With Kentucky’s roster essentially set for the upcoming season, many fans have turned their focus to the 2026 NBA Draft. Two former Wildcats, Jayden Quaintance and Otega Oweh, are hoping to hear their names called next week.

Where Experts Predict Jayden Quaintance Will Be Drafted

Despite playing only four games at Kentucky because of a knee injury, Quaintance is still expected to be a first-round pick. His combination of size, athleticism, and defensive potential has kept him firmly on NBA radars.

Here is where some analysts have Quaintance being selected:

• No. 20 overall — San Antonio Spurs (CBS Sports, Isaac Trotter)
• No. 23 overall — Atlanta Hawks (Yahoo Sports, Kevin O’Connor)
• No. 25 overall — Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN, Jeremy Woo)
• No. 25 overall — Bleacher Report, Zach Buckley
• No. 26 overall — The Athletic, Sam Vecenie

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo called Quaintance an “obvious first-round talent” if healthy.

The biggest question surrounding Quaintance is his health. Scouts love his defensive upside, shot-blocking ability, length, and athleticism, but teams will want confidence that his knee has fully recovered before investing a first-round pick.

Where Experts Predict Otega Oweh Will Be Drafted

Oweh’s draft outlook is less certain, with most projections placing him late in the second round. Some analysts believe he could also go undrafted and earn an opportunity through the NBA Summer League.

Here is where major draft analysts have Oweh landing:

• No. 55 overall — New York Knicks (Yahoo Sports, Kevin O’Connor)
• No. 56 overall — The Athletic, Sam Vecenie
• No. 56 overall — ClutchPoints, Brett Siegel
• Undrafted — (ESPN, Jeremy Woo)

Analysts praise Oweh’s athleticism, ability to attack the basket, transition scoring, and defensive versatility. However, concerns about his outside shooting and shot creation have kept him from climbing higher on draft boards.

Regardless of where they are selected, Kentucky appears likely to add at least one more player to its growing list of NBA talent. Now, all that’s left is to see where Quaintance and Oweh begin their professional careers.

First Round: Tuesday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ABC, ESPN)

Second Round: Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ESPN)

The Celtics have popped up in several major rumors since their abrupt playoff exit. Talk of a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trey Murphy has been the most notable of the bunch, but two new names have entered the mix.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Friday night that Boston could have interest in Rudy Gobert and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart.

On Stewart:

“Boston is known to be looking for frontcourt upgrades and has liked Stewart for some time, sources say.”

On Gobert:

“In reference to Minnesota’s interest in White, which The Athletic’s Sam Amick first reported Friday morning, trading him for Rudy Gobert would represent a clear salary match. Sources say that Boston, furthermore, has inquired about Gobert before … most recently at February’s trade deadline. Now I don’t think that the Wolves are actively shopping Gobert, either way, but Minnesota is said to be as exploratory and open-minded as Boston when it comes to shaking up the roster around the team’s clear alpha (Edwards).”

While both players address Boston’s desire for frontcourt size and defense, the logistics behind acquiring them are very different. 

Gobert is a huge swing. He’s signed for a $36.5 million cap hit next season. Stewart is on the books for $15 million in 2026-27, the final year of his deal before a team option in 2027-28. That gap would dictate who has to be on the move in any deal.

For Gobert, Boston almost certainly has to put Derrick White in the trade to match salary. Amick reported Friday morning that Minnesota has “strong interest” in White. Fischer’s reporting adds some fuel to the fire given how the two sides line up financially. White is signed for two more seasons at $30.3 million and $32.6 million, plus a $34.8 million player option for 2028-29. Trading him for a soon-to-be 34-year-old center, even one as accomplished as Gobert, creates a conversation about what this roster wants to become.

Stewart is a much smaller, supplementary move. Sam Hauser’s $10 million salary alone gets close enough to legally match, meaning Boston wouldn’t have to touch its core to get a deal like this done. Brad Stevens would also have the $27 million TPE at his disposal, too. Amick reported that Isaiah Stewart is available, with Detroit prioritizing additional shooting and playmaking, which could make a player like Hauser a logical fit.

