued to target two-way wing players who can make an impact.
With the No. 56 pick, Golden State selected Lajae Jones, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Florida State. The Warriors got a dogged player with a chip on his shoulder. Jones' collegiate journey had many stops.
The 22-year-old went to Tarleton State after graduating from Fletcher High School in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Jones didn't see much playing time at Tarleton State so he bet on himself and enrolled at Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas.
Jones led the junior college in scoring, averaging 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds, shooting 54% from the field. He led the team to a 34-3 record – a record that included a 27-game winning streak – and eventually won the national junior college championship title.
He transferred to St. Bonaventure as a junior, where he shot the 3-ball at a 38% clip. Jones finished his collegiate career at Florida State.
Jones now joins a Golden State team that is in need of two-way wing players.
Prior to the draft, the Warriors were looking at Gui Santos as the only healthy player in that mold. As they expect to have back Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler, the Dubs bring in additional wing players to adapt to their system.
The NBA draft just ended, but there already may be some massive hoops news on the horizon.
According to ESPN, the Charlotte Hornets are engaged with multiple teams in discussions about trading point guard LaMelo Ball, who helped revive the Hornets to a 44-38 record this season and a berth in the Play-In Tournament.
Ball has played six seasons in the NBA and averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 72 games this past season. The 24-year-old is a supremely gifted offensive player, though he’s a high-volume shooter prone to stretches of highly inefficient play. Despite that, under the right program and system, Ball could find a new home that would better suit him.
Here are the best fits for LaMelo Ball, if he’s traded from the Hornets:
They just traded Julius Randle, previously the team’s No. 2 scoring threat, and the Timberwolves need to both capitalize on this window to win with star Anthony Edwards, while keeping him happy. It just so happens that the biggest area of need on the roster is at point guard.
And added benefit from Ball is that he’s a player who can create his own shot, which is something Minnesota’s other players struggled with when teams threw double teams at Edwards. By trading Randle, the Timberwolves cleared cap space and created a $33.3 million trade exception, which creates the structure to pull in a player like Ball.
The Raptors improved this season and became quite competitive down the stretch, though Toronto’s offense disappointed late in the season. Much like all teams on this list, there’s a glaring lack of offensive production that needs to be addressed; the Raptors ranked 26th in the NBA in converted 3-pointers per game (11.4). Ball, on his own, averaged 3.8 made 3s per game. The Raptors would almost certainly need to ship Immanuel Quickley, but Ball’s injury history does raise some concerns.
It would be a little rough for Ball to leave the Hornets just as they were inching toward competitiveness, only to land with a team that’s embarking on a total rebuild. The Bucks, however, are going to be searching for a new identity and will want someone who can easily create offense — especially if the Bucks choose to reroute Tyler Herro, whom the team acquired in the trade with the Miami Heat for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
This is a team at an interesting crossroads. The Magic have a new coach in Sean Sweeney and need to determine whether the Paolo Banchero-Franz Wagner partnership is sustainable. Orlando also struggled to generate consistent offense, especially when they faced stout defensive teams. This is a problem come playoff time, when competition intensifies. The Magic also tied for 27th in 3-point percentage (34.3%).
This isn’t quite as seamless a fit as the others on this list because Ball thrives best when the ball is in his hands. The Pistons, however, operate their offense through star point guard Cade Cunningham. Granted, Detroit relied too heavily on Cunningham to create just about the entirety of the team’s offensive production, so a supplemental ball handler could help. This would work better if Ball would commit to playing more as a natural two-guard.
Jalen Brunson — the reigning NBA Finals MVP, a man who should never have to pay for his own dinner in Manhattan again — was a second-round pick. So were Nikola Jokic, Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green and if you want to go back, there's Manu Ginobili, Marc Gasol and many more players who slipped to the second round, then had impressive NBA careers.
There will be players taken in Wednesday night's second round who will become key parts of their team's rotation and maybe more. Let's grade these picks (and note, my grading in this round is more gentle and on a curve compared to the first round; expectations are relatively low, and with that, the misses are not painful like missing in the lottery).
