The first transactional dominoes of the 2026-27 season fell this weekend as the Phoenix Suns reached an agreement with Collin Gillespie, bringing him back on a four-year, $48 million contract. They followed that move by signing Jordan Goodwin to a three-year, $19 million contract.

The exact structure of both deals remains to be seen, but the assumption is that Gillespie will earn $10.7 million this upcoming season while Goodwin will make $5.9 million. Both contracts are expected to include 8% raises in each subsequent season. That would culminate in a $13.6 million salary for Gillespie in the final year of his deal, when he is 30 years old. Goodwin’s contract would finish at roughly $6.8 million in the final season, which is expected to be a player option, when he is also 30 years old.

With Jordan Goodwin officially back in the fold, here's where the Suns' five-year cap sheet currently stands, assuming both the Collin Gillespie and Goodwin contracts utilize the standard 8% annual raises available through Early Bird rights: pic.twitter.com/Fef01XwuSD

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) June 21, 2026

As it stands right now, Gillespie’s contract will account for roughly 6% of the Suns’ salary cap for the 2026-27 season. Goodwin will account for 3.6% of the cap.

This is where I slowly get up from my chair, clap my hands, and applaud the Phoenix Suns for getting these deals done, and doing so at the number they did. It was the right thing to do. It needed to be done. And it rewards the success of internal development for players who arrived in Phoenix, earned a guaranteed deal, and have now earned a respectable NBA contract. For a team whose mantra revolves around alignment, identity, and development, this is a win.

Yes, the Suns will continue paying for the transgressions of the past, for the narrow-minded roster construction strategy initially deployed by Mat Ishbia upon arrival. That’s going to hurt for the next four years. But in the same breath, the course correction that began last offseason has been positive. The Suns are operating like a competent franchise. And after 20 years of often failing to operate astutely, it’s nice from a fan’s perspective to see them doing so.

Not every transaction will be a winner. Not every player selected for development will produce positive results. That’s part of the process. But as long as you’re operating like a competent franchise, you can absorb some of those misses. You can survive mistakes because they’re part of a larger plan rather than desperate attempts to fix yesterday’s problems.

For the Suns, that’s what makes this signing so encouraging. It’s not simply about Gillespie and Goodwin. It’s about the process that got them here. The Suns most certainly got a hometown discount on both. That says something about the behind-the-scenes culture that is in place.

As things currently stand, the Suns are staring at a future that includes the luxury tax and perhaps even a trip over the first apron. That can sound daunting, especially considering everything we’ve endured with second apron hell over the past few seasons. But as long as a franchise is operating confidently, with the ability to see both the short-term and the long-term strategy, it’s okay to go over the first apron.

The Suns want to be competitive. Bringing back Gillespie and Goodwin reinforces that desire. The next question becomes what this looks like strategically for Phoenix. Do they embrace three-guard lineups again next season? Or does Gillespie become the Suns’ version of T.J. McConnell, a competent and capable backup point guard who keeps the intensity high on both ends of the floor while leading the second unit?

That remains to be seen. But now that CG12 and Goody are officially back, the Suns can begin having those conversations.

The ball that helped deliver the most significant moment in modern New York basketball history is headed to auction.

The ball from OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals will be sold by Sotheby’s beginning June 30.

While Sotheby’s has not publicly assigned an estimate, longtime sports business analyst Darren Rovell projected the ball could fetch as much as $3 million when bidding opens.

"THE TIP IS GOOD! IT'S GOOD! IT'S GOOD…"

OG ANUNOBY WINS IT FOR THE KNICKS.

3-1 SERIES LEAD IN THE NBA FINALS FOR NEW YORK. pic.twitter.com/fp7kSMNUEN

— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026

The basketball is expected to generate enormous interest because of its connection to a play that helped propel the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years.

It may be the single most important play in the history of New York basketball.

With the Knicks trailing the San Antonio Spurs 106-105 in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden and facing the possibility of the series being tied at two games apiece, Jalen Brunson launched a contested 3-pointer in the final seconds while guarded by Victor Wembanyama.

The shot bounced off the rim, but Anunoby freely raced into the lane, without being boxed out, and tipped the rebound through the basket with 1.2 seconds remaining.

This also came shortly after Anunoby blocked a dubious layup attempt by De’Aaron Fox on the other end of the floor, which could’ve given San Antonio a three-point lead.  

Anunoby’s heroics wound up giving New York a dramatic 107-106 victory.

The play completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

The Knicks had trailed by 29 points earlier in the third quarter before storming back.

Instead of heading to San Antonio with the series tied, the Knicks seized a commanding 3-1 lead, and days later, the franchise finished off the Spurs to capture its first NBA title since 1973.

The auction is part of a larger collection of Finals memorabilia that includes game-worn jerseys, nets and other items from the Knicks’ championship run.

Given the price, it’s possible that Anunoby’s tip-in may serve as the centerpiece of what is expected to be a lucrative auction.

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Suns' five-time All-Star guard Devin Booker has changed his jersey number to No. 15 from No. 1 in honor of his dad Melvin Booker, who played professionally in the NBA and overseas.

The Suns released a video of Melvin and Devin Booker talking about the change on Sunday, which is Father's Day.

“I’ve been chasing 15 my whole career," Booker said. “It’s always been a family number. Obviously (my dad) wore it and I looked at (him) as the blueprint for success.”

Booker has worn the No. 1 for his entire NBA career, but previously wore No. 15 while playing for the United States and winning two gold medals at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. He's the Suns' all-time leading scorer with 19,520 points in the regular season and playoffs over 11 NBA seasons.

Melvin Booker was a star guard in college at Missouri, where he was an All-America selection and Big Eight Player of the Year in 1994.

___

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

Victor Wembanyama’s reaction to Game 5 was a “little too crazy” for Jose Alvarado.

The French phenom, as has been discussed widely, did not shake hands with Knicks players after his Spurs lost a decisive Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

And Alvarado was not a fan of Wembanyama’s behavior after the Knicks clinched their Finals win.

“I got mixed emotions. I’m a competitor too, but I also stare my enemies down. I look forward to them, and I shake their hand,” Alvarado said on 105.1 FM’s “The Breakfast Club.”

“It’s a game. You don’t like the moment. You lost probably the biggest game of your career, but you’re going to have more moments. I feel like the way he did it was a little too crazy for me.”

Jose Alvarado on Wemby not shaking hands with the Knicks:

“I got mixed emotions… the way he did it was a little too crazy for me because I loved how he competed during the game.” pic.twitter.com/wK4nxNN4ey

— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) June 20, 2026

Alvarado continued: “I loved how he competed during the game. Obviously, people didn’t like how he was being aggressive, but we’re fighting for something. Between the lines, I feel like anything is cool. Outside the lines, shake hands and call it what it is.”

The newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year became something of a New York villain during the series, in which he pushed the envelope with his physical play and was lucky to avoid getting a flagrant foul for a shove on Jalen Brunson.

Notably, Josh Hart said after the series that another of Wembanyama’s post-game reactions – after beating the Thunder in the Western Conference finals – made him confident the Knicks would win the title.

Following that Game 7 win, Wembanyama tearfully embraced his Spurs teammates after clinching a spot in the Finals.

Hart took it as a sign they were looking past the Knicks.

“Everyone’s talking to them about, ‘Yo, they’ve got to beat OKC. OKC’s going to repeat,’” Hart said Friday during a live “The Roommates Show” episode with Brunson at MSG. “They beat OKC. For a young team, I feel like that was the mountaintop for them.

“That’s when I looked at (Brunson) and I was like, ‘You see that reaction? Because like they think they’re going to win it. They think it’s over.’”

Of course, that wasn’t the case as the Knicks went on to beat the Spurs in five games, including an historic comeback from 29 points down in Game 4.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The time has come to reward Austin Reaves for going from being an undrafted player to a starting guard for the Lakers.

