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.

What's the 2026 NBA Draft order? Here's a list of all 60 picks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The NBA Finals just ended, but it’s already time for the league’s next event.

This week, all 30 teams will get a chance to add some young talent to their roster with the 2026 NBA Draft.

Just a few days after the New York Knicks’ championship parade, the two-day draft will take place across the East River in Brooklyn.

This year’s draft is one of the most anticipated in years, with several star prospects at the top of the board and a handful of potential gems later in the first round.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the updated order and more draft info:

Who has the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?

The Washington Wizards are picking first overall after winning the lottery with the best odds. In the drawing, the Wizards converted their 14.0% chance at landing the top pick into reality, with the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls filling out the top four slots.

This draft is headlined by four elite prospects, including BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson.

What’s the 2026 NBA Draft order?

As with any year, the draft order is fluid. There will be trades before, during and after the draft this week, so don’t get comfortable with the current order just yet.

Here’s an updated look at the full draft order for all 60 picks in 2026 (as of Sunday, June 21):

1. Washington Wizards
2. Utah Jazz
3. Memphis Grizzllies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Los Angeles Clippers (from Indiana)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LA Clippers)
13. Miami Heat
14. Charlotte Hornets
15. Chicago Bulls (from Portland)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (from Phoenix via Orlando)
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Philadelphia)
18. Charlotte Hornets (from Orlando via Phoenix)
19. Toronto Raptors
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta)
21. Detroit Pistons (from Minnesota)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Houston via Oklahoma City)
23. Atlanta Hawks (from Cleveland)
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver Nuggets
27. Boston Celtics
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit)
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio via Atlanta)
30. Dallas Mavericks (from Oklahoma City via Washington and Philadelphia)
31. New York Knicks (from Washington via Oklahoma City and Houston)
32. Memphis Grizzlies (from Indiana via Milwaukee)
33. Brooklyn Nets
34. Sacramento Kings
35. San Antonio Spurs (from Utah via Minnesota)
36. Los Angeles Clippers (from Memphis via Utah and Atlanta)
37. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas)
38. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans via Boston, Detroit and Portland)
39. Houston Rockets (from Chicago via Washington)
40. Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee via Orlando)
41. Miami Heat (from Golden State via Charlotte, New York, Oklahoma City and Atlanta)
42. San Antonio Spurs (from Portland via New Orleans)
43. Brooklyn Nets (from LA Clippers via Houston)
44. San Antonio Spurs (from Miami via Indiana)
45. Sacramento Kings (from Charlotte via San Antonio, Atlanta and New York)
46. Orlando Magic
47. Phoenix Suns (from Philadelphia via Houston and Oklahoma City)
48. Dallas Mavericks (from Phoenix via Washington)
49. Denver Nuggets (from Atlanta via Brooklyn and Golden State)
50. Toronto Raptors)
51. Washington Wizards (from Minnesota via Detroit and New York)
52. Los Angeles Clippers (from Cleveland)
53. Houston Rockets
54. Golden State Warriors (from LA Lakers via Toronto, Miami and Cleveland)
55. New York Knicks
56. Chicago Bulls (from Denver via Minnesota, Phoenix, Charlotte and Phoenix)
57. Atlanta Hawks (from Boston)
58. New Orleans Pelicans (from Detroit via New York, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Orlando and LA Clippers)
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (from San Antonio via Indiana)
60. Washington Wizards (from Oklahoma City via San Antonio and Miami)

What are the 2026 NBA Draft dates?

The NBA draft will take place over two days for the third straight year. The first round, which includes the first 30 picks, is on Tuesday, June 23, followed by Round 2 on Wednesday, June 24.

What is the 2026 NBA Draft location?

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets in New York, is hosting the entire draft. The arena has hosted the draft annually since 2013, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic.

