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2025 NBA Draft: Deni Avdija, Thomas Sorber among the fantasy winners

If the days in the immediate aftermath of the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the NBA Finals are any indication, this will be a busy summer on the trade market. Kevin Durant and Kristaps Porzingis are among those who have already been dealt, and there were also multiple transactions during the draft's first round on Wednesday. With that in mind, Rotoworld writers Raphielle Johnson and Noah Rubin have picked some winners and losers from this week's transactions and draft picks.

Fantasy Winners

Deni Avdija

The immediate focus of many after Portland's decision to trade Anfernee Simons to Boston was on ScootHenderson and ShaedonSharpe, and it makes sense, as they should receive more opportunities to play on the ball. However, Avdija may be the Trail Blazer best equipped to benefit from a fantasy standpoint due to his versatility. After the All-Star break, he was a top-50 player in nine-cat formats, averaging 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.4 three-pointers per game. What Portland does with JeramiGrant and DeandreAyton will merit tracking this summer. Still, it's difficult to envision a scenario where Avdija does not figure prominently in the team's offensive game plan next season. (Johnson)

Egor Demin

I’ve been a bit lower on Demin than many others, but even I have to admit that this is a favorable situation for him. Brooklyn is in the early stages of a rebuild and made it a point of emphasis in this draft to add ball handlers. They selected Demin with the No. 8 pick, which means they’ll put the ball in his hands early and often on a bad team. He’s going to be inefficient in year one, but the 6’9” point guard should provide plenty of points, rebounds and assists. He focused on showcasing his perimeter shooting during workouts, and if that is legit, this is a recipe for an excellent rookie year for Demin. (Rubin)

Amen Thompson

Thompson was another player whose fantasy value jumped considerably after the All-Star break, as he provided top-25 value in nine-cat formats. The exits of JalenGreen and DillonBrooks mean there will be less of a logjam on the wings, and the addition of KevinDurant should result in assist increases for those capable of setting him up. Thompson has only scratched the surface of his potential, and he should continue to progress, even with the Rockets reportedly bringing back starting point guard FredVanVleet. Amen may not be a top-25 player next season, but he can provide value in all categories except for three-pointers and free-throw percentage. (Johnson)

Rasheer Fleming

In my mind, Fleming was closer to a lottery pick than a second-round pick. Phoenix had to make a few moves to get him, but I think it’ll be worth it. The Suns have a ton of shot creators, and that is probably Fleming’s biggest weakness. He’s a three-and-D forward with a 7’5” wingspan. What more can you want? Even though he slipped further than he should’ve, he’ll have a chance to play a significant role in year one for a team that will be looking to compete for a postseason spot. I’m not saying I believe they’ll get one, but they’ll give it their all! (Rubin)

Ryan Kalkbrenner

With Charlotte trading Mark Williams to the Suns on Wednesday, they had a significant void to address at the center position. The Hornets did that with the 34th overall pick, selecting Kalkbrenner. Projected by some to be a late-first-round pick, the former Creighton standout slipped into the second round. While Kalkbrenner made strides throughout his college career, the defensive end of the floor is where his bread is truly buttered. The first four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year since Patrick Ewing, Kalkbrenner provides elite rim protection. He's in a spot where starting as a rookie will be possible, depending on what the Hornets do in free agency. (Johnson)

Thomas Sorber

Just to be clear, Sorber isn’t a short-term winner. But in the long run, he’s in a perfect situation to be a stud, and it could happen sooner than we think. IsaiahHartenstein has a team option for the 2026-27 season, and if Sorber is progressing the way they want him to, he could fill the Hartenstein role by his second season in the league. It may not be a 30+ minute per game role, but Sorber projects to have a high-impact statset in fantasy basketball. For Georgetown, he provided rebounds and defensive stats, but he was also a pretty good passer for a big and showcased enough shooting touch for me to be intrigued by it. (Rubin)

Fantasy Losers

Portland's bigs

The Trail Blazers shocked many by selecting YangHansen with the 16th overall pick on Wednesday. However, this isn't simply about general manager Joe Cronin rolling the dice after trading down five spots. The issue is that Portland will go into free agency with four centers: Yang, 2024 lottery pick DonovanClingan, DeandreAyton and RobertWilliams. While Clingan's spot should be secure, it's beyond time for Portland to move Ayton (last season's starter when healthy) or Williams, if not both. The feeling heading into February's trade deadline was that the Blazers would move one of the veteran centers, but both remained. The worst-case scenario for Clingan would be for Portland not to do anything this summer, with the logjam limiting his ceiling considerably. (Johnson)

