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Bowler last in Test setup in February 2021
Archer played first red-ball match in four years this week
England have fast-tracked Jofra Archer into their squad to face India in the second Test at Edgbaston next week despite the misgivings of the bowler’s coach at Sussex.
The 30-year-old fast bowler returns to the Test setup for the first time since March 2021 after successfully coming through his first red-ball match for 1,501 days in Sussex’s match at Durham this week.
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Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter, through his TWG Global company, agreed to purchase a majority ownership stake in the Lakers last week and released information about the sale on Wednesday in a statement announcing the deal would be completed later this year.
When news broke that Walter would take controlling interest of the Lakers from the Buss family at a valuation of $10 billion, we reached out to Magic Johnson about his thoughts on the matter. Speaking from a yacht off the coast of Croatia, here's what the Lakers legend had to say about Walter, Jeanie Buss and the sale:
“Mark is a man who cares and loves winning and will always care about investing the money in making not only the team better but the organization better. He’s somebody who is family-driven. He’s a great man.
“You saw what happened to the Dodgers once Mark and all of us took over."
“One thing that Jeanie [Buss] was going to do is put [the franchise] in the right hands. If she was going to sell, it had to be the right person, and Mark Walter is the right person to take over and lead us for the next 30, 40 years. So, this is the best news that could have happened for all Laker fans across the world. Mark has had his eye on the Lakers for a long time. That’s why he bought [Philip] Anschutz's [minority ownership] piece first and then he was sitting there, and Jeanie knew this.
Read more:Mark Walter, Jeanie Buss comment on Lakers sale expected to close later this year
"If she ever wanted to sell, he wanted to be the one that bought the team. And they formed a friendship, because that had to happen first. Jeanie had to know that he was going to do just like her father [Dr. Jerry Buss] did and just like she did and that was to make sure that he would do great things in the community as well, like both her father and her have been able to do and also educate him on how much the Lakers mean to not only the Laker fans but to the NBA and to the world."
“I think the [Buss] boys were ready before. I think they wanted to cash out. We’re seeing this happening all around sports. ‘Sometimes, let somebody else have it.’ We saw Mark Cuban do it. Boston did it. So, you are seeing it happen and maybe they [Buss family] said, ‘We just want the money and go on and live out our lives.’"
“Mark loves being a part of Los Angeles and now he’s got the premier baseball team and now the premier basketball team."
“The one thing great about Mark is that he’ll hire the best people. He will always have really good people around him to help him bring back championships to Los Angeles and to Lakers fans. I’m excited. This couldn’t have gone any better for Laker fans and the Buss family and the NBA. The NBA knows Mark. It couldn’t have gone better for the Buss family because Mark is a caretaker. You got to be a caretaker, a great caretaker.
"What did Mark do for the Dodgers? He’s been a great caretaker of the brand and of the team. How much money he put into Dodger Stadium. He’s always willing to make the big and bold moves to win. But Mark is a visionary. So, he’s probably already got a vision for the Laker organization and for the team. So, that’s the great thing about him.
“The funny thing is, his personality is just like Jeanie. You won’t see him out front a lot, just like now he’s not out in front of the Dodgers. So, people need to understand that. That’s not his personality. Just like Jeanie’s personality. She hasn’t been out front."
“You saw Mark let Jeanie stay on the Board of Governors. That was smart. One thing that is smart about Jeanie is she was never going to say, ‘Oh, the Lakers are up for sale! Anybody can own them.’ That’s not who she is. She wasn’t going to put it in anybody’s hands.
“And I think because of the success of the Dodgers and how he has run the organization, now it’s easy for the fans. We already know him. We’ve seen his work already. We’ve seen what he’s been able to do, led us to a couple of World Series [wins] and going to the World Series four times. That’s success right there. That’s what Laker fans are looking for.
“He’s got a track record. This is what Laker fans would want, somebody that they can trust, just like they trusted Dr. Buss. They trusted Jeanie because of her father saying, ‘This is who I want in charge.’ So, this is beautiful for all Laker fans."
“I’m going crazy too. I was screaming all over this yacht, because I know how great Mark is and how great of a man he is and how smart he is. He’s got a big heart.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
It's Thursday, June 26 and the Rays (45-35) are in Kansas City to take on the Royals (38-42). Shane Baz is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Michael Lorenzen for Kansas City.
