Category: Basketball

Trae Young is back in trade rumors just five months after the Washington Wizards acquired him.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on Monday that while the expectation remains that Young will find a long-term deal with the Wizards, several teams, including the Miami Heat, are considering trade avenues to acquire the four-time All-Star guard.

This comes as the Heat continue attempts to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo — a player who’s also being targeted by the Boston Celtics.

Fischer said Young is another “big fish” target for Miami if it cannot land Antetokounmpo. Kawhi Leonard and Ja Morant were also listed as options for Miami.

Young maintained last week on “The Pivot” podcast that he wants to remain in Washington and take the team’s young core to the next level. However, a move is possible if the price is right.

It remains likely that Young signs a multi-year extension to stay with the Wizards. But if that plan fails, there are a few ways this could play out.

Sign and trade

Miami is a peculiar organization.

It seems every offseason, the Heat is involved in trade negotiations for a star player, yet never actually land said star player. Wizards fans lived this in 2023 when Miami was the frontrunner to land Bradley Beal before the Phoenix Suns swooped in and acquired him.

Reports indicate that this could happen again with Antetokounmpo, which would open Miami as a possible suitor for Young.

Fischer reported that teams would consider “trade avenues” to specifically add Young and didn’t mention the possibility of Young exploring his options in free agency. For a trade to work, Young would either have to opt in to his $48.9 million player option or opt out, become an unrestricted free agent and sign a deal with Washington before the sides initiated a sign and trade, which is the more likely option.

Miami has several large salaries that would need to be included in a potential Young trade. That doesn’t include Bam Adebayo’s $49.5 million salary because Pat Riley said Miami is never trading its star center. That leaves Tyler Herro ($33 million) and Andrew Wiggins ($30 million) as trade pieces.

One of those two players must be included for monetary reasons.

Herro has one year and $33 million remaining on his rookie extension. Wiggins has a $30.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season that he would have to opt into to initiate a trade.

Herro, the younger and more talented of the two, makes more sense for Washington. But that doesn’t necessarily make sense for Miami, because a Young-Adebayo duo isn’t much better than a Herro-Adebayo duo. And if the Heat trade Herro, they’re essentially replacing him with Young and running back a roster that went 43-39 and missed the playoffs last season.

That’s why shedding Wiggins’ salary makes more sense for Miami. But if the Wizards take on the $30.1 million expiring contract of a 31-year-old forward who doesn’t fit their timeline, they would likely require additional compensation.

Enter the No. 13 pick, which, if attached to a player like Wiggins in a potential sign-and-trade for Young, could prove enticing enough for Washington.

If the package is Wiggins’ expiring salary plus the No. 13 pick for Young, that means the Wizards essentially turned CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert into a lottery pick, which would be incredible asset management.

Could Young leave in free agency?

Fischer noted that the renewed interest in Young could position him to command a salary on his next deal “approaching the similar maximum contract he enjoyed with Atlanta,” which was a five-year, $215 million deal.

This signals Young’s camp could use the renewed interest as leverage in extension talks with the Wizards. However, Young only maintains that leverage if the alternative to an extension is him opting out and signing as a free agent with the Heat or another team.

The issue is that it’s unlikely Miami can afford Young on a salary close to the maximum contract he was on in Atlanta, or the maximum contract — $212.9 million over four years — he can sign as a free agent this summer, if they keep both Wiggins and Herro.

Miami currently has ~$33 million in luxury tax space. They are ~$40 million under the first apron and ~$52 million under the second apron.

Factoring in the projected salary for the No. 13 pick, which is $5.7 million at 120% of the rookie scale, Miami falls to just $27.3 million under the luxury tax, $34.3 million under the first apron and $46.3 million under the second apron.

If Young opts out and signs with Miami on a similar deal to the one he signed with Atlanta, the Heat would not only be above the luxury tax but would also creep above the first apron and flirt with reaching the second apron.

Washington could lose Young for free if he opts out and signs elsewhere, but that remains unlikely. That’s why a trade, as Fischer mentioned, is the more likely avenue if a team like Miami attempts to acquire Young.

Why Young’s departure remains unlikely

The most likely avenue remains Young reaching a multi-year extension to stay with the Wizards.

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said the team acquired the All-Star guard to be their floor general. And Young has maintained his desire to be in Washington. He said last week he wanted to come to the Wizards when he discovered he would be traded.

Young has a June 23 deadline to exercise his $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. That falls on the same day of the NBA Draft, where Washington owns the No. 1 pick.

Clarify will emerge over the next week on not only Young’s future but also Washington’s future as a monumental decisions remains at No. 1.

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we continue our series with a look at Luka Dončić.

After getting a half-season look at a shell-shocked version of him, Lakers fans got the full Luka Dončić experience this season.

An offseason where Luka rededicated himself physically laid the foundation for him to return to his finest form. He won the scoring title, finished fourth in MVP voting and returned to the All-NBA First Team.

And yet, the season ending with him on the sideline will be one of the lasting visuals as the team heads into the offseason. Injuries, which have certainly played a role in Luka’s career, robbed him and the Lakers of any real chance of competing in the postseason.

Luka is unquestionably one of the league’s elites. The Lakers are heading into an offseason focused on maximizing the roster for him. Can he take them to the promised land?

How did he play?

The Lakers have seen a who’s who come through The Forum and Staples Center across decades. To do things no one has ever done means something more in Los Angeles.

That’s the type of season Luka had. The highlight of an incredible campaign was his March performance in which he became just the 10th player in league history to score at least 600 points.

If there were any lingering reservations about what he could do after an underwhelming 2024-25 season — at least by his standards — Luka aggressively swatted those away. He still is, without question, one of the game’s top offensive forces.

On top of leading the league in usage rate, Luka also finished with the second-best true shooting percentage of his career at 61.6%. He was fifth in the league in assist percentage and fourth in box plus/minus, finishing behind just the three MVP finalists.