If you were unaware that the Draft is this upcoming Tuesday, you aren’t alone. Wes is just as shocked! With the playoffs ending for the Pistons early in June, the NBA draft really seems to have snuck up on us with all the rumors and excitement surrounding potential free agents and trade targets for the Pistons to improve on last season’s 60-win pace. But, what about the draft? Sitting at pick #21, the Pistons should have a few very good, young players available for them to choose from. The guys brought in draft expert Stephen Gillaspie from No Ceilings NBA to break down all the potential players who could and should excite Pistons fans come Tuesday evening. Stephen breaks down all of Ebuka Okorie, Joshua Jefferson, Cameron Carr, Karim Lopez, Yaxel Lendeborg and more in this NBA draft deep dive!

We’ve got you covered for all this and more in this week’s episode!

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The Knicks’ run to the 2026 NBA championship didn’t just ignite the city and break a half-century curse, it was one of the most dominant runs in recent history. After falling behind 2-1 to Atlanta in the first round, the Knicks rattled off 13 consecutive postseason victories, tied for the second-longest streak ever.

It’s fair to ask where this team ranks compared to other champions. Few plowed through their conference like these Knicks, and though they’ll have additional chances to run it back with this core, even this year alone may put them in a higher tier than most.

To narrow down the scope, we’ll focus on this millennium’s champions, the past 26 dating back to 2000. Let’s dive in.

New York’s best historic argument would be the statistical one. Its constant drubbing of Eastern Conference foes -- including wins by 51, 39 and 37 points in each of the first three rounds, respectively -- profiles it among the most dangerous squads in history.

Its average margin of victory topped any of the recent champions’, even the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors and 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers, legendary teams that boasted through the postseason with only one loss apiece. They also topped the list in offensive rating, sneaking by the 2023 Denver Nuggets.

Its defensive metrics can’t stack up to the radically different era of the 2000s, though it boasted the best defensive rating of everybody in the NBA’s recent parity streak of no repeat champions. It finished on par with the 2005 San Antonio Spurs and 2019 Toronto Raptors for reference -- not as impenetrable as the peak Warriors or LeBron James’ Heat, but no slouches either.

Fans will often point to the strength of a champion’s opponents, and here the Knicks have a tough hill to climb. In terms of strictly regular season record, New York is in the bottom tier when compared to other champs, beating a couple teams that finished in the mid 40s.

Standouts include the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers that dethroned the 73-win Warriors, plus the early 2000s Lakers that had to fight through multiple high-50s winners. In New York’s defense, its final foe was a 62-win Spurs team, the second-toughest record any team trumped in the championship round within the past 26 years, with a nasty net rating to boot.

What about on-paper talent? People might have viewed Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart as far less of a super team mere weeks ago, but we’re effectively talking about an MVP-caliber player, two more top-25 guys, collectively four All-Star level players plus a couple star role players.

Unfortunately for New York, this isn’t much of a separator when stacked up against dynastic teams like the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant-led Lakers, the four-time champion Spurs and most LeBron teams. Even one-offs like the 2008 Boston Celtics or 2004 Detroit Pistons are debatable.

But championships aren’t won on paper, they’re won on the court. Unfortunately, we won’t ever get to see these Knicks compete with the greats that came before them. 

Were they able to, even the most optimistic of Knicks fans wouldn’t be able to expect an edge over the dynastic Lakers, Spurs and Warriors. That already puts them far behind in the rankings, though their talent and production would make them a good fight for the champions that didn’t reign over multiple seasons.

They have a strong argument for being one of the better teams since Kevin Durant left the Warriors and the NBA failed to find a repeat champion. New York topped Boston in last year’s playoffs when neither were at their peaks, routinely dominated Denver in recent years, and are deeper than the 2020 Lakers or 2021 Bucks. 

Dig back further and things get murkier. LeBron’s earlier championship teams and Bryant’s latter-year Lakers certainly wouldn’t be easy.

Until we get a chance to see this group try to recapture its magic over the next few seasons, it will be hard to paint it in an appropriate historical context. What we know for sure was this was a standout run to the title from a standout collective of professionals, and the NBA should fear what they do next.