Collin Murray-Boyles

I really, really liked CMB as a fantasy prospect. I thought he had a chance to be one of the best fantasy rookies next season. Unfortunately, he landed on a team that already has a handful of players that play similar roles that also struggle to shoot the ball. Can CMB and ScottieBarnes coexist on the floor together? I’m not optimistic, and while I still think Murray-Boyles can be a really good fantasy player, the path for that to happen isn’t exactly clear at this point. He could’ve started on most of the other teams that drafted in this range. (Rubin)

Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George

While Utah technically did not select WalterClaytonJr. during Wednesday's first round, his arrival will make it three straight years in which the Jazz have added a point guard in the draft. KeyonteGeorge was the choice in 2023, and through two seasons, he's failed to make the starting job his own. IsaiahCollier, last year's first-round pick, leapfrogged George in the pecking order. However, while a solid defender and playmaker, he did not do enough last season to show he's capable of running the show long-term. Adding Clayton to the mix increases the competition for playing time, and the Jazz still have CollinSexton and JordanClarkson. From a fantasy standpoint, Sexton may be the only one worth the risk, and he may be a player the Jazz look to move at some point. (Johnson)

Stephon Castle

We’ve known this was coming for a while, but now it’s official. San Antonio selected DylanHarper with the No. 2 pick, and De’AaronFox will be back healthy next season. Castle was awesome as a rookie and still has a bright future ahead of him. However, Fox is ahead of him on the depth chart right now, and it won’t take long for Harper to surpass Castle. He should start next season, but he wasn’t as productive in an off-ball role. Now, the Spurs have added another player to take touches away from him. Don’t be surprised if Castle’s production takes a hit in year two. (Rubin)

Khaman Maluach

Down the line, Maluach has the potential to be a fantasy "winner." Unfortunately, Wednesday's events likely hurt the rookie's fantasy value in 2024-25. In addition to drafting Maluach, the Suns acquired MarkWilliams from the Hornets. Those decisions were wise based on how bad Phoenix's center rotation was last season. However, Maluach may initially be in a difficult spot regarding playing time. Something that may preserve the rookie's fantasy value is Williams' injury history, as he has not played 50 games or more in any of his three seasons as a pro. (Johnson)

Onyeka Okongwu

The Hawks gave us a little teaser of what life would be like with Okongwu as a starting center that plays 30+ minutes per game next to TraeYoung. It was glorious. Of course, it was all a setup for them to tear our pure, innocent hearts out once again. Sure, it was incredible value for them to trade for KristapsPorzingis, and they made more excellent moves, yada, yada, yada. I just wanted one full season of Okongwu away from a minutes split. I fear it will never come. I would imagine that Okongwu will still start, but they’ll likely both see around 26-28 minutes per game, with a few minutes of shared time on the floor. It’s exciting times for Hawks fans. But it’s a time of mourning for the Okongwu truthers that still believe. (Rubin)

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Yankees vs. Athletics: 5 things to watch and series predictions | June 27-29

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees and Athletics play a three-game series at Yankee Stadium starting on Friday night...

Preview

AL East race heating up

Don't look now, but the AL East race is getting tight.

After the Yankees had a sizeable lead in the division, the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays pulled within 0.5 games behind New York for first place. While the two teams won't face each other this weekend, the Yankees could potentially put some space between them with a series win over the lowly A's.

Tampa will head to Baltimore to take on the downtrodden Orioles, so the Yankees will want to take care of business if they expect to still be in first place by the end of the weekend.

Clarke Schmidt encore

Last time Schmidt pitched, he threw seven no-hit innings in what was arguably the best start of his career. Schmidt will take the mound on Saturday after the Yankees decided to flip him and Will Warren to give Schmidt an extra day of rest but what will he do for an encore?

Schmidt has had more success at home (1-1, 2.30 ERA in seven starts) this season, so with the extra rest and pitching at home, expectations are that Schmidt will have another quality start.

