For the second straight night, the A’s came out on top, beating the Angels 12-11 in extras innings of work.
More to come…
A’s Survive Angels In Extras, Win 12-11
RailRiders’ series in Columbus is return to Yankees’ Triple-A roots
It has been “Old Home Week” for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders during their current series in Columbus against the Clippers. For 28 years, from 1979 to 2006, the New York Yankees had their Triple-A affiliate in Columbus and enjoyed a highly successful run. Previous notable Triple-A homes had included Syracuse, Richmond, Denver, and Newark, but if today’s fans remember another one beyond Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, it’s probably Columbus.
This is the first time the RailRiders have visited Columbus since 2023. The Clippers have not been to PNC Field in Moosic since 2019. But back in the day, when Columbus was a Yankees affiliate and it came to town, fans would pack the former Lackawanna County Stadium. The Phillies’ minor leaguers on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons often remarked that it felt like a road game because so many people were there rooting for the Clippers.
After the teams split the first four games of the current set, Columbus leads the all-time series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 168-138.
Many notable Yankees played in Columbus. Dave Righetti. Don Mattingly. The Core Four. Alfonso Soriano, Chien-Ming Wang, and Robinson Canó.
Current RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan played 12 games for Columbus in 2006 and hit a home run in his Triple-A debut with the Clippers on June 19, 2006.
Eight players won International League Most Valuable Player while Columbus was a Yankees affiliate: Bobby Brown (1979), Marshall Brant (1980), Tucker Ashford (1982), Scott Bradley (1984), Dan Pasqua (1985), Hensley Meulens (1990), J.T. Snow (1992), and Fernando Seguignol (2003). Six pitchers were named IL Pitcher of the Year: Rick Anderson (1979), Bob Kammeyer (1980), Brad Arnsberg (1987), Dave Eiland (1990), Sam Militello (1992), and Ed Yarnall (1999).
During its affiliation with the Yankees, Columbus won seven International League titles and finished runner-up three times. Here’s a quick look back at those championship teams:
1979: With later dynasty architect Gene Michael as manager, the Clippers went 85-54 during the regular season, then defeated the Syracuse Chiefs in the final, four games to three. Dennis Werth—Jayson’s stepfather—was the team’s top hitter with 17 home runs, 74 RBIs and a .299 batting average. Brown was league MVP. Kammeyer was 16-8 with a 3.92 ERA, while Anderson was 13-3 with 21 saves and a 1.63 ERA.
1980: Under the direction of manager Joe Altobelli, who would soon win a World Series as Earl Weaver’s successor with the Orioles, Columbus went 83-57 and beat the Toledo Mud Hens in the final, 4-1. Brant hit .289 with 23 home runs and 92 RBIs to earn MVP honors. Kammeyer was 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA to be named Pitcher of the Year.
1981: For the third straight year, Columbus wins the league title with a third different manager. Frank Verdi led the Clippers to an 88-51 record during the regular season. In the final, they beat the Richmond Braves, 2-1, after the remainder of the series was cancelled due to rain and unplayable field conditions. Steve “Bye Bye” Balboni hit 33 home runs and drove in 98 runs, while Brant had 25 home runs and 95 RBIs. Ashford had 32 doubles, 17 home runs, 86 RBIs and batted .300. Pitchers John Pacella and Dave Wehrmeister each won 11 games.
1987: Bucky Dent managed Columbus this season, three years after his MLB career ended and three years before he would skipper the Yankees themselves. The Clippers finished second in the league with a 77-63 record, but swept the Rochester Red Wings and Tidewater Tides, 3-0, to capture the Governors’ Cup. Frank Costanza’s beloved Jay Buhner had 31 home runs and 85 RBIs. Orestes Destrade added 25 home runs and 81 RBIs, while Roberto Kelly had 13 home runs, 62 RBIs and 51 stolen bases. Pitchers Arnsberg and Pete Filson each won 12 games.
1991: Rick Down managed Columbus to an 85-59 record, then a three-game sweep of the Pawtucket Red Sox in the final. Playoff hero-in-the-making Jim Leyritz had 11 home runs and 48 RBIs, future Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had 10 bombs and 75 RBIs, and Mike Humphreys recorded nine home runs, 53 RBIs and a .283 batting average. Royal Clayton was the top pitcher, going 11-7 with a 3.84 ERA. Others on the staff that season included Eiland, Alan Mills, and Scott Kamieniecki.
1992: Down again was manager and guided Columbus to a 95-49 record. The Clippers then rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning of the fifth and deciding game of the final to defeat the Red Barons and repeat as champs. Snow captured MVP honors after batting .313 with 15 home runs and 78 RBIs. Meulens hit 26 home runs and knocked in 100 runs. The late Gerald Williams batted .285 with 16 home runs and 86 RBIs, while a youngster named Bernie Williams played 95 games and had eight home runs and 50 RBIs whenever he wasn’t patrolling center in the Bronx. Militello was 12-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 142 innings to earn the league’s top pitcher award. Bob Wickman added 12 victories.
1996: Former Yankees skipper Stump Merrill managed this Columbus team to an 85-57 record, then swept the Rochester Red Wings in the final, 3-0. Ivan Cruz socked 28 home runs and 96 RBIs. A whole bunch of familiar names from the late-1990s Yanks contributed to this Clippers team. Ricky Ledee had 21 home runs and 64 RBIs, while Jorge Posada chipped in 11 home runs and 62 RBIs. Brian Boehringer won 11 games, Eiland and Dave Pavlas each won eight and Ramiro Mendoza chipped in six victories.
In 2006, the Yankees announced they were moving their Triple-A affiliate from Columbus to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starting with the 2007 season. They have been in northeastern Pennsylvania ever since.
When the Yankees left, Columbus became the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals for 2007-08. It then became the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians in 2009 and continues to be today.
No longer do the Clippers play in Cooper Stadium, where the Yankees affiliate played. They moved to a downtown ballpark, Huntington Park, in 2009. But it doesn’t feel so long ago.
Max Muncy thriving at third base, Will Smith not ready to return from injured list
Max Muncy drove in a pair of runs with a first-inning single and also walked twice on Friday night. The Dodgers third baseman leads his National League peers at the position in several offensive categories this season, hitting .265/.371/.518 with a 147 wRC+ and 16 home runs two days shy of the halfway point of the season.
Muncy also had a sizable lead in the first round of All-Star voting as he tries to make his third career All-Star Game. Muncy is also excelling on defense this year, and talked to Rowan Kavner at Fox Sports about his season, including the strides he’s made at the hot corner after moving back to the position in 2022:
“When I’d do my work, I’d feel very free with the glove, not afraid to field [the ball] at different positions, field it off-balance, field it on the wrong foot,” Muncy told me. “And then when the game would come, I just couldn’t find that freedom. The ball would get hit to me, and I would tense up. My feet would get stuck. I would be scared to field the ball one-handed, even though that’s how I do most of my work.”
Links
- Will Smith was eligible to return from the injured list before Friday’s series opener, but his neck inflammation still lingers. The Dodgers catcher will not be activated this weekend, manager Dave Roberts said Friday. Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register has more.
- Ben Clemens at FanGraphs sought context for how relievers handle inherited runners, using the run expectancies of every situation when a pitching change is made. Among the standouts is Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia, who has allowed only three of his 19 inherited runners to score.
- Pablo Goldstein at LA Material wrote about a feud between two Dodgers fans and their dogs after a pair of Pups in the Park incidents at Dodger Stadium.
The pressure on the Wizards’ front office has never been higher
Since 2023, the Washington Wizards front office’s plan was simple: lose games, accumulate draft assets, develop young players, and wait for the moment when the rebuild finally produced a legitimate cornerstone. Or at least the chance to draft one.
That moment has arrived. The Wizards hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Now comes the hard part.
For the first time since the organization committed to “deconstruction,” Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins are under genuine pressure to make decisions that move the franchise forward rather than simply accumulate future possibilities.
The pressure is amplified by three factors: the pick itself, winning expectations and trade rumors around their best veterans.
The No. 1 pick itself
The mock drafts have the Wizards picking AJ Dybantsa from Brigham Young. I would draft Dybantsa. My mom would too.
But sometimes, a former franchise player and some timely reporting has to make this choice more interesting than it has to be.
The Wizards are reportedly seriously considering taking Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 1 instead. To be clear, Peterson is still going in the Top four, full stop. But when mock drafts and insiders have scouted Peterson and Dybantsa in some form for years, why is this debate happening to the points where insiders are chattering about it?
Debates will happen inside any front office. But when Dybantsa is the consensus No. 1, I’m not sure why the Wizards would waver.
Just take Dybantsa next Tuesday and let everything fall into place from there.
The Wizards have (at least some) winning expectations. FINALLY!
With the No. 1 draft pick and some timely trades which I’ll get to later, the Wizards are now expected to compete for something in 2026-27. Ownership, fans, and the broader NBA landscape all understand that perpetual rebuilding is not a viable strategy.
So what does competing for something mean? For the Wizards, their goal should be making the playoffs, something they haven’t done since the 2020-21 season. At a bare minimum, making the Play-In Tournament should be an expectation now that the Wizards have some consistent young players with Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson among others. The No. 1 draft pick will be a cornerstone, hopefully with their two veteran acquisitions: Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
Yes, teams want to escape the Treadmill of Mediocrity. But the Wizards have been on the Treadmill of Suckitude for three years. I’ll take mediocre because that’s the next step en route toward championship basketball.
How good are the Wizards truly expected to be in 2026-27? It’s very early because free agency hasn’t happened yet. But the Wizards have +20000 odds of winning the title according to FanDuel. Sure, +20000 or +10000 odds mean that a team has very little chance of winning a championship. But those odds are better than seven teams, three of which have +100000 odds. Last year, I would imagine the Wizards were dead last.
Progress folks, progress!
Trae Young and Anthony Davis will keep Washington on their toes
The Wizards acquired two All-Stars earlier this calendar year. Young played a few games for the Wizards while Davis never suited up for them due to injuries.
And because Young and Davis have played a lot more in winning environments, it should be no surprise that Young, or Davis, or both are trade targets. Or maybe they’re looking for a more winnable situation. Maybe it’s all of those things.
Young already declined his player option. Sure, reports are saying that the Wizards are high on his list for a potential new contract. But let’s say Peterson is drafted at No. 1. If so, that’s a sign that Young should hit the road given that both are guards.
Davis presents a different situation. Even at this stage of his career, he remains one of basketball’s premier defensive players when healthy. Pairing an elite defensive big with the young talent already on the roster could dramatically accelerate the Wizards’ timeline. The concern, of course, is his durability and the cost of acquisition. Also, there will be no shortage of suitors for him.
All of that said, if the Wizards select Dybantsa while Young, Davis and the recent core (Sarr, Coulibaly, George, Carrington, Johnson) all remain, then this Wizards team has a decent shot at the postseason. They won’t win the championship. But they could play basketball into May 2027.
When a franchise owns the first overall pick, every decision becomes magnified. The front office cannot hide behind another developmental year. It cannot point to a lack of talent. It cannot promise that success is still several seasons away.
What the Wizards do with their pick could very well define the franchise for the next decade. Do they stay patient and build around the top pick with their existing young and veteran players? Do they package Davis and/or Young for an established star or … more picks? Do they attempt to thread the needle between these options.
The Wizards’ front office has spent years preparing for this moment. Now that the No. 1 pick is finally in hand, the era of deconstructing is over. And now, the pressure to win begins.
NBA Draft History: Best players ever selected at picks 30 through 21
Goodbye, second round. Hello, first round.
Sure, we’re beginning at the back end of the first round, but the draft has operated under this structure for more than 20 years now. That gives us a pretty healthy sample size to evaluate what these draft positions have historically produced and what teams can reasonably expect when selecting in this range.
This is typically where the league’s most successful teams draft. If you finish with the best record in the NBA, you’re selecting 30th overall. If you’re consistently competing for championships, you’re often living in this neighborhood of the draft. As a result, success in this range is heavily dependent on an organization’s ability to identify talent, develop players, and find contributors who can outperform their draft position.