However, some people might still be shocked by the cost. While Reaves has mentioned before that his goal is not to earn as much as possible, that doesn’t mean he won’t be paid.

Reaves could earn $40 million plus per year on his new deal, and teams like the Nets are reportedly interested in offering him the max. Despite other potential suitors, the expectation is that Reaves will remain in Los Angeles. But what number gets that done?

For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans how much the Lakers should pay Reaves and they definitely don’t want to give a max deal.

Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game last year and considering he has improved every season, he would likely still be underpaid if he earns less than $40 million a year.

If Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka can get Reaves to sign for less than $40 million and all parties involved are happy with it, that would be a colossal win. Considering Reaves’ growth and an unimpressive free agency market, this seems like wishful thinking from Lakers fans.

Reaves earning between $40-45 million, which finished second in voting, seems more logical. This would give him his big payday without the Lakers overpaying, making it a win-win scenario.

Keep or trade draft pick

In our other poll question, we asked fans if the Lakers should keep their draft pick or trade it. It was a close one, but most fans want LA to make a selection.

Both sides on this one can make a compelling case.

It’s hard to hit on your draft prospects, and even rarer for those players to be immediate contributors on winning teams. With the Lakers picking at No. 25, who will even be available that can help a playoff team in a brutal Western Conference?

However, other teams have found success in the draft. Carter Bryant was taken at No. 14 by the Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft, played 71 games for San Antonio and was a postseason player.

The Lakers should explore all options, but if they can find talent in the draft, they should focus on developing it. This is how the franchise can acquire top talent without breaking the bank.

Jalen Brunson vs. Luka Dončić

Last, but certainly not least, we asked NBA fans about the Mavericks’ failures. Jalen Brunson winning it all was a reminder that short kings can rule, but it was also another reminder for Dallas fans that they let another elite guard leave who was once a huge part of their organization.

Which Mavs decision looks worse, then: letting Brunson walk or trading Luka Dončić? In what has to be recency bias, the majority thought letting Brunson walk was worse.

Both look bad now, but the Luka decision was considered one of the most lopsided trades in history and led to the general manager, Nico Harrison, being fired within a year. The Luka trade took the Mavericks from a team that had just reached the NBA Finals into a full rebuild.

Props to Brunson for winning it all, but his leaving wasn’t disastrous for the Mavericks. Luka’s departure was far more damaging to Dallas, and while they will move on, they might never fully recover from the pain that came from that trade.

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

12 years is a long time in the NBA.

You have to be doing something right to stay in the league this long, especially with career earnings of over $150 million.

But when you’re 11 years in with only four seasons in the playoffs, four total series victories, and just one run past the second round without a championship, all of the regular success you’ve had as a player starts to feel repetitive. You sink into a playstyle that works well for teams that aren’t competing, but kills your value for good teams.

As Jordan Clarkson entered Year 12 and joined the Knicks, the playstyle that he sank into for the last half-decade followed him. It played him off the court midway through the season. He looked like a square peg in a round hole as he neared his 34th birthday.

Then, he bought in, and his revelation resulted in him finally completing the championship run he had waited his whole career to be a part of.

Clarkson was born in Tampa, Florida, on June 7, 1992, but moved to San Antonio at age 6 after his parents divorced. He attended Karen J. Wagner High School and parlayed his high school success into a scholarship at the University of Tulsa. After making the All-CUSA Freshman Team in 2011, he took his game to another gear as a sophomore, averaging 16.5 points per game and making the All-CUSA First Team.

He transferred to Missouri to get on NBA radars, but had to sit out the 2012-13 season due to old NCAA transfer rules. As a senior, he finished third in the SEC in scoring and was named to Second-Team All-SEC, but despite he and Jabari Brown being two of the most prolific scorers in the conference, the Tigers were reduced to an NIT bid.

Clarkson declared for the 2014 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Washington Wizards with the 46th pick before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash considerations. He started his career with their D-League affiliate, where he averaged 22.6/7.8/5.0 in five games. With the late Kobe-era Lakers in tank mode, he earned an everyday role towards the back end of the season, starting 38 games and making All-Rookie First Team, just the fifth second-round pick to ever do so.

He was a mainstay in the starting lineup over Kobe’s final season in 2015-16 before moving into a sixth man role as the Lakers added pieces like Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and D’Angelo Russell to their rebuild. He became one of the league’s top bench scorers and was rewarded handsomely with a four-year, $50 million extension, but he’d soon leave the bright lights of Hollywood for Cleveland, as the desperate Cavaliers acquired him and Larry Nance Jr. at the 2018 trade deadline to try and make one more run with LeBron James.

Down the stretch with the Cavs, he averaged 13 points a night on the best three-point shooting of his career, but he fell flat in the first playoff run of his career, and was soon doomed to more bad basketball after LeBron departed for the same Lakers team that just traded him.

Over the next 110 games over 1.5 seasons, Clarkson averaged 16 points a night as the Cavs’ sixth man, including a career-high 42 in January 2019. He was finally able to get another opportunity on a playoff team in December 2019, when the contending Utah Jazz acquired him for Dante Exum and two seconds. His scoring ticked up further, and he was able to produce two tremendous performances in Games 2 and 4 against Denver in the bubble before the Jazz lost in seven games.

2020-21 was his best season. He averaged 18.4 points and 4.0 rebounds on the most shots of his career, running away with Sixth Man of the Year over Joe Ingles and Derrick Rose (fun fact: Jalen Brunson came fourth!). He would be Donovan Mitchell’s top-producing teammate around him as they got to the second round, but the No. 1 seed fell on their faces.

After one more season of disappointment, Danny Ainge blew it up. Rudy Gobert and Spida were sold off, but Clarkson remained with the rubble of what was left. He averaged a career-high 20.8 points a night in 2022-23 as a full-time starter for the first time in seven years, but he was now a high-usage, low-value veteran on a team trying to lose games.

for those of you that missed mike breen vs. jordan clarkson, an all-time classic https://t.co/DRFGc7KY0ipic.twitter.com/OQIWne7VEP

— TownsMuse (@TownsMuse) January 2, 2025

Sure, he was still making $15 million a year as he entered his 30s, but things were steadily declining to the point where he was withering away on a 65-loss team in 2024-25. He was mercifully waived before the final year of his contract, allowing him to search for a new home.

It just so happened that the years and years he spent on losing teams didn’t scare good teams away, as the Knicks jumped on him as soon as he cleared waivers in early July, signing him to a minimum contract to fill the role of a microwave scorer off the bench that the team had lacked since trading Immanuel Quickley in December 2023.

The fit was odd, though. You figured he probably wasn’t a fit next to Jalen Brunson, and he’s not the type to run a backup point guard role. His defensive limitations and permanent green light also didn’t fit a roster centered around its starters, and the weakness the team seemingly had with two of its stars on the defensive end. Still, they gave it a shot.

The early returns were mixed. He was playing as you’d expect offensively, averaging nine shots a game through 19 games on decent enough efficiency, mediocre three-point shooting, and rough defense. He at least showed a willingness to be more physical on that end, but often would get into foul trouble rather than get stops.

The first half of his season was defined by two performances a week apart. In the NBA Cup Final against San Antonio, he put up 15 points off the bench as he and Tyler Kolek stole the game from Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. On Christmas, he revived a team that played like zombies in the first quarter with an electric 2Q, en route to a season-high 25 points.

JORDAN CLARKSON.

25 PTS. pic.twitter.com/zwAvgivGfo

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 25, 2025

20 more points in the New Year’s Eve loss to the Spurs would be the final game before the descent, for both he and the team. Over the next 10 games, he shot just 36.5% from the field, averaged more turnovers than assists, and was a minus-72 as the Knicks dealt with their three weeks from hell. I pondered after the disgusting MLK Day blowout against Dallas if Mike Brown would do what Tom Thibodeau did 4 years prior in a similar circumstance to spark the team.