In short, the Lakers put a lot on his plate and he did what alphas in the NBA do and carried them to another 50-win season. There is no doubt that, when healthy, he is one of the greatest players in the world.

It’s that caveat, though, that is left hanging over the season. Through the first 77 games of the season, Luka was mostly healthy. But a hamstring strain, an injury that has popped up at times in Luka’s career, cost him the end of the regular season and the entire playoffs.

While all the questions about production were wiped away, questions about withstanding the rigors of the season remain. Luka has once played fewer than 61 games in a season, that coming last year due to a calf strain. At the same time, he’s only once played more than 70 games and that was in his rookie season.

Perhaps another offseason of further working on his body will help him be able to handle the rigors of the NBA. Perhaps the Lakers make life a bit easier by surrounding him with players that maximize him, like athletic wings and lob-catching centers.

But no matter what, he has to be on the floor when it matters. Otherwise, an incredible season, like the one he had, still ends with a bitter taste in the mouth.

What is his contract situation moving forward?

In August, Luka signed a 3-year, $165 million extension, which officially kicks in this season. He will make roughly $49.5 million this year.

Should he be back?

This is the simplest, quickest and most authoritative “yes” response on the roster to this question. As President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka noted in his exit interview, the hardest part of building a title contender is getting the superstar everything orbits around.

The Lakers have that in Luka. The question this summer, then, is whether the front office can build the right roster around him. At any available opportunity, Luka will speak of his love of playing in Los Angeles and being a Laker. An offseason in which the team can surround him with talent to further maximize him, and them, could lead to LA returning to the title-contention conversation.

From there, it’ll be Luka’s job to carry them to the mountaintop.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The Knicks enter the 2026 NBA Draft (June 23-24, 2026) with the 24th, 31st, and 55th picks. Fresh off a drought-breaking championship run, Leon Rose & Co. don’t need to hunt for star power. Instead, they can focus on low-risk / low-cost depth and high-upside development.

Depending on how the draft board falls, Houston freshman big man Chris Cenac, Jr. could be available when New York is on the clock late in the first round or early in the second. Adding such an impressive physical specimen to the frontcourt pipeline is always a promising idea. Should the Knicks consider him as an understudy to Mitchell Robinson?

The Basics

• School: Houston
• Position: Power forward / center
• Height: 6’11” (6’10.25″ barefoot at the NBA Draft Combine)
• Weight: 240 lbs
• Age: 19 (Feb. 1, 2007)
• 2025-26 Stats: 9.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 49% FG, 33% 3PT, 62% FT
• Projected Draft Range: Late first to early second round (Picks 20–35)

The Numbers

Maybe 9.5 points per game on 49% shooting doesn’t scream first-round lock. But you have to view those numbers through the lens of Kelvin Sampson’s veteran-heavy system at Houston. Cenac wasn’t a featured offensive hub as a freshman learning to grind.

The number that should pop for Knicks fans is 7.9 rebounds in just 24.8 minutes per game. Cenac led Houston in rebounding as a true freshman—the first player to do so in nearly 15 years. His 26% defensive rebounding rate is a metric that instantly translates to an NBA rotation.

Efficiency-wise, Cenac is a tale of two zones. At the rim, he was explosive, converting 78% of his looks at the basket, heavily propped up by crushing 37 dunks on 40 attempts. However, his overall field goal percentage was dragged down by his perimeter frequency; he took 90 three-pointers on the season. While a 33% clip from deep is not bad for a 19-year-old near-7-footer, his 62% mark from the charity stripe line suggests his shot is still a work in progress.

What Does He Do Well?

• Elite Physical Profile and Functional Athleticism: Cenac was a standout at the 2026 Draft Combine. Standing just a shade under 6’11” with a massive 7’5″ wingspan and a 9-foot-0.5″ standing reach, he possesses the prototypical frame of a modern NBA big. He’s fluid, moves like a wing in transition, and boasts a 37-inch maximum vertical.
• Relentless Rebounding: Cenac doesn’t just rely on height to clear the glass, but also seeks out contact. He recorded 13 double-digit rebounding games this past season. He tracks looseballs well and has an excellent second jump to secure contested balls.
• Modern Face-Up Potential: He’s solid, but he ain’t Shaq. Few humans are. Unlike Shaq, Cenac is comfortable facing up from the perimeter and has a decent handle from his earlier days of playing point-forward. That allows him to attack slower bigs off the bounce or stretch the floor in pick-and-pop scenarios.

What Are the Concerns?

• Raw Offensive Polish: Outside of finishing lobs, cutting hard to the rim, and hitting occasional spot-up triples, Cenac’s half-court offense is largely theoretical. He ran very little P&R as the roll man at Houston (just seven tracking possessions all year). He will have a steep learning curve anchoring an NBA offense.
• Playmaking and Decision-Making: The point-forward idea might have been a little pie-in-the-sky. With a 0.7 assists per game against a much higher turnover rate, Cenac showed tunnel vision when he decided to drive. He needs to learn to read rotating defenses and make the kick-out pass.
• Defensive Discipline: While playing under Coach Sampson likely gave him a phenomenal foundation in defensive positioning and rotation, Cenac averaged just 0.5 blocks per game despite his 7’5″ wingspan. He occasionally played too conservatively as a rim protector or got caught out of position trying to help on the perimeter.

The Knicks Fit

Cenac’s ability to hit the occasional, open spot-up three gives some hope for a stretch-five option that the Knicks’ bench lacks. He would not crack the active rotation on opening night, but maps out as a promising long-term project. Think of Cenac as insurance for the center rotation. With Mitchell Robinson’s injury history and contract talks looming, the Knicks need a few reliable, physical, defensive-minded bigs behind or beside Karl-Anthony Towns. Cenac has the physical tools you’d want in a drop-coverage rim protector, mixed with a modern—if theoretical—scoring punch. He could challenge Ariel Hukporti and Pacome Dadiet in training camp for third-stringer spots, and most likely get reps with the Westchester Knicks this season.

