Category: Sports News

Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga outlines priority ahead of restricted NBA free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Ever since he entered the NBA as the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jonathan Kuminga has wanted to become a star.

And this summer, as a restricted free agent, he has an opportunity to put himself in the best position to do just that.

Kuminga spoke exclusively with The Athletic’s Anthony Slater ahead of the NBA’s June 30 restricted free agent negotiation window, and discussed his goal of developing into a star player capable of leading an offense.

“That’s what’s been on my mind,” Kuminga told Slater. “Things take time, but I feel like I’m at the point where that has to be my priority, to just be one of the guys a team relies on. Aiming to be an All-Star. Multiple times. Aiming to be great. … Wherever I’m going to be at, it don’t matter if it’s the Warriors or if it’s anywhere else, it’s something I want. I want to see what I could do. I know I got it. So I want to really see. I’ve never got that chance.”

The 22-year-old Kuminga has had a roller-coaster career with the Warriors, showing flashes of immense potential, but struggling to maintain a consistent role in coach Steve Kerr’s rotations.

Those inconsistencies in four seasons with Golden State will play a role in deciding what situation is best for him this summer.

“I did it here and there, but it was never a consistent role, a consistent role given to me,” Kuminga said. “It only happens five games on, 10 games off. I want it to be a consistent role. Because I know what I got. I know what I could bring. I know how much work I put in. I know I’m dedicated to this game, how much I love the game.”

Kuminga averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during the 2023-24 NBA season, and appeared to be developing into the star player the Warriors hoped he could become this past season before an ankle injury sidelined him for 31 games.

In 47 games (10 starts) during the 2024-25 season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 45.4-percent shooting from the field and a career-low 30.5 percent from 3-point range.

He once again was in and out of the Warriors’ rotations down the stretch and throughout Golden State’s playoff run, but did impress in the Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he reprised his feature role after Warriors superstar Steph Curry went down for the remainder of the series after suffering a hamstring strain in Game 1.

Kuminga, as a restricted free agent, can sign offer sheets with other NBA teams, which the Warriors can match and retain him for the same price. Whichever team ultimately ends up paying him, he hopes to prove his worth immediately.

“Wherever I go, wherever I’ll be, off the rip, I just want them to be like, ‘Oh, yeah, he deserved what he got. He deserved to be here. He worked hard for it.’ Wherever it is, that’s what I want it to feel like.” Kuminga added. “I want to be great. I feel like I’m capable of being that, capable of doing some special things, and I won’t just let it go like that. The only way to get there is just to lock in every single day.”

Might that be with the Warriors?

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Explaining the second apron, a key financial rule in the NBA's CBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

In under 24 hours, the Boston Celtics had to trade two players key to their 2024 NBA title.

Guard Jrue Holiday was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and a pair of second-round picks, while center Kristaps Porzingis moved to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that saw Georges Niang and a draft pick return.

Why would the Celtics make such a move, let alone two? Is it because they’re trying to get younger? Do they want to refresh the core around Jayson Tatum as he rehabs from a torn Achilles?

There may be some truth to multiple reasons, but there’s also one key aspect to note: the second apron. Here’s everything to know about the financial rule that is in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement:

What is the second apron in the NBA?

The second apron in the NBA is a spending threshold that triggers additional layers of penalties for exceeding certain limits.

The NBA operates with a soft cap, meaning teams can still spend over the limit — usually by paying the luxury tax — to keep their roster intact without too much enforcement. It’s different than the NFL’s hard cap, which is stricter and has penalties that can be enforced sooner.

How does the second apron in the NBA work?

The second apron is the final spending limit franchises can go into before facing severe team-building penalties. First there is the luxury tax, which helped the Golden State Warriors build their recent dynasty.

Then there is the first apron, which has its own sets of penalties for teams. The second apron goes even further, so teams with significant payrolls are likely to break up the roster after a few years, which can affect long-term planning.

When did the second apron start in the NBA?

The second apron took into effect in the 2024 offseason after the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified in 2023.

What is the second apron amount in the NBA?

Entering the 2025-26 season, the salary cap is projected to be $154.6 million and the luxury tax is projected to be $187.9 million, according to ESPN. The first apron is set for $195.9 million and the second apron $207.8 million — higher by $17.8 million from 2024-25.

What are the second apron penalties in the NBA?