Gobert averaged 10.9 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this past year and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He’d walk into a starting role on Day 1 and immediately become the best rim protector Boston has had in a very long time. Acquiring him would give the Celtics a 7-foot defensive anchor, but the likely inclusion of Derrick White creates a difficult trade-off.

Stewart offers the younger, cheaper alternative. Heading into his age-25 season, he averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 22.7 minutes per game. He’s not the same game-changing presence as Gobert, but he brings physicality, switchability and a defensive motor that fits Boston’s identity. He’d likely slot in as the backup to Neemias Queta, giving the Celtics a solid second option that can eat up minutes.

These rumors are both interesting, if there’s truth to them. It does make sense that the Celtics would look to improve on their frontcourt based on the role it played in their loss to the Sixers. 

With the Giannis domino yet to fall, it’s difficult to get a read on how the rest of the offseason could play out. Gobert could be a fallback option if a pursuit of Antetokounmpo falls short, or he could become part of a larger roster overhaul. Stewart could be a compelling option in either scenario as well.

There is very little certainty right now, but with the NBA Draft just a few days away, clarification should be coming soon. Whether or not any of these deals materialize, it feels clear that Brad Stevens isn’t satisfied with the state of the roster, and change should be on the way. The frontcourt is a reasonable place to start.

This offseason will be a fascinating one for the Celtics as they retool following last year’s early exit.

That reshaping officially begins with the NBA Draft, which is set for Tuesday and Wednesday in Brooklyn, and will continue in the coming weeks.

While it’s very possible the Celtics will trade one or both of their picks as part of a deal, they currently have the No. 27 and No. 40 selections, so let’s operate under the assumption that they’ll make those picks.

With that in mind, here are seven players who could go late in the first round or early in the second and could fit in well with the Celtics:

Isaiah Evans, Duke guard

Yes, it’s unlikely Evans will fall to No. 27, but he’s worth including on this list because the Celtics should absolutely take him if he does. They could also make a deal to move up and draft him.

Evans is a lights-out shooter who moves well without the ball, improved his driving ability last year at Duke and has great instincts defensively. He’s 6 feet, 6 inches, plays with a ton of confidence and would fit in well with Boston’s 3-point heavy offense. His floor and ceiling are both high, and he’s shown he’s capable of making improvements to his game.

Alex Karaban, UConn forward

The Southborough native masterfully pieced together one of the most magnificent careers in UConn history. He’s a strong shooter, versatile defender and extremely smart player.

The question marks with Karaban are his ability to create his own shot and to stay in front of quick guards on the other end. If the Celtics keep both Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser, Karaban probably wouldn’t make sense; if they trade one, he could be an ideal replacement.

Tarris Reed Jr., UConn center

Karaban’s teammate, Reed, was outstanding in the NCAA Tournament and played his best when the lights were brightest. While he’s improved his footwork in the paint, he still has room to grow in that area.

He has an impressive motor, is a fiery and fearless player and brings out the best in his teammates. Reed could learn from Neemias Queta and push Amari Williams for one of the final roster spots.

Meleek Thomas, Arkansas guard/forward

Darius Acuff Jr. got a lot of buzz last year at Arkansas, and for good reason, but Thomas was also extremely impressive. The 6-foot-5-inch, 185-pound shooting guard/small forward shot 41.6 percent from 3 on 5.3 attempts per game.

He scored 21, 19 and 17 points in the NCAA Tournament and shot 45 percent or better each game. Thomas has tremendous upside and could end up being a steal in this year’s Draft. He would mesh well with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from a stylistic standpoint and, like Tatum, is still only 19 years old.

Emanuel Sharp, Houston guard

Sharp is a menace defensively and was a driving force in Houston’s success the past few years. He has a nose for the ball, impressive range and plays extremely hard.

While his size (6 feet, 3 inches) is a bit of a concern, since he’s not a point guard, he compensates for what he lacks in that area with physicality and brute force. Sharp is the kind of player whose winning habits are contagious, and he always seems to hit the big shot when his team really needs it.