NBA Comparisons

• Best-Case Comparison: Kel’el Ware / Christian Wood (with a better defensive motor)
• Median Outcome: Mo Bamba
• Low-End Outcome: Damian Jones

The Verdict

At No. 24: Consider. If the top-tier guards and wings are off the board (Isaiah Evans, e.g.), taking an upside swing on a five-star freshman with a 7’5″ wingspan who survived the Houston developmental gauntlet is a smart asset play.

At No. 31: Run to the podium. If Cenac slips into the second round due to his raw offensive numbers, Leon Rose should draft him without hesitation.

For our other Draft Profiles, go here.

Go Knicks!

For the next month before the 2026 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at No. 22. Next up in this series is Duke’s Isaiah Evans.

Isaiah Evans was a five-star recruit and one of the top high school players in the country when he committed to Duke. He joined a loaded freshmen class featuring Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. Evans likely didn’t have the year he was hoping for as senior Tyrese Proctor and Tulane transfer Sion James were the other Blue Devils starters. Still, he turned a solid first year, nailing over 41% of his threes.

He decided to come back to Durham for a second season with an expanded role. He became an important cog for Duke as a sophomore, earning Third Team All-ACC honors while helping his team advance to the Elite Eight. Known for elite movement shooting, Evans showed marked improvement in his second collegiate season, but will it be enough to get him taken in the first round?

Profile

2025-26 Stats: 38 games, 28.2 minutes, 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 43.3% FG, 36.1% 3P, 86.0% FT

Team: Duke

Year: Sophomore

Position: SG

Height & Weight: 6’5.5” | 186.0 lbs

Born: December 6, 2005 (20)

Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Strengths

As soon as Evans steps on the floor he’s a threat to shoot. As a freshman, he shot 41.6% from deep on 4.1 attempts while only playing 13.8 minutes a game. That’s 12 threes per 40 minutes. The sheer volume is impressive. As a sophomore, the efficiency dipped (36.1%), but he was taking 7.4 triples a night while taking on a much larger role.

If Evans goes in the first round, shooting will be why. He’s an excellent shooter off movement and is in constant motion on the floor. He understands spacing and played extremely well off the dominant Cam Boozer in 2025-26. His form is fluid and repeatable and his release is lightning quick. He’s arguably the best pure shooter in the class.

What you like to see is his improvement from inside the arc. He jumped from 50% on twos as a freshman to 56.7% as a sophomore on way more attempts. He punished sleeping defenses with well-timed back-door cuts and made defenders pay for overaggressive closeouts. He’s not a playmaker by any means, but showed some ability to comfortably put the ball on the floor.

Other things Evans has going for him are height and length. He measured nearly 6-foot-6 without shoes at the combine with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. A sharpshooter with the versatility to play guard or wing would be invaluable. While he was listed at 175 pounds at Duke, he weighed in at 186 at the combine, perhaps a sign he’ll be able to gain muscle going forward.

Weaknesses

The reality is all of Evans’ game could use work outside of his shot.

As mentioned, he’s not a creator off the dribble. His ability to move without the ball is crucial. While movement shooting is an NBA skill every team covets, he’s a limited offensive player overall.

And while he has height and length, he is quite skinny. He was often pushed around by bigger players, casting doubt on his ability to viably guard NBA wings — or really guard anybody. He’s going to need to gain muscle to hang with NBA players for 82-plus games a season. He’s also just an OK athlete.

Positional Fit

Evans profiles best as a two. He doesn’t handle well enough or playmake enough to be a point guard and he’s likely too skinny to play the wing. For the Sixers, there could certainly be a fit as a sharpshooter off the bench. The New York Knicks just won the NBA Finals in part because of how they outshot their opponents — including the Sixers — from three. Having a guard like Evans who can come in firing would be a plus. His shooting can legitimately be game-changing (watch his game against St. John’s in the Sweet 16).

The issue is going to be how he can fit next to Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. It’s funny because Evans has shades of a taller and longer Isaiah Joe. Again, if Evans can add strength — the pounds he seemingly added ahead of the combine are encouraging — and improve defensively, perhaps he can play the wing. That would make him much more valuable, especially to a team like the Sixers. The other concern is usage. Nick Nurse never seemed to find a way to use Jared McCain, who thrived in OKC. Would Nurse be able get the most out of Evans?

Draft Projection

SB Nation Mock Draft: No. 30, Dallas Mavericks

Most mocks have Evans going somewhere in the 20s. Here he’s taken with the last pick in the first round. Going to Dallas and reuniting with his former Duke teammate in Flagg would make a good bit of sense. They need all the spacing they can get for their budding superstar and Evans already has experience playing off of him.

The New York Knicks might have waited 53 years to win another title, but they sure aren’t losing even 53 seconds in plotting their next moves.

After ending a title drought that had the organization praying for a single championship since their players last hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in 1973, the Knicks are already working on next season’s roster, seemingly siding with continuity as we head into the offseason.

Coming up next, the NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 23, with the Knicks having the No. 24, No. 31, and No. 55 picks in their hands. Just one week after the draft is over, we’ll be entering free agency. And how the Knicks deal with the latter will be key to what New York achieves next season.

For starters, as Michael Zeno explained, Jose Alvarado will decide on whether or not he picks his player option. After that, however, the real business will go down. Outside of RFA Ariel Hukporti and Mo Diawara, the whole lot of Landry Shamet, Jeremy Sochan, Jordan Clarkson, and…. Mitchell Robinson will enter unrestricted free agency. And we all know the value of the man listed last in there.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, however, the Knicks are making it clear that Mitch is at the top of their offseason plans.

“Mitchell Robinson, he is an unrestricted free agent in two weeks here, and the Knicks are going to definitely try to keep him.

“[The Knicks] are about $8 million under the luxury tax line. They know they’re going over the luxury tax. They intend to make Mitchell an offer that will keep him.