The Golden State Warriors enter next week’s NBA Draft facing one of the most important decisions of general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s tenure. Armed with the No. 11 pick, does the front office keep the selection and add a young talent, or use it in a trade to either move around the draft board or acquire an established veteran?

If our latest SB Nation Reacts survey is any indication, Warriors fans have already made up their minds. According to the poll, 72% of fans believe Golden State should keep the No. 11 overall pick rather than use it in a trade.

It’s easy to understand why fans feel this way. The Warriors are coming off a disappointing 37-45 season and enter next year with more questions on their roster than answers. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are both expected to miss a big portion of the season after suffering significant leg injuries, while Stephen Curry and Draymond Green continue to battle Father Time as they approach their age-39 and age-37 seasons, respectively.

The aging roster and questions about the team’s overall talent level have also been reflected in the betting markets. FanDuel Sportsbook currently gives the Warriors +8000 odds to win the 2026-27 NBA championship, placing them well outside the league’s group of true contenders.

With those long odds, it makes sense why many fans appear to prefer a more measured approach. The No. 11 pick gives the Warriors an opportunity to add an inexpensive young player to a roster that badly needs an injection of youth, athleticism, and long-term upside. In a draft class widely regarded as one of the deepest in recent years, holding onto the selection may ultimately prove more valuable than chasing another short-term move.

Whether the front office agrees with its fanbase remains to be seen. But if the poll is any indication, Warriors fans would prefer to see Golden State use this year’s draft to strengthen both its present and its future.

Winning the championship made everything so good that I have been reading old P&T posts from nearly 20 years ago and rewatching early-aughts Knicks games, feeling great about it. Just imagine.

This machine never stops, even on Father’s Day, so here’s the latest I’ve gathered from the interwebs.

• The New York Post’s Jared Schwartz wrote a little piece for the early haters and the doubters who will inevitably, sooner or later, say the Knicks will have it impossible to become the next back-to-back champs. JS split the obstacles on the road into “Likely Threats,” “Variables,” and some internal business NYK needs to handle before next season. Anyway, never not enjoyable to read sentences like “Pistons exposed as frauds” and “Celtics overachieved.”
• The masses read the comments section… or the comments section’s inhabitants represent the masses. That’s why Stephen A. Smith was rained with boos as he joined the latest Roomates Show live at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. Either that, or the folks love Deuce so much.
• The Jalen Brunson statue talk is getting serious, with @newyorkers founder Benjamin Cohen going all-in for it. Cohen spoke to the NYP to discuss his ideas, and one can’t argue he’s got everything planned. “We’re at a stage where we have an artist and we have a private property in walking distance from Madison Square Garden,” he said, and hey, kudos to the artist, but I’m personally undecided about that mockup. “I hope that the city and Madison Square Garden will step up. If they don’t, we’re gonna make it happen.” That, I can agree with.
• Our friends from SNY have put together a solid Mock Draft roundup covering pretty much every MD published by all major outlets heading into Tuesday’s NBA Draft. As a fellow Latin man, I found it rather charming and surprising to find Mexican forward Karim Lopez projected to land in New York at No. 24 in CBS’s mock. The other predictions are more in line with what we have in mind, and the names linked to the Knicks are those of the usual suspects. Too bad, nobody is projecting the Knicks to go for a St. John’s standout. Suckers! Get a better idea of a bunch of possibilities by checking our own Draft Guide!
• Very long Q&A with Papa KAT at The Post. Worth reading in full.
• OAKAAK Jeremy Lin has been in the spotlight more during the past month than he was for the last decade, and he keeps squeezing the beat. According to Lin, who experienced the Knicks’ life from inside and seemingly stayed in New York to know the organization and all its inner workings, albeit 14 years removed from it, New York won the title because of much more than what went down on the court.

“It’s team and its grit, right? The team starts with [Jalen] Brunson giving up 113 million. 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.

“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.

“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.”