That’s easier said than done.
Many of these players are ultimately traded before they ever have a chance to contribute. Championship contenders often need proven veterans more than they need rookies, making first-round picks valuable trade assets rather than developmental projects. It’s one of the reasons this portion of the draft can be so fascinating to study.
The players who do break through often find themselves in ideal situations. They join stable organizations, earn opportunities, develop properly, and eventually become contributors to winning basketball. When you look at the best players drafted at the back end of the first round, that’s a common theme you’ll see over and over again. Talent matters. Opportunity matters too.
Before we begin our journey through the final 30 picks of the first round, let’s take a moment to look back at where we currently stand and the players who earned the title of best player selected at each draft position from No. 31 through No. 60.
| Pick | Player | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Michael Cooper | 1978 |
| 59 | Pat Cummings | 1978 |
| 58 | Kurt Rambis | 1980 |
| 57 | Manu Ginobili | 1999 |
| 56 | Amir Johnson | 2005 |
| 55 | Luis Scola | 2002 |
| 54 | Sam Mitchell | 1985 |
| 53 | Anthony Mason | 1988 |
| 52 | Rasual Butler | 2002 |
| 51 | Kyle Korver | 2003 |
| 50 | Steve Kerr | 1988 |
| 49 | Eddie Johnson | 1977 |
| 48 | Marc Gasol | 2007 |
| 47 | Paul Millsap | 2006 |
| 46 | Jeff Hornacek | 1986 |
| 45 | Bob Dandridge | 1969 |
| 44 | Malik Rose | 1996 |
| 43 | Michael Redd | 2000 |
| 42 | Stephen Jackson | 1997 |
| 41 | Nikola Jokic | 2014 |
| 40 | George Gervin | 1974 |
| 39 | Khris Middleton | 2012 |
| 38 | Steve Blake | 2003 |
| 37 | Nick Van Exel | 1993 |
| 36 | Mauric Cheeks | 1978 |
| 35 | Draymond Green | 2012 |
| 34 | Carlos Boozer | 2002 |
| 33 | Jalen Brunson | 2018 |
| 32 | Rashard Lewis | 1998 |
| 31 | Danny Ainge | 1981 |
Got that? Okey dokey. Let’s get into the First Round…
30. Jimmy Butler (2011)
Honorable Mentions:
- Gilbert Arenas (2001)
- Nate McMillan (1986)
- David Lee (2005)
- Josh Hart (2017)
Suns Taken at 30:
- Floyd Kerr (1969)
- Al Fleming (1976)
- Nemanja Nedovic (2013)
There were some good names drafted 30th overall. In fact, there are a few players who have strong arguments for this spot and who put together impressive NBA careers. Jimmy Butler is the answer, however. The reason is simple. He’s been the driving force behind two teams that reached the NBA Finals, and that level of impact is hard to ignore.
The Chicago Bulls selected Butler with the final pick of the first round in 2011. He wasn’t an immediate star, but it didn’t take long for him to establish himself as a valuable player. By his second season, he was already making a meaningful impact. By his third season, he earned All-Defensive Second Team honors, showcasing the toughness and competitiveness that would eventually define his career. Butler won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and earned the first of four consecutive All-Star selections with Chicago. He had evolved from a role player into a franchise cornerstone, becoming one of the league’s premier two-way wings.
His career path would eventually take him to Minnesota, where things became complicated. Butler famously wanted out, frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of urgency and competitiveness from some of the team’s younger stars, including Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. It’s funny looking back on that now. Both Towns and Wiggins eventually won championships. Butler still hasn’t.
After Minnesota, Butler landed in Miami in 2019, and that’s where his legacy truly took shape. He immediately transformed the culture of the Heat and led the franchise to two NBA Finals appearances. While Miami ultimately fell short both times, Butler’s postseason performances became the stuff of legend. He wasn’t merely making the playoffs. He was dragging teams deep into them.
Even now, at 36 years old, Butler remains one of the league’s most respected competitors. Before his injury-shortened last season, he was still averaging 20 points per game and proving that he could impact winning basketball at the highest level.
The résumé speaks for itself. Six All-Star appearances. Five All-NBA selections. Five All-Defensive Team selections. A Most Improved Player award. A steals title in 2021. Multiple Finals appearances as the best player on his team.
For the 30th overall pick, that’s an incredible return. Jimmy Butler may not have the championship ring that some of his peers possess, but when it comes to maximizing a draft position, few players have ever done it better.
29. Dennis Johnson (1976)
Honorable Mentions:
- Toni Kukoc (1990)
- Derrick White (2017)
- Dejounte Murray (2016)
- PJ Brown (1992)
Suns Taken at 29:
- Antonio Lang (1994)
- Alando Tucker (2007)
- Day’Ron Sharpe (2007)*
- Liam McNeeley (2025)**
*traded to the Nets on draft day for Landry Shamet
**traded to the Hornets on draft day for Mark Williams
Dennis Johnson is one of those players who, as NBA history rolls on, tends to get lost in the shuffle. Part of that is probably because he passed away far too young at age 52. Part of it is because there aren’t endless highlight packages floating around social media showcasing what he did between 1976 and 1990. And part of it is because he wasn’t the loudest star on the floor. He wasn’t somebody who demanded attention. He simply won.
If I’m being honest, my guess is that if I had been old enough to watch Dennis Johnson play in real time, he would’ve been one of my favorite players. He feels like the type of guy I would’ve gravitated toward. The unsung hero. The player who does all the little things. The guy who shows up every night and gets the job done.
The Seattle SuperSonics selected Johnson 29th overall in the 1976 NBA Draft, and it didn’t take long for him to establish himself as one of the league’s premier guards. By his third season, he was already an All-Star and a First Team All-Defensive player. He spent four seasons in Seattle, and his final year there was his best. In 1979, the SuperSonics won the NBA championship, and Johnson was named Finals MVP.
Then came the trade that brought him to Phoenix. In the summer of 1980, Seattle dealt Johnson to the Suns in exchange for Paul Westphal. Once he arrived in Phoenix, he continued playing at an elite level. In his first two seasons with the Suns, he earned two more All-Star appearances, an All-NBA First Team selection, and two additional First Team All-Defensive honors.
He was everything you could want from a guard. He could score. He could facilitate. He could defend. Most importantly, he could win.
Unfortunately for Suns fans, his time in Phoenix didn’t last long. After only three seasons, the organization traded Johnson to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Rick Robey. Looking back, it’s one of the most painful trades in franchise history. Boston essentially acquired the final piece of its championship puzzle.
Johnson immediately became a critical component of Celtics teams that won championships in 1984 and 1986. Surrounded by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, he did exactly what he had always done. He defended, facilitated, made winning plays, and elevated everyone around him.
If you want to build a championship team, Dennis Johnson is exactly the type of player you want on your roster. And for the Suns, it’s another reminder of where they failed to identify that unique trait, and it ultimately hurt their trajectory for a few seasons.
Need the résumé? Five-time All-Star. Three-time NBA champion. NBA Finals MVP. Two-time All-NBA selection. Nine-time All-Defensive Team selection. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
His career may not get the shine it deserves, but for 14 seasons, Dennis Johnson was a force in the NBA. The stars got the headlines. DJ got the wins.
28. Tony Parker (2001)
Honorable Mentions:
- Dan Roundfield (1975)
- Leoandro Barbosa (2003)
- Jordan Poole (2019)
- Jaden McDaniels (2020)
Suns Taken at 28:
- Rod Foster (1983)
- Andrew Lang (1988)
- Ryan Dunn (2024)*
*draft rights acquired from the Nets
How did the San Antonio Spurs win five championships? A big part of the answer is Tony Parker.
Selected 28th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft, Parker became another example of the Spurs’ ability to identify talent where others weren’t looking. Yes, San Antonio had already won a championship in 1999. That title felt like the culmination of the David Robinson era, even if Tim Duncan had already become the driving force behind the franchise.
But great organizations don’t stop after finding one star. They continue finding talent.
The Spurs were one of the NBA’s early pioneers when it came to identifying international players and giving them opportunities to succeed. Parker arrived from France as a skinny teenager with plenty of talent and plenty of questions surrounding him.
The questions didn’t last long. Parker developed into one of the smartest and most efficient point guards of his generation. He wasn’t overwhelming physically. He wasn’t a great three-point shooter. He simply understood how to play the game. He knew how to attack defenses, get to his spots, and make winning plays. Most importantly, he won. Again and again.
Parker spent 18 seasons in the NBA, 17 of them with the Spurs. During that time, he earned six All-Star selections, made four All-NBA teams, won four championships, and became one of the defining players of an era of San Antonio basketball.
His crowning achievement came in 2007. The Spurs defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to capture their third championship in five seasons, and Parker was named Finals MVP. For a player selected 28th overall, that’s the kind of accomplishment most franchises can only dream about finding.
His best statistical season came in 2008-09 when he averaged 22.0 points and 6.9 assists per game while finishing among the league’s most efficient guards. Night after night, he carved up defenses with that devastating first step and relentless ability to get into the paint.
And if you’re a Suns fan, you probably remember all of it. Parker always seemed to be a thorn in Phoenix’s side. Every time the Suns needed him to miss a shot, make a mistake, or have an off night, he usually delivered the opposite. He was clutch, composed, and frustratingly effective.
That’s why he’s the perfect example of what happens when elite organizations draft well at the back end of the first round. The Spurs found a future Hall of Famer at No. 28. And the rest of the league paid for it for nearly two decades.
27. Dennis Rodman (1986)
Honorable Mentions:
- Pascal Siakam (216)
- Rudy Gobert (2013)
- Kenrick Perkins (2003)
- Elden Campbell (1990)
Suns Taken at 27:
- Mario Bennett (1995)
- Sergio Rodriguez (2006)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (2014)
Pascal Siakam. Rudy Gobert. Kendrick Perkins. Those are all nice players, and each had a meaningful impact on the NBA. But when it comes to the greatest player ever drafted 27th overall, this isn’t much of a debate. The answer is Dennis Rodman.
The quiet, lunch pail forward out of Southeastern Oklahoma State was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the third pick of the second round, 27th overall, in the 1986 NBA Draft. What the Pistons received was one of the most unique players the sport has ever seen.
Rodman couldn’t score. At least not compared to the stars of his era. What he could do was completely take over a game without scoring. His ability to rebound, defend, and disrupt opponents was unlike anything the NBA had seen before.
Early in his career, Rodman was relatively quiet. The colorful hair, off-court antics, and larger-than-life personality came later. Initially, he was simply a relentless worker who attacked every possession as if his life depended on it. And nobody rebounded like him.
Rodman led the NBA in rebounding seven different times during his 14-year career. Seven. That’s an absurd accomplishment when you consider the Hall of Fame big men he competed against every night. His dominance on the glass translated directly to winning.
Rodman won championships with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990 as part of the Bad Boys era. After a few turbulent seasons and plenty of headlines off the court, he eventually found himself joining Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in Chicago at age 34. It was a perfect basketball marriage. The Bulls didn’t need Rodman to score. They needed him to do everything else. So he continued doing what he had always done, attacking rebounds, defending multiple positions, and making life miserable for opponents.
The result was three more championships.
When his career was over, Rodman had won five NBA titles, made two All-Star teams, earned eight All-Defensive Team selections, and captured Defensive Player of the Year honors twice. He also put together one of the most absurd rebounding résumés in league history.
His best season came in 1991-92 with Detroit when he averaged 18.7 rebounds per game. Think about that for a second. Not 18.7 points. 18.7 rebounds. And that wasn’t the only season he averaged more than 18 rebounds a game. As a Suns fan, it’s almost impossible for me to process those numbers. The best rebounding season in franchise history belongs to Paul Silas, who averaged 12.5 rebounds per game in 1970-71. Rodman was grabbing six more rebounds than that every single night.
That’s how impactful he was. That’s how he affected winning. And that’s why Dennis Rodman isn’t merely the best player drafted 27th overall. He’s one of the greatest values the NBA Draft has ever produced.
