The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar.
Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved.
Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.
Former Houston star Chris Cenac Jr. (right) would be the steal of the draft if he still is available when the Lakers pick at No. 25. Getty Images
And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026-27.
For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on.
In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Doncic or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future.
If the Lakers choose the latter, there isn’t a shortage of options.
Toward the top of that list should be Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr., whose potential and upside may be too enticing for the Lakers to pass on.
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Cenac’s mix of size, fluidity and athleticism make him one of the more intriguing long-term prospects who could be available when the Lakers are on the clock with their first-round pick.
He runs the floor and changes ends like a much smaller player. He’s a constant threat in transition and at the rim — as a lob finisher and straight-line driver — because of his physical tools and motor.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka might be intrigued by Cenac’s mix of size, fluidity and athleticism. Getty Images
His hustle and willingness to play through contact was evident in his rebounding. Cenac averaged 2.2 offensive rebounds and did well converting second-chance opportunities.
He showed flashes of reliable shooting from beyond the arc and midrange, with his perimeter shooting being one of the swing skills that’ll determine whether he reaches his potential.
His ball-handling skills are more advanced than most players his size.
Cenac should be able to switch onto perimeter players in the NBA because of his size, quickness and effort.
He isn’t a traditional rim protector for a big man, but he showcased the ability to be a weakside shot blocker.
The Lakers know they need to get younger and more athletic to keep up in the Western Conference, and Cenac would address both of those areas.
It’s important to point out that Cenac is repped by WME, the same agency that represents Doncic as well as Lakers big men Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes.
Areas of improvement?
Cenac needs to get stronger to be a reliable big-man option.
He hustles and has a high motor, but needs to strengthen his frame to keep up with the NBA’s physicality and be able to play with force at the next level.
His offensive game needs significant development: His lack of polish led to inconsistencies with his scoring.
The tools and potential — from his passing to shooting — are evident, but he isn’t a reliable offensive creator because of the inconsistencies.
His 62.1% free-throw shooting with Houston is discouraging when it comes to hopes of him becoming a reliable perimeter shooter.
He also struggled with his non-dunk finishes, showing a lack of touch.
Cenac needs a team that’ll be patient with his development.
After three straight years, it’s finally become the norm for a UConn player to get drafted in the first round of the NBA draft. The only other schools with that distinction, the last three years? Purported NBA daycares Duke and Baylor.
I still remember the delight of hearing James Bouknight’s name called.
But for the Huskies to take that streak another year, they’ll need teams to fall in love with Tarris Reed Jr and/or Alex Karaban. Both are projected fringe first rounders, and as we saw with Liam McNeeley last year, draft night brings a whole lot of variance and uncertainty.
I’m going to pretend NBA front offices read TheUConnBlog and put on my best sales pitch for Tarris and Alex. First up is Captain America.
Initially this was a tough task, because UConn listed him at 6-foot-8, and the comparisons were lacking. There were tons of 6-foot-8 floor spacers in the NBA, but not many in Karaban’s mold. Then the combine measurements came out, and he checked in at basically 6 -7, and the answer was clear.
Be Sam Hauser 2.0.
I mean, look at this:
Sam Hauser
Height (Barefoot): 6’6.75″
Weight: 217.4 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9.25″
Standing Reach: 8’6.0″
Alex Karaban
Height (w/o shoes): 6′ 6.75″
Weight: 225.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11”
Standing Reach: 8′ 8.50″
Alex is actually a little longer and heavier. Hauser went undrafted in 2021 after four years in college, but he broke through with the Celtics in 2022-23, and was a key figure in their 2024 title run, averaging nine points per game and shooting 42% from three.He averaged 25 minutes per game last year, a career high.
Hauser might be the better pure shooter, but Alex has more intangibles, physicality, and playmaking chops. Finding an organization that can imbue those traits — not make him just a ‘stand in the corner and stretch the floor’ guy — will be the key.
Hauser’s shooting shows that doing one thing at an elite level can make you stick in the NBA. But Alex has a chance to be a wholly unique player, one with Hauser’s shooting but with a little more to offer.
But heading into draft day, it’s nice to know there’s a blueprint out there for Alex, a path forward where he can break out with the right team.
Cedar Park, TX - MARCH 15: Austin Spurs forward Emanuel Miller (1) drives past Stockton Kings forward Patrick Baldwin (23) during game between the Stockton Kings and the Austin Spurs on March 15, 2026 at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Spurs forward Emanuel Miller turns 26 today.
Miller signed a two-way contract with the Spurs on February 23rd. He took the revolving door third spot replacing Stanley Umude (who replaced Kyle Mangus in December, who had replaced Riley Minix just days before). Miller joined David Jones Garcia and Harrison Ingram on the two-way roster. Though he never received playing time in San Antonio, Miller was exposed to all the bells and whistles of the 2026 playoffs.
Born in Canada, Miller eventually found his way to Texas, playing college ball in both Texas A&M and TCU. In 2024, he went undrafted before signing with Dallas Mavericks for Summer League. He eventually played for their G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. Two months later, he signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls. He was with the Bulls organization until last February when he was part of a three-team trade that landed him in Cleveland. The Cavaliers waived him and he signed on with the Spurs.
No telling where Miller will land next season, whether he stays with the Spurs or heads toward greener pastures. But for today, in the strange window between the Finals and the NBA Draft, Miller is still considered a member of the Silver & Black, and as such, is entitled to best wishes.
Happy birthday!