Bullpen reset

Thursday's off day came at a great time for the Yankees. Their last off day was back on June 9 (16 straight games) so the bullpen has been taxed. Although Luke Weaver returned from the IL, manager Aaron Boone has had to use his relievers much more than usual, but Thursday gives the team a chance to reset -- and Jonathan Loaisiga (illness) a chance to rest. The Yankees do need Warren, Schmidt and Sunday's starter (TBA) to go long to give the bullpen a bit more time off. The Yankees' offense can also help by building huge leads and allowing the low-leverage relievers to stay in longer.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) looks out between pitches in the first inning of the MLB interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) looks out between pitches in the first inning of the MLB interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Can the offense turn it on?

The Yankees offense has been up-and-down during this recent cold stretch, but they'll need to be up this weekend and that starts with Aaron Judge. Over his last seven games, Judge is hitting .308 with two home runs, but he has begun to expand his strike zone a bit too much and he's striking out more as a result. In that span, he's struck out eight times. Now, there's no need to panic, Judge is still hitting a league-best .361, but he's starting to swing and miss at the same clip when he was struggling. (Remember the sweep in Boston?)

As the captain goes, so does the rest of the Yankees' lineup.

The return of Luis Severino

This is Severino's second season in the majors since leaving the Yanks in free agency, but this Sunday will be the first time he pitches in Yankee Stadium since 2023. It'll be an emotional day for Severino and for the fans who appreciated the right-hander.

For Severino, his 2025 hasn't been as good as his 2024 when he was with the Mets, but he's been a great road pitcher this year. In seven road starts, Severino is 201 with a 2.27 ERA as opposed to his 0-7 record and 6.79 ERA when playing at home this season.

In May, Severino pitched against his former team in Sacramento. He lasted just four innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits.

Which version of Severino will the Yankees see? And will this year's Yankees squad show Severino they are more than just two hitters?

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Since Chisholm returned from the IL, he's been on a heater. In 20 June games, Chisholm is batting .329 with four home runs and 13 RBI. With the Yanks taking on two right-handers, Jazz could keep his hot streak rolling.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Will Warren.

Warren has continued to be a solid starter, giving the Yankees two straight starts where he pitched at least six innings.

Which Athletics player will be a thorn in Yankees' side?

Jacob Wilson.

The front-runner for AL Rookie of the Year, Wilson continues to hit at an insane clip. He'll enter the weekend series hitting .345 with nine home runs and 40 RBI.

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Australia to send strongest contingent for 30 years to Wimbledon

  • Total of 17 Australians will feature in main draw in London

  • Priscilla Hon, Talia Gibson, Alex Bolt and James McCabe complete lineup

Four more of Australians have qualified for Wimbledon, meaning 17 players will feature in the main draw at next week’s championships – the biggest Aussie contingent for 30 years.

While Priscilla Hon and Talia Gibson both saved match points in final qualifying to earn their dream Wimbledon dates and Alex Bolt and James McCabe also booked their spots at windy Roehampton, teenage star Maya Joint sealed the stellar day by reaching the Eastbourne International semi-final.

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Panthers Trade Forward Prospect To Capitals

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have traded forward Justin Sourdif to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. 

Sourdif, 23, appeared in one game this season with the Panthers, where he scored his first career NHL goal. He also posted 16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points, and 58 penalty minutes in 43 regular-season games with the Charlotte Checkers.

Sourdif suited up in 18 playoff games for the Checkers this year as well, where he recorded four goals, 10 points, and 32 penalty minutes.

Sourdif was selected by the Panthers with the 87th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In four games with the Panthers over two seasons, he posted one goal, five hits, and a plus-1 rating. 

Overall, this is a good move for the Panthers. They have gotten themselves a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick for a prospect who has had trouble finding a fit on their NHL roster because of how deep their group is.

Panthers Acquire Interesting Goalie From Blue Jackets Panthers Acquire Interesting Goalie From Blue Jackets According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Florida Panthers have acquired goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a fifth-round pick. 

Photo Credit: © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

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Mets' Griffin Canning leaves Thursday's Braves game with ankle injury

Griffin Canning had to leave his start against the Braves on Thursday with what the team says is a left ankle injury.

The Mets say Canning will undergo imaging.