• Cute Country Boy Mitch Robinson had quite the gesture with his neighbors right before heading to Broadway. Shout-out Big Mitch!
• Speaking of gestures, OG Anunoby also had a feline one.
• Have you seen this man?
• Here’s another question for you to guess: which sport and dream pro team was Big Bogeda close to pursuing and aiming to join one day before locking into basketball? KAT spoke about his young life and early career decisions on Saturday.
• Non-Knicks (or maybe it is?) list item. The Timberwolves want to move up (h/t HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto) in the draft board—they own the No. 28 selection—and they are exploring moves involving Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to sweeten a deal that gets the franchise to the podium quicker on Tuesday. Thoughts on potential landing spots?
• Per the same Scotto report, there’s a lot going on around the league. Quick summary here, but go read the full piece.
  • The Miami Heat seemingly have the best package—Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and first-round draft compensation—to offer Milwaukee in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and are gaining traction again after the latest Celtics/Jaylen Brown rumors.
  • The Detroit Pistons have shown interest in Tyler Herro and could become the third team in a multi-team trade.
  • The Clippers are interested in Jaylen Brown if the Bucks don’t want to build around him following a three-team deal.
  • The Orlando Magic are deciding between building around one of Anthony Black and Jalen Suggs, but likely not both.
  • RJ Barrett—on an expiring $29.62 million contract—has drawn trade interest in multi-team conversations involving the Toronto Raptors.
  • Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to remain with the Oklahoma City Thunder, though the structure could involve either his team option or a new multi-year deal.
  • Lu Dort is likely gone from OKC, with reports linking him to the LA Lakers.

No Knicks game later today, just in case.

Most of the time when we run these SB Nation Reacts polls at Canis Hoopus, I have a pretty good idea where the results are headed before the votes even start rolling in. It is a product of spending time in the comments section, and understanding the mood of Wolves Nation. There are certain questions where the answer feels almost preordained.

This week, though, I was caught a little off guard. Not necessarily by the winner, because the answer makes a painful amount of sense. What surprised me was the margin. We asked the Canis Hoopus faithful what the biggest thing standing between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the 2027 NBA title is, and the options were legitimate. We listed real, championship-level threats.

There was Oklahoma City, sitting there like the league’s fully weaponized basketball laboratory. The Thunder have the two-time league MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a championship already tucked into their belt, a roster that plays with relentless intensity, and more assets than just about anyone else in the league to keep tinkering, adjusting, and improving. They are young, loaded, battle-tested, and somehow still positioned to get better.

There was San Antonio, the team that ended Minnesota’s season in the second round and then kept right on moving. The Spurs are the reigning Western Conference champions, led by Victor Wembanyama. He headlines a young core that is still learning, still growing, and already ahead of schedule. That is the scary part. The Spurs were not supposed to be this far along this quickly, and yet there they were, sending the Wolves home and announcing that their timeline may not care about anyone else’s plans.

And then there were the newly crowned NBA champion New York Knicks, who now stand at the top of the league with Minnesota’s former franchise star Karl-Anthony Towns and the impossible-to-rattle Jalen Brunson leading the way. The Knicks did what the Timberwolves could not do. They took down San Antonio convincingly in the NBA Finals, winning the title and putting an end to one of the longest droughts in professional sports. That team is not going anywhere either. They have toughness, identity, star power, and the kind of championship validation that turns confidence into something more dangerous. If the Wolves can claw their way through the Western Conference gauntlet, there is every chance New York could be waiting on the other side.

Those are three extremely legitimate answers. Any one of them would have made sense. You could have voted Thunder, Spurs, or Knicks and defended the choice without breaking a sweat. But according to Wolves fans, none of those teams represented the biggest threat to Minnesota’s title hopes.

Neither did injuries, which is a little remarkable considering injuries absolutely helped cripple the Wolves this past postseason. Anthony Edwards was dealing with two bad knees. Naz Reid had the shoulder issue. Ayo Dosunmu was slowed by the calf. And most significantly for next season, Donte DiVincenzo will be recovering from a ruptured Achilles, leaving a major question mark hanging over Minnesota’s rotation before the 2026-27 season even begins. Ant, Naz, and Ayo’s issues should theoretically improve with an offseason of rest and recovery. DiVincenzo’s injury is different. Donte is not walking through that door in October ready to pick up where he left off. Whether Wolves fans see him at all next season remains very much up in the air, and even if he does return, it is fair to wonder when he will look anything like the version of himself this team expected to have.