Tampa Bay took game two of the series, 3-0, after winning 5-1 on Tuesday. The Rays are 4-1 in the last five games and looking to either tie or win their fifth-straight series as they're rocking a 9-3 mark in the last 12 games.
Kansas City has lost four consecutive games and is 4-4 in the last eight outings, but 4-10 in the previous 14. The Royals are in a bad stretch as the offense has mustered four total runs in the last four games.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Its Thursday, June 26 and the Athletics (33-49) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (50-31).
Jeffrey Springs is slated to take the mound for the Athletics against Dietrich Enns for Detroit. Enns has not pitched in the majors since 2021.
Jacob Lopez was exceptional last night for the Athletics throwing seven innings of three-hit, shutout ball as the A's blanked the Tigers, 3-0. Nick Kurtz went 3-3 and drove in all three runs for the Athletics who evened the series at one game apiece.
Lets dive into the series finale and find a sweat or two.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Athletics and the Tigers:
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It's Thursday, June 26 and the Phillies (47-33) are in Houston to take on the Astros (47-33). Cristopher Sánchez is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Hunter Brown for Houston.
The Astros extended their winning streak to three consecutive games after beating the Phillies, 2-0, earning their second straight shutout victory over Philadelphia.
The Phillies are 1-3 over the last four games, which followed up a 10-3 stretch over 13 contests. Philadelphia has scored four or fewer runs in six of the past eight games, while Houston has in five of the previous six.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly grinding away with John Tavares and Matthew Knies' camps to get contracts signed before July 1.
Tavares, 34, is an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and has consistently expressed his desire to remain in Toronto beyond this season. However, there have been reports that the veteran forward could fetch a much higher annual average value on the open market.
Knies turns 23 this October and will become a restricted free agent on July 1. Although the Maple Leafs hold his negotiation rights, any team can send him an offer sheet once he becomes an RFA.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Tavares, Knies, and the Maple Leafs aren't interested in letting these contract negotiations go beyond July 1.
"Well, to quote a source close to the situation, [the two sides are] grinding away, and it's been that way for the last number of days. But you can see that the end is coming, especially with Tavares, who's an unrestricted free agent as of July 1st," Dreger reported.
"He's made it abundantly clear that he'd like to stay and finish his career in Toronto, so there is a mutual appetite to get something done. I feel like progress was made on this day (Wednesday).
"I'd say the same thing with Matthew Knies. A little bit different because he's a restricted free agent, but I know that Brad Treliving, the general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs, looks at both of those guys as priorities, and I think that he'd prefer to get something done, again sooner rather than later, so that he's got a clear deck going into July 1, and open to shop."
Maple Leafs To Play Minimum 6 Pre-Season Games In 2025 As Schedule Is RevealedOne day after the Detroit Red Wings shared their pre-season schedule that revealed a pair of games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the latter revealed their full schedule on Wednesday.
Tavares fought off Father Time this season, scoring 74 points in 75 games. Tavares' 38 goals tied his second-best goalscoring season, and were nine shy of his 47-goal campaign in his first year as a Maple Leaf in 2018-19.
With his seven-year, $77 million contract concluding, the Maple Leafs reportedly hoped to extend him long-term so that his cap hit could remain low, thus allowing Toronto to add more via free agency.
On Saturday, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that Tavares' camp and the Maple Leafs weren't close on an extension. However, this news from Dreger on Wednesday should offer Maple Leaf fans some relief ahead of a fascinating offseason.
Mikael Granlund: A Viable Replacement If The Maple Leafs Don't Re-Sign John Tavares?John Tavares has made it clear he wants to remain a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the club and the player are reportedly struggling to find a middle ground on a fair contract. At market value, it’s been speculated that Tavares could fetch a 3-year, $7.5 million contract extension, much like his former New York Islanders teammate Brock Nelson just inked with the Colorado Avalanche. Alternatively, Matt Duchene's recent contract extension in Dallas, where the forward signed for just $4.5 million per season, offers a different perspective.
The same goes for the news on Knies.
After a massive rookie season, Knies followed it up with another career year. His 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games were his highest total yet in the NHL. Pin that together with his 182 hits, the third-most on the Maple Leafs, and the forward had a monster season.
He himself expressed his desire to remain a Maple Leaf at the team's locker cleanout day in May. If he does reach July 1 without a contract, there's always a chance a team could send him an offer sheet. But from how he spoke after being eliminated by the Florida Panthers, I wouldn't say he's keen on signing an offer sheet.