He did. Clarkson was benched for the team’s blowout win over the Nets, reduced to garbage time. Over the next seven games, he didn’t play a spec of leveraged basketball. He had been turned into Evan Fournier, an offensively focused veteran who had played his way out of the rotation with ineffective basketball and a bad motor. Things felt bleak.

Then injuries allowed him to get his foot back in the door. Injuries to Josh Hart and Deuce McBride got Clarkson an impromptu start against the Nuggets on February 4, where he was mostly effective in 24 minutes. When Hart returned, Clarkson returned to the doghouse most games, only sparingly playing meaningful bench minutes for the next month.

Then the Knicks went on their biannual West Coast trip. In the third quarter of a lopsided loss to the Lakers, Brown inserted Clarkson, looking for an offensive spark that never came. Three days later, he was given the rope he needed to have a vintage Clarkson performance against his old team in Salt Lake City.

Jordan Clarkson

3/11/2026

27 PTS | 5 OREB | 3 AST | 80.5 TS%

Season high in his return to Utah and essentially earned him back his rotation spot with a new found rebounding presence and defensive effort pic.twitter.com/oS0wOfbaAo

— KATWrld (@kat_wrld) June 15, 2026

From there, he was back in the rotation. Suddenly, he had found the hunger of a young player on a rookie contract. His shot selection improved. His defensive intensity amped up. He started becoming a menace on the offensive glass. The player that we have known for the last half-decade was suddenly something completely different.

He was a team player now. He understood that the way he was playing before would not only result in his benching but could lead to him being out of the league. He was being given a second chance, and he wouldn’t let it pass.

His role in the postseason depended on the game. To start the postseason, he was firmly in the rotation, but he, Jose Alvarado, and Landry Shamet all traded places around the bench totem pole as the Knicks proceeded on their run to the NBA Finals. His best minutes came in Game 1 against Atlanta, Game 3 against Philly, and Game 3 against his hometown Spurs.

The rebound on a Mitch Rob FT vs ATL I was referencing is in the QT.

Jordan Clarkson forever. https://t.co/WyI5XCFeL7pic.twitter.com/l7Hl6Hq5V1

— Rit Holtzman (@BenRitholtzNBA) May 10, 2026

It probably wasn’t how Clarkson envisioned himself being a bench piece to a championship roster a few years ago, but he was finally able to lift a Larry O’Brien Trophy after 12 long years.

The oldest player on the 2025-26 Knicks. The most experienced player on the roster. Someone who sacrificed and changed his entire playstyle to fit into the mold that a contender needed.

And now, Jordan Clarkson will forever be known as an NBA champion.

–

(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)

So much about a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo addition for the Celtics feels like a slam dunk.

Antetokounmpo embodies Boston’s need for not only a center, but Brad Stevens’ offseason mission statement of finding more impact at the rim and more dunks.

The Celtics need help at center, so why not acquire arguably the most impactful one at both ends in the entire league? There’s risk, but if there wasn’t, Boston would not be able to acquire one of the league’s best players. Period. At least not without gutting their roster. Yet the decision will still weigh heavily on the front office, and the entire fan base, as decision day nears on whether the Celtics will — or can — pull off their biggest trade ever.

That’s not an understatement. Despite a down and turbulent season where he only appeared in 36 games, Antetokounmpo just concluded a run of seven straight years where he finished top-four in MVP voting, including two wins, along with top-10 Defensive Player of the Year status. He scores close to 30 points just by showing up, reaches the free throw line 10 times every night and pressures the rim on basically ever possession. Antetokounmpo, like Kevin Garnett before him, would arrive in Boston squarely in his prime.

He’s the presence the Celtics need, and missed dearly, last season. It’s the kind of trade that could thrust them back into championship contention. And it’s an opportunity that almost never presents itself. The last former MVP to change teams was James Harden in 2021.

The last former MVP and Defensive Player of the Year to do so? Garnett.

In 2007, the Celtics had finished one of their worst seasons ever. Garnett formed a Big Three with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, allowed for by a different salary cap and Boston’s draft standing. This time, trades effectively happen dollar-for-dollar, many of them star-for-star, and despite reports of the Celtics exploring how to execute a trade without him, they’re faced with parting ways with Finals MVP Jaylen Brown coming off a career season where he saved the team with Jayson Tatum injured.

That’s a completely different prospect than trading Al Jefferson and other rotation players. For whatever resistance some fans offered at that idea nearly two decades ago, there’s much more tied to Brown, a player who’s on track to get his jersey retired and go down as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

There’s also the case that the known commodity, the Brown-Tatum combination that could statistically go down as one of the league’s greatest winning combinations, serves as team’s best path forward. Tatum acknowledged only reaching roughly 80% of his prior form in his return from an Achilles tear. Brown plays as both his complement and a buffer against any health uncertainty for the other Celtics star.

There has also been clunkiness with two scorers turned facilitators who overlap in ball time and position. While wide speculation always assesses their personality fit, they’ve made an awkward on-court combination thrive at times to the point of a championship in 2024. The strong, veteran cast surrounding them disappeared after the 2025 repeat bid though. Unsung players following Brown and Derrick White’s lead, and later Tatum’s, won 56 games and built a 3-1 lead in the first round against Philadelphia. The meltdown that followed remains as hard to parse as the worthiness of an Antetokounmpo deal.

Yet a return to form for Giannis in Boston could leave everyone wondering why we ever debated it. It’s no knock to Brown that Antetokounmpo, on many nights, plays the best two-way basketball in the league. He mans the front court position that faltered for the Celtics in the first round, a potential counter against Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony Towns and other star centers Boston currently doesn’t have an answer for. If committed, Tatum and Giannis could combine for one of the league’s most compelling pick-and-roll duos.

Antetokounmpo’s noted admiration for Joe Mazzulla and reported willingness to extend with the team add to the intrigue of a trade. The Celtics, according to Sam Amick, would embrace a one-for-one swap. Milwaukee understandably would want draft pick compensation. Boston only has access to one of the No. 27 pick in this draft or their first-rounder next summer, and two additional ones in 2031 and 2033. By then, it’s completely unclear what lottery rules will exist. Giannis will turn 36, Tatum, 33. A multi-team deal could allow another team, most intriguingly Portland with its future Bucks picks, to compensate Milwaukee in exchange for acquiring Brown. Nothing has clicked, whether due to increased protectiveness over picks or less value being available for Brown than anticipated.

Yet despite all that, and the obvious sensitivity over another summer that Brown spends hearing his name in trade rumors, the Celtics haven’t said or floated that they’ve moved on from talks or that Jaylen is definitely staying. Perhaps that’s due to the limited market that emerged for Antetokounmpo, namely a Herro-led Heat trade that hasn’t successfully secured the star for Miami with two days left until the draft. The Heat continue to act with the desperation that leads most analysts and reporters to predict that he’ll land there, but an increasing price for the Heat will limit their ability to contend for a championship following a trade. That’s still the Celtics’ advantage in a Brown-for-Giannis swap. Tatum, White and the rest of the team’s depth would remain.

Naturally, play style questions would persist beyond a trade. Antetokounmpo, despite his center-like role on offense, dominated the ball in Milwaukee, facing-up, driving and drawing defenders to initiate the Bucks’ offense. Tatum and Antetokounmpo would both need to sacrifice on offense. The potential of a Damian Lillard-Antetokounmpo tandem in Milwaukee never panned out, and they rarely executed screen-and-rolls. It devolved, instead, into my-turn, your-turn. Jim Owczarski, a Bucks beat reporter, compared Tatum-Antetokounmpo to Khris Middleton-Antetokounmpo, rather than the Lillard letdown and Tatum is a far superior player to even prime Middleton.