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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 1: Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 1, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Oklahoma City is exactly where Dallas wants to be. The Thunder have a clear star, in reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They have the perfect types of talent around him to accentuate his strengths and have created a juggernaut. But all that talent comes at a cost, and the Thunder will have to make some decisions by the draft. Should they consolidate picks and cut some of the talent further down their bench to help financially? One of the most popular scenarios, and one that makes a lot of sense, is trading with the Mavericks. The Thunder own the 12th and 17th picks in the 2026 draft. The Mavericks own the 9th and 30th. Is it time to make a deal with the devil?
How did the Thunder get here?
The Thunder, as widely disliked as they are (at least around here), have built its team from the ground up through the draft. Gilgeous-Alexander came over in the Paul George trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. That trade included a slew of picks that are paying off for the Thunder, particularly the 2022 first-round pick that became Gilgeous-Alexander’s all-star running mate in Jalen Williams. Chet Holmgren was also selected in the 2022 draft, as he’s turned into an anchor defensively, being the runner-up for the 2025-2026 Defensive Player of the Year Award. But all that talent comes a heavy price. The Thunder are paying all three of their stars each over $40 million a year over the next five years. That’s about 75% of their cap space. Oklahoma City, if they keep this roster going into next season, would be $41 million over the first apron and $28 million over the second. They need to shed salary. And Dallas may be the perfect suiter.
What deal makes sense and how would it work?
The Mavericks are in dire need of guard help. This draft is loaded with star-quality talent, particularly towards the top. Dallas holds the 9th pick and will likely have options among guys like Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, Darius Acuff Jr. Mikel Brown Jr., and Labaron Philon Jr. If there’s one thing we know about Masai Ujiri, he’s had a keen eye for draft prospects. The former Toronto Raptors president selected names like Pascal Siakam (27th pick in 2016), O.G. Anunoby (23rd pick in 2017), and Scottie Barnes (4th pick in 2021). He’ll need to do his homework on who he wants this time around, because Dallas might want two bites at the apple in the top 20.
There are a couple different routes the Mavs could take with the 9th pick. Of course, they could keep it if they felt it were too risky to slip any further than 9th to make their selection. Names like Kingston Flemings, Darius Acuff Jr., and Mikel Brown Jr. probably won’t be available at 12, so if the Mavs are set on one of those guards, they should stay at nine. If Dallas wants to look at making a deal, here’s how the framework could look.
Scenario 1: Thunder consolidate and Mavs aggregate.
The simplest scenario is for the Thunder to send their 12th and 17th picks to the Mavs for the 9th pick. No frills and straightforward. Oklahoma City will still need to do some significant consolidation with their roster before the season starts, but one simple move is sending two picks for one. The Thunder get a top 10 talent, and the Mavs get two swings in the top 20. In this scenario, Dallas most likely wouldn’t have to include the 30th pick, meaning they would have three picks in the first round: 12, 17, and 30.
Scenario 2: Thunder help the Mavs with depth
If Dallas is enamored with someone who could fall to 12 (most likely Burries or Philon Jr.), they could package that 9th and 30th picks to the Thunder in exchange for the 12th and 17th picks, as well as another rotation guy to help Oklahoma City shed salary (like Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins), who both largely fell out of the rotation for the Thunder in this year’s playoff run. The Thunder don’t necessarily have to include extra salary to make the deal work, but it would make sense for them and the Mavs could add more wing shooting and depth.
Another player worth watching is Cason Wallace, who the Mavericks drafted in 2023, and traded to the Thunder for Dereck Lively II. Wallace has developed a reputation as one of the best defenders in the NBA and he’s only 22. If the Mavericks part with the 9th pick, they could drive a hard bargain for Wallace. It would be much more difficult for them to pry away Wallace, but he would be an ideal fit in Dallas, and the Mavs could use his perimeter defense.
The 17th pick presents a whole new opportunity for the Mavs. Some options that could be available then could be names like Allen Graves (6’9 forward who can shoot the lights out), Karim Lopez (6’8 forward with a 7’ wingspan and two-way monster), and Dailyn Swain (6’8 athletic forward who can get downhill and great slasher). If the Mavericks traded that 9th pick, the 17th pick could be the big payoff, adding more athleticism and youth around Flagg.
There have been rumors centered around P.J. Washington in a Thunder deal, but Oklahoma City isn’t in a position to take on any more significant salary. For now, this type of deal would be centered around the Thunder optimizing talent, while the Mavs collect as much of it as they can.
Looking ahead
The draft is less than a week away and there will likely be a flurry of moves that happen both leading up to June 23/24 and on the draft nights themselves. What will dictate a deal is who the Mavs center their attention around at the guard position. Is it more worth it to optimize a singular pick in this draft or get multiple opportunities at top 20 talent in a loaded draft? We’ll find out in a few days.
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks look on during the game on December 6, 2024 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors are swirling and there are people talking about how the Celtics could make a deal without including Jaylen Brown.
That is not something that the Boston Celtics should be doing.
Yes, a Big 3 of Antetokounmpo, Brown and Jayson Tatum would be awesome but in this 2nd apron era, it would be too difficult to build a true contender around those three players for a lot of reasons.
Let’s start with what Boston would need to give up. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser would all need to go out in the deal to make it legal and even still, the Celtics would be taking in more money than they’d be sending out. That means Boston would be hard-capped at the first apron of $209 million.
It would also send out all of their remaining future draft capital and probably one or two of their young wings of Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh or Baylor Scheierman, which limits all flexibility they have to get better around those three players.
