Category: Basketball

The 2026 NBA Draft will go down in the history books for the Utah Jazz. It really was a long time coming. Tonight, they selected their first top-2 pick since the 1980 Darrell Griffith selection. For weeks, there was a shakeup between the top-3. First, the Wizards-Jazz egregious mock trades (sorry, Ace is still ours, Wizards fans), then came the rumors that the Wizards preferred Darryn at #1, in addition to the consideration of Cam Boozer at #2.

The board fell as expected. BYU phenom AJ Dybantsa was the first name off the board in the 2026 NBA Draft, as well as the wails and cries of Cougar fans ringing off in Salt Lake City.

Then, it seemed as if the Ainge family was already on speed dial. At 6:13 am MST, Jake Fischer leaked the pick:

The pick seemed like a no-brainer. Utah could have paired the father and son Boozers (who fell the next pick to Memphis), but called through yet another draft bluff and took the consensus #1 high-school star. This moment will *hopefully* play in the back of my head for the rest of my days:

Jazz fans reacted just as enthusiastically, video courtesy of SLC Dunk’s very own Diana Allen:

But Darryn Peterson’s night wasn’t over. An hour later, he graced the cover of SLAM 263 despite being a #2 pick, rocking his brand spankin’ new black and purple threads. I’m no psychic, but I have the belief he may want to play here if he already did a photoshoot in a Jazz uniform during the weeks and weeks of rumors.

Darryn Peterson’s night refused to end. The draft marked the day Adidas signed Peterson to a long-term deal with Adidas, making it the top 5 richest rookie shoe deals in NBA history. No other prominent Utah Adidas rookies to mention…*cough* …none whatsoever.

As of the end of Round 1, the Jazz do not own a second-round pick, or any other pick at all after #2. They could attempt to add another rookie if they decide to reset their contract timeline. Or the Jazz could stand pat and relax in the Darryn Peterson cheers. They’re not in a rush to develop talent anymore. Now they’re ready for the big leagues to battle aliens and Greek freaks. Peterson is going to need time to figure out how to shoot at the NBA level, but Keyonte, Lauri, Jaren and Ace will have his back until then.

The Golden State Warriors used the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Yaxel Lendeborg, a consensus first-team All-American who was viewed by most as second only to Cameron Boozer among collegiate players last year. So why did he fall all the way to No. 11?

It’s fairly simple: his age. Lendeborg was a super senior who spent time at both a junior college and a lower-level NCAA school before transferring to Michigan his final year, where he won a national championship. Because of that, he’ll turn 24 before making his NBA debut, which stands in stark contrast to everyone else drafted in the first round on Tuesday.

You can easily make the case that Lendeborg’s age limits his ceiling (the oldest player among the 10 prospects drafted ahead of Lendeborg, Brayden Burries, is a full three years younger). But Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. doesn’t seem concerned. Speaking with reporters after the draft, Dunleavy wryly got off a joke, saying, “He’s what? 23? Almost 24? I’m not worried, because he’s not 38.”

While part of Lendeborg’s allure is that he’s one of, if not the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft, Dunleavy helped set expectations accordingly, saying, “I think it’s tough anytime a guy’s changing levels, whether you’re going from high school to college, college to the NBA … but generally guys like this guy, who’s physically read, who’s played at the highest level of college, won a national championship, maybe those guys can play sooner.”

Despite those comments, Dunleavy made it clear that the door is not only open for Lendeborg to earn minutes as a rookie, but that he’ll likely be thrust into a role by nature of the circumstances. “Next year, to be frank, whether we want him to or not,” Dunleavy explained, “Given our roster constraints, and injuries and stuff like that, the opportunity will be there.”

While Lendeborg’s age may have kept him from being one of the top picks in the draft, it surely is something of an asset to the Warriors. Golden State is hoping to compete for one of the top seeds in the Western Conference next year, but has a difficult path to reach that goal, due to a lack of depth on the roster, and serious injuries to Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody, which will sideline each player until sometime around the All-Star break.