With one out in the top of the third, the Mets starter got Nick Allen to hit a grounder to Francisco Lindor for the second out, but Canning collapsed near the mound as he seemed to have pushed off wrong.

Canning stayed down on his back with his leg raised as he was eventually helped off the field by trainers.

The 29-year-old is having a solid season in his first year with the Mets. In 16 starts -- including Thursday -- Canning had pitched to a 7-3 record with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He was arguably the Mets' best pitcher in March/April, as he pitched to a 4-1 record with a 2.61 ERA to start the season.

Canning's apparent injury comes at an inopportune time for the Mets. Kodai Senga was placed on the IL back on June 13 after he suffered a hamstring injury during a game and has yet to return to the mound. Sean Manaea, who hasn't played in a game this season after suffering an oblique injury this spring, had his rehab setback a few days after a loose body was found in his left elbow earlier this week.

This story is still developing....

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Second-round pick trades already started, setting up Suns with No. 31 pick, expected to take Rasheer Fleming

In the wake of a series of trades before the start of the second round of the NBA Draft Thursday night, the Phoenix Suns have set themselves up to select Saint Joseph’s 3&D wing Rasheer Fleming, who unexpectedly fell to the second round.

There have been three second-round pick trades already, and two of them set up the Suns with the No. 31 pick. First, Brooklyn traded the No. 36 pick to Phoenix for two future second-round picks, a story reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Then the Suns traded the No. 36 pick and two future second-round picks to Minnesota for the No. 31 pick, also reported by Charania, who added the Suns are targeting Flemming.

Flemming is a 21-year-old, 6'8" wing who averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks a game for St. Joseph's last season.

There was one more second-round pre-draft trade, where the Suns sent the No. 52 and No. 59 picks in the 2025 draft to the Golden State Warriors for No. 41, a deal also reported by Charania.

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Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract

Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers reportedly agreed to sign Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract minutes after the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday night. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Sallis is set to join the team on a two-way deal.

Sallis, 22, averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals last season at Wake Forest. He was a heavy-minute, high usage player for the Demon Decons after two years at Gonzaga, playing nearly 36 minutes per game. 

Sallis measured at 6-foot-3.75 inches without shoes and 181 pounds at the NBA draft combine. His wingspan is 6-10. 

As an outside shooter, Sallis had one excellent year in college — 40.5 percent from three-point range as a junior — and three seasons below 30 percent. He made 78.7 percent of his college free throws and is quite comfortable in the mid-range. 

Draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that Sallis is “absolutely worth a two-way contract to see what he can become, as he’s very silky and smooth with the ball in his hands and has a nasty midrange game that could continue to develop over the coming years. But he probably needs to put at least 15 pounds on his frame in the next few years to have success on both ends.” 

Along with Sallis, the Sixers currently have Alex Reese on a two-way contract. They drafted VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall and Johni Broome at No. 35.

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Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract

Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers reportedly agreed to sign Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract minutes after the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday night. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Sallis is set to join the team on a two-way deal.

Sallis, 22, averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals last season at Wake Forest. He was a heavy-minute, high usage player for the Demon Decons after two years at Gonzaga, playing nearly 36 minutes per game. 

Sallis measured at 6-foot-3.75 inches without shoes and 181 pounds at the NBA draft combine. His wingspan is 6-10. 

As an outside shooter, Sallis had one excellent year in college — 40.5 percent from three-point range as a junior — and three seasons below 30 percent. He made 78.7 percent of his college free throws and is quite comfortable in the mid-range. 

Draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that Sallis is “absolutely worth a two-way contract to see what he can become, as he’s very silky and smooth with the ball in his hands and has a nasty midrange game that could continue to develop over the coming years. But he probably needs to put at least 15 pounds on his frame in the next few years to have success on both ends.” 

The Sixers also reportedly came to agreements with several other undrafted rookies late Thursday night. 

PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson reported that the team will sign Izan Almansa to an Exhibit 10 contract, which is a one-year, non-guaranteed deal that can be converted into a two-way contract before the start of the regular season. Players on Exhibit 10 contracts can receive a bonus if they begin the season with an organization’s G League affiliate and stay there for at least 60 days.

Almansa is a 20-year-old Spanish frontcourt player who averaged 7.2 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League last season. 

