The 2027 NBA Draft cycle has so much going on this season that each subsection of prospects has its own fascinating storylines. The top of the class is where most of the heavy discussion will be had, and rightfully so. That is the most important part of scouting the draft: identifying the top talent. The returning class will have its own niche arguments: Who is the best returner? Who can be this class’s so-and-so? Can one of these returners make a push for the Top 3? Top 5? And so on.

You may have read my Five Offseason Findings piece from October 1st, where I mentioned that this crop of traditional international prospects could be the best group in quite some time. With that said, I thought it would be prudent to share my offseason findings on this particular group of prospects before the college basketball season (officially) kicks off on November 1st.

Keep in mind that when I say traditional international prospects, I mean those who were born outside of the States and are playing outside of the States. So Luigi Suigo won’t be in this series. Also, those who aren’t eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft won’t be included. So Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Nikola Kusturica, and others won’t be mentioned.

Originally, this was going to be a two-part piece with five prospects per article. But there was simply too much to say about each of these guys to cram them together, so every prospect is getting his own installment of International Snapshot (yes, this group is kind of deep this year, folks).

Let’s dive in!

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Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada | ASVEL | Guard | 5’11” | 170

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This is part two of a series highlighting two-way contract breakout candidates for the 2026-27 NBA season. The new season is well underway, but unfortunately for us basketball sickos, most two-way players rarely get any significant run until wintertime, if not the spring. However, this series exists to put you ahead of the curve and make you aware of the guys who are next up in what’s become an increasingly utilized and impactful talent development pipeline in the league.

Earlier this month, we covered three 2026 second round picks who could outplay their two-way contracts as rookies. This time around, we’re talking about three sophomores primed for Year Two leaps. Let’s get after it!

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Javon Small (Memphis Grizzlies)

Small was the 48th pick in the 2025 draft and signed a two-way to start his career. The West Virginia product was thrown right into the fire as a freshman, playing 20.2 minutes per game across 41 contests (12 starts) for a Grizzlies team that was ravaged by injuries. In that extended time, he proved himself as one of the most talented two-way players in the association.

Small averaged 9.7 points and 3.7 assists in 2025-26 as a whole. After the All-Star break, he posted 13.1 points and 4.1 assists per night on 50.8/45.7/84.2 shooting splits. A gifted offensive guard, Small can fill up the scoring column while also elevating his teammates as a drive-and-kick playmaker.

He’s not blindingly quick compared to other guys of his archetype, but Small can still torch defenders going downhill with his shifty handle. He has the ball on a string, even when he’s at full speed, and his bag of combos and counters is deep with high pickup moves, double crossovers, Eurosteps, decels, and more. When he attacks off the bounce, he’s intentional about getting all the way to the cup. He very rarely settles for middies.

Small is also a threat from deep, especially off the dribble. He’s a fearless pull-up shooter who drained 41.2% on his 2.4 OTD three-point attempts per game last season, according to Synergy. He hunts long balls coming off ball screens and uses slick step-backs to create space and get them off in isolation.

The concern with Small’s shooting is that his jumper is too slow. He takes too long to load up, which will make it hard for him to get shots off against tighter contests as defenders start to respect him beyond the arc. That’s something he must work on, as is his ability to finish in traffic. He pressures the paint but struggles to convert once he’s inside. Last year, he put up 1.10 points per shot on layups, a 35th percentile rate.

If Small can make those improvements, it will be tough for Memphis to keep him off the floor, even though their backcourt is crowded. His current talent and long-term potential are too high for them not to invest in him.

Chaney Johnson (Brooklyn Nets)

After playing a key bench role for the 2025 Final Four Auburn squad, Chaney Johnson got a training camp invite from the Cleveland Cavaliers as an undrafted free agent. He was cut from his Exhibit 10 deal and sent to the G League (which happens to plenty of guys around the league each fall), and in the G League, he performed well enough to catch the eyes of the Brooklyn Nets and earned a two-way contract with them in December 2025.

With the Nets last year, Johnson saw some major opportunity down the stretch in the spring. The 6’7” power forward finished his rookie campaign with 17 appearances under his belt, and in those games, he averaged 20.5 minutes, 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 steals.

As you can tell from that stat line, versatility headlines Johnson’s value proposition. He’s a multi-talented finisher who makes timely cuts, attacks closeouts comfortably with straight-line drives, and crashes the glass to convert putbacks. He scored 1.37 PPS at the rim last season, which ranked in the 86th percentile. He can space the floor and make sharp connective passes too. Defensively, he’s an active disruptor, evidenced by the 3.93 deflections per 75 possessions he generated in 2025-26, a total that graded out in the 87th percentile according to BBall Index.

Early in 2026-27, Johnson has already been a part of Brooklyn’s rotation. He checked in during the first quarter on their opening night, and on October 24th against the Cavaliers, he chipped in 10 points and five boards in 27 minutes. Jordi Fernandez clearly trusts him, and at this point, the serious breakout feels inevitable for the 24-year-old.

John Tonje (Portland Trail Blazers)

An All-American 2024-25 season at Wisconsin put John Tonje’s name on the map on a national level, and the buzz was enough to get the sixth-year senior drafted in the second round that spring. As a rookie, he split time between the Jazz and the Celtics, although he never actually saw the court for Utah and only logged 42 minutes across six outings with Boston.

Despite being hailed as an NBA-ready prospect, Tonje wasn’t given a chance to shine in year one. That should change in his sophomore campaign with the Trail Blazers.

Tonje’s elevator pitch is simple but convincing: he’s a smart off-ball shooter who doesn’t short-circuit when he has to put the ball on the deck. So far as a pro, he’s mostly been used as a three-point specialist. He attempted 70 threes compared to just 47 shots at the rim in the G League with the Maine Celtics last season, drilling 41.9% of his spot-up tries from outside.

At Wisconsin, though, we saw much more from the “Madison Hammer,” as some students around campus call him. He put up 1.06 points per possession as a pick-and-roll ball handler (93rd percentile), 1.22 PPP in transition (76th percentile), 1.49 PPP as a cutter (88th percentile), and 0.97 PPP in isolation (74th percentile). All in all, Tonje is a dynamic offensive wing who can fit into any lineup and complement stars while also being able to ramp up and call his own number if needed.

Portland has no shortage of talent on their roster overall this year, but they are thin on the wing. Sidy Cissoko and Vit Krejci are being leaned on heavily off the bench early, but neither guy is a sure-fire nightly contributor, unless Cissoko makes the jump some people are anticipating. If one of those two slips, or if Deni Avdija or Toumani Camara get injured, Tonje is worthy of getting a crack at some rotation minutes.

Other names to watch: Walter Clayton Jr. (Dallas Mavericks), Kam Jones (Milwaukee Bucks), Amari Williams (Boston Celtics), LJ Cryer (Golden State Warriors)

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The 2027 NBA Draft cycle has so much going on this season that each subsection of prospects has its own fascinating storylines. The top of the class is where most of the heavy discussion will be had—and rightfully so. That is the most important part of scouting the draft: identifying the top talent. The returning class will have its own niche arguments: Who is the best returner? Who can be this class’s so-and-so? Can one of these returners make a push for the Top 3? Top 5? And so on.

You may have read my Five Offseason Findings piece from October 1st, where I mentioned that this crop of traditional international prospects could be the best group in quite some time. With that said, I thought it would be prudent to share my offseason findings on this particular group of prospects before the college basketball season (officially) kicks off on November 1st.

Keep in mind that when I say traditional international prospects, I mean those who were born outside of the States and are playing outside of the States. So Luigi Suigo won’t be in this series. Also, those who aren’t eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft won’t be included. So Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Nikola Kusturica, and others won’t be mentioned.

Originally, this was going to be a two-part piece with five prospects per article. But there was simply too much to say about each of these guys to cram them together, so every prospect is getting his own installment of International Snapshot (yes, this group is kind of deep this year, folks).

Let’s dive in!

Subscribe now

After spending a season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Mario Saint-Supery—one of the more intriguing returning prospects—opted to go back to Europe and play for Valencia Basket this season. On top of being named to the WCC All-Freshman Team last year, Saint-Supery was named to the All-Liga ACB Young Players team in 2025 and named MVP of the FIBA U16 European Championship in 2022, where Spain earned the silver medal. Spain also earned the silver medal at the U18 Championship in 2023 with Saint-Supery. Mario has earned such recognition due to the command he has on the ball, as well as the reads he can make.

Offense

The offensive side of the ball is where Mario butters his bread. With good size at the age of 20 (he turns 21 in April), there is a high level of feel to his game.

Organization

Mario Saint-Supery (#5 in white) feels comfortable operating with the ball, particularly with the assistance of a ball screen. We’ll start this clip off with Saint-Supery running up the middle of the paint, coming off a down screen. He then gets the pass at the top of the key, where he waits for the screen to be set to his right. Once the screen is established, Mario sets his man up to go square into the center of the screen—drawing the down defender to step out to the right wing.

From there, instincts take over. Mario takes the math that the defense is presenting him: two defenders on him and an open teammate gunning to the basket. It’s not just that Mario decides to pass the ball to the dive man, but how he elects to pass to him. Saint-Supery picks the ball up off a live dribble and passes it overhead—over the top of the down man and into the hands of the big man. The ball is then dunked for an easy bucket.

Great find.

Creative Passing Angles

It’s Mario’s creativity that sparks the interest of those who have watched him over the past few seasons. The way that he can make plays from essentially anywhere keeps defenses on their heels. Even in broken plays—such as the one below—Saint-Supery is a player who forces his teammates to play with their hands up at all times.

On this possession, we see Saint-Supery wrangle a missed shot for an offensive rebound. Once he gets the ball, Mario turns and attacks the baseline. His drive attracts the attention of the defensive big man. As he sees this, Saint-Supery gets into a layup motion, which forces the big to leave his feet and contest the potential shot. Mario is able to see that his big man is all alone with no defender between him and the basket. Mario slips a pass out of the shot to his big man, who is able to flip in the righty hook.

Synergistic Timing

Saint-Supery does a great job of understanding where his teammates are on the court, seemingly at all times. This play illuminates that notion. We start with a loose ball being corralled by the offense, then the ball finding its way into Mario’s hands on the right wing.

As he has a tendency to do, Mario takes a beat to see the defense and how his teammates are responding to it. It doesn’t take more than a moment for him to recognize he has an open man in the opposite corner. Saint-Supery’s hands are over his head while his guy is still in the opposite corner, which freezes the defense temporarily. His teammate sees this and then cuts baseline for a lob finish. The touch that Mario puts on this lob is telling, as it falls right where his cutter needs it to flush the dunk.

Too Much Sauce

As is the case for most players, Mario’s greatest strengths can translate into some frustrating results. We’ll take a look at an example of that here.

The ball starts off on the left side of the floor to kick off this clip, but then it works its way into Saint-Supery’s hands on the right side. Mario gets into a dribble combo as he waits for a screen to be set to his left. Once the screener is close (but not set), Mario rejects the screen and bursts to the rim.

The down man in the pick-and-roll coverage does a good job of cutting off Saint-Supery’s driving lane, which results in him having to make a play for someone else. Mario doesn’t go for just a run-of-the-mill pass. Oh no, he has too much sauce to simply dump the rock off. Instead, he goes for a behind-the-back pass. The lack of eye communication appears to cause the intended recipient to bobble the catch, leading to a turnover.

Tricky Finishing

The same sort of dichotomy that exists in Saint-Supery’s passing can rear its head in his at-rim finishing. In this clip, we’ll see Mario get the ball on the left wing off of a handoff. Once his big steps up into a screen stance, Saint-Supery darts to his right as the big slips. Mario is able to round the corner on his man and make his way to the paint.

Notice how Mario is able to initiate contact while he attacks the paint. His 6’4”, near-200-pound frame is able to hold up well in this professional league. After establishing his feet in the paint, Mario is able to stop, pivot, and fade over the top of the defense from the mid-post.

Making Things More Difficult Than Needed

The previous play exemplified how Mario Saint-Supery can use craft and feel to score in the paint. This play shows the opposite.

We’ll start this clip with Saint-Supery pushing the ball into a semi-transition look. As he gets past halfcourt, Mario draws the attention of both defenders coming off of the screen that was set. As he gets past one defender, another looks to make a play on the ball. Recognizing this, Saint-Supery elects to pick up the ball, swing it behind his back to his left hand, gather, and try to bank it in off a floater. This is an incredibly difficult look for Mario, and the ball rims out into the defense’s hands.

Floor Spacing

Last season with Gonzaga, Mario Saint-Supery shot over 40% from deep on over 115 attempts. He also shot nearly 82% from the free-throw line. This season in the ACB, Cerebro Sports has Saint-Supery shooting under 25% from three. Synergy shows him shooting 19% on 21 attempts. This disparity may speak to the level of competition, or simply that Mario is more of a streaky shooting prospect.

This clip shows that Saint-Supery is confident enough to take open looks. Not a lot to break down here: the ball is passed to Mario on the right wing, and he takes a three. The one takeaway I have here is that Mario felt the need to dribble before he shot. That could be because he didn’t bring in the pass cleanly. It could be because he feels more comfortable getting to the shot off of the dribble. This will be something to pay attention to as this season continues.

Dribble-Jumper Three

While we wait for that time to pass, let’s take a look at how this clip showcases Mario’s shot off the bounce. We’ll kick it off with Mario bringing the ball past halfcourt along the left side of the court. He then gets into his two-man game and follows it up by looking to drive to the middle of the lane. He’s then met by the defense and kicks the ball out to the right wing.

After a couple of passes, Saint-Supery gets the ball back at the top of the key and sets up for another pick-and-roll. The screener slips out before making contact, ghosting the play. Mario backpedals out of the play and notices that he is open for a three-pointer. He takes a dribble to square up and get his feet underneath him, and he lets the shot fly.

The motion looks clean for the most part. If there is a concern within the mechanics, it’s that there is a bit of an exchange at the top—a handoff from the support hand to the shooting hand.

What Missing Looks Like

The choppiness at the top of the release may be why the efficiency of Saint-Supery’s shot has taken a dip.

We’ll kick this clip off with the ball being taken inside the three-point line on the right side of the court, with Mario set up well behind the left wing. After a quick shot fake, Saint-Supery gets the ball. Again, we see Mario stop and survey, taking a moment to direct his teammate to set a ball screen. Before his teammate is set, Mario dribbles to his left and sets up for a pull-up three-pointer.

You can clearly see the hitch at the top as the shot comes off. The release trails off to the right, which is the direction the ball misses: short and to the right.

Defense

When looking at how he plays on offense, it would be easy to suspect that Saint-Supery would be a poor defender—perhaps one who takes plays off due to the energy he expends on offense. That is not the case with Mario.

Tight Contest

Saint-Supery does a pretty decent job of using effort and energy to keep himself in the play. This clip begins with Mario picking up his man on the right wing. While his man is holding the ball, Mario steps up to take away the space to drive. The ball handler tries to drive to his right with just a couple of seconds on the clock. He is denied the opportunity and is forced to take a tough, contested shot well beyond the three-point line.

What stands out here is how Saint-Supery is able to stay out in front of his man. He’s also able to contest the shot and come down while allowing his man the appropriate amount of landing space without fouling.

Limited Tools

While Saint-Supery will fight to stay in plays, there is only so much he can do with the tools he has. What’s cool about this clip is that Mario actually tips the cross-court pass that kicks off this play. Unfortunately, the ball still finds its target. After trying to make a play on the skip, Saint-Supery is able to get back to his man and get into his deny position.

The ball comes out of the strong-side corner and back to Mario’s man well beyond the left wing. Mario is then screened off and stays behind the play the rest of the way. He tries to make a dig on the ball, but he cannot get back in time to contest the floater that falls through the net.

Initial Thoughts

There was a small swell of support for Mario Saint-Supery across the draft community last season due to his vision and his potential to shoot from deep. After he left college for Europe, questions about where he would go and how much he would play soon followed. Synergy credits Mario with 45 possessions across six games with Valencia thus far. At this point in their young season, it doesn’t feel like there is much tangible growth or improvement in his game.

The playmaking is fun, but there are real concerns regarding Saint-Supery’s tendency to go for home-run plays. He’s also shown consistently that he will stop and survey, slowing down the pace of the offense so he can set things up to his liking. How often can he make those 0.5 decisions? The same questions exist for his floor spacing: Will he be able to shoot off the catch? Does he have to dribble in order to feel comfortable letting it fly?

Defensively, I do like the activity. There seems to be a real awareness of his physical limitations, which means Mario will have to do his work early on defense: position himself to hamper a dribble, guard his yard, and contest shots without fouling. He won’t recover against most guards, so he will have to be proactive in screen navigation. While this likely means he won’t be a great defender, he can still be an irritant.

I’m not confident that we will see Mario declare outright with the way things are looking for him right now, before we have even seen regular-season college hoops. The season is young, though, so let’s see where we stand at the halfway point.

Follow me on Twitter: StephenGHoops

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No Ceilings fantasy basketball? That’s right, folks.

The NBA, paired with the good people at Yahoo Sports, asked us if we’d be interested in participating in a Fantasy Basketball league. Obviously, the answer was an easy yes.

Our whole entire No Ceilings family got together to participate in a 12-team NBA fantasy basketball league. Some teams feature multiple GMs who are teaming up to see if they can take home the championship.

Our league is public, which means the fans can take a look at everyone’s roster and follow along (here) to see who can take home some serious bragging rights this year.

Below, our entire No Ceilings family decided to partake in a Fantasy Basketball roundtable in order to give our teams a little grading, as well as talk about the other teams in the league.

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Rucker: I would probably say an A. There’s potential to have a bit of a wagon on my roster. Adding a pair of superstars in Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brunson to start things off was great. Landing legends like Kevin Durant and LeBron James presented some sensational value that was too intriguing to pass up. My draft strategy early was to attack the highest upside, followed by targeting potential value selections in the middle rounds and trusting my board. Eventually, I thought I got some good positional needs and young upside plays as well.

Nathan: I’d give my draft about a B. The dynamic duo (when healthy) of Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Maxey, Devin Booker, and Amen Thompson gives me plenty of scoring opportunities, plus they’re more complete perimeter options who rebound for their position, generate defensive steal opportunities, and can really pass players open for easy assists. And again, when healthy, all of Joel Embiid, Ivica Zubac, and Jarrett Allen are proven centers who excel at finding ways to put points on the board and man the middle of the floor for their respective teams. Some of the depth on my roster is a bit more unproven, so I’ll be crossing my fingers all season long for good health and waiver wire luck!

Albert: My roster is filled with world-champion New York Knicks, so my grade should be an easy A. Unfortunately, I need to take this exercise seriously and give myself an A-. The minus is there to keep me humble. Objectively, I got Toumani Camara in the later rounds as a bona fide steal. I took a big bet on Anthony Davis and bought into what he’s selling. He’s telling everyone that’ll listen that he wants to play 82 games this season. If he does play a ton of games for an exciting Wizards team, I just might have grabbed a league-winner. As a draft expert, I took some swings on rookies Darryn Peterson, Brayden Burries, and Mikel Brown Jr. I think all three guys will get a real runway to play this season.

Metcalf: B-. I think I got caught up too much with trying to find the do-it-all forwards who end up producing better advanced numbers than raw counting stats. I should’ve probably swung on a few more volume scorers instead.

Nick: I think I would give myself a solid B; it had been a while since I’d done a fantasy draft, and I started getting worried about how it would turn out by Round Three, but I think I did pretty well in the later rounds.

Corey: I’m going to give myself a B with potential to get that grade up once my team gets healthier. Nabbing a guy like Giannis Antetokounmpo allowed me to set a strong foundation due to his ability to play both forward spots and fill up every aspect of the stats sheet. I took a swing on Kon Knueppel early, which I think is going to pay off when he’s back on the court. Elite elite shooter with more playmaking chops in his bag than most people realize. He’s in the perfect spot now to get to show those skills off after the Hornets moved on from LaMelo Ball and in many ways gave him the car keys. Then I nabbed Tyler Herro and Julius Randle later on, both of whom I think are in for monster statistical years. You know what, maybe I’ll give myself an A after all.

Paige/Izzy: I think we’re sitting at a B+ and, fingers crossed, will see our team lock in more soon. We were lucky to grab the first pick, and getting Jokić first was definitely the move. We were stumped between choosing him or Wemby. We’ve got a good little motley of players, and some are the more star-power archetype of their respective teams. And, above all, not only do we have Jokić, but we are also backed by the sheer power of his horses.

Jacob/Finn: Finn: A smooth A- feels right here without getting into overconfident territory. We got some star power, some depth and versatility at every position, and a few big breakout candidates. With Wemby at the helm, it’s going to be tough to beat us.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I think a B+ is pretty fair. Even as some of the games have played out, a number of our players have punched above their projections. As always, there were probably some things we could have done differently, but we got some great players across our draft board.

Jam: I’m with Stephen here on a B+ grade. Anchored by Luca, the team is filled with versatility and stat sheet stuffers. I’m tempted to give an A-, but there are one or two decisions that I would love to have back.

Owen/Quinn: Owen: An A. We gotta trust that the process we had will come to fruition. We had a set of guys we wanted to target going in and came away grabbing plenty of them, even leaving some off the board. Tyrese Haliburton, Deni Avdija and Chet Holmgren are our engines, while Dylan Harper, Alex Sarr and Jalen Williams project as a high-upside trio. In the later rounds, we targeted players with high counting stats. Guys like Jalen Green, Brandin Podziemski and Miles Bridges who, at worst, will stuff a stat sheet. Overall, good outing.

Ignacio/Latif: A B+ would be fair. It’s not our ideal vision for the roster, but considering we were second-to-last in the draft order, we feel like we did as much as we could with what we had. Our top three picks (Jalen Johnson, Steph Curry, and Walker Kessler) should all have statistically impactful seasons, which gave us the freedom to make some high-risk, high-reward bets (Kawhi) and pick up some potential steals (Ty Jerome) later in the draft.

Rowan/Parker: Maybe we’re hard graders, but I feel a solid B- describes how I feel about our draft. It feels great to have SGA and Evan Mobley helming our team, but after that, there are some fun swings at each position. I think the guard, wing, and center spots we chose have a lot of upside, but could also deal with some logjams at their positions, which could hinder their production.

Rucker: Jayson Tatum. After drawing the fifth pick, I had a bit of an early dilemma looking at some gigantic names on the board. It’s always hard to pass up some sure-fire Hall of Famers (hello Giannis), but I feel like this could be one of the most impressive seasons for Jayson Tatum coming up.

Nathan: I was really hoping for Tyrese Maxey to circle back around to me in Round Two, and thankfully he did. I wanted a versatile player who could produce and cover multiple position categories in Cooper Flagg, but Maxey is as much of a top-tier player for fantasy purposes as almost any other player in the NBA. He’s a go-to scorer on the 76ers despite all of the talent the franchise accumulated in the offseason, and he’s as consistent as they come both in terms of producing and actually playing heavy games and minutes. He’s a co-captain of my team for a reason.

Albert: After being told the team would put extension talks on hold for the foreseeable future, it looks like Karl-Anthony Towns will have a lot to play for, even after a title-winning season. A highly motivated Towns, who unlocked something as an offensive hub from the nail for the Knicks, could create a fantasy monster this season. I fully expect his assist numbers to be up this season, and he’ll take even more three-point attempts. Towns is still an elite rebounder, so the multi-category value at center was too good for me to pass.

Metcalf: At the 12th pick, which is rough by the way, I knew my options were going to be pretty limited. I probably reached, but I knew Cam Boozer wasn’t getting back to me in the third round, so I said screw it and swung with the 13th pick. We’re already seeing him put up awesome numbers across the board, and I think that’ll only improve throughout the year.

Nick: For multiple reasons (Kings fandom, my personal belief in him having a bounce-back season, and both the name and the icon I chose for the fantasy team itself), I kind of had to have Keegan Murray on this squad. I could maybe have gotten him in a later round, but I wasn’t about to take that chance.

Corey: I felt like I had to target the Greek Freak. I think people forget just how impactful Giannis is when he’s healthy, and I expect an absolutely MONSTER year out of him. A motivated Giannis with a dash of Heat Culture is a scary thought.