It would really limit their ability to get better around the three stars. Having three guys making $174 million with a $209 million hard cap would put them at a disadvantage that would be close to insurmountable. This isn’t football where they can push money into future years. Boston would be trapped with those three players at those salaries.
Sending out three of your most important role players without the ability to replace them is not a business that the Celtics should be getting into.
We have seen a team try and build around three players making 35% of the cap in the apron era, the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Phoenix Suns. It was an epic failure, the Suns didn’t win a single playoff game over those two years and missed the Play-In Tourmanent in 2025 before breaking up the team last summer.
Now, Antetokounmpo, Tatum and Brown is a better trio than Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but unlike Boston would be able to, the Suns spent into the 2nd apron to try and build around those three players. Boston, meanwhile, would only be allowed to spend $35 million to fill out the last 12 players on the team.
If you look at the past two NBA champions, the Knicks and Thunder, those two teams were built around their stars and a bunch of high level players around them. Even the 2024 Celtics had Tatum and Brown making 35% maxes but Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis were all great support players. Swapping Brown for Antetokounmpo allows for Boston to continue building that way; trading three of their top 6 players does not.
In conclusion, if you are hoping that the Celtics could trade for Giannis while keeping Jaylen Brown, don’t hold your breath. It is complicated to pull off and it would limit the Celtics team-building so extremely that it could close any championship window they would be hoping to have.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Darryn Peterson participates during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are less than a week away from the NBA Draft. Hell, it’s next Tuesday, June 23! And the Wizards are rattling sabers behind closed doors. NBA Insider Marc Stein reported on his newsletter last night that they are taking a closer look at Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
With only a few days to go before Tuesday night’s first round of the NBA Draft, multiple draft experts have passed along that they legitimately believe Washington could select Kansas’ Darryn Peterson over BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.
“Increased consideration” is the way one well-placed insider put it.
Just so everyone is aware, if we haven’t said it a million times already, consideration doesn’t mean that the Wizards WILL do something. But it is food for thought.
Meanwhile, the NBA world still seems to be focused more on the New York Knicks winning the 2026 NBA Finals. Good for them. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are the early favorites to win the 2027 Finals per FanDuel. In our national SB Nation Reacts survey, fans are more keen on the Thunder.
SB Nation reacts' national results are focused on the Knicks NBA championship. We're still more focused on the draft. Still, here are the national survey results. pic.twitter.com/Mmj8nfkbpC
So if you ask me right now if I think Dybantsa is going to the Wizards? My answer is yes. And yeah, I’m happy that the Knicks won an NBA title once in my lifetime. I’ll be even happier to see the Wizards win a title in my lifetime.
The Warriors have a major decision to make with the No. 11 pick in next week’s 2026 NBA Draft, and there is no shortage of options for general manager Mike Dunleavy and Co.
Dunlaevy himself shared a blunt assessment of Golden State’s mindset this offseason: “Frankly, we need everything.” Luckily for him and his staff, there are plenty of prospects who could help the Warriors and their long list of needs.
Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski outlined the ideal candidate to join the Warriors as they still chase another championship to maximize the tail end of Steph Curry’s illustrious career.
“I think the obvious answer is someone who’s ready to play or he can play right away,” Podziemski said Thursday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.” “Someone that has experience, is physically mature enough to play in the games right away. I think that’s kind of, as an organization, where we’re at. We’re at the stage where we’re trying to win as much as we can.
“So I think with the 11th pick, you just got to look for a guy that’s ready to come in and make the impact right away.”
One prospect that immediately comes to mind that matches the characteristics Podziemski listed is Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
“I would say, like five assists a game maybe to start off,” Lendeborg said after his workout. “A lot of defense, fastbreak opportunities for me. Depending on if I’m here or anywhere else, my role will be a lot different. But if I was here, I’ll be more like a secondary ball-handler. Whenever Steph [Curry] is taken out of the game, I’ll be there to assist, maybe provide a little more offense or instant offense.”
Apparently, the Warriors agree.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported, citing team sources, that Lendeborg impressed the Warriors in his pre-draft workout, with one team source stating “the fit is so obvious.”
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson also listed five best prospect fits for Golden State, which also included Lendeborg, and other top prospects such as Baylor wing Cameron Carr and Arizona guard Brayden Burries.
But it’ll be up to Dunleavy to make the right choice with his highest pick yet as Warriors general manager, and as we’ve come to learn, anything can happen.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Cooper Flagg (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
UNITED STATES - MAY 06: Basketball: finals, Los Angeles Lakers Jerry West in action vs New York Knicks, Los Angeles, CA 5/6/1970 (Photo by James Drake/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X14924)
Jerry West was a famously complex man. He wrestled with his demons for most of his life, the emotional wreckage of a difficult and traumatic relationship with his father, and a constant battle with depression that tormented him without end.
Yet he remains one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, so revered that his silhouette was used for the league’s logo. After his playing career, his time as GM of the Los Angeles Lakers rivaled that of Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics, with West’s teams winning six championships to Auerbach’s seven.
By any definition, he had a brilliant career. However, West’s focus was always on the shortcomings. He never beat Boston in the NBA Finals as a player, and as a GM, would not set foot in Boston Garden, finding it too physically stressful.
One of West’s greatest plays came against the New York Knicks in 1970 in the NBA Finals. Dave DeBusscherre hit a shot from near the foul line to give the Knicks a 102-100 lead with three seconds to play.