For those who have watched DiVincenzo closely over the last two seasons, his absence cannot simply be waved away. It is easy to look at his role statistically and convince yourself that Minnesota can paper over the loss with Dosunmu, more minutes for others, or some clever reshuffling from Chris Finch. But Donte’s value was never just the box score. It was the toughness. It was the willingness to dive across the floor for a loose ball in January. It was the hustle plays, the defensive pressure, the edge, the three-point shooting, and the little bursts of energy that helped raise the team’s temperature when things started to drift. Anyone who thinks losing that will not matter does not fully understand what he brought to this roster. Going to war without the Big Ragu puts the Wolves behind the eight ball before the first game has even tipped.

And still, even with all of that, the injury bug was not the top answer.

No, Canis Hoopus voters overwhelmingly declared that the biggest thing standing between the Timberwolves and the 2027 NBA title is the Timberwolves themselves. When I put that option in the poll, I will admit, it was at least partially tongue-in-cheek. But the more you sit with it, the more obvious it becomes that the answer was not a joke at all. It was probably the most accurate option on the board.

If you understand this roster, if you have watched the Wolves at their best, you know there is enough talent here to compete with anyone. That is what makes the frustration so intense. This is not a team trying to convince itself it belongs in the conversation. This is not a scrappy overachiever hoping to steal a round. The Timberwolves have a top-tier superstar, elite defenders, versatile bigs, real depth, and enough shot-making to run with the best teams in the league when everything is connected. They have already proven they can beat Denver. They have shown they can hang with Oklahoma City. They took games from San Antonio despite being compromised. The ceiling is not imaginary. We have seen it. That is why the floor stings so much.

It starts, of course, with Anthony Edwards. He will be 25 when next season tips off, right on the doorstep of his prime, and at some point the conversation has to shift from what Ant might become to what Ant is willing to demand from himself and everyone around him. He has been through multiple NBA seasons now. He has played in multiple long postseason runs. He has seen what happens when a team tries to flip the switch too late. He has felt the physical toll of getting to the Conference Finals and the emotional toll of coming up short when the path is sitting right there in front of you.

A fully mature, fully locked-in Anthony Edwards may very well be the most dangerous weapon the NBA has to offer. That is not hyperbole. When he combines his athleticism, shot-making, defensive force, playmaking growth, and competitive fire, there are very few players in the league who can match the total package. The question is whether that version shows up consistently over 82 games and four playoff rounds. Is next season the year Ant stops saving his highest engagement level for the biggest opponents and starts setting the tone every night? Is this the year he stops drifting into hero-ball possessions when the offense bogs down and instead learns how to manipulate the entire floor like the best postseason performers do? Has the pain of the last few playoff exits burned into him what it actually takes to win a championship, not just in moments, but as a daily standard?

That is the next step. Not another highlight. Not another fourth-quarter explosion that makes everyone remember why he is special. The next step is leadership through consistency. It is setting the temperature in November so the team is not scrambling to rediscover its identity in April. It is understanding that the regular season is not a chore to endure, but the place where habits are built. It is realizing that the great ones do not simply rise to the moment; they prepare so relentlessly that the moment has no choice but to meet them.

Then there is Julius Randle, assuming he remains on the roster. There may not be a more fascinating, maddening, and important swing piece on this team. When Randle is right, he gives Minnesota something it desperately needs: a second offensive force who can create his own shot, bully smaller defenders, punish mismatches, and draw attention that opens the floor for everyone else. Peak Julius is not some theoretical concept. We have seen it. There are nights when he looks like exactly the kind of co-star Edwards needs, a bruising, playmaking, downhill force who makes the Wolves more physical and more difficult to guard.