Aaron Nkrumah, Tennessee State guard/forward

Nkrumah is one of the better stories in this year’s NBA Draft. The Worcester native and South High product started his career at Quinsigamond College before transferring to Nichols College and transferring again to Worcester State.

He then kept it rolling at Tennessee State under former Duke guard Nolan Smith, averaging 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3 assists last season. The 24-year-old sharpshooter has seen a lot in the past few years and appears ready to keep elevating his game.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State forward

Jefferson is an intriguing player because at 6 feet, 9 inches, he can guard post players and body people down low. He can also step out and burn you from the outside, moves well for a guy his size and is a crafty passer.

He feels like one of those players where people will wonder which position he truly plays (probably power forward) that ends up shining wherever he goes on the court because of his skill set, motor and heart. The Celtics need more low-post scoring, and Jefferson has a chance to help an NBA team in that area.

Christmas can come early for NBA fans. After a champion is crowned in June, the draft follows soon after with a fresh class of young players. And maybe more importantly, the offseason kicks off in July with so much palace intrigue over trades and free agency.

However, what comes with the excitement of getting new players in a summer deal is the hard truth of sending players out. Whether it’s a fan favorite (Marcus!) or a promising phenom (like Aaron Nesmith), there’s always a give-and-take in these trades.

We polled our readers on who should be untouchable in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Trey Murphy III. The Celtics used their unproven depth at the wing to win 56 games last year and now, that success has made them attractive targets in trade season.

Need a savvy everyman and jack-of-all-trades? Baylor Scheierman could be your guy. Ron Harper Jr. could develop into a microwave scorer off the bench. Jordan Walsh is already an accomplished defender.

In the end, it was rookie sensation Hugo Gonzalez that our readers didn’t want to include in a potential package next month. Gonzalez fell out of the rotation by the end of the year and into the playoffs, but his upside in undeniable.

Back in 2006, then President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge refused to include Rajon Rondo in the deal that would bring Kevin Garnett to Boston. That duo would later raise Banner 17 to the rafters.

Could Gonzalez be that instrumental in a championship run or should Stevens even hesitate including him a deal that could net a known commodity? Well, the fans have spoken and named Hugo the “Most Likely To Be Back In Boston Next Season.”

Our friends at FanDuel don’t have a Mr. Untouchable category you can wager on, but if you want to bet on Boston, they’ve already got the Celtics at a +550 to raise the Larry O’Brien in 2027.

If you’re still on cloud nine, that’s alright.

The Knicks won the NBA championship for the first time in 53 years.

It’s fair to say we’re due at least 53 days of floating around the Earth without giving nothing else any care.

Jalen Brunson

On the Knicks championship:

“The further we get away from it, the more real it becomes.”

Jose Alvarado

On his upcoming free agency:

“First of all, I got to go get paid, man. That’s God willing. I want to be in this for a long time. I love this life. I love the NBA life. It feeds my family, and you know, it puts me in rooms where I could never be at.”

On potentially taking less money to stay with the Knicks:

“I got to see what makes sense for everybody. I truly do feel like if it’s a great opportunity to stay home, I stay home.”

Leon Rose

On the gift from Howie Roseman before one of the Finals wins:

“I want to share this with everbody. Howie Roseman, general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles came tonight with his boys and he gave me this gift which is a piece of slate from the city of David in ancient Jerusalem that he got when he was there and he either got it, or it was given to him in 2024. He took it to the Super Bowl and won the super bowl and he gave it to me for good luck tonight before the game. Un-friggen-believable.”

Josh Hart

On the overconfident and cocky Spurs:

“You see that reaction (after they won the WCF and beat OKC) because they think they gon’ win it. They think it’s over.

“And then you look at the reaction after we beat Cleveland, and it was tough to celebrate, because, like, we got four more, right? Obviously, winning the Eastern Conference is an amazing accomplishment, but we all look at that like, this is just a step, this isn’t the destination. And the reaction after Game 4 in Cleveland shows that.”