Before a draft pick was ever made, NBA commissioner Adam Silver laid out why this day was important for every franchise.

“Every pick matters in the chase to become an NBA champion, and that pursuit begins tonight.”

For the Lakers, patience was key for this draft. After waiting hours, anticipation turned into action for the Lakers as they moved up one spot to the No. 24 pick to select Cameron Carr.

It’s always hard to tell what franchises are thinking. During the draft, gathering trustworthy intel becomes a Herculean effort. No longer are teams’ draft workouts touted, and it becomes difficult to understand their goal for each draft.

That’s why tonight’s pick should make Lakers fans happy. Perhaps Carr will turn into a quality selection, becoming a rotation player or even an All-Star. He could also very well be a bust who doesn’t amount to much.

Regardless of his fate, the Lakers’ selection of him is a step in the right direction. It aligns with what Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said during his exit interview.

“The archetype of the roster we want is going to be retrofitted around Luka [Dončić] and the things he needs,” Pelinka said. “Clearly, he’s that leader and player for the future that we want to build the right way around.”

What Luka needs, outside a top center, are players who can hit shots and apply pressure on the rim. Carr fits that description.

In his sole season at Baylor, he averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Importantly, Carr shot 37.4% from deep and did so on high volume, averaging 6.1 shots from beyond the arc each contest.

As a dunker, Carr will instantly make the Lakers more explosive. Similar to Adou Thiero, Carr has some dunks that will drop your jaw.

Carr also has size and is more than willing to defend. He averaged 2.2 stocks per game. He has good natural instincts and can gamble well on defense.

Given that the Lakers were 22nd in rejections with just 4.3 per game during the regular season, they need an injection of players who can go out there and contest against the league’s best finishers.

During the playoffs, the Lakers’ lack of athletic playmakers became painfully obvious. The team simply couldn’t keep up with the Thunder’s athleticism. It felt as though OKC won all the 50/50 balls and could beat LA not only on the scoreboard, but in the margins with their athleticism, size and depth.

The selection of Carr acknowledges that the franchise is aware of its weaknesses and is working to address them. The last time Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked to the media, he made it sound simple what kind of players the team needs.

“Luke [Kennard] is a great example,” Redick said during his exit interview. “He’s a guy that can dribble, pass, and shoot. I think because of injuries, there were times that we didn’t have enough of that. We’ve got to be better being able to dribble, pass and shoot.”

Carr fits that archetype, and the Lakers didn’t allow anything to get in their way of acquiring him. When the moment came, they paid the Knicks and moved up in the draft to get their guy.

As in life, in sports, you want a franchise’s words to align with its actions. To start this offseason, the Lakers have not contradicted themselves.

They mentioned wanting to get players who can be triple threats, and they acquired one with Carr. There is a lot left to figure out, and the Lakers are far from done with moves this summer.

But this was a good way to begin what is supposed to be a huge offseason for the purple and gold.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The first round of the NBA draft started quietly on Tuesday night with teams selecting players and keeping them at least through the first 12 spots.

Then the trades started at No. 13 involving the teams that were part of the massive swap agreed to on Monday sending Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee to Miami.

That was the first of nine trades involving 10 players over the final 18 selections to wrap up the first round. The Memphis Grizzlies were involved in two deals sliding back five spots and netting five future second-round selections, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Why? Because none of these trades can be finalized until July 6.

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No. 13: F Nate Ament, announced to Miami with rights quickly sent to Milwaukee.

No. 16: G Bennett Stirtz, selected by Memphis with rights swapped to Oklahoma City for No. 17 and two second-round selections.

No. 17: G Ebuka Okorie, slot held by Oklahoma City sent to Memphis in trade for Stirtz's rights.

No. 21: F Karim Lopez, announced to Detroit with rights sent to Memphis along with three first-round selections for Okorie's rights.