Bruce Thornton (31) The only reason Thornton is in the second round is that he is an even 6'0", undersized for a point guard. Everything else screams NBA rotation player: He's incredibly polished, strong, efficiently scored from everywhere on the floor and averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists last season for Ohio State. Houston is a perfect fit for a guy who can come in and play behind Fred VanVleet (something the Rockets did not have last year).
Memphis Grizzlies: A
Richie Saunders (32) . It shows you how much the Grizzlies like Saunders that he tore his ACL in February, and they still took him here (he would have gone in the first round if healthy). Saunders is a quality shooter (37.6% from 3 last season) who can do enough of everything else that he looks like he can be a solid rotation wing player in the NBA.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B
Isaiah Evans (33), Trey Kaufman-Renn (59) Evans is a quality movement shooter about to play with Nikola Jokic — he will find Evans if the Duke star gets open. He's got good size (6'6") but needs to get stronger and become a better defender to earn steady NBA run. Kaufman-Renn has NBA size (6'8") and physicality, but he's got to show he has the skills to stick at the next level.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B+
Meleek Thomas (34) Cleveland is betting on Thomas' upside. He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school who slid a little but still averaged 15.6 points a game last season for Arkansas. Early in the second round, that's a good bet.
Denver Nuggets: A
Trevon Brazile (35), Bryce Hopkins (49) Brazile has good size (6'11", with a 7'4" wingspan), and he averaged 13 points and 7.3 rebounds a game for Arkansas, but the really intriguing stat combo is that he averaged 1.6 blocks and 1.3 3-pointers a game. Looking for someone to play behind Jokic, Brazile is a good pick at this point. Hopkins is a 6'6" forward with a high motor but needs to develop a shot.
LA Clippers: B
Baba Miller (36), Nick Martinelli (55), Narcissie Ngoy (57) Miller is a great roll of the dice here, a 6'11" big but with very fluid athleticism, he can pass, averaged 13 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, plus is a solid defender. Martinelli has good size (6'7") and shot 41.7% from 3 at Northwestern, he scored at the college level and might be worth a two-way contract to see if he can translate that to the next level. Ngoy almost went to Auburn, stayed in France, and is seen as a project at the guard spot (don't be shocked if he stays in France for now).
Miami Heat: B-
Ryan Conwell (37) Miami picked up Conwell in a trade with Oklahoma City, and the Heat get a guy who wasn't afraid to put it up last season and averaged 18.8 points a game for Louisville. He needs to tighten his handles and become a more efficient shooter, but it's a good roll of the dice by the Heat at this point in the draft.
Indiana Pacers: B+
Braden Smith (38) Indiana brings in the Purdue star who is maybe the best passer in the draft (he is the college all-time assist leader) who is a better athlete than realized. He's undersized (5'10') but as a backup point guard with the Pacers, there's a role for him.
New York Knicks: B
Jack Kayil (39), Tyler Nickel (47) Kayil played professionally in Germany and is a 6'4" combo guard who does a lot of things well but wasn't efficient and isn't really explosive as an athlete at the NBA level. Nickel is a high-level movement shooter with good size, and while there are questions about athleticism and footwork, getting a good shooter that deep in the draft is a good bet.
Boston Celtics: A
Dillon Mitchell (40) Great bet at this point by Boston: Mitchell is a 6'7" high-level athlete, but he struggles with his shot. If Boston can develop his shooting touch (it's an issue) they could have a second-round steal.
Oklahoma City: A-
Otega Oweh (41) Oweh fits in with OKC — a physically strong guard and high-level defender who needs to work on his offensive game but goes to one of the best developmental programs in the league. He might be on a two-way, we might not see a lot of him for a season or two, then suddenly we'll wonder where this latest quality find from OKC came from.
San Antonio Spurs: A-
Ja'Kobe Gillespie (42), Maliq Brown (44) Gillespie is an elite shot maker who fell to the second round because he is undersized (6'0"), but a Spurs kind of guy because he gets steals and helps teams win the possession battle. Brown is a great pick at 44, a high-level front court defender at 6'8" but he's going to have to show a little more offense to stick in the NBA.