Because the Knicks won in overtime, 111-108, and would later win the series, which devastated West. He was convinced that L.A. was the best team in the league after Bill Russell retired, but they came up short yet again.
Feb 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) celebrates with guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have some tough decisions to make this summer. Anything they choose to do will come with a risk. From making another blockbuster trade to simply running back the same squad. The latter feels like something they can’t afford to do.
That’s because reality has caught up with the Cavs. They’ve built this roster on speciality players that fill specific roles. And while the rest of the NBA is thriving on versatility, Cleveland’s Jenga Tower of one-dimensional skillsets is starting to teeter.
You can dissect the roster and find overlapping talents at every position. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley share the frontcourt. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell dominate the backcourt. There isn’t a whole lot that separates those duos from their counterpart.
The stars of this team aren’t multifaceted. Neither is the supporting cast. They’re a layered collective that looks to be greater than the sum of its parts. That can lead to wonderful things when everything is going right. But relying on that many moving pieces is nearly impossible.
The Cavs need to consolidate.
And since all indicators suggest that the front office is committed to the core four, that turns our eyes to the supporting cast. Flipping one of their three-point specialists for a player of greater variety could help them find long-term solutions in the playoffs.
Max Strus and Sam Merrill come to mind.
Now, I want to be clear. Both Merrill and Strus have been positive contributors. This is not meant to be a knock on either of them. They are fantastic role players to have on your squad, and you can never have enough shooting. Parting with them isn’t easy.
But a team that lacks size and athleticism can not continue to overindex on two three-point specialists who play the same position (even if they’ve refined other aspects of their game).
Look at the teams that have made it to the Finals this decade. You’ll see a clear pattern of length and mobility on the wing. Switchability and versatility enable them to meet any challenge thrown their way. They have players who can provide a counter option when the three-point shot isn’t falling. Cleveland doesn’t.
The Cavaliers’ front office hasn’t successfully added those types of players this decade. That’s not Merrill or Strus’s fault, but moving one of them might offer the clearest path towards finally addressing that this summer.
Of course, this is easier said than done.
It’s one thing for me to tell you the Cavs need to upgrade at a specific position. It’s another thing to actually suggest a realistic deal that will appease both sides. That’s why I’m a blogger, not a GM. I can point out flaws better than I can fix ‘em.
Still, the Cavs should have a clear goal this offseason: get more athletic and versatile. That likely comes with the difficult decision to part with one of their more helpful role players. Making the tough choice should result in a deeper roster that has more answers to problems that can emerge in the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics have recently been at the forefront of a seemingly endless cycle of rumors and speculation.
With the NBA Draft and free agency rapidly approaching, one might expect those events to dominate the conversation. However, amid the flurry of developments surrounding a possible trade, those offseason milestones have largely taken a backseat, until now.
The Celtics have multiple avenues to bolster their depth at both guard and center this offseason. Below are four potential draft-and-free agent pairings that could help accomplish that goal.
All the free agents featured in these scenarios are projected to command contracts at or below the value of the Celtics’ non-taxpayer Mid-level exception (MLE), which is worth just over $15 million. The same approach was taken with the draft prospects. Each player highlighted is currently projected to be available around Boston’s No. 27 overall selection, although anyone who follows the draft closely knows those projections can shift dramatically in the blink of an eye.
The ultimate question, however, is one I will leave for the community to answer: Which of these combinations would benefit the Celtics the most? Be sure to hit the comments (respectfully).
Anfernee Simons (FA) + Tarris Reed (Draft) Center – UConn
After being traded to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic, former Celtics guard Anfernee Simons was asked whether he could envision a return to Boston at some point in the future. Simons did not hesitate with his response.
“For sure,” Simons replied.
Now just because someone says something doesn’t mean it’s true, but I do think a much nicer phone call from Brad Stevens to Simons this summer wouldn’t hurt. In 49 games wearing green, Simons averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc on seven attempts per contest, establishing himself as one of the league’s most prolific flamethrowers off the bench.
After not seeing the floor in the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, it appears increasingly unlikely that Nikola Vučević will return to Boston next season. While his departure would create an opening for another big man, a position we’ll revisit shortly, it would also leave the Celtics in need of additional scoring punch off the bench. Simons is an unrestricted free agent and should be in the early to late teens range as far as per year money. I think the team could really use his shooting regardless of what the team ends up looking like around him.
At the center spot we have 22-year-old big man Tarris Reed who is a physically imposing college center known for his interior scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence in the paint. At roughly 6’10” and 260+ pounds, he plays with a traditional big-man profile, using his strength and frame to establish deep position on the block. His most consistent offensive production comes from close range, where he finishes through contact, converts put backs, and punishes switches or smaller defenders in the post. He also made a huge jump as a passer last season which helps him fit even better for a team like the Celtics.
Defensively, Reed projects as a paint protector who can anchor a second unit or situational lineups. He is a strong rebounder on both ends (nine rebounds per game) and has shown the ability to alter shots simply through size and positioning, even if he is not an elite vertical athlete. Reed also holds his own well on the perimeter for a big of his size, adding valuable defensive versatility. He provides even more value as he is a good defensive playmaker. Aside from his two blocks per game last season, Reed also has great hands and anticipation that helped him average a steal per.
He has slowly been creeping up mock drafts as of late, but I don’t see him going too far outside of Boston’s range.