On Becky Hammon’s comments about Jalen Brunson:

“I’m not naming names: I’m still waiting for somebody… to say they was wrong about someone who led our team to a championship…I know they have media availability so we’ll be waiting for that apology.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On his role evolving during the playoffs:

“I think for me it’s imperative to make the defense have to shift and make them have to continuously think. It’s not only, as you know, the game is already physically tiring, but if you add the mental component as well and have them thinking the whole game, it makes them even more tired and allows for more opportunities for us to get better looks.”

On ball movement and passing:

“I think what you can do when you do move the ball and allow the IQ to flow and the ball to flow is you allow great shots to happen, especially when you’re touching the paint or having movement on the offense and allowing the defense to make a mistake, instead of us having to make a tough shot or a great shot. I’ve always loved passing, and it’s always one of my greatest joys is getting my teammates an assist and allowing them to see them succeed. It’s truly, for me, better than hitting a great shot, because when you make a shot, only one person is happy, but when you get an assist, two people are happy. I think that’s a recipe for success, when everyone is really feeling good about themselves.”

James Dolan

On admitting being wrong during the dark Knicks times:

“Did I make mistakes? Of course I did. Did I trust people that maybe I shouldn’t have trusted? You go into it as a new owner and if you’re dumb enough, you think you actually know what you’re doing. Believe me, you don’t. And all along, you have everybody whispering in your ear: Do this, do that. You have you guys, the press, telling us where we’re going wrong at every step. And, you can start to feel like a pinball.”

On learning over 25 years at the helm of the Knicks organization:

“The thing is, is to learn. Right? That might be the thing I feel best about is, I felt, I feel, that now after 25 freaking years of doing this, I might actually have learned something.”

On Tom Thibodeau’s run in New York and his firing:

“We loved Thibs, we really did, I held him in high regard. It would not surprise me at all, by the way, if Thibs comes back and coaches a championship team because I think you could still win that way. Thibs was kind of old style. Right? Like Red Holzman, right, everything comes through me, and I’ll guide us through. He’s very good at that, but that sort of obviated the need for all these other people. Mike Brown had a different view. He had a different approach. And you look at our team, in the Finals. Everyone was healthy.”

Stephen A. Smith

On being wrong about the Knicks and Jalen Brunson:

“I’m a grown a** man. I was beyond grown. I apologized to this brother on national television. I’m apologizing to you. I’m apologizing to the entire Knicks organization. Let me be very, very clear — I have never been more happy to be wrong in my life. Let me be very, very clear — I came out of the womb a Knicks fan. I’m 58-years-old. The last time the New York Knicks won a title before last Saturday, I was four.

“In his own way, (Brunson) reminds me of this every time. It’s automatic… national television, I owe this man an apology. I am grateful for what you have done for this city, what y’all have done for this city, and you won’t be hearing any more doubts from me, my brother.”

Brian Windhorst

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ taking a paycut being the key to the Knicks’ contending window:

“In all honesty, that’s the biggest question of the Knicks offseason. So Karl [Anthony] Towns is under contract for next season. He’ll be back. He’ll be the starting center. He’ll be there on ring night. The way he was used in this postseason, it’s hard to not see him as with this team for the majority of the rest of his career.

“But he is in position to get a contract extension that’s going to approach $70 million a year on average. And he has earned it. He has shown that he is an elite center in this league, a championship player. But the Knicks are not going to be able to afford that type of player. They’d re-sign him. But I don’t know if they’d be able to keep the team together.”

On how Jalen Brunson’s sacrifice could impact KAT’s and the Knicks’ future:

“I don’t expect anybody in the history of the NBA to do what Jalen Brunson did. If Karl Towns is willing to take a little bit of a haircut, you know, $7-10 million over the course of multiple seasons and Josh Hart is also extension eligible this summer, if both of them are willing to take a little bit of a haircut, you could see this core staying together for three, four, five years.”

J.R. Smith

On his wild spending throughout his NBA career:

“The first thing that comes to mind? How much money I wasted. Half the shit I bought in the last 10 years, I barely use. Even the watches, buying all these fancy-ass watches and shit, I don’t wear them. I don’t go anywhere to wear them! Why did I spend all of this money on this stuff that I don’t really use? I had seven cars at one point when we were in Cleveland. I’m like, ‘Why did I have seven cars?’”