Brooklyn Nets: C
Tyler Bilodeau (43) Shooting matters, and Bilodeau does that and has good NBA size (6'7"). The question is whether he is athletic enough to play at the NBA level. We'll see, but guys who can shoot get a chance.
Sacramento Kings: A-
Emanuel Sharp (45) Sharp is a great pick up where the Kings got him in the draft. He proved he can shoot (including from 3) and defend in four years at Houston. There were questions about his athleticism at the next level, but Sharp should have gone higher than this.
Washington Wizards: C+
Felix Okparpa (46) Okparpa is an old-school rim-running big who can block shots on one end and dunk on the other, and has good athleticism.
Dallas Mavericks: B-
Tobi Lawal (48), Vsevolod Ischenko (56) Lawal is a bet on new coach Dusty May's developmental skill. Lawal, 6'7", may be the best pure athlete in this class. He put up monster numbers at the combine, but his skills have a lot of work to do to catch up with that. Ischenko has been a standout young player in the Russian league but is a draft and stash for now, he will stay overseas.
Toronto Raptors: C
Jaden Bradley (50) Bradley is a good floor general and a pesky defender who could be a backup point guard in the league if he develops a 3-point shot.
Orlando Magic: B
Izaiyah Nelson (51) Nelson is the kind of player you should get at 51 — good athlete, good size (6'8"), can defend multiple positions, but he needs to work on his feel for the game. If the Magic can develop that then this becomes a great pick.
Atlanta Hawks: A+
Henri Veesaar (52) Veesaar is an absolute steal at 52, one of the best picks of the second round. Veesaar is a 7-foot floor-spacing center who averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds a game last season for North Carolina while shooting 42.6% from 3-point range. He can step in as a backup big next season for the Hawks.
Detroit Pistons: B
Ugonna Onyenso (53) Onyenso is arguably the best rim protector in the draft, he averaged 2.9 blocks per game last season, and that's a huge plus, but he's going to have to show more offensive game than he did at Virginia.
Golden State Warriors: B
LaJae Jones (54) Jones is a big guard/wing (6'7") who projects as a strong defender but has to develop his offensive game if he wants a spot in the NBA.
New Orleans Pelicans: C
Jaon Pierre Jr. (58) Pierre is a 6'6" guard or wing who averaged 17.6 points a game at SMU. He has potential, but he's got to show better defense and playmaking to stick with the Pelicans.
Milwaukee Bucks: C
Malique Lewis (60) Lewis has played internationally in Spain and Australia as a 3&D player. He plays with a high motor and if his skills continue to improve it could work out in Milwaukee, a good bet at this point in the draft.
The Knicks have operated the first offseason since winning the NBA Championship as if they won't exceed the second apron.
But how will guard Jack Kayil, whom the Knicks selected 39th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night after trading down, fit into those plans? Kayil comes from Germany, so New York can make him a "draft-and-stash" prospect like they and other teams have done in the past with other European players. So with that in mind, Kayil was asked whether he plans to return to Germany.
“Not really," Kayil told the media after being drafted. "My plan is to stay here and get into the organization and keep growing with them.”
Of course, that may not be entirely up to Kayil as Leon Rose tries to navigate this offseason with owner James Dolan's wishes of staying below the second apron in mind. As SNY's Ian Begley notes, by trading out of the first pick in the second round, they positioned themselves to get a rookie more likely to accept a rookie minimum deal.
But if Kayil is indeed sticking around, what kind of player are the Knicks getting?
"I think also one of my strengths is that I love winning and I give everything for that," Kayil said. "To come to this organization shows that they also want winners. I think it’s a good fit."
Playing against professionals in the Alba Berlin league this season at the age of 19, Kayil posted 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 21.1 minutes per game. He also helped Germany win the silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup after averaging 11.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. In the process, he won FIBA Champions League Best Young Player honors and earned All-FIBA Champions League Second Team recognition.
Kayil is used to winning and expects it. Perhaps that's the kind of prospect a team looking to repeat as champion can use.
Jack Kayil says he does not plan to return to Germany for another year after being drafted by the Knicks pic.twitter.com/micv9vL2Ee