Paige/Izzy: Maybe it’s the Chicago connection for Izzy, but grabbing Caleb Wilson was a big deal for us. It was between Wilson and Buzelis, definitely two of the guys who have been dialed in for the young Bulls, but we ultimately decided on Wilson. Midwesterners like us have to stay loyal to our teams!

Jacob/Finn: Finn: Ryan Rollins. I’m a Bucks fan and am really bullish on Rollins being a cornerstone for this team. It didn’t look like it on opening night, but the star leap for Double-R is coming at some point. We’re hoping it’ll come this year.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I felt like I wanted to have one of the “Big Four” of the incoming rookie class. Having covered them as long as we had, I wanted to see some payoff. Getting AJ Dybantsa was one of my prouder picks, personally.

Jam: Domantas Sabonis. Coming off an injury, I thought he would drop in the draft and would be a tremendous value pickup. He’s still one of the most versatile and productive bigs in the game. One of the few who can consistently flirt with triple-doubles. To my delight, he was not scooped up by Nick, our resident Kings fan, and we were able to grab Sabonis in the fifth round.

Owen/Quinn: Owen: Tyrese Haliburton and Chet Holmgren would be the easy answers here, but for me, the “must-grab” guy was Brandin Podziemski. Being able to grab a guy like that in the later rounds, knowing that he gives a scoring punch on top of good rebounding and stock numbers, ensures a spread-out portfolio. Low turnovers mean less damage to his night-to-night totals as well, making him an easy late-round steal.

Ignacio/Latif: Jalen Johnson has made improvements on his game on a year-over-year basis, so grabbing someone with that upward trajectory with a full season of first option usage was a must-have.

Rowan/Parker: With a high draft pick at #4, you want consistent greatness, and there hasn’t been a player that epitomizes it like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Over the past four seasons, his averages have hovered around 30 points, six assists, five rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He hardly makes mistakes, as he’s shot over 50% from the field and turned the ball over under three times per game. While the rest of the team is full of upside swings, Gilgeous-Alexander is the ultimate key to being a contender in this league.

Rucker: I had Stephon Castle on my radar before he got sniped one pick before me. I thought that was a fantastic selection, as I believe Castle is going to continue to ascend upward for the Spurs throughout the next couple of years. Plenty of attention has been spotlighted on a number of players on San Antonio’s roster. But I think Castle is ready to take another big leap this year. I let out a couple of frustration battle cries when that pick happened.

Nathan: Given how I love to craft my fantasy teams around players who can check every box and put up stats across the board, I was very sad to see Cameron Boozer taken so early in our fantasy draft. Despite being a rookie, his entire case for becoming a potential star is in how well-rounded his game is. He’s a three-level scorer, extraordinary passer, and a proven, top-tier rebounder. Also, he’s already getting every opportunity to produce in Memphis. He would’ve been a dream third pick for my roster.

Albert: I really wanted Cameron Boozer. I firmly believe he will be the best rookie in all of fantasy this season. Given his situation, playing with Zach Edey in the frontcourt, and the minutes he’ll get from the jump, he’s a prime candidate to outplay his draft slot. Boozer will be a monster contributor with how he stuffs the stat sheet. As long as he stays healthy this season, I expect him to be on a lot of rosters that win leagues.

Metcalf: I was really hoping Jalen Williams was going to make it back to me in the third round, and he just went a few spots before me. Now that he’s healthy, we’re already seeing him essentially back to his All-Star form. The versatility and production he brings to the court is so much fun.

Nick: Nathan taking Tyrese Maxey one pick before I could get him still stings a little–especially since I’m facing Nathan in Week One.

Corey: I really, really, really wanted Cam Boozer on my squad. He’s a rookie in most people’s eyes, but to me he’s a destroyer, sent from the future. He can’t be bargained with. He can’t be reasoned with. He doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And he absolutely will not stop until he dominates the stat sheet and your heart.

Paige/Izzy: It’s got to be Matas Buzelis. That was a painful loss. I think it ended up working out because we do have a pretty guard-heavy squad, so all should work out.

Jacob/Finn: Finn: Julius Randle was on our shortlist across multiple rounds. We’re both confident he’ll have a big year statistically for Brooklyn. But positional need and other intriguing names taking priority for us ultimately led to him falling through our fingers when Corey drafted him in the fifth.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I REALLY wanted one of Dyson Daniels or Ausar Thompson with our eighth round pick, and both were taken three spots before our pick. I’m still happy to have Cason Wallace, but I had my heart set on one of those two.

Jam: Trae Young, without a doubt. Young is still a terrific player and a nightly 20 points and 10 assists threat while commanding high usage. I thought he would have been a perfect fit. Going in the fourth round was excellent value that I wish we were able to snag.

Owen/Quinn: Owen: Reed Sheppard was the one that got away for me. I knew it would be ubercompetitive at the top, so I didn’t get my hopes up for any one guy. But knowing that a guy like Sheppard, who didn’t exactly have the best postseason run, could be available down the board for a high-reward, upside swing got my gears turning a bit. Sadly, he was stolen away.

Ignacio/Latif: Once we found out we had the 11th pick in the first round, we settled on a number of targets who could realistically be available at that spot: Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Haliburton, and Anthony Edwards. They all went in the four picks before us.

Rowan/Parker: I’m not only saying this because of his opening night eruption, but Ty Jerome was a player that we were circling and just missed on. He could be in line for another breakout year just a few years after his first breakout performance.

Rucker: I had a pair, honestly. I understand he’s 42 years old, but landing “the King” LeBron James in the fifth round was too good of a value to pass up. I understand the dilemma of drafting someone of LeBron’s age, but this is also fantasy basketball. In terms of production, LeBron has continued to be a consistent monster throughout the last 10+ years. After losing out on one of my top targets in Stephon Castle one pick before, I pivoted and took LeBron as a “let’s just get nuts” type of value pick.

Nathan: I know I’m just crossing my fingers for him to be healthy for enough games to matter, but Joel Embiid in the eighth round is a pretty great pick given how he’s proven he’s one of the best big men in basketball so long as he’s on the court. He’s a multi-level scorer who operates as a hub for the 76ers, and he’s the last line of defense for a team that’s desperate for rim protection and interior support, meaning he’s always in play to have a great game on the glass and blocking shots. We’re only a few games in, but he’s already been one of my best picks and performers.

Albert: I mentioned it earlier, but getting Toumani Camara in the later rounds felt like an absolute heist for me. Camara continues to be a defensive dynamo, adding a ton of value with steals and blocks, but the real reason he’s a steal is his growth on offense. Camara will keep getting open looks from the perimeter with all the dynamic guard play this season, and keeping his game as a play-finisher while staying fresh on defense is great for his fantasy production.

Metcalf: The turn at the sixth and seventh round for me was awesome. Being able to walk away with Zach Edey and Nickeil Alexander-Walker that late felt like I struck gold. Now Edey has to stay healthy, but… we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

Nick: Getting Ajay Mitchell in the eighth round felt like a huge win. We’ll see how it plays out, but I’m feeling pretty good about that one.

Corey: Temetrius Ja Morant baybay! Sure, the backcourt for the Trail Blazers is crowded. Sure, Dame and Ja starting together might not be ideal defensively. But it’s going to be absolutely electric all year long, and Ja is going to fill it up whenever he’s on the floor.

Paige/Izzy: Funny enough, because Izzy fell asleep and Paige was away, we were auto-drafted Ayo Dosunmu. Sheesh, when we saw that, it felt right. We have no doubt Ayo is going to build on the great season he had last year with the Wolves and surprise even more people as this upcoming season gets underway.

Jacob/Finn (Finn): No bias here, I promise, but Ryan Rollins in the eighth round is going to end up looking like incredible value. We’re talking about a bona fide second option and lead handler who can contribute across the board statistically here. Especially if Tyler Herro gets traded down the line, Rollins has the runway for a star breakout laid out for him in Milwaukee.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: EASILY getting Paul George in the 10th round. We were talking about getting some defensive, nine-box dudes to complement our top players, but PG was too good to pass up where we got him.

Jam: Yup, I couldn’t agree more with Stephen. It’s EASILY Paul George. George is the type of versatile two-way wing that I love both in real and fantasy basketball. He immediately rewarded us with a monster opening day performance: 38 points (7-12 3PA), five rebounds, three assists, and five steals.

Owen/Quinn: Owen: When our Round Five pick came up and we saw Dylan Harper on the board, it was almost an instantaneous pickup. He had a huge rookie year, built momentum into the playoffs, and now he’s forced his way into the starting lineup heading into Year Two? C’mon, easy grab.

Ignacio/Latif: Obligatory “it’s been two games” disclaimer here, but getting Ty Jerome in the ninth round was huge. Even if his numbers come back down to earth as the season goes on, we feel he’s going to play a major role on this Grizzlies team, filling up the stat sheet and helping our fantasy team massively.

Rowan/Parker: Ty Jerome in the ninth round could be an absolute steal. Health is a big factor with Jerome, as he’s only played 60+ games just once in his career–two years ago in Cleveland. However, this is one of the most productive per-minute players in the league. Memphis will look to maximize his skill set because of his superb efficiency in the pick-and-roll. Whenever he plays, he’s going to put up ridiculous numbers.

Rucker: Aday Mara. It’s not that I don’t like the pick, but I needed to find another center to pair with Rudy Gobert and the pickings were getting a little slim. I thought that Mara could eventually turn into getting some consistent good minutes as the year progressed, so if I grabbed him slightly early…patience could pay off. Looking back, taking some value still on the board could have built out my depth a little more, but I like the upside a bit.

Nathan: Cedric Coward. I may have bet a season early on him as a breakout fantasy performer, but I just love his game on the court. He’s a two-way wing who can actually guard multiple positions, play passing lanes, and support in help situations at the rim, and he’s consistently grown as a scorer on the other end of the floor. His spot-up three needs to be his most consistent weapon for him to help me in a major way, but the leap for Coward is coming. He can still develop and produce like a Top 3 player on a really good NBA team.

Albert: This is easy; I grabbed Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart because they have the heart of champions. Unfortunately, none of that means anything in fantasy. Do I regret my decision? Absolutely. Would I do it again? No question, I know what I am.

Metcalf: Jrue Holiday. I love how he plays so much. I grabbed him with the last pick of the draft because it just felt wrong to have him go undrafted. Probably could’ve done better though.

Nick: Putting Keegan Murray aside because I answered him for a different question: I’ve always been a big believer in Day’Ron Sharpe. Drafting him in the seventh round might have been a bit aggressive, but I really think it’ll work out. Plus, I needed another big man there anyway.

Corey: I may have nabbed James Harden a round early. Maybe I’m remembering the Beard from his previous stints, and this is the year his production tapers off a bit. Or maybe he just keeps stepping back into enough threes that it leads me to a trophy!

Paige/Izzy: Autodrafted Zach LaVine, which I mean, alright, former Bull, what’s up? We could have nabbed another big or PG, but we’re not mad at it.

Jacob/Finn: Finn: After getting Ryan Rollins, we had to get a Celtic on the team for Jacob. Drafting Hugo Gonzalez in the last round was a low-risk swing, but still a swing that might not pay off. The sophomore is raw and is one of several young wings in Boston poised to make a jump this year. There’s a world where he’s awesome this season, but there’s also a world where he’s a non-factor from a fantasy perspective and his tangible leap comes down the line.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: Not to be boring, but I don’t know if I did. Co-GMing really prevents this, I think. I can tell you that moves were made that Jam and I probably would have done differently separately. But that’s not really a “heart-over-head” dilemma.

Jam: Stephen summed it up perfectly. No heart-over-head drafting here, but I’m sure there were a few different moves and perhaps a different drafting philosophy if we GM’d separate teams.

Owen/Quinn: Owen: There is probably a fair argument for Tyrese Haliburton being this pick. Maybe you could say drafting the guy we haven’t seen play serious basketball in well over a year in the first round was a bit too ambitious, but the way I see it, you gotta swing with your heart sometimes. I love Hali. I know he can get back to who he once was, so I took the chance and bet on him in Round One.

Ignacio/Latif: Jabari Smith Jr. is a player Latif has been high on since he was drafted. Although he hasn’t entirely lived up to his billing as a #3 pick, there are always those glimpses of what he could be in this league. Just look at his stat line in the season opener.

Rowan/Parker: In some ways, Darius Acuff Jr. was one for us. He had a stellar year at Arkansas and should have the ball in his hands a ton for the Kings, but their roster has little infrastructure to support him having efficient and consistent performances.

Rucker: Yaxel Lendeborg. There’s been plenty of rookies that have been talked about in potential Rookie of the Year chases. But I think Lendeborg is going to have a legit case to make a run at the award. He landed with a perfect team that is going to allow Yaxel to “be Yaxel.” That’s a very charismatic wildman on the basketball court who isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone (hello Luka). Golden State is suddenly depleted of depth. That means that they could be giving Yaxel as much as he can handle early on, even as a rookie.

Nathan: Kyshawn George. He came to my team in the 12th round, and I value him far more as a player than getting selected near the tail end in fantasy. A 6’9” wing who can actually dribble, pass, shoot, and rebound? Like I’ve preached here: versatility matters to me. If a player’s shot isn’t falling, how else can they produce and put fantasy points on the board? George has answers to those questions, and he’s already started to contribute nicely this season with the Washington Wizards.

Albert: Brayden Burries will be pretty quiet early in the season, but once we get to the second half, the Bucks could give him plenty of opportunities to go out there and try stuff. That could lead to some incredible scoring nights where he’s in absolute control of the offense. Buries is a dynamic driver to the rim with a blossoming outside jumper and passing ability. Drafting him may have been a head-scratcher for some, but I see the vision.

Metcalf: Scottie Barnes has had awesome years before, so this is probably cheating. However, I think he could have a legitimate All-NBA level season this year. He just steadily gets better and better every year.

Nick: I was surprised by how low Egor Demin was in some of the consensus rankings; Ajay Mitchell aside, I thought he was the biggest steal of the draft for me. I’m fully expecting a breakout for Egor this season that will lead to him being much higher than a tenth round fantasy selection next year.

Corey: Alperen Şengün is in line for an All-NBA caliber season. Sengun is a nightly triple-double threat and is the closest thing we have in the league to a dude who can approximate the stylings of Nikola Jokic. He’s kind of like a Jokic cover band, but who doesn’t love a good cover band?

Paige/Izzy: Even though Ayo Dosunmu showed out last season, especially after being traded from the Bulls to the Timberwolves, this season could be a huge one for him. He’s got a great supporting cast with him on the Wolves roster, which we believe could amplify his skill set even more. He’s definitely one to watch.

Jacob/Finn: Jacob: I am so ready for the Collin Murray-Boyles breakout. After a productive rookie campaign, CMB is set to play a significant role off the bench for the Raptors. He’s already proven to be a talented defender, impressive playmaker, and beast on the glass. His scoring should take a bump as well with Kawhi’s gravity coming into play.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I could see it being Jalen Duren. This was a player I wouldn’t have taken on my own—but I’ll credit Jam here. I was iffy considering the offseason between Duren and the Pistons, but he looked good in the Preseason—and he’s been good early. I’m shocked based on my own expectations, so I think others could be as well.

Jam: Jeremiah Fears: a young, ultra-talented and creative guard who can score on multiple levels and make plays for his teammates. He’s commanding high usage and has the runway from New Orleans to grow through mistakes. I’m excited about him taking that sophomore leap.

Owen/Quinn: Quinn: I’m pretty excited to see what Dylan Harper can do with a larger role this season. He is already playing 10 more minutes per game than last season and has outscored and taken more field goals than De’Aaron Fox in each of the first three games. If he can continue proving himself as a starter, there is no telling what his ceiling can be this year.

Ignacio/Latif: We feel like we have an experienced roster, so none of these guys should really surprise people. However, we don’t think people expect how important a role Walker Kessler is going to play for the Lakers this year, or how his production and efficiency should increase playing alongside Luka. Obviously, injuries played a factor here, but I was surprised to see him available with our 35th pick.

Rowan/Parker: Joan Beringer could really surprise people. He’s going to play minutes for the Timberwolves as their lone backup center. It wouldn’t be shocking to see them play the long game with Rudy Gobert in terms of his minutes with their eyes toward May and June. Because of his size and athleticism, he’s going to crash the glass and be an easy lob target for LaMelo Ball and the rest of the Timberwolves perimeter players.

Rucker: I thought Nick had a really good middle of the draft that got some serious potential stat fillers in a big way. Those middle rounds can really shift the direction of your team in a hurry, and I thought there were some big-time value selections on his roster with those picks.

Albert: I know no one liked my draft, so I don’t like anyone else’s as well. This is a competition. I’m not here to make friends. I’d prefer not to even look at their rosters, and they better not look at mine. When the golden trophy is attached to my name at the season, then they can look. I have winning in my DNA.

Metcalf: I think Jam and Stephen nailed their first 5-6 picks. They grabbed versatile focal points of the offense who all put up big numbers. I think they tried to swing a little too much on potential after that, but the first half of their draft I thought was really strong.

Nick: This is maybe the toughest question for me to answer, because I thought there were some really awesome drafts from the crew. I think I’ll go with Team Jacob/Finn here–and not just because they got Moussa Diabate. Trae Young felt like a steal late in Round Four, and Dyson Daniels and Ryan Rollins will rack up the defensive stats for them every week.

Corey: Tyler Rucker not only has one of the best team names but also one of the best rosters. It pains me to say it, but Jalen Brunson, Jayson Tatum, and Kevin Durant is a loaded trio. There’s high-end depth with Darius Garland and Lauri Markkanen. Then there are the young wildcards in Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Reed Sheppard that can pay off big time. Tough squad. He’s going down, of course, but he’ll get to enjoy the ride at least.

Paige/Izzy: Izzy: Metcalf, sheesh. I am not intimidated, nor am I feeling like our team can’t measure up, but I am, in fact, giving a round of applause. There’s lots of depth and different skill sets from the guys he chose. Even though these guys aren’t all the stars of their respective teams, those are honestly the players who I see having more upside than what people may have initially believed about them. But everyone in the NC crew cooked honestly; bunch of ball-knowers here in our squad!

Jacob/Finn: Jacob: I’m a fan of what Metcalf did. Scottie Barnes, Cam Boozer, Lamelo, and Pascal make a great core, while the rest of the roster is full of players with bankable skills who should produce night in and night out. Zach Edey and Nickeil Alexander Walker were awesome sixth- and seventh-round picks. Norman Powell should put up scoring numbers on a lackluster Bulls squad.

Jam/Stephen: (Stephen) Probably Jam. Kidding. Truthfully, I like Jacob and Finn’s team—as well as Ignacio and Latif’s. Both have good balance in abilities and positionally.

Jam: NOBODY.

Owen/Quinn: Quinn: I’m personally a fan of Corey’s team; he has great depth and a very balanced roster of pure scorers, defensive guys, and elite stat sheet stuffers. I think he really killed the middle of the draft too; Randle, Herro, and Turner are great pick-ups.

Ignacio/Latif: I think Jam and Stephen killed it. They took Luka early but solidified their draft in the fourth through sixth rounds, adding a ton of upside with AJ Dybantsa and Zion Williamson, along with Domantas Sabonis, who will put up a lot of stats for the Kings. They would be my pick to win it all.

Rowan/Parker: The more we look at Team Jam/Stephen, the more envious we get. They grabbed a ton of productive stars at the top, and then let the board fall to them in a savvy way to get a mix of boom-or-bust vets like Zion Williamson or young fliers like Jeremiah Fears.

Rucker: Probably every team that has two GMs. Having two targets is more fun.

Nathan: The Draft Sickos may have earned their name in the fantasy space too, not just covering the NBA Draft! If every one of their players hits their productive ceilings, that’s a team that can put a ton of points on the board in a hurry. The core group of Luka Doncic, Paolo Banchero, AJ Dybantsa, Zion Williamson, and Paul George is an underrated pure scoring lineup, and all of these big wings/forwards can rebound, handle, and pass at a high level. That’s a very dangerous team on paper.

Albert: Every team in the league should be wary of me. The secret with my team is I’ll probably start slow, and that’ll put me in a prime position to pounce. The great philosopher Jay-Z once said, “When the grass is cut, the snakes’ll show.” I am that snake; watch out for me.

Metcalf: Rucker. He can’t beat me in any of the other games we play. Why will this be any different?

Nick: Paige/Izzy, no question. It’s especially great that we don’t match up until Week 11, so I’ll get to play every other team first and spend some time readying my best trash talk to mess with Paige live on every Deep Dives podcast between now and then. Sorry you’re getting caught in the crossfire, Izzy–but also not all that sorry.

Corey: I can’t wait to face off against my podcasting partner Albert “Garbage Time” Ghim. The listeners know us to be the best of buds, but unfortunately this year we will be mortal foes.

Jacob/Finn: Jacob: We’re matched up with him week one, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to beat the bossman himself, Corey. And so far, it’s looking good for Team WemBAMyama. It’ll be nice to establish who is the best Fantasy Basketball player from Long Island.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I’ll be excited to face off against Metcalf’s team of stellar defenders (it’s kind of his thing). As far as trash talk, it’s gotta be Rucker— because he brings the energy and I’m apparently a “habitual line-stepper” out here.

Jam: Everyone can get it.

Owen/Quinn: Definitely Albert; looking forward to letting him hear it once we beat him and anytime his beloved Knicks lose!

Ignacio/Latif: Corey feels like he’d be the best trash talker of the group, and we guess his team isn’t too shabby either.

Rowan/Parker: Probably Jam and Stephen’s. They have a fun, deep roster. Wemby vs. SGA is a (fantasy) rematch of the Western Conference Finals. Respectfully, any matchup is fair game. This team won’t duck the competition.

Rucker: Probably Owen and Quinn because they drafted a bunch of young guns, and I would just love knowing my guys are probably playing as much as humanly possible.

Albert: I’m not the type to look at another person’s pocket. I love my roster from top to bottom; I have full confidence in it, and I will not waver. Look at the names on my squad; I have savages in the box. They will not be denied.

Metcalf: My team is on the floor.

Nick: It’s hard not to go with Jacob and Finn again here, but I’ll go with Team Rowan/Parker instead. I was very jealous that they got Evan Mobley (and may or may not have tried to draft him myself in a later round before I realized that he was off the board); them getting Darius Acuff Jr. as well makes this an even easier call for me.

Corey: I believe it was Horace Grant who once said: “The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor.” What’s that? That wasn’t Horace Grant but the ancient Roman poet Horace? Well, tomato, tomatoe. I’m loyal to my team. The rest of the teams in this league can kick rocks.

Paige/Izzy: Everyone should fear the two women of No Ceilings and our squad. No one is safe.

Jacob/Finn: Jacob: Again, I’d probably go with Metcalf’s team. And it’s not just because Cam Boozer is one of my favorite players I’ve ever watched; the team is truly deep. Plus, Finn and I both have a soft spot for Jrue Holiday, who helped our favorite teams win championships recently.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I have always admired Albert’s love of pretty much all things, but particularly his basketball perspective. If I changed rosters with him, I would also want to watch the game the way he does—to be better.

Jam: NOBODY.

Owen/Quinn: Quinn: While I’m more than happy with our roster, I’d probably swap with Corey. He just has too many guys that we know will be high-volume, offensive players.

Ignacio/Latif: If we had to swap teams with anyone, it’d be Rucker. His top nine is very strong with players who will be productive on a night-to-night basis and focal points of teams, and he has young players with upside to be key contributors.

Rowan/Parker: Not just because of Ty Jerome, but we’d love to swap rosters with Ignacio/Latif. Players like Jalen Johnson and Stephen Curry should have a productive year no matter what, but after watching Walker Kessler and Jerome have incredible opening nights, the desire to step into their draft shoes is palpable.

Rucker: I make more trades than Sam Presti.

Nathan: I invested in players that produce in ways beyond just getting buckets. Every player on my team has a true secondary strength, and many of them check every single box when it comes to raw box-score production. This team is young, and it NEEDS its stars to stay healthy, but my team has as much long-term upside this season as any other in the field.

Albert: My roster is full of high-floor, high-ceiling prospects. I have wild potential, and even on bad weeks, a high enough floor to keep my head above water. The range of outcomes is not wide enough for me to be at risk. I also could be the worst team in the league; that doesn’t matter to me. My team knows who I am; they know how much I believe we will fight till the bitter end. With Cade Cunningham, KAT, and Anthony Davis leading my squad, we can dream big this season.