But the issue has never been whether Randle can reach that level. The issue is whether he can live there often enough. Can he get out of his own way? Can he avoid the moodiness, the inconsistency, the possessions where the ball sticks and the offense turns into a wrestling match against five defenders? Can he be the reliable second option this team needs rather than a nightly mystery box? The Wolves do not need Randle to be perfect. They need him to be dependable. They need the version that wears opponents down, rebounds with force, defends with engagement, and understands that his greatest value comes when he is not trying to prove everything on one possession.

Jaden McDaniels faces a different kind of challenge. We saw against Denver what it looks like when Jaden turns defense into a personal vendetta. There were stretches where he looked like he was trying to remove Jamal Murray from the concept of basketball. That version of McDaniels is terrifying. The question is whether he can bring that edge night after night over the long grind of the regular season. Can he turn that playoff defensive intensity into an 82-game reign of terror on opposing offenses? Can he pair it with enough offensive aggression to punish teams that ignore him, get to his spots, and avoid becoming a corner statue waiting for the occasional kick-out three?

That matters because the Wolves are not at their best when Jaden is simply a defensive specialist. They are at their best when he is a two-way problem. When he is defending the other team’s best perimeter player on one end and then attacking with confidence on the other, Minnesota’s ceiling rises dramatically. He does not need to become a 22-point-per-game scorer. He needs to be assertive enough that opponents cannot treat him like a passenger.

The broader question is whether the entire team can finally get off the roller coaster. That was the theme of last season, and frankly, of too many stretches before it. The Wolves would look like a championship team one night and then spend the next game wandering around aimlessly. They would build a lead, then act personally offended by the idea of maintaining it. They would put an opponent on the ropes and then inexplicably step back, allowing the other team to breathe, regroup, and punch back.

That cannot be who this team is if it wants to win a championship. The small plays have to become non-negotiable. Rebounds. Rotations. Closeouts. Free throws. Taking care of the ball. Not letting a 14-point lead become a two-point game because everyone decided to chuck threes and stop defending. Not treating lower-tier opponents like optional homework. If the Wolves want a top seed, and they should, it cannot be because someone tells them home court is important. It has to come from pride, from competitiveness, from the desire to build habits that survive the playoffs.

Because yes, the Wolves have proven they do not need a top seed to win a series. They have won on the road, they have won as underdogs, and they have survived hostile environments. But that does not mean seeding does not matter. It does not mean habits do not matter. It does not mean you can sleepwalk through half the regular season and assume the best version of yourself will magically appear when the lights get brighter. The postseason exposes whatever you have been all year. If you have spent six months cutting corners, eventually the bill comes due.

That is why the poll result hit harder than expected. Wolves fans are not saying Oklahoma City is not dangerous or that San Antonio is not terrifying. They are saying that the Timberwolves already have enough to make the fight real. They are saying this team’s greatest obstacle is not talent. It is execution. It is maturity. It is consistency. It is whether the Wolves can finally stop being their own worst enemy long enough to become the team they have teased us with for the last three years.

Tim Connelly can and should make tweaks. The point guard situation still needs attention. DiVincenzo’s absence creates a real hole. The roster can be sharpened. There are moves that could matter enormously. But this is not a team that needs to be saved from itself by one massive transaction. The bones of a contender are already here. The superstar is here. The defensive infrastructure is here. The playoff experience is here. The question is whether the lessons have actually sunk in.

So when the summer ends, when the standings reset, when the new uniforms are hanging in the locker room and the Wolves get another crack at this thing, we will find out what kind of team they want to be. Are they going to sleepwalk through the regular season again, bide their time, flip the switch when they feel like it, and hope April adrenaline can cover up six months of bad habits? Or are they going to show up from the opening tip and announce that something has changed? That they have grown up. That they have had enough of almost.

In the end, that is what stands between the Timberwolves and true title contention. Not SGA. Not Wembanyama. Not Brunson. Not even the injury gods, cruel as they can be. The biggest obstacle is the man in the mirror, the nightly choice between discipline and drift, between maturity and excuses, between being a team that talks about championship standards and one that actually lives them.