If you’re anything like Brad Stevens and think Boston could use a jolt of rim pressure, Okorie Island is exactly where you want to be. The freshmen guard ranked in the 99th percentile last season in rim attempts per 100 possessions (13.1) and unassisted rim attempts. Averaging 23.2 points per game on shooting splits of 46/35/83 further solidified him as one of the premier shot creators in the draft class, an archetype the Celtics could greatly benefit from adding to their roster.
Okorie leverages a polished handle and impressive speed plus quickness to create access to virtually any area of the floor. The jump shot may not be the most visually appealing, but the results are strong: 35 percent from three on six attempts per game, 83 percent from the free-throw line on seven attempts, and 43 percent from mid-range, efficiency indicators that are hard to dismiss.
Okorie’s draft projection is among the most difficult to pin down at this stage. He has been mocked as high as No. 8 to the Atlanta Hawks and as low as No. 26 to the Denver Nuggets. While Draft Night is inherently unpredictable, his range stands out as one of the widest projections in the first round.
Jock Landale is a physical, traditional center who has carved out a steady role in the NBA as a backup big capable of providing interior scoring, screening, and rebounding in short bursts. At 6’11”, he relies more on strength, positioning, and touch around the rim than vertical explosiveness, making him effective as a roll man in pick-and-roll actions and a reliable finisher in tight spaces.
In his most recent season, the 30-year-old put up career numbers averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game on 59/38/63 shooting splits. While not a high-impact defender, he brings functional size, boxing out, and scheme-based rim protection that make him serviceable in rotational minutes on competitive teams.
Even though he is coming off his best season, Landale is an aging center that missed the playoffs with an injury. He is fully expected to be ready for his next campaign and put that ankle sprain behind him, but those two factors can be a reason why a franchise gets him for a really team friendly number.
Collin Sexton (FA) + Henri Veesaar (Draft) Center – North Carolina
Before being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Chicago Bulls, Collin Sexton was having a really underrated season.
In Buzz City, he averaged 14 points and four assists on efficient shooting splits of 48/39/87, a really impressive line for a guard of his size. With an expanded role in Chicago, he increased his scoring output by a couple of points while maintaining that same level of efficiency. Despite not being able to play meaningful basketball for a while now, I’ve always liked the relentless nature and competitive stamina that Sexton brings every night. The scoring guard has had four straight seasons of at least 39% from three as his volume from there continues to grow.
At 27 years old, he enters unrestricted free agency with what doesn’t seem to be a robust market. Boston could benefit from this and bring him in on a smaller deal.
Henri Veesaar is a modern big man prospect known for his combination of size and developing offensive skill set.
Standing at nearly 7 feet tall, Veesaar has the potential to bring real shot making versatility to an NBA team. He averaged 17 points last year on outstanding efficiency for a big who shoots all over the floor. His 60/43/61 shooting splits helped him achieve a 66.4 true shooting percentage which ranked in the 99th percentile. However Veesaar is asked to score, he has the skill set to do so. Unlike many stretch bigs, he is comfortable putting the ball on the floor for a few dribbles, attacking closeouts, and making the extra pass when defenses rotate. He has also flashed the potential to be more than just a stationary handoff passer. While he does a strong job of keeping the offense connected by moving the ball quickly to guards and maintaining flow, he also shows intriguing rip-and-run reads that add an element of creativity to his playmaking.
While he isn’t the greatest athlete or the strongest body inside, his length, skill, and timing allowed him to be really effective around the rim as he shot 79% from there last season. He has an array of hooks and floaters when he has to create for himself, plus he can be a vertical threat when rolling to the rim. He also shot 48% from the mid-range.
Veesaar was effective on the glass last season, posting a 21.9% defensive rebounding rate and averaging 8.7 total rebounds per game. Defensively there is some work to do but at the very least he showed the ability to use his size and length to block and contest shots at the rim nicely.
I haven’t seen Veesaar inside the top-20 in any mock draft I’ve come across, so as things stand, it appears Boston could have a realistic opportunity to select him.
Sergio De Larrea (Draft) Guard/Wing – Valencia + Robert Williams III (FA)
Spainsh guard Sergio De Larrea is a very intriguing prospect with outstanding positional size. He is known for his poise, playmaking ability, and improved catch and shoot three point shot and when you couple that with measurements of 6’6” barefoot and a 6’9” wingspan, things really get interesting.
Off the dribble, he is comfortable running pick-and-roll sets, using his size to read the floor over the top of defenses and make simple, correct decisions. He tends to play with patience, rarely forcing tough shots, instead probing defenses until he can deliver the ball to the roll man, kick out to shooters, or reset the action. His handle is solid rather than flashy, but it is steady enough to keep him in control in half-court settings.
Defensively, De Larrea’s size and instincts give him real versatility in the backcourt. He has the frame to defend multiple guard types and competes well at the point of attack, using positioning rather than pure explosiveness to stay in front of ballhandlers. With that being said, he isn’t the best athlete, and the lack of foot speed versus quick handlers can be hard for him. His maturity, feel for the game, and ability to manage possessions stand out for his age.
At the beginning of the process, I had only seen De Larrea in the second round of mocks but in the last couple days he has snuck into the bottom of the first round to the Dallas Mavericks at pick 30. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sneaks up even more before the draft, but there is still a good chance he’s available when Boston selects.
Robert Williams III remains an elite defensive center, with his impact defined by rim protection, vertical athleticism, and instinctive play as an anchor on the back line.
Last season, Robert Williams III recorded 4.1 blocks per 100 possessions, placing him in the 98th percentile league-wide. Even when he wasn’t directly blocking shots, his rim deterrence remained elite, as opponents shot 14% worse at the rim against him as the primary defender, ranking in the 92nd percentile.