No. 24: G Cameron Carr, New York Knicks sent his rights to the Los Angeles Lakers.

No. 25: F Sergio De Larrea, the Lakers' pick sent to the Knicks with his rights traded to Dallas.

No. 26: C Tarris Reed Jr., Denver traded his rights to San Antonio.

No. 28: F Joshua Jefferson, Minnesota traded this slot to Brooklyn as part of the Julius Randle trade as the Nets moved up five spots.

No. 29: F Alex Karaban, Cleveland moved back to No. 34 in this draft, sending Karaban's rights to Sacramento.

No. 30: F Koa Peat, the Knicks traded out of the first round entirely ESPN reported by sending the Dallas pick to Phoenix for the rights to the player from the Phoenix-area who played for Arizona.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

The Cleveland Cavaliers did the smart thing. Instead of taking the 29th pick, they moved back five slots to the 34th pick and grabbed a 2032 second-rounder from the Sacramento Kings in the process.

This was a savvy trade because of the financial flexibility this deal provides.

Every first-round pick comes with a guaranteed contract and salary slot. The 29th pick is slated to earn $3 million this upcoming season, with $6.1 million guaranteed over the next two seasons. Those same guarantees don’t come with second-round selections.

Second-round picks can sign whatever contracts the team and player agree to. They are eligible for the minimum salary ($1.35 million) and can also be signed to two-way contracts that don’t count against the cap. As a result, the Cavs could save $1.65 million if their second-round selection signs a minimum contract.

This matters because the Cavs need to cut costs at every corner. They were the only team above the second apron last season and still are above it. Exceeding that threshold comes with numerous restrictions, including an inability to do sign-and-trades, no access to the midlevel exception, and prohibitions on aggregating contracts in trades. These penalties hinder the Cavs’ ability to upgrade their roster.

Right now, Cleveland is just barely on the wrong side of the second apron, and they will have numerous big decisions to make this summer.

Dean Wade and Keon Ellis will become unrestricted free agents. Both would be due significant pay raises if they are retained. The Cavs are also expected to re-sign James Harden once he declines his player option for next season. Re-signing these players — particularly Wade — could take them further into the second apron. And if they lose any of them in free agency, they would need to fill those spots with new incoming players.

Every dollar matters for the Cavs. Saving potentially $1.65 million may not seem like much from the outside, but it is a huge deal for the front office. This team needs to get under the second apron, and preferably far below it, this summer if they want to retool their roster. This trade helps them do so, even though additional moves are still needed.

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More importantly, there isn’t a significant drop-off in talent this late in the draft. The Cavs may even be able to select the same player they would have if they kept the 29th pick instead.

On top of that, they still get an additional second-round pick as well. For a team that is starving for future assets, picking up another second is helpful.

At the same time, it’s fair to acknowledge that little maneuvers like this are needed because of the front office’s previous mistakes. Going into the second apron isn’t a death sentence, but only if the team you have assembled is complete. The Cavs weren’t and still aren’t.

In a perfect world, the Cavs wouldn’t have to worry about nickel-and-diming every roster decision. They would just take the best player available. And if a move was to be made, it was one done for strictly on-court reasons, not to ensure the spreadsheets were perfectly balanced.

On its own, this was a good trade, but it also serves as a reminder of previous shortcomings. That’s going to knock it down some in my book.

Grade: B

The San Antonio Spurs doubled down on front-court depth after selecting Jayden Quaintance with the 20th overall pick. They traded up into the first round, acquiring the 26th pick from the Denver Nuggets for the 35th pick and two future second-rounders. With that pick, the Spurs took Tarris Reed Jr., a senior big man from UConn.

Reed is a massive 6-foot-11, 263-pound center with a 9-foot-2 standing reach. He was one of UConn’s best players on the team’s run to the NCAA Championship game this season, averaging 14.7 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Reed made the All-NCAA Tournament team last season, putting up huge numbers against powerhouses like Duke, Michigan State, and Illinois in March.