These are the key penalties for teams in the first apron and second apron:

First apron:

• Sign-and-trades are not permitted if the player acquired keeps the team above the apron.
• Cannot sign players who were waived during the regular season if their salary was above the $12.2 million mid-level exception.
• Salary matching in trades has to be within 110% instead of the 125% teams in good standing get.

Second apron:

• Includes all first-apron penalties
• Cannot have access to the MLE in free agency or absorbing contracts.
• Cannot trade first-round picks from seven years out.
• Cannot use trade exceptions from previous years.
• Cannot use cash in trades.
• First round pick moves straight to the end of the first round if the team stays in the second apron for three of five years.

Which NBA teams are in the second apron?

The Celtics will be out of the second apron once their Holiday and Porzingis trades are official. Heading into 2025-26, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns are currently in the second apron, per Spotrac, while the Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets are approaching the amount.

Five guard, forward fits for Warriors at pick No. 41 in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

More than a month has passed since the Warriors’ season ended in the second round of the NBA playoffs. A week later, they already began hosting players at Chase Center on their practice court for pre-draft workouts. 

The Warriors mainly have studied older players with an abundance of college experience for their second-round pick at No. 41 overall. There’s always more to the year-long process behind closed doors. The way the draft has been affected by the changing landscape of college basketball with NIL, though, it would be a major surprise if a player younger than even 22 years old was drafted by the Warriors. 

Trayce Jackson-Davis (No. 57 overall) was 23, and turning 24 in February, when the Warriors drafted him in the second round of the 2023 draft. Quinten Post (No. 52 overall) was even older at 24, and turning 25 in March, last year as the Warriors’ second-round pick.

Hearing a teenager have his name called when the Warriors are on the clock is highly, highly unlikely if they keep the pick and use it. A cheap player that can contribute as a rookie is of major value for a team like the Warriors. 

“It does lend itself to the older guys generally can play sooner than later,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy admitted Monday at Chase Center.

The chaos of the NBA offseason already knocked down the door and has made itself at home. Now that it’s time for the draft to be part of the headlines for two days, here are the five best fits for the Warriors with the 41st pick in the draft.

Sion James, Wing, Duke

He’s the one singular prospect that I wrote about as being the perfect fit for the Warriors, and it will take some serious convincing to change my mind. 

James played four seasons at Tulane, then transferred to Duke as the exact player needed around their trio of freshmen players primed for the top 10 in the draft. Dunleavy laid out the formula Monday of needing defense – point of attack plus rim protectors – and players who can space the floor. James has the size and physicality to jump into an NBA game right now, and he’s only improved as a shooter every season in college. 

An easy comparison is Lu Dort with a lot more college experience. They’re both built like football players who were handed a basketball as a joke just to laugh in everybody else’s face. Dort is listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, was named to the All-Defensive First Team and shot 41.2 percent from three for the champion Oklahoma City Thunder this season after shooting 23.7 percent as a rookie. 

At 22 years old, 23 in December, James played 153 college games. He measured in at the combine at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 217 pounds, was voted to the ACC’s All-Defense Team this season, and after shooting 28 percent from three as a freshman, James was a 41.3 percent 3-point shooter in his one year at Duke.

Koby Brea, SG/Wing, Kentucky

Shooting and scoring dropped off a cliff to end the Warriors’ season with an injured Steph Curry. Adding perhaps the draft’s best pure shooter, outside of Kon Knueppel, could be a good start in fixing that problem. 

Brea doesn’t project to be a two-way player like Klay Thompson was. His athleticism doesn’t jump out, even on highlights. But damn can he shoot it. 

He also has ideal size on the wing as a shooting guard or small forward at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds. Like James, Brea was a five-year player in college. Also like James, his age shouldn’t be a negative for someone who will be 23 in November. This is a smart player who will know how to play his role, and not step outside of it. 

The marksman shot 43.4 percent on threes in his college career, including making 46.5 percent of his threes the past two seasons while putting up six a game.

Micah Peavy, Wing, Georgetown

Peavy is the type of player that would fit a long list of second-round picks that had lasting, solid, impactful careers in the NBA. He’s the glue guy every team wants. 

That was obvious with Peavy’s performance in his first scrimmage at the combine. His team lost by three, yet Peavy was a game-high plus-20 in 23 minutes. Peavy, who turns 24 on July 16, is a versatile wing at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds with the feel and skills to be part of a rotation. The big question is if his 3-point shot was a one-hit wonder. 