DraftExpress’ Jon Chepkevich reported that Igor Milicic Jr. has agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Sixers. Milicic, who was listed at 6-10, 225 pounds by Tennessee, posted 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game as a Vol in his senior year of college. 

Chepkevich reported that Saint Thomas will join the Sixers at summer league.

Along with Sallis, the Sixers currently have Alex Reese on a two-way contract. They drafted VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall and Johni Broome at No. 35.

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Where key undrafted rookies signed after 2025 NBA Draft

Where key undrafted rookies signed after 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NBA Draft is still going on for those who didn’t hear their names called.

Fifty-nine players were selected in the two-night draft, with Jahmai Mashack being the last pick going to Memphis. The New York Knicks had a second-rounder docked for tampering violations in 2022 when signing Jalen Brunson,

Ryan Nembhard, Caleb Love and Hunter Dickinson were among the notable undrafted rookies who now have a new home.

Here’s what to know as players sign different deals, such as two-way contracts or Exhibit 10 deals and more:

2025 NBA Draft undrafted rookies tracker

Nembhard, Dickinson and Love are all headed to the Western Conference. Here’s a running list:

  • Ryan Nembhard, G, Gonzaga: Dallas Mavericks (two-way)
  • Hunter Dickinson, C, Kansas: New Orleans Pelicans (two-way)
  • Caleb Love, G, Arizona: Portland Trail Blazers (two-way)
  • Eric Dixon, F, Villanova: Los Angeles Lakers (two-way)
  • Mark Sears, G, Alabama: Milwaukee Bucks (two-way)
  • RJ Luis Jr., F, St. John’s: Utah Jazz (two-way)
  • Hunter Sallis, G/F, Wake Forest: Philadelphia 76ers (two-way)
  • Vlad Goldin, C, Michigan: Miami Heat (two-way)
  • Miles Kelly, G, Auburn: Mavericks (two-way)
  • Dylan Cardwell, C, Auburn: Sacramento Kings (two-way)
  • Steve Settle III, F, Temple: Heat (Exhibit 10)
  • RJ Davis, G, UNC: Lakers (Exhibit 10)
  • Augustas Marčiulionis, G, Saint Mary’s: Lakers (Exhibit 10)
  • Payton Sandfort, F, Iowa: Oklahoma City Thunder (Exhibit 10)
  • Chucky Hepburn, G, Louisville: Toronto Raptors (two-way)
  • Moussa Cisse, C, Memphis: Mavericks (Exhibit 10)
  • Igor Miličić Jr., F, Tennessee: 76ers (Exhibit 10)
  • Chance McMillan, G, Texas Tech: Golden State Warriors (Exhibit 10)
  • L.J. Cryer, G, Houston: Warriors (Exhibit 10)
  • Grant Nelson, F, Alabama: Brooklyn Nets (Exhibit 10)

This is a developing story and will be updated…

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NHL Trade Rumors: Blues Interested In Sabres Star

After taking a nice step forward this season, the St. Louis Blues should be active this off-season. One area on their roster that could use a boost is their defensive group, and they have been connected to New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson because of it.

However, based on a new report, Dobson is not the only notable defenseman who is rumored to be on the Blues' radar. 

During the latest episode of TSN Insider Trading, NHL insider Darren Dreger reported that the Blues are one of the teams interested in Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. 

"I'm looking at LA, Vegas, St. Louis, Vancouver, Colorado, maybe longshot, the Toronto Maple Leafs as teams with interest in Bo Byram," Dreger said.

Hearing that the Blues are among the teams are interested in Byram is not particularly surprising. The 24-year-old would be a significant addition to the Blues' roster, as he is a proven top-four defenseman who is solid defensively and chips in offensively. In addition, he can play the right side as a left-shot defenseman, which adds to his appeal. 

When looking at the Blues' current roster, Byram could be a strong fit on their top pairing with Colton Parayko if acquired. However, he also could be an option for their second pairing on the right side, with Philip Broberg as his defensive partner. He is also capable of being used on the power play and penalty kill because of his two-way play, so he could help the Blues' in these areas, too. 

In 82 games this season with the Sabres, Byram recorded seven goals and set new career highs with 31 assists, 38 points, and a plus-11 rating. With numbers like these, Byram would be a very good pickup for a Blues club looking to get closer to being true contenders, especially when noting that he still may not have hit his ceiling yet. Let's see if their interest leads to them landing him from here.