Reed fills a lot of San Antonio’s needs as a big man. He’s a strong rebounder with a huge frame that will allow him to hold his own with other physical bigs in the NBA. Reed combines his strength, frame, and instincts to gobble up boards on both ends. He snatched 3.2 offensive rebounds per game as a senior at UConn, mostly with his ability to clear the paint with strength. That skill should translate to the next level.

He’s somewhat of a throwback center with his ability to score on the low block. He’s hard to move around in the paint, and he used spin moves and drop steps on the block to pin his defender behind him and create space. He’s not an above-the-rim finisher who is going to soar for dunks; instead, he uses his size and strength to clear space underneath the basket to put the ball in.

It’s unlikely Reed will be asked to post up much in the NBA, but he could play well in the Spurs’ offensive system as a screener and hand-off hub. UConn is known for its creative use of big men as playmakers, and Reed showed potential as a passer, averaging 2.3 assists per game this season.

Defensively, Reed should be a solid rim protector, thanks in most part to his strength. He is going to be a hard player to drive through. He’s a willing help defender, averaging 2 blocks in his senior season. Opponents shot just 56.2% at the rim against him last year. He’s got big hands that can poke the ball free or grab steals as they come to him. He’s going to do most of his best defensive work around the basket, but has enough quickness and length to not look completely lost against stretch big men on the perimeter.

The question with Reed in his first three seasons came down to his motor. He did not start for the Huskies in his junior season, partly because of his inconsistency. He responded well to those concerns as a senior, arguably the best player on a winning team. He’ll need his motor to run hot in the NBA to make up for some of his deficiencies as a defender. He’s not excellent positionally, fouls too much, and is not a great vertical athlete.

It’s also fair to question whether Reed will be able to bully his way to the rim against taller and stronger NBA players. He struggled in the NCAA Championship game against a 7-foot-3 big man, Aday Mara. He’s going to be an under-the-rim scorer who relies on his touch and strength. It remains to be seen if that skill will translate to the next level.

Don’t expect Reed to be a floor spacer at the next level. He didn’t take any three-pointers in his senior season, and only made one in his four-year collegiate career. He was a 58.2% free-throw shooter over the course of his career. His release doesn’t look terrible, but he struggled to convert on his jump shot.

San Antonio needs more playable guys in their front court. Reed could step onto an NBA court tomorrow and compete on the glass and in the paint. After their big man depth was exposed in the playoffs, it makes sense that the front office wanted to add a few imposing players in the paint. With Quaintance likely set to miss some time due to injury, Reed gives them a player who should be able to contribute as a third big man in his rookie season.

Reed likely won’t be anything more than a solid bench big man in the NBA. He won’t be able to play next to Victor Wembanyama due to his inability to guard on the perimeter or space the floor, but he’ll give the Spurs some muscle to back up their star.

Grade: B

The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2026 NBA Draft with the #9 pick, the #30 pick and a fair amount of trade rumors swirling around them. After selecting Morez Johnson, Jr. at #9, things went dreadfully quiet on the trade front. As subsequent picks were made and the minutes ticked by, it seemed apparent that Dallas would be making a selection at #30 instead of packaging that pick with a veteran in an effort to move up the draft board. Any hope at picking up a young guard to help in the rebuild looked bleak.

With the #30 pick, Dallas selected Koa Peat, Adam Silver said goodnight and that was that. Except it wasn’t. As the first round of the Draft was concluding, rumors started buzzing that the Mavericks were in fact making a move. Details are still being confirmed, but as it stands, Dallas will be trading the #30 pick Koa Peat and two future second-round draft picks to the New York Knicks in exchange for Sergio DeLarrea’s services. The exact second-rounders were still being determined late Tuesday night.