Offensively, Williams is still one of the best vertical spacers, offensive rebounders, and quick decision makers at the center position. He also has begun to stretch out his shooting range as he shot 39% from three in the regular season but on only 23 total attempts. He did manage to hit three in the Blazers five-game series with the Spurs. He averaged an impressive 10.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in that series.
The primary concern with Robert Williams III has long been, and likely will continue to be, his durability. However, he is coming off his healthiest season in a while and further reinforced his value with an impressive playoff series vs. the Western Conference champions.
Narrowing the best fits for the Warriors in the NBA draft this year down to a top five was harder than usual. This is, of course, great news for Mike Dunleavy ahead of his highest pick yet as Warriors general manager at No. 11. The Class of 2026 is that deep, giving Dunleavy and the Warriors’ front office an abundance of options.
Where’s Labaron Philon Jr.? What about Aday Mara? Karim Lopez? Chris Cenac Jr.? Or even Nate Ament, Christian Anderson, Bennet Stirtz and a handful of others? Excluding some players wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.
The Warriors have holes all over their roster, but most of all, they need as much talent as possible to open the doors at Chase Center and walk into their locker room. The Warriors will explore every avenue in the 2026 NBA raft. These five prospects fit the bill and make the cut above the rest in a year where the honorable mentions place an emphasis on honorable.
Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
The combination of the highest upside and every tool to be what everyone wants from a modern 3-And-D wing makes Carr the ideal fit for the Warriors.
He has the length and shot-making ability to play shooting guard and small forward. He had a slow start to his college career and then burst onto the scene as one of college basketball’s premier breakout stars as his talent caught up his one year at Baylor. Carr had 15 games of 20-plus points last season as a redshirt sophomore, which are five more than the prospect below, and one fewer than the leader on this list.
At 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Carr is the cutout teams search for. He just has to get stronger after weighing in at 184 pounds. The rest of the combine, however, was all his. Carr registered the second-highest standing vertical leap (38 inches) and max vertical leap (42.5 inches), as well as the lane agility sprint (10.46 seconds).
Once he was in a game setting for his scrimmage at the NBA draft combine, Carr took over. The 21-year-old, who will turn 22 in late November, dropped 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting and went 6 of 12 from three in under 27 minutes. Carr also had seven rebounds in the game, blocked two shots and frequently made his way to the free-throw line.
Look at how easy Carr’s high and long 3-point shot goes down. Look at how he glides and accelerates on these dunks, and look at his two-way potential.
Carr in the very least will be a super scoring sixth man. It’s very easy to see him become more.
Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
While Carr is more of a bridge prospect between the present and the future, Lendeborg is viewed as a quintessential plug-and-play pick. Starting the 2026-27 NBA season without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, but being able to trust a rookie from Day 1, would be quite the luxury for the Warriors. Lendeborg could be the answer there.
Lendeborg already has played so many different roles through his one of a kind path to the draft. He will be 24 years old before he plays his first NBA game, yet Lendeborg is a late bloomer. He barely played any high school basketball at all, spent three years in junior college, was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year in his two years at UAB and then starred in whatever Michigan needed him to do while winning a national championship and counting awards.
What Lendeborg did for any previous critics this past season was show he can evolve, and that there still is potential to be tapped. In two seasons at UAB, Lendeborg made multiple threes in six games. Lendeborg at Michigan reached that number in his first eight games, and he finished with 20 such games.
On a national championship team that featured three soon-to-be first-round 2026 draft picks, Lendeborg ranked first on Michigan in points per game (15.1) and steals per game (1.1), and second in rebounds per game (6.8), assists per game (3.2) and blocked shots per game. He also led them in 3-point percentage (37.2 percent) and was one behind the leader in total threes, 68 to 67.
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 9, 2026
The Warriors need a bit of everything, and Lendeborg brings a bit of everything. He has an NBA-ready frame at 6-foot-9, 241 pounds with a wingspan over 7-foot-3. His floor is worth questioning the ceiling.
Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
Watching strong guards like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper power their way to the paint in the NBA playoffs only made the desire for these types of players that much more. Burries, at 6-foot-4, is slightly shorter and doesn’t have the same massive wingspan as a Castle or Harper, but he might be even stronger at 215 pounds. He then had the fourth-highest standing vertical at the combine (35 inches) and the fourth-fastest lane agility run (10.59 seconds).
Burries checks all the boxes of the kind of combo guard Warriors coach Steve Kerr would love. He had 14 20-point games, one fewer than Carr, and impacts games in so many ways. Burries had 22 games of five-plus rebounds, including three of 10-plus, 21 games of multiple threes and 18 with multiple steals.
The advanced stats love him, too. Burries ranked second in the Big 12 in win shares (6.4). He was fifth in offensive win shares (3.7) and third in defensive win shares (2.7). There’s a reason he’s the least likely of the bunch to be available for the Warriors.
If he is there, the Warriors should have a happy draft room. It doesn’t hurt that Burries showed out in front of Kerr in the Sweet Sixteen with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and two threes.
Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan
Winning teams will all love Johnson on the court, and it’s easy to see why he’d be loved in the locker room. Just turn on the tape of the national championship game and it’s easy to see why.