NHL Trade Rumors: Jordan Kyrou Linked To 4 TeamsNHL Trade Rumors: Jordan Kyrou Linked To 4 TeamsSt. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou finds himself right back in the rumor mill now that the off-season is here. This comes after the 27-year-old forward was discussed as a trade candidate leading up to this season's deadline. 

Photo Credit:  © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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Ace Baily's representiatives reportedly told team with top five pick he would not report if drafted

Ace Bailey's representative reportedly told one team with a top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft that if it selected Bailey, he would not report to them, according to a new story from Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

Whether or not they were told that — and despite not working him out — the Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey with the No. 5 pick Wednesday night. It was not a reach by the Jazz — Bailey has arguably the second highest ceiling of any player in this year's draft and Utah needs high-level talent — but the sense in league circles heading into the draft was that Bailey and his representative, Omar Cooper, had a promise and/or were trying to steer the Rutgers star to Washington or Brooklyn. Cooper denied that in the same ESPN report.

"Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago," Cooper told ESPN. "He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements... There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey's pre-draft process was handled."

Bailey, for his part, echoed the same idea at the draft, stating that he was not worried about where he was selected or what people thought about his unusual pre-draft strategy of avoiding workouts.

"They feel how they feel," Bailey said. "But my team and me, are focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens."

If the report is true, Bailey's options were always limited if a team called his bluff. He can choose not to report to the Jazz (or whoever drafted him), but he cannot return to college after staying in the draft. Additionally, if he plays professionally overseas next season, the Jazz retain his draft rights. The only way to end up with another team is to sit out an entire year, not playing professionally anywhere, then re-enter the draft. However, that is a crap shoot because who knows what the draft order will be a year from now and what team's priorities will be.

Bailey, a 6'8" wing, was projected as a top-three pick for much of the year. Bailey looks like a prototypical NBA wing on paper: Great positional size, a high-level athlete, high motor, shot 36.7% from 3 in college, can create his own shot, and is a tough shot maker who averaged 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. However, not all scouts were convinced he would come close to reaching that potential in the NBA. Those concerns, plus his pre-draft strategy of no workouts and some interviews that left teams confused, saw him slide a couple of spots to No. 5, where the Jazz snapped him up before Washington or Brooklyn had the chance.

Bailey is likely to make his Jazz debut at the Utah Summer League, which starts on July 5 in Salt Lake City.

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What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Max Shulga

What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Max Shulga originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

After trading down from No. 32 overall, the Boston Celtics used the No. 57 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to select VCU guard Max Shulga.

Shulga played the last two seasons with the Rams after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Utah State. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 38.7 percent from 3-point range last season.

Shulga’s 3-point prowess fits the Celtics mold, but he’s also a smart, decisive passer. The 23-year-old guard’s balanced skill set helped him earn First-Team All-Atlantic 10 nods twice at VCU.

The C’s focused on international talent with all three of their draft picks. They selected Spanish guard Hugo Gonzalez at No. 28 overall, British center Amari Williams at No. 46, and the Ukraine native Shulga at No. 57.

Shulga will reunite with one of his former college teammates when he joins the Celtics. He and Boston big man Neemias Queta played together for one season at Utah State.

Williams and Shulga are expected to join the Celtics on two-way contracts.

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2025 NHL Draft: Islanders, Canadiens, Penguins Hold Pivotal Points In Round 1

Every NHL draft, there are pivot points that affect what happens next. 

What one team does with its pick, whether it drafts a certain player over another or it trades the pick, alters the way other squads approach the rest of the draft. 

This year, there are a handful of key points in the first round that could change the way things go directly after them. They could start a run or cause a player to fall. It could be that when a player falls, teams look to trade up. 

Let’s look at a few key points that we can identify heading into the first round on Friday night. 

Islanders’ Big Decision

The New York Islanders will choose between the potential elite-level prospect in Matthew Schaefer or Michael Misa or the hometown kid in James Hagens. The word around the campfire is they will go with Schaefer, but Hagens grew up an Isles fan, going to games on a regular basis. Maybe they'll be extra aggressive and get Schaefer and Hagens.