Jay Williams

On players being compared to Brunson’s contract sacrifice:

“I’ve talked to a couple of different players that could be Supermax this year or next year — they’re starting to feel a little pressure from team owners by saying, ‘Yo, Jalen Brunson left 113 million dollars on the table. What are you going to do?’”

Marc Berman

On being glad he retired before the Knicks won it all:

“Part of me was saying, ‘Oh, I’m glad I retired, I would be panicking.’ I was shaking in the final couple of minutes, just thinking about the enormity of having to write it. And I didn’t have to write it.”

On James Dolan:

“Listen, I wasn’t a big fan of James. He was a pretty good guitar player, but he made a lot of silly mistakes and his media policies were always baffling to me. And I wonder now that they finally have a championship if he’ll open up a little more with the media.”

On New York’s reaction to the Knicks championship:

“You see it in the streets. I mean, everyone is just in almost disbelief. I think it’s surreal to them. I think the next day it finally hit them, but it’s something that they thought may not have ever happened in their lifetime. It’s 53 years, and the team seems to always have gotten a bad break. And every single break went their way since mid-April. I think they’re just joyous, and I think there’s a sense of relief.”

Frank Isola

On Marc Berman’s good ol’ days:

“I think if you said ‘tabloid reporter,’ his picture might be in the dictionary. He kind of embodied all of that. He knew what they wanted at the New York Post. I mean, the Daily News is the same way.

“He’d be lying in wait. Then he’d look at the guy for a second, pause, kind of close his eyes. It very much was like Peter Falk playing Columbo: ‘Doctor, just one more thing.’”

Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Saturday morning for the show where Stephen Gillaspie from No Ceilings NBA will join the show to discuss all things NBA draft. Who will the Pistons look to take with the 21st pick? What prospects best fit to contribute to the roster now? Would a trade out be more beneficial?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Saturday June 20 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

• Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
• Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
• Twitter: @detroitbadboys, @blakesilverman or @therealwesd3
• YouTube: Chat section of The Pindown live recording — Subscribe here

As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.

The Lakers have several questions to answer this summer.

One of those looming matters is whether to retain guard Austin Reaves, who is coming off a campaign in which he averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists. He shot 49% from the field.

Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season but can agree to a deal with the Lakers prior to the start of free agency July 1. If the two can’t reach an agreement, Reaves will test the free agent market.

He’s already been linked to a four-year, $179 million offer from the Nets, according to reports on Reaves last week. Now, Sam Amick of The Athletic revealed another Eastern Conference team is reportedly in pursuit of the 28-year-old.

The Pistons, a team that fell short in the Eastern Conference semifinals, is hoping to find a playmaker and shooter this offseason.

Reaves fits the bill.

“Detroit, which is believed to be among the suitors for Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves if he makes it to unrestricted free agency, is also said to be interested in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Joe,” Amick writes.

The likelihood of Reaves landing in Detroit depends on how negotiations unfold with the Lakers in the coming weeks. It remains unclear how much the Lakers are willing to offer the guard, especially given the team’s clear need for a premier center this summer.

Additionally, the Lakers will have to resolve the LeBron James situation. The next few months will be telling for general manager Rob Pelinka, who faces immense pressure to transform the squad into title contenders.

In terms of Reaves, his status on the free agent market will be made clear by the start of next month.

The Spurs had a fantastic 2025/26 season that almost resulted in a title, but that doesn’t mean everything was perfect. The downside of having such a talented and stacked roster is that inevitably someone will want more touches or minutes, and it turns out rookie Dylan Harper was that guy, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.

Harper voiced displeasure earlier in the season about a lack of playing time and his role, but those increased as the season progressed and the rookie gained more experience.

It’s not shocking to hear that the clear-cut No.2 overall pick of a great draft class wasn’t happy with coming off the bench and playing a support role for around 20 minutes a game when he was clearly capable of more. You don’t get to be as good as Harper is at basketball without supreme confidence in your abilities and extreme competitiveness, so no one should blame the rookie for wanting more responsibility, especially on a team that early on wasn’t expected to be a contender.