Metcalf: I have Cam Boozer.

Nick: KEEEEEEEEEEGAN. MUUUUUUUURRAY. (That one’s for you, Sacramento). On a more serious note, I feel pretty good about my mix of established veteran presences and young players who I think are primed for breakout seasons.

Corey: I can be your Herroooooo babybayyyyy.

Paige/Izzy: Again, and nevaaa forget: the two women of No Ceilings are a different level of locked in.

Jacob/Finn: Victor Wembanyama and Mr.83 points himself, Bam Adebayo. But for real, top to bottom our squad is all versatile players with one to two skills that will show up on the stat sheet night in and night out. We’ve got elite defenders, both interior and perimeter, plus real scoring firepower out of our guards.

Jam/Stephen: Stephen: Jam and I are the No Ceilings Dudley Boyz. And they won a ton of gold.

Jam: GM chemistry and hating losing SO much more than loving winning.

Owen/Quinn: Quinn: We have the best mix of established stars and young upside swings, which is the perfect make-up for a championship team.

Ignacio/Latif: We have a team with a clear identity, built intentionally around a “volume-over-everything” mentality. We’re also waiver warriors, and we’re ready to make a ton of moves on the fringes of the roster to help us win games.

Rowan/Parker: We have SGA, who’s a beacon of health and consistency. Donovan Clingan is going to mash the boards. Evan Mobley has been a consistent All-Star. Stephon Castle is a candidate for “The Leap.” We’re also going to work the waivers like crazy for wins around the margins.

Share No Ceilings

The 2027 NBA Draft cycle has so much going on this season that each prospect subsection has its own fascinating storylines. The top of the class will draw most of the heavy discussion. And rightfully so. That is the most important part of scouting the draft: identifying the top talent. The returning class will have its own niche arguments: Who is the best returner? Who can be this class’s so-and-so? Can one of these returners make a push for the Top 3? Top 5? And so on.

You may have read my Five Offseason Findings piece from October 1st, where I mentioned that this crop of traditional international prospects could be the best group in quite some time. That said, I thought it would be prudent to share my offseason findings on this group of prospects before the college basketball season (officially) kicks off on November 1st.

When I say traditional international prospects, I mean those born outside the States and playing outside the States. So Luigi Suigo won’t be in this series. Also, I won't include anyone who isn’t eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft. So Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Nikola Kusturica, and others won’t be mentioned.

Originally, this was going to be a two-part piece with five prospects per article. But there’s too much to say about each of these guys to cram into one piece, so each prospect gets his own International Snapshot installment (yes, this group is kind of deep this year, folks).

Let’s dive in!

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It’s not uncommon for a prospect to sneak into the conversation later in the cycle. It’s also not uncommon for those players to return and have a bit of a letdown. While Adam Atamna's production hasn’t been perfect, his process after moving from ASVEL to Ratiopharm Ulm has been encouraging. Of all the names who tested the 2026 NBA Draft waters, Atamna was quiet at that stage, while names such as Sergio de Larrea, Vsevolod Ishchenko, and Jack Kayil saw their draft stock warm up.

To this point in Adam’s early season, he has shown some very intriguing development.

Offense

As a guard, Adam Atamna is used as a player who functions well with the ball, whether to set up a scoring opportunity for himself or others. Cerebro Sports credits Atamna with a career 25.3% usage rate over 130+ games. Across both leagues with ASVEL last season, he averaged 5.1 PPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.3 RPG, with splits of 36/26/90 in 13.8 MPG.

Real Zoom

Part of what makes Adam Atamna (#0 in white) a projectable guard prospect is how he moves. I like the way he moves. On a different level of acclaim, similar to how Jaxon Smith-Njigba has that instant zoom when he runs, Atamna has that instantaneous acceleration when he is running the pick-and-roll. There isn’t a sudden “boom” of explosiveness, just suddenness.

Read more

Welcome back to The Morning Dunk!!

This weekly column keeps YOU, the reader, informed about the future of basketball. How are the NBA’s rookies and sophomores performing and developing? Who are the top NBA Draft prospects to keep an eye on? What should I watch this week to stay informed and engaged? And what are some of the best things I read last week from the No Ceilings team?

I’m not here to bomb you with boatloads of information every week. I’m here to get you up to speed on what matters and where the game is headed in terms of future talent.

So let’s not waste any more time; this was an action-packed week with NBA rookie debuts, sophomore standouts, and one major question I’ve left myself with after only a couple of games: Are the Memphis Grizzlies ALREADY ahead of schedule?

Written as of the afternoon of 10/25/26

Last season, the Memphis Grizzlies finished 25-57, in prime position to capture a top spot in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery. As a result, the Grizzlies were blessed with the No. 3 overall pick. That selection turned out to be Duke’s Cameron Boozer, arguably the most accomplished prospect we’ve seen enter the NBA since Luka Doncic.

That in itself doesn’t guarantee success next season. Building a contender in the NBA from the ground up takes time. However, we’ve seen teams take leaps from outside the playoff picture to at least making the play-in since the NBA brought that system into focus.

Before this season, Memphis was a popular pick for its “over” on wins. That number reached roughly 30.5 at most betting markets. That’s not a number that gets a team in the West into the postseason if it’s a slight over at 31-51. What this Grizzlies team has shown through a couple of games is a much higher bar than just barely scratching the surface of a chance at postseason play.

The Grizzlies won both games to start the season, and sit at 2-0 entering a Sunday showdown against the Sacramento Kings at the time of writing. Memphis’ first game against the Utah Jazz was a blowout the entire way, a 123-103 win. A second contest against the Golden State Warriors was much closer, 111-108, and came down to a game-winning shot by Boozer himself.

Ty Jerome has been spectacular to start the year, pouring in points from the perimeter at absurd efficiencies. Boozer, on the flip side, has struggled to shoot well in both games, but has been a mainstay contributor in other facets of the game. He’s been consistent on the glass, used his court vision and passing touch in the halfcourt and in transition, and battled on defense, sliding his feet well on the perimeter to keep up with quicker matchups.

But it’s not ONLY those two players who give Grizzlies fans hope for what could be more success earlier than anticipated. The current offensive ecosystem rests on three pillars: Jerome, Boozer, and dominant force Zach Edey. But role players contribute both in the starting lineup and off the bench: Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer, Scotty Pippen Jr., GG Jackson, Jerami Grant, and Quentin Post.

That’s a total count of TEN PLAYERS that I just listed off in terms of who has already contributed in positive ways to what Memphis has done in its first two games. Most teams that were in the lottery a year prior, outside of some injury-riddled veteran squads, struggle to put even six real NBA players on the court in a game the following year. Memphis has legitimate pro talent at several key positions, and we haven’t even seen Isaiah Stewart take the court in the regular season yet!

Now, two games can’t establish that Memphis is destined to return to the postseason. No one is suggesting that. But when I use a phrase like “ahead of schedule,” I’m really talking about the team's overall identity and what this franchise is building toward.

Boozer and Edey give this team a foundation on the glass and in the paint. Most of the best basketball teams in NBA history have been built inside-out, not the other way around. Excellent post play and frontcourt versatility are one known way to achieve success in the league, especially if those positions are deep with talent. Right now, Memphis has at least three quality centers who can come in and play minutes platoon-style behind Edey, plus different variations of athletic forwards behind Boozer who give the team different looks depending on whether they’re subbing in strictly for Boozer or coming in together.

For example, minutes where Grant and Jackson are on the court together can be CHAOTIC, both in a good and bad way. But how many teams are matching the athleticism and ball skills of those two forwards in their second and third units? And how many teams have answers in the frontcourt to keep Edey and Boozer off the glass? If you double Boozer, he can pass it out and find the open man. Throw a double at Edey, and he’ll likely still muscle his way into drawing a foul. Leave both of them in one-on-one situations on the block or, in Boozer’s case, on a transition drive or from the slot, and chances are they’ll bully ball their way to success.

That’s just two-thirds of the equation through the first couple of games in Memphis, and not even the most important parts of the equation.

Jerome has been virtually unstoppable to start the year, and he’s the perfect perimeter counterpart to two young talents like Boozer and Edey. Jerome is built for an exceptional two-man game because he can burn defenses in pick-and-roll coverage. You can’t go under on a shooter like Jerome, and he’s the exact type of shooter who can fling shots in from 30-plus feet if Boozer or Edey come over and set screens within early offense. Show Jerome too much help, and he can find Boozer or Edey on a slip. Switch the coverage, and that’s a potential mismatch for Edey and Boozer to work off of in the post.

And if defenses want to load the paint and focus all their efforts on stopping those three players? Then it’s a field day of open threes for the supporting cast in Coward, Wells, Spencer, etc., or backdoor-cutting opportunities for forwards like Grant and Jackson.

When we evaluate players for the NBA Draft, we focus heavily on raw athletic talent, size, and positional versatility. How many positions can a player guard? Who are they actually built to defend? And does this player have the speed, strength, and length to capitalize on the court?

These are critical components of basketball; don’t get me wrong. But they need to go hand in hand with evaluating a player’s skill and awareness, with and without the ball.

Every job in life is just problem-solving at the end of the day, and that’s especially true in sports. When the defense presents a certain matchup and can scheme and adjust in several ways off it, does the offense have the personnel to solve those problems and turn them into advantages? For Memphis, the answer (so far) has been yes, so much so that we’re watching a winning foundation being built right before our eyes.

Now, this team isn’t perfect. Boozer, in particular, has had challenges when asked to do a little too much out of the gate in the halfcourt. His handle has been picked in traffic, and he’s still not the most explosive player right under the basket, two things that were criticized before he was drafted. Edey has to stay healthy for all of this to come together at its highest level. And Jerome isn’t going to score almost 37 points per game all season long.

But basketball is about flow and balance. Right now, Memphis is playing with both, and it’s happening through the youngest player in the NBA, Boozer, and one of the league’s best young big men, Edey.

I don’t expect Boozer to continue shooting as poorly as 8-for-28 through his first two games. He has excellent touch and feel for when to shoot and when to make the right play for someone else. His defense, especially in the halfcourt, has been beyond what was advertised at the start of the season, and I want to see those efforts continue. Same with his ability to scoop up rebounds and pass guys open, particularly in transition. Having two bigs in Boozer and Edey who present as many matchup problems as they do is a literal luxury in today’s NBA (especially when one of those two, Boozer, has as much potential as he does to shoot the ball well from three, like he did at Duke and has already shown against the Warriors). This league is obsessed with two things right now: finding as many “two-way” wings as possible and investing in skilled size that lets teams go small or even play with two bigs on the floor at the same time.

The Grizzlies are finding that luxury exists within this roster as long as all the pieces stay healthy. That identity puts this team, which just hit the reset button, potentially way ahead of schedule in finding that long-term identity, and we’re seeing it play out on the court in real time.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

Yaxel Lendeborg has been incredible to start the season. In his first week in the NBA, he’s done a bit of everything, totaling 56 points, 25 rebounds, 13 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block.

What stands out most is his three-point shooting; after a 6-for-11 performance from deep against the Phoenix Suns, he's at 8-for-18 on threes to start the year. He shows ZERO hesitation on those deep shots when he catches the ball in the corners or on the wings. He’s letting those threes fly with conviction, and it’s been a welcome sight for the Golden State Warriors, finding shooting from guys other than Stephen Curry.

So far, his best work has been off the ball, as a play finisher on offense. But there are moments when he gets the ball, and you can see the Warriors' vision as he fits nicely into a movement-heavy offense with Curry, Draymond Green, and (maybe) Jimmy Butler. Lendeborg has a great feel for the game and has made the right reads off the dribble, even if he did pile up six turnovers against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Lendeborg looks like the player advertised coming out of college: a potential star mismatch forward with the skill and talent to do a bit of everything on the court. I understand he’s an old rookie coming in, but why should age limit THAT type of skill/feel/productivity at 6’9” again? His play since Summer League has matched or exceeded his peers, including those picked far ahead of him near the top of the 2026 draft. DO NOT sleep on Lendeborg being a staple of this column moving forward, and a real challenger for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award.

Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t impressed with Caleb Wilson during the preseason or in the first Chicago Bulls game against the Toronto Raptors. And I don’t think the poor performance was entirely on his shoulders.

As some of my esteemed No Ceilings colleagues have highlighted on social media, Wilson hasn’t been put in a prime position to succeed right out of the gate because of the freedom and lack of structure he stepped into at the start of his career.

Wilson’s handle and refinement working off the dribble just aren’t quite there yet for him to be viewed as a true primary or secondary creator at the NBA level within his first couple of games. Wilson is at his best when he can capitalize on an advantage someone else creates, whether it's a cut to the basket, a transition finish, or an easy catch-and-shoot shot, rather than dancing with the ball or thinking too long.

Wilson’s third game against the Washington Wizards looked MUCH different compared to his first couple of outings. Wilson was turbocharging his offense, using key defensive plays to create scoring chances for himself. Teammates found him for cuts and open finishes at the basket, where he had only one man to beat.

As he’s working to clean up his ball-handling, improve his decision-making when driving downhill from a standstill, and find his rhythm as an outside shooter, Wilson should embrace who he was primarily at North Carolina: a chaotic play creator on defense who used that same energy to find offensive rebounding opportunities and vertical finishes at the basket.

Wilson stands out to me as the best athlete in the 2026 class. He’s not the tallest or longest player, but his ability to rise one or two feet and make plays others can’t is freakish, to say the least. As long as Chicago keeps bringing Caleb along slowly, letting him explore the studio space at a pace that’s better suited for him, while also putting him in position to succeed away from the ball, the better off he’s going to be post All-Star break, as he should really be hitting his stride.

When he is used to his best ability, he can have nights where he’s already posting 30 points and 14 rebounds as a rookie in his third NBA game. He has the talent to be one of the best players in his class.

Darius Acuff, Sacramento Kings

I knew Darius Acuff would have a ton of offensive responsibility walking into the Sacramento Kings from day one. The job was tailor-made for a high-usage offensive guard who could score with the best of them.

What I didn’t expect to type so soon was that he attempted 50 freaking shots in his first two games in the league. 50!!!!

That’s an obscene amount of shot attempts, but here’s the thing… I really don’t think much of his offense was forced.

I watched all 50 of those shot attempts back, and there were maybe a handful of pull-up jumpers I think Acuff might even admit he’d want to take an extra second on and possibly pass off the look, given the situation they were taken in. But beyond that, Acuff got to every spot he wanted on the court.

Darius plays with great pace, especially in the halfcourt. When he got chances to move into a handoff or pick-and-roll situation, Acuff showed in his first couple of games that he can walk into two-dribble jumpers with ease. He knows exactly when to get the shot up and where on the floor to get it off before defenses react and contest. That’s not Acuff forcing jumpers every trip down the floor. That’s a confident guard who's been practicing scoring at a high level from day one.

Did all of those shots go in? No, no, they did not. But sometimes, the ball doesn’t go in the hoop. I know, crazy concept, Nate.

But my point is this: if more of those attempts had fallen, like in his second game when he racked up 33 points against the Trail Blazers, wouldn’t the headline be about Acuff having one of the best debut weeks in the rookie class? I still think, given how much responsibility he took on from the jump with vets like Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine around him, he had a better week than many would say because he took a lot of shots and his true shooting percentage was low.

Again, I care more about young players taking shots within the flow of the offense, and not forcing things just because the ball may not swing back around to them at the same cadence, or they may not get back on the floor for a while and feel like they need to justify themselves to their peers and their respective coaching staffs. I want to see rookies (and even second- and third-year players) make quality, repeatable, winning plays. Most of Acuff’s shots were in rhythm to me, and that’s impressive. The Blazers game was night and day compared to the Clippers game in terms of makes, but I’m not penalizing him aggressively because he was 5-of-24 in his first NBA start.

Now we can see how Acuff approaches some of those shots I said he might want back moving forward, and take advantage of his passing touch and ball placement to set even more of his teammates up for quality looks. Kings fans should be very happy they have Acuff to cheer for.

Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Three games in, and Dylan Harper is picking up right where he left off for the San Antonio Spurs.

Last season, Harper’s calling card was using his big-bodied power and guard-like quickness to make teams pay around the basket, especially in transition.

This year? Well, it’s been more of the same. Harper hasn’t found his rhythm yet from three, and his pull-up shot, even inside the arc, is off to a 3-of-11 start, but he’s still as good as ever when attacking downhill.

He isn’t running the show for the Spurs, as San Antonio has decided to play De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Harper together. But when he’s gotten scoring chances, he’s still made the most of most of them. Harper is built to live in attack mode, and it helps when he can also guard his man on the other end of the floor and switch positions defensively.

The Spurs haven’t started the season the way Victor Wembanyama likely wanted, but I’ve seen some real bright spots with Harper and Castle.

You don’t see guards come into the league with Harper’s level of craft at the basket. The way he can decelerate, switch hands, and finish at tough angles is uncanny for a player his age, and he did it last year in the NBA Finals.

But there’s no question that even though I’m giving him flowers now, more of those pull-up jumpers have to go down if he’s going to lean into that shot more around the free-throw line area. There were several times against the OKC Thunder and the Houston Rockets when he 100% settled for contested mid-range looks instead of passing out for a better opportunity, or even resetting the offense and calling for a ball screen. Patience is a virtue, even in the NBA. He’s still learning, which is why it helps for him to have two other organizers on the court with him in Fox and Castle, who can take on the creation burden when Harper’s shot isn’t falling.

VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

One of my biggest pre-season spots on the Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings Podcast was answering burning questions about each NBA team from a young player's perspective. And when I got to the Philadelphia 76ers, VJ Edgecombe was an easy choice.

Look, this franchise added game-breaking talent in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to the mix alongside Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and the aforementioned Edgecombe. That’s a load of talent in one starting lineup, but it’s also a lot of guys who are used to being the best or second-best players on a team, who have the ball in their hands A LOT, having to come together and make sacrifices for the greater good.

Maxey and Embiid are the franchise mainstays, Edgecombe was a new addition last year, and LeBron and Brown are trying to do their part to fit in alongside everyone else. Over Philadelphia's first few games, we’ve seen each star take turns dominating stretches and running the offense. We’ve also seen everyone have to take a backseat at times.

One player who's taken a backseat by default is VJ, as expected given his pedigree and status in the pecking order. He’s a sophomore surrounded by accomplished veterans. Not getting as many chances to score and handle the rock was expected.

But I also said before the season he’d be a key x-factor in any title aspirations for the 76ers because he can take advantage of what the others are doing to set the table. Four other advantage creators can create opportunities for a dynamic, athletic play finisher like VJ. Not to mention, Edgecombe is great at creating his own offense in transition off of his defense, which he’s still done early in this season.

The question, though, is how Edgecombe continues to contribute without getting those developmental reps and opportunities to be “the guy.” Think about it. VJ is so talented; how many times in his life has he been the FIFTH best player on a team? That’s a mental adjustment, especially for an ascending young star like Edgecombe.

The good news is, he hasn’t let it affect him since his first game against the New York Knicks. Against the Milwaukee Bucks, Edgecombe scored 17 points but grabbed 13 (!!) rebounds as a shooting guard alongside other talented positional rebounders. Fighting for those extra possessions with his athleticism, and playing a specific role to extend possessions and make the most of created opportunities, is exactly what VJ needs to do right now. We’ll see how this season impacts his long-term development, but he’s repeatedly finding ways to impact the game without dominating the basketball, and that’s what this 76ers team needs from its fifth starter.

Hitting 5-of-10 threes against Milwaukee also helps the scoring, and I want to keep monitoring that spot-up three for Edgecombe. If he can hit 36-38% of his threes this season, that makes Philly much more dangerous, since it removes another weak point an opposing defense can attack. I want to see Edgecombe make key secondary reads, hit open threes, and keep bringing that explosive energy on defense and on the glass this season.

Kasparas Jakucionis, Milwaukee Bucks

I must own an error in my preseason coverage.

In that aforementioned 30-question series I referenced, when I discussed Brayden Burries and the Milwaukee Bucks, I didn’t give Kasparas Jakucionis the shine as a talented young member of that backcourt alongside Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, and Burries.

To Jakucionis’ credit, he’s actually looked pretty good to start the season as a do-it-all combo guard for Milwaukee. He’s controlled the game as a low-turnover playmaker and has made shots from multiple levels.

He’s made the most of his rim attempts and connected on some catch-and-shoot opportunities. We’re not nearly far enough into the season to judge his play as a handler in ball screens with this particular combination of bigs in Kel’el Ware and Myles Turner, but as an off-ball guard who has held his own defensively, Jakucionis has gone a bit under the radar in terms of sophomore discussion to start the season.

I want to see how he progresses because he has real size and scoring/playmaking chops that could add real utility to this Bucks roster. He’s far from just a throw-in from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Bucks fans should be excited that he, along with Ware and Jaime Jaquez, are producing early and often for Milwaukee.

2027 Preseason NBA Draft Guide - NC Staff

International Snapshot: Dash Daniels - Stephen Gillaspie

2026 Ahead of the Curve: Big East Wings - Jam Hines

NBA Rookies First Impressions: NBA Draft Lottery Edition - Latif Love

• Tuesday 10/27, Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs: How does Darius Acuff match up with the Spurs’ dynamic, defensive backcourt in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper?

• Wednesday 10/28, Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Can Alex Sarr assert himself on the interior against Cleveland’s veteran frontcourt, and can Kyshawn George continue his junior-season ascent against Peyton Watson and Jaylon Tyson?

• Thursday 10/29, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Can Cameron Boozer improve his interior scoring efficiency against Portland’s defense-first frontcourt? Zach Edey vs. Donovan Clingan!

• Friday 10/29, Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics: Caleb Wilson’s decision-making and offensive execution against an experienced Celtics defense

• Friday 10/29, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg in a rematch against Luka Doncic… Need I say more?

• Saturday 10/31, Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies: A battle between two potential NBA Rookie of the Year favorites in Darius Acuff and Cameron Boozer

• Sunday 11/1, Notre Dame vs. Villanova: The FIRST true regular-season college basketball game of the year, featuring potential Top 5 2027 prospect Luigi Suigo

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The 2026 NBA Draft class is widely regarded as potentially one of the best ever.

The Top 3 are all viewed as franchise-changing talents; several guards are believed to have all-star potential, and the older prospects are expected to make day-one impacts on competitive teams.

We are still years away from learning if that’s true.

In fact, many watching the youngsters for the first time in their debuts would find that to be ludicrous.

Most of the class struggled to score the ball in their first taste of NBA action. Yet most found ways to adjust the next time out.

What’s clear is that all the rookies who’ve got some burn so far have flashed what made franchises invest millions in them.

With that in mind, I wanted to take a look at how the lottery picks have fared in their first tastes of NBA action.

For clarity, these aren’t projections of what they’ll become; a few haven’t even played, but rather extensions of my pre-draft scouting reports, with one or two measly NBA data points to see how their strengths and weaknesses have translated to the next level so far.

Important Note: Writeups were completed before the games on 10/24. All stats are as of 10/23.

Let’s discuss.

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Peterson made an early impact in his debut vs. the Grizzlies with three decisive possessions. He played with pace, got to his spots, and finished through contact for and-ones.

Then for much of the second half, he just disappeared.

He passed up open threes against Memphis drop coverage, as if he wanted to defer to others or was reluctant to shoot.

Defensively, he struggled to navigate screens and chase, and it didn’t help that the Jazz ran drop coverage while Ty Jerome got high ball screens and made shots like he was Stephen Curry.

On Friday night, he took five more shots, but he still didn’t feel like the ultra-aggressive scorer we’ve come to know.

But he didn’t need to, especially this early in his career.

The Jazz have three other mouths to feed. Peterson was more assertive than in the second half of the Grizzlies game, and all of his buckets came within the flow of the offense. He was best off the ball. The rookie cut to the basket, crashed the offensive glass, filled lanes in transition, and spotted up for catch-and-shoot threes.

This guard-to-guard screen action was my favorite play from Peterson vs. the Pelicans.

Peterson can be more aggressive as a pull-up three-point shooter; his 15.7% three-point attempt rate is far too low, but this pull-up was a step in the right direction. He missed it badly, but his ability to catch and fire with even a sliver of space was one of his main selling points coming into the league. Going forward, he should lean into that more.