26. Vlade Divac (1989)
Honorable Mentions:
- Kevin Martin (2004)
- Charlie Ward (1994)
- George Hill (2008)
Suns Taken at 26:
- Phoenix has never drafted from this position
It’s funny how you’ll look at one draft slot and find four or five players that send you down completely different rabbit holes. You end up comparing résumés, accolades, championships, and impact, trying to determine who truly deserves the spot. Then you arrive at a pick like No. 26.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some good players here. Heck, we’re about to discuss a Hall of Famer. It simply doesn’t feel as loaded as some of the other draft positions we’ve covered. That Hall of Famer is Vlade Divac.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected the big man out of Serbia with the 26th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, arriving at the tail end of the Showtime era. The timing couldn’t have been better. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had retired following the previous season, leaving a massive void in the middle. The Lakers didn’t waste any time throwing Divac into the fire. He became their starting center almost immediately.
For those of us who watched basketball in the 1990s, Divac is a player we all remember. He was skilled, intelligent, and one of the first international centers to demonstrate that passing and playmaking could be part of a big man’s game. He also happened to be what many of us considered the original flopper. At the time, it felt like he brought a soccer mentality to basketball, constantly exaggerating contact and searching for whistles. Looking at today’s NBA, it’s funny how much the game has eventually evolved in that direction.
Divac spent eight seasons with the Lakers before becoming part of one of the most famous trades in league history. On draft night in 1996, Los Angeles sent him to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the rights to a teenager named Kobe Bryant. That worked out pretty well for the Lakers.
Divac’s career, however, was far from over. After a stint in Charlotte, he found a second act with the Sacramento Kings. Those Kings teams became one of the most entertaining groups of the early 2000s, challenging the Lakers year after year in the Western Conference playoffs. And we all know how that story ended. The Lakers advanced, although many Kings fans will forever argue that outside influences helped determine the outcome.
Divac earned the lone All-Star appearance of his career in 2001 with Sacramento and remained a key contributor deep into his 30s. By the time he retired, he had played 16 seasons in the NBA while averaging 11.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
The numbers aren’t overwhelming. The impact was. Divac helped pave the way for future generations of international players, enjoyed a long and productive NBA career, and ultimately earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. And he taught the NBA how to flop and get rewarded.
25. Mark Price (1986)
Honorable Mentions:
- Nicolas Batum (2008)
- Clint Capela (2014)
- Al Harrington (1998)
- Gerald Wallace (2001)
Suns Taken at 25:
- Jake Tsakalidis (2000)
The best player ever drafted 25th overall? The Price is Right, Mark Price. The 6’0″ point guard out of Georgia Tech was one of those players who, if you followed Eastern Conference basketball in the late 1980s and early 1990s, you knew all too well. He was a shooter, and he was incredibly productive.
Unfortunately for Price, he played in an era loaded with heavyweights. The Eastern Conference featured the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics, and eventually Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Breaking through that gauntlet was nearly impossible, which is one of the reasons Price’s teams never reached the mountaintop. That doesn’t diminish how good he was.
Ironically, Price was originally drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 1986. Dallas quickly traded his rights to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 1989 second-round pick, a move that turned into one of the better acquisitions in franchise history. Price spent the next nine seasons in Cleveland and became the engine behind some of the best teams the Cavaliers had ever assembled. Alongside players like Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance, he helped transform Cleveland into a perennial playoff contender.
His individual accomplishments were impressive. Price earned four All-Star selections, made the All-NBA First Team once, and landed on the All-NBA Third Team three times. He averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game during his career while establishing himself as one of the premier point guards of his generation.
What truly separated Price, however, was his shooting. Long before the three-point revolution changed basketball, Price was demonstrating the value of elite perimeter efficiency. He was one of the best shooters the game had ever seen, particularly from the free throw line. He led the NBA in free-throw percentage three different times and retired with a career mark of 90.4%, one of the highest percentages in league history.
While he may not receive the same recognition as some of the superstars from his era, Mark Price was a terrific player, an elite shooter, and one of the best point guards of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
24. Sam Cassell (1993)
Honorable Mentions:
- Kyle Lowry (2006)
- Latrell Spreewell (1992)
- Arvydas Sabonis (1986)
- Terry Porter (1985)
- Andrei Kirilenko (1999)
Suns Taken at 24:
- Gene Williams (1969)
- Johnny High (1979)
- Anthony Cook (1989)
- Rudy Fernandez (2007)
*opted to stay in the ABA
Okay, now we get to have some fun. When you arrive at the 24th overall pick, the debate becomes a lot more interesting. This isn’t one of those draft slots where there’s an obvious answer sitting at the top. There are multiple players with legitimate cases, and whichever direction you go, you can make a compelling argument.
You could make the case for Sam Cassell. You could make the case for Kyle Lowry. Latrell Sprewell deserves consideration. So does Arvydas Sabonis. Honestly, none of those answers would be wrong.
If you’re talking strictly about peak performance, Sprewell has a strong argument. For a stretch of about seven years, he was one of the most dynamic guards in basketball. He could score, defend, and carry an offense. At his best, he was a problem.
If you’re looking at longevity and accolades, Kyle Lowry deserves plenty of attention. He’s a six-time All-Star, an All-NBA selection, an NBA champion, and one of the most accomplished point guards of his generation. He also produced the most points over the course of his career among this group.
Then there’s Sabonis. His NBA career doesn’t compare statistically because he arrived in the league after much of his prime had already passed. But if you’re willing to include his international accomplishments, the conversation changes dramatically. In that context, he might be the strongest candidate of all.
So who did I choose? I went with Sam Cassell.
Part of it is the championships. Three rings matter, especially when you consider that two of them came during his first two seasons in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. He entered the league out of Florida State and immediately found himself contributing to championship teams. And he hurt my feelings along the way. So there is that bias.
Years later, he would add a third title with the Boston Celtics. Granted, he wasn’t a primary contributor on that championship team, but the ring still counts.
What ultimately pushes Cassell over the top for me is the totality of his career.
He wasn’t merely a role player riding shotgun on great teams. He became an All-Star, an All-NBA selection, and one of the toughest, smartest point guards of his era. Everywhere he went, he won. Whether it was Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Los Angeles, or Boston, Cassell consistently found ways to impact winning.
That’s why he gets the nod. In a draft slot filled with worthy candidates, Sam Cassell is my choice as the greatest player ever selected 24th overall. But the question is…who do you think should get it?
23. Alex English (1976)
Honorable Mentions:
- OG Anunoby (2017)
- AC Green (1985)
- World B. Free (1975)
- Tayshaun Prince (2002)
- Bobby Jackson (1997)
Suns Taken at 23:
- Wesley Person (1994)
I began writing this series in early June in preparation for draft week, and I did have to circle back and revisit the 23rd overall pick after watching what OG Anunoby accomplished during the NBA Finals. That being said, Alex English still gets the nod.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected English with the 23rd overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft as they attempted to navigate life after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He showed flashes during his time in Milwaukee, but not enough to convince the organization he was part of its long-term future. After two seasons, the Bucks moved on.
English signed with the Indiana Pacers in 1978, spending two years there before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 1980 for George McGinnis (more on him very shortly). That transaction changed everything.
Once he arrived in Denver, English became the face of the franchise and spent the entirety of the 1980s filling up the stat sheet. Night after night, season after season, he produced at an elite level. To this day, he remains Denver’s all-time leader in games played, minutes played, field goals made, field goal attempts, and points scored.
The accolades followed. English was an eight-time All-Star, the NBA scoring champion in 1983, and a three-time All-NBA selection. During his 837 games with the Nuggets, he averaged 25.9 points per game, establishing himself as one of the most prolific scorers of his era.
When people think about 1980s Nuggets basketball, they think about Alex English. He wasn’t merely a great player who happened to play in Denver. For an entire decade, he was Denver.
22. George McGinnis (1973)
Honorable Mentions:
- Reggie Lewis (1987)
- Norm Nixon (1977)
- Scott Skiles (1986)
- Bobby Portis (2015)
Suns Taken at 22:
- Kyle Macy (1979)
- Oliver Miller (1992)
- Casey Jacobsen (2002)
- Daron Holmes II (2024)*
*draft rights traded for Ryan Dunn
George McGinnis has one of the more impressive collections of nicknames you’ll find on Basketball Reference. Big Mac. Baby Bull. McGinnis the Magnificent. Big George. The Hammer. The 6’8” power forward out of Indiana University lived up to every one of them.
McGinnis was originally selected 22nd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1973 NBA Draft. But like many talented players of the early 1970s, he chose the ABA over the NBA, beginning his professional career with the Indiana Pacers. What followed was an incredible start to a career.
The Pacers won ABA championships in each of McGinnis’ first two seasons. During the 1973 postseason, he was named ABA Playoffs MVP after averaging 23.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game en route to a title. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier players, earning three ABA All-Star selections while becoming the face of the Pacers franchise.
By 1975, McGinnis had reached the peak of his ABA career. That season, he shared the league’s final MVP award with Julius Erving, cementing his place among the greatest players the league ever produced. When the ABA began collapsing, McGinnis signed with the team that had originally drafted him, joining the Philadelphia 76ers in 1975.
His success continued in the NBA. McGinnis earned two more All-Star selections with Philadelphia while adding an All-NBA First Team selection and an All-NBA Second Team honor. He remained one of the league’s most productive forwards before the 76ers traded him to the Denver Nuggets.
His stint in Denver lasted only a season and a half, but he still managed to earn another All-Star appearance before being traded back to Indiana in 1980. The player Denver received in return was Alex English, a trade that would have a lasting impact on both franchises.
He finished his career as a six-time All-Star, a two-time ABA champion, a two-time All-NBA selection, an ABA MVP, and an ABA Playoffs MVP. And despite Basketball Reference assigning him only a 1.1% Hall of Fame probability, he ultimately found his way into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
21. Rajon Rondo (2006)
Honorable Mentions:
- Tyrese Maxey (2020)
- Michael Finley (1995)
- Boris Diaw (2003)
- Morris Peterson (2000)
- Mark Bryant (1988)
Suns Taken at 21:
- Dick Cunningham (1968)
- Jayson Williams (1990)
- Michael Finley (1995)
- Nate Robinson (2005)*
- Rajon Rondo (2006)**
*traded on draft night to the Knicks for Kurt Thomas
**traded on draft night for future FRP
Pick No. 21 gives us some interesting names, and plenty of them have ties to the Phoenix Suns. Michael Finley was drafted here. Boris Diaw, a key piece of the Seven Seconds or Less era, was drafted here. So was Mark Bryant, who not only played for the Suns but later coached for them.
And while Tyrese Maxey may ultimately claim this spot one day if his career trajectory continues, my choice is Rajon Rondo.
What’s funny is that Rondo was technically drafted by the Phoenix Suns. The Suns selected him with the 21st overall pick in 2006, a time when the organization was pinching pennies despite fielding one of the most exciting teams in basketball. Rather than investing in a young player who could help sustain the team’s future, Robert Sarver chose to save money. The rights to Rondo were dealt to the Boston Celtics on draft night in exchange for a future first-round pick, effectively kicking the decision down the road.
The irony, of course, is that the eventual return never amounted to much. The Suns ultimately turned that asset into Rudy Fernandez, who never played for Phoenix. His rights were later moved, along with James Jones, to Portland for cash considerations. Meanwhile, Rondo became exactly the kind of player the Suns could have used for years.
When you think about what Phoenix lacks today, Rondo checks a lot of those boxes. He was a pass-first point guard who controlled the pace of a game, distributed at an elite level, rebounded well for his position, and could score when the situation demanded it. His primary gift, however, was making everyone around him better.
Three times he led the NBA in assists per game. Over a 16-year career, he averaged 8.5 assists against only 2.8 turnovers per game. He earned four All-Star appearances, led the league in steals in 2010, made an All-NBA team, and was selected to four All-Defensive teams.