And he'd need to agree to it for Toronto to be on the clock to match it.
Report: Clubs View Vegas Golden Knights As 'Team To Beat' In Mitch Marner Sweepstakes As Maple Leafs Free Agent Hits MarketWith the NHL Draft and free agency fast approaching, the league is buzzing with activity, and no name is generating more speculation than Mitch Marner. While teams prepare for the draft, there is widespread debate about where the top free agent will end up.
The Maple Leafs drafted Knies in the second round (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. After two full seasons, Knies has proved he's beginning to understand how to use his massive 6-foot-3, 227-pound frame against his opponents.
With Mitch Marner likely on the way out (according to reports), Toronto has $25.7 million in cap space available. That number will decrease if, and when, Tavares and Knies agree to extensions with the Maple Leafs, but it's turning out to be an intriguing offseason for Treliving and co.
(Top photo: Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images)
Forsberg: Explaining Celtics' new trade flexibility after recent moves originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens accomplished an unenviable task earlier this week, reportedly parting with two core members of his 2024 championship squad — Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis — in trades that saved Boston roughly $27 million in cap space and brought the team under the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax.
But why exactly was it so important for Stevens to get under the second apron?
While there is a financial penalty for being over the second apron, the more punitive penalties involve front-office moves: Teams over the second apron can’t utilize a number of roster-building tactics, from aggregating contracts in trades to executing sign-and-trades to using midlevel exceptions and much more.
“I think the second apron penalties are real,” Stevens told reporters Wednesday night in his post-NBA Draft press conference, “and I didn’t realize how real they were until they were staring me in the face over the past month. You can’t overstate that.”
So, now that Boston is under the second apron after trading Holiday and Porzingis, Stevens and Co. have a lot more flexibility to make additional moves this offseason, as Chris Forsberg explained Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season live show.
“The Celtics can now aggregate contracts,” Forsberg said. “They can now send out money (in trades). … You can put multiple players in a trade. … Traded player exceptions are now in play, sign-and-trades; there are just so many more avenues now to go get players who can add to this roster.”
As a concrete example: Say the Celtics wanted to trade for a player making roughly $18-$20 million next season. As a second apron team, they wouldn’t be able to pull off such a deal, because they don’t have a player with a 2025-26 salary in that range. But now that they’re under the second apron, they hypothetically could package Sam Hauser ($10 million salary) and Georges Niang ($8.2 million) in a trade for that player making $18-$20 million.
That opens more doors for Stevens to tweak the roster, especially if there’s interest in Hauser, Niang or Anfernee Simons, who was acquired in the Holiday trade and is set to make $27.7 million this season on an expiring contract.
There is one area where the Celtics don’t have flexibility, however: Now that they’re under the second apron, they can’t go back over for the rest of the offseason and 2025-26 regular season.
“Remember: In all dealings, you have to still be below the second apron,” Forsberg noted. “You cannot at any point go back over the second apron if you use any of those tactics to add players to your roster. So, it just handcuffs you a little bit in terms of how much you can spend, how much you can afford moving forward.
“There are more options available now. (But) to fully maximize and utilize those, they’ve still got to cut more money.”
The Celtics are just $4.6 million under the second apron at the moment, so don’t be surprised if Stevens makes more moves in the coming weeks to further shed salary and give his team even more financial flexibility.
In one of his latest pieces for The Athletic, insider Pierre LeBrun wrote that Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes is particularly active in the run-up to the draft. He confirms what most have been suspecting for a while, given how shallow the market is for a second-line center, the Habs may decide to go for an impact top-six player even if he is not a center.
Given how Jeff Gorton spoke at the end-of-season press conference, this shouldn’t come as a great surprise to anyone. In early May, the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations said that a talented winger can be the driving force behind a line.
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Could The Canadiens Swing A Big Trade With The Golden Knights?
With Matt Duchene re-upping with the Dallas Stars, Jonathan Toews electing to make his comeback with the Winnipeg Jets, and Trevor Zegras being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, the market for a second-line center is getting even more shallow.
According to LeBrun, the Canadiens are seeking a trade partner interested in a package of one or both of their first-round picks and prospects. The insider warns that they won’t push it; if the price tag is higher than what they’re comfortable with, they’ll walk away from the table. That also makes perfect sense, given that both Hughes and Gorton were adamant at the end of the season that the surprise qualification for the playoffs wouldn’t prompt them to rush their rebuild.