It’s good to hear that, as his role increased and the Spurs proved to be an elite squad, his displeasure seemingly disappeared, but it’s also hard not to wonder if his great postseason performance will have him once again wanting more. Harper was terrific in the playoffs and especially in the Finals, showing that he’s not just a likely future star but also someone who can contribute on the biggest stage right now. And he clearly knows it, which could put the Spurs in a predicament.

If Harper wants to start, Mitch Johnson will face a tough decision. San Antonio has De’Aaron Fox as one of its starting guards. The veteran is on a maximum contract, and, while arguably not as gifted, he’s more well-rounded than Harper. Stephon Castle is the team’s best point-of-attack defender, and he wouldn’t be able to consistently play off the ball to accommodate Harper as the main ball handler because of his lack of range. Devin Vassell had arguably his best season as a do-it-all swingman who was by far the best shooter on the backcourt. Who gets relegated to the bench? It’s not an easy question to answer.

Now, Harper may be fine with a sixth-man role for now as long as he gets more touches and finishes games. His performance in the postseason was impressive enough to suggest he might be ready for more responsibility than the typical second-year guard, but as the youngest and the one with the shortest track record of production, he could be fine with paying his dues as long as he gets more opportunities to grow his game and to act as the closer at times. It might actually be for the best to bring him along slowly, taking advantage of the depth at guard to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on him.

Hopefully, Harper will see it that way and will be happy starting next season as a super sub and the prohibitive candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. If he is, the Spurs won’t be forced to make any tough decisions. If he isn’t, the possibility of trading Fox to make room for the young guard becomes more realistic. While it doesn’t seem like the best idea to move on from the veteran guard this summer, Harper has looked like a future star, and keeping him happy should be one of the franchise’s biggest priorities.

The Spurs have aced the hardest part of any rebuild: getting enough talent to contend. Now, general manager Brian Wright and coach Mitch Johnson will have to figure out how all the pieces fit and who will need to sacrifice or be sacrificed to optimize how things work on the floor and in the locker room.

Darryn Peterson turned some heads when he declared that he’d only meet with the No. 1-picking Washington Wizards ahead of the NBA Draft.

Reports are now beginning to trickle out that the interest in Peterson is not one-sided, as one “well-placed insider” told Marc Stein that the Wizards are giving the Kansas guard “increased consideration.”

Peterson is a highly polarizing prospect in the NBA Draft, as he consistently pulled himself out of games while playing for Kansas, initially described as having cramping issues.

He later said that the cramping was due to excessive creatine usage and was so bad that he was begging team staff to call 9-1-1 while dealing with extremely painful cramping.

Peterson said he believes that creatine usage is the underlying issue that created the problems.

Stein added that multiple draft experts believe that the Wizards are legitimately considering Peterson as the No. 1 draft pick on Tuesday’s NBA Draft.

Peterson was originally the No. 1 high school prospect according to 247 Sports before his standing began to shift due to cramping issues and pulling himself out of key moments in games.

If Peterson does go No. 1, the Utah Jazz would surely be thrilled to snag AJ Dybantsa at No. 2 overall, considering Dybantsa played just 45 miles south of Salt Lake City for BYU.

Dybantsa’s family has been in Utah since his senior year in high school at Utah Prep, where he was the No. 2 overall player in the class of 2025.

There had been some more buzz surrounding Cameron Boozer as the top pick after a strong first year at Duke.

Boozer was one of the best players in college and the No. 3-ranked prospect.

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

The question of whether the Spurs should try to trade De’Aaron Fox this summer is one of the most interesting ones of the entire offseason. A portion of the fanbase, along with some talking heads and analysts, would say the answer should be a resounding “yes,” but it doesn’t seem like the front office agrees, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.