Rondo was a key cog in the machine that helped the Celtics win the 2008 championship. In his second season, he started every playoff game and averaged 9.3 points and 6.7 assists during the NBA Finals. More than a decade later, he added a second championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in the bubble.
Everywhere he went, he impacted winning. By the time his career ended, Rondo had played 16 seasons for nine different teams. He wasn’t always easy to coach, and he wasn’t always easy to play with. But he was productive, intelligent, and fiercely competitive. He was the type of player every contender wanted, and every opponent hated facing.
What a career. And what a reminder of what might have been for the Phoenix Suns.
The deeper we move into the first round, the harder these decisions become. The talent pool gets stronger, the résumés get longer, and the debates become a lot more subjective. That’s what makes this part of the draft so much fun. There isn’t always a clear answer. Sometimes it’s championships. Sometimes it’s peak performance. Sometimes it’s longevity. And sometimes it’s the painful reminder of a player the Suns once drafted, traded, or passed on altogether.
One thing is certain, though: if the first 10 picks have taught us anything, it’s that draft position matters a lot less than what an organization does with it once the card is turned in.
Santa Clara’s Allen Graves would be steal of draft if he falls to Lakers
The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar.
Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved.
Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.
And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026-27.
For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on.
In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Doncic or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future.
If the Lakers choose the latter, there isn’t a shortage of options.
Toward the top of that list should be Santa Clara forward Allen Graves, who would be the steal of the draft if he fell to the Lakers.
Allen Graves, Santa Clara forward
2025-26 stats: 11.8 points (51.2% shooting — 56% on 2s, 41.3% on 3s), 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks, 22.6 minutes
Measurements: 6-foot-7 ¾ (without shoes), 225 pounds, 7-foot wingspan, 8-foot-10 ½ standing reach
Why draft Allen Graves?
Lakers coach JJ Redick said next season’s team has to be better with “being able to dribble, pass and shoot.”
Graves excels in these areas, making him a Swiss Army Knife-esque player who can fit into a variety of roles because of his versatile skill set and basketball IQ.
He has high-level passing/playmaking skills for a player his size after being a point guard before his growth spurts. His height helps him see the floor well before making advanced reads.
Graves can run an offense in doses because of his playmaking ability and will keep the ball moving, helping maintain or create advantages without turning the ball over.
He’s at his best when playing out of the short roll, elbows, blocks or popping out of pick and rolls.
His basketball IQ is evident with his playmaking on both sides of the floor — he was the lone player in men’s college basketball to have a steal percentage and block percentage of at least 4.9 in 2025-26. Graves’ quick hands, awareness, length and mobility helped make him one of college basketball’s best defensive playmakers last season.
And he was a credible 3-point shooting threat for the Broncos.
Graves is the type of player who’d fit on nearly every NBA roster because of his versatile skill set.
Regardless of other Lakers’ roster decisions, Graves would be additive to their roster.
Areas of improvement?
His lack of athleticism and explosiveness contributed to his struggles with scoring efficiency near the rim, and that’ll likely only be worse in the NBA.
His lack of lateral quickness and mobility will make it difficult for him to stay in front of quicker guards on the perimeter and defend in space.
Graves also will need to get stronger to defend bigger forwards without having to foul. He averaged 5.5 fouls per 40 minutes in college.
He also isn’t a versatile scorer — he’s more of a play finisher than creator, and his finishing abilities were limited to 3-point shooting or scoring after an advantage was created.
There are also questions — ones that can’t be answered — on how much his efficient statistical production and great analytics are a result of coming off the bench for a mid-major program instead of playing against more elite collegiate competition.
Baylor guard Cameron Carr could help bridge eras for Warriors
The Warriors possess the No. 11 pick in this month’s NBA draft.
Who they pick with their highest selection since 2021 could hold the cards to not only the final years of Steph Curry’s career but also the future direction of the franchise.
This week, we are profiling five possible prospects GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. could target.
Continuing with Part 4:
Cameron Carr
Age: 21
Position: Guard
Height/weight: 6-foot-5 / 185 pounds
School: Baylor
Why he’s a fit
As the Warriors seek to bridge the end of Curry’s career with the franchise’s next era, Carr offers an intriguing combination of upside with a built-in skill set that could contribute to winning right away.
A high-flying, slashing wing, Carr would give the Warriors the kind of athleticism they haven’t had in a prospect since … Jonathan Kuminga?
There’s reason to believe taking a flyer on a high-upside scorer and potential impact defender such as Carr will go better this time around. For one, the Warriors are in a different place — reevaluating everything from their offensive system to their championship expectations.
Carr is also ready to contribute right away with a lethal 3-point shot and a quick, lanky frame that should make him a pest on the perimeter. He adds 8 inches with a wingspan that measured a tick over 7 feet at the NBA combine, where he also showed out with 30 points on six 3-pointers in a scrimmage and a 42.5-inch vertical leap — the third highest of any prospect.
The last time the Warriors held the No. 11 pick, it gave them Klay Thompson, and Carr shares some similarities shooting at a 37.4% clip from beyond the perimeter at Baylor while setting up many of those shots by running around screens off the ball.
Like the two Splash Brothers, Carr also has NBA bloodlines through his father, Chris Carr, who played six seasons and passed down the traits that earned him an invite to the 1997 dunk contest.
Why he’ll last until No. 11
With three years of college experience, Carr is only 2 years younger than Kuminga, for comparison’s sake. That makes him one of the older players likely to go in the lottery.
It also raises questions about how much there is left for him to develop physically.
While his length gives him the upside to be an elite defender, his lean stature means he could also get pushed around by a league of players almost universally larger than him. There wasn’t a single impact player lighter than 185 pounds this season — just 12 in total around the NBA.
Carr is also relatively raw for a three-year college player: He averaged 1.4 points in 14 games as a freshman at Tennessee and was limited to four games the following season after fracturing his thumb before transferring to Baylor.
NBA comp: Trey Murphy III
Carr has the skills to contribute as a rookie and the potential to grow into a prototypical 3-and-D player. If he bulks up and improves his handle, he could become even more than that.
ICYMI
Yaxel Lendeborg could be steal of NBA draft
Saturday Rockpile: Future Rockies in Omaha
The College World Series final is here, and the MLB Draft is not far behind it.
That combo made me ask a simple Rockies question: Are there any players in Omaha this weekend who could soon be wearing Rockies purple?
North Carolina and Oklahoma open a best-of-three championship series tonight — Saturday, June 20 — at 5 pm MDT at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, June 21, and Game 3, if necessary, would be played Monday, June 22.
The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled for July 12-14 in Philadelphia as part of All-Star Week festivities. The Rockies currently hold six picks in the first 200 selections: No. 10, No. 37, No. 38, No. 76, No. 104 and No. 136.
Colorado’s 2026 draft picture starts at No. 10, but none of the players taking the field in Omaha this weekend are expected to be in that conversation.
The top of the 2026 class is generally centered around names such as Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, Vahn Lackey and Jackson Flora, all of whom have spent much of the year near the top of public draft boards. Those players are not part of this championship series.
That does not mean there is no draft relevance in Omaha. The Rockies have multiple picks after the first round, and several players in this matchup could reasonably fall into the range where Colorado will be selecting. Teams build a lot of organizational depth in this part of the draft, and a few of the more interesting names are wearing North Carolina or Oklahoma uniforms this weekend.
Owen Hull, OF, North Carolina
Baseball America rank:No. 73
MLB.com rank:No. 158
Potential Rockies selection:No. 76, with No. 37/No. 38 becoming a possibility if the helium keeps building
Owen Hull is one of the more recognizable draft names in this series, and his profile starts with a pretty clear player type: a left-handed hitting outfielder with center-field experience, plus speed and a contact-oriented bat.
On the 20-80 scouting scale, MLB.com grades Hull with a 50 hit tool, 45 power, 60 run, 45 arm, 50 field and 45 overall. That lines up with the statistical profile. This is not a huge raw-power outfielder, but there are enough contact, athleticism and center-field traits to make the profile interesting.
Baseball America has Hull at No. 73, while MLB.com has him at No. 158, but his stock appears to be moving closer to the higher end of that range. Hull has already been discussed as a possible second-rounder, and with some mocks pushing him up to the 58th overall pick.
Hull will turn 22 in July, so he is not a young prospect, but he has hit everywhere. Across 636 career college plate appearances between George Mason and North Carolina, Hull has hit .374/.484/.575 with a 1.059 OPS, 41 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs and 62 stolen bases. He also has 92 career walks against 97 strikeouts.
This season, Hull has hit .398/.506/.614 with 26 doubles, eight home runs, 47 walks and 44 strikeouts in 310 plate appearances. That is more walks than strikeouts, a 14.2% strikeout rate and plenty of extra-base contact without selling out for power.
MLB.com noted his physicality, plus speed, improved power and strong postseason run in a recent look at draft prospects gaining momentum in Omaha. The swing questions and age caveat are real, but the production, athleticism and center-field experience make Hull an interesting fit once the Rockies get past their first few picks.
The roster-fit is the question. If Cole Carrigg and Sterlin Thompson — or Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), Jared Thomas (No. 5 PuRP), Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP), Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) — are part of the next Rockies outfield mix, Hull may not line up as neatly with the depth chart, and Colorado’s bigger organizational need is probably on the mound.
That should not take him off the radar, especially if the bat keeps pushing him up boards, but it is part of the conversation.
Jason DeCaro, RHP, North Carolina
Baseball America rank:No. 90
MLB.com rank:No. 125
Potential Rockies selection:No. 76, No. 104 or No. 136
Jason DeCaro is one of the more interesting pitching names in this series for Colorado.
The public rankings put DeCaro more naturally around Colorado’s No. 104 or No. 136 picks, but that range may be moving up (a common theme). Baseball America recently mocked DeCaro at No. 65.
The appeal is the starter profile. DeCaro is just 20 years old on draft day, but already has a three-year track record in North Carolina’s rotation. He has a durable 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame and works with a four-pitch mix: fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The fastball is not overpowering, usually sitting in the low 90s, but it has been up to 97 mph and can generate weak contact with its shape and running life.
The secondaries give him more ways to work through a lineup. His curveball is generally viewed as the best of the group, with solid depth and enough upside to miss bats when he lands it. He also throws a low-80s changeup with fade, a slider and enough feel to sequence his mix instead of relying only on velocity.
In 2026, DeCaro has a 2.28 ERA with 84 strikeouts, 38 walks and a 1.28 WHIP over 87 innings. The strikeout rate is solid rather than dominant, and he does not project as a huge swing-and-miss arm right now. But the workload, age, run prevention and rotation track record point toward a starter candidate.
The Rockies need starting pitching, and the future of Colorado’s rotation is murky. DeCaro does not have overwhelming stuff, but he checks several starter boxes: size, age, workload, pitchability and a full arsenal.
His delivery and pitch mix are worth a look on video.
Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina
Baseball America rank:No. 91
MLB.com rank:No. 91
Potential Rockies selection:No. 76 or No. 104
Jake Schaffner is a clean middle-board fit, and the more you look at the profile, the more interesting it gets.
Both Baseball America and MLB.com rank Schaffner No. 91, which puts him directly in the Rockies’ No. 76/No. 104 window. Baseball America also recently mocked Schaffner at No. 75, one pick before Colorado’s fourth selection.
Like Hull, Schaffner appears to be moving up boards. The public rankings still place him in the 90s, but recent mock-draft placement suggests teams may be higher on him than that.
The profile is built around contact, speed and defensive reliability. Schaffner hit .352/.467/.551 with six home runs, 19 doubles, 47 walks, 30 strikeouts and 28 stolen bases this season after transferring from North Dakota State to North Carolina. That is a 9.3% strikeout rate in 324 plate appearances, which is hard to ignore.
The larger track record backs it up. Across 813 college plate appearances, Schaffner owns a .353/.448/.486 line with 37 doubles, 13 triples, nine home runs, 89 walks, 95 strikeouts and 60 stolen bases.