“He might have some outside interest, but they’re going to make him a priority.” — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst

Robinson’s status as a true UFA has reasonably drawn attention across the NBA, particularly from teams seeking help at center, and the Knicks might have to fight some strong competition to keep him in tow, namely, that from the ever-exceptional Los Angeles Lakers, who have been linked as a potential Robinson suitor.

A little over a week ago, with the Knicks still fighting for the chip,  NBA reporter Jake Fischer was the first reputed name out there connecting the dots, even if it wasn’t that much of a report, per se.

“Teams regularly relayed to me when I’ve asked around about Robinson’s status have pointed to the Bulls, Hornets, Lakers and Raptors. Those are all clubs known to be looking for center upgrades.” — Jake Fischer

Robinson finished the regular season appearing in 60 games, the most since he logged 72 in 2022, and posting averages of 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. In a smaller role through the playoffs, Mitch averaged 4.8, 5.5, and 0.6 in those respective categories.

Going New York’s way, however, is the fact that there seems to be some concerns outside of the Knicks organization regarding Robinson’s inconsistency and his obvious availability concerns in recent seasons. That should limit his market and demands, which might work out for the Knicks given the franchise’s tight cap/tax situation.

Love him or hate him, Mitch is an OG Knick and can put on solid performances without even the smallest question being asked, so if it doesn’t take the house to keep him around, New York should be fighting for his autograph.

Can Celtics land good player with No. 27 pick? Here's what history says originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Only five teams outside of the lottery still own their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the Boston Celtics are one of them.

They hold the No. 27 overall pick after finishing with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season.

This is an important draft for the Celtics. They need to continue to add talented young players around their veteran core.

The draft is the best place to find these players because they’re on cost-controlled rookie contracts.

Landing an impact player, or even a capable role player, this far down in Round 1 is a challenge, but it’s certainly possible. And the Celtics have actually fared pretty well in this stage of the draft in recent years.

Since 2018, they have drafted five players in the last third of the first round who have been starters or meaningful role players:

• 2025: Hugo Gonzalez, No. 28
• 2024: Baylor Scheierman, No. 30
• 2020: Payton Pritchard, No. 26
• 2019: Grant Williams, No. 22
• 2018: Robert Williams III, No. 27

What are the chances the Celtics get a good player at No. 27? Let’s look at the last 15 players drafted in this spot:

• 2025: Danny Wolf, Nets
• 2024: Terrence Shannon Jr., T-Wolves
• 2023: Nick Smith Jr., Hornets
• 2022: Nikola Jovic, Heat
• 2021: Cam Thomas, Nets
• 2020: Udoka Azubuike, Jazz
• 2019: Mfiondu Kabengele, Nets
• 2018: Robert Williams III, Celtics
• 2017: Kyle Kuzma, Nets
• 2016: Pascal Siakam, Raptors
• 2015: Larry Nance Jr., Lakers
• 2014: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Suns
• 2013: Rudy Gobert, Nuggets
• 2012: Arnett Moultrie, Heat
• 2011: JaJuan Johnson, Nets

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The best player from this group is Pascal Siakam, who has become an All-Star level player and was a key contributor on the Raptors’ 2019 championship team. He almost won another title with the Pacers in 2025. Rudy Gobert is one of the best defensive players of his era. He is one of only three players to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award four times.

Kyle Kuzma has had a productive career and played a meaningful role on the Lakers’ 2020 bubble title. Robert Williams III, when healthy, was a good starting center for the Celtics and an elite defensive force. Cam Thomas has averaged 14.9 points per game in his career.

Which players near the end of Round 1 in this year’s draft could become useful role players (or better) for the Celtics?

North Carolina center Henri Veesaar, Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance, Arizona forward Koa Peat, Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas, Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie, UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., and Valencia (Spain) guard Sergio de Larrea all are intriguing fits.

The first round of the draft begins Tuesday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET.

The Golden State Warriors enter the 2026 NBA Draft facing one of the most important decisions of the Steph Curry era.

With Curry turning 39 next season and the franchise still trying to maximize its championship window alongside Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, finding immediate help at No. 11 overall could prove just as important as any move made in free agency.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Warriors have zeroed in on a group of prospects from one program in particular.

“Funny enough, sources say all three Michigan guys are in play for the Golden State Warriors with the 11th pick.” Siegel wrote, referring to national champion Michigan standouts Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr.

The interest is hardly surprising.

Golden State recently hosted Johnson and Lendeborg for pre-draft workouts.

The Warriors have spent significant time evaluating Michigan’s championship core, suggesting the front office sees potential fits who could contribute both now and in the future.

Lendeborg may be the cleanest fit.

The 6-foot-9 forward is viewed as one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. At 24 years old, he lacks the ascending potential of some younger prospects, but his versatility, rebounding, passing and defensive instincts align closely with the type of players Steve Kerr has traditionally valued.

Mara offers a very different appeal. The 7-foot-3 Spanish center emerged as one of the biggest risers during the draft process after leading college basketball in blocks and helping Michigan win a national championship.

Scouts have been particularly intrigued by his combination of rim protection, mobility and passing ability, traits that could allow him to thrive in Golden State’s motion offense.

Johnson may be the wild card of the group. The athletic forward-center averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while earning All-Big Ten and All-Defensive honors. His energy, rebounding and defensive versatility could fill several needs for a Warriors team that has long searched for frontcourt athleticism.

Which leads to Siegel’s next point. The Warriors may not ultimately stay at No. 11.

Siegel reported Golden State could “bounce around, gather more assets, and still get one of the players they want,” suggesting a trade-back scenario remains very much in play.

In a deep draft class, moving down a few spots while acquiring additional assets could allow the Warriors to improve both their present and future.

Michigan’s trio isn’t the only group under consideration. Siegel also reported that wings Nate Ament and Brayden Burries are receiving strong consideration.

The team has also hosted work outs for projected second rounders Illinois guard Kylan Boswell and Tennessee center Felix Okpara

Still, the repeated connections to Michigan prospects stand out.