“Internally,” Wright writes, “the Spurs remain committed to Fox as their franchise starting point guard. Sources called Fox a calming presence and the team’s closer for most of the season, adding that one rough series essentially playing on one leg doesn’t change that.“

The article, which is definitely worth a read, comes a day after San Antonio Express-News’ Mike Finger wrote a column also worth your time, suggesting, not reporting, that the Spurs should move on from Fox this offseason if they can find a good deal:

The Spurs are going to have to trade Fox before his contract expires, and if there’s an opportunity to do so this summer, they might as well get it over with and rip the bandage off now.

Now, the two quotes might appear contradictory, but that’s not necessarily the case. The Spurs might not shop Fox, at least not aggressively, and could be happy to bring him back while also listening to offers and potentially pulling the trigger if something makes sense for both parties.

So we know from trustworthy sources that San Antonio is committed to Fox, but moving him if they find an opportunity to do so doesn’t seem out of the question. But should they trade him this summer? While the answer is complex, it seems like it wouldn’t be the best idea, for several interconnected reasons. Let’s list them from least to most potentially harmful.

The Spurs’ reputation as a player-friendly franchise would take a hit

Let’s remember the story of how De’Aaron Fox got to the Spurs. Fox, tired of toiling away in Sacramento playing for a dysfunctional Kings team that only made the playoffs once with him on the roster, forced his way to San Antonio in 2025. His goal was to join Victor Wembanyama, already looking like a future superstar, and a fun, young group that featured then-rookie Stephon Castle in hopes of more success. Because he chose the Silver and Black, they got him for relatively cheap on the trade, mostly sending out backups and one valuable pick.

Flipping him now, after a bad postseason from the All-Star guard in which he played out of position and was injured, could give San Antonio a bad reputation with players who might be interested in joining powers with Wembanyama in the future, as they could think the franchise won’t value them. Granted, Fox got his max extension, which mitigates the damage, but the only way a trade would seem like a win-win for both player and team would be if Fox lands somewhere he wants to be and gets star minutes and touches.

The return on a trade is unlikely to be good

Because the Spurs are not just going to dump Fox just anywhere, as Finger says in his column, they’d be negotiating from a place of weakness. The number of suitors for Fox would be artificially reduced, meaning there wouldn’t be a bidding war. It’s possible that not even in the best of circumstances San Antonio would find a great offer for Fox, who is a good but not transcendent player on a maximum salary, but trading him now, when his value seems at an all-time low, doesn’t seem like a good management of resources.

The good news is that because the Spurs didn’t have to pay much to bring Fox along, not getting a king’s ransom back for him wouldn’t be that painful. And if they do in fact move him, it would be because they think they could be better off either on the court, in the locker room, or both by giving Dylan Harper as many minutes as he can handle. Still, since there is no rush, at least from a financial standpoint, waiting and hoping he could regain some of his value and remaining vigilant for the right suitor to appear feels like the better option.

The Spurs would likely be worse, and the pressure on the young guards would increase severely

Since in the event that Fox is traded it would likely be to a place he picks, and since his value is low at this point, it’s unlikely the Spurs get comparative talent back. Let’s assume they get something similar to what the Hawks got for Trae Young, which would be an aging guard (C.J. McCollum) and a limited role player (Corey Kispert). Unless there’s a serious chemistry issue that would be solved by the transaction, like there seemingly was in Atlanta, such a trade wouldn’t make San Antonio better. If the goal is to get back to the Finals next season, a move like that would make that objective more unlikely than, say, starting all three guards or convincing one to come off the bench.

It would also up the pressure on two extremely young players to make major strides in their game. While immensely talented, both Castle and Harper didn’t look ready to run a team last season. They were good scorers, and Castle clearly developed as a pick-and-roll ball handler, but they were not floor generals. Now, Fox isn’t exactly Chris Paul, and he played off the ball a lot, but on several occasions, he was the one who would settle the troops and run some offense that involved others. Despite his slump in the playoffs, he’s also the best three-point shooter of the three when accounting for volume. Maybe none of that would matter if Castle and Harper spent 2026/27 destroying opponents on simple drives, but until we see either or both of them be able to run a team, getting rid of the one guy who can could backfire.