The potential advantages for both are obvious. More pressure on the rim for Tatum to score from the perimeter. And fewer bodies and wall-building in front of Giannis with so many threats on the perimeter. Defensively, Antetokounmpo doesn’t reach the Defensive Player of the Year form from earlier in his career as often, and he sparingly played center on that end with the Bucks, so the Celtics still have some front court questions to solve there. Neemias Queta, for all his success in 2025-26, doesn’t space the floor like Brook Lopez and Myles Turner did in Milwaukee next to Antetokounmpo. Luka Garza showed some success in that role, but not at high volume.

Then, there’s the money — four-years, $275 million for Antetokounmpo due on Oct. 1. If the Celtics have interest in acquiring him, they’re inevitably prepared to pay that, albeit with gritted teeth after an injury-plagued season for the star and terrifying calf injuries to finish two of his past three seasons. While the bigger picture concerns over his availability probably became overblown, a freak fall doomed him to end 2023 and debate existed over his late-season availability this year, it’s a consideration given the physical nature of his game. Trading Brown for Antetokounmpo, just for Giannis to decline physically, would become an all-time blunder for the franchise.

To again compare to Garnett, the trade thrived in year one, continued into 2009, then a knee injury left Garnett diminished from his previous form, albeit still flashing effectiveness late into his Celtics tenure. Nobody lamented that deal despite it only leading to one championship. In this parity era, another banner would suffice here, too. And that’s the question, for all the sanctimony surrounding Brown and Tatum, that the Celtics need to ask themselves as a decision looms over whether to make this deal.

Neither the Heat nor Milwaukee should serve as considerations in it. Both will prove too diminished, even with Antetokounmpo, to threaten even the current version of the Celtics in the East. That’s no reason to veer from what they’re doing, and despite the agonizing finish to 2025-26, many successes happened along the way developmentally, for Brown on the way to his best season and for Tatum, who got back on his feet and resembled himself quicker than maybe anyone who’s ever torn their Achilles in the NBA.

All that matters and proves worthy of another look in full after an awkward re-integration for Tatum into a team and style that Boston played all year. The emergence of young and unsung Celtics still matters too, both for them and new ones who will join the picture this summer. Boston quietly became draft-and-develop stars in recent years, even if some of those players didn’t immediately translate to playoff success against Philadelphia.

But that loss matters, too. The playoffs are a different game, and for whatever reason the Celtics didn’t trust or utilize their depth attack effectively enough in the Philadelphia series — their strength all year. Tatum and Brown devolved into their worst tendencies, and despite having relatively full health outside of Tatum all year and entering the playoffs as the second seed, then building a 3-1 series lead, the 2026 group ultimately faltered.

Brown’s continued commitment to Boston matters too, and fittingly, he and the team can both assess their intentions ahead of his extension-eligibility in July. Brown should rightfully expect to receive his two-year max like any franchise cornerstone would. It’s unclear how the Celtics feel about extending him beyond the three years, $183 million he’s already committed to, when Brown is eligible for two more years at roughly $140 million. Inevitably, it’s not a massive cap difference between extending Brown and Antetokounmpo, with a two-year age difference. Despite obvious frustrations he expressed following the season, I’m not going to read into what Brown wants long-term for his career. He said on his stream that he’d like to spend the next ten years in Boston if he had his way. The Celtics and he need to determine if they can make that happen.

There’s no wrong answer here, until hindsight tells us later. With Antetokounmpo and Tatum, the Celtics would have two top-10 players who on many nights and even weeks at a time can perform like the best player in the league. Antetokounmpo is an MVP, a status that Tatum and Brown have bordered on, but have been unable to reach. Then again, Brown and Tatum have kept the Celtics in the mix for a championship every year, aside from 2021, since early in their careers. Brad Stevens has long held onto that fact as GM, that if they have those two, they have a chance. Will that remain the case this summer? We’re about to find out.

“He has not expressed those frustrations to me,” Stevens said after the season. “We’ve been here 10 years together and I do think, obviously, I love JB, and everybody around here loves JB.”

A decade ago, we were told that at least one NBA team stopped talking with the Nets, complaining that the team’s front office would leak trade inquiries to the media. Also, a decade ago, the Nets chief scout, aka director of player personnel, would announce which prospects were coming into the Championship Center in East Rutherford, then after the workout would brief the media on how it had gone.

That at changed when Sean Marks walked in the door. Above the exit to the team conference meeting room, he attached a sign, “Disagree and Commit.” both a mantra but also a warning: whatever was said in this room should not go any further. Disagree inside this room, but don’t take those disagreements outside it. No leaks, period.

Against this backdrop, the 2026 Draft has left not just fans but certified pundits and draftniks mystified about what the Nets are about to do. It’s a closed shop.

As Sam Vecenie of The Athletic and the New York Times wrote:

The Nets continue to befuddle the league relatively, and I’ve heard a lot of what will likely turn out to be misinformation regarding their plans. That’s partly because the Nets have engendered a belief league-wide that they evaluate draft prospects differently than many other teams. I’ve heard all the guard prospects in this range for them. The Ament buzz has quieted down in the last week

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points similarly wrote of attempts of figure out the Nets strategy:

 [T]he rumored interest of the Nets taking a long look at Ament continues to make its rounds from team to team. Could Ament actually be the player Sean Marks wants to add? This wouldn’t be shocking whatsoever, as the Nets have a very unique way of drafting and do not always go with the status quo, which we tend to believe when looking at mock drafts and big boards.

And Brooklyn native Mike Scotto admits he too is perplexed:

Should Brooklyn remain at six, who they’ll select is a bit of a mystery to teams around the league, considering the Nets have been linked to guards Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff, Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, forward Nate Ament, and center Aday Mara at various points.

In other words, they don’t pay a lot of attention to what others are saying. As we — Lucas Kaplan and Connor Long included — have learned, most of what we know about the Nets plans for the Draft come from other teams scouts and front office staff along with agents, all trying to divine just what Sean Marks and co. are planning. Writers talk about “rival teams” having a “sense” about what Brooklyn will do. For all they and we know, the Nets could be planning a big surprise. They often do this time of year.

The single biggest indicator of interest we’ve seen about any of the prospects — that the Nets had visited Mikel Brown Jr. in Orlando — apparently was sourced from a member of the Brown family, not from inside.

And this part of Nets culture is not just about discouraging leaks from the inside. It’s also about spreading disinformation about their intentions — active measures. A few years back when the Trail Blazers were getting ready to move on from Damian Lillard, there was a lot of speculation that the Nets were interested in him. They were not.

In the next two days, expect that there will be a little more intel, some of it even accurate, but Marks would only be too happy if no one knows what he plans until Adam Silver intones, “with the sixth pick, the Brooklyn Nets select…”

Final Workout List

As we’ve noted, the 20 or so invites to the Draft’s “Green Room” are in New York for the usual round of interviews and visits to city landmarks like the Empire State Building and Times Square. The Nets and the Knicks have a bit of advantage in that they can invite prospects to their training facilities right up to Tuesday morning, as long as they haven’t exceeded the league maximum of two workouts/interviews.

Indeed on Sunday, it looks like they have used that advantage and brought in a top pick, Morez Johnson Jr., the 6’9” rim protecting Michigan power forward who would seem to be way high for the No. 6 pick, but just around right if Brooklyn is looking to trade into the middle of the first round. It could be a one-on-none workout or others could have been invited to 168 39th Street in Sunset Park.

We’ve been keeping track of who’s been in, as best we can (see above) and here’s what we got:

First, the potential lottery picks:

• Darius Acuff, Arkansas’s 6’2″ lead guard who is, along with Mikel Brown probably the prospect most linked with the Nets at No. 6.
• Mikel Brown, the 6’4″ Louisville lead guard who the Nets worked out at a gym near his Orlando home … and visited with his family. He’ll be at HSS Training Center soon for his second look-see.
• Kingston Flemings, yet another lead guard, from Houston. The most athletic of the four or five but at 6’3″ with only a 6’4″ wingspan the smallest as well. He’s scheduled.
• Nate Ament, seen as a top four prospect both coming out of high school and in early mock drafts, the 6’10” Rwandan-American wing is polarizing following a disappointing season at Tennessee.
• Karim Lopez, who Ament went up against Tuesday at HSS, is an Mexican who played for New Zealand in the Australian league where he was the top young player.
• Morez Johnson, one of three possible picks out of Michigan’s national championship squad. The 6’9” Johnson exploded at the NBA combine showing off considerable rim-protecting talents.