I also thought Peterson improved defensively in his second outing. He still got caught on some screens, but he shaded and recovered better. Dejounte Murray scored on the rookie as he heated up in the second half, but down the stretch he helped the Jazz get crucial stops to secure the win in their home opener.

Despite his passivity in his debut and willingness to scale into a complementary role, I thought it was notable that in the game's biggest moment, Will Hardy trusted Peterson with the ball—and he delivered.

Neither Cameron Boozer’s poor shooting nor his incredible plus/minus told the story of his debut.

Boozer shot poorly and struggled to score over Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.

But most of his looks came in rhythm and within the flow of the offense. He missed shots, but his process wasn’t poor.

Boozer rebounded the ball well, made quick decisions, and his screening created opportunities for Jerome to get shots.

However, in 26 of his minutes, he intertwined with Jerome as the guard put on one of the best displays of tough shotmaking I’ve seen this season, and the Grizzlies blew out the Jazz with Boozer on the court, though he wasn’t always making impact plays.

He struggled and had some learning moments at five on defense, but the box score was deceiving on both fronts.

In his second outing, water met its level.

I don’t think Boozer changed much in his process. He played within the flow of the offense and took shots that came to him. He crashed the glass and made quick decisions as a distributor.

The shots just fell, especially from three.

His biggest areas for improvement so far are scoring inside the arc and operating in traffic or tight spaces. Boozer is shooting 26.7% from two-point range through two games, which should improve—he won’t miss many looks like the shot below.

However, I think Boozer’s handle and footwork against pressure and in traffic are bigger concerns that date back to his time as a Blue Devil.

That plagued him down the stretch in his first high-leverage moments as a Grizzly.

Yet I was impressed by his ability to stay resilient, rise to the occasion, and get his first game-winning bucket—from two, might I add—to help Memphis start the season 2-0.

Wilson debuted against one of the NBA’s strongest wing defender duos, and it went as expected.

The rookie struggled mightily, finishing 7-for-21 from the field and turning the ball over nine times as he tried to handle the ball and operate in tight spaces.

When the Bulls got him moving in open space, or when he got out in transition, he succeeded, and his athleticism popped. Wilson still has a ton to learn defensively, can tend to be undisciplined and unsound, and that hurt him in his debut. However, he was one of the few Bulls to crash the boards hard, show any fight, or make any defensive highlight plays in the rout.

Friday night, the competition was lighter, and Wilson led Chicago with 21 points, six rebounds, and three steals as the Bulls completed a comeback win over the Bucks.

The forward was quiet in the first half but exploded for 12 points in the second quarter and made clutch plays to help the Bulls avoid a 0-2 start.

More importantly, when Chicago needed a bucket down the stretch, he looked to score and was unfazed from the free-throw line late.

Wilson still struggled to create off the bounce. His handle is the most pressing facet of his development, and his scoring process can be rough at times. The rookie remains undisciplined on the perimeter and has had lapses off the ball.

But his highs have been high. His display of athleticism has been tantalizing, and he has the mentality of a player who knows he needs to be the face of a franchise.

While most rookies struggled to get the ball in their debuts, Wagler scored 15 points efficiently and added five assists. Though it was against the Sacramento Kings, one of the league’s worst defenses, his process was sound and should translate against tougher competition. The rookie played within the flow of the offense, making quick 0.5 decisions as scorer and decision-maker off of the catch.

Watch him attack Emanuel Sharp’s top foot off the catch, drive past him, and finish at the rim.

Even on this fourth-quarter airball, he correctly read the drop defender coming off a handoff and got to a pull-up three.

In Wagler’s second outing, he couldn’t maintain his efficiency and turned the ball over more, but the guard didn’t struggle to score or make decisions.

However, he struggled defensively. Wagler got caught sleeping or over-helping off-ball a few times and conceded drives; both Austin Reaves and Colin Sexton showed why he needs to keep adding to his frame.

Overall, it’s been an encouraging start to Wagler’s career. In a period where Clippers fans don’t have much to look forward to, their rookie looks like he can be a key contributor to a serious team, whenever that may come.

Among rookies, he leads the league in free-throw rate, three-point makes, and three-point percentage.

After a lone season at Louisville and a reported September ankle injury, the main takeaway from Mikel Brown’s debut was that he looked healthy.

Of course, he was erratic and sometimes a little out of control. But viewers got a taste of the Mikel Brown experience.

He took a few incredibly deep threes, tried to dunk on a seven-footer, and made wow passes. He looked as athletic and creative as he did last season when he was healthy, and that should excite Nets fans.

Brown ran the two-man game with Randle well, found his big in the pick-and-roll twice, and the Nets used him in Chicago actions twice to create runways for his drives.

By contrast, I think Brown could have played with more pace, been more poised, and probed more on his drives to the rim. He had a player he could have risen for an open middy, and another he missed on an open lob. Overall, I thought his defense was good, but he did concede a few drives to Dennis Schröder that led to fouls or buckets.

Over two games, Darius Acuff Jr. is redefining what the phrase “green light” means.

Literally.

His 50 field-goal attempts are the most by a rookie in their first two games since at least 1976.

However, he’s made only 30% of his shots, the lowest among rookies who have taken at least 40 field goal attempts in that span.

The only real takeaways from his first two outings are that he’s an incredibly confident player, which we knew coming in, and that the Kings coaching staff has given him full reign to experiment, learn, make mistakes, and develop.

Acuff has struggled from the field, but we should expect some level of positive regression. He won’t shoot 11.1% from three and 44.4% at the rim in the half-court for a full season.

His efficiency is lagging behind his process. For the most part, Acuff has made fine decisions as a handler. He’s established chemistry with Sabonis in the pick-and-roll and has diagnosed those actions well, snaking ball screens, putting defenders in jail, or getting to his pull-ups with bigs playing drop coverage.

There have been various wide-open looks that he’s generated that have missed, and they will be less frequent over the course of the season. The two below were especially brutal.

The common response to any critique of Acuff so far is that he’s getting to his spots and his shots aren’t falling, and that holds some merit. A ton of the misses have been quality shots.

But as expected of a rookie in his first few outings, he's also had learning moments where he could have been more patient, gone downhill against the bigs in a deep drop, or shifted his approach to creating for others when his shot wasn’t falling. I’d tend to agree with Domantas Sabonis’s assessment after the Kings opener.

A few of the shots below are attempts Acuff can make, but they’re either rushed, or there are better options within the possession.

I don’t disagree with the Kings giving Acuff the vast majority of on-ball reps, because he needs them to become Sacramento’s franchise player, but I’d like to see him used off-ball as well, like he was last season. The Kings need to balance giving him opportunity with building good habits, and he needs to balance being a scorer and a playmaker.

Among 22 players with 30% usage or higher, Acuff’s 16.7% assist rate ranks 17th.

Kingston Flemings has been as advertised. That includes the strengths and improvement areas.

Pre-draft, I believed he was one of the best processors I’ve ever scouted, and he’s made a bevy of plays to validate that thought.

Just look at how quickly he turned Grayson Allen’s head, flashed to the middle of the floor, and then, in an instant, found Aaron Wiggins in the corner.

How many 19-year-olds read the floor that quickly? As to be expected, Flemings has been an elite per-possession playmaker. The rookie is averaging 9.45 assists per 75 possessions and boasts a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.

But just as I thought his playmaking would translate immediately, I knew his scoring was still far away.

Over two games, Fleming is shooting 20% from the field, 12% from two, and hasn't drawn a shooting foul. Those figures will certainly improve as the season progresses, but his inability to finish through contact, draw fouls, or generate pull-up threes at volume in college spelled concern. I hope he can show growth in those areas this season.

Atlanta should be extremely patient with him. It’s going to be a journey. He needs to put on weight and improve as a three-point shooter, but his intelligence and athleticism make him a good bet.

Morez Johnson hasn’t thwarted an alien or gone toe-to-toe with one of the best offensive players ever, like his former teammates, but he’s been rock solid.

Johnson has played with a relentless motor off the bench, rebounding and finishing around the rim effectively. He has room to grow as a short-roll decision-maker and scorer, but more reps should help.

Defensively, he had a few quality reps on Ivica Zubac, who has a ton of size and was once one of the league’s premier post scorers. He defended Alperen Şengün well, though Şengün eventually returned the favor.

I want to see Dallas play him at a higher level and weaponize his mobility and recovery skills, because he had some intriguing switching reps.

#10. Milwaukee Bucks — Brayden Burries

Brayden Burries joined Wagler as one of the few rookies to debut efficiently.

Like his classmate, he did it playing complementary basketball. Burries attacked in transition, scored off spot-ups with minimal dribbles, and rebounded well.

His biggest area for improvement has been his defensive discipline. He got his first welcome-to-the-NBA moments in the Bucks thriller trying to guard Norman Powell and Tre Jones. Powell ran off screens with Burries trailing and caught his hands in the cookie jar; then he fouled him while closing out. The rookie tried to contain a drive from Jones by putting his hands near his midsection, but the veteran blew past him for an and-one.

Through two games, he’s averaging 13.3 fouls per 100 possessions.

Milwaukee waived Kevin Porter Jr., clearing the way for Burries to take on a significant role, and if he wants to maximize this opportunity, the first step is bucking this minor trend.

Yaxel Lendeborg’s spat with Luka Doncic in his debut and his refreshingly transparent post-game interviews were one of the biggest storylines of opening week. It’s not a data point, but it’s impressive that he didn’t back down.

Doncic definitely got in his head, leading him to commit undisciplined fouls, but when he wasn’t falling victim to one of the league’s greatest grifters, he played tight defense—high hips and all.

I believe Yaxel let the game inside the game make him miss the forest for the trees. Winning your matchup, if that’s what he thinks he did, comes secondary to team defense and the overall goal of winning the game.

Friday night, he was just as assertive and fearless. He still had a bone to pick, this time with Jerami Grant.

Yaxel started slowly through the first two quarters, struggling to finish over Zach Edey's size and length and even getting stifled on a rim attempt against Quentin Post.

But he kept at it. He kept attacking, and getting to the free-throw line got him in rhythm. He hit a big three in the corner to put the Warriors up nine in the clutch and dominated the glass.

The Warriors blew the lead, falling victim to the Booze-Edey-Jerome dominance, but Yaxel’s performance was an impressive bounce-back from his debut.

For better or worse, his on- and off-court actions will likely be the most entertaining part of the Golden State Warriors this season.

Aday Mara got thrown into the fire in his debut, rose to the occasion, and came away victorious.

His block on Victor Wembanyama, which led to an alley-oop slam, was the night's highlight, but he also made multiple big plays in high-leverage situations.

He worked well with Cason Wallace in their two-man game, flashed on the baseline when the floor tilted toward Shai, and even pulled off his best Isaiah Hartenstein impression on a 10-foot floater.

Defensively, he altered multiple shots at the rim and stopped Wembanyama on a drive.

Mara had a few small hiccups in drop coverage, getting stuck between committing to the ball-handler and staying home.

With Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate in the lineup, Steinbach hasn’t had much opportunity to play, but he got some burn in Charlotte’s blowout loss to the Hawks.

Though it was garbage time, Hannes did what Hannes does: clean the glass.

One of the best rebounding prospects of the last had five rebounds (two offensive) in 12 minutes, good for a 16.5 offensive rebounding percentage and a 29.6 defensive rebounding percentage.

Steinbach made the most of his stint, eagerly crashing the glass and securing contested rebounds.

He also finished with six points and shot 60% from the field, showing mobility and touch around the rim.

Defensively, he continued to show he’s probably best at the four. On a few possessions, he rotated late and didn’t affect shots at the rim.

In his first action, he showed what makes him an appealing prospect, as well as the areas where he needs to grow.

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It’s time to close out the Big East with a look at five potential draft risers and sleepers from the wing spot to be ahead of the curve on for this draft class. We’ll get started with a prospect out of Creighton who boasts one of my favorite pairings: size and shooting.

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The Pitch

The pairing of size and shooting is a combination that I’m always willing to bet on, and that’s absolutely Jackson McAndrew.

Listed at 6’10” and 230 pounds with a quick release, McAndrew is a reputable big wing marksman who operates as a stretch four. He offers shooting versatility with his standstill and movement threes alongside being a capable closeout attacker. Adding to his off-ball prowess, he’ll run the floor in transition for threes and rim-scoring chances, and has shown glimpses of being a timely cutter.

After an inspiring freshman season that saw McAndrew average 7.8 PPG and 4.4 RPG on 35.4% shooting from deep, his sophomore season was quickly derailed after four games due to a foot injury. Now healthy, he’s back in a prime position to establish himself on the draft scene.

Questions to Monitor

1. Are there any lingering issues with his foot?

2. Is he too limited of an athlete? McAndrew is tall, long, and mobile, but isn’t explosive or particularly quick laterally.

3. The three-point shooting is his NBA-carrying skill, but can he add to the rest of his game?

The Pitch

Miles Byrd is no stranger to the draft spotlight. When it comes to defensive playmaking (3.1 stocks per game), there are few better than the long (6’10” wingspan) and rangy San Diego State transfer. Even with his tendency to gamble, his ability to disrupt offenses and generate defensive events via his instincts, length, timing, and motor both on and off the ball can be game-changing.

Offensively, Byrd has a solid ancillary skill set to believe in. He has the ball skills and athleticism to slash for scores, the athleticism and length to be a reliable playfinisher, and the connective passing in the halfcourt and transition to keep the offense flowing.

Questions to Monitor

1. Will the three-point shooting finally come around? Despite the blend of touch indicators (career 81% free-throw shooter, floater/runner glimpses) and multiple-level shotmaking ability, Byrd is still a 30% career three-point shooter on 400 total attempts.

2. Could some of his tendency to gamble defensively be corrected without losing too much of his stellar event creation?

3. How projectable is his lean 6’6” frame?

The Pitch

Vyctorius Miller is an aggressive, scoring-minded wing that combines a fluid handle and smooth footwork to get his scoring spots as a multi-level shotmaker. He isn’t shy about taking and making tough shots either. Miller’s mix of shotmaking versatility and pure shooting (37.5% from three on 3.8 3PA, 85% free-throw shooter on 3.3 FTA) with his ball skills is the foundation of his offensive game. His length and competitiveness are two tools that point to some defensive upside. When he’s engaged, there are moments at the point of attack and in passing lanes that are intriguing.

At Georgetown, Miller has a tremendous opportunity to grow his game and build sleeper buzz. The Hoyas will need Miller’s scoring chops, floor spacing, and defensive tools. Alongside Jaland Lowe, Miller’s production will dictate Georgetown’s success.

Questions to Monitor

1. Is his best NBA role as a bench scorer?

2. Can he continue to tap into his defensive tools?

3. Can he develop into a reliable ball screen operator?

The Pitch

In his lone season at Texas A&M, Ruben Dominguez was simply one of the best shooters in the entire country. Per Synergy, at 6’6”, Dominguez drained 40% of his threes, including 58.5% on unguarded catch-and-shoot threes (51 3PA), 45.8% on transition threes (48 3PA), 47.6% on off-the-dribble threes (21 3PA), and 57.9% on hand-off threes (19 3PA). This is an NBA-caliber shooter with adequate size who’s already playing a very similar role that he would in the NBA as an off-ball shooter and floor spacer. Dominguez is set to thrive playing off Chance Westry’s creation ability at Xavier.

Questions to Monitor

1. Can he be a reliable closeout attacker for scoring and playmaking opportunities?

2. Can he impact winning when the shot isn’t falling?

3. Can he hold up defensively?

The Pitch

Matt Hodge is equipped with the physical tools and foundational skill set to develop into an NBA 3-and-D wing.

It just takes one look at him to realize he won’t be out of place physically on an NBA floor. On top of NBA positional size, Hodge brings strength and length with broad shoulders and a mature frame-all qualities that he effectively leverages on both ends of the floor, featuring physical slashes, contact finishes, and the ability to guard multiple positions.

Hodge buried 36.8% of threes (4.7 3PA), including a blistering 45.6% on unguarded catch-and-shoot threes (57 3PA). Mostly a spot-up shooter, there are encouraging hints of movement shooting, especially in the pick-and-pop game. His shooting threat opens up closeout attacks and pairs nicely with his cutting feel.

Heading into this season, Hodge is recovering from ACL surgery on his right knee following a tear against St. John’s late last season. The expectation is to potentially see his return to games some time in January or shortly after. When he returns, he’ll no doubt be a sleeper to resume monitoring.

Questions to Monitor

1. How will he respond from ACL surgery? There could be a drop in athleticism and initial trust in his body. We probably won’t see a fully healthy and confident version of him this season.

2. Can he produce another solidifying three-point shooting sample? The mechanics are clean, compact, and repeatable, but another strong shooting season to back his one-year collegiate sample is crucial.

3. Is there any self-creation upside?

The Big 10 finally shed their painfully long title drought last year with Michigan’s dominant run, and they could be looking to go back-to-back as a conference this year. Aside from simply winning a ton of games, the Big 10 has some of the most promising sophomore returners. Whether they’re Day One contributors or more developmental prospects, this conf…

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The 2027 NBA Draft cycle has so much going on this season that each subsection of prospects has its own fascinating storylines. The top of the class is where most of the heavy discussion will be had. And rightfully so. That is the most important part of scouting the draft: identifying the top talent. The returning class will have its own niche arguments: Who is the best returner? Who can be this class’s so-and-so? Can one of these returners make a push for the Top 3? Top 5? The list goes on and on.

You may have read my Five Offseason Findings piece from October 1st, where I mentioned that this crop of traditional international prospects could be the best group in quite some time. With that said, I thought it would be prudent to share my offseason findings on this particular group of prospects before the college basketball season (officially) kicks off on November 1st.

Keep in mind that when I say traditional international prospects, I mean those who were born outside of the States and are playing outside of the States. So Luigi Suigo won’t be in this series. Also, those who aren’t eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft won’t be included. So Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Nikola Kusturica, and others won’t be mentioned.

Originally, this was going to be a two-part piece with five prospects per article. However, there was simply too much to say about each of these guys to cram them together, so every prospect is getting his own installment of International Snapshot (yes, this group is kind of deep this year, folks).

Let’s dive in!

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Dash Daniels came into last cycle with a healthy degree of notoriety and a level of confidence in being a first-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. Here we are—another cycle in—and here remains Dash Daniels. During the 2026 NBA Draft cycle, Dash spent his time with Melbourne United of the NBL, where he averaged 4.1 PPG and 2.4 RPG. He also posted shooting splits of 42/38/38 while playing under 15 MPG. This season, Daniels moved over to play for SE Melbourne within the NBL, and he has already flashed some positive signals.

Offense

When flipping on the tape for this season compared to last, there is a noticeable degree of confidence that Dash Daniels is playing with. Synergy credits Dash with eight games played so far, having attempted 40 three-pointers (five per contest). That is already a major leap from the 55 attempts in 40 games played last season with Melbourne United.

Floor Spacing

Confidence is such an underrated aspect of the game in an era of sports where production and metrics are incredibly valued, but confidence plays into those metrics materializing. In this clip, we see Dash (#4 in black) spotted up in the right corner while the ball is brought into a screen crossing halfcourt.

Daniels readies his hands as the action is taking place. That simple sign of confidence was nowhere near as commonplace last season.

More Versatile Floor Spacing

Beyond being more confident in his “simple” catch-and-shoot looks, Dash has improved at moving into his shooting motion. This clip shows that. The ball is brought up the court while Daniels is operating in the strong-side corner, then a rub action ends with the ball in Dash’s hands.

Again, the confidence and preparation he has shown so far this season are much improved. Daniels does well to step into this shot on balance and let it fly—showing a nice arc and follow-through.

“Wonky” Mechanics

Mechanics aren’t everything in projecting a prospect (we loved Tyrese Haliburton), but they do leave a foothold for holdouts or skepticism. Despite the fact that Dash is shooting 40% from deep this season—after shooting 38% the year prior—his shooting form is a major reason some aren’t “in” on Daniels.

This clip doesn’t have a lot of moving parts: the BLOB (baseline out of bounds) has Daniels sprint to the same-side corner for a catch-and-shoot look from deep. Not all of Dash’s form is “wonky.” The base is good, with his foot spacing allowing for balance and power. The biggest…ick (if you will) comes from the hitch just before the shot is released. But the follow-through is nice, and the arc on the ball gives it the highest probability of falling through the net.

Nuanced Pursuit of the Rim

With the shot becoming more consistent, Daniels has also worked to improve his driving and finishing. Dash is more comfortable attacking the basket in chaos than in a halfcourt setting, so getting the ball into his hands quickly is a good idea.

This clip shows a quick inbound to Dash, who takes the ball and pushes it up the floor with purpose. SE Melbourne intentionally has a screener set up on the right side of the court, which Daniels uses in a pick-and-roll action. Dash’s shifting of gears is what makes this play special. After clearing the screen, he takes a moment to assess his drive angle, attacks, and then gets the defender into a “hostage” dribble. He doesn’t get the shot to fall here, but the intent of the hostage dribble isn’t “simply” to allow the ball-handler to score; it also has the potential to bait the defense into fouling. And that’s what Daniels is able to do here.

Edge-of-the-Knife Playmaking

Daniels’s position and size can allow him to still be effective without serving as more of a traditional guard at the next level. This may be the case, but it’s worth examining the potential room for growth he may have in those traditional guard areas—such as playmaking.

This clip starts with the ball being brought up the [left/right] side of the court. As he begins to cross halfcourt, Dash puts his hand up to show his teammate he is open. As he catches the ball, Daniels gives a head fake and then crosses right to attack the paint. The defense converges on him, which opens a passing window to the big man rolling to the basket.

Again, Daniels appears to be more comfortable making plays out of chaos than against a set defense. The pass is delivered off-platform and—to Dash’s credit—into the hands of his rolling teammate. But the placement of the pass isn’t great, and the play is born out of a frantic defensive possession. Can he be more intentional—calmer as a table setter?

The Other Edge of the Knife

This clip shows how living in the chaos can be a detriment for Daniels. We’ll start with the ball on the right side, being dribbled back up to the top of the key. Dash flashes open to catch the pass well beyond the three-point line. He sees that he has a wide-open teammate on the right block and two defenders directly in front of him. Daniels brings the ball over his head for a two-handed overhead pass, but it’s intercepted by the recovering big man.

The defense on this play is more set than on the previous one, and it is interesting that Dash doesn’t look to dribble at the defense to force them to stay home. Perhaps Dash not having that traditional lead guard skill set is what gives pause in moments like this, but these plays are worth monitoring for improvement.

Defense

For those who do not know, Dash Daniels is the younger brother of Dyson Daniels. When Dyson was going through his draft cycle, there was a feeling that his defense was further along than his offense—and that the shot was a ways away.

Sound familiar?

While Dash has his questions (and marked improvements) on the offensive end, his defense is his special skill.

Takes Up Airspace

Dash plays with such anticipation, and he has the requisite tools and processing that make him such a nuisance as a player who can cycle through help-deny-ball better than the majority of his peers. This clip shows Dash on the help side of the defense as the ball is on the left side of the court out of a ball screen action. As the ball handler advances up the floor, the ball is skipped to Dash’s man on the right wing.

Dash tracks the path of the ball and immediately faces up to his man while the ball is in transit. This is a very mature play, as Dash doesn’t look to make a play on the ball; he opts to be right in front of his man as he brings in the catch. Daniels’s man doesn’t have much room to operate, as Dash fronts him in such a way that he can only drive to the top end of the floor—away from the basket.

A screen comes to free the ball handler from Dash’s pressure. Dash fights over the top and forces the dribble to end. He then gets vertical, raising his arms to force a more pressured pass if his man wants to advance the ball closer to the basket. With only a couple of seconds left on the clock, Daniels’s man is forced to take a contested, fadeaway long two-pointer that only has a prayer’s chance of finding its way home.

This is a perfect example of how Dash Daniels can take away the airspace of his assignment.

Defensive Event Coordinator

Aside from being a portable pressure cooker, Dash Daniels has the smarts and quickness to be a defensive event coordinator—someone who can quickly turn defense into offense.