The swing helps explain the numbers. Schaffner has a short, compact left-handed stroke, and he does not have much wasted movement. He is not trying to sell out for power, and the approach shows up in the strikeout totals. This looks more like a contact, line-drive and gap-power bat than a home-run profile, but there is value in that if the hit tool carries into pro ball.
The defensive question is the arm. Schaffner has the actions, athleticism and reliability to handle shortstop now, but multiple reports note that his arm strength could push him to second base or third base in pro ball. For the Rockies, that may not be a bad outcome. Colorado needs a second baseman, and Schaffner’s profile could fit there.
Schaffner is probably not a future superstar, but there is a little “ballplayer” quality here: low strikeouts, good at-bats, defensive value and enough athleticism to impact the game without needing one loud carrying tool.
He will probably get drafted by the Brewers.
Other options in the Rockies’ pick range
A few other players from the matchup show up on public boards as possible middle-round options.
| Player | School | Position | Baseball America rank | MLB.com rank | Potential Rockies range |
| Ryan Lynch | North Carolina | RHP | No. 87 | No. 97 | No. 76 / No. 104 |
| Camden Johnson | Oklahoma | 3B | No. 94 | No. 129 | No. 104 / No. 136 |
| Brendan Brock | Oklahoma | C/OF | No. 109 | No. 109 | No. 104 / No. 136 |
| Gavin Gallaher | North Carolina | 2B/3B | No. 96 | No. 198 | No. 104 / No. 165 / No. 194 |
| Jaxon Willits | Oklahoma | SS | No. 153 | No. 146 | No. 136 / No. 165 |
| LJ Mercurius | Oklahoma | RHP | No. 162 | No. 172 | No. 165 / No. 194 |
Ryan Lynch is the highest-ranked arm in this group, with a low-slot fastball/slider foundation and some reliever risk. Camden Johnson is a corner-infield bat, while Brendan Brock’s value depends partly on whether he can stay behind the plate.
Jaxon Willits hit .305/.400/.505 with seven home runs, six triples, 17 doubles, 37 walks, and 51 strikeouts this season at Oklahoma. He is a switch-hitting infielder with approach, some power growth, and a possible second-base fit. It is also worth mentioning that Willits is the older brother of 2025 No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits. The Rockies took Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) at No. 4 in the 2025 draft.
LJ Mercurius is a later-range Oklahoma arm with a fastball that can touch 97 mph, a slider/changeup mix and enough starter background to be interesting. The question is whether the command points him toward a rotation or a relief role.
Future names to file away
The 2026 draft names are the focus, but some of the higher-end talent in this series may be in future classes.
For North Carolina, Caden Glauber is the big one. The freshman right-hander has gone 11-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 84 ⅔ innings. Sawyer Black, an outfielder, is another UNC underclassman to remember.
Oklahoma has two freshman arms worth tracking in Cord Rager and Xander Mercurius. Rager is a 6-foot-6 left-hander who has already played a major role in the Sooners’ postseason run. Mercurius, LJ’s younger brother, is a longer-range right-handed arm with future draft intrigue.
So, will any of them become Rockies?
There is no way to know. Draft boards move, bonus-pool strategies matter and teams do not always line up with public rankings.
But one thing is certain: there will be plenty of good baseball this weekend (and maybe Monday) in Omaha.
North Carolina is led by Hull, DeCaro and Glauber, while Oklahoma has a deep roster led by Brock, Willits and the Mercurius brothers. Schaffner, Lynch, Johnson, Gallaher, Rager and others add more names to know across the two rosters.
Maybe one of them eventually becomes a Rockie. Maybe none of them do.
Either way, there are real future pros in this series, the national championship is on the line and the draft conversation is just warming up.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 9, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 3
The Albuquerque Isotopes beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys 9-3 on Thursday night, improving to 38-35 while Sugar Land fell to 31-41. Albuquerque never trailed, got a long first-inning homer from Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) and broke the game open with a five-run fifth.
Veen supplied the first swing. After Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) walked with two outs in the first, Veen jumped a first-pitch 90.6 mph fastball from Josh Hendrickson and crushed it to right field. The ball left the bat at 104.4 mph and traveled 455 feet for Veen’s 11th home run of the season and a 2-0 lead.
Evan Shawver got the rare start and allowed two runs in the second, but Eiberson Castellano stopped the inning by striking out Shay Whitcomb on an 83.9 mph curveball below the zone. Castellano gave Albuquerque 4.1 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and four walks while striking out six. He improved to 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA.
The Isotopes put the game away in the fifth. Veen singled, Chad Stevens followed with another hit, and Nic Kent drove both home with a triple to right. Ryan Ritter added another triple later in the inning, lining a 96.5 mph ball into the right-center gap for his first triple of the season and two more runs.
Veen finished 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs. Ritter went 1-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base, while Kent added two hits and two RBI. Mickey Moniak went 0-for-5 in his second rehab start and is 0-for-8 through two games with Albuquerque. John Brebbia, TJ Shook and Seth Halvorsen each threw a scoreless inning to finish it out.
Double-A: Reading Fightin Phils 4, Hartford Yard Goats 2
The Reading Fightin Phils beat the Hartford Yard Goats 4-2 on Thursday night, improving to 29-38 while Hartford fell to 38-28. Reading built an early lead, and Hartford’s offense did not get much going until Conner Capel’s two-run homer in the seventh.
Jake Brooks gave Hartford length, but took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits over seven innings. He walked two, struck out three and allowed one homer, with his ERA moving to 4.17. Reading scored once in the first, once in the third and twice in the fourth before Brooks settled in and finished seven.
The Yard Goats’ only real swing came from Capel, who hit his 12th home run of the season in the seventh with one on and one out. The homer cut the deficit to 4-2, but Hartford did not score again. Bryant Betancourt had one of Hartford’s better offensive nights, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Aidan Longwell also reached twice with a hit and a walk, but the Yard Goats finished 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left six on base.
High-A:Vancouver Canadians 12, Spokane Indians 5
The Vancouver Canadians beat the Spokane Indians 12-5 on Thursday night, improving to 28-39 while Spokane fell to 29-38. Spokane had 12 hits and a three-run homer from Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP), but Vancouver kept adding on and finished 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Jordy Vargas (No. 21 PuRP) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out five, but Vancouver made him work and pushed across runs in the second, third and fourth before breaking the game open later against the bullpen.
Hedges gave Spokane its biggest swing in the third. With Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP) and Roynier Hernandez aboard, Hedges hit his fifth home run of the season to left-center field, tying the game 3-3. He finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Spokane added two more in the fifth after Vancouver had pulled ahead 9-3. Jack O’Dowd brought in Belyeu with a sacrifice fly, and Alan Espinal followed with a sharp single to center to score Hedges. That was as close as the Indians got. Spokane went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. Vancouver finished with 12 runs, 13 hits, two homers and 12 RBI.
Vancouver did most of its damage against Francis Rivera, who allowed five runs, three earned, over three innings. Tyler Hampu finished the game with two innings, allowing two runs while striking out five.
Single-A: Inland Empire 66ers 16, Fresno Grizzlies 4
The Inland Empire 66ers beat the Fresno Grizzlies 16-4 on Thursday night, improving to 29-38 while Fresno fell to 36-31. Inland Empire scored seven runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth, turning a manageable early deficit into a blowout.
Angel Jimenez started for Fresno and took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out six and gave up Dervy Ventura’s two-run homer in the second, but the game got away in the fifth after a hit batter and back-to-back doubles from Aiden Taurek and Cesar Quintas.
Bryson Van Sickle followed and had a rough inning, allowing eight runs on seven hits and three walks while recording three outs. Grif Hughes gave Fresno its cleanest inning, striking out two in a perfect ninth. By then, the game had already been decided. Inland Empire finished with 16 runs, 16 hits and seven extra-base hits.
Fresno’s offense had moments, but not enough to keep up. Kyle Fossum singled in Tanner Thach in the fourth, and the Grizzlies added three more in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk to Cameron Nelson, an Ashly Andujar (No. 20 PuRP)groundout and a Luis Mendez infield single. Nelson went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, Carlos Renzullo had two hits, and Mendez added a hit, a walk and an RBI. Fresno went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.
Rockies Cole Carrigg and Kyle Karros thriving, thanks to their buddy system | denverpost.com ($)
In this Denver Post piece, Patrick Saunders writes about how Cole Carrigg and Kyle Karros have arrived in Colorado with different personalities but a shared history that has helped both settle into the majors. Carrigg brings the “hair on fire” energy, while Karros offers the calmer counterweight, and the two have leaned on that balance since their climb through the Rockies’ system. Their friendship now gives the Rockies’ young roster a built-in support system at the big league level.
As Condon heats up in Triple-A, could he be nearing a call-up? | MLB.com
In this MLB.com piece, Thomas Harding writes about Charlie Condon’s recent surge at Triple-A Albuquerque and whether it could move him closer to a Rockies call-up. Condon entered Friday with a .343/.425/.971 slash over his previous nine games, with six home runs, four walks, 16 RBI and triples in back-to-back games. The article also frames his development beyond the bat, noting his recent work in right field and Paul DePodesta’s emphasis on making sure prospects have a solid foundation before reaching the majors. The big question is less whether Condon is forcing his way into the conversation and more whether the Rockies can create enough playing time when the big league roster gets healthier.
Weekly Pebble Report: Cam Nelson is finding his footing with the Rockies in Fresno | purplerow.com
In this week’s Pebble Report, Eli Whitney looks at Cam Nelson’s emerging offensive profile in the lower levels of the Rockies’ system. Nelson’s patience is the carrying tool, as he leads the California League in walks and ranks near the top of the league in on-base percentage. The piece also traces Nelson’s path from Wake Forest to Fresno and frames him as a player whose value comes from getting on base, scoring runs and fitting a clear role.
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MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Saturday, June 20
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Not every favorite deserves to be favored.
Several of Saturday's MLB matchups feature teams trading at inflated prices based on reputation, while others offer value thanks to favorable pitching matchups, stronger recent form, or bullpen advantages.
Here are my favorite MLB picks for Saturday, June 20.
MLB moneyline picks for June 20
| Matchup | Pick |
|---|---|
 White Soxvs  Tigers | +113 |
 Redsvs  Yankees | +170 |
 Blue Jaysvs  Cubs | -100 |
 Padresvs  Rangers | -133 |
 Brewersvs  Braves | +104 |
 Giantsvs  Marlins | +144 |
 Nationalsvs  Rays | +144 |
 Metsvs  Phillies | +150 |
 Guardiansvs  Astros | +113 |
 Piratesvs  Rockies | +170 |
 Angelsvs  A's | -138 |
 Oriolesvs  Dodgers | +245 |
 Twinsvs  Diamondbacks | +127 |
 Red Soxvs  Mariners | +117 |
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-20.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 20
White Sox vs Tigers: White Sox (+113)
White Sox win probability: 46.9%
Detroit is starting Troy Melton against an undecided Chicago arm. With a highly volatile pitching landscape on both sides, the value lies entirely with the White Sox bullpen, which holds a firm edge (4.03 SIERA) over Detroit's relievers (3.50 SIERA).
Reds vs Yankees: Reds (+170)
Reds win probability: 37%
Andrew Abbott faces Will Warren in the Bronx. While New York's lineup commands respect, laying a heavy -178 premium on Warren is a massive value trap. The math requires backing Cincinnati at a steep +170 price against an unproven starter.
Blue Jays vs Cubs: Blue Jays (-100)
Blue Jays win probability: 50%
Patrick Corbin's recent 4.10 xFIP aligns nicely with a pick'em price. The core advantage lies in the late innings, where Toronto’s bullpen (3.44 xFIP-, 3.46 SIERA) heavily outclasses a highly unstable Cubs relief unit that is currently sporting a 4.23 SIERA.
Padres vs Rangers: Rangers (-133)
Rangers win probability: 57%
Walker Buehler goes up against Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi provides a stable floor for Texas (4.57 SIERA), whereas Buehler faces a potent Rangers offense. Texas's price of -133 is highly reasonable for a strong home team in this spot.