For Mike Dunleavy Jr., this draft is about threading the needle of two realities. It’s not just about finding someone capable of helping Curry compete for an incredible fifth championship, it needs to give the franchise a building block for life after beyond its dynastic core.

The Warriors cannot afford to miss.

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After a season of his larger-than-life personality and plays, it’s hard to imagine the Philadelphia 76ers without VJ Edgecombe now.

The No. 3 overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft’s freshman season is behind him, and what a year it was. At just 20 years old, Edgecombe made his presence known in the league, starting with his very first game back on Oct. 22, 2025, when the Sixers opened their season with a visit to TD Garden and the Boston Celtics. Feels like a lifetime ago now, doesn’t it? Let me refresh your memory.

As the 2025-26 regular season was getting underway, the Sixers were trying to get Joel Embiid back to game speed (he played in the opener, but only for 20 lackluster minutes) and had Paul George sidelined for recovery from his summer knee surgery. Nick Nurse slotted Edgecombe in the starting lineup right off the bat, giving him the opportunity over returning players such as Quentin Grimes. Expectations and excitement for the rookie’s debut were high, with his drafting to the Sixers being the most positive thing the team had really experienced in over a year.

He not only met those expectations, but surpassed them. Edgecombe put up 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in his first NBA contest, ultimately sinking two free throws near the end of regulation to secure the Sixers’ 117-116 victory. He shot 13-for-26 from the floor and 5-for-13 from long range while displaying fundamental skills and game awareness well beyond his years.

Right from the jump, we were given a glimpse into the things that would make Edgecombe shine throughout his first season — fearlessness, agility, intelligence, aggression, clutch gene, fundamental skill and more. He has proven himself to not only be an incredible athlete to say the very least, but one that is not only an offensive power but is a solid defender, active rebounder and all-around baller.

Fast forward to now, and Edgecombe has been named First Team All-Rookie after 75 games (all starting) averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals for the Sixers. He shot 43.8% from the floor and 35.4% from long range (on a 5.6 attempts-per-game clip).

His numbers did dip during the playoffs — some more than others — but a major plus is that Edgecombe was able to rack up 406 minutes of postseason experience in his debut year. Speaking of minutes, the rookie ended up playing 2,623 minutes this regular season, the second-most minutes by a Sixer (behind backcourt-mate Tyrese Maxey with 2,661) and the 11th-most minutes of any player in the association for 2025-26. Not bad for a 20-year-old that came into the year in college condition, which is a world of difference from NBA-level.

OK, so he had a great rookie season, that much is clear. But now it’s time to look ahead and talk about what leaps Edgecombe can take for his sophomore year to build upon the good he has already started.

The main aspect of his game that I think provides the biggest room for improvement is Edgecombe’s on-ball scoring, namely his off-the-dribble pull-up game. We all know he is able to absolutely fly through defenses for an emphatic slam or even just to lay-it in with a nice touch. However, at times throughout his rookie season and especially in the playoffs, the Bahamian’s pull-up shooting could be a bit inconsistent and suffered noticeably the longer he had the ball or the more he dribbled before pulling up.

The effect was at its most significant during the postseason from long range, from whence Edgecombe shot just 29.2%. Looking deeper into that number, you’ll see he actually had shot 34.6% (18-for-52) from behind the arc on catch-and-shoots, but hit just 15.8% (3-for-19) on pull-ups. He sank 34.0% from three when he had the ball for under two seconds, but that dropped to just 18.2% when he had the ball for 2-6 seconds — and down further to 12.5% when he had the ball longer than 6 seconds.

The discrepancies were a bit less evident statistically during the regular season, but existed nonetheless. The reason to focus so specifically on his ability to dribble into pulling-up is that it is the type of skill that could provide a massive ceiling of improvement for a player with the existing skillset of Edgecombe.

Think of the amount of times that he and/or Maxey were able to poke the ball away on defense and get out ahead in transition. Of course, if you can just beat everyone down the court for a dunk or lay-in, that’s great… but if Edgecombe can improve his ability to dribble down the court and hit the brakes before the arc to pull up from there for three points instead of two, those extra points could add up quick.

Plus, him developing that pull-up comfortability will benefit him from absolutely everywhere on the floor, not just from long range. We have already seen Edgecombe’s ability to quickly dance his way through or around defenders in the mid-range to create shots out of thin air, but imagine him getting comfortable slowing that down just a tad to be able to sink even more of those shots. Scary.

Now, of course we’re talking about a 20-year-old going in to just his sophomore season, so obviously this isn’t the only thing Edgecombe has to work on, but it’s what seems to be one of the biggest rooms for improvement with the biggest potential impact for the boy from Bimini.

The best part about Edgecombe, I’d argue, are the things that inspire incredible optimism for his continued development as a pro, beyond just having a successful debut season: the work ethic, attitude and confidence that he carries himself with. I personally have zero doubt that the guard — who has already returned to the team’s facility for offseason workouts — not only wants to improve in any way he can, but will be absolutely grinding to make it happen for his sophomore season with the Sixers.

The Dallas Wings want to win, and the New York Knicks’ championship run teaches the Wings that a cohesive bunch of college teammates can indeed translate to success in the professional ranks.

While the Wings were playing the Portland Fire on Saturday night, the Knicks were playing the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. After a 94-90 win over of the Spurs, the Knicks won their first NBA Championship since 1973.

Jalen Brunson finished with 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting from the field and was awarded the Finals MVP trophy after the Knicks secured the Game 5 win.

Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges combined for 27 points in support of their Villanova teammate. It was not the first time that Bridges and Hart helped Brunson in a critical game.

Hart scored 12 points while Brunson scored four points in the 2016 National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Kris Jenkins hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a dramatic 77-74 win in that one.

Bridges scored 19 points, and Brunson chipped in nine in the 2018 National Championship between Villanova and the Michigan Wolverines, as Donte DiVincenzo led the team with 31 points in the 79-62 victory.