It’s a tough decision for a team that has had some issues in the past with high-end players leaving but the reality is that they should go with Schaefer, build out their defense group and look to make the best long-term decision. 

2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And More2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And MoreThe 2025 NHL draft kicks off Friday evening, so it’s time to get in the spirit by conducting the final mock draft of the season. 

Top Three Seem Set – Where Do The Mammoth Go?

There seems to be some level of consensus that Schaefer, Misa, and Swedish forward Anton Frondell are going to be the first three names off the board, although the order is a bit up in the air. 

That means the direction the Utah Mammoth take at fourth overall will set the course for the next six picks of the draft. 

There are plenty of options for the directions they could go. They could go with a big, hulking player as they’ve done in recent years by drafting someone like Radim Mrtka or Roger McQueen. They could go with a high-skill player like Hagens. They could continue the trend of taking forwards, or they could grab their pick of the defensive class.

Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? With the 2025 NHL draft quickly approaching, teams around the league are finalizing their draft boards in hopes of landing the best young talent from around the hockey world.

Where Does The No. 2 Defenseman Go?

Speaking of the defenders in the class, when is the run on defenders going to start? 

Aside from Schaefer, the top of the draft is very forward-heavy. There could reasonably be eight forwards that go in the top 10. 

What usually happens, though, is that once the league feels the quality blueliners dwindle, teams clamor to grab their defender so that they don’t miss out. With a group of five or six defenders that seem solidified as first-rounders, once one goes, teams could start a run.

The Montreal Canadiens at the 2022 NHL draft in Montreal (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

Penguins Hold Picks 11 And 12, Canadiens Hold Picks 16 And 17

There are quite a few teams with multiple first-round picks this year. The San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators have multiple picks spread out over the first round, with the Preds possessing three. 

With that said, the most interesting teams with multiple picks are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens. The Penguins have been rumored to be looking to move up in the draft, and now that they have the 11th and 12th picks, they have the ammo to do it.

A few picks later, Montreal holds the 16th and 17th selections. They are among the big group of franchises looking to move picks for NHL talent. 

While they may not be able to make that move, the two picks could be used to move up and grab a top-end talent, or they could just make the picks with the players that fall to them and build their already impressive pipeline.

Who Is The Wild Card? 

Every single year, there is a wild card. Some team takes a player no one expects. 

Whether it’s Yegor Chinakhov, who was drafted 21st overall despite being a relative unknown, or Beckett Senecke going much higher than anyone expected, someone will cause a ruckus at the draft. It’s one of the most exciting parts of the event every year. 

The question is who will make the surprise selection. I have a funny feeling it will be Boston, which hasn’t drafted high in quite some time.

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These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The second year of the NBA’s two-night draft is in the books.

Compared to the beginning of the first round, there were much more trades at the front as teams scrambled to add some of the better prospects left.

Still, there were a couple of possible steals coming beyond the 30s, including a stretch center and a Duke product.

Let’s analyze the second round of the 2025 draft further with some of the best picks on the night:

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings picked arguably one of the more intriguing center prospects in the draft at No. 42. Raynaud is a 22-year-old 7-foot-1 French center who has close ties to Victor Wembanyama off the hardwood. In some ways, their games are similar. Raynaud is a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, while having the prized trait of shooting at his size. The Stanford product hit 34.7% of his 3s this past season on 5.5 attempts. That gives a rebuilding Sacramento something key to work with as he looks to get good minutes behind Domantas Sabonis.

Chaz Lanier, G/F, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are coming off a promising season of their own, making the playoffs after a disastrous run under Monty Williams. They added to their young core with 6-foot-4 guard Chaz Lanier at No. 37. The one-season Tennessee Volunteer played four seasons at North Florida before making the switch, averaging 18 points per game. His biggest trait is the mix of his 3-point volume and percentage. Lanier, 23, shot 39.5% from deep on 8.2 attempts, which could help him with minutes early as a catch-and-shoot option for Cade Cunningham.

Tyrese Proctor, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland finished as the No. 1 seed out East and finally built an identity in the post-LeBron James era(s). But the Cavs disappointingly fell short in the playoffs in the second round, still needing some areas of growth. They added to their wing department at No. 49, nabbing Duke’s Tyrese Proctor. Proctor, 6-foot-5, can play on and off the ball and averaged 12.4 points on a stacked Blue Devils team that had three top-10 picks this draft. Proctor, 21, had a solid shooting split of 45/40/68. The free-throw percentage is likely a one off given he went 87% as a freshman and 75.5% as a sophomore, though the downward trend is something to watch.