Brewers vs Braves: Brewers (+104)
Brewers win probability: 49%
Kyle Harrison squares off against Chris Sale. While Sale is an elite force for Atlanta, the Braves are priced too tightly against a dominant Milwaukee bullpen that leads the slate with a 3.23 SIERA and a blistering 12.48 K/9.
Giants vs Marlins: Giants (+144)
Giants win probability: 41%
Trevor McDonald faces Max Meyer. Miami is a steep -150 favorite here, which is an immediate fade against any competent team. San Francisco’s superior bullpen efficiency (3.41 SIERA) makes the road underdog a mandatory play at +144.
Nationals vs Rays: Nationals (+144)
Nationals win probability: 41%
Miles Mikolas takes the mound against an undecided Tampa Bay starter. Since the Rays are forced into an uncertain pitching situation and carry a mediocre 3.79 bullpen SIERA, grabbing a substantial +144 head start with Washington is the smart choice.
Mets vs Phillies: Mets (+150)
Mets win probability: 40%
Freddy Peralta faces Cristopher Sanchez. This is a strict price play against an inflated line. The Phillies are taxed too heavily at -156, leaving clear value on Peralta and the Mets at a +150 return.
Guardians vs Astros: Guardians (+113)
Guardians win probability: 47%
Joey Cantillo matches up against Spencer Arrighetti. While Arrighetti gives Houston a stable floor, their bullpen remains a risk of regression. Cleveland at +113 offers better value than laying juice on a volatile home team.
Pirates vs Rockies: Rockies (+170)
Rockies win probability: 37%
Laying -178 on the road is too much juice. Paul Skenes is elite (2.42 SIERA), but Pittsburgh's bullpen has been highly unstable with a 4.35 SIERA. Coors Field variance, combined with a weak Pirates relief unit, makes the underdog price on the Rockies a solid value.
Angels vs A's: Athletics (-138)
Athletics win probability: 58%
The Athletics' bullpen is currently a top-tier weapon, boasting an elite 3.21 SIERA and a massive 11.20 K/9 over the last two weeks. They hold a massive late-game advantage over the Angels, making the -138 price tag very reasonable at home.
Orioles vs Dodgers: Orioles (+245)
Orioles win probability: 29%
Los Angeles is a fade at a massive -257 Dodgers' tax. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is sharp, but the Dodgers' bullpen has underperformed its 3.20 SIERA with a 6.00 ERA over the past two weeks. This astronomical line leaves no choice but to back Baltimore at massive plus money.
Twins vs Diamondbacks: Twins (+127)
Twins win probability: 44%
Taj Bradley faces Zac Gallen. Arizona's bullpen has been a weak link over the last two weeks, posting a 4.11 SIERA. Minnesota brings a dominant relief unit that excels at generating swing-and-miss (11.03 K/9), making them a great +127 target.
Red Sox vs Mariners: Red Sox (+117)
Red Sox win probability: 46%
Seattle's bullpen has completely collapsed over the last two weeks, posting a 4.66 SIERA and walking a brutal 5.91 batters per nine. Boston’s relief core is significantly tighter (3.72 SIERA), making the Red Sox the clear value choice at plus money.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Who do Giants fans think was the Player of the Week?
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close this weekend, so it’s time for us to pick our Player of the Week!
This week, I’m giving the honors to Luis Arraez!
And not just because he’s the only Giants player currently with any chance of being an All Star Game starter (though that helps and you really should get your votes in while you can!)
Arraez has had quite the week, particularly in the series against the Atlanta Braves. He combined for five hits and four RBI in Wednesday’s double-header, including a home run, his third of the season. That’s enough for him to be my pick for this week!
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue their weekend road series against the Miami Marlins this afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT.
Orioles news: West coast woes continue
Good morning Birdland,
The west coast road trip is not going well for the Orioles. After dropping two of three in Seattle, they have now lost the opener in Los Angeles, and it happened in particularly brutal fashion. The game was actually pretty great up until the ninth inning. Our guys dug out of an early hole. Trey Gibson settled in. The middle relievers (Andrew Kittredge, Tyler Wells, and Yennier Cano) were very good. Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso contributed key home runs. And the team was able to hand Ryan Helsley a 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning.
Then, it all fell apart.
Helsley struggled again. He gave up a home run to Mookie Betts to cut the lead in half. Then he issued two walks with a pop out sandwiched in between. Despite his struggles, he was one out away from getting the Orioles a win anyway. But it wasn’t to be. Dalton Rushing singled into right field. The tying run scored easily. Tyler O’Neill’s throw home got away from Samuel Basallo, and the winning run crossed the plate.
Both Helsley and Basallo took some blame after the game. That feels fair enough overall. Helsley did not pitch well. Four of the six batters he faced reached base. And Basallo needs to catch the ball from O’Neill. It was not a horrible throw, though both he and Craig Albernaz claim it took a bad hop in front of the catcher. Even still, that getting past him was a killer.
Albernaz will likely get some blame from fans too. “Why go with Helsley there? He didn’t look great last series. He’s fresh off the IL. And the Orioles need wins! Cano could have stayed in.” Sure, but you signed this guy to be your closer. He had been really good prior to the injury, his velocity looks fine, and it was a save opportunity. You hand him the ball.
Unfortunately, he was bad. That has been a trend for this Orioles team. When the moment gets big and they need someone to come through, they often wither rather than rise. This west coast trip was going to test them and see if they had what it took to climb back into contention. Right now, it doesn’t seem like it.
Links
Trey Mancini’s MLB comeback was all about who was in the stands to see it | The Baltimore Banner
It really is impossible to not love Mancini. He always came off as the nicest guy during his time with the Orioles, and it was such a bummer to see him struggle with the Cubs. The fact he was willing and able to put in so much work and effort to get back up to the big leagues is the stuff movies are made about.
Two years since peak, Orioles approaching a pivotal crossroads | The Baltimore Sun
Yeeeah, we may have already passed the crossroads and found out we took a wrong turn. This season isn’t sunk yet, but there is very little evidence to suggest this roster is capable of a playoff run.
A deeper dive into the mailbag while the Orioles are on the West Coast | Roch Kubatko
A few Albernaz questions in this one. A struggling team and some bubbling clubhouse issues will start to make people uneasy about a skipper.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Félix Bautista turns 31 today. When not injured, the hard-throwing righty is one of the best closers in MLB. He’s got a 2.01 ERA over 156 appearances with the Orioles between 2022 and ‘25. Unfortunately, he is on the IL right now.
- Thomas Eshelman is 32 years old. He’s one of the many former Astros draft picks that Mike Elias has given a chance in Baltimore. From 2019 through 2021, he pitched in 31 games for the O’s. He is now a pitching coordinator within the organization.
- Kevin Gregg turns 48. His time in Baltimore lasted two seasons from 2011 and ‘12. In season one he was the team’s closer, and then in the follow up campaign he was more often a middle-inning arm. Perhaps the lasting image of Gregg in an Orioles uniform will be the brawl he got into with David Ortiz back in 2011 when the Hall of Fame slugger took exception to being pitched inside to.
- Paul Bako is 54 today. He was the Orioles backup catcher during the 2007 season.
- Juan Castro is also 54 years old. He was one of many players that spent time at shortstop for the Orioles in 2008 after the team traded away Miguel Tejada in the offseason and failed to replace him.
- Phil Huffman turns 68. He pitched in two games for the Orioles in 1985, which was his first time back in the majors after debuting with the Blue Jays six seasons earlier.
- Tony Chevez is 73 years old. His only MLB experience was a four-game stint with the Orioles in 1977.
- The late Andy Etchebarren was born on this day (b. 1943, d. 2019). He was a catcher with the Orioles for 12 seasons between 1962 and 1975. In that time he made two all-star games, won two World Series titles, and helped the 1971 pitching staff to become only one of two to ever have four 20-game winners on one team.
This day in O’s history
1964 – Baltimore slugger Boog Powell fractures his wrist in a collision with an outfield fence. The injury will put him on the shelf until September 5th.
Chicago Cubs news — PCA, Swanson, Hoerner, Bregman
Today’s Reflections
I’m sure that someone has come up with the phrase before me, but Cub Tracks is really enjoying PCA-Mania. It doesn’t flow off the tongue like Fernandomania, but I’m going to go with it.
With a day off mid-week, that gives baseball writers a lot of time to write a lot of articles — some are repetitive, and I have tried to give you the best out there. So many PCA articles. So many Dansby Swanson articles. And as you see below, articles on roster moves, injury updates, trade talk, whether to go with youth for a little bit, and even a couple on a hot prospect.
One trade idea that I will save you from reading is trading Seiya Suzuki for Aaron Nola (but if you want further laughs, here’s the link). I’m mentioning it because the idea came from a Chicago sports journalist (George Ofman), not one from Philadelphia. I’ve voiced my opinion a number of times about Jameson Taillon this year. I would rather have a rotation of five Taillons than to have Nola, who hasn’t shown any glimpse of improving from his horrible performance over the last two seasons. A big trade is supposed to improve your team (even for prospects). This trade for a pitcher with four years and $100 million left on his contract would wreck the team.
Silly season has certainly arrived, folks!
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Wednesday’s game, and PCA-Mania en masse:
- Field Level Media (Deadspin): Seven-run inning carries Cubs to series victory over Rockies. “The Cubs took two out of three in the series, the first home series win for Chicago since a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds the first week of May.”
- Jacob Zanolla (Bleacher Nation): Pete Crow-Armstrong Goes Deep for the Fourth Time in His Last Five Games. “Pete Crow-Armstrong is on another planet right now.”
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Pete Crow-Armstrong is So Locked In That Even the Gods Are Helping Him. “”I thought it was foul,” you could see Pete Crow-Armstrong say in the dugout Wednesday night. But that was after circling the bases on a home run that counted, and rightfully so.”
- Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Pete Crow-Armstrong’s latest comments show exactly why he’s become a Cubs leader. “The Cubs are finally showing signs of life, but PCA knows there is still plenty of work left to do.”
Opinions on how to fix Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson:
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): How the Chicago Cubs are trying to help Nico Hoerner get out of his offensive funk. “In many ways, as Nico Hoerner goes, so goes the Chicago Cubs’ offensive production.”
- Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs say they’re sticking with Dansby Swanson in everyday lineup, then homer gets ‘blue whale’ off his back. “After the Cubs signaled that the slumping shortstop would stay in his everyday role, Swanson hit a home run as part of the team’s seven-run second inning in a win over the Rockies.”
- Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Dansby Swanson briefly quiets doubters, but is his defense enough for Cubs? “Over his first three seasons with the Cubs, Swanson has largely been a league-average bat.”
- Jared Bloom (Sporting News): Opposing pitchers have figured out how to keep this Cubs slugger’s bat quiet. “At least his glove is still elite.”
Plenty of various Cubs talk:
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Pete Crow-Armstrong Excelling by Shifting Obligation to Opportunity. “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, or so goes an old saying that has been attributed to a number of different sources, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear. It’s all a matter of perspective, really.”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Ballesteros optioned to Triple-A; Cubs recall Justin Dean. “Ballesteros has run into the kind of struggles typical for a young player in the Majors, and playing time has become sporadic amid some recent roster developments.”
- Tommy Erbe (OnTapSportsNet): Roster Move: Get To Know Newest Chicago Cub, Justin Dean. “With Moises Ballesteros being optioned to Triple-A Iowa, the Chicago Cubs and fans will get their first look at Justin Dean.”
- Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): Can Matthew Boyd Save the Cubs’ Rotation? “With Matthew Boyd nearing a return, the Cubs could soon get a much-needed boost to a rotation that has been searching for stability.”
- Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Get Positive Edward Cabrera News, But Can He Finally Step Up? “The Chicago Cubs should have Edward Cabrera back for his next start after he was forced to leave the game early on Wednesday.”
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Should Cubs Youngsters Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez Play Every Day for a While?. “With multiple key Cubs hitters struggling mightily, two young players whose path to playing time was murky a month ago now have a clear lane—and the team is starting to seem open to letting them have it.”