Bridges, Hart and Brunson won in college. The Knicks decided to see if the trio could do it in the NBA, and it worked.

The Knicks signed Brunson as a free agent on June 30, 2022 — Mavericks fans will no doubt remember that one. The signing came after Brunson was part of the supporting cast surrounding Luka Doncic in Dallas during the 2021-22 playoffs. Brunson averaged 21.6 points per game and helped Dallas defeat the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. He scored 41 points in Game 2 and 31 points in Game 3 as Doncic sat those games out with injuries.

Because of Brunson’s playoff success with Dallas and his two National Championship rings, the Knicks decided to give the keys to Brunson. At the time, New York had not won a playoff series since the 2012-13 postseason, and the Knicks believed Brunson could change that. He lifted his game to a new level as soon as he got to New York.

After averaging 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game in the 2021-22 season, Brunson finished his first season in New York averaging 24 points and 6.2 assists per game.

The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with the help of Hart, who New York traded for on Feb. 9, 2023. During the playoff run, Hart averaged 10.4 points while Brunson averaged 27.8 points.

In the 2023 offseason, the Knicks signed DiVincenzo, bringing another Villanova teammate. All of a sudden the New York Knickerbockers were known as the “Nova Knicks.”

The Knicks finished with 50 wins and returned to the playoffs. During a playoff run that ended with a loss in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, DiVincenzo averaged 17.3 points per game, Hart averaged 14.5 points per game and Brunson averaged 32.4 points per game

In the 2024 offseason, Bridges was brought in through a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Then, DiVincenzo was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves to bring Karl Anthony-Towns to New York.

After a 51-win season, the Knicks made it to the playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Nova Knicks continued being a bright spot for New York as Brunson averaged 29.4 points per game, Bridges averaged 15.6 points per game and Hart averaged 11.6 points per game in the playoffs.

This season, New York won 53 games and returned to the playoffs. Once again, the Nova Knicks dazzled in the postseason. Brunson averaged 28.4 points per game, Bridges averaged 13.5 points per game and Hart averaged 10.4 points per game.

Betting on team chemistry and success in college led to the Knicks becoming a consistent playoff team, leading to an NBA Finals run.

The plan started with Brunson, who evolved into a top-guard in the NBA. Then, New York added players to help with the scoring as well as defense with Bridges and Hart. The trio already knew each other and how to win.

New York took a gamble with adding players from a specific college team, and it was new to the NBA. The Wings did the same thing with pairing Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers. Both were drafted number one overall in the WNBA Draft after the duo starred at UConn.

In the 2024-25 season, Fudd and Bueckers won the National Championship under Geno Auriemma in the third season Fudd and Bueckers played together.

UConn lost 15 games during that three-year run. In comparison, the Wings have lost 65 games combined over the last two seasons as well as not being in the playoffs since 2023.

You might call Bueckers the Jalen Brunson of this iteration of the Wings. She is becoming one of the best players in the WNBA, just like Brunson in his ascendancy.

It is not as easy to compare Fudd to one of the other Villanova players because she is still navigating through her rookie season. Fudd has shown glimpses, but she is not a finished product like Bridges and Hart were when they joined Brunson in New York. But the flashes Fudd shows portend big things — she could end up being much more than a role player.

While the Nova Knicks were important to the championship run, OG Anunoby and Karl Anthony Towns were added to the roster and were important pieces to help New York break its 53-year drought. New York also changed coaches.

The Wings understood the roster needed work and brought Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith to Dallas. They also hired a new coach. Jose Fernandez has installed an exciting offense in his first year with the team that seems to be addressing the team’s lack of 3-point shooting in the prior two seasons.

Shepard is off to a record start, while Smith has started slowly. The roster will most likely need more changes for Dallas to compete in the playoffs and eventually win a championship. It took a while for the Nova Knicks, but the UConn guards are already impacting Dallas with a strong start to the season. Time will tell if the Wings can replicate the Knicks’ success.

Shocker: The New York Knicks are your NBA champions.

Proper: The New York Knicks are being disrespected as they always have been.

Not even five seconds after the final buzzer sounded inside that random arena in San Antonio, with the Knicks—organization and fans alike—still in disbelief of what had just happened, haters and doubters were already at it.

In the economy we live in, however, that was to be expected. Ask Terry. Anyway, early projections for the 2026-27 NBA season are already available, and nobody outside of NYC and its surroundings seems to remember a damn thing about the historic moment they just witnessed.

And obviously, the Knicks are not viewed as the favorites to repeat next season, even if their oldest players will be 31 next season, their core of the team has been together for four years, and well, they won the freaking championship going on an imposing 16-3 run.

Sportsbooks such as FanDuel have placed the Knicks fourth in early odds for the 2027 championship, trailing three teams: the losing San Antonio Spurs, the double-loser Oklahoma City Thunder—both atop the board as co-favorites at +250—and the don’t-know-how-they-will-look-in-a-week Boston Celtics, at +600.

New York checks in behind them at +750, a hellaciouslly good distance ahead of joint-fifth-favorites Denver and Detroit, both at +2500.

Has any franchise repeated as champion since the 2017-18 Dubs? Nope. Has any team even won two titles in the last eight seasons? No.

Does that matter at all? Not to me! Let the (under)dogs out!

We are a little under a week away from the 2026 NBA Draft and that means we are getting a little closer to seeing the Washington Wizards make one of the most important picks in their franchise history, with the #1 overall pick in the draft. This draft is littered with some amazing talent, but there are certain players who fit this roster better than others. Let’s break down the top draft prospects’ fit on this roster as well as what FanDuel has as their odds being picked by the Wizards at #1.