Rasheer Fleming, F, Phoenix Suns

The Suns were aggressive in the second round and moved up to pick first. With Kevin Durant gone, Phoenix took 6-foot-9 forward Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph’s. The soon-to-be 21-year-old averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists on a 53/39/74 shooting split. Of course, he’s nowhere near Durant’s level and longevity, but with the Suns desperately needing more young talent at cheaper costs, there’s no wonder they went all out for someone like Fleming. He should get key minutes from the get go.

Kam Jones, G, Indiana Pacers

The reigning Eastern Conference champs added to their wing core at No. 38, taking Marquette wing Kam Jones. The 23-year-old played all four seasons with the program, most recently averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists. 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals, all college bests. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 48% from the floor, 31% from deep and 64.8% from the charity stripe. He did shoot 39% from deep as a freshman and 40.6% as a junior both on strong volume, but his free-throw percentages have typically been in the 60s. Still, with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss significant time with his torn Achilles, Jones could get his moments to show what he can bring to a hopeful contender.

Posted on

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The second year of the NBA’s two-night draft is in the books.

Compared to the beginning of the first round, there were much more trades at the front as teams scrambled to add some of the better prospects left.

Still, there were a couple of possible steals coming beyond the 30s, including a stretch center and a Duke product.

Let’s analyze the second round of the 2025 draft further with some of the best picks on the night:

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings picked arguably one of the more intriguing center prospects in the draft at No. 42. Raynaud is a 22-year-old 7-foot-1 French center who has close ties to Victor Wembanyama off the hardwood. In some ways, their games are similar. Raynaud is a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, while having the prized trait of shooting at his size. The Stanford product hit 34.7% of his 3s this past season on 5.5 attempts. That gives a rebuilding Sacramento something key to work with as he looks to get good minutes behind Domantas Sabonis.

Chaz Lanier, G/F, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are coming off a promising season of their own, making the playoffs after a disastrous run under Monty Williams. They added to their young core with 6-foot-4 guard Chaz Lanier at No. 37. The one-season Tennessee Volunteer played four seasons at North Florida before making the switch, averaging 18 points per game. His biggest trait is the mix of his 3-point volume and percentage. Lanier, 23, shot 39.5% from deep on 8.2 attempts, which could help him with minutes early as a catch-and-shoot option for Cade Cunningham.

Tyrese Proctor, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland finished as the No. 1 seed out East and finally built an identity in the post-LeBron James era(s). But the Cavs disappointingly fell short in the playoffs in the second round, still needing some areas of growth. They added to their wing department at No. 49, nabbing Duke’s Tyrese Proctor. Proctor, 6-foot-5, can play on and off the ball and averaged 12.4 points on a stacked Blue Devils team that had three top-10 picks this draft. Proctor, 21, had a solid shooting split of 45/40/68. The free-throw percentage is likely a one off given he went 87% as a freshman and 75.5% as a sophomore, though the downward trend is something to watch.

Rasheer Fleming, F, Phoenix Suns

The Suns were aggressive in the second round and moved up to pick first. With Kevin Durant gone, Phoenix took 6-foot-9 forward Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph’s. The soon-to-be 21-year-old averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists on a 53/39/74 shooting split. Of course, he’s nowhere near Durant’s level and longevity, but with the Suns desperately needing more young talent at cheaper costs, there’s no wonder they went all out for someone like Fleming. He should get key minutes from the get go.

Kam Jones, G, Indiana Pacers

The reigning Eastern Conference champs added to their wing core at No. 38, taking Marquette wing Kam Jones. The 23-year-old played all four seasons with the program, most recently averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists. 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals, all college bests. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 48% from the floor, 31% from deep and 64.8% from the charity stripe. He did shoot 39% from deep as a freshman and 40.6% as a junior both on strong volume, but his free-throw percentages have typically been in the 60s. Still, with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss significant time with his torn Achilles, Jones could get his moments to show what he can bring to a hopeful contender.