The Wolves have the talent to win the title.

Now they have to decide if they are willing to become the team that does.

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The NBA season may be over, but FanDuel Sportsbook has you covered for all of your betting needs, including the NBA draft and 2026-27 season futures. Wolves +3300 for the title, anyone?

Remember when the Los Angeles Lakers hired former Duke star JJ Redick? There were a lot of people who predicted failure, that he had no experience, that they should have gone after a more established coach, say, Sam Cassell, or Kenny Atkinson, or UConn’s Dan Hurley, for whom they were ready to open the vault.

In the end, despite the controversy, they hired Redick, and he’s panned out pretty well.

In his first season, Redick won 50 games, and this past season, he won 53. In both seasons, the Lakers finished first in the Pacific Division.

His career record now stands at 164-103.

That’s all very impressive, but even more so when you consider that this team is in a long and slow transition. LeBron James is still an amazingly effective player at 41, and he works hard to maintain his presence, but he’s not the player he was a few years ago. He doesn’t work as hard on defense as he used to, and he’s not feared in the way he once was.

Ideally, this should be Luka Doncic’s team now, but Doncic has historically been poorly conditioned, and there are those who believe that, at 27, he may have already peaked.

When you get past those two, 29-year-old Austin Reaves is getting 34.5 minutes per game, then it’s Marcus Smart, who is 32, with 28.5 mpg. Rui Hachimura pulled 28.3, De’Andre Ayton is pulling 27.2, from former Demon Deacon Jake LaRavia handled 25.2 and former Blue Devil Luke Kennard, got 32.6 minutes.

Redick has done a tremendous job with a team handling what could be a difficult transition, and an uncertain future for both stars (James for age and Doncic, essentially for durability).

In one sense, the best thing for L.A. would be if James finished his career elsewhere. He’s making $52.6 million, while Doncic is getting $54.1. Additionally, Reaves will be a free agent, and while the Lakers would like to keep him, it will be difficult to keep three guys who all want big money. Who do you let go?

We’d argue for the guy who will be 42 next year. James has had a great career, but he’s going to be a free agent as well, and at this point in his career, the math is inexorable. They simply can’t pay him what they have. We could imagine him going to Dallas for a year to mentor Cooper Flagg, or perhaps the San Antonio Spurs for similar reasons, but to stay with L.A., he’d likely have to take a big pay cut.

The Lakers won’t pick in next week’s NBA Draft until the 25th pick, which could mean a shooter like Duke’s Isaiah Evans, or a risky pick like Jayden Quaintance or Koa Peat.

If James left, they would have a good bit of money to pursue free agents, like possibly Detroit’s Jalen Duren or former Blue Devil Gary Trent.

L.A. has always been a magnet for great players, and they could pull that off again via free agency. It’s just a question of the fit.

In other words, while Redick has done a tremendous job with the players he’s had, improvement for L.A. is going to be more on GM Rob Pelinka, who, to be kind, has a reputation for not being entirely straightforward.

It’s possible he could find some talent that slips through the draft, which could happen to former Blue Devil Maliq Brown, but L.A. has just one draft pick and not that many assets they could get a good return on. And given Pelinka’s reputation, that is even more complicated.

• Lakers News: JJ Redick Discusses Importance Of Adding Depth
• Lakers feel defensive concerns of Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves backcourt are overstated
• Lakers get major Dalton Knecht trade news after disappointing season
• Austin Reaves’ return to Los Angeles in jeopardy as multiple teams expected to take big swings
• JJ Redick’s successful second season leaves no doubt about his Lakers’ future
• Luka Doncic In Constant Contact With Rob Pelinka JJ Redick As Lakers Face Promised Summer Of 26 Roster Plan
• Austin Reaves’ Next Contract Could Have Massive Implications for LeBron James’ Future in Los Angeles
• Luka Dončić Tells The Los Angeles Lakers He Needs Shooters And A Rim-Protecting Center

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