There have been rumblings recently about the Canadiens being interested in Brock Boeser, who is set to hit free agency on July 1st, and they are also in the running for Rasmus Andersson on the blueline. More often than not, though, Hughes has a knack for surprising everyone with his deals, making it hard to predict which way the Canadiens could be looking right now.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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It's Thursday, June 26 and the Cubs (47-33) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (44-37). Shota Imanaga is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Andre Pallante for St. Louis.
Chicago took the third game of the series in dominant fashion, winning 8-0, after losing the first two games 8-2 and 8-7. The Cubs look to tie up the series today as Imanaga returns from an injury that cost him nearly two months.
The Cardinals are 7-2 over the last nine games and won its past two series as it attempts to make it three consecutive. The Cubbies are 2-5 in the past seven games and dropped the last two series.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The latest odds as of Thursday:
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The top flight was blighted by a series of draws, but there was some very bright cricket in Division Two
This article is from The 99.94 Cricket Blog
Continue reading...Its Thursday, June 26 and the Blue Jays (42-37) are in Cleveland to take on the Guardians (40-38) this afternoon.
Kevin Gausman is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Tanner Bibee for Cleveland.
These teams have split the first two games of the series with Cleveland winning last night, 5-4 in ten innings. Nic Enright pitched a scoreless tenth for the Guardians and Jose Ramirez drove in the winning run for Cleveland's 40th win of the season.
Lets dive into the series finale and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Blue Jays and the Guardians:
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Report: Kings interested in Warriors' restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Kings are paying close attention to a situation playing out with their Northern California rival.
Sacramento is one of the teams interested in Warriors’ restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported Wednesday, citing league sources.
“…League sources say the Kings are among the teams that have interest in Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga and will be monitoring his market when his restricted free agency begins,” Amick wrote. “And while it appears unlikely that Kuminga will ultimately come their way, it speaks to the vision, and the range of possibilities here, that they’re even focusing on players of that ilk.”
The Miami Heat, as The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported Wednesday, also have interest in Kuminga.
Sacramento, and any other team interested in acquiring Kuminga, can agree to an offer sheet with the restricted free agent, which the Warriors can match, or facilitate a sign-and-trade deal with Golden State.
The 22-year-old Kuminga missed 31 games during the 2024-25 NBA season due to an ankle injury, and in 47 games (10 starts), averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 45.4-percent shooting from the field and 30.5 percent from 3-point range.
Kuminga has struggled to maintain a consistent role in Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s rotations throughout his first four NBA seasons, and made it clear in a recent conversation with Slater that he wants an opportunity to develop into a star player.
Might that opportunity be with the Kings?
Just when it seemed Alabama's offseason couldn’t go much better, an opponent served up bulletin board material.
This was a wild first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. We had the expected — Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper going 1-2 — but there were no trades in the top 10, when we expected a lot. Then, after 10, the trades started raining down, as did the unexpected picks.
Here are the grades for every team in the first round.
Asa Newell (23, from trade Pelicans)
This was good work by the Hawks, who traded back 10 spots with the Pelicans, picked up a 2026 unprotected first rounder for their trouble, and still drafted an Atlanta native not expected to fall to them. Newell has a high motor and averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds a game for the Georgia Bulldogs last season. The problem he faces at the next level is this: He's not quite big and strong enough to play the five in the NBA, but he doesn't have the shooting (29.3% on 3-pointers last season) or ball handling to be a modern four. Quin Snyder and his staff have to figure out how to utilize him, but he's a great addition at 23.
Hugo Gonzalez (28)
A Real Madrid product, Gonzalez has good size and feel for the game as a center, and shows real promise as a defender, but the question is his shot. He hit just 29% from 3 last season (which is less than ideal in a Joe Mazzulla system). Gonzalez is seen as a bit of a project, and if he can develop a steady shot the rest of his game would fit well with the Celtics.
Egor Demin (8), Nolan Traoré (19), Drake Powell (22), Ben Saraf (26), Danny Wolf (27)
One of the biggest surprises of the first round: The Nets kept and used all five of their first-round picks. This feels like a numbers game for the rebuilding Nets: draft a bunch of players, and hope a couple of them work out.
