Category: NBA

NBA News

Posted on

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The second year of the NBA’s two-night draft is in the books.

Compared to the beginning of the first round, there were much more trades at the front as teams scrambled to add some of the better prospects left.

Still, there were a couple of possible steals coming beyond the 30s, including a stretch center and a Duke product.

Let’s analyze the second round of the 2025 draft further with some of the best picks on the night:

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings picked arguably one of the more intriguing center prospects in the draft at No. 42. Raynaud is a 22-year-old 7-foot-1 French center who has close ties to Victor Wembanyama off the hardwood. In some ways, their games are similar. Raynaud is a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, while having the prized trait of shooting at his size. The Stanford product hit 34.7% of his 3s this past season on 5.5 attempts. That gives a rebuilding Sacramento something key to work with as he looks to get good minutes behind Domantas Sabonis.

Chaz Lanier, G/F, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are coming off a promising season of their own, making the playoffs after a disastrous run under Monty Williams. They added to their young core with 6-foot-4 guard Chaz Lanier at No. 37. The one-season Tennessee Volunteer played four seasons at North Florida before making the switch, averaging 18 points per game. His biggest trait is the mix of his 3-point volume and percentage. Lanier, 23, shot 39.5% from deep on 8.2 attempts, which could help him with minutes early as a catch-and-shoot option for Cade Cunningham.

Tyrese Proctor, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland finished as the No. 1 seed out East and finally built an identity in the post-LeBron James era(s). But the Cavs disappointingly fell short in the playoffs in the second round, still needing some areas of growth. They added to their wing department at No. 49, nabbing Duke’s Tyrese Proctor. Proctor, 6-foot-5, can play on and off the ball and averaged 12.4 points on a stacked Blue Devils team that had three top-10 picks this draft. Proctor, 21, had a solid shooting split of 45/40/68. The free-throw percentage is likely a one off given he went 87% as a freshman and 75.5% as a sophomore, though the downward trend is something to watch.

Rasheer Fleming, F, Phoenix Suns

The Suns were aggressive in the second round and moved up to pick first. With Kevin Durant gone, Phoenix took 6-foot-9 forward Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph’s. The soon-to-be 21-year-old averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists on a 53/39/74 shooting split. Of course, he’s nowhere near Durant’s level and longevity, but with the Suns desperately needing more young talent at cheaper costs, there’s no wonder they went all out for someone like Fleming. He should get key minutes from the get go.

Kam Jones, G, Indiana Pacers

The reigning Eastern Conference champs added to their wing core at No. 38, taking Marquette wing Kam Jones. The 23-year-old played all four seasons with the program, most recently averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists. 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals, all college bests. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 48% from the floor, 31% from deep and 64.8% from the charity stripe. He did shoot 39% from deep as a freshman and 40.6% as a junior both on strong volume, but his free-throw percentages have typically been in the 60s. Still, with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss significant time with his torn Achilles, Jones could get his moments to show what he can bring to a hopeful contender.

Posted on

Grading Warriors' Alex Toohey selection at No. 52 overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft

Grading Warriors' Alex Toohey selection at No. 52 overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy isn’t afraid to make moves, even in the second round of the NBA draft. 

It was just a year ago that Dunleavy traded the No. 52 overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Lindy Waters III the morning of the second round, just to then reacquire the pick to select Quinten Post later in the day during the draft.

Dunleavy was back to his ways this year when he reportedly traded the No. 41 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 52 and No. 59 overall picks less than an hour before the second round began.

Instead of going the college route as Dunleavy previously had in his first two drafts, the Warriors selected Alex Toohey at No. 52 overall out of Australia.

Toohey, 21, played professionally the last two years in the NBL for the Sydney Kings. He stands 6-foot-8 and 223 pounds with a wingspan that’s nearly 6-foot-11.

Throughout the draft process, Toohey kept moving up big boards and wasn’t expected to be available this late. He was awarded the NBL’s Next Generation Award last season when he averaged 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. There isn’t one skill that jumps out when watching Toohey. He doesn’t wow with his athleticism, but he is a skilled young player who has a clear feel for the game. 