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Instead of youth movement, Cubs wait for Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman to produce. “When Hoyer sat down in Wrigley Field’s home dugout this week for a media briefing, he seemed surprised by the amount of time spent on an underperforming offense, the possibility of benching Swanson and Bregman’s lack of impact.”
- Billy Heyen (Sporting News): Cubs linked to trade for $75 million, 8-1 starting pitcher from AL East. “One name that now continues to pop up as someone who will be available, below the rung of the Tarik Skubal level of deal, is Boston Red Sox righty Sonny Gray.”
- Conor Liguori (Sporting News): Cubs reveal ‘top priority’ for MLB trade deadline. “Chicago has a very clear need.”
- Garrett Kerman (Clutch Points): Cubs’ perfect trade offer for Angels’ Reid Detmers. “Discover the Cubs’ perfect trade package for Angels ace Reid Detmers and why Chicago must make this move before the deadline.”
- Anthony Vlahovic (LastWordOnSports.com): The Next Great Cubs Slugger Could Be Emerging in the Minor Leagues. “As the minor league season heads into late June, Josiah Hartshorn is giving Cubs faithful plenty of reason to believe he could be their next great homegrown middle of the lineup mainstay.”
- Mike McGraw (Daily Herald): Should Cubs make plans for Hartshorn? Not so fast, Hoyer says. “Jed Hoyer says minor-league outfielder Josiah Hartshorn will not be rushed to the parent club despite a great start to the season.”
Food For Thought:
Larry “Mud” Morganfield (born September 27, 1954) is an American blues singer. He is the eldest son of Muddy Waters and the half-brother of Big Bill Morganfield. He was raised by his mother and seven uncles, with occasional visits from Muddy, and never really got to know his father. Despite growing up surrounded by music, Morganfield did not consider becoming a professional musician until after his father’s death in 1983. At that time, Morganfield was driving trucks for a living, but the strain was wearing on him. He suggested that a recurring dream of Muddy Waters performing on stage helped prompt him to begin performing the blues professionally.“
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Mets Morning News for June 20, 2026
Meet the Mets
The Mets were off last night due to World Cup action in Philadelphia, but Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor both began their rehab assignments with the Rumble Ponies last night.
MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo recently conducted a Reddit AMA in which he discussed the Mets’ potential deadline plans, amongst other topics.
Around the National League East
Not even Jacob Misiorowski can stop the 2026 Braves, as Atlanta defeated the Brewers and their Cy Young candidate 3-2.
The Marlins fought back from a late deficit to emerge victorious over the Giants 4-3.
Miles Mikolas came out of the bullpen and surrendered five runs in six innings to doom the Nationals to a 5-2 loss to the Rays.
Cade Cavalli was scheduled to start for Washington yesterday, but he got scratched due to food poisoning.
The Good Phight noted that the Phillies have dominated weak opponents while struggling against the top teams thus far in 2026.
Around Major League Baseball
Justin Verlander has been limited to just one outing in his return to the Tigers this year, and now the future Hall of Famer will miss more time due to a hamstring strain.
Bobby Witt Jr. was out of the lineup yesterday due to a grade 1 MCL sprain, but the Royals are hopeful that he will be back on the field shortly.
Shohei Ohtani was away from the Dodgers last night “on paternity,” though he was not officially placed on paternity leave.
Padres and Rangers fans tuning into the game between the two squads yesterday were treated to an unusual sight at the beginning: just two umpires on the field.
Neither Gods nor men can compel Jazz Chisholm to wear a cup.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Seth Ashby sung the praises of Luke Weaver and the rest of the Mets bullpen.
Joe Sokolowski compiled quotes from an exciting week in New York sports history—one in which the Mets won four games.
This Date in Mets History
The Mets got four homers—including one from Steve Trachsel (yes, the pitcher)—en route to a win that further cemented their dominant lead in the NL East on this date in 2006.
NBA mock draft 18.0: What I'm hearing, updates, rumors about all 60 picks
With just a few more days until the 2026 NBA Draft, fans will soon know exactly where each prospect their begin his professional careers.
Following the NBA draft combine and weeks of pre-draft workouts, front offices will soon finalize their decisions. After our conversations with folks around the league, we have more intel on when each prospect might hear their name called during draft nights at Barclays Center on June 23 and June 24.
Our mock draft includes data from CBB Analytics. We also spoke with P3, a sports science and athletic training company that uses biomechanical data and movement profiling to evaluate players and project NBA outcomes, to better understand how certain prospects translate physically to the next level.
Following our own conversations as well as other trusted reporting, here are our latest predictions.
Note: All heights and wingspans (as well as the distance between the two) are listed to the nearest inch and players were measured without shoes.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa
- TEAM: BYU
- POSITION: Wing
- BORN: Massachusetts
- HEIGHT: 6-9
- WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+4)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
Expect the Wizards to decide between two players: AJ Dybansta and Darryn Peterson, both of whom have already reportedly conducted workouts for Washington.
"I'm super confident in myself being the No. 1 pick. But you never know. There's been crazy stuff that happens on draft night," Dybantsa told USA TODAY Sports.
While he is prepared for various scenarios, the Wizards are still the most likely outcome. The franchise could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year also led the nation in unassisted points scored by a wide margin.
He would be a fascinating fit next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who could help him play alongside veteran talent early in his career.
2. Utah Jazz: Cameron Boozer
- TEAM: Duke
- POSITION: Forward
- BORN: Florida
- HEIGHT: 6-8
- WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+5)
- DRAFT AGE: 18
While nearly every mainstream mock draft has the Jazz selecting Darryn Peterson to join Keyonte George in the backcourt, this is still far from a foregone conclusion. In fact, ESPN reports the guard hasn't worked out for Utah and he "informed the Jazz that he plans to take no further team visits" after only conducting meetings with Washington.
According to The Athletic's Tony Jones, the Jazz are "genuinely torn" about who to select when they are on the clock, and Duke freshman Cameron Boozer is "firmly in the mix" at No. 2 overall.
The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, though he performed better than expected during athletic testing at the combine in Chicago. He offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set, and he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and playing on an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16.
Even though his father (former Jazz player Carlos Boozer) currently works in the front office for Utah, the organization will select the best player available, and they may decide it is the national collegiate player of the player.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Darryn Peterson
- TEAM: Kansas
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Ohio
- HEIGHT: 6-5
- WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+5)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
Peterson will reportedly only conduct meetings with the Washington Wizards at No. 1 overall, per ESPN. But that won't prevent a team like the Utah Jazz or Memphis Grizzlies from calling his name when either are on the clock if Peterson is still available to them should the Wizards not select him.
If the Grizzlies do draft Peterson, it would give them a fresh start with a new floor general to run the offense and give them even more incentive to potentially trade longtime franchise star point guard Ja Morant.
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson
- TEAM: North Carolina
- POSITION: Big
- BORN: Georgia
- HEIGHT: 6-9
- WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
Bryson Graham, who was recently hired as the new executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, has a simple task: Select whichever of the four players is still available.
North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is not just a consolation prize. He is a perfect fit for what Graham wants to build in Chicago, as he values size, length, athleticism, and physicality. Wilson did more than enough to earn this placement before his injury.
According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded and was one of the best vertical athletes who tested at the combine in Chicago. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler
- TEAM: Illinois
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Kansas
- HEIGHT: 6-5
- WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+1)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
The Clippers received this pick from the Indiana Pacers as part of a package involving Ivica Zubac, and while there is wide speculation they could trade this pick, they are closely linked with several guards in this range. As such, whether it's their front office or another on the clock at No. 5 overall, look for any team on the clock to potentially call on Illinois standout Keaton Wagler.
“I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder,” Wagler told USA TODAY Sports. “Just trying to go out each game and prove myself and do whatever it takes to win.”
Wagler reportedly "emerged as the more impressive prospect" during a recent head-to-head workout for the Clippers against another lottery-caliber guard, per Jake Fischer.
The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini reach the Final Four. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class and he is a cerebral basketball player who is a good rebounder and playmaker as well.
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr.
- DRAFT AGE: 20
- TEAM: Louisville
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Florida
- HEIGHT: 6-4
- WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+4)
During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like the talented Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., even though they drafted three point guards last season.
He has already completed a second workout for Brooklyn, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because they were unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Brown's draft stock has improved during the pre-draft process as he has shown teams a clean bill of health. “I got cleared by the medical staff from the league at the Combine, so we’re all green,” Brown Jr. told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel like myself again.”
The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including a 45-point outing against NC State, before his injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr.
- TEAM: Arkansas
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Michigan
- HEIGHT: 6-2
- WINGSPAN: 6-7 (+5)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
The Kings need a potential star and it is widely speculated that their front office is targeting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. in this class.
En route to the Sweet 16, despite significant defensive deficiencies, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists as well.
P3’s evaluators highlighted his “really impressive start-stop tools” and ability to generate separation in multiple directions, key traits for a high-usage guard translating to the NBA.
It is also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college and one would expect there are few scenarios where he falls below this pick. If his name is called earlier, though, Kingston Flemings could also make sense here.
8. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Kingston Flemings
- TEAM: Houston
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Texas
- HEIGHT: 6-3
- WINGSPAN: 6-4 (+1)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
With the pick the Hawks received from New Orleans, Atlanta is expected to pick a big or a guard, and one potential target is Houston freshman Kingston Flemings.
"He can pretty much do it all. He can defend, he can shoot, and his playmaking is really underrated. And he’s a high-IQ, high-character guy," Chris Cenac Jr., his teammate at Houston, told USA TODAY Sports. "Any organization that gets him is going to get a great player and a great person."
Flemings' smaller wingspan did him no favors at the combine but he measured with a 40.5-inch max vertical and elite speed across all his agility testing, projecting as one of the fastest guard prospects since De'Aaron Fox. He helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it is difficult to imagine he will was available past the Hawks on draft night.
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries
- TEAM: Arizona
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: California
- HEIGHT: 6-4
- WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+2)
- DRAFT AGE: 20
After hiring Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations and Mike Schmitz as general manager, the Dallas Mavericks can add a lottery talent to grow alongside Cooper Flagg. One name to consider is Arizona freshman Brayden Burries, who is consistently linked to the organization.
Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. He was then an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas.
Overall, the All-Big 12 guard displayed his tantalizing talent and he has proven productivity. Burries is able to defend, relocate, move the ball, and make 3-pointers off the dribble.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament
- TEAM: Tennessee
- POSITION: Forward
- BORN: Virginia
- HEIGHT: 6-10
- WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+2)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
While it is unclear which (and how many) picks the Milwaukee Bucks will actually have in the 2026 NBA Draft due to ongoing trade rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament.
But it is worth noting that Bucks executive Jon Horst and head coach Taylor Jenkins reportedly recently traveled to meet with Ament during the pre-draft process, per Jake Fischer.
The All-SEC forward averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking this forward with a standing reach exceeding 9-foot-1 in the lottery.
11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López
- TEAM: New Zealand (International)
- POSITION: Forward
- BORN: Mexico
- HEIGHT: 6-8
- WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
Karim López had a low usage rate and played fewer minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros, but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. According to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, his "range" starts at this pick to Golden State.
The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30 earlier this year. According to someone with knowledge of the situation who did not have authority to speak publicly on the matter, Warriors executive Mike Dunleavy attended that game.
Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup. López measured well, weighing just shy of 222 pounds and with a 38-inch max vertical. He is also a consideration for the Bulls at No. 15 overall and is unlikely to fall past the San Antonio Spurs at No. 20 overall.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara
- TEAM: Michigan
- POSITION: Big
- BORN: Spain
- HEIGHT: 7-3
- WINGSPAN: 7-6 (+3)
- DRAFT AGE: 21
Oklahoma City tends to like low-usage big men, like Aday Mara, with high assist percentages as well as high block and steal percentages.
While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents rarely attempted field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics.