Demin is the big swing by Brooklyn. He is a polarizing figure among scouts, but the Nets have bet on his upside. Denim is the best passer in this class, has a good feel for the game and has fantastic positional size as a 6'8" point guard. The question is his shot and ability to score in general, but if that part of his game can be developed then this is going to look like a steal. If not… well, the Nets are rebuilding and it's going to take time.
Egor Demin is selected 8th overall by the @BrooklynNets in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025
Watch on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/3ONFcoOTx0
Another gamble by the Nets. Traoré was the lead ball handler and shot creator for a French professional team at the age of 19 last season, and struggled at first in that role but improved as the season progressed. This is a good roll of the dice by Brooklyn.
Powell is an excellent defender, which will give Jordi Fernandez a reason to play him while Powell and the coaching staff work on his offensive game. Notice a theme here about drafting players who need help with their offensive games in Brooklyn?
Saraf is a big guard with real creativity, the feel and skill to run an offense, and he plays hard on defense. That said, he has a funky shot and hit 29.4% from 3 last season. He fits the theme.
Wolf is the most stable of the Nets' picks. He's not an explosive athlete or a good defender, but he has NBA center size, a great feel for the game, a good basketball IQ, and he's a quality passer. He can be a backup NBA big this coming season.
Kon Knueppel (4), Liam McNeeley (29, trade from Phoenix)
It was a good day for the Hornets. First, you can never go wrong taking the best shooter on the board, which Knueppel was. It's an especially smart pick when he can spread the floor for LaMelo Ball and knock down 3-pointers. He is also a quality defender (which they need next to Ball). He's going to be a good fit with the Hornets between Ball and Brandon Miller on the wing.
McNeeley is a steal at 29. He came out of Montverde Academy playing alongside Flagg and Queen, and he impressed by shooting well while playing off the ball. However, he was forced to be a primary shot creator for Dan Hurley and the Huskies, shooting 31.7% from 3-point range. The Hornets are betting he can return to his high school form, working more off the ball.
Noa Essengue (12)
The Bulls played the long game here, which is a good sign for them (and is kind of what they did with Matas Buzelis a year ago). Essengue's fluid athleticism and high motor means he could be the guy in a few years where everyone says, "How did he fall to 12th?" The French native played for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany last season and showed considerable improvement as the season wore on, which is a good sign for his development. He needs to add muscle and improve his shot, but it's good to see the Bulls thinking about the long term.
Cooper Flagg (1)
Making this pick was a no-brainer, but when you get the best player in the draft, a guy who can help you win now — or, at least when Kyrie Irving gets healthy — and can be the bridge to the future, then you get an A+. It doesn't matter that it was an open-book test, the Mavericks aced it. Flagg is an elite defender, plays with a high motor, can shoot the three or drive the rim, has handles and… what else do you want? Great player, great fit.
Cooper Flagg is selected 1st overall by the @dallasmavs in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025
Watch on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/mY7n1IM8Oo
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30)
One of the standouts at the NBA Draft Combine, the Swiss native who played at Penn State last year is massive — 6'11" with 7'3" wingspan — and an impressive athlete for his size. He led the big 10 in blocks last season. He is a rim-running big who isn't giving the Clippers much offense outside of the restricted area, and there are questions about his hands. Still, for the last pick in the first round, this is a great roll of the dice by the Clippers.
Cedric Coward (11, via Portland)
Coward is a bet on a player with all the tools but who is a bit raw. It's also a bet on the Grizzlies' player development program. Coward could grow into the replacement for Desmond Bane on the wing: He's 6-5 with a 7-2 wingspan, showed off a 32.5-inch standing vertical leap at the NBA Draft Combine, and shot 38.8% from 3 in his college career. He has all the tools to be a good fit next to Ja Morant. This was their guy, and the Grizzlies went and got him.
Kasparas Jakucionis (20)
This high grade is based on the fact that this is a quality pickup this late in the first round. The Lithuanian who came to Illinois via FC Barcelona is a strong floor general who understands how to run an offense and is a creative passer. He averaged 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game last season. He slipped down draft boards after a rough Big 10 season with concerns about his shot (32.6% from 3) and defense. That said, coming off the bench as a secondary shot creator alongside players like Tyler Herro, he could find a role where he thrives.
Joan Beringer (17)
This was the Timberwolves picking the best player they saw on the board rather than thinking fit — Minnesota doesn't really have a need for another center right now. Beringer is a bit of a project, but he showed potential as a shot-blocking, rim-running big in the Adriatic League last season. He has good athleticism and the Timberwolves can play the long game with him and give him time to develop.