Johnson in that game went to work down low to score 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He led Michigan with 10 rebounds – five offensive and five defensive – and swatted a game-high two blocked shots. Johnson ranked second in defensive rating in the Big Ten (96.1) and fifth in offensive rating (135.4)
Versatility separates Johnson defensively with the chance to be the best player from this draft on that side of the ball. He can play the 4 or the 5 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, but he guards out to the wings and beyond. Johnson wants the challenge of defending 1 through 5 and can back it up.
The Warriors ranked last in dunks last season and are begging for athleticism. Johnson is the kind of athlete they’re lacking, and he has all the right intangibles in his game.
Hannes Steinbach, C/PF, Washington
Can the Warriors find their Alperen Şengün after missing out on him in the 2021 draft? Steinbach is right around the same size as Şengün. He doesn’t pass as well as him, but he rebounds just as well or better, can score around the rim like him, and has shown the ability to be a real stretch big man down the road.
Most teams want to make sure their top pick has at least one elite trait, and Steinbach clearly does. His strong and massive hands help him be the best rebounder in the draft. Steinbach positions his body well and he just has a knack for the ball. He led the country in rebounds per game (11.8) and he also ranked second in the Big Ten with 126 offensive rebounds.
Since his college season ended, Steinbach has proven to teams he has the size to be a center after coming to the combine at over 6-foot-10 barefoot and weighing in at 248 pounds. Steinbach has a strong international background in Germany, and players as productive as him at a high level in Europe and college are going to stick around for a long career.
These are some of Hannes Steinbach’s best buckets imo
He’s really efficient, positions himself well, uses his body well, & has good speed/power with the ball already
From a production standpoint, Steinbach’s freshman season was as good as it gets. He had 16 20-point games and averaged 18.5 points per game, shooting 57.7 percent from the field. The possession battle is becoming so important in today’s NBA, making Steinbach a trusted pick with a lot to like.
New York’s heroes in orange and blue are inspiring an entire generation of players ready to take the game to new heights at their Long Island high school gyms next fall, as these teens learned that anything is possible from the 2026 NBA champs.
“The Knicks had to wait a long time, but it came, and I feel like for anybody, you just take that into your own life,” Sachem North forward Jacob Steffens told The Post of snapping the 53-year drought.
Matt Grande (11), of the Nassau title-winning South Side Cyclones, attended the Knicks ticker-tape parade with friends. Photo courtesy of Matt Grande
“We haven’t made a long playoff run in a long time, we haven’t won our league in 20 years, so I think it could just keep going after it,” added his teammate, guard Sean Galvan.
Greenport guard and all-county star Troy Myers is taking in a lot of the Knicks’ recipe for success that he’ll bring to the Porters next year.
“Nobody on their team has egos; everybody plays together. I just love how they all bond together, even in tough times,” said Myers, who recently moved from North Carolina and fell in love with the Knicks. “When games get tougher, we all just have to stay together. … When we get down, we just can’t let ourselves be down about it. We’ve had to keep going and just keep pushing.”
Delaney Walters of New York state Catholic league champion St. Mary’s High School learned something similar from Jalen Brunson’s bunch as the Lady Gaels aim to win it all again.
Basketball prodigy Delaney Walters, age 14 from Centereach, practices at St. Mary’s high school gym. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“A big thing about them this year was just never giving up. … They definitely didn’t sulk when something didn’t go right, like they just kept their head up and they just kept playing,” the guard said.
“They taught me when things aren’t going how I plan them to go on the court, or if my shots aren’t falling, not to keep my head down, just keep my head up, and just go for the next play,” she added.
Other champs, like Matt Grande of the Nassau title-winning South Side Cyclones, relate to being counted out prematurely after their star guard, John Pericolosi, got injured midyear.
“The Knicks are an underdog story because they were just so bad for so long, I feel like that’s kind of the same way with us,” said the guard, who was all smiles at the parade Thursday.
“Everybody wants to win again. I feel like that was with the Knicks, too — the last guy on the bench to Brunson and the starters encouraging each other … that’s a big role we saw with the Knicks to bring to our gym.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: AJ Dybantsa attends the game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In the latest Stein Line, Marc Stein provided new intel about who the Washington Wizards might be picking at #1, and it might be changing from the consensus.
With only a few days to go before Tuesday night’s first round of the NBA Draft, multiple draft experts have passed along that they legitimately believe Washington could select Kansas’ Darryn Peterson over BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.
“Increased consideration” is the way one well-placed insider put it.
Regular readers know that I don’t really curate a full 1-to-60 draft board … but I can certainly say that I’ve been expecting Dybantsa’s name to be called first by Adam Silver in Brooklyn for literally months.
Peterson’s camp, of course, expects to invalidate such expectations and prevail in a photo finish. The Wizards, as you’ve surely heard by now, are the only team being granting a private workout with the Kansas star in advance of the draft.
How serious are the Wiz about selecting Peterson after all the Dybantsa hype? Is such chatter some sort of smokescreen? These are natural questions that we can probably only answer for sure shortly after 8 PM ET on Tuesday.
Yet we can certainly say this much now: Jazz owner and BYU alumnus Ryan Smith would undoubtedly be giddy with this outcome. Especially just one year removed from the Jazz going 17-65 to post the league’s worst record and coming away with the fifth pick in the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes.
Dybantsa slipping to No. 2 this June, for Smith and his Jazz, would be a dream.