That should fit in Steve Kerr’s pass-heavy offense. Toohey is known to push the pace and won’t stop the ball. Though he’ll need to improve as an outside shooter, he made teams feel a lot more comfortable with that part of his game at the combine. Australia is a basketball country on the rise, and Toohey could be the next in line to make an impact in the NBA. 

As Toohey’s game keeps growing, he should bring versatility and tenacity from the start. Having experience in the pros at a young age is a plus as well. 

There’s no telling yet if trading down for Toohey was worth it for the Warriors compared to the players they could have added at No. 41 overall, their original slot coming into the second round. This late in the draft, though, Toohey could be the latest second-round pick to make an impact for the Warriors as a rookie. Golden State has an open two-way spot, too.

If his shot continues to improve and his strong fundamentals bring solid results, Toohey has the chance to fit the mold of a modern stretch-forward who isn’t going to make many mental mistakes on the floor. The fact that he’s an active defender who enjoys that side of the ball should help him find minutes sooner than later, and that’s the best way to make friends within a locker room that has star veterans.

Grade: B+

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Warriors pick Australian wing Alex Toohey at No. 52 overall in 2025 NBA Draft

Warriors pick Australian wing Alex Toohey at No. 52 overall in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors made their first move in the 2025 NBA Draft by selecting Australian wing Alex Toohey with the No. 52 overall pick.

Golden State traded its No. 41 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the No. 52 and No. 59 selections.

Toohey is a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League. He is 21 years old.

Following a second NBL season with Sydney, Toohey was excited to take his talents to the NBA, and he was among the 75 prospects invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.

Multiple NBA teams travelled to Australia over the course of the NBL season to lay eyes on Toohey, per ESPN.

“Pretty much every area a basketball player can show, I feel like I’m gonna surprise some people over there,” Toohey told ESPN last month.

Now he gets a chance to showcase his talents with the Warriors.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Kings select Stanford center Maxime Raynaud at No. 42 overall in 2025 NBA Draft

Kings select Stanford center Maxime Raynaud at No. 42 overall in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After making a surprise trade into the first round for guard/forward Nique Clifford on Day 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings used their second-round pick to select a center on Thursday.

Sacramento drafted Maxime Raynaud out of Stanford at No. 42 overall, adding a 22-year-old Frenchman who is a skilled 7-foot shooter and can hold his own on the glass.

Raynaud was born and raised in Paris, France, before joining the Stanford men’s basketball program, where he earned Second-Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Most Improved Player honors as a junior. He was a superstar as a senior, averaging 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals during his final collegiate campaign en route to First-Team All-ACC honors and the Skip Prosser Award for being the top scholar-athlete in the ACC.

With Clifford and Raynaud on their way to Sacramento to join 2024 first-rounder Devin Carter and stars like Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, the Kings certainly are set for the future.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

Is Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this summer dead? Latest speculation tries to keep that ember burning.

Let's be clear from the outset: Giannis Antetokounmpo has not asked for a trade. The Milwaukee Bucks have no intention of trading him. There are no ongoing trade talks involving Antetokounmpo.

That's not enough to completely snuff out Antetokounmpo trade speculation or rumors.

Two of ESPN's reporters specializing in trade talks and rumors speculated in the last 48 hours that Antetokounmpo could reassess his situation, and trade talks could heat up again later this summer after free agency. They fanned the ember of an Antetokounmpo trade to keep it burning.

ESPN's newsbreaker Shams Charania was on the network’s “Get Up” show Thursday and laid out a scenario for a potential Antetokounmpo trade later in the summer.

"He's been there for 12 years, so there's going to be that equity given to the Bucks to see what they do during the draft week, free agency week. How much can they improve this team in their moves? He said it, he wants to compete for championships. Can the Bucks make those championship moves? His future, I've said it for the last few weeks, it won't be tied to the draft, it won't be tied to free agency. If there is a resolution on Giannis Antetokounmpo, it could be later in the summer."

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst was on the Rich Eisen Show and echoed the same idea — nothing is close, there are no talks, but other teams are still watching the situation.