Here are the details we have at this time:

Los Angeles Lakers Received: 24th Overall Pick (Cameron Carr, Baylor)
Dallas Mavericks Received: 25th Overall (Sergio de Larrea, Spain)
Phoenix Suns Received: 30th Overall (Koa Peat, Arizona)
New York Knicks Received: Cash (Lakers), two second-round picks (Mavericks), and three more second-round picks (Suns)

DeLarrea was on the radar of a number of Mavs Moneyball staffers, perhaps none more than Tyler Edsel who wrote an excellent crash course on him and what he can bring to the Mavs. To be clear, it is unlikely he is going to have a massive day-one impact on the team, but the Mavericks really needed to do something to acquire more young talent that fit a position of need. While he may not be as flashy a name as Brayden Burries (whom the Mavs skipped over in favor of Morez) or Labaron Philon, Jr. (who somewhat surprisingly slipped to #22), Dallas really needed to do bolster the guard position and they came through.

If DeLarrea’s shooting transfers to the NBA level, it would be a big boon for a team that struggled from downtown much of last season. While not an immediate impact player, Dallas did well to move up a bit in a low-cost move that keeps all of their other assets intact for what will surely be a summer of retooling via trades and free agency.

Stay tuned for updates, as it is unclear which second-round picks the Mavericks will let go of in this deal.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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Braden Smith, the NCAA’s All Time leader in assists, didn’t hear his name called in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft. With only one major draft board having Smith taken in the late first round, it was largely expected that Smith would go in the second round. Most of the projections place Smith being selected early in the second round between picks 35 and 40. 

However, the rest of the conference was well represented as the B1G had six players drafted in the first round. That is the second most in the first round in league history as the conference had eight players drafted in 2025. Those players and their destinations are below:

#5 Keaton Wagler (Illinois) – Los Angeles Clippers 

#9 Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan) – Dallas Mavericks

#11 Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) – Golden State Warriors

#12 Aday Mara (Michigan) – Oklahoma City Thunder

#14 Hannes Steinbach (Washington) – Charlotte Hornets

#16 Bennett Stirtz (Iowa) – Oklahoma City Thunder (via trade from Memphis Grizzlies)

Where Does Smith Fit Best?

With Smith going undrafted, there are a lot of options for him early in the second round that provide him with the best opportunity to have a potential impact on an NBA roster. Heading into the second round, Smith is ranked as the 9th best player overall and the 7th best guard remaining. Where would the best places for the former Purdue guard to land?

Pick #35: San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio has one of the best developmental systems in the NBA, built around teaching guards how to process the game rather than simply reacting to it. The organization places a premium on decision-making, spacing discipline, and executing within a defined offensive framework. For Braden Smith, who already operates at a high level in the pick-and-roll while limiting mistakes, being in San Antonio would be an ideal situation. The Spurs historically give guards the freedom to learn through reps in a system that emphasizes reading advantages rather than relying on isolation scoring.

In this setting, Smith would likely begin as a third guard who runs second-unit offense, with an emphasis on controlling tempo and making correct reads rather than generating his own shot volume. His path would depend on defensive improvement, but having a shot blocker like Wemby in the paint would limit some of those concerns. The biggest piece of this puzzle is simply that the Spurs would not ask him to be something he is not, but would likely refine what he already does well.

Pick #32: Memphis Grizzlies

Outside of Smith getting drafted by the Indiana Pacers, this would be the dream scenario for Purdue fans as he would be paired with Zach Edey (and a bevy of other young talent). That young nucleus in Memphis operates with a strong identity built around physicality, defensive intensity, and getting into transition offense. Their system is built around guards who can push the ball, make quick decisions in the open floor, and support Ja Morant by keeping bench units stable. Braden Smith would fit this structure as a secondary ball-handler who reduces turnover volatility and ensures the offense does not stagnate when Morant is off the court.

However, Memphis presents a more challenging environment in terms of his usage. While Smith’s passing and decision-making set him apart, his size and defensive limitations could become a limiting factor in high-level matchups. That is likely something that will follow him no matter where he is drafted.