And the rest. It should be noted that the Nets and other teams as well work out players not just for the big team’s roster but for the G League as well as summer league rosters and training camp invites.

• Trevon Brazile, Darius Acuff’s teammate at Arkansas, a 6’10” senior who’s been mocked to the Nets in the second round:
• Ben Humrichous, Keaton Wagler’s teammate at Illinois, a 6’9” senior.
• A.K. Okereke, Vanderbilt’s 6’7” sharpshooting forward who hit 40% of his threes this season.
• Chase Ross, Marquette’s 6’6” sharpshooting wing who hit 36% of his threes. Also, a bit of a 3-and-D possibility.
• Keba Keita, the 6’9” BYU center from the west African nation of Mali who played with both Dybantsa and Egor Demin;
• Cruz Davis, Hofstra’s high scoring 6’3” lead guard. Could he fit with nearly Long Island Nets;
• Malik Dia, a 6’9” 3-and-D type who played at Vanderbilt, Belmont, then his final two years at Ole Miss;
• Grant Newell, another 6’9” forward who played at California, North Texas and most recently Western Kentucky;
• Jevon Porter, a 6’11’ center for Missouri who at 22, is MPJ’s younger brother.
• Xaivian Lee, a 6’4” lead guard who finished his career at Florida after three solid years at Princeton. A Korean-Canadian.
• Brenen Lorient, a 6’9” wing who shot 38.9% from deep for his career at West Virginia and before that at Florida Atlantic and North Texas.
• Fletcher Loyer, 6’5” 3-point specialist for Purdue who is the brother of Nets head video coordinator Foster Loyer and son of New Jersey Nets assistant John Loyer.
• Tramon Mark, a 6’6” shooting guard who led the Texas Longhorns in scoring.
• Collin Parker, Austin Peay’s 40.4% 3-point wing who at 6’8” is one of several tall sharpshooters who’ve been in.
• Nick Pringle, a 6’10” bruiser who played with Darius Acuff at Houston.
• Jaden Henley, Grand Canyon’s 6’7” wing, a 3-point specialist.
• Isaac McKeenly, Mikel Brown’s 6’4” backcourt running mate at Louisville and another 3-point specialist;
• Kobe Knox, a 6’5” wing at South Carolina named for Kobe Bryant;
• Corey Stephenson a 6’6” shooting guard who played last season FIU after two years at UCSB;.
• Dain Dainja, a 6’9” forward who averaged 14 points and six rebounds for the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce last season;
• Kowacie Reeves, a 6’7” German wing who shot nearly 40% from three at Georgia Tech last season on his way to 15.1 ppg season;
• Peter Suder, a 6’5” senior from Miami (Ohio) who hit better than 40% of his shots from deep;
• Bruce Thornton, at 6’2”, he is, along with Darius Acuff, the shortest prospect we’ve seen. The Ohio State senior was one of the top scorers in the Big 10 at 19.9 per game.

That’s 29 in total, probably less than half the number of total prospects.

Draft Sleeper of the Week

This is the last one, obviously. In the eight previous “sleeper” sections, we’ve looked at three of the four lead guards: Darius Acuff of Arkansas, Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville and Keaton Wagler of Illinois. In addition, we’ve looked at three international players, Karim Lopez of Mexico, Sergio De Larrea of Spain, Luigi Suigo of Italy (who dropped out of the Draft and will attend Villanova) as well as Iowa State’s point forward Joshua Jefferson. And way back before the Lottery, we profiled A.J. Dybantsa. Oh well.

So who’s missing? Kingston Flemings of Houston, the fourth lead guard … and Nate Ament whose name you may have heard amidst much weeping and gnashing in some sectors of Nets Twitter. Interesting fellow. Let’s start with his parents, former Wayne State star Albert Ament and Godelive Mukankuraga. The two met in Rwanda where both worked for Catholic Relief Services, part of the group’s efforts in the aftermath of the Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda.

They eventually moved to Manassas, Virginia where their son, Nate, was born and starred both at the local high school and then a private school. He first broke onto the national scene in 2023-24 when he starred on the AAU circuit with Team Loaded Virginia, then landed a spot on the Team USA Under-18 team, winning the gold in Buenos Aires. Darius Acuff and Mikel Brown Jr. were the stars of that team.

“It was amazing winning the gold medal,” he later told The New Times, a Rwandan magazine who profiled him. “I was very proud. I feel that I represented only my country but also my family. I had a lot of fun with my teammates. and it was great to see the world.”

Then, last summer, after committing to Tennessee, he was one of the dominant players at the McDonald’s All-American game at Barclays Center.

6'11 with a handle, shot-making, and flashes as a passer and defender. Who takes a swing on Nate Ament on draft night, and how high? And how concerned should teams be about the frame, athleticism, and timeline?

My take on Dunc'd On with @NateDuncanNBApic.twitter.com/IsJPQmoW0n

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 20, 2026

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express told Nate Duncan two days ago that Ament and Darryn Peterson were the stars of the game…

“We walked out of the McDonald’s All-American Game last year in Brooklyn, there were NBA GMs asking, ‘tell me why this guy isn’t the No. 1 pick in the Draft.‘ He was that impressive in the game. It was him and Darryn Peterson. (A.J.) Dybantsa was awful that whole week in Brooklyn, like practices, scrimmages.”

By then, he had risen to the top ranks of preseason mock drafts, topping off at No. 4. Then, his freshman year at Tennessee, he disappointed with shooting splits of 40/33/79 and some deeper concerns. In his final collegiate game vs. Michigan which featured NBA sized front court of Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara and Yaxel Lindeborg, he finished with seven points on 2-of-12 shooting and fouled out. Tennessee got wiped out by the eventual national champ.

Overall at Tennessee, there were issues with his consistency, his strength, his athleticism etc. Still, as Givony’s commentary on Ament noted, there were positives, especially with the longer arc of his trajectory

“He was really up and down. There questions about his toughness. His athleticism is a major concern, 43% from two. So, am I telling you a million percent that he’s going to make it? No, but I’m intrigued because I’m seen him in different settings. I’ve seen him the improvement that he’s made.

“First time I saw him, at the U18 Camp two summers ago, even before that – I think it was April (2024) at USA, he was like a bean pole then. He was 180 pounds. He was afraid of his shadow. But he gained 30 pounds in the last two years. Is he a real player yet? No, but I just like the trajectory.

“I look at his body now. His body is going to be awesome in three or four years, then you’re looking at a guy who’s 6’11”, who’s 225 who can handle the ball, who can make shots who’s an awesome kid. He’s shown some passing. That’s a pretty interesting player.“

He also thinks that he may not have reached his full potential at Tennessee because of his fit in Rick Barnes system, suggesting that he might even work as 2 in the NBA.

“He has these really long strides. He can push off the glass. Then you know he can do things off the dribble. He can actually play pick and roll,” Givony told Duncan. “The issue that he ran into was that he was playing the 3 on a Tennessee team that had very little shooting and they really played two bigs next to him.

“I think he’s got a little more shot creation in the pick-and-roll game that what he was able to show. I think he was a better passer than he was able to show. I think the spacing in the NBA game will help him a lot, better shooting around him will help him a lot.”

Bottom line for Givony: “He’s 6’11” in shoes, with a handle, ahot making and flashes as a passer and defender … interesting.“ Of course, Givony isn’t the only draftnik to look at Ament and see possibilities that may not evident today. Some though wonder if there isn’t some needed adjustment ins said trajectory. Our own Lucas Kaplan talked earlier in the month with Ben Pfeifer, another draft analyst (following Lucas’ breaking news on the Nets interest in Ament.)