After four years in college, one at Texas Tech and three at TCU, Peavy shot 26.7 percent from three. Year by year, he also became a more willing shooter from deep. Then in his fifth college season, Peavy transferred to Georgetown and averaged 17.2 points, put up over four threes a game and made 40 percent of them.

Chaz Lanier, G/Wing, Tennessee

The first three years of Lanier’s college career didn’t amount to numbers of someone who would be on any draft boards. Lanier averaged just 4.2 points per game in that span at Florida Atlantic, and then his breakout came in Year 4. Finally fully entrenched in the starting lineup, was All-A-Sun First Team in 2023-24, averaging 19.7 points while shooting 51 percent from the field, 44 percent from three and 88 percent at the free-throw line. 

Lanier then joined Tennessee for his fifth and final college season, where that same offensive firepower followed him to the Vols. The 23-year-old who will turn 24 in December led Tennessee to the Elite Eight by averaging 18 points per game and shooting 39.5 percent beyond the arc. Lanier in his final two college seasons shot 41.5 percent from long distance while taking essentially eight threes per game. 

There are some defensive questions when it comes to Lanier for a player listed at 6-foot-4. But he rarely came off the floor for one of the top defenses in college basketball, and his 6-foot-9 wingspan and 39-inch max vertical leap gives him the traits that can produce a competent defensive player.

Alijah Martin, G, Florida

Guards Kam Jones and Tamar Bates were both considerations here. In the end, it came down to two players: Martin, or Kentucky big man Amari Williams. 

The Warriors worked out both players, who are 10 inches apart. Williams would be the second straight 7-footer Dunleavy picked in the second round. However, he’s a much different player than Post. 

As seen throughout his rookie year, Post is a stretch-five but has work to do defensively and around the rim, and likely will never be a plus athlete. Williams is not a shooter. He’s a massive shot-blocker and strong rebounder. Most importantly for Steve Kerr, Williams is a really strong player out of the middle. 

Center, as always, will be an incredibly interesting position to watch for the Warriors. They don’t want Draymond Green to start there, but he still will have minutes at center when necessary. They’re high on Post, and like a lot of what Jackson-Davis brings. Kevon Looney still could come back on a veteran minimum, and the Warriors will be active eyeing bigs through other avenues as well. 

So instead, Martin is the pick. He’s only 6-foot-2, but plays way bigger with his 6-foot-8 wingspan. Jerry Stackhouse would be begging Kerr to unleash this Pitbull. Martin is a high-energy super-athlete who was a huge reason why Florida won it all this year. 

After four years at Florida Atlantic where Martin twice was All-CUSA, as well as the 2023 CUSA Tournament MVP, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a fifth-year senior. Martin turns 24 in December, can be in the Gary Payton II role for the Warriors long term, and might offer more offense.

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What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Dallas Mavericks are on the clock.

A new group of young prospects is set to enter the league when the 2025 NBA Draft gets underway. Dallas won the lottery in May with just 1.8% odds, landing first dibs at star Duke prospect Cooper Flagg.

Flagg has been the consensus top prospect of this class for several years, and Dallas getting the first pick right after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers generated plenty of mixed reactions.

But unlike last year’s class, the pool of talent beyond Flagg is much more tantalizing. Flagg also isn’t the only possible top-five Duke pick, while Rutgers may see two top-five picks of its own.

Here’s everything to know as the first round of the draft gets underway:

What time does the NBA Draft start?

The draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 25. It is the second straight year of the event being held over two days. The second round is set for Thursday, June 26, also at 8 p.m. ET.

Where is the NBA Draft?

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, is once again the venue for both days.

Where to watch and stream the NBA Draft online, on TV

The first round on Wednesday will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. ESPN will air the second round on Thursday.

Both rounds will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN mobile app.

What is the NBA Draft order?

Here is the order of the draft entering the first round, via NBA.com:

First round:

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Utah Jazz

6. Washington Wizards

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Brooklyn Nets

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Chicago Bulls

13. Atlanta Hawks 

14. San Antonio Spurs

15. Oklahoma City

16. Memphis Grizzlies

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

18. Washington Wizards

19. Brooklyn Nets

20. Miami Heat

21. Utah Jazz

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. New Orleans Pelicans

24. Oklahoma City Thunder

25. Orlando Magic

26. Brooklyn Nets

27. Brooklyn Nets

28. Boston Celtics

29. Phoenix Suns

30. LA Clippers

The second-round order can be viewed here.