Pick #40: Boston Celtics

Boston is one of the most system-oriented teams in the league, with a strong emphasis on spacing, ball movement, and low-error decision-making. Guards who succeed in this environment are typically those who can process quickly, avoid unnecessary risks, and operate efficiently within structured offensive sets. Braden Smith’s strengths as a high-assist, low-turnover point guard align well with this philosophy, even if he is not a primary scoring threat.

The challenge in Boston is less about fit and more about opportunity. The roster is typically deep with multiple ball-handlers and wings who can initiate offense, which makes it difficult for a second-round guard to secure consistent minutes. Smith would likely begin as a deep bench option, used in limited regular-season minutes or emergency ball-handling situations. While the system fit is strong, the pathway to a meaningful role would be the steepest among these options behind Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and the ways they use Jayson Tatum as a ball handler at forward.

No Current Picks: Indiana Pacers

This is the best landing spot for Smith but until the Pacers can make the move to get back into the early parts of round 2, they can’t be higher on this list.

Indiana plays with one of the fastest and most movement-heavy offensive systems in the NBA, built on constant pace, ball movement, and transition opportunities, a tailor-made fit for a player like Smith. Braden Smith’s style of play where he plays at an elite level in terms of tempo control, quick reads, and facilitating offense fits neatly into the Pacers’ identity.

Smith would very clearly slide in as a backup point guard to Tyrese Haliburton and would likely replace veteran backup TJ McConnell. Ironically, Smith’s best projection as a player is McConnell who has thrived as a backup in Indiana. With that second unit, Smith would be playing alongside a bunch of shooters that he could find open on the wings in transition. He isn’t going to be asked to do things differently, but rather to sustain it while keeping spacing and movement intact. The main limitation is simply that Indiana doesn’t have a pick in the 2026 draft but they have made it very clear of their intentions of getting into the 2nd round to draft Smith.

Might Oscar Cluff Hear His Name Called?

Of the other three players that Purdue could find themselves with an opportunity in the NBA, Oscar Cluff seems to have the best chance at being drafted alongside Smith. Cluff is currently listed as the 4th best center and 28th best overall player heading into the second round of the draft. Cluff is a throwback type of post player that doesn’t play above the rim but is elite in what he does well: offensive rebounding, scoring touch around the rim, and showed good footwork in drop coverage on defense.

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama returned to the spotlight in style at Paris Fashion Week after San Antonio’s NBA Finals loss to the Knicks.

The 7-foot-4 Frenchman was all smiles while attending the Louis Vuitton menswear Spring-Summer 2027 show in Paris on Tuesday.

Wembanyama, who is an ambassador for Louis Vuitton, donned a beige colored suit by the French fashion house and black-tinted sunglasses.

He posed for photos with rapper Lil Baby and was seen chatting with French swimmer Léon Marchand.

Rapper Pharrell, who is the men’s creative director at Louis Vuitton, unveiled the collection for the first time at the show — which included an immersive beach environment in the middle of the city.

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Earlier in the day, Louis Vuitton shared images of Wembanyama modeling a dark pinstripe suit and a logo duffle bag.

The new collection is described as “dandy” with “technical expressions of suiting where silhouettes inspired by the coast and the ocean evoke the nonchalant spirit of the surfer.”

Wembanyama attended the Fête de la Musique festival in France on Sunday, as seen in videos online.

The global phenom is enjoying his NBA offseason in his home country, more than a week removed from the Spurs losing to the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals.

New York won four of five games to clinch their first championship in 53 years.

The Spurs dropped the first two games of the series at home in San Antonio and beat New York in Game 3.

After blowing a 29-point lead in Game 4 to give the Knicks a 3-1 advantage in the series, the Spurs lost Game 5 at home 94-90 on June 13.

In his third NBA season, Wembanyama helped lead the Spurs to a 62-20 regular season mark to clinch the second seed in the Western Conference.