Pfeifer’s bottom line was not nearly as positive as Givony’s. Like we and everyone else has said, he’s polarizing.

In 2025, Brooklyn drafted a smattering of future complementary pieces, and that’s what Ament projects as. Maybe the Nets view themselves as such a marquee free agent/trade destination that they’ll intentionally eschew high-end star swings like Mikel Brown Jr., Aday Mara, or Kingston Flemings for better roster/size fits. But if Ament is Brooklyn’s sixth pick, it would be an undeniably disappointing selection with potentially damaging long-term ramifications. 

Indeed, we’ve written a lot about Ament in the build-up to the Draft. In 48 hours, we will see whether it was worth the effort. In the meantime, here’s some highlights:

By the way, historically, how have we done with these Draft Sleeper features over the decade and a half we’ve written them? To be fair, we’d say, horrid. Oh well.

Final Note

We’re keeping this short because starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, we will be within 48 hours of the Draft and that’s when news starts to break. In fact, we might even have to update things.

That said, we want to comment on the week’s big event in the NBA: the Knicks championship and the reaction in the City. New York is deeply, deeply in love with the Knicks team (if not their owner), thrilled with how the parade and Mayor Mamdani’s speech sent an electric charge through the five boroughs (if not their owner) etc.

The outpouring was historic and wholesome and wonderful. Good for the Knicks, their fans and the city (if not their owner.) How will it affect the Nets? That’s going to take a while to figure out. It would seem in the short run, the plan will be stay the course, keep with the plan. Long term who knows. Can the Nets make the city’s love for BASKETBALL infectious beyond MSG? Is there still validity to the generational fandom marketing strategy when everyone is wearing blue and orange? Can they please win??

We found one data point this week that we thought was interesting enough to share: The number of NetsDaily followers on Twitter, aka x.com, remained stable. In fact, it jumped, from 65,257 before the Finals to 65,280 today, no doubt driven up by Draft and free agency speculation. Thanks to those 22 new followers, by the way. We suspect that, while not scientific, it may be an indicator that the Nets fan base isn’t deserting the team in droves, particularly those who are more than casual. It’s a starting point, we guess.

Just a few days before the NBA draft, Shams Charania of ESPN broke a piece of big free agency news. Unrestricted free agent CJ McCollum will reportedly return to the Hawks on a one-year deal:

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum has agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a trade kicker, agent Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management tells ESPN. McCollum has been eligible for an extension until June 30 and commits to a new deal that… pic.twitter.com/rTZKEX32Ks

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2026

Jake L. Fischer of the Stein Line substack and Bleacher Report added a report that the deal has a 7.5% trade kicker:

CJ McCollum has a 7.5% trade kicker in his one-year, $21 million extension to stay with Atlanta, per source.

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 21, 2026

Since the Hawks acquired McCollum’s full bird rights last trade deadline, the one-year deal gives him an implied no-trade clause.

After being coming over midseason, the veteran guard helped guide the Hawks to a blazing hot finish to their regular season. McCollum averaged 18.9 points per game on 56% true shooting in 41 games with the team during this span.

But arguably, he saved his best performances for the postseason, twice hitting last minute buckets to help the Hawks take two games off the champion Knicks.

McCollum will be 35 years old next season, and there’s a chance they add a young perimeter player to the mix with their eighth overall pick this week, so this is a great compromise between retaining a key contributor while remaining focused on the future.

Less than 24 hours after the Phoenix Suns re-signed guard Collin Gillespie to a 4-year, $48 million deal, Phoenix is bringing back guard Jordan Goodwin on a three-year, $19 million deal that includes a player option for the third season, according to NBA Insider Shams Charania.

Free agent guard Jordan Goodwin intends to sign a three-year, $19 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, with a player option in the third season, sources tell ESPN. Goodwin made the Suns roster out of training camp on a non-guaranteed contract and emerged as a key reserve… pic.twitter.com/1AIhm2BuEL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2026

The first year of the deal starts at $5.8 million, and the third year with the player option is worth $6.8 million, according to Arizona Sports Insider John Gambadoro.

As we said yesterday Goodwin was next. Now they will work on Mark Williams to see if they can come to an agreement. It is a three-year deal for $19 million for Goodie. The third year is a player option. The contract will start at $5.8 million and the option year will be worth… https://t.co/5pMZ25g1mg

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 21, 2026

Goodwin, 27, had a career year with the Suns this past season, averaging nine points per game, five rebounds, two assists, and led the team with 109 steals. Goodwin started Game 1 of the Suns’ series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but missed the rest of the team’s playoff run after injuring his calf early on.

Initially being traded to the Suns as part of the Bradley Beal deal, Goodwin spent the first half of the 2023-2024 season in Phoenix until he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, who waived him. After spending the 2024-2025 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Goodwin resigned with the Suns last season and made the roster out of training camp, and impressed.

Phoenix continues to bring back key players from their surprising season last year, and according to Charania and Gambadoro, retaining Mark Williams is the next order of business.

---

Believe it or not, the NBA Draft is just two days away.

Perks of winning the championship, I guess.

Here’s the latest from across Knicks nation.

Jose Alvarado

On the issues with Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs:

“They came out hot. They came out and played. There is a lot of pressure for New York. No matter what people say or how people feel, as players you feel it a little bit. So Atlanta was hooping and they were doing a great job. We were in a close game with Atlanta, we should not be. And they had nothing to lose. We had everything else to lose.”

On the pressure the Knicks felt:

“So, we are in a close game like, we got to close this out. We got to figure it out. It was so staggering that we were trying to figure it out that we were putting so much pressure on ourselves.”

On the meeting that changed the Hawks series:

“And then it was time when we had a meeting and it was like, OG Pat Ewing talked to us like, listen, we have been here before, let us do this. And after that, we just woke up and we never looked back.”

On teams elevating their play against the Knicks:

“When you play the Knicks, everybody plays good. Role players, the stars, it is just like, we play the Knicks, now we are turning up.”

Karl-Anthony Towns on what he told Jalen Brunson when he arrived in New York:

"I told you that the first day I got here and you welcome me here to New York, I said I want to make sure I amplify you to a whole another level that you haven't even recognized for yourself. I want to… pic.twitter.com/b7U5hkT6Gh

— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 20, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On nearly quitting basketball for baseball:

“I remember telling my dad one time, ‘I really want to quit basketball and play baseball.’ That was the Dominican in me for sure, Howard, I’m not going to lie to you.”

On wanting to be a Yankees player:

“I just wanted to play nothing but baseball, I wanted to be a Yankee. It was something completely different to not have been the best at something, and to continue to have to prove to people that I could be as good or even better than who they say is the best.”

On his love for baseball:

“I was just able to go out there and have a bunch of fun and the pure joy of the sport.”

On returning to basketball:

“I will never forget, my childhood friends called me and they were saying there was an AAU basketball tournament to play, and they really missed playing basketball with me. And [they asked] if I would just join that weekend to play because I didn’t have a baseball tournament. They brought me back to the love of playing basketball, and I came back to the game and played my freshman year, I was back on the scene playing basketball and found myself back here, now as a New York Knick and as a champion.”

Karl Towns Sr. tells The Post why this will be best Father's Day yet after son fulfills late mother's Knicks 'dream' https://t.co/OdD1t2rjBypic.twitter.com/wXu0g2yQ2k

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 20, 2026

Karl Towns Sr.

On why New York embraced Karl-Anthony Towns:

“Because he’s humble, caring, loving. And he wanted to bring something to New York that they’ve been thirsting for 53 years. When he puts on that jersey, he knew every time he put it on he was representing his mother, the city, and he wanted to give them a chance to be where they were yesterday.”