This clip shows the offense running a BLOB play, with SE Melbourne on the defensive side of the ball. Daniels’s assignment flashes to the same-side corner, which Daniels defends well. His man then cuts back to flash under the basket. What stands out here is how Dash corrects to cut under his man, forcing the only opening to be past the paint—should his man continue and the inbounder wait. That doesn’t happen.

Instead, that timely undercut results in an easy steal for Dash, who then turns that swipe into a floater (a favorite shot for Daniels) for two points.

Propensity to Overcommit

When a player has a propensity to force defensive events, there will be moments where he gets caught out of position. This clip shows just that.

The ball is brought up past halfcourt along the right side of the court. Dash Daniels is posted on the opposite side in a help state. The big man flashes up from the left block to the left elbow and receives the pass near Daniels. Dash stunts to the ball momentarily, but then gets into his deny stance as the big man feeds the wing on the left side of the floor. The ball handler drives at Daniels, which baits him into making a play on the ball. Dash takes the cheese here and makes a swipe—freeing his man to be open in the same-side corner. This results in three easy points for the offense.

It’s three points in the first quarter, so there will be plenty of time to make up for this mistake, but teams will have tendencies like this in their back pocket for key moments of the game when Daniels is looking to generate offense from defense.

Initial Thoughts

Dash Daniels does a good job of understanding who he is as a basketball player, and he has done well to lean into his strengths with more confidence. The NBA has gone away from traditional set-up guards more and more as time has gone on, leaning into running offense through wings, forwards, and even big men. This has been a key time for players of Daniels’s archetype to find success as point-of-attack (POA) defenders, applying pressure on the ball the entire length of the court. Daniels is a havoc-inducing defender, which will help him find a role on that end.

That defense also helps him create easy offensive opportunities for himself and others. There is true grab-and-go potential for Dash. He can also take advantage of out-of-position defenses on skips and stampede actions coming off of screens. The tricky part comes in the calm of the game, when things slow down. This is where the shooting has to be real. His percentages from deep have been good over two seasons, with this year projecting to be one of real volume. But the hitch and other touch indicators (38% from the free-throw line over two years so far) still allow doubt to seep in. Is he just a funky shooter, or is there a false floor underneath the three-point percentages? He should be in play to be a Top 60 prospect—and, in all actuality, if he had done this last season, he likely would have been a 25-35 promise. He’ll be 19 in December, so he shouldn’t receive too big of a ding for being a second-year returner.

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The start of the college basketball season is just around the corner, and some of the international superstar prospects have already gotten their seasons underway. For those of you who are new to No Ceilings: welcome! We’re always happy to have new folks stopping by. For the old heads among you, though, you probably already know what time it is.

DRAFT MANIA IS BACK IN ACTION. IT’S PRESEASON DRAFT GUIDE TIME.

In case this is your first guide, or if you need a refresher:

• Prospects are listed in Alphabetical Order by First Name.

• Measurements are based on Team Websites.

• Background and Analysis of each prospect are provided by our No Ceilings panel of evaluators.

• Prospect Chemistry (Our twist on Pro Comparisons).

• Pros and Cons (Strengths and Improvement Areas).

As always, we are eternally grateful for all of your support; it means the world to us.

Enough preamble, though.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

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A common occurrence I’ve noticed over my years of consuming NBA draft media is the heavy weight scouts put on the sophomore season. This trend comes about in both the NBA and NCAA. Terms such as “sophomore slump” or “sophomore surge” are often thrown around as buzzwords to describe the kinds of second seasons these players have. Why? Well, for players drafted high or ranked at the top in high school, the answer is easy: expectations are high.

Some players, likely the top recruits, arrive locked and loaded. They meet, perhaps even exceed expectations, and hear their name called in June. So when a highly touted prospect returns for another college season, people naturally have questions.

“Has he reached his ceiling?”

“Was it his fault? Was it the programs?”

“Can he be the player he once was?”

Simply put, they have to justify the hype now—a true fork-in-the-road situation.

That’s where Miami sophomore Shelton Henderson currently lands. From Bellaire High School in Texas, Henderson was a five star recruit ranked anywhere from 12 to 25 in national composite rankings. Initially, Henderson was part of the loaded Duke 2025 recruiting class alongside the Boozer twins and Nik Khamenia. As we know, though, college sports are the Wild West. When Jim Larranaga stepped down as Miami’s head coach, Duke assistant Jai Lucas took the reins and brought Henderson with him.

Henderson had a solid inaugural campaign for the Hurricanes, starting all 35 games, averaging 13.8 PPG and 4.9 RPG. While it didn’t generate enough draft buzz, Henderson showed a strong foundation for what he can be. Now, he has to build on it.

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Transition

If there is one thing Shelton Henderson is built for, it’s transition. What’s always stood out about Henderson is his staggering 6’6” build. He’s also up to 239 pounds after this offseason. His build may remind you of a football player, but he flies down the court like one, too.

The moment the ball turns over and the pace picks up, he’s down the court with a full head of steam. He flies down the lanes, fills lanes at a wide angle, and gets downhill.

Henderson doesn’t care who is waiting for him at the rim. If a bigger, more physical defender gets in his way, Henderson willingly digs his shoulder into their chest and times his bump to rise into contact. His ability to draw fouls in transition may be the biggest contributor to his exceptional 47.2% FTr. More than one in five open-court opportunities ended with Henderson at the charity stripe. When Henderson got open looks, he went 51-for-74 (68.9%).

Close to a quarter of Henderson’s offensive possessions were transition plays. However, there is a slight concern here. Given that he graded out in just the 65th percentile, Henderson has polishing to do. For starters, his rim attacks are often predictable. He almost always goes to the one-two-dribble-bump, even if the lanes are clogged. Henderson usually commits to the basket early, so he puts his head down and rams into the paint. This also leads to missed opportunities to create for others on the table. Multiple times, Henderson missed quick dump-offs or open shooters to finish in transition. That full head of steam also makes some of his touch shots in the open floor too strong.

The good thing is none of these concerns are physical. He is a positive track-and-field athlete with a high motor. Everything he currently has issues with can be developed. I want Henderson to improve significantly in advantage reads, consistently hitting trailers and secondary cutters, and employing diverse counters.

Pick-and-Roll Ball-Handler

Perhaps the most surprising development for Shelton Henderson in his first year was how he handled the pick-and-roll. He graded out as one of the country’s most efficient pick-and-roll ball-handlers, in the 94th percentile. For a wing with a lackluster isolation game, that’s impressive.

Based on his transition game, you’d think Henderson would be full speed all the time. However, he’s got a nice pace to his game. He may not be the twitchiest, but he uses his strength to control his pace. Henderson loves snaking the screen, using his brute upper body to bump his defender off his hip and take off in the paint. He paired well with Ernest Udeh Jr. last year, an NBA-sized screener. Screen setting may have been Udeh’s marquee skill, but his craft did the rest. Most NBA bigs are more skilled than Udeh, so Henderson is familiar with the action he thrived in. If Henderson can put up similar production with incoming Georgia transfer Somto Cyril, it can be assumed his pick-and-roll numbers were a product of him, not his screeners.

Henderson’s touch flashes most once he penetrates off a screen. Turning the corner, he’ll stop from the free-throw line extended and float one over the hedging defender. His pull-up game is still streaky, but his runners (1.00 PPS) and hooks (1.14 PPS) have been real weapons. This is likely the strongest indicator of jumpshot development, though it still looks like a long road. His jumpers off screens usually fell flat or were hard misses.

Where I rate Henderson higher than most evaluators is his passing out of the pick-and-roll. While he doesn’t see the floor at an advanced level, he usually makes the right pass once he gets into the paint. He finds open pockets between the help defender and rollman and threads those tight windows with either hand for easy assists. Out of his ball screens, Miami scored at an 85th percentile rate. The next step is being a bit more consistent and diverse with his reads. When his initial snake works, he’s a natural passer. When it doesn’t, he usually finds himself in awkward spots inside the lane. This leads to late, difficult kick-outs or him plainly missing open skip passes. If he can make that second read more consistently, his passing can become a really nice complement.

Spotting Up

Spot-up shooting is, without a doubt, what’s holding back Henderson. Right now, it’s in a dreadful place. Last year, on catch-and-shoots, he shot an overall 30.6% (27th percentile). On guarded attempts, he shot 31.3% (31st percentile). However, the real concern is on unguarded attempts, where he shot just 30.3% (21st percentile).

Henderson isn’t even being bothered by closeouts initially; his jumper just consistently falters. It shows even at the free-throw line, where he shot just 57.6%.

The ripple effects were felt. Henderson barely shot the ball, letting defenses sag off him and pack the paint. Only one in seven of his attempts came from three. When he was off the ball, he tended to stay in the corner or relocate inside the arc.

Now, I understand that Henderson’s current shot makes him virtually unplayable at the next level. But he does do a good job of turning that weakness into a strength. On spot-ups, Henderson attacks the closeout instead of shooting over it. The skills so valuable in his transition game show up here, as he attacks off one or two hard dribbles, shoulders into defenders, and finishes strong. Every so often, he’ll even hit a one-two dribble pull-up in the midrange, and it’ll look clean!

As a left-hander, Henderson tends to attack that direction. He is less comfortable converting on the right side, where his handle is looser, with a 22.2% turnover rate when he drives right. When a defender takes away his lift side, he usually defaults to forcing shots or passes rather than countering.

That is why developing a jumper, or showing any signs of progression this season, will mean so much to Henderson. If it becomes even a tiny bit respectable, every closeout becomes runway for an easy drive. Until then, defenses will take away his left hand and dare him to shoot.

Off-Ball Plays

Despite not having a jumper, Henderson has still found ways to affect the offense positively. While he’s not a great relocator on the perimeter, he finds opportunities cutting into the paint, especially along the baseline. The moment the weak side collapses, he times his cut and slips into angles for easy finishes.

Henderson was also a real force in BLOB actions. Jai Lucas often used him as an inbounder, cutting straight to the rim for easy buckets right after the pass. Cutting was one of his most dependable ways to score, at 1.2 PPP. The one flaw I found is that Henderson flailed a bit when bigger help-side defenders rotated toward him. It almost seems as if he is surprised a defender got to him in time, causing him to falter mid-shot.

His energy also translated towards the offensive glass. If nobody put a body on him, he crashed into the paint, made first contact, and used that momentum to snag the ball, grading out as a 63rd percentile offensive rebounder, an impressive mark for a wing.

A trend that runs through his game is putting the ball up too strong. It shows up on putbacks and cuts. The splits around the rim clearly depict that. On dunks, he went 44-for-47. On layups, where touch is significant, he shot just 58%.

Miami rarely used Henderson as a roll-man screener last year, but on the few screens he set, he mostly ghosted. Whether that was intentional is beyond my expertise. Learning to set physical, hard screens is a skill worth adding, as he projects to be a connective piece and already has the frame to do so.

Defense

Shelton Henderson is a mixed bag on defense, with real tools and fixable habits. Analytically, he graded pretty average. As a primary defender, Henderson allowed 0.901 PPP on 233 total possessions. That stat hides two different players.

Henderson displayed real prowess as a point-of-attack defender. Miami ran a heavy switch-and-hedge scheme last season, which boded well for Henderson. He used his strong upper body and hands to disrupt ball handlers while plowing through screens. He ranked in the 75th percentile on ball screens, allowing 0.69 PPP. On those 75 possessions, Henderson forced 16 turnovers.

That same defensive intensity carries inside. At the rim, Henderson holds his ground, willingly absorbs contact, and usually times out his rotations right, though he can get wider.

The real concerns begin guarding in space. Henderson relies on his upper body to bail him out, so quicker players often counter in the opposite direction for easy looks once they bump off him. He’ll wall off more often than change direction fluidly. Even though a small sample size, his isolation defensive numbers were’t pretty, as players shot 47.1% when guarded on an island by him. He also has a knack for sagging off shooters and gambling in passing lanes. Spot-up shooters made him pay, scoring 1.09 PPP against him.

However, Henderson’s motor did bail him out. When beat, Henderson does his best to stay in the play. He even made some impressive recovery blocks and steals few wings his age could make.

Final Thoughts

Heading into the cycle, Henderson likely projects as a mid-second round pick. Some traits are extremely translatable. His physicality and strength are near NBA level, and so is the motor.

What’s really holding me back on Henderson is his ceiling in terms of fitting into multiple schemes. The game works best for him when it’s built around him: lanes are open, he can attack off ball screens, and has the space to cut to the basket. For a college player, that’s a functional role. However, early in his NBA career, teams will need him to space the floor and make quick decisions- something he must develop now. Without a jumper, defenses can simply sag off and run a predictable downhill attack; he’s easy to gameplan for.

On the positive side, these are all skills that can be taught. That’s why this fork in the road matters so much to Henderson. If he can show increased polish, he stops being a hyper athlete who needs the right lineup around him to succeed and becomes a plug-and-play wing who goes beyond being a specialist.

Share No Ceilings

The 2027 NBA Draft is still more sketch than blueprint, which is exactly what makes this part of the process so much fun.

Some players have already established themselves near the top of the class. Emerging freshmen, intriguing international prospects, and plenty of returning stars will enter the season with a target on their backs. But there is still a ton of room for the board to get weird.

College basketball has a special talent for doing that: draft sickos.

Give a talented player another year, hand him a bigger role, let him sand down a weakness in his game, and suddenly the scouting report you wrote in October looks like it was written by someone who had never actually watched him play.

That is especially true for returning players.

A bigger offensive role can completely change how a prospect is evaluated. A shooting improvement can unlock an entirely different archetype. A young big can become more comfortable making decisions outside of the restricted area and suddenly look far more modern. Sometimes, a player simply gets the chance to show something that was already there.

That is what I am looking for here.

These are not necessarily the five best players returning to college basketball. Plenty of players could make a case for that distinction. Instead, these are five players I believe have the clearest paths to dramatically improving their NBA Draft stock over the next eight months. Phew, can you feel my excitement for this upcoming hoops season through the screen?

Some are already firmly in the first-round conversation. Others still have considerably more proving to do.

That is what makes this group so interesting. I’m here to tell you all about these five guys, so let’s dive in.

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1. Amari Allen — Alabama

Amari Allen is my bet to make one of the biggest jumps in the 2027 NBA Draft class, largely because the ingredients are already there. He can handle the ball, rebound, pass, defend multiple spots, and space the floor. He just hasn't had the chance to put all those skills under a much heavier offensive workload.

As a freshman at Alabama, Allen averaged 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 28.2 minutes per game. He shot 44.6% from the field and 34.1% from three on 4.3 attempts per game while starting 24 of Alabama’s 32 games.

Those are strong numbers. The more intriguing part, though, is the player behind them.

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I’ve been waiting all summer for the 2026-27 NBA season.

To be clear, I take some time away from basketball to relax, reflect, and strategize how I want to talk about it over the next year. What do I need to learn and improve upon? What are my strengths as an analyst, writer, scout, and what are my weaknesses?

I’ve had an entire summer to ponder all of that, and what I want to deliver most this year is engaging, fun discourse about the game I love most: basketball.

You see, basketball brings me joy every day. I love keeping up with the league’s young talent and watching them develop, as much as I do scouting the next crop of talent in college and abroad. There’s always something to watch, learn, and discuss in basketball, and I hope to share that love and curiosity through my writing and podcasting this year for No Ceilings.

Before we get into the season’s first edition of The Morning Dunk, I want to stir up that excitement by sharing the top NBA rookies I’m most fascinated by as we head into a new season. Who do I actually want to watch the most? What storylines should fans know and keep up with?

I’ve selected a total of 10 players for this exercise. If your favorite rookie isn’t on this list, my apologies. This isn’t a class ranking either. These are just the players I’m most excited to watch film on and discuss right out of the gate.

So without further ado, let’s get into it!

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Darius Acuff, Sacramento Kings

There isn’t another rookie point guard in the NBA who is walking into as much opportunity right away as Darius Acuff Jr is with the Sacramento Kings.

It was no secret that before the 2026 NBA Draft, this franchise was searching for an heir replacement to De’Aaron Fox after a trade landed him in San Antonio with the Spurs. Now that the Kings had the chance to take Acuff in the lottery, eyes are on what this team can accomplish with bare minimum expectations, even in a depleted Western Conference compared to years past.

Acuff had one of the best seasons of any guard in the SEC this century, let alone the last decade. Under John Calipari at Arkansas, Acuff posted volume scoring and assist marks at excellent efficiency from all levels of the floor. He operated in the pick-and-roll, made defenses pay in transition if they didn’t get back to contain him, and put on the cape for the Razorbacks more than a handful of times, keeping that team in some games they had no business being that competitive.

Even though Sacramento hasn’t replicated its most recent “Light the Beam” success story lately, it still has real talent on this roster until it’s traded away in what could be a fire sale at this year’s trade deadline.

Domantas Sabonis already looks like he’s developed some two-man game chemistry with Acuff, serving as a screener and a great handoff partner who can put Acuff in position to attack off the bounce without Darius having to create that advantage himself. Zach LaVine remains one of the NBA’s premier shooting talents, capable of relocating and knocking down shots off balance with a second’s notice. Keegan Murray still has room to flex his offensive muscle, even though he’s taken on an enforcer role at the forward position in recent seasons. And young talent like Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Nique Clifford should all take steps forward in second seasons.

What I want to watch most is how Acuff can make those other players better, and, in turn, how they make him “better” by helping insulate him a bit on the defensive end of the floor.

To address the offense first, Acuff has better passing chops than given credit for before his first collegiate season. His touch and timing on lob passes is excellent, and he made some great reads out of the pick-and-roll for Arkansas last year. How will he operate at the NBA level in those same actions? We’ve already gotten some glimpses of him using pace, getting defenders on his hip, and knocking down jumpers in the preseason. I want to see more of him using that gravity to create windows for his teammates. On defense, there’s no question Acuff’s effort on that end of the floor left a lot to be desired last year. He’s already shown more in that department in the preseason in Sacramento, but this team will need to find ways to limit how opposing offenses can attack him on that end of the floor.

I have ZERO doubts there will be nights Acuff goes for 25 and pours in buckets. He’s a natural-born scorer. But how else can he help win games on the margins early in his career, and what does that look like for the Kings?

Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks

Bet you expected to see Brayden Burries’ name here after his excellent preseason run in Las Vegas.

Well, I could’ve absolutely written a blurb here about Burries and what I’m excited to see from him in Milwaukee’s backcourt.

But I went in a different direction after seeing Nate Ament take the court for Milwaukee in the preseason.

Call me crazy, but I think there’s a real role player in there who can end up proving his lottery selection in time as a 6’10” forward who can stretch the floor, score in transition, and add support on the glass.

Ament doesn’t have a calling card of scoring the basketball out of the gate in the NBA, despite being billed before last year started as a three-level forward who could manufacture points from anywhere on the floor. He showed flashes of hitting mid-range and deep shots, and excelled at getting to the free-throw line off contact initiated around the basket.

Unfortunately, that strength needs to be paired with an improved handle and the instinct to pass out of a situation when that driving lane isn't there, given how the defense chose to rotate or play Ament’s angle to the rim. I’m not entirely convinced that Ament, given how much depth is on this team in the frontcourt that this front office will have to evaluate and work through in Milwaukee, will get those same chances he got at Tennessee when he looked the part of a player who could go somewhere in the Top 10 in the 2026 draft.

However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be positives we can take away from Ament's rookie year. How well will he move without the ball? Can he make the easy reads when they’re there off a second-side attack? What will his defensive effort look like, and can he at least end possessions by securing rebounds on the defensive glass?

The masses will judge Ament by his shooting percentages and counting stats. I’m looking past both. How comfortable does he look in an NBA offense, and what types of lineups can he succeed in early in his career? Milwaukee invested a lottery pick in Ament after trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo. So I expect both Ament and Burries to get plenty of run with the major league team and not spend much time with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League. So how does Ament take advantage of those minutes, and what does the coaching staff ask of him? I’ll be watching closely for answers.

Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies

Is it a Nathan Grubel piece about NBA rookies if I don’t mention Cameron Boozer?

Already in the preseason, Boozer is putting up per-36 averages and efficiency that eerily resemble his run at Duke last season, and performances at prior levels of competition before he set foot on the court in college. Bottom line, Boozer just dominates no matter where he goes, and he does it through winning decisions and habits.

Boozer doesn’t force offense, and he hasn’t in a Memphis Grizzlies uniform either, from what we’ve seen in the preseason. Boozer dissects the defense and reacts accordingly. Whether it’s slipping to the basket for an easy finish, sealing his man in the post after setting a pick up top, popping out beyond the arc, or even making those highlight-reel transition hit-ahead passes, Boozer knows the best decision at every moment.

Does that mean he’s perfect? Of course not. Boozer still has moments when he turns the ball over or tries to muscle an opponent in the post who has a true size advantage. But those mistakes are rare for a player his age.

I’ve been very impressed by his defensive effort so far for the Grizzlies in preseason. It’s clear the weight he’s lost since his days at Duke has benefitted him massively on the defensive end of the floor. He can now slide his feet and keep up with opposing wing matchups while retaining the strength to box out and bang with opponents in the post at times as a small-ball center. Boozer’s ball-handling and lateral mobility give Memphis options to play him as a small forward at times, while choosing other opportunities to roll him out there at center.

That level of versatility isn’t common in the NBA, even in an age of positionless basketball. Boozer can do everything that’s asked of him and more, even at a young age. There will be matchups where he struggles to adapt early on. Everyone has bad games and stretches during their rookie campaigns. But there’s also a world where Boozer can be a true floor raiser for a team with limited expectations (though all of a sudden the Grizzlies are a hot team to pick to hit on their “Over” win total).

Boozer can legitimately score from all three levels, pass his teammates open, and help command the glass alongside one or multiple bigs on this Grizzlies roster. He does everything I want a modern basketball player to do, which is why I can’t wait to see how he performs in his first few regular-season games in the NBA.

Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets

We didn’t get to see much of Mikel Brown Jr. for the Brooklyn Nets in the preseason, or in Las Vegas during Summer League. In fact, he also suffered injuries at Louisville during his freshman campaign, so we didn’t get a full season with him there either.

Despite those concerns, Brown is absolutely on my list for top rookies to watch because of his exciting blend of scoring and playmaking.

Few players step into the NBA with Brown’s level of confidence as a star-caliber guard. He just has that “it” factor as a highlight machine. Before the 2026 draft, my best “comp” for Brown was LaMelo Ball before he entered the NBA. Yes, there were concerns about Ball’s style of play and whether it would lead to winning, but there was no denying that Ball could do things on the court that not many other guards could. And I feel the same way about Brown, except I have zero questions about his attitude and demeanor towards playing a winning brand of basketball.

His shots and passes off the dribble are mesmerizing at times. He uses his handle and eyes to create separation and catch defenses off guard with a darting pass into the middle of the floor for an easy scoring chance for a teammate. His three-point range is insane for a player his age; he can pull up from the parking lot with ease and hit jumpers when he’s feeling it. And when he gets a full head of steam downhill, he can jam dunks over defenders who try to meet him at the rim.

At 6’5”, that’s a great combination of traits offensively to kickstart a player’s career in a positive way. Not to mention, he’s shown competitiveness on defense at lower levels, using his length and lateral agility to pressure opposing ball handlers and force steals.

Brown’s path to helping the Nets post a better-than-expected record this year comes down to a few things. How does he hold up defensively in the backcourt? Can he guard both backcourt positions, navigate screens/communicate well away from the ball? Can he be as effective without the ball as an athletic movement shooter who can create space and provide a scoring outlet for players like Egor Demin, Michael Porter Jr., and Julius Randle?

I know Brown will have highlights where he dazzles with the ball in his hands. But I’m interested in seeing how he can affect the game without the ball. What types of advantages can he create for his teammates through his movement and ability to play passing lanes on the other end of the floor? That's what I want to see from Brown out of the gate.

AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards

Who doesn’t want to watch the top pick from the 2026 NBA Draft go to work?

AJ Dybantsa is going to put on a show for the Washington Wizards at times, given how polished he already is with the ball in his hands. Last year at BYU, Dybantsa took on a massive pick-and-roll workload as a jumbo initiator who could do some serious damage attacking downhill and getting to the free-throw line.

There were flashes when Dybantsa’s entire offensive game came together, and he made as many great passing reads as he did shots from his patented midrange spots. Yes, Dybantsa is a much better passer than he gets credit for, and he really found his groove as the season went on, even if it didn’t directly raise his assist rate (remember, the other player has to make the shot for the pass to count as an assist).