1. AJ Dybansta

Why does AJ Dybansta fit in so well with the Wizards core? Let’s start with his positional length. The Wizards have built a team that has the ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the floor. Having a 6’9” athletic wing fits into the archetype that this front office has sought after in each of the past few drafts. Dybansta also has the offensive potential to be a #1 option. The Wizards just don’t have anyone with the combination of size and scoring prowess on the roster currently, which makes Dybansta a great fit for this team.

His ceiling as an offensive player is much higher than anyone on the current roster. Adding AJ could also create a positional mismatch on most nights that the team lacks at times. At his best, Dybansta could make the Wizards an elite offensive team, with the potential of being a strong contributor on defense as well.

FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: -450

2. Darryn Peterson

There is a lot of controversy about Peterson’s time at Kansas, but make no mistake about it, the talent is there. Even with the athleticism already on the roster, Peterson would be arguably the most athletic of the bunch. Combine that with his ability to attack off the dribble, you would be adding a player that can go get his own shot at a moment’s notice.

Peterson does not possess the positional size that Dybantsa has, but because of wing span (6’9”), he still has the ability to guard multiple positions and allows the Wizards to mix and match him in match ups that would allow the team to throw multiple defenders at the other team’s best ball handlers. Peterson has the best all-around game of the top prospects and is a tough choice to turn down.

FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: +320

3. Caleb Wilson

Are you surprised to see Caleb here? Although Cameron Boozer is the more polished player coming out of college, Wilson fits the current Wizards roster better, in my opinion. Can you imagine a front court rotation of Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis and Caleb Wilson? You would have three bigs who are athletic enough to guard on defensive switches on perimeter players. This would help them hide some of their weaker defenders, like Trae Young, by having two rim protectors on the court at a time.

Additionally on offense, Wilson’s rim-running style compliments Alex Sarr quite well. This combination allows Wilson to play to his strength offensively, while allowing Sarr to keep the spacing on the floor, playing more as an offensive “stretch 4”. If this team does not see Anthony Davis on the team beyond the next year or so, Wilson provides a strong replacement and maintains strong depth in the front court.

FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: +8000

4. Keaton Wagler

Like many teams, the Wizards current roster is not built around the idea of having a traditional point guard. Having the ability to have multiple ball handlers, who can also play off the ball, helps the team find continuity on the offensive end. That’s where Illinois guard Keaton Wagler could fit in. Wagler had a strong showing in the NCAA tournament, while helping the Illini get to the Final Four. While he does not possess the athleticism the previous three options has, his ability to fit next to players like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Trae Young, etc. would greatly enhance the depth at the guard position.

Perhaps not likely an option if the Wizards stay at the #1 pick, but if the Wizards ever did decide to trade down, Wagler would be a good option that has a mature enough game to be an instant contributor.

FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: N/A

5. Cameron Boozer

I have Boozer lower on this list just strictly off of his ceiling. Boozer was an excellent college player with high basketball IQ, capable of doing a little bit of everything, but the reality is the NBA is largely about how well you can guard your position and possible other positions when you are forced to switch on defense. He does not possess the athleticism to project to be a good defensive player at the NBA-level. Offensively, Boozer has a strong lower base that will allow him to be an effective post player. He also possess high basketball IQ and is a great shooter.

On the Wizards, Boozer has the ability to compliment Alex Sarr. His overall skill set offensively makes him a great fit in the front court on this team. Boozer has a mature post game that gives him a unique skill set that this team simply does not have a lot of.

With all of this in mind, Boozer is a safe pick. He is not likely to be a superstar, but he has the ability to be a contributor right away. He is not likely to be the #1 pick, but if the Wizards decide to choose him, they would have a player who is a sure thing.

FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: +2200

This isn’t just another puff piece by a Minnesota Timberwolves fan celebrating Karl-Anthony Towns.

As much as I would love to flood the internet with more positivity and reveling in Towns’ most recent accomplishment, I’ve actually been thinking about why I’ve been rooting for Towns to win the championship this postseason.

When watching an NBA game, my flowchart of “Who am I rooting for?” has usually gone something like this:

1. Are they the Timberwolves?
2. If they aren’t, which team’s victory/loss would benefit the Timberwolves more?
3. Which team’s victory/loss would lead to the Timberwolves catching fewer straws?

_{*Just as important, everything would be inverse if you replace Timberwolves with Lakers}

During the 2026 NBA Finals, all indications should’ve pointed towards me rooting for the San Antonio Spurs. If the Spurs won it all, it would likely mean they would keep the team together. A team that the injury-riddled Wolves took to six games (astronomical point differential aside). A San Antonio loss would likely prompt them to add more firepower in the offseason, rebalancing their roster along the way. Additionally, Minnesota losing to the eventual champs sounds a lot better than losing to the eventual runner-up.

Additionally, a New York Knicks victory should be to the Wolves’ demise. Fans and talking heads would be champing at the bit to ridicule Minnesota for giftwrapping banner number two to New York in the form of Towns. In fact, Towns would be just the latest top-10 draft pick that the Wolves failed to build around, then traded, and then won the Larry O’Brien Trophy in just two seasons with their new team. Meanwhile, the bulk of the Timberwolves’ offseason content is about how they can try to trade one of the players they received in that very same trade.

By this logic, rooting against the Knicks should have been a no-brainer.

However, I still found myself pulling for New York. I was willing to ignore my aforementioned flowchart even if it came at the expense of my favorite team. Why was watching Towns claw his way towards a title with the Knicks so much different than, say, Andrew Wiggins with the Golden State Warriors four years ago? I’ve met both players face-to-face multiple times, and they were always nothing but pleasant to me. They both tried, to the best of their own respective abilities, to win in Minnesota without ever the peep of a trade request.

It was because of how I personally viewed these individuals as humans.

My admiration for Towns has already been detailed here on Canis Hoopus. He’s someone who, by multiple accounts, is a grade A person off the court. Whether it’s been within the local Minnesota community or as someone who regularly uses his platform to uplift the disenfranchised, Towns is someone that I’ve always been proud to root for. It’s always been about more than basketball with him.