On how he’d define KAT:

“I call him a perfectionist. Everything had to be right. He always was reading, he always was knowledgeable and stuff, and he was very, very on point, so when you talk to him you have to have all your facts because he already knew what the right answer would be. To this day he’s the same way.”

On his son’s personality:

“Extremely humble. He takes everything to heart. He wants the best for everyone. He just wants to be a friend to you. He’s not arrogant, none of that. He’s down to earth. He’s relatable to anybody, it don’t matter who you are.”

On Towns’ first game as a Knick:

“Magical moment. Because to me it was the moment — it was a full circle thing. It didn’t happen to me, it happened to him.”

On fulfilling Jacqueline Cruz-Towns’ dream:

“But to know that when he walked out there in that uniform that night he represented … and this was his mother always wanted him to be — represent the New York Knicks and play in New York. To me it was an emotional night because he fulfilled her dream. She wasn’t here … but she was here. Because she’s part of him.”

Jeremy Lin on what sets this Knicks team apart from any other in the modern era 🙌

“It’s team and its grit, right? The team starts with [Jalen] Brunson giving up 113 million. The team starts, you know, in college, them learning how to win, them dealing with pressure, them being… pic.twitter.com/XrBznRJBdh

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 20, 2026

Jeremy Lin

On the Knicks’ identity:

“It’s team and its grit, right? The team starts with [Jalen] Brunson giving up 113 million. The team starts, you know, in college, them learning how to win, them dealing with pressure, them being clear-minded and focused in the clutch in endgame situations, getting used to that.”

On Mike Brown’s impact:

“Also, a lot of credit to Mike Brown coming in, the atmosphere, the culture, the way they talk about each other – you can just feel it. You can feel they really love each other, they root for each other… They just don’t care about individual stats. And the grit, every time someone needs to step up, somebody does. Whether it’s OG or Mikal or Josh Hart, even Alvarado.

“They always have somebody that steps up and makes a difference and so really just their ability to create winning plays that’s something it just feels like every time it’s close, the Knicks are going to find a way.”

Surprise! It’s draft season!

It was hard to focus on the NBA Draft when the San Antonio Spurs were playing in the NBA Finals. But slowly, as the series started to slip, I found myself heading over to YouTube to check out the prospects who could be in San Antonio’s range come draft day. Now, with just mere days separating us from the NBA Draft, it’s time to do a full-blown deep dive into who the Spurs may pick on June 23rd.

In past years, there have been months without Spurs basketball where I could watch hours of games to catch up on who San Antonio should draft. This year’s playoff run made that nearly impossible. So, like one of my favorite basketball commentators of all time, Bill Simmons, I studied the 2026 Draft prospects extensively on YouTube. With little time to do individual posts on all of the prospects, they’ll be lumped together in this article on first-round targets.

The Spurs have the 20th, 35th, 42nd, and 44th picks in the draft. It’s highly unlikely they’ll use all four of those picks, so expect some trades up or out of the draft. There is no guarantee that they’ll even make a selection in the second round, as those picks can often be traded for cash. It would make sense for them to look for someone with their first round selection. The 20th pick offers a wide range of outcomes. Past draftees in that spot include Jaylon Tyson, Jalen Johnson, Matisse Thybulle, Caris LeVert, Malaki Branham, Harry Giles III, and Bruno Caboclo.

In this particular draft, it seems unlikely that San Antonio will be able to select a player ready to start or play a significant role as a rookie with the 20th pick. Several players have the potential to develop into quality role players and fill some gaps on San Antonio’s roster, but fans should temper their expectations on the quality of prospects the Spurs can bring in with this pick (unless they trade up or someone falls).

With the scene setting out of the way, let’s take a look at the prospects San Antonio could consider.

Trade up targets:

Yaxel Lendeborg, 6’9” PF/SF, Michigan

30.2 minutes, 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 51.5% shooting, 37.2% three, 82.4% free throw

San Antonio’s number one need this summer is a big forward/wing who can play inside and out. Someone who can bang with bigs inside and rebound to help Victor Wembanyama in the paint, while being able to space the floor. Those players don’t grow on trees. In this draft, Lendeborg might be the most gettable prospect with those skills.

If the Spurs trade up for anyone in the draft, it should be Lendeborg. Yes, he’ll be 24 when he plays his first NBA game, but his skill level and development over his collegiate career give him a high floor with room to grow. Lendeborg could step in on day one and be a physical, slashing big man who could help on the boards, defend inside and out, and space the floor. He fits like a glove in San Antonio and is one of the few prospects in the draft who could step in and play a role on day one.

Morez Johnson Jr., 6’9” PF/C, Michigan

25.1 minutes, 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 62.3% shooting, 34.3% three, 78.2% free throw

This year’s Michigan roster was stacked with NBA post players. It wouldn’t be a shock if the defending National Champions saw three bigs drafted in the lottery this year. Much of that is thanks to Johnson Jr.’s ascent over the last few months.

Johnson Jr. would give San Antonio a lot of the versatility they need in the frontcourt. He’s an imposing physical and athletic presence who can gobble up boards inside and is quick enough to guard on the perimeter. He’ll be able to step into the league and compete on the offensive glass and serve as a rim-runner offensively as a rookie. He has a developing jump shot that could turn him from an undersized hustle big man to a legit floor spacing workhorse. Trading up for Johnson Jr. would signal that the Spurs believe in his jump shot and that he could play alongside Wembanyama or back him up.

Hannes Steinbach, 6’10” PF/C, Washington

34.6 minutes, 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 57.7% shooting, 34% three, 75.9% free throw

San Antonio may never lose the rebounding war ever again if they draft Steinbach to play alongside Wembanyama. The Washington freshman is a tough, big, rebounding forward/center who exploded onto the scene this year. He’s adept at scoring around the basket, converting on 67.2% of his looks at the rim in half-court settings, and will get out and finish plays in transition.

There are question marks around Steinbach’s defensive positioning. Is he quick enough to guard smaller fours? Can he protect the rim well enough to play center? With Wembanyama, those defensive questions become less important, especially if he’s able to do more of the dirty work on the glass and score around the basket. The real swing skill for Steinbach is his jump shot. He showed signs of shooting touch in his freshman season, hitting 18 threes at a 34% clip. If his jump shot continues to develop, he’d be an ideal offensive fit with Wembanyama as a big man who can score inside and out.

In range at #20:

Cameron Carr, 6’5” Wing, Baylor

33.7 minutes, 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 49.4% shooting, 37.4% three, 80.1% free throw

Pretty much every player on this list fills a similar niche: a versatile big/wing who can join Wembanyama in the Spurs’ frontcourt. Carr is not that, but he could be just as valuable. The 21-year-old wing is a knockdown three-point shooter with some crazy vertical pop. Go watch the way Carr leaps for dunks and blocks and tell me you aren’t impressed.

San Antonio needs more floor spacers at all positions. They were over-reliant on Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell to hit open threes this season. Adding Carr would give them another shooter who would thrive in San Antonio’s up-tempo system. He can score as an off-ball cutter who finishes athletically at the rim and defend off the ball as a defender who plays aggressively in the passing lanes and erases shots at the rim with his 42.5-inch vertical. Carr needs to add more strength and become a more physical player overall, but his combination of shooting touch and athleticism would make him an exciting addition to San Antonio’s growing young core.

Allen Graves, 6’8” PF/C, Santa Clara

22.6 minutes, 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 51.2% shooting, 41.3% three, 75% free throw

Graves finds himself mock-drafted to the Spurs more than any other player. He fits exactly what they need as a versatile forward with good defensive instincts and a nice jump shot. Graves needs to get more physical around the rim and find a way to defend without fouling, but his combination of defensive playmaking, rebounding, floor spacing, and passing makes him an intriguing bet for San Antonio at 20.