I want to see what that passing ability will look like in a very team-friendly Wizards offense built around one of the best assist guards in the NBA in Trae Young. Many will point to Young as nothing but a small, heliocentric guard given how teams were built around him in Atlanta. But I think Washington has more opportunity to embrace a more free-flowing offense than just spamming the same high pick-and-roll sets every time up the floor.

Dybantsa can handle the ball and create shots in the halfcourt, Anthony Davis is a real hub in the middle, Kyshawn George looks poised for yet another leap on the wing, and Alex Sarr has passing chops of his own in handoff and short-roll situations. I want to see AJ drive to set up an action for someone else, then relocate to get the ball back in a better position. Washington’s offense shouldn’t be built on one main action. This team has the personnel to create monstrous secondary reads for easier scores, if everyone is as invested in moving without the ball as they are in making highlight-level plays with the ball in their hands.

And Dybantsa can help set that tone alongside Young and Davis. He can lift from the corners and move into a secondary handoff with Davis, set a screen for Young, or even cut from the wings and pick apart a lazy defense, either to score or kick to the corner depending on where the help is coming from (if it even comes at all).

Dybantsa is arguably the best isolation scoring threat we’ve seen enter the NBA in quite some time. We know he can dribble and maneuver into one-on-one buckets, and he will during his rookie season. But Washington has the opportunity to see him grow past that on offense and really buy into being a well-rounded wing who can create or exploit advantages from anywhere on the floor. That continued growth is what I’m watching most from Dybantsa, especially as he gets further acclimated to his new team.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

What can’t Yaxel Lendeborg do on a basketball court?

The Golden State Warriors have already given Lendeborg massive freedom during the preseason, and he’s fit in no matter who he's shared the floor with.

He’s brought the ball up the court, distributed off secondary actions/rolls in the halfcourt, scored in transition, and made open jump shots when given the opportunity. Not to mention, he’s already matched up against several positions defensively and has done a great job communicating on and off the ball. He’s looked the part of a veteran player who's been in the league for five-plus seasons, and I’m sure someone out there is reading this and thinking I’m an idiot because, of course, the 24-year-old rookie should look like he belongs.

There’s a difference, though, between fitting in and standing out. Most older rookies aren’t drafted in the same position as Lendeborg and are viewed more as one-job role players you hope can hold up on defense.

The Warriors clearly view Yaxel as the exact opposite. They see how critical he could be during this upcoming season, where the Warriors don’t have a lot of depth around Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, especially with Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined.

They’re giving him the keys to the castle already, and seeing how much he can handle out of the gate. And honestly, I’m here for it!

That’s what I want to see this season. Put Lendeborg in inverted screening actions with Curry. Let him play a bit of jumbo two-man game with Draymond. Use Lendeborg as a screening partner with someone like Brandin Podziemski, and let him go work as a short-roll playmaker or DHO partner. Lendeborg’s utility should extend far beyond sitting in the corner and occasionally cutting to the baseline. Yaxel deserves as many touches as he can handle, and he’s proving that the offense benefits when he’s heavily involved.

So long as the defensive effort doesn’t suffer, of course. Golden State has no other forwards like Yaxel outside of Draymond who can cover multiple positions and clean the glass on both ends of the floor. Lendeborg isn’t a shutdown defender, but he can guard well enough on the perimeter and is an awesome help defender who can slide his feet, rotate to block shots, and play passing lanes. His length is also a weapon should the Warriors look to use him as a blitzer to force turnovers in the halfcourt.

I’m just beyond excited to see Lendeborg in an NBA uniform playing in a movement-heavy system that benefits smart, skilled talents. He’s built to play alongside guys like Curry and Green, and this Golden State team will benefit from his talent and two-way ability at that coveted PF position, a player who can dribble, pass, shoot, and defend with real size and length.

Aday Mara, Oklahoma City Thunder

Aday Mara has been the most impressive rookie this preseason, in my view, compared with my expectations for others in the class.

I could’ve told you Cameron Boozer and Yaxel Lendeborg would absolutely crush the preseason. They already did that in Summer League when they competed for the championship in Las Vegas! AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson all having highlight-reel moments in the preseason doesn’t shock me either.

What surprised me a bit was how ready Mara was to play competitive, sound, two-way basketball right out of the gate.

Yes, he was a championship rim protector and play finisher in college at Michigan. But Mara has done things this preseason that have really caught my eye.

I don’t think he’s been a complete disaster in different coverages away from the basket. And when he’s been in position to challenge shots at the rim? I mean, he’s an imposing presence at over 7’3” tall with a crazy wingspan and standing reach combo. He’s built to play around the basket. But he moves better than he gets credit for away from it, too, even if he’s not playing a boatload of minutes!

But on offense… holy smokes, has Mara put on a show. When Ryan Kalkbrenner stepped into the NBA last season and stood out for his sky-high field goal percentage, he did it all on lobs and garbage finishes. Kalkbrenner was on cleanup duty, while Mara has had a real opportunity to work within the offense out of the post and in handoff situations. As he did at Michigan, Mara has already made some SLICK dimes for the Thunder, and his post scoring, even mixing in some fading jumpers, has been a sight to see. It makes his efficiency even more impressive, not to mention he’s kept up his work on the glass.

Mara could very well get a triple-double in his rookie season, and I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s already in position to rebound and finish plays, given his size and touch. The passing ability is clearly translating already. Even if he only averages around 15-20 minutes a night, those might be the most impactful minutes played in this entire rookie class every night! It’s not out of the question, even though I would heavily favor Boozer, Lendeborg, and the other top picks for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award over Mara.

But Mara is further along offensively than I anticipated at an NBA level. I know the flashes were there on tape last year, and even at lower levels of competition. But now we’re seeing him operate with a level of comfort in the preseason that I just wasn’t expecting this soon. I only wanted to pick one Thunder rookie, and despite how electric Bennett Stirtz has looked in preseason action, I’m putting Mara on my early All-Rookie Second Team predictions.

Ebuka Okorie, Detroit Pistons

All summer long, the Detroit Pistons were in headlines for the wrong reasons. Jalen Duren dominated the offseason conversation because of his restricted free-agent saga, to the point that much of the talk wasn’t about how Detroit’s roster is built to compete for yet another Eastern Conference regular-season crown.

Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and the aforementioned Duren are one of the league’s best young trios to contend and rack up wins. But what does this supporting cast look like around those three players? Is there enough ball-handling and shooting to complement Cade? Who will be the long-term secondary scorer who can take pressure off Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson?

For many, myself included, the answer is for the Pistons to trade for that player at this year’s deadline or in the offseason. But when I spoke to some Pistons fans and those who cover the team this summer, there’s a wave of confidence that player is already on the roster: Ebuka Okorie.

Now Okorie is a small-ish guard out of Stanford who put on a scoring barrage night after night for a team that, quite frankly, wasn’t very competitive outside of his efforts. How that team won games, knowing the opposing squad could gameplan against Okorie, is beyond me. That’s how gifted an engine Okorie was at the collegiate level.

His efficiency, given how he manufactured buckets, was special. He wasn’t an overly impressive finisher at the basket, nor was he a lights-out three-point shooter. But his elite handles and side-to-side shift let him shake defenders at the top of the floor routinely, and dance into floaters, runners, or pull-up shots that left defenses shaking their heads.

Okorie is an absolute blur in the open court, and a freaking mirage in the halfcourt. One minute, you think you have him contained, and then the next he vanishes. It’s uncanny how often Okorie has defenders just looking silly trying to cover him.

That ability to separate and create something out of nothing left media scouts rising up the boards in a frenzy last cycle, and for good reason. Those types of guards, especially those who measure with a 6’8” wingspan, tend to outperform their draft slots should they be taken outside the lottery. The Pistons found Okorie outside the lotto and hope he’ll be a key piece alongside Detroit’s other perimeter options, Cade, Daniss Jenkins, and Isaiah Joe, as a dynamic scorer who can create offense when plays break down or ideal spacing isn’t there.

He’s not guaranteed heavy minutes out of the gate, like a lot of the other rookies I’ve written about here. But even more than someone like Yaxel Lendeborg or Aday Mara, Okorie could be a key piece in swinging a championship contender's offensive balance in his rookie season if he gets the opportunity. I’ll be watching closely what responsibility Okorie gets out of the gate, and how Detroit looks to use him both in lineups without Cade and when the two share the floor. Okorie is a dynamic, exciting young guard who has my full attention this season.

Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz have EVERY NBA fan’s attention heading into this season as the sexiest pick from bottom-feeder to actual playoff contender.

And that belief is well-founded. Lauri Markkanen has been one of the league’s best scoring forwards for years now. The Jaren Jackson Jr. acquisition is meaningful, as he supports the team’s defensive infrastructure while maintaining coveted spacing within Will Hardy’s offensive scheme.

Keyonte George took an All-Star-level leap at point guard last year, and there’s more scoring talent on the wing waiting to be unlocked in Ace Bailey and Brice Sensabaugh. Yes, there’s a hole at center without Jusuf Nurkic (Kyle Filipowski, please stand up). But this team has so much firepower, and the addition of franchise shooting guard Darryn Peterson only amplifies it.

Peterson is as good a pure scorer as I’ve evaluated in 16 years working the NBA Draft. He’s a pure bucket getter of the highest order, able to separate and convert on the most difficult jump shots imaginable. His balance and focus on those shots are incredibly unusual for a player his age, and he pairs it with the athletic pop to finish a dunk at the rim or step into threes off real movement.

I have zero concerns about Peterson putting the ball in the basket as a rookie. What I want to see is continued development behind Peterson’s ball-screen game as an initiator from the top of the floor.

After George, there’s Isaiah Collier, and then not many other options the Jazz would want running the offense. Peterson will have chances to work as the de facto “point guard” and could even get some of those touches alongside George, giving him more freedom to operate as a movement shooter away from the ball.

How much damage can Peterson do as Utah's pick-and-roll ball handler? What advantages can he create by turning the corner and forcing defenses to react to his downhill moves? Those drives produced mixed results at Kansas, but we did get good glimpses of Will Hardy drawing up better ways to get Peterson moving into those actions rather than running a ball screen from a standstill. How Hardy chooses to deploy Peterson in secondary actions is key, but even more important for his overall development are the moments when he’s tasked with bringing the ball up the floor and getting this team into real offense.

There’s evidence of Peterson passing and making excellent reads both in high school and in college. But the speed of the NBA game is a completely different animal. What will he do if those simple reads are taken away, and it becomes a matter of playing against the second and third levels of the defense?

More than how he looks on defense alongside George, and how both of them can handle that end of the floor in the backcourt, THAT is what I want to see from Peterson. How does he evolve in making others around him better at the NBA level?

Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

Did I save the best for last with Caleb Wilson?

His Summer League debut was about as opposite as I could’ve expected for the 6’9” forward out of North Carolina.

Wilson went from barely attempting any threes in college to coming out of the gates and nailing triples like he’s been doing it at a high level his entire career. That, along with all the usual eye-popping athletic feats he is prone to during a game.

It’s no hyperbole to say Wilson is the best athlete in the 2026 draft class, even though AJ Dybantsa and Morez Johnson would like a word.

He’s just so explosive off two feet, and in driving to the basket. His long strides, coupled with his spring and pop, let him get to angles and shots other forwards can’t. Then add his ability to knock down the occasional face-up jumper or turnaround shot, plus how he’s evolved as a standstill passer and playmaker, and you can start to see why Wilson ends up going so high in the draft.

Where I feel Wilson is lacking the most right now, even more than finding regularity within his three-point diet, is in his halfcourt handle. In my humble opinion, the key to unlocking Wilson is putting him in position to become one of the league’s most dangerous inside-the-arc scoring threats. That means being able to break down his opponent from the top of the floor, get into the teeth of the defense without turning it over, and either find an open man on the move or finish a play himself.

Wilson can do those things on occasion, but not consistently without making mistakes. The Bulls need balance to put Wilson in position as a finisher as often (or more often) as they ask him to develop as a creator. Putting too much on Wilson’s plate too soon can stunt his growth, even if he’s just as eager to prove he should’ve been the top pick in the draft and take over games with the ball in his hands.

Gradually feed Wilson more on-ball reps, work on his mid-range touch and polish, guide him to make better reads on the move, and then worry about gunning six-plus threes a game. Chicago has guys who can knock down catch-and-shoot shots. That team doesn’t have enough players right now who can actually break a defense and create a real advantage. Wilson forces defenses to pay attention to him because of how he can drive, cut, and separate as a vertical finisher. The sooner he can break defenses from the top in transition or off movement, the better the Bulls will be on offense.

I’m going to leave words on his defense for another point in the season. He had some really bad moments on that end of the floor in the preseason, but there are clear communication and responsibility gaps with the team, and Wilson just isn't quite there from a decision-making standpoint on defense. His effort and motor are top-notch, so he’ll make plays on defense for sure. But I want to see how the TEAM progresses there before I start picking nits with his individual defensive miscues both on and off the ball.

Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks

Christian Anderson, Charlotte Hornets

Bennett Stirtz, Oklahoma City Thunder

Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks

Allen Graves, Toronto Raptors

Keaton Wagler, LA Clippers

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It doesn’t hold the same weight as a potential all-time great reaching the mountaintop, potentially multiple times. However, there’s something about a young player taking a big enough leap to impact winning and raise their team’s ceilings. It’s a cool storyline to monitor, serving as an arrival point for said player in any capacity.

In recent years, Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards have risen to superstardom, and their teams have become contenders. Oklahoma City became champions not only with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander launching into the best-in-the-world tier but also with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren becoming All-NBA players.

Pascal Siakam and Bam Adebayo took big leaps to become real co-pilots for NBA Finalists—or winners, in the latter’s case. You can still find this trend down the pecking order where the casual impact isn’t as loud, but the magnitude to team success is vital. Cason Wallace and so many other Thunder contributors are great examples. Andrew Nembhard was a playoff riser in the Pacers’ special 2025 run. Duncan Robinson’s movement shooter opened up a dynamic for the Heat’s offense in the Bubble. Jordan Poole’s nuclear shot creation was a jolt for the Warriors in 2022.

So many more cases exist for young players who took leaps and helped their teams go to the playoffs, and perhaps make a little noise in the process. The list can go on and on.

This NBA season has pathways for teams to break out as bona fide contenders. The New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder are on the list in Sharpie—withstanding health. These young players taking a leap could impact the playoff picture and the inner circle of contenders to a real degree.

Rules: All young players are on rookie-scale contracts. Nobody on the Knicks, Spurs, or Thunder. No rookies. These players are on teams that could be in the mix for a championship, the playoffs, or the play-in.

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Is there any young player with a bigger role than Edgecombe? Sure, some young players will be tasked with more offensive responsibilities, like Cooper Flagg or Cam Boozer. Or young players within this criteria with a larger role and championship possibilities like Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper. However, Edgecombe has one of the biggest roles in the league.

With a star-studded offseason bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, the Sixers are loading up for a title run. When pairing those two with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, it means that fifth starter has to be ready to do the unglamorous work—spacing and running the floor, crashing the glass, and defending the opposing star on any night.

This is the moment for Edgecombe to become a “little things king.” That’s not to say he’s not going to be a focal point of the offense. LeBron and Embiid won’t be available every night during the regular season with the playoffs as the focus. He’s more than capable of being a dynamic scorer. His main goal will be the little things; that includes taking on difficult assignments like Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, or Donovan Mitchell.

From there, he has the tools to become a “little things” king. He has impeccable physical tools with his quickness, athleticism, and frame. It’s amplified by his intensity and nose for the ball. He was in the 80th percentile in block percentage (0.7) and 66th percentile in steal percentage (1.7), per Cleaning the Glass. An uptick in this category may not only be inevitable but also vital for this scaled role. He was also in the 96th percentile in offensive rebounding percentage off missed field goals (4.6); with their shaky center depth and Embiid’s health, it’s a committee effort.

Edgecombe has to become more reliable as a spacer. While converting on 37.5% of his catch-and-shoot threes, he had a relative true shooting percentage (rTS%) of -2.4 in spacing situations per Databallr—essentially his true shooting percentage was 2.4 below the average in these spots. Can he become a formidable shooter that can torch closeouts? Can he leverage that athleticism and power at the rim? He only shot 56.3 at the rim, by the way. He has to improve upon finishing through and around the defense, mainly with his driving angles and contact absorption.

Edgecombe looked the part of a prime Victor Oladipo in his rookie season, but it may be time for him to channel his inner Derrick White—arguably my favorite potential outcome he holds. He’s a critical component of the Sixers’ future, but he can become a vital piece in their championship pursuits in the present.

The Orlando Magic is a team where it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re in the Finals or if they miss the playoffs outright—the margins in the East have become that slim, and this team is that talented. If the Magic unlock their ceiling, Anthony Black will be a key cog in the mix.

He took a modest leap as a creator and scorer. In the Magic’s system, he slots well as a player that thrives more in the next action rather than the primary facilitator—typically thriving more by turning a corner in a Zoom action. He elevated his scoring from 8.6 to 15.0 points per game. He may not be a primary playmaker, but he’s a smart player who can wear different hats offensively and find his teammates in multiple vicinities—which complements playmakers like Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane.

Black is a toolsy defender. He can defend at the point-of-attack as well as a chaser. Alongside the aforementioned trio, he’s a reliable defensive stopper, particularly with his playmaking ability. He was in the 85th percentile in block percentage (1.2) and 80th percentile in steal percentage (2.0), per Cleaning the Glass. His stop percentage was 3.4, which was in the 88th percentile per Databallr. He may lack the physicality to be a full-fledged primary stopper, but he can fill in for Jalen Suggs when he’s off the floor.

The swing skill for him is consistent shooting, particularly in the playoffs. The Magic’s shooting has been a struggle since the Dwight Howard era. Black has to be a key part in elevating their shooting. He only made 31.8 percent of his three-pointers in the playoffs. He held a -3.0 rTS% in spacing situations, per Databallr. As someone who doesn’t project as a lead guard, the outside shooting is a vital development for the Magic and Black’s respective ceilings.

Another offensive leap from Anthony Black, particularly with his efficiency, will be big for Orlando’s playoff outcomes. In addition, it can set him up for a big payday in restricted free agency next summer.

Reed Sheppard can be the breakthrough player that can really shake up the Western Conference.

Let’s start with the defense, where he may be the biggest paradox in the league. His stock and deflection numbers rival players like Alex Caruso. His anticipation and hands are exceptional.

• 96th percentile in block percentage (1.3, per Cleaning the Glass)

• 93rd percentile in steal percentage (2.4)

• 97th percentile in deflections per 100 possessions (6.6, per databallr)

However, the on-ball defense is so rough. He’s frequently targeted due to his size, strength, and stride length—the latter hurts with recovery. It’s a puzzle for the coaching staff to figure out how a projected weak link is also a constant source of stops and transition offense.

Offensively, Sheppard hasn’t been as efficient as he has in Kentucky. However, he’s still a reliable shooter to slot alongside Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun. He shot 39.3% on catch-and-shoot 3’s and 36.8% on dribble jumper 3’s, per Synergy Sports. The creation equity is his next step. He was in the 14th percentile in potential assists (11.1 per 100 possessions, per Databallr). Is this a product of his load and bandwidth as a playmaker? He needs to lean into making more reads that can bend the defense a bit more, which could go hand in hand with his shooting. In addition, he has to at least develop a counter as a two-point scorer (a floater?), as he only makes 54.4% of his shots at the rim while shooting 42.9% of his runners. Adding more to his game inside the arc would open things up, particularly for his jumper.

Quick stat to watch for progression. He only scored 0.874 PPP as a pick-and-roll handler. A guard of his shooting caliber should be more efficient. Watch for an uptick with Steven Adams back.

Sheppard may not be the breakthrough swing for the Western Conference with his individual abilities, but rather with how his strengths would open up the rest of the offense. It draws help away from Sengun as a hub, Durant as an isolation creator, and Thompson as a driver.

I’m worried about how the returning vets—Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams—look after significant lower-body injuries in their 30s. A leap from Sheppard can be what the Rockets need to stay in the mix at the top of the Western Conference for the long haul.

Murray-Boyles just absolutely rocks. He’s a monster of a basketball player. He’s one of the few players who deserve the designation of “guarding all 5 positions.” He has impeccable feel applied on both sides of the ball.

A lot of players get the Draymond Green comparison, and it never lands. Murray-Boyles is the only player that feels close to it.

He’s fascinating, because his positional definition is murky. He’s technically a small-ball big man who’s not an explosive above-the-rim athlete consistently, nor is he a massive factor on the defensive glass. He’s not a shooter—making just 32.7% of threes on 52 total attempts through the regular season and playoffs.

However, he blows it all out of the water with his length and superb anticipation. He’s a terror defending in space with his frame, strength, and quick hands on and off the ball. He can defend with high pick-up points to harass ball-handlers. He generates turnovers at a high level—98th percentile for deflections in databallr’s database (6.3) and 89th percentile in steal percentage according to Cleaning the Glass (1.8).

Despite his size as a 5, he’s an immaculate finisher with his touch and strength inside the paint, as he converted on 66.7% of his shots at the rim. He understands how to leverage angles and body control to finish around the defense. He’s a quick decision-maker out of the dunker’s spot as well.

Yes, he doesn’t shoot. He just has to be adequate with his accuracy and volume. Like 33-35% on three attempts per game. That’ll open up his positional viability a bit to expand outside being a smaller 5.

All of these traits come together for the valuable component of the Raptors’ championship hopes, and it’s about playing him alongside Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. Among all frontcourt duos, Murray-Boyles high-minute lineups were at their best with Barnes without Jakob Poeltl and Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Specifically, a lineup to note within this: Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Brandon Ingram, Barnes, Murray-Boyles. In 63 regular-season possessions, it held a +44.1 NET rating, 123.8 offensive rating, 79.7 defensive rating, per Cleaning the Glass. Now imagine this lineup but with Kawhi in Ingram’s spot. PHEW!

The Raptors have all the ingredients to be a terrifying team in the Eastern Conference. It’s going to be hard to beat them four times in a seven-game series. Collin Murray-Boyles’ development could play a big role in their high-end outcomes.

Thompson has the case for being the best non-Wemby defender in the world.

Thompson was second only to Wembanyama in defensive estimated-plus/minus (D-EPM). Worth noting for his block percentage, per Cleaning the Glass, he was in the 99th percentile among wings here. He’s a menace defensively with this mesmerizing blend of athleticism, timing, speed, and tenacity. He seeks to obliterate his opponents defensively—swiping at drivers in the gaps, seeking chase-down blocks, and exploding in passing lanes. He can do this while hounding his defensive assignment, but he’s at his best as a chaser and helper because of his speed and athleticism in rotation. It’s a ball of clay that warrants real Defensive Player of the Year upside.

This is a Pistons team looking to take the next step with Cade Cunningham. Their core will be examined closely over the next few years, as they (finally) committed to Thompson and Jalen Duren alongside him. Their lack of shooting really cramps their spacing. How can Thompson help here?

Becoming a reliable shooter is definitely a sight. Again, like with Murray-Boyles, he’s already so awesome defensively that he just needs to become adequate and respectable from three. The real offensive leap is providing some creation help. Can he become more of a secondary playmaker alongside Cunningham to alleviate pressure off their star? Now, Cunningham shouldn’t be taking a backseat to Thompson running an offense for a ton of possessions. Can they develop pick-and-roll interchangeability? Thompson’s short roll creation should be something to develop and hone, as his athleticism can create gravity near the rim, and it could play into Duren’s strengths as a finisher near the dunker spot. Grab-and-go offense off the defensive glass is another way to tap into Thompson’s open-court speed.

Thompson is also a lackluster finisher for his impeccable athletic tools—shooting just 59.5% at the rim, per Synergy Sports. In addition, he’s converted on 63.7% of his cuts (1.195 PPP) and 51.9% of his shots as a pick-and-roll roll man (1.000 PPP). JB Bickerstaff should find ways to tap into his athleticism to get easy offense at the rim. That could be tied to finding ways to be more creative with spacing.

Thompson right now is basically a Gen-Z Tony Allen who may have some of the best physical and athletic wings of any young wing in the league. Elevating his offensive game will do wonders for the Pistons looking to stay at the top of a reloaded Eastern Conference.