Jeremiah Fears (7), Derik Queen (13, from trade with Atlanta)
With Dejounte Murray out for at least half the season (torn Achilles), the Pelicans have been hunting playmaking and scoring. That's why they traded for Jordan Poole just before the draft. It's why they took Fears with the No. 7 pick — the Pelicans see his quick attack, quality handles and ability to get to the rim (with some spectacular finishes) and believe they have another scorer and playmaker. He averaged 17.1 points and 4.1 assists a game in his year at Oklahoma. However, he shot 28.4% from 3-point range, his finishing at the rim is inconsistent, and he turned the ball over on 18.3% of his possessions. Can Willie Green and company turn those bad habits around?
Queen is the most skilled center in this draft, but after a rough Draft Combine (where his physical testing was unimpressive), the question was how far he would fall. Not past New Orleans. The Pelicans have Yves Missi but are looking for a backup and decided to give Queen a chance.
Thomas Sorber (15)
Anyone the Thunder picked here was going to have a hard time cracking the rotation next season, this is the deepest team in the league. This gives the Thunder some time to figure out how to maximize one of the more unique players in the draft: A 6'9 center with a 7'6" wingspan and a strong NBA build that will let him play in the paint at the next level. He's got a good feel for the game and touch at the rim. There isn't a better franchise in the league at finding and developing talent, maybe we're underestimating how good he can be.
Jase Richardson (25)
This is a quality pick this late in the first round and a good fit with the roster. Jase is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson, but nobody is going to confuse the two on the court. Jase is a smaller point guard who plays with pace, has a great feel for the game and can get into the lane and break down defenses. He's undersized, which raises defensive concerns, but he can be a quality reserve guard for the Magic and potentially develop into more.
VJ Edgecombe (3)
The 76ers decided not to trade the pick (they didn't get an offer Daryl Morey liked enough), and that may be the wise move. Edgecombe could be a good fit in Philly, starting next season. He's an elite defender and athlete, who has developed a shot (36.4% from 3 last season at Baylor).. He knows how to use his athleticism as a cutter or in transition to get buckets, which should be a good fit playing off Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.
Khaman Maluach (10, via Rockets), Mark Williams (trade with Hornets)
The Suns lined up two young centers in a matter of minutes on Wednesday night and did some good work with that. Williams' talent isn't in question, it's simply his ability to stay healthy (which is why the Lakers pulled out of a trade for him at the deadline). However, for what the Suns gave up it's a risk worth taking.
Maluach has NBA center size and a 7'6" wingspan, and he showed at Duke he could anchor their defense and moves his feet well. He's got a long way to go to contribute much of anything on the offensive end at the NBA level, but this is a good bet by Phoenix at 10.
Hansen Yang (16, traded from Memphis)
The biggest head-scratcher in this draft. It's not that the 7'1" big bodied center from China doesn't have some skills, he is a terrific passer and shot better at the NBA Draft Combine than expected. However, most teams had him as a second-round pick, maybe a draft-and-stash player, because he's not an explosive (or even average) NBA-level athlete, not stronger than his NBA competition, not a great defender when outside the paint, and he's mostly been a post-up scorer in China, something that will not fly in the NBA. Perhaps he will develop into an NBA rotation player, but in the short term, there is a lot of work to be done to get him there. Can the Trail Blazers pull that off?
Nique Clifford (24, from Oklahoma City)
Clifford is part of a growing NBA trend: Drafting seniors who can step in now and help teams. He is a plug-and-play guard who can score, pass, and defend, a player who averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game last season and shot 37.7% from 3-point range. He can be a backup guard for the Kings next season.
Dylan Harper (2), Carter Bryant (14)
With Harper, the Spurs did the right thing: Take the best player on the board regardless of position. It doesn't matter if they already have De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle — since when is having too much talent a bad thing? Harper receives many comparisons to Cade Cunningham, and with good reason, it's easy to see the similarities in their style of play. If Harper and Wemby develop a strong chemistry then this is a home run, the Spurs can figure the rest of the rotation out later.