He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large players like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) as front offices value bigger bodies to throw at Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder are expected to consider Mara's teammate, Morez Johnson Jr., as well.
13. Miami Heat: Hannes Steinbach
- DRAFT AGE: 20
- TEAM: Washington
- POSITION: Big
- BORN: Germany
- HEIGHT: 6-10
- WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+4)
German big man Hannes Steinbach, who will get looks starting as early as around No. 10 overall, should make some sense for the Miami Heat. The center reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten center is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, Steinbach was one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He impressed during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr.
- TEAM: Michigan
- POSITION: Big
- BORN: Illinois
- HEIGHT: 6-9
- WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
- DRAFT AGE: 20
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois and can bring that same mentality to the Hornets, who are searching for a new big man.
Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a very trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson was a big winner during measurements at the combine, recording a 39-inch max vertical and testing with elite agility for his position.
15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Cameron Carr
- DRAFT AGE: 21
- TEAM: Baylor
- POSITION: Wing
- BORN: Minnesota
- HEIGHT: 6-5
- WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+8)
The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament and the player who improved his draft stock the most during the combine was Baylor junior Cameron Carr.
He scored 30 points in a five-on-five scrimmage, recorded a 42.5-inch max vertical and had great physical measurements. This should grab the attention of teams that tend to like athletic prospects, which new Bulls executive Bryson Graham indicated.
According to P3’s internal models, Carr grades as a 95th-percentile athlete with a rare “hyper flexor” force-production profile, a combination evaluators described as “double unique” for pairing elite explosiveness with unusually fluid movement mechanics.
The All-Big 12 wing brings shooting touch in addition to his shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns): Yaxel Lendeborg
- TEAM: Michigan
- POSITION: Forward
- BORN: New Jersey
- HEIGHT: 6-9
- WINGSPAN: 7-3 (+7)
- DRAFT AGE: 23
Yaxel Lendeborg showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, however, reported that "there is potential for him to slip out of the lottery" on draft night, and his "pre-draft workouts have not gone particularly well" due to an ankle injury.
Despite his age and the ankle injury, he will intrigue teams like the Grizzlies, who have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade. The Grizzlies have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past.
A few years ago, research indicated that the Memphis front office tends to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Big Ten Player of the Year was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Chris Cenac Jr.
- DRAFT AGE: 19
- TEAM: Houston
- POSITION: Big
- BORN: Louisiana
- HEIGHT: 6-10
- WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+7)
Regardless or whether or not the Thunder trade this pick, one name to consider is Chris Cenac Jr., whose range begins around No. 14 overall.
Cenac played into his role and caught fire at the perfect time. In his first NCAA tournament game, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal.
“I got to earn my minutes. I got to do the little things… defending, rebounding, spacing the floor,” Cenac told USA TODAY Sports. "Whatever team takes me… they’re getting a winning player that loves winning and is going to buy into whatever to help that team win."
Cenac also impressed at the NBA Combine, posting a 37-inch max vertical and strong agility numbers for his size.
P3 places Cenac within its “bigs plus” model, a rare archetype combining traditional size with wing-like mobility. Evaluators pointed to his “unique tools” and described him as a potential “matchup nightmare” due to his movement profile and physical traits, which suggest his significant untapped upside.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic): Christian Anderson
- DRAFT AGE: 20
- TEAM: Texas Tech
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Georgia
- HEIGHT: 6-1
- WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+5)
The Hornets could find a fairly compelling player in Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who is a potentially perfect fit and received a green room invitation to attend the 2026 NBA Draft.
After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs. Even though he is a bit undersized, there are few better offensive creators in this class than Anderson.
19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz
- TEAM: Iowa
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Missouri
- HEIGHT: 6-3
- WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
- DRAFT AGE: 22
The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization, on their priority list.
After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned him a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Allen Graves
- TEAM: Santa Clara
- POSITION: Forward
- BORN: Louisiana
- HEIGHT: 6-8
- WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+4)
- DRAFT AGE: 20
One of the most under-the-radar prospects in college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who came close to becoming a March Madness hero. The WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year turned heads after posting 30 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Feb. 7 against Washington State.
That's an area where Graves stands out among the best in this class and is likely one of the reasons he chose to turn pro rather than return to college.
The only players under 21 with a higher box plus-minus, per Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. All teams that prioritize analytical modeling in the pre-draft process like the Spurs, who reportedly hosted Graves for a pre-draft workout, will have this prospect ranked highly.
21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Dailyn Swain
- TEAM: Texas
- POSITION: Wing
- BORN: Ohio
- HEIGHT: 6-7
- WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+4)
- DRAFT AGE: 20
After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and helping lead the Longhorns to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball.
The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed across the board on both ends, scoring efficiently in the paint and in transition. Another appealing element is his effectiveness in isolation, where he can create for himself against defenders. Swain is quick, bouncy and a solid rebounder, and his 81.5% free-throw percentage suggests promising shooting touch. While he has three years of college experience, he’s still just 20 years old, the same age as several NCAA freshmen.
P3 categorizes Swain as a “kinematic mover,” a fluid, efficiency-driven archetype that allows players to “get wherever they want on the court” and has produced the highest density of NBA All-Stars in its data.
Expect the Pistons to have serious interest in Swain, based on multiple people who spoke to USA TODAY Sports, though Detroit will also strongly consider shooters like Christian Anderson and Isaiah Evans.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Labaron Philon Jr.
- TEAM: Alabama
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Alabama
- HEIGHT: 6-3
- WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
- DRAFT AGE: 20
The Philadelphia 76ers have a new front office led by president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson. One name they may have their eyes on with the first-round pick they acquired after trading Jared McCain is Labaron Philon Jr. from Alabama.
Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Jayden Quaintance
- TEAM: Kentucky
- POSITION: Big
- BORN: Ohio
- HEIGHT: 6-9
- WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+8)
- DRAFT AGE: 18
Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. Evaluators are "consistently expressing concern around his medicals" about the big man, per ESPN's Jeremy Woo.
The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, though, and he showed elite flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that may need frontcourt help, like the Hawks. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers, regularly swatting shots on the perimeter.
While his draft stock is not what it once was due to health concerns, his youth and frame give him an opportunity to become a special player in the NBA.
24. New York Knicks: Ebuka Okorie
- TEAM: Stanford
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: New Hampshire
- HEIGHT: 6-1
- WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+7)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
The Knicks have prioritized scrappy, high-motor players capable of winning the possession battle through rebounds and turnovers like Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie.
The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue teams in this range, who may like the high assist-to-turnover ratio he recorded (2.3) last season.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Koa Peat
- TEAM: Arizona
- POSITION: Wing
- BORN: Arizona
- HEIGHT: 6-7
- WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+4)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
Arizona forward Koa Peat is potentially an appealing option for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is naturally bouncy and athletic with good positional size, a strong frame and a near 7-foot wingspan. Peat is also a solid rebounder and passer for his position.
The All-Big 12 forward will need to improve his jumper to carve out consistent, high-impact minutes at the next level, but he’s still worth first-round consideration based on his body of work so far. Peat arguably had the most interesting decisions to make when it was finally his turn to announce if he would stay in college or turn pro.
26. Denver Nuggets: Meleek Thomas
- TEAM: Arkansas
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Pennsylvania
- HEIGHT: 6-3
- WINGSPAN: 6-7 (+4)
- DRAFT AGE: 19
The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent on 3-pointers during his 21 games as a starter last season.
He was efficient using off-ball screens and handoffs and occasionally showed some on-ball flashes as a pick-and-roll ball handler as well. He led the SEC in corner 3-pointers made (32) last season, per CBB Analytics, and his plus-four wingspan gives him solid length as a young guard who is still improving on both sides of the court. Thomas answered one of the biggest questions in college basketball when he decided to turn pro rather than return to the NCAA.
27. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Evans
- TEAM: Duke
- POSITION: Wing
- BORN: North Carolina
- HEIGHT: 6-6
- WINGSPAN: 6-9 (+3)
- DRAFT AGE: 20
Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers.
Duke sophomore Isaiah Evans scored 218 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked third-best among ACC players last season. He also matched 30 corner 3-pointers, according to CBB Analytics, which trailed the top-ranked high-major player (34) by just four field goals made. Expect the Celtics to potentially have Evans higher on their big board than other teams might. UConn's Alex Karaban, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization, also fits the bill.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Sergio De Larrea
- TEAM: Valencia (International)
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Spain
- HEIGHT: 6-6
- WINGSPAN: 6-9 (+3)
- DRAFT AGE: 20
Another one of the top international prospects in this class is Sergio De Larrea. He shot 38.6 percent on 3-pointers and 80.8 percent on free-throw attempts, suggesting good scoring touch.
He has shown a diverse skill set, including 5 rebounds with 4 assists and 2 steals during a recent win over Barça. According to ESPN's Jeremy Woo, the Spanish prospect "has a landing spot most likely in the 25-to-35 range" in the 2026 NBA Draft. Meanwhile, Jake Fischer reported that De Larrea is a "prospect prominent" on the radar of Timberwolves executive Tim Connelly.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Henri Veesaar
- TEAM: North Carolina
- POSITION: Forward
- BORN: Estonia
- HEIGHT: 6-11
- WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+3)
- DRAFT AGE: 22
We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered "at least $6 million" in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr.
- DRAFT AGE: 22
- TEAM: Connecticut
- POSITION: Big
- BORN: Missouri
- HEIGHT: 6-10
- WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke.
There is plenty of interest in Reed from teams picking between No. 16 and No. 30 overall, based on our intel.
During the combine, he did the dirty work, recording 5 rebounds with 1 steal and 1 block in his first game and then scored 17 points (7-of-9 FG) with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the second. Reed also tested with elite agility for his position. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.
SECOND ROUND
31. New York Knicks (via WAS): Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's)
32. Memphis Grizzlies (via IND): Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State)
33. Brooklyn Nets: Richie Saunders (BYU)
34. Sacramento Kings: Trevon Brazile (Arkansas)
35. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA): Alex Karaban (UConn)
36. L.A. Clippers (via MEM): Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia)
37. Oklahoma City Thunder (via DAL): Ryan Conwell (Louisville)
38. Chicago Bulls (via NOP): Felix Okpara (Tennessee)
39. Houston Rockets (via CHI): Baba Miller (Cincinnati)
40. Boston Celtics (via MIL): Emanuel Sharp (Houston)
41. Miami Heat (via GSW): Nick Martinelli (Northwestern)
42. San Antonio Spurs (via POR): Izaiyah Nelson (South Florida)
43. Brooklyn Nets (via LAC): Jack Kayil (ALBA Berlin - International)
44. San Antonio Spurs (via MIA): Braden Smith (Purdue)
45. Sacramento Kings (via CHA): Maliq Brown (Duke)
46. Orlando Magic: Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA)
47. Phoenix Suns (via PHI): Jaden Bradley (Arizona)
48. Dallas Mavericks (via PHX): Otega Oweh (Kentucky)
49. Denver Nuggets (via ATL): Dillon Mitchell (St. John's)
50. Toronto Raptors: Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)
51. Washington Wizards (via MIN): Rafael Castro (George Washington)
52. L.A. Clippers (via CLE): Nick Boyd (Wisconsin)
53. Houston Rockets: Keyshawn Hall (Auburn)
54. Golden State Warriors (via LAL): Tyler Nickel (Vanderbilt)
55. New York Knicks: Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee)
56. Chicago Bulls (via DEN): Tobe Awaka (Arizona)
57. Atlanta Hawks (via BOS): Milos Uzan (Houston)
58. New Orleans Pelicans (via DET): Jaron Pierre Jr. (SMU)
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (via SAS): Aaron Nkrumah (Tennessee State)
60. Washington Wizards (via OKC): Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft: Projecting every pick in first and second rounds
Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Draft Target Tracker
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft has the chance to shape the future of the Vancouver Canucks. With 10 selections, including third overall, Vancouver will be adding plenty of depth to their prospect pool. Below is a list of all completed draft target articles.
3rd Overall
24th Overall
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