"When you see teams not go after Kevin Durant to save their assets for something bigger, I can't say for sure. I can't say absolutely what's in Pat Riley's mind, as he doesn't put all of his assets on the table that he could for Kevin Durant. I can't say exactly what Leon Rose is thinking as general manager and president of the New York Knicks when they elect to pass on Durant. But I can state those facts surrounding the Bucks and you can extrapolate what you can extrapolate."

The most likely outcome — by far — is that next season Antetokounmpo is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. That's also a kind of boring answer. What's far more interesting is someone saying, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance." And in an NBA where Luka Doncic gets traded, anything seems possible. So that ember just keeps getting fanned and stays warm.

Posted on

Lakers trade with Chicago Bulls to move up in second round of NBA draft

Lakers forward LeBron James tosses powder before taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves
Lakers forward LeBron James tosses powder before taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA playoffs on April 27. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Lakers have made a move to a better position in the second round of the Thursday night’s NBA draft, moving up to the 45th pick and sending their 55th pick and cash to the Chicago Bulls, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The cost of the pick was about $2.5 million, and it may put the Lakers in position to draft a center.

Read more:Lakers, Clippers likely aiming for 'best available' in NBA draft

People around the league said the Lakers are trying to put themselves in position to draft center Ryan Kalkbrenner out of Creighton University. Kalkbrenner is older at 23, but he’s 7-1 and averaged 19.4 points and 9.0 rebounds last season, and he shot 66.3% from the field and 34% from three-point range.

And the Lakers' biggest need this offseason is a center.

Read more:2025 NBA draft: Pick-by-pick coverage and analysis

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Lakers updates: Austin Reaves declines extension (as expected), Lakers trade up to No. 45 pick Thursday

The Lakers are moving up in the second round of the draft and have a payday to figure out with Austin Reaves — neither of these things are earth-shattering or unexpected, but they are worth noting.

Austin Reaves declines extension

Austin Reaves isn't looking to leave the Lakers, but he is looking to get paid.

As expected, Reaves declined the four-year, $89.2 million extension that was the max the Lakers could offer him, a story broken by Dan Woike at The Athletic. Reaves is set to make $13.9 million this coming season — less than the NBA's mid-level exception — as the third year of the four-year, $54 million contract he inked in 2023. That contract was incredibly team-friendly when it was signed, but Reaves wanted to show his loyalty to the team that gave him a chance.

Next summer, Reaves will opt out of the final year of that contract and become an unrestricted free agent — the man wants to get paid. He is the third scoring option on a team with title aspirations, a guy who averaged 20.2 points per game last season, shooting 37.7% from 3, and who can create shots for himself and others. Reaves' likely next payday will be more in the four-year, $120 million range (or higher).

Expect Reaves to come up in a lot of trade rumors in the next year — teams will wonder, with Doncic in the fold, if the Lakers want to pay another negative defender that much. Teams will call and see if the Lakers are open to a trade. Both the Lakers and Reaves "seem committed to maintaining their partnership," Woike wrote. He noted that at his youth basketball camp in Arkansas this summer, Reaves said he wanted to play his entire career with the Lakers.

Reaves is a fan favorite the Lakers are unlikely to trade, but never say never in the NBA (the Lakers now have Doncic, after all). Whatever happens, Reaves is going to get paid.

Lakers trade up in 2025 NBA Draft

The news on Thursday is that the Lakers are trading up in the second round of the NBA Draft from No. 55 — their only pick in either round — to No. 45, a story broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Lakers are sending the No. 55 pick and cash to the Chicago Bulls for the No. 45 pick.

The Lakers are more likely to find a player that can help at No. 45 than at No. 55. The last three No. 45 picks were:

• 2024: Jamal Shead, who played in 75 games for the Kings last season, averaging 7.1 points a game in nearly 20 minutes a night.
• 2023: G.G. Jackson, who showed real promise for Memphis when thrust into a bigger role his rookie season and has averaged 11.8 points a game in the 77 he has played for the team in two years.
• 2022: Josh Minott, who has played in 93 games for the Grizzlies across the last three seasons.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to find a game changer at this point in the draft, but if moving up 10 spots nets them a rotation player (or someone who can grow into that role over time), then the move will be worth it. They are more likely to find that kind of player at No. 45 than at No. 55.