Bryant is a classic Spurs pick — a good player who fits right into a role for them. Bryant fills the archetype of an NBA 3&D wing: He has good size for the position, was a defensive monster in college (largely off the bench) and shot 37.1% on 3-pointers. It's easy to see him spacing the floor while Harper and Victor Wembanyama suck in the defense with a pick-and-roll
Collin Murray-Boyles (9)
Another 6'7" wing in Toronto just seems fitting, they have quite the collection going (Grady Dick, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Ochai Agbaji are all between 6'6" and 6'8"). Murray-Boyles is the ultimate "if we can develop his shot" player in this draft. He's a good defender, both in the paint and on the perimeter because of his quick hands. He plays a high-IQ game. But if he can't shoot, there isn't much of a role.
Ace Bailey (5), Walter Clayton (trade from Wizards)
I like the Bailey pick for Utah. Who cares if it's what he and his camp want? Do what's best for your team (the buzz has been that Bailey and his agent wanted him to go to Washington and stay on the East Coast, although after the pick he said he was "blessed" to be drafted, period).
The Jazz need talent. Bailey has the second-highest ceiling of any player in this draft, but this feels like a boom or bust pick — and good on the Jazz for taking that swing. At this point in their team building, the Jazz should take big swings. Bailey is a prototypical modern NBA wing: he has great size, is a freak athlete, has a high motor, can create his own shot, can shoot the 3 (36.7% last season), and is a tough shot-maker. The problem is that he made tough shots because of his questionable shot selection, something Utah needs to work on. The Jazz have a very good player development staff, if they can mold Bailey, this swing could be a home run.
Clayton was a clutch player for the national champion Florida. He is an impressive catch-and-shoot guy, there's a lot to like (but enough to trade up a few spots for him?). He's also got serious defensive questions. But he should move into the Jazz's guard rotation and could be a quality backup for them (and maybe more eventually).
Tre Johnson (6), Will Riley (21)
Washington wanted to add some offense, it took some gambles trying to do that.
Johnson plays with an undeniable swagger and the Wizards could use some of that. Johnson is arguably the best pure bucket getter in this class — if you need points, he can get them. At Texas last season he averaged 20.9 points a game shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc on a team with terrible spacing. The concern is he doesn't do much outside of scoring, he's not a great playmaker or defender. Still, the swagger is a good thing in Washington.
Riley is a bit of a project, but the Wizards are in a position to take on projects. He has good size for an NBA wing and showed stretches where he looked like a guy who could be a knock-down shooter at the next level, but he shot just 32.6% from 3 last season. Still a good choice this late in the first round.
Teams without first-round draft picks: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors.
Why Draymond Green likes ex-Warriors teammate Jordan Poole's trade to Pelicans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green knows how impactful Jordan Poole can be for an NBA team.
The Warriors forward reacted to the blockbuster trade between the Wizards and Pelicans on Tuesday that sent Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to New Orleans for CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick, and he praised the move for the Pelicans, who acquired his former championship-winning teammate.
“When I look at this Pelicans move, I like it,” Green stated on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.” “I think when you add a talent like Jordan Poole — CJ is kind of who CJ is — Jordan still has room for growth. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of his growth yet. I think getting in an organization like New Orleans under Joe Dumars’ leadership with Willie Green as coach will be a really good situation for him.
“I think Washington, the first year he spent adjusting. Last year he had a really good year numbers-wise, but when you’re on that team it don’t matter. When I look at this for the Pelicans, I look at this as a net-positive. You didn’t have to go crazy from a salary-cap standpoint. I think Jordan may make a little less than CJ or right around the same amount, but I think you still got time for him to prove himself, a couple more years left on his deal. I think he’s still got time to prove himself, and also with some young guys that are also looking to take that step.”
Poole, whom the Warriors selected with the No. 28 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, broke out for Golden State during its 2021-22 championship season, averaging 18.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 44.8-percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range.
The young guard then averaged 20.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on 43-percent shooting from the field and 33.6 percent from 3-point range during the 2022-23 season after he was involved in a physical altercation with Green during training camp.
Golden State eventually traded Poole to Washington for veteran point guard Chris Paul during the 2023 offseason, and in two seasons with the Wizards, Poole averaged 18.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game on 42.2-percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range combined.
Green believes the Pelicans’ addition of Poole, alongside forwards Zion Williamson, Herb Jones and injured guard Dejounte Murray, could make New Orleans a pesky foe in the Western Conference.
“So I think they’ve become a team that you’ve got to watch out for in the West,” Green added. “They’ve got a lot of talent and if they can put it together they can creep up and possibly have a good year.”