The Dylan Harper lottery changed things for the Spurs. In a different universe, they land a lower pick, don’t select a guard, and the rumors about a potential Fox trade would not be as loud. In this reality and after how he performed in the postseason, it’s understandable to at least question whether a move should be made to clear a logjam and remove a contract that could eventually become a problem.

When taking the long view, however, almost certainly losing talent in the aggregate while trusting two young players to make a leap to make up for it doesn’t seem as appealing at this juncture, if the goal is to make another deep run in the playoffs. Eventually, the Spurs will almost certainly trade Fox, but since there’s no financial rush, they can afford to be patient and wait for a better opportunity.

It’s officially been 10 years since the words “Cleveland, this is for you” echoed off the walls of Rocket Arena from LeBron James.

Members of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers have been out in the United Kingdom, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the franchise winning their first NBA Championship.

James was joined by Iman Shumpert, Matthew Dellavedova, Richard Jefferson, and more as half of the group was seen driving in a golf cart, on their way to meet up with the rest of the group.

When the two halves finally became complete, the former teammates were filled with excitement as they were seen hugging, dapping one another up, and recreating personalized handshakes that they made back when they were teammates, showing that some good things don’t always end.

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Another video emerged on Jefferson’s Instagram page where James said, “Y’all thought this trip was over?” To which the group ecstatically said, “Sike!”

While the team was out celebrating, Kyrie Irving, who missed the festivities on Thursday, remained missing from the group as he was not seen in any of the videos that were posted.

The group kicked off the festivities earlier this week by playing a round of golf and going sightseeing while they’re out of the country.

The 2016 Cavaliers were a team of destiny, as they overcame an infamous 3-1 deficit to the Golden State Warriors.

On the verge of elimination, James and Irving took their game to another level to help the team overcome the deficit.

Irving had the most important shot of the series when he sank a three-point shot over Steph Curry’s head with less than a minute left in the game. Irving finished the series, averaging 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.

James, who was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, finally fulfilled his destiny in 2016. By bringing his hometown team an NBA title. He put on a clinic during the series and was crowned MVP after averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Back when Tim Duncan was in college at Wake Forest, people would watch him and think, what’s all the fuss about? Then they’d look at the boxscore and see 26 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 5 assists.

In person, he was sort of boring because he never did anything flashy. He was just incredibly sound.

Cameron Boozer is much the same way.

Zach Lowe watched him casually and wasn’t impressed. Then he watched more closely and got it.

He says “Boozer is so smart, so crafty, and has this super high IQ, where his vision and his IQ make him faster and more athletic than he actually is, because he’s outthinking everybody on the court. And he has such a smart sense of anticipation and angles. Combine that with a workable three-point shot, at least in college, a nasty streak, an ability to handle the ball in the pick-and-roll…I fu**ing love that guy…I think he’s gonna walk in and be a really good NBA player right away.”

That’s what Duke fans were lucky enough to see last season. Like others before him – Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and just last week, Jalen Brunson, Boozer is smart enough to force the game to be played on his terms.

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Knicks president Leon Rose shared that he received a meaningful good luck charm from Eagles general manager Howie Roseman during the Knicks’ championship run.

In a video that’s making rounds on social media, Rose displayed a black case with a slate from the city of David in ancient Jerusalem inside and explained that Roseman gave it to him before a Knicks playoff game at the Garden.

“I want to share this with everbody,” Rose said while at MSG. “Howie Roseman, general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles came tonight with his boys and he gave me this gift which is a piece of slate from the city of David in ancient Jerusalem that he got when he was there and he either got it, or it was given to him in 2024.

“He took it to the Super Bowl and won the super bowl and he gave it to me for good luck tonight before the game. Un-friggen-believable.”

Rose, who did not say which playoff game Roseman attended with his sons, but it was clear that the Knicks won the game.

Philadelphia won the 2025 Super Bowl, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22.

The Knicks completed a four-game sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers en route to winning four of five against the Spurs to clinch their first championship in 53 years.

Rose and Roseman, who are both Jewish, are friends and natives of New Jersey.