Posted on

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Owner Retains Bank to Sell Stake in NBA Franchise

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is looking to sell a stake in his NBA franchise, according to a half-dozen sources who asked not to be named because the details are private. He has retained Allen & Company to explore selling up to 15% of the team, according to three of those sources.

The transaction could be in one parcel or to several individuals. Gilbert would retain his majority stake in the team he bought in 2005 for $375 million, which was a record at the time for a standalone NBA franchise. In December, Sportico valued the Cavs at $3.95 billion in its NBA team valuations, which ranks 18th in the league.

The Cavaliers and Allen & Company declined requests to comment.

NBA values have doubled over the past four years—and are up 1,100% over the past 15 years—to an average of $4.6 billion in December. To top that off, in the past three months, the Boston Celtics ($6.1 billion) and Los Angeles Lakers ($10 billion) reached agreements to sell their franchises at 8% and 24% premiums to Sportico’s estimated values.

The Cavaliers are coming off their second-best regular season in franchise history. Their 64-18 record included a franchise-best 15-0 start to the season, and the win tally sits only behind the 66 victories during the 2008-09 campaign. Last month, the Indiana Pacers knocked them out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Cavaliers are led by guard Donovan Mitchell, who was voted First-Team All-NBA this year, and Evan Mobley, who made the second team. Mitchell is under contract for the next two seasons, with a player option for 2027-28, while Mobley starts a five-year, $269 million deal next season, making the Cavs a substantial luxury taxpayer. The team last had to pay the luxury tax during the 2017-18 season, LeBron James’ last with the team before he joined the Lakers.

During Gilbert’s two decades as owner, the Cavaliers have made five NBA Finals—largely on the back of James—with the franchise’s lone title coming in 2016.

Last year, Allen represented immersive media platform Cosm when it raised more than $250 million from investors, including Gilbert. The bank was also retained to lead the WNBA’s expansion process for its 16th team, with a Cleveland bid from Gilbert one of the leading contenders to nab the slot.

Gilbert’s sports assets sit within Rock Entertainment Group and also include the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL and Cleveland Charge in the NBA G League. REG also operates Rocket Arena, Cleveland Clinic Courts and Rock Entertainment Sports Network, a joint venture with Gray Media. In November, the company announced its plans to bid on the WNBA expansion franchise.

Gilbert made his first fortune in the mortgage business with Quicken Loans, which is now Rocket Mortgage. He has a net worth of $32.1 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Report: Warriors trade No. 41 pick in 2025 NBA Draft to Suns for Nos. 52, 59

Report: Warriors trade No. 41 pick in 2025 NBA Draft to Suns for Nos. 52, 59 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors’ first move in the 2025 NBA Draft came before Golden State ever got on the clock.

The Warriors traded the No. 41 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the No. 52 and No. 59 selections in the second round of the 2025 draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday, citing sources.

After shipping out its 2025 first-round draft pick in the Jimmy Butler trade, Golden State opted to trade back for an additional pick in the second round rather than stand pat at No. 41 overall.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy previously spoke about the optimism he had about finding an instant contributor at No. 41 overall, but also left the door open for the possibility of a trade, which came to fruition on Thursday.

“Yeah, that’s what we’ll look for,” Dunleavy said back on May 16. “Frankly, it’s nice having some of these young players come in and contribute right away. It’s not always guaranteed. Forty-one, I’m sure there will be a good player there. We can always trade the pick, we can keep it.

“I think the biggest thing of interest will be the amount of players that stay in the draft vs. go back to school. That will probably dictate the quality and the talent level at the pick, but 41 is a pretty good range to be in.” 

The Warriors have had success in the back end of the second round in both of Dunleavy’s drafts as general manager, selecting center Trayce Jackson-Davis at No. 57 overall in 2023 and sharpshooting big man Quinten Post at No. 52 overall in 2024.