A lot will be on Beringer’s plate after a rookie season mainly spent in the G League. In the Timberwolves’ bet on upside with LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, they lost Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Rudy Gobert is also 34 years old.

It’s time for Beringer to play a sizable bench role for the Timberwolves with no other backup 5 on the roster.

When projecting Beringer, it’s more about tools. He runs the floor like a gazelle and can jump out of the gym. His combination of speed, fluidity, and leaping is rare for a player his size. It should pair well with LaMelo’s passing wizardry in staggering lineups—particularly out of the pick-and-roll, in transition, and in the dunker’s spot. His leaping ability and size should bode well for his presence on the interior. Per Cerebro Sports, he averaged 10 rebounds (4.8 offensive) and 2.2 blocks per game in 12 G League games. While competition will have to be adjusted for, he possesses upside as an athletic big man with a two-way influence on the rim.

The substance beyond his tools comes down to his processing and technicality. He has to develop good chemistry in ball screens with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo. Within this comes angles, rolling lanes, and timing on catching passes. He won’t be Rudy Gobert defensively, but can he handle center-field coverages and hold the fort down in their schemes?

He won’t have the biggest role on the team, but he will do a lot to shore up an area that’s become more volatile for the Timberwolves.

I really don’t know what to do about Utah. It wouldn’t shock me if they’re competing for the third seed in the Western Conference or if they’re in the back portion of the play-in mix. They loaded up since last season by adding Darryn Peterson and Jaren Jackson Jr., specifically. Do Jackson and Lauri Markkanen provide enough on the glass to be a 4/5 duo? How will Jusuf Nurkic’s injury affect their season? How does Keyonte George look as a lead guard in a winning context? My biggest question, though, revolves around their primary stopper.

Who’s going to guard Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and the rest of the Western Conference’s elite?

They could just make it easy with Josh Okogie or Josh Green acting as a nominal big with this role and with some rebounding-by-committee help. However, Ace Bailey could embrace the little things here to unlock Utah’s full capabilities with its five most talented players.

Last season, Bailey had a stop percentage of 2.1, per Databallr. He’s not entirely the most active defender. However, he has the size and lateral quickness to develop into this stopper role for the time being. If he can have the intensity and engagement revved up to a real degree, he can find a role that plays him on the floor in a lot of big moments.

In addition to stopping, Bailey will have to fit into more of a complementary role. Last season, he shot just 32 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, per Synergy Sports. He made 42.6 percent of his threes off the dribble, but he’ll really be getting those for the extra dribble off actions—off screens, handoffs, or side-stepping closeouts.

While a future in Utah likely revolves around Bailey, Peterson, and George, Bailey has to fit in the present alongside All-Star veterans as well to do the dirty work—which should improve his ancillary skills around his intriguing scoring arsenal.

The Cavaliers made a big splash this summer with acquiring Peyton Watson. However, to duck under the second apron to do so, they lost Dean Wade, Dennis Schroder, and Max Strus. An expensive core and the second apron have hit the Cavaliers’ depth significantly—also accounting for losing Ty Jerome in 2025.

Teams struck with the aprons need to hit on their young talent via the draft and two-way contracts around the margins to make up for it. Insert Jaylon Tyson.

The third-year forward has emerged as a solid wing piece for the Cavaliers. He’s a lights-out shooter—making 43.1% of his catch-and-shoot 3s. He’s a sturdy body that can guard multiple positional archetypes. He defends without fouling. He is also a reliable rebounder—ranking in the 91st percentile in offensive rebounding rate off missed field goals (6.6) and in the 67th percentile in defensive rebounding rate off missed field goals (12.2) among wings, per Cleaning the Glass.

With the losses they’ve had, and to amplify their staggered lineups, Tyson needs to level up a bit.

The shooting is spectacular and pretty sustainable, as he was a 37-percent three-point shooter in college but just an adequate 34.5% in his rookie year. It’s a weapon that offers spacing for whatever combination of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley he’s sharing the floor with. He should look to continue building upon it by leveraging his shooting gravity to attack closeouts and make decisions off the bounce. In addition, he should expand his arsenal to be a next-action creator. Both of these traits were tapped into at California and fueled his rise as a first-round pick in 2024

Tyson leans more on his physicality as a perimeter defender. He can move his feet pretty well in space as well. He likely slots best as someone who defends positions 2-4. He’ll likely need to be a secondary stopper behind Peyton Watson, whether it’s alongside him or whenever he’s off the floor. He drew a stop percentage of 2.0, which was in the 36th percentile, per Databallr. His main value add defensively may be with his size and rebounding. He should parlay his nose for the ball into getting more adventurous in passing lanes.

Tyson will likely need to expand upon his 3-and-D skillset with pinches of creation. While he’s etched into the rotation, It’s going to be essential for a Cavaliers team searching for more depth, more players that can play 25-30 minutes in a playoff game.

Zach Edey only played 11 games—technically, 10 as he exited one game six minutes into it. In those outings, they were 7-4, with one of those losses coming from the early exit. The Grizzlies were utterly dominant in his outings—boasting top-five marks in Defensive Rating (108.6), Offensive Rebounding Percentage (34.8), and Rebounding Percentage (55.3) in the span of games after his return. They were 26 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor defensively (96.2 defensive rating, per Databallr), while outscoring their opponents by 18.9 points per 100 possessions in his minutes.

Edey’s size enables massive impact on both sides of the floor. Translatable on either side, he crushes the glass, as he’s capable of tilting the possession game to a significant degree. Defensively, he’s a monster drop-coverage big man that keeps a lid on the basket — altering, deterring, and swatting anything in his vicinity. He’s not going to be mistaken for a switch big man, but he can hold his own. Offensively, he’s an automatic bucket when diving to the basket. Case in point, the Grizzlies will run a ton of pick-and-roll, and last season Edey only missed two of his shots as a pick-and-roll roll man (15-17, per Synergy Sports).

Teams with an insurmountable advantage on the glass and a formidable defense tend to do well. Edey adds immense value in these departments. He was fifth in D-EPM (+3.4, per dunksandthrees). He ranked in the 99th percentile in offensive rebounding percentage (17.5) and in the 96th percentile in defensive rebounding percentage (26.6).

Edey is on the short list of players with this degree of paint influence.

If Edey plays around 50-60 games, the Grizzlies will be a surprise team in the playoff picture in the Western Conference. It won’t be as a top-four team, maybe not top-six. They will be in the play-in, though.

The Trail Blazers added more variance to their defense with Damian Lillard’s return and Ja Morant’s arrival. In addition, these two players alongside Deni Avdija require spacing creation through screening. Ditto with Scoot Henderson.

It’s a big opportunity for Donovan Clingan to shore things up and become a bona fide anchor for a playoff team.

Again on rim influence, Clingan provides that as well with his rebounding and rim protection. He was in the 98th percentile in offensive rebounding percentage (17.1) and in defensive rebounding percentage (28.4), per dunksandthrees. He also had a block percentage of 5.6, which ranked in the 94th percentile. He’s simply an enormous big that leverages his size to patrol the paint, dominate the glass, and minimize opponents’ downhill impact.

One area he has to shore up is his finishing. He only made 42.9% of his two-point field goal attempts in the playoffs. I understand they’ve been looking to do a Brook Lopez-esque development path for him with his floor spacing, but it’s vital for him to improve his touch around the basket. It’d only amplify two-man actions with him and either Lillard, Henderson, Morant, or Avdija.

In the process, I’d like to see him deployed similar to his UConn days as more of a slot hub where these players can generate open space for drives or pull-up jumpers off his passing and screening.

There’s a lot of variance with Portland’s system, but Clingan can become an anchor that holds down the fort on both ends of the floor.

• Pelle Larsson, Miami Heat: The Heat need spacing and perimeter defense in a real way, and the tough Larsson can become a breakout player that fits like a glove next to Giannis with improved shooting.

• Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns: He’s going to get run this season and has the mobility and size to thrive on both ends of the floor. In Mark Williams’ absence, he can take the starting spot and run with it.

• DaRon Holmes, Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets need one of these recent picks to hit, and a year removed from returning from his Achilles injury, Holmes can become a dribble-pass-shoot combo big that can also play alongside Jokic.

• Adou Thiero, Los Angeles Lakers: Can Thiero become Luka Doncic’s new Derrick Jones Jr. in LA? He’d be a real injection of youth, size, and athleticism in their wing room.

• Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards: With Anthony Davis and Trae Young in the fold, Sarr can thrive in the simplicity with one of the NBA’s best bigs and table-setters next to him.

• Baylor Scheierman, Boston Celtics: The Celtics are looking to create their wing rotation with size and chaos, and Scheierman can become a source of playmaking, shooting, and dirty work off the bench.

• Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies: Do-it-all forward that impacts winning and can take a massive leap this season with more scoring responsibilities and improved on-ball defense.

• Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto Raptors: 2-guard that would slot perfectly next to Leonard and Barnes, while defending key assignments and feeding off the stars’ gravity.

• Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic: The size concerns are real, mainly defensively, but Orlando’s roster construction can mitigate it a bit. He’s always in motion and makes quick decisions with the ball in his hands, and can give them much-needed shooting.

The best players and teams stay thirsty, even after tasting victory. Fans and pundits alike find it most interesting to track players who never quite settle, even when they’re ahead, and who set themselves up for banner years through intrigue and skill.

Last year was a banner year, quite literally, for the Michigan Wolverines. Under coach Dusty May, who brought in a star-studded transfer class, the team won the regular-season Big Ten championship and finished off the NCAA tournament with a win over Dan Hurley’s potential UCONN dynasty roster. They built a blueprint for what a modern, championship-contending roster could look like at the college level, even if it took just a year.

What a difference a year makes, however. No sooner had May won the title with the Wolverines than he left for the NBA to coach the Dallas Mavericks. Three of Michigan’s best players from last year, Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara, were NBA lottery picks. Aside from an unfortunate ACL injury to star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. during an overseas preseason tour, new Michigan coach Mike Boynton has a May built for the upcoming season, even if it will look drastically different from last season’s title team.

With all the changes in Ann Arbor, it’s worth wondering who will step up and take the reins for the Wolverines. Point guard Elliot Cadeau will run the offense, but he isn’t a top-tier scorer. Both JP Estrella and Moustapha Thiam are talented, but it’s unclear whether either could carry the scoring load of a top college offense.

Amid the maelstrom of Michigan’s roster and coaching turnover, Trey McKenney is the most interesting man in maize and blue this season. He was a key part of the team’s success last season, but departures and injuries have suddenly put a massive onus on him to play a much bigger role.

That’s got me excited as an evaluator, as there’s a ton to love about McKenney as a prospect. With the new context around his game, we should see a fully unleashed version of it, which will paint a clear portrait of whether Michigan’s Most Interesting Man can live up to the hype and follow in the footsteps of his drafted teammates last season.

Vicariously Through Himself: McKenney on Display

So, just who is Trey McKenney as a basketball player? You have to go back to his mid-teen years to start chronicling the accolades, as McKenney has been a prodigious talent for quite some time. From his appearance on the USA FIBA U18 AmeriCup team that won gold in 2024 to his multiple high school titles to his McDonald’s All-American game appearance as Mr. Basketball in Michigan, McKenney’s pre-college resume has no holes.

In college, on a stacked Wolverines roster, McKenney fit well into a defined role. McKenney ranked fifth on the team in points per game, field goal attempts per game, and minutes per game, serving as a utility guard and the first player off the bench. He averaged just 0.1 fewer three-point attempts per game than the team’s leader despite coming off the bench, which also reflected the gunning nature of his job when he checked in.

When he checked in, Trey McKenney knew his role and filled the box score with aplomb. Despite the bigs on the team taking their fair share of shots, McKenney had the green light as a perimeter scorer to attack closeouts and snipe shots at as high a clip as he could.

Trey McKenney’s biggest draw as a prospect is his smooth scoring package. He’s a dynamic shot creator from most spots on the floor and knows when to attack each one. He shows great balance on his pull-up shots, and his form on his jumpers has a high, quick release.

Whether spotting up from deep (where he took, per Synergy, 139 three-point shots and canned a 39.2% clip of them), or pulling up from behind the arc (which he hit to the tune of a modest 33.3% on 33 attempts), McKenney is a dangerous sniper who teams have to respect. He barely needs a second to hit his shots off movement and will be set to take a ton more for Michigan this season.

The balance he shows on his two-point jumpers, which come from his snappy handle and deceleration skills, also hints at the ability to take a more concentrated role as a primary option. That’ll be big for the Wolverines, as they need someone to step into Lendeborg’s top option shoes next season.

McKenney can do damage as a driver too, which he flashed from a variety of angles and play types. He cuts with force, operates well as an attacker off a screen, and can use his first-step burst to blast past defenders in isolation. I wouldn’t say that McKenney has prototypical height for the off-guard position he’ll likely occupy at the NBA level, but he has the right bounce and speed to make up for it.

For a team like Michigan that’s losing a ton of offensive touches and shot attempts from its departing draftees, having McKenney’s ready-made scoring is crucial. He showed he could fill it up in a small sample, but he’s primed to take a ton of shots in an offense more skewed toward his perimeter chops. That should propel him into a premium spot in this year’s draft class.

I Don’t Always…But When I Do: McKenney’s Hidden Upside

As a freshman playing on a loaded contender, Trey McKenney had a clear outlook for what he was expected to do on the floor. He had less pressure to be a creator or stopper for the Wolverines, but he showed enough of both for me to stay optimistic about how he can build on those parts of his game this year.

As a passer, McKenney had a solid, if unimpressive season. He had a near 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio on limited assists, while also posting the ninth-highest Usage Rate on the team. That suggests McKenney’s often intent on scoring, but his 10.3% turnover rate shows he takes care of the ball.

On tape, McKenney has a solid sense of where to place passes. He wasn’t often tasked with running a pick-and-roll or spotting cutters on the move, but he has the touch and timing to do so. I’m interested in what his game will look like with more usage, as he should have the ball more and opposing defenses will pressure him to pass quickly before help arrives.

His 6.4% assist percentage, which is woefully low for a lottery guard prospect, will have to change by default. Elliot Cadeau is still there, but without L.J. Cason and Brandon McCoy, McKenney will be the clear primary scoring threat and secondary creation option in the backcourt for a team that may move away from its interior identity.

As much as I’m focused on McKenney’s offense, I’m just as tuned in to what he can do on the defensive end. Per BartTorvik, the Wolverines led the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency last season. Most of that came from their elite frontcourt trio, but to uphold their reputation, McKenney will have to stay a solid defender while scaling up his offense.

Listed at 6’4” and 220 pounds, McKenney has the size to hold his own on the perimeter. He didn’t have great numbers, including a minuscule steals percentage, but he’s active enough for me to believe opponents won’t target him. That’s admittedly not a high bar, but I’m also factoring in that he’ll have to take on a new role as the team’s leading scorer, which will keep him from digging in more defensively.

While McKenney hasn’t shown much in his passing and defensive numbers, there’s enough on tape to keep me intrigued about his long-term upside. The sell on McKenney as a prospect remains his scoring, but he isn’t as one-dimensional as he may seem. Instead, he should be able to run enough offense and stay in front of his man enough to justify a higher draft selection as long as his offensive arsenal is on full display.

Stay Thirsty, My Friends: McKenney’s Future

The Wolverines will face a wildly different season in Ann Arbor, but Trey McKenney is a particularly interesting case study. He showed enough as an offensive threat last year to be in line to take on a major scoring role this season. The team might not have the same championship expectations, but McKenney’s upside is tantalizing.

If he has the kind of scoring season that carries Michigan back to the upper echelons of college basketball, he’ll be primed to be a lottery selection in this year’s draft class. There are few clear favorites or surefire star players in the 2027 NBA Draft class, which could work to McKenney’s advantage. A stellar season as a top offensive option would convince a handful of GMs, at bare minimum, to give him serious lottery attention.

If he can’t reach these offensive peaks, however, then both the Wolverines and McKenney’s stock will take a hit. He brings a ton as a shot-maker to an offense, but in the modern NBA, players need to bring a bit more than that unless they are the undisputed top option. Without prototypical size or creation chops, it’s harder for a team to convince itself it can center an offense around McKenney.

That’s what makes him the Most Interesting Man on Michigan’s roster and maybe in the entire draft class. A ton of players could have a boom-or-bust season to vault up the 2027 draft board, but no one else carries the weight of having won a championship last season. That burden and gift is McKenney’s alone, and it will be a thrill to watch as he lights up the nets this season in the Big Ten and beyond.

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The 2027 NBA Draft cycle has so much going on this season that each subsection of prospects has its own fascinating storylines. The top of the class is where most of the heavy discussion will be had. And rightfully so. That is the most important part of scouting the draft: identifying the top talent. The returning class will have its own niche arguments: Who is the best returner? Who can be this class’s so-and-so? Can one of these returners make a push for the Top 3? Top 5? And so on.

You may have read my Five Offseason Findings piece from October 1st, where I mentioned that this crop of traditional international prospects could be the best group in quite some time. With that said, I thought it would be prudent to share my offseason findings on this particular group of prospects before the college basketball season (officially) kicks off on November 1st.

Keep in mind that when I say traditional international prospects, I mean those who were born outside of the States and are playing outside of the States, so Luigi Suigo won’t be in this series. Also, those who aren’t eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft won’t be included, so Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Nikola Kusturica, and others won’t be mentioned.

Originally, this was going to be a two-part piece with five prospects per article. But there was simply too much to say about each of these guys to cram them together, so every prospect is getting his own installment of International Snapshot (yes, this group is kind of deep this year, folks).

Let’s dive in!

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Stefan Joksimovic | Baskonia | Perimeter | 6’7” | ~190

Leading the way for the international class on most big boards for the 2027 NBA Draft is Stefan Joksimovic. Like most prospects playing overseas, Joksimovic has already begun play for the 2027 cycle. Unlike most prospects playing overseas, he is still 17 years old (turning 18 on November 16th), and he has a unique blend of size and skill for his position. Joksimovic plays on a pretty talented Baskonia team that features players such as Kenneth Faried, Chris Duarte, Matteo Spagnolo, DJ Stewart, AJ Lawson, and Kobi Simmons (among others). To this point, he has played in six games this season, with Synergy Sports crediting him with 20 total possessions thus far.

So, why make such a fuss over a prospect who isn’t close to being a starter?

These things happen in European leagues. These clubs don’t start young players for the sake of appeasing them. Instead, there is a bit of an “earn your stripes” mentality, as teams can be relegated into “lesser” leagues/divisions if they do not perform to a particular standard. That means Stefan may not be front and center on the court or, therefore, in the consciousness of the greater draft community.

But why use lot words when few words do trick? We—and the league—have tape that can explain how Joksimovic could translate to the NBA.

Offense

While playing with Baskonia this season, Cerebro Sports credits Stefan Joksimovic with a usage rate of 21.6. In the ACB, they credit him with a field goal percentage of 57.1% and a three-point percentage of 33.3%. There is a lot of fluidity to his game, as Joksimovic profiles to be a player who can be effective on and off the ball.

Playmaking

Part of the intrigue with Stefan Joksimovic is the level of feel he has at his size. In 15 tracked games this cycle, Cerebro credits Stefan with nearly three assists per game in under 22 minutes per game. His vision is quite advanced for his age, and he is able to do some interesting things off of the live dribble. This clip shows Stefan Joksimovic (#6 in black) bringing the ball up the floor and getting into the pick-and-roll with Kenneth Faried.

Joksimovic does a great job of stringing the ball out to his left after running the action with Faried. He drives right at Faried’s man, who takes a swipe at the ball. Stefan does well to keep his dribble alive and then takes a dribble to his left. As Joksimovic sees his man recovering and Faried’s man still on the three-point line, he picks up the dribble and jumps over the defensive big man—slinging a pass directly into the layup hand of his teammate.

Manipulation

As is normally the case with this archetype, Joksimovic is a natural and fluid mover within the course of the game. In this clip, we see him bring the ball up the floor and kick the ball out to the left wing. As his teammate looks to take his man off of the bounce, Stefan casually moves to a different spot to optimize the offense’s spacing. As the ball is driven to the left elbow, Joksimovic makes himself open on the opposite wing.

The pass is delivered in such a way that it requires Stefan to both continue sliding along the three-point line and jump. Joksimovic is aware that the defense is still recovering to the swinging ball. As he gathers the pass, he glances over to his teammate in the corner. This freezes the defense, as the corner’s defender switches to pick up Joksimovic. Instead of swinging the ball over for the potential to get three points, he quickly drives to the paint to pick up a guaranteed layup.

Crafty Finishing

Joksimovic can get to the basket out of pick-and-roll actions, too. We can see here that Stefan is operating on the right side of the floor, opposite of where the clip is starting. After a shallow cut exchange, the ball is driven along the left elbow. This draws in the defense. The defense cuts off the driving lane, which forces the drive-and-kick to Joksimovic in the right corner.

After he corrals the ball, Stefan resets by facing away from the defense to allow his teammate to set a screen to his left (his dominant side). He squares up and attacks the screen, forcing the switch. The defense tries to switch again before Stefan drives to the paint but, after a hard cross left, Joksimovic attacks the middle of the paint for a lefty layup finish.

Spot-Up Shooting

To get out in front of this, floor spacing is one of the aspects of Stefan’s game where he will need to be consistent. Cerebro shows that Joksimovic has shot over 35% in several different settings (2026 U18 EuroLeague, 2025-26 Spanish ACB Regular Season, 2025 U18 EuroBasket, 2025 NBA Top 100 Camp, and 2024 FIBA Europe Division A U16), so there are clearly some signs of touch.

This clip shows that touch.

We start with Joksimovic in the left corner, on the completely opposite end of the floor from the ball screen being set just inside halfcourt on the right side. The screener flashes to the right elbow, and both defenders converge on the ball-handler. The ball is kicked to the screener, who turns to the basket off the gather, bringing all eyes to him. There is a clear passing window to Stefan in the corner, which is taken as the ball is expeditiously fired into his hands.

Joksimovic sets into the shot, gets into his shooting motion, and nets the corner three-pointer. Notice the lefty stroke. The form is compact, and the base is a little narrow. Not a ton of time is needed to let it fly. This will be an important aspect of Stefan’s game to monitor throughout the season.

Overzealous Playmaking

When you have someone who can make fantastic plays, you’re going to have some headscratchers at times. Joksimovic is still learning when to hit singles and doubles instead of swinging for the fences every at-bat.

This clip shows Stefan getting the ball on the right side of the court and then bringing it back up to the top of the key. He then gets into some two-man action on the left wing. He is doubled and picks up the ball to pass out of the double. Instead of kicking the ball to his teammate along the left side of the floor for a safer read, Stefan tries to make a two-handed overhead pass from just inside the halfcourt line to his teammate in the opposite corner.

His eyes told the defense what he wanted to do, and he gave them ample time to shift over and intercept the difficult read.

Dealing With Contact

One of the trickier parts of evaluating this archetype of prospect is mentality, particularly when it comes to interior finishing. This is where Stefan Joksimovic leaves some room for skepticism. This play begins with Joksimovic getting the ball on the left wing. This is a rarer play, as Stefan looks to take his man off the bounce without the use of a screen. He successfully establishes enough of a first step to drive to the left elbow.

The not-so-good part comes when he picks up his dribble. Joksimovic stops dribbling just inside the three-point line, which only gives him a couple of steps to figure out how he wants to get his shot off. Opting for a Euro or rip-over move, Stefan elects to go for a flippy layup under the defender’s contesting hand that really stands no chance of going in.

If you’re going to pick up your dribble that far away from the rim, it’s going to be hard to make that shot without initiating contact—unless you’re Giannis Antetokounmpo or Victor Wembanyama. Watching the drive the whole way through, there appears to be zero interest in making contact with the defender, which negates any shot of at least getting to the free-throw line instead of settling for a flippy layup.

Defense

While the offensive side of the ball showcases some advanced feel, Stefan Joksimovic’s defense is where you can tell that he isn’t even 18 years old.