Graves doesn’t seem like the type of player who can come in and play an immediate role on a title contender. He came off the bench for a WCC school in his sole collegiate season and played limited minutes. The Spurs could develop him into a long-term frontcourt partner with Wembanyama and use his versatility to give them another look in their big-man rotation.

Karim Lopez, 6’8” Wing, New Zealand Breakers

25.8 minutes, 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 50.2% shooting, 32.6% three, 71.7% free throw

Lopez would best be described as a power player. He uses his size, frame, and physicality to score on tough drives in the half-court and transition. He does a lot of the things San Antonio needs in a wing/forward. He was fairly productive in the NBL, a professional league in Australia and New Zealand, but his question marks on defense and from three-point range have left him out of the lottery conversation.

Lopez showed flashes as a standstill shooter, but hit just 32.6% from three in his second season in the NBL. Defensively, he struggles to stay in front of athletic offensive players, and he allows players to back-cut after ball-watching off the ball. If San Antonio were to select Lopez, they would be betting on his physical tools and feel for the game, with the belief that his jump shot and defense can develop.

Jayden Quaintance, 6’9” C, Kentucky

(USING FRESHMAN YEAR STATS) 29.5 minutes, 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 52.5% shooting, 18.8% three, 47.9% free throw

The idea of Quantaince is exciting. He’s an athletic big man who is one heck of a defensive playmaker. The drop off in rim protection from Wembanyama to Quaintance would be like going from an A+ to an A. The reason he will be available where the Spurs are selecting is that it’s unclear when he will be able to play and how healthy he will be.

Quaintance tore his ACL in February of 2025 and has not recovered since. He played in just 4 games his sophomore year at Kentucky, dealing with complications from the injury. Not only are teams worried about his knee’s health, but also whether the experience has sapped some of his athleticism. It’s not just health with Quaintance; he’s also an extremely limited offensive player who will be best at rim running at the next level.

San Antonio is one of the few teams that make sense for Quaintance. There aren’t a ton of “win-now” prospects at 20 in this draft, and the Spurs’ rotation is already overflowing with logjams. San Antonio could select Quaintance, let him rehab and develop in the G League for a year, and then plan to unleash him behind Wembanyama in the years to come. Selecting Quaintance at 20 would be a long play, but one that could ultimately solve a lot of the Spurs’ backup big man problems for years to come.

Dailyn Swain, 6’7” Wing, Texas

32.8 minutes, 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 54.2% shooting, 34.4% three, 81.5% free throw

Swain played a crucial role for the Longhorns this year, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament in his breakout junior season. He has good size for a wing, is an excellent ball-handler and driver for the position, and has potential as a defensive playmaker. Off the ball, he’ll be a strong cutter, but won’t be an elite floor spacer, as he has a slow, inconsistent jump shot. He’ll be at his best with the ball in his hands at the NBA level. That’s a bit of a problem for his fit in San Antonio, since they already have a lot of ball-dominant players on the roster.

To a certain extent, San Antonio should draft the best player available at 20. If Swain is available at 20, he’d certainly be among the best prospects they could select. Do the Spurs need a ball-dominant handling wing who doesn’t space the floor? Probably not. But he would give them another offensive weapon in a bench unit that struggled to score at times in the playoffs.

Reaches:

Chris Cenac Jr., 6’10” PF/C, Houston

24.8 minutes, 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, 48.5% shooting, 33.3% three, 62.1% free throw

Cenac Jr., in theory, would be an awesome fit next to Wembanyama. He’s got great size and athleticism, and projects to eventually shoot the ball consistently from three. He’s already a strong rebounder, has a ton of defensive tools, and could develop into an interesting offensive player who could dribble, pass, and shoot as a stretch 4/5. The problem is that a lot of these skills are theoretical. They came out in flashes during his freshman season at Houston, but most of the time, he was a weaker forward who played more like a wing than a center.

Selecting Cenac Jr. would be a developmental pick for the Spurs. Like Carter Bryant, he’d be a toolsy prospect who could maybe get some spot minutes, but has not consistently put it all together to earn significant minutes. San Antonio could take Cenac Jr., develop him in the G League for a year or two, and slowly work him into the rotation over time.

Koa Peat, 6’7” PF, Arizona

27.8 minutes, 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 52.8% shooting, 35% three, 62.3% free throw

Jeremy Sochan never found his footing with the Spurs, mostly because his offensive game couldn’t complement the rest of the roster. Peat gives me those same worries.

The Arizona freshman is a fierce competitor who has won at every single level. He’s a really strong athlete who bullied his way to the basket in college and high school. He shows intriguing upside as a playmaker, mid-range scorer, and versatile defender. The problem is that he cannot shoot. He went 7-20 from three-point range and only shot 62.3% from the free-throw line in his freshman season. What will his offensive role be for the Spurs if he’s not spacing the floor?

Peat has the pedigree and demeanor to be a winner at the NBA level. But it’s so uncertain how his skills will translate to the next level, and you have to squint to find a fit for him with the Spurs. San Antonio has done a great job drafting high-character winners in the last few seasons, like Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. If they value that above all else, Peat could be the selection at 20.

Joshua Jefferson, 6’8” PF, Iowa State

30.9 minutes, 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 47.1% shooting, 34.5% three, 70% free throw

Boris Diaw and Kyle Anderson. Those are the type of players that Spurs fans most often say they want on this team. Well, there might just be one of those guys in the draft. Jefferson is a slower, athletically limited player who thinks the game incredibly well. He’s an awesome playmaker and rebounder at his position while defending and scoring well as a senior at Iowa State. His jump shot came a long way, as he showed the ability to hit standstill threes this year. There are still significant questions about his athleticism and shot-making ability at the NBA level.

Jefferson, in my eyes, is the perfect fit for the Spurs. He can dribble, pass, shoot (kind of), rebound, and defend. He’s able to push the pace in transition and move the ball well in the half-court. If the shot continues to improve, he’ll space the floor alongside Wembanyama while providing some of the toughness San Antonio needs inside. A lot of people have a second-round grade on Jefferson, but his unique set of skills makes him an intriguing reach candidate for San Antonio at 20.

Henri Veesaar, 6’11” C, North Carolina

31.4 minutes, 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 60.8% shooting, 42.6% three, 61.5% free throw

The Spurs need another look in their front court. Luke Kornet is a solid screener, paint protector, and rebounder. He does the dirty work you need from a backup big, but he lacks the offensive pop and shot blocking that San Antonio could use against more athletic teams. Veesaar could be a great change of pace with his size, shot blocking, and floor spacing.

Veesaar is a weaker big man who struggles with physicality. Players will try to go through him when he’s defending, and they’ll try to take advantage of his lack of strength when he’s rolling or trying to finish around the rim. Because of that, it’s not a sure thing he’ll be able to play alongside Wembanyama even with his three-point shot. The Spurs would be incredibly thin in the front court with him and Wembanyama being their two bigs. On the flip side, Veesaar and Wembanyama would be incredibly tough to score over the top of, and could cause a lot of challenges for defenses with their floor spacing ability. Veesaar is another player who could be available with San Antonio’s second-round selections.

Isaiah Evans, 6’6” Wing, Duke

28.2 minutes, 15 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 43.3% shooting, 36.1% three, 86% free throw

You can always use more shooting, and Evans is one of the best movement shooters in the draft. He hit huge shots for Duke in his two seasons there. A lot of those shots were with a high degree of difficulty, which bodes well for his ability to knock down threes with more space at the next level. Every aspect of his game stems from that shooting ability. His drives usually come from attacking hard closeouts, and his gravity as a shooter can open up lanes for others. He is improving as a defender, but still leaves a lot to be desired on that end. He’s also not much of a playmaker on the wing.

If San Antonio just wants to add more shooting, they could do a lot worse than Evans. There is a chance the Duke sophomore falls to the second round. At 20, he’s a bit of a reach, but at 35, he’d be a worthwhile flyer who could develop into a solid movement shooter off the bench.