While it always is a longshot for second-round draft picks to make an immediate impact in the NBA, Golden State now has doubled down on the opportunity continue Dunleavy’s trend of selecting a hidden gem in an area that typically is tough to unearth them.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

ESPN expert sees French star as best second-round fit for Celtics at No. 32

ESPN expert sees French star as best second-round fit for Celtics at No. 32 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2025 NBA Draft resumes Friday night at 8 p.m. ET in Brooklyn, and the Boston Celtics will be one of the first teams to make a pick.

Due to a previous trade, the Celtics own the No. 32 overall selection — the second overall pick in Round 2.

After taking Spanish wing Hugo Gonzalez with the No. 28 pick in the first round, it would make sense for the Celtics to target a big man with their second-round pick.

Which power forward or center makes the most sense for the C’s?

ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony published an updated second-round mock draft Thursday, and he projects Boston taking French big man Maxime Raynaud, who played four seasons at Stanford.

“After competing in France alongside his good friend (and now San Antonio Spurs star) Victor Wembanyama in his youth, Raynaud has developed into a legitimate NBA talent,” Givony wrote in his analysis.

“He might be a late bloomer, but he fits a coveted mold with his size and shooting ability, which gives him a quicker path to a role at the next level than some players who will be drafted before him. How he performs defensively will be something to watch early, as floor spacers like him can play an important role in the NBA.”

Raynaud’s ability to shoot 3-pointers (34.7 percent as a senior) and rebound (10.6 boards per game as a senior) would make him a good fit in Boston’s frontcourt. And with veteran centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet both set to become unrestricted free agents next week, depth at center is something the C’s need to prioritize with their last pick in the draft.

Our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg likes Raynaud’s outside shooting, but also has some concerns about his defense.

“French 7-footers are all the rage in the NBA, and this one improved in each of his four seasons at Stanford,” Forsberg said, as seen in the video player above. “Offensively, he thrives at attacking closeouts. Can he hit 3-pointers? Oui, oui. Raynaud shot 35 percent from beyond the arc as a senior.

“There are questions about whether he’ll fit defensively at the NBA level, and he’s going to have to improve his foot speed to stay on the court. Still, he could fall in the range the Celtics are scheduled to pick at No. 28 and No. 32.”

If the Celtics don’t see Raynaud as a fit, other quality frontcourt players who are still available include Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, Auburn center Johni Broome, Arkansas power forward Adou Thiero and Villanova center Eric Dixon.

Posted on

Report: Kings committed to Domantas Sabonis, who hasn't requested a trade

Report: Kings committed to Domantas Sabonis, who hasn't requested a trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Change seems inevitable for the Kings this offseason under the leadership of new general manager Scott Perry.

While so much remains unknown about the roster moving forward, it appears one cornerstone piece of Sacramento’s magical 2022-23 season will stick around for the long run.

Despite rumors circulating about potentially moving on from All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported Wednesday, citing team and league sources, the Kings continue to signal a commitment to their All-Star center.

“While Sabonis’ frustration with the organization’s handling of the [De’Aaron] Fox saga has been well-chronicled, league sources say Sabonis has not asked for a trade and has had positive early discussions with Perry regarding the Kings’ aspirations for this summer,” Amick wrote.

Sabonis is owed a combined $140.3 million over the next three seasons.

In just over three seasons with Sacramento, Sabonis has averaged 19.2 points on an efficient 59.7-percent shooting from the field and 38.8 percent from 3-point range, with 13.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 34.9 minutes.

If the Kings remain committed to their Lithuanian big man, it could be time to part ways with other parts of their core, such as DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine or Malik Monk.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

Why Draymond Green states Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has early ‘strike' entering NBA

Why Draymond Green states Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has early ‘strike' entering NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green offered Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey some brutally honest advice after the young forward made waves with his pre-2025 NBA Draft workouts, or lack thereof.

Bailey, the Rutgers product, canceled a pre-draft workout with the Philadelphia 76ers on June 20, a move that sparked backlash from some around the league before the 18-year-old eventually was selected with the No. 5 pick in the draft on Wednesday night.

Green was asked on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show With Baron Davis,” if Bailey’s controversial decision to skip the workout hurt his draft stock after once being viewed as a potential top-three pick.