Conversely, I wrote a whole piece about players I love rooting against four years ago. So much angst, Leo! So, have I just become soft now? Has the birth of my first child turned me into a “snowflake” who just wants everyone to get along? I doubt that very much.

What I’ve grown to realize over the years is that everything shouldn’t have to be in binaries. Just because I was rooting for Towns didn’t mean I was rooting against the Wolves. That didn’t even mean I was rooting against Victor Wembanyama, who was openly critical of ICE activity in Minnesota, nor the Spurs franchise, who are one of the NBA organizations most openly critical of our current government.

On the flip side, rooting for Towns didn’t mean I was rooting for former Wolves assistant coach Eric Daniel “Rick” Brunson, given the previous sexual assault allegation raised against him. It didn’t mean I was rooting for James Dolan and his laundry list of transgressions (including an eerily similar SA allegation). There are often both good and bad people on both sides. And there are usually more than just two sides.

Can I root for an athlete even if they play on a team with a rotten owner, or have rotten teammates?

Can I root for a musical artist even if they’re signed to a rotten label?

That’s perhaps a different discussion for another day, but in this particular case, I find it easier to cheer for and follow athletes who are simply good people and not overanalyze the rest.

People like Ricky Rubio, who has had huge success the last couple of years playing with his first professional team, Joventut Badalona (sadly, they just got eliminated in the semi-finals of the Spanish Liga ACB playoffs), while continuing to do great work in the cancer research arena with his foundation.

People like Gorgui Dieng, who has continued to pour into his home country of Senegal, uplifting the youth and sports communities along the way. This is why Canis Hoopus writes stories about these former players, all three of whom were recipients of NBA Cares Community Assist awards.

There will always be people who root for players for different reasons. Some may root for players that have an aesthetically pleasing style of hooping (Curry, Kyrie). Some may root for players of the high school jock ilk (Kobe, or the ringless Jimmy Butler). Some may not even care about the players themselves, as long as they help bring a championship to your favorite team.

People will try to change you or ridicule you for your choice.

But this is a reminder that it is always okay to root for good people.

When it comes to making offseason NBA roster improvements, the paths are clear even when the eventual outcomes aren’t.

There are unrestricted free agents. 

There are restricted free agents. 

There are trades.

And then there’s the draft — the most volatile path when factoring in that NBA franchises are taking shots on players who are typically teenagers or in their early 20s.

But the Western Conference finals between the Spurs and Thunder showed how consequential the draft can be for setting up short-term and potential long-term success. Especially in the modern NBA in which teams’ spending and roster machinations can be limited depending on whether they’re over the first or second apron. 

And after their last two first-round picks haven’t produced in the ways they’ve hoped (2023 pick Jalen Hood-Schifino, no longer in the NBA; 2024 pick Dalton Knecht, fell out of the rotation last season), the Lakers can’t afford to whiff with the No. 25 pick in the NBA draft in less than two weeks. 

Who should the Lakers target with their first-round pick?

Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky big

2025-26 stats: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 16.8 minutes

Measurements: 6-foot-9 (without shoes), 253 pounds, 7-foot-5 ¼ wingspan, 9-foot-1 standing reach  

The skinny: Quaintance started his collegiate career at Arizona State, where he quickly became one of men’s college basketball’s most versatile defenders. But he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in February 2025 during his freshman year with the Sun Devils, cutting his first collegiate season short. Quaintance only played 67 minutes across four games with Kentucky after making his season debut in the Dec. 20 win over St. John’s because of swelling in his right knee. His medicals and health will be a significant factor in where he winds up being drafted, but Quaintance’s shot blocking, defensive switchability, athleticism and finishing could make him an impactful player as a rookie. 

Tarris Reed Jr., UConn big

2025-26 stats: 14.7 points, 9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2 blocks, 27.3 minutes

Measurements: 6-foot-9 ¾ (without shoes), 263 pounds, 7-foot-4 ¼ wingspan, 9-foot-2 standing reach  

The skinny: Reed played collegiately at Michigan for two seasons, including a full-time starter as a sophomore, before transferring to UConn for his last two seasons. He led the Big East in field-goal percentage in 2025-26 at 60.7, showcasing good touch around the basket after powering his way toward the rim. He weighed in as the second-heaviest player at the NBA draft combine, and he uses his strength very well on the interior as a scorer or rebounder. 

Chris Cenac Jr., Houston big

2025-26 stats: 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 24.8 minutes

Measurements: 6-foot-10 ¼ (without shoes), 239 pounds, 7-foot-5 wingspan, 9-foot-0 ½ standing reach  

The skinny: Cenac was a consensus five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, immediately starting for a Houston team coming off a runner-up finish in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. His mix of size, fluidity and athleticism make him an intriguing long-term prospect. But he needs to get stronger. Although he likely won’t be ready to contribute to an NBA team as a rookie, taking a patient approach with his development may be worth it.  

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s big

2025-26 stats: 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, 30 minutes 

Measurements: 6-foot-7 ½ (without shoes), 245 pounds, 7-foot-2 wingspan, 8-foot-11 standing reach  

The skinny: Ejiofor played for the Red Storm under Rick Pitino the last three seasons after starting his college career at Kansas. Though undersized, Ejiofor projects to be a versatile defensive big man who can switch 1-5 and protect the rim because of his motor, strength, length, quickness, awareness and IQ. He’s a more limited offensive player because of his lack of shooting but can make up for it with quick decision-making as a passer and sound screening, which further unlocks his playmaking. 

Allen Graves, Santa Clara forward

2025-26 stats: 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks, 22.6 minutes

Measurements: 6-foot-7 ¾ (without shoes), 225 pounds, 7-foot wingspan, 8-foot-10 ½ standing reach  

The skinny: Graves was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year and an All-WCC first-team honoree after putting up tremendous counting and advanced stats coming off the bench for the Broncos. His combination of size, defensive playmaking, shooting, passing and general all-around skill set made up for his lack of traditional athleticism.