There are usually 60 picks, but the New York Knicks had a second-round pick taken away after an investigation found the team violated the league’s tampering rules when signing Jalen Brunson in 2022.

Who are the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The top prospect is Cooper Flagg of Duke given his frame, skills and potential. He’s a rare blend of ready-now, well-rounded and possible future No. 1 option on a contender.

Beyond Flagg, Rutgers has both Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey in the mix. Harper has the potential to be an elite combo guard given his 6-foot-10 wingspan, though his 33% 3-point shooting will need to improve at the next level. Bailey has the chops to be a star shotmaking forward, but he’ll need to improve defensively while there has been some red flags in regards to canceling pre-draft workouts with teams.

Fellow Duke prospect Kon Knueppel is a plug-and-play 3-point shooter. His versatility will allow him to play in multiple positions, with a sweet shot from deep. There are athleticism concerns defensively, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles that end.

Other possible top-five picks include Baylor G V.J. Edgecombe, Texas G/F Tre Jackson and Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis.

Outside of the top five, potential steals include Duke C Khaman Maluach, Michigan State G Jase Richardson, Duke G/F Tyrese Proctor, Colorado State G/F Nique Clifford, Michigan C Danny Wolf and St. John’s F RJ Luis Jr., among others.

What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Dallas Mavericks are on the clock.

A new group of young prospects is set to enter the league when the 2025 NBA Draft gets underway. Dallas won the lottery in May with just 1.8% odds, landing first dibs at star Duke prospect Cooper Flagg.

Flagg has been the consensus top prospect of this class for several years, and Dallas getting the first pick right after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers generated plenty of mixed reactions.

But unlike last year’s class, the pool of talent beyond Flagg is much more tantalizing. Flagg also isn’t the only possible top-five Duke pick, while Rutgers may see two top-five picks of its own.

Here’s everything to know as the first round of the draft gets underway:

What time does the NBA Draft start?

The draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 25. It is the second straight year of the event being held over two days. The second round is set for Thursday, June 26, also at 8 p.m. ET.

Where is the NBA Draft?

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, is once again the venue for both days.

Where to watch and stream the NBA Draft online, on TV

The first round on Wednesday will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. ESPN will air the second round on Thursday.

Both rounds will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN mobile app.

What is the NBA Draft order?

Here is the order of the draft entering the first round, via NBA.com:

First round:

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Utah Jazz

6. Washington Wizards

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Brooklyn Nets

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Chicago Bulls

13. Atlanta Hawks 

14. San Antonio Spurs

15. Oklahoma City

16. Memphis Grizzlies

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

18. Washington Wizards

19. Brooklyn Nets

20. Miami Heat

21. Utah Jazz

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. New Orleans Pelicans

24. Oklahoma City Thunder

25. Orlando Magic

26. Brooklyn Nets

27. Brooklyn Nets

28. Boston Celtics

29. Phoenix Suns

30. LA Clippers

The second-round order can be viewed here.

There are usually 60 picks, but the New York Knicks had a second-round pick taken away after an investigation found the team violated the league’s tampering rules when signing Jalen Brunson in 2022.

Who are the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The top prospect is Cooper Flagg of Duke given his frame, skills and potential. He’s a rare blend of ready-now, well-rounded and possible future No. 1 option on a contender.

Beyond Flagg, Rutgers has both Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey in the mix. Harper has the potential to be an elite combo guard given his 6-foot-10 wingspan, though his 33% 3-point shooting will need to improve at the next level. Bailey has the chops to be a star shotmaking forward, but he’ll need to improve defensively while there has been some red flags in regards to canceling pre-draft workouts with teams.

Fellow Duke prospect Kon Knueppel is a plug-and-play 3-point shooter. His versatility will allow him to play in multiple positions, with a sweet shot from deep. There are athleticism concerns defensively, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles that end.

Other possible top-five picks include Baylor G V.J. Edgecombe, Texas G/F Tre Jackson and Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis.

Outside of the top five, potential steals include Duke C Khaman Maluach, Michigan State G Jase Richardson, Duke G/F Tyrese Proctor, Colorado State G/F Nique Clifford, Michigan C Danny Wolf and St. John’s F RJ Luis Jr., among others.