“I don’t necessarily think it hurt. It didn’t hurt. You went [fifth], whoop-de-f–king-do. It didn’t hurt that,” Green told Davis. “But you’re walking into the NBA with a strike, and I think that’s what’s most important to understand. You’re walking in with a question mark on character. You’re walking in with a question mark on work ethic. You’re walking in with a question mark on your camp.

“My thing to him and his camp would be, understand where you are. It’s fine, no big deal, you went fifth in the draft. As I said earlier in the show, that s–t don’t matter no more. It matters for a salary, and that’s about it.”

While Green doesn’t believe Bailey’s decision is that big of a deal, he does believe the rookie now is under more pressure to put his best foot forward.

“It’s now time to go play, so be the first person in the gym, don’t go into the organization causing any problems, going to the organization knowing there’s some guys that have been there before you,” Green added. “You can learn from them, but I ain’t saying go bow down to anybody, but know there are some guys that know more than you that you can learn from.

“Go in there and be a great rookie. That don’t mean don’t go play great, go be a great rookie. Don’t go in there thinking stuff’s going to be your way, because you already got a strike. This league will move on from you fast.”

Bailey seems ready to answer the call.

“I feel like once I come in, it’s going to be a lot of work,” Bailey told ESPN on Wednesday night. “I feel like I’m a person that likes to work out a lot. I’m going to push my teammates to be the best they can be. I want to come in and be a leader as a young cat.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Will Celtics re-sign Horford and Kornet? Stevens makes intentions clear

Will Celtics re-sign Horford and Kornet? Stevens makes intentions clear originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics aren’t expected to be a very active team in NBA free agency this offseason. But they do have a pair of important decisions to make regarding two valuable frontcourt pieces.

Big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both set to hit unrestricted free agency when the new league year begins on July 6. Boston can negotiate with Horford and Kornet up until that point, but if no deals are reached, they could hit the open market and potentially seek greener pastures.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens would prefer that doesn’t happen.

“As you look at the rest of the team and what we’re trying to do, there is no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back,” Stevens told reporters Wednesday night in his press conference after the 2025 NBA Draft. “Those guys are huge parts of this organization.”

Horford has spent seven of his last nine seasons in Boston and is one of the most well-established and beloved Celtics players of the past decade. While he turned 39 years old earlier this month, he’s still a very effective big man who averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season over 60 games (42 starts).

Kornet, meanwhile, is coming off his best season as a pro, averaging 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over a career high 18.6 minutes per game. If he stays in Boston, the 29-year-old would have an opportunity to take on an even bigger role following the Celtics’ reported trade of Kristaps Porzingis.

The question is whether Boston can afford Horford and Kornet at the price tag they’ll seek in free agency. The Celtics shed roughly $27 million in salary by reportedly dealing Porzingis and Jrue Holiday but are just $4.6 million under the second apron of the luxury tax and can’t go back over that threshold. So, they’d need to trim additional salary if they want to bring both Horford and Kornet back in the fold.

Boston also may have competition for both players; ESPN’s Shams Charania noted Wednesday that Horford has a “robust” free-agent market around the league. But Stevens made it very clear that his club will make every attempt to re-sign both players.

“They’re going to have, I’m sure, plenty of options all over the place, and that’s well-deserved, but I think that would be a priority,” Stevens said of Horford and Kornet.

“At the same time, I don’t want to put pressure on them. It’s their call, ultimately. But, yeah, we would love to have those guys back.”

Posted on

Report: Kings lack trade interest in Hawks star Trae Young for two reasons

Report: Kings lack trade interest in Hawks star Trae Young for two reasons originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings’ top priority this NBA offseason is to fill the starting point guard void.

Whether that will be through free agency or a trade remains to be seen, with several potential suitors already being linked to Sacramento. One notable name floating around the Kings’ rumor mill is Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, who is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer.

However, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported, citing league sources, that the Kings don’t have interest in Young due to his offense-first style of play and the hefty price tag he would come with.

Young, who turns 27 in September, is owed $46 million next season with a $49 million player option for 2026-27. In seven seasons with Atlanta, Young has averaged 25.3 points on 43.3-percent shooting from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range, with 3.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 34.4 minutes.