There’s a ton to unpack here. First, it’s clear that Darryn Peterson’s talent is keeping the Wizards front office up at night. To me, this feels like the Wizards are worried. The amount of rumors we keep hearing is one of two things. They’re worried that they’re not making the best choice, or they’re still trying to bait the Jazz into a trade for the #1 pick. In a weird way, it makes me feel even better about the #2 pick in this draft. All the pressure is on the Wizards, Utah gets to take the one they don’t pick. And best of all, the Jazz win either way. I can’t blame the Wizards either. Dybantsa and Peterson are both elite prospects. They both have the potential to be top-10 NBA players eventually, maybe more. And that’s what the Wizards are probably worrying about. Get this wrong, and that might be the difference between an MVP and an All-Star.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 11: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars in action during the second round game of the Men's 2026 Big 12 Tournament against the West Virginia Mountaineers T-Mobile Center on March 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
But what about Cam Boozer? Stein has info on that as well.
PS — What we can also say, according to league sources, is that neither Duke’s Cam Boozer nor North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson are in contention to go No. 1 overall. Boozer is widely projected to go to Memphis at No. 3 and Wilson is expected to go to Chicago at No. 4 as Bryson Graham’s first-ever draftee as the Bulls’ new lead decision-maker.
So we know that only the Jazz have interest in Cam Boozer, not the Wizards. We’ve seen a shift lately in what has been the consensus lately, it’s just hard to tell what’s real.
It has definitely felt like the Wizards have been trying to bait the Jazz into trading for the #1 pick and AJ Dybantsa. But with all the draft experts saying that Dybantsa was the first choice, why would they want to trade that to the Jazz? Maybe there’s some merit to this rumor about Peterson. If they’re just as happy with Peterson, it makes more sense that they would try to trade the pick to the Jazz.
Or maybe we’re hearing this rumor now because they know that Utah has another preference? Do they know that Utah might prefer Peterson instead of Dybantsa? Could this be that they’re trying to get Utah to trade up for him? Maybe, but something tells me, just like Stein says, the Jazz are going to be happy either way. And if they end up with AJ Dybantsa, it’s going to be one of the best sports stories in Utah history. To think that AJ Dybantsa might be in a Jazz uniform feels like a sports movie.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks look on during the second half at Madison Square Garden on January 12, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to ESPN, Boston has emerged as a leading destination in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. No deal is on the table (that we know of), but the mere possibility might raise a few concerns.
Concern numero uno is obvious. Giannis is one of the handful of players capable of altering the championship picture by himself. Pairing him with Jayson Tatum would create an impressive combination of size, athleticism, versatility, and star power. The question is whether Brad Stevens and the Celtics can actually pull it off without creating a new set of problems for themselves.
Boston’s path to Giannis is narrower than it first appears. The Celtics would almost certainly need to move Jaylen Brown, either directly to Milwaukee or through a third team. Reports indicate Brown has little interest in joining the Bucks (in paraphrase: “Milwaukee?! Yuck!”), which complicates matters further. We start moving from a blockbuster trade to a three-team puzzle involving contracts, draft compensation, and competing agendas.
Even if Boston finds a way through that maze, there’s no guarantee the resulting team will succeed.
Giannis may be a better asset than Brown, but championships are not won by comparing players one-for-one. They’re won by building complete teams (case in point: YOUR WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS ).
Brown averaged more than 28 points per game last season while defending multiple positions. He can create his own offense, punish smaller defenders, and absorb primary scoring responsibilities when Tatum is unavailable (as Tatum was for most of last season, recovering from a torn Achilles). Replacing him with Giannis raises Boston’s ceiling, perhaps, but also changes the structure of the roster.
The Celtics have spent years building an ecosystem around two star wings. Remove one and the supporting cast suddenly becomes more important, which means Stevens would have many more decisions to make before the start of training camp.
What catches me up is, if the Bucks believed that Giannis has more great years ahead of him, would they so quickly offload him to a conference rival? Might he actually be a distressed asset?
Giannis will turn 32 this season. He has generally been durable over his career but has dealt with increasing lower-body issues (especially calves and knees) in recent years, leading to more missed time. To wit:
• 2022–23: 63 GP / 19 missed
• 2023–24: 73 GP / 9 missed
• 2024–25: 67 GP / 15 missed
• 2025–26: 36 GP / 46 missed
Wouldn’t that just be the worst if the Celts parted with Brown to get him, and then Giannis missed extended time due to injury? Like, the absolute worst? (Insert diabolical laughter.)
A healthy Tatum-Giannis pairing would present unique challenges for New York. The Knicks would need to defend relentless downhill pressure while also containing one of the league’s best bucket creators. But, given their depth, New York may be better equipped than most teams to handle it.
So if the Celtics’ pursuit of Giannis causes an initial flutter of worry, you can let that just drift on by. The scenario only noses toward Red Alert if Boston nabs him while somehow also acquiring a guard who makes up for what they’d lose with Brown’s departure.
But wait! This just in: Chris Haynes has pushed back on the idea that a Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-Boston deal is close. He writes that Boston does not appear to be a promising destination and suggested the situation could extend into July. Additionally, Marc Stein reported that the Celtics are frustrated by speculation involving Jaylen Brown, while Brian Windhorst said Brown has not been formally offered in a trade. So, to quote the great William Goldman (also a Knicks fan), “Nobody knows anything.”
It’s worth noting that the Miami Heat are also reportedly in the mix. We’ve heard that the lack of income tax is alluring to the Greek Freak. Plus Florida offers sunny, warm weather, which is not a defining feature of Wisconsin. In the end, though, joining Boston would allow Giannis to keep all his favorite green-themed items in his wardrobe, and shouldn’t looking good be a priority, too?