Footwork

This clip is against Spanish legend Ricky Rubio, but Joksimovic will see no shortage of guards in the NBA who can take advantage of his footwork. Rubio doesn’t even get into a play or a concept in this clip—this is just hoops. Rubio brings the ball up the court on the left side, with Stefan working to stay out in front of him after being screened. Joksimovic does a pretty decent job getting back into coverage and working to force Rubio along the left side of the court early, denying a drive back to the top of the key.

Rubio sets Stefan up masterfully here. Ricky has the ball in his left hand, then dribbles between the legs back into his right hand. Joksimovic places all of his weight on his right foot, the back foot in his stance, to keep Rubio driving left. Rubio reads it perfectly and attacks that back foot, which is shifting Stefan’s weight to go the other direction. This encapsulates something that shows up across Joksimovic’s film: he tends to bite on what his man is selling.

Strength

It’s to be expected that a 17-year-old would get pushed around a bit by more mature, more physically developed players. However, it’s worth mentioning that he’s going to have to go up against the best athletes in the world, so this season serves as a fair proxy to see how he can hold up in the short term.

This clip shows the ball being placed into the hands of Jaylen Nowell, Stefan’s assignment. Nowell is listed around 6’4” and 200 pounds, and he looks to take the ball right into the chest of Joksimovic. In Nowell’s pursuit of the basket, he gives Stefan a couple of bumps with his left shoulder, then goes into a stop-and-pivot fade over the top of his man. While it is encouraging that Joksimovic fights to stay in the play, he is too easily bumped off of his spot and doesn’t have the requisite length/athletic tools to properly recover.

Initial Thoughts

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some significant concerns with Joksimovic’s game. I’d also be lying if I said I couldn’t see a path for him to make in-season improvements while standing on the strengths of his game. Joksimovic provides special feel for the game and desirable size. Outside of Luka Doncic, there haven’t really been a ton of players of this archetype who have reached the high end of their perceived ceilings.

The best parts of his offense have to make everything else that’s going to require work worth the patience. It’s been discussed more and more as of late, but the level of patience teams once showed has worn thinner and thinner. Joksimovic will have to show consistency as a floor spacer and passer, and that hasn’t been easy, since his minutes haven’t matched those of the other top-end players who make up the rest of this class.

His feel and potential are enough for me to rank him sixth on my personal board, with room to rise. BUT, there is a real chance that he doesn’t stay that high if he continues to show an unwillingness to handle contact.

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The start of the college basketball season is right around the corner, and scouts the world over are gearing up for the 2027 NBA Draft cycle to kick into overdrive. We here at No Ceilings can’t wait to sink our teeth into the season-opening film, even as we’ve been poring over exhibition games and international prospect tape.

For all of you who follow us here, you may have noticed the Mock Draft that went live earlier today. For those of you who are truly in the know, though, we have a little something extra for our No Ceilings + subscribers: a view of the full No Ceilings War Room, where we went back and forth on each of the 60 picks in the 2027 NBA Draft. As always, there was quite a bit of chaos—and in this edition, there was even more chaos than usual, with the typical wide range of opinions that comes from the classic questions around how the recent high school class will handle their transition into the college ranks.

Without further ado, here is our video for our first Mock Draft of the 2027 NBA Draft cycle.

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HELLO, Draft Fans!

We officially have less than 20 DAYS until the start of the 2026-27 NCAA season.

International hoops have gotten underway, which means that it’s almost time to be full speed ahead for the 2027 NBA Draft cycle.

It’s shaping up to be one of our biggest and best years yet. As always, we thank all of you for the continued support over the years. We cannot wait to get back rolling for what should be a very interesting cycle.

After an offseason that surprisingly seemed like a big blur, the No Ceilings team came together to jump into the War Room to install their first MOCK DRAFT of the 2027 NBA Draft cycle.

Because the NBA season will be returning next week, we went ahead and ran a Lottery Simulation, using the new odds.

To say it got a little crazy would be putting it lightly.

Buckle Up, Folks. We’re Back.

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#1. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via BKN) — Jordan Smith Jr. | G | Arkansas

Finn: The rich are getting richer here as the Houston Rockets, a playoff team, get the opportunity to pick first overall thanks to the Brooklyn Nets—who gave this pick, which originally belonged to the Phoenix Suns, to the Rockets in a 2024 trade. Houston is invested in the core tandem of Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun (their payroll shows it), so the next logical step is to find a guard to pair with the duo for the long haul. With that in mind, Jordan Smith Jr., the number one player on No Ceiling’s latest big board, would be an awesome addition here. Smith’s elite defense and motor not only give him a high floor as a contributor with any team, but would make him a natural fit within the defensive identity the Rockets have built. He has plenty of upside as an on-ball guard offensively too—certainly more than enough to justify him being the first name off the board here.

#2. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via MIL) — Tyran Stokes | F | Kansas

Jam: The Pelicans land arguably the most talented player in the class, Tyran Stokes. Listed at 6’8” and 230 pounds, Stokes is a physical and athletic wing with ball skills who leverages his tremendous tools and a versatile skill set to thrive on both ends of the floor.

There is variety in his offensive arsenal which can complement and eventually anchor an exciting Pelicans core (Zion, Fears, Queen, Murphy, Bey, Jones, Missi). He’s a dynamic self-creator who can finish with power and athleticism at the rim or get to his multiple-level pull-up game while making plays for others off the bounce thanks to intriguing passing feel, both as a manipulator and connector. Stokes can also shine as a play finisher from transition floor runs and timely off-ball cuts to being an exciting roll/pop man out of ball screens and creating second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass. Defensively, he’s a switchable defensive playmaker who is equipped with tools to become a real menace on the ball.

Stokes is the type of two-way wing talent that every team seeks at the top of the draft and could be exactly what the New Orleans franchise needs to ascend into a perennial playoff team and eventual contender.

#3. CHICAGO BULLS — Bruce Branch III | F | BYU

Corey: The Bulls landed their franchise cornerstone in Caleb Wilson in the 2026 NBA Draft, pairing him with Matas Buzelis as the foundation for new executive Bryson Graham. Graham’s SLAP philosophy (size, length, athleticism, physicality) is the clear blueprint for the new-look Bulls.

Bruce Branch III checks a lot of those boxes while bringing star upside at #3. A 6’7” swing wing, Branch is one of the youngest prospects in the class at just 18.6 years old on draft night. He’s a super smooth mover with a creative handle who can get his own shot. He was also highly efficient around the basket last season, finishing 70% at the rim on 120+ attempts at Prolific Prep. When I saw him at the Nike Hoop Summit, his height and wingspan really popped, and he uses that condor length defensively to force tough shots. The questions are his jumper consistency (28.6% from three) and his frame. At 195 pounds, he can get bumped off his spots by stronger defenders on drives, and offensive players can go right through his chest. Still, Chicago can afford to be patient with a wing this skilled, and Branch has the tools to fill out Graham’s vision of skilled, interchangeable guys on the perimeter.

#4. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via ATL) — Caleb Holt | G | Arizona

Rucker: The San Antonio Spurs are already ahead of schedule when it comes to ascending in the Western Conference. After an appearance in the NBA Finals last year, San Antonio will be looking to continue to develop their young core in order to contend for the foreseeable future. As of now, this class could figure to have plenty of guards near the top of the class. That could present an intriguing dilemma for the Spurs. The team clearly has some depth in the backcourt with Steph Castle, Dylan Harper, and De’Aaron Fox under contract. However, adding a talent like Caleb Holt could be too enticing to pass up. Holt would give the Spurs another dynamic backcourt addition who is more of a combo guard. He’s a lethal on-ball defender with athleticism, toughness, and scoring upside. We’ve seen how important it is to have various options in the backcourt for teams over the recent years, and adding Holt would be another nasty addition for the Spurs moving forward.

#5. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via LAC) — Stefan Joksimovic | G | Baskonia

Ignacio: Oklahoma City is experiencing the pains of every successful NBA team in the second-apron era: they’re getting expensive quickly. The Thunder traded away three key rotation players this offseason (Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe) and could use their treasure trove of first-round picks to replace players on expiring deals with rookie-scale players. Enter Stefan Joksimovic, who, at just 17 years old, has already made his professional debut with both Baskonia and the Slovenian senior national team and is coming off an MVP performance at this summer’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket.

Joksimovic would give the Thunder versatility. He thrives with the ball in his hands as an aggressive slasher who utilizes his 6’7” size, length, and strong frame to finish around the basket. He is also a consistent decision-maker who can run the offense as a secondary initiator, and he can also play off the ball as a timely cutter and dangerous spot-up shooter.

This role malleability, which has allowed him to make an impact with or without the ball, and his experience at the two highest levels of competition outside the NBA (Euroleague, Spanish ACB), should make him a perfect fit for the Thunder as they look to add wing depth while avoiding the hard cap.

#6. WASHINGTON WIZARDS — Luigi Suigo | C | Villanova

Albert: All eyes are on the Washington Wizards this season. Questions are swirling about how the team will merge its young core, headlined by the number one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa, with the expensive veterans they’ve brought in over the last year. With the Wizards looking like they won’t extend Anthony Davis, your social media feeds will be covered in fake trades for him all season long. Whether the Wizards trade or keep Anthony Davis, the team should be looking to add to its front court for the future. If you’ve lost track during the offseason, Deandre Ayton is on this team, too. Between him and Davis, you’d bet both guys aren’t in the squad’s long-term plans. If they end up drafting this high next June, adding a big who can play with Alex Sarr should be high on their list of priorities. This is where Luigi Suigo slides in, standing at 7’3” and close to 300 pounds. Suigo has real deal size, has shown the ability to space the floor from outside, and can pass the rock. If Suigo can keep the fouls down and continues to develop his frame and cardio, he could be the perfect frontcourt partner next to Sarr.

#7. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Abdou Toure | W | Arkansas

Nick: With the presumed return to health of De’Andre Hunter and the addition of Alex Karaban in the draft, the Sacramento Kings have made some progress in terms of addressing their lack of size in their forward/wing rotation. However, they could certainly use a top-tier athlete who can grow with Darius Acuff Jr., throw down lobs, and cover multiple positions defensively. Enter Abdou Toure, who would instantly answer plenty of those questions. Toure plays bigger than his 6’5” listed height, and his two-way ability would certainly be enticing for the Kings. There would certainly be some spacing issues by adding Toure to one of the worst long-range shooting teams in the league last season, but Toure answers enough other questions for the Kings that he would be worth the swing anyway.

#8. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES — Quentin Coleman | G | Illinois

Parker: The Memphis Grizzlies are now building around Cam Boozer, Cedric Coward, and Zach Edey. How about fortifying the advantage on the glass with a 2-guard who is among the best rebounders for his position in this freshman class? Coleman’s initial disadvantage with size is nullified with this trio. While his creation equity can improve, he can excel as a movement shooter, a skill that’s intriguing around a player of Boozer’s passing acumen. His shooting mechanics and preparation are absolutely divine. In the process, he can build his creation equity with closeout attacking and next-action pick-and-roll initiation. He’s a smart defender with a good nose for the ball; he’s a factor on the glass and in passing lanes. Coleman can slot into a complementary role in the meantime and gradually round out his creation upside, but his current strengths align so well with the core of this Grizzlies team.

#9. INDIANA PACERS — Arafan Diane | C | Houston

Stephen: The Indiana Pacers are in an interesting place right now–balancing title contention while adding pieces to a fairly established roster. While it’s true that this team already gave up some decent draft capital to acquire Ivica Zubac, he has been injured recently, and it’s okay to add some depth—especially with the upside of Arafan Diane. Diane provides a ton of upside as a passer and shooter, while having been a high-end rebounder in every league he’s played in. There are concerns with his weight and conditioning, but some of those have been quelled by him reportedly losing 20+ pounds in Houston’s intense offseason workouts. The Pacers are sneakily getting older, so adding a big man with upside to play in a deep frontcourt would be a smart play from a smart organization.

#10. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via PHX) — Colben Landrew | F | UConn

Latif: Six years later, the Rockets are still feasting off the return from the blockbuster James Harden trade, and this pick is the final swap from Brooklyn that Houston owns. As a perennial playoff team with established young talent, tradeable contracts, and other premier draft assets, this selection is a luxury, and with it they draft UConn freshman Colben Landrew to bolster their wing room. Landrew will give the Rockets— a team that lacks wings with offensive versatility—a dribble-pass-slash-shoot wing who can also add on the margins with solid positional rebounding and perimeter defense.

#11. ATLANTA HAWKS (via NOLA) — Christian Collins | F | USC

Owen: Although they are by no means title contenders at this point, the Atlanta Hawks have quietly built a well-rounded foundation. Jalen Johnson, Kingston Flemings and Dyson Daniels round out the core pieces, but beyond those three, the Hawks do lack a bit of firepower. How do you fix that? The answer is unclear, but plugging in a 6’9” forward with ball-handling and shot-creation abilities surely won’t hurt. The scare with Collins is, of course, the undisclosed foot injury that he has been dealing with for the past month or so. If he can return to health and patch some of the turnover and shooting woes he’s had in the past, though, then Collins could be the missing piece to an eventual Atlanta title core.

#12. ORLANDO MAGIC — Caleb Gaskins | F | Miami

Owen: The Orlando Magic are currently in one of the most confusing scenarios in the entire NBA. On paper, having two “All-Star”-level talents under the age of 26 in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner—not to mention a solid secondary cast featuring Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black, both of whom are also under 26—is a good problem to have. That said, a shaky on-court fit between the core pieces, on top of contract stipulations coming in the near future, allows the Magic to take a swing on the upside of a guy like Caleb Gaskins. The 6’8” forward provides one of the more intriguing skill sets in the entire country, as his combination of power, functional athleticism, and handle makes him one of the more lethal threats in both transition and as a spot-up threat. Gaskins has also shown some flashes of excellence as both a roll man and a ball handler in ball-screen sets, adding to his functionality as a scorer in the halfcourt. Not to mention, Gaskins provides a real threat from the perimeter, ranking in the 87th percentile in catch-and-shoot efficiency in his senior year at Columbus, per Synergy Sports. The real questions lie within his ability to consistently provide impact on the defensive end, an area that has been vastly underwhelming given his physical dominance on the other end, on top of some playmaking limitations holding back his halfcourt impact. Nonetheless, he’s a talented player worth taking a look at in the lottery.

#13. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via UTA) — Brandon McCoy Jr. | G | Michigan

Parker: The Grizzlies have three first-round picks, and while Brandon McCoy is currently out for the season, they can afford a swing on a talent who would be in the mix for the Top 5 if he were healthy. The “combo guard” archetype is among my favorites in the league–players like Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Derrick White. McCoy is an absolute menace on the floor. He’s a pick-six machine with his assertiveness to create turnovers and open-floor speed. He’s a great guard rebounder. He’s comfortable guarding positions 1-3. He needs to build out his offense a bit. His playmaking is behind course for his archetype, but that weakness is mitigated with Boozer’s passing. He’s not a formidable shooter right now, but he’s a reliable two-point scorer–59.1 percent on two-pointers in his pre-NCAA competition, per Cerebro Sports. The Grizzlies haven’t been bashful about adding more physical players that project as upside defensive players, and McCoy fits that bill perfectly.

#14. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via DAL) — Ivan Kharchenkov | F | Arizona

Nick: The Charlotte Hornets wrap up the lottery with one of the biggest sophomore breakout candidates in Ivan Kharchenkov. The exhibition slate for Arizona has made it clear that Kharchenkov will have a much bigger offensive role this season after being a supercharged role player for the Wildcats last season. Kharchenkov’s excellent defense and funky scoring game around the basket were intriguing enough last year, and it will be fascinating to see how he builds on that this coming season. There are also still questions about how much shooting value he will provide, but he is super-efficient inside the arc (58.2% on his two-pointers last season), and he already covers so many gaps as a complementary player; if he can scale up to higher usage well this coming season, he could easily climb much higher in the lottery than #14 by the end of the season.

#15. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS — Motiejus Krivas | C | Arizona

Finn: The Golden State Warriors have put very little emphasis on the center position in the 2020s. Maybe the James Wiseman disaster turned them off, or maybe they’re stuck in the past where an old Zaza Pachulia could be a passable starter, but they’ve been running with a revolving door of role players at the five for most of the decade so far. Heading into 2026-27, they’re rolling with a mysteriously ill Kristaps Porzingis and an ancient Al Horford. Clearly, the Dubs need a staple at center, and Mo Krivas could be exactly that. Krivas is a massively impactful paint presence with adequate feel, and it’s tough to imagine him not being at least an elite backup at the NBA level.

#16. CHARLOTTE HORNETS — Trey McKenney | G | Michigan

Jam: After selecting Ivan Kharchenkov at #14 to close out the lottery, Charlotte grabs another potential plug-and-play piece who has the skill set to impact winning for a long time. After all, McKenney’s ideal NBA role as an off-ball guard with scoring chops and defensive tools is nearly identical to the one he excelled in last season during Michigan’s national championship campaign. McKenney shot 39.1% from distance while flashing his strength and length as a projectable defender. There is a comfortable 3-and-D floor on top of an NBA frame, but there could be more on-ball upside to believe in that could be explored this season at Michigan and become a significant stock booster.

#17. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS — Baba Oladotun | F | Maryland

Corey: Portland takes a high-upside swing, selecting Baba Oladotun out of Maryland with the 17th pick.

Baba is a reclass from the 2027 class, so he’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft at just 18.5 years old on draft night. Baba missed nearly all of his senior season before returning for the final two games and leading his team to a state title, so we haven’t seen much high-leverage basketball from him in a while. That could be masking where he is as a prospect and makes him a potential steal for the Blazers. Oladotun measured 6’10.5” with a 6’11.5” wingspan at the Nike Hoop Summit. He didn’t make a big impact on the game itself, but he had some really impressive moments in practices and the scrimmage that not many players are capable of doing. He’s a super fluid mover at his height who switches across positions defensively, has slick footwork in the paint, an intriguing handle, and shows flashes of quick connective passing. The questions are gonna be the jumper (34.1% on catch-and-shoot looks and 62.9% at the line in EYBL 17U) and his frame. He’s young enough to buy into physical development, but as it stands at just 202 pounds, he can’t consistently finish through contact against stronger dudes, can get stuck on screens, and guys can play through him on drives. He also needs to be more disruptive defensively, as he can be prone to being too stationary off the ball. Still, Portland can take a bet on the upside of a rare blend of size, length, athleticism, and skill.

#18. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (via TOR) — Anthony Thompson | F | Ohio State

Latif: After receiving one of the harshest penalties in NBA history for allegedly circumventing the salary cap, the Clippers will be in no-man’s land for the next half-decade. However, Kawhi Leonard was kind enough to net them two first-round picks from the Raptors as he walked out of the burning building, and in this mock, they use the first to take a swing on versatile forward prospect Anthony Thompson. Thompson can shoot, pass, and defend and shows flashes of being able to put the ball on the floor. However, he needs to get stronger, become more physical, and display a consistent motor. At times, he lacks assertiveness and doesn’t exert his will on games, but if he can turn his tools into consistent production, he won’t be available for the Clippers at this pick.

#19. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via LAL) — Amari Allen | W | Alabama

Parker: The measurements were a letdown with Amari Allen, but he’s still a 6’6” wing that can create off the dribble, make high-level reads while avoiding turnovers, crash the glass, and contribute to a team defense. In Memphis, they like to run these Flow actions that empower their 2s and 3s to run some pick-and-roll. In addition, they like to get out and run. Both of those skills fit with Allen, as a secondary playmaker who crashes the glass at a high level. The shot has to come around this year, and there’s hope since he was a 40% three-point shooter until a catastrophic slump towards the end of the year. Aside from Cedric Coward, they don’t have a lot of creation equity on the wings, so adding a player of Amari Allen’s caliber should keep the offense humming and add more variability to their sets and actions.

#20. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via MIA) — Stefan Vaaks | W | Illinois

Albert: The Charlotte Hornets had an exciting season last season but underwent a major roster overhaul by trading star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This move may not have shocked many, but it will have ramifications for a team that ranked 5th in the league in Offensive Net Rating last season. Without the playmaking and dynamism of LaMelo Ball, the team will lean harder on second-year forward Kon Knueppel, veteran Coby White, and rookie guard Christian Anderson to lead the offense. Kon had an excellent rookie season, and the team should be thrilled with his trajectory. Adding Christian Anderson, with his shooting ability and underrated playmaking, will make them a really interesting watch this upcoming season. That said, adding someone like Stefan Vaaks, who many of us believe could be Illinois’s most important player this season, could be the perfect running mate with Kon and Christian Anderson for the future. Vaaks is a legit jumbo creator, standing 6’7”. He’s also a deadly shooter whose efficiency numbers last season don’t fully reflect how good of a shooter he really is. Vaaks has parking lot range both off the dribble and off the catch. He’s also a savvy and creative playmaker who can competently run your offense.

#21. BROOKLYN NETS (via HOU) — Patrick Ngongba II | C | Duke

Stephen: The Brooklyn Nets are still establishing a pecking order–and even an identity despite the addition of Julius Randle and keeping Michael Porter Jr. Mikel Brown Jr. (who is rumored to miss time) and Egor Demin are the youth pieces that figure to be a huge part of the future for the team, so adding pieces who make sense around them is the smart play. Though he has a recent run of injuries, Patrick Ngonogba II does offer a lot of feel for the big spot, as well as rebounding and help-side protection. There are those who believe that his natural touch around the rim could extend beyond the three-point line–which would be icing on the proverbial cake. He would be an excellent pick-and-roll partner with the initiators of the offense, and would make sense as a short-roll passer for dumpoffs to cutters, or someone who could kick the ball out to the shooters. With Sharpe on the team, there wouldn’t be a huge burden for Ngongba to be an “every-down-back”, so to speak–allowing him to be more of a committee big.

#22. UTAH JAZZ (via CLE) — Billy Richmond III | W | Arkansas

Rucker: After some overhauling and some lottery luck, the Utah Jazz are preparing to be a team that is quickly on the rise ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. It looks as if the Jazz have the pieces in place to start their ascent in the Western Conference. But Utah will still need to look to find some real pieces in their depth. Arkansas junior Billy Richmond III is highly regarded in NBA circles. Richmond is a chaotic energizer bunny on the basketball court who plays on the defensive side of the ball like a ball-hawking NFL safety. He’s a player who stands out with his intangibles and willingness to do the dirty things on the court. Richmond has taken strides with his outside shot since his freshman year, but it’s never going to be his calling card. He’s got a bright future as a connecting-piece Swiss Army knife type of asset who understands how to thrive in his role.

#23. PHOENIX SUNS (via MIN) — Miles Sadler | G | West Virginia

Corey: Phoenix takes a real swing on talent here, selecting Miles Sadler out of West Virginia with the 23rd pick.

Miles Sadler is going to fall victim to the small guard tax and be a contentious draft prospect for that reason, but he could also end up one of the most productive freshmen in the country for the Mountaineers. Sadler measured 6’0” and 170 pounds with a 6’1” wingspan at the Nike Hoop Summit, but he plays bigger than his size. He’s an absolute gamer and a winner who took home the 2026 Chipotle National Championship. While he will walk amongst a talented crop of small draft prospects, he has an elite trait to fall back on in that he is almost always going to be the fastest (and most competitive) player on the floor. He’s so slithery getting into the paint, where he collapses the defense and sprays passes all over the court. He’s also a confident shooter off the bounce who hit 37.3% from three over his career—though he’s more good than great there and probably needs to get to great given the small guard tax. On defense, he’s a freaking pest who will pick up 94 feet and get into the shirts of opposing ball-handlers using his quick hands to swipe and poke balls away. The concerns are very real, though. He’s super turnover-prone, dribbling himself into traffic and taking chances on jump passes without a plan. Also, did I mention he’s small? With a center rotation of Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach, though, Phoenix can afford to bet on Sadler’s speed, skill, and pedigree.

#24. DETROIT PISTONS — Austin Goosby | G | Texas

Stephen: The identity of the Detroit Pistons is largely attached to defense and, to be brutally honest, attitude. While this makes for some fun in terms of scrums and old-school nostalgia, the long-standing issue on this team has been a lack of help for Cade Cunningham on the offensive end. Drafting with the 24th pick doesn’t typically result in the best second bananas, but Austin Goosby does offer some scoring relief–and he’s available here! Goosby does show some signs of being a professional bucket-getter, with Cerebro crediting him as a career 36.4% shooter across 71 tracked