The Kings also explored the prospect of acquiring Jrue Holiday, Amick reported, before he was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week. But there were reservations about his age (35) and cost, Amick added, as he still has three years remaining on a $134 million extension.

Sacramento will look elsewhere as it hopes to fill a massive hole entering the 2025-26 season.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

2025 NBA Draft: Best available after round one includes Rasheer Fleming and Maxime Raynaud

Night one of the NBA draft is officially behind us, but we still have round two on Thursday night. The first few picks were expected, but then everything became chaotic. There were a handful of trades sprinkled in, but Mark Williams was the only player that was moved. The rest were all picks.

The most surprising move of the night was the Trail Blazers trading back to select Hansen Yang with the No. 16 pick. Prior to the draft, I was planning to have Yang on this list. Instead, he went just outside the lottery. One wonders if Portland would’ve taken him at 11 if they couldn’t trade back.

30 talented players were selected in round one, and 29 more will be selected in round two. Here are the 10 best available players, with the Timberwolves making the next selection.

NBA: Draft
2025 NBA Draft grades for every team in the first round
It was a good day to be the Mavericks, not so much for Trail Blazers fans.

F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s

I don’t understand the Fleming slide to the second round. He’s an older prospect, and he isn’t the most dynamic shot creator, but he is a legitimate three-and-D wing with a 7’5” wingspan. Those players don’t grow on trees. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game last season. He should be one of the first few players selected in round two.

C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

I thought Raynaud had a case to be selected on night one, but a handful of other bigs went instead. Raynaud is at least a better shooter than all of them and could be a better overall offensive player than most of them. He averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers per game last season. Boston has pick 32, and Charlotte has picks 33 and 34. Both teams need center help.

F Adou Thiero, Arkansas

The uber-athletic wing isn’t a great shooter, but he is ready to make an impact in the NBA immediately. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season. Adding a player of his caliber in the second round is going to be a great pickup, and he’ll be able to be part of a team’s rotation immediately. If he finds himself on a team that needs him to play big minutes, he should wreak havoc on defense and provide plenty of steals.

F Noah Penda, Le Mans (France)

Penda is a playmaking forward that can really defend on the perimeter. He isn’t a great scorer, but he can fill a number of holes for whatever team takes him. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.0 triple per game in 37 appearances last season. He is a well-rounded prospect that will make any team happy to take him in the second round.

G Kam Jones, Marquette

Jones is an older prospect at 23 years old, but he is one of the best playmakers in this class. He averaged 19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 three-pointers per game last season. He wasn’t a great shooter, and he isn’t an explosive athlete, which may have forced teams to shy away from him in round one. But getting a reliable lead ball handler in round two is a great value selection.

C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

As another 23-year-old prospect, Kalkbrenner enjoyed a productive 2024-25 season with averages of 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.7 blocks per game. The 7’2” center may not have the same upside that other bigs in this draft have, but he should be able to play a solid role in the NBA, even if he is a reserve.

G Alijah Martin, Florida

Martin certainly has a case to be the best defender in the class. He isn’t the most dynamic offensive player, but he does enough on that end to not be a liability, specifically as a floor spacer. Teams will be far more interested in what he does defensively. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game last season. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3”, but a 6’7.5” wingspan helps make up for it.

F Bogoljub Marković, KK Mega Basket (Serbia)

The 6’11” forward is an intriguing offensive player, but there are some major question marks on the defensive end. Still, there is enough there for a team to select him early in round two. He truly has the potential to be a dynamic offensive stud, mostly as a shooter, but also as a playmaker. He averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 three-pointer per game last season.

F Jamir Watkins, Florida State

Watkins will be 24 years old at the start of Summer League, which likely made some teams shy away. However, he averaged 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game last season and will certainly be ready to contribute next year. He isn’t a dynamic offensive player, but the defensive ability should get him some minutes.

G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

Every team needs shooting, and the 23-year-old can help with that. He averaged 3.2 three-pointers per game last season while shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. There are some intriguing measurables, such as a 39” vertical and a 6’9” wingspan, but he wasn’t a great defender in college, and he isn’t a dynamic offensive force. Still, a reliable shooter in round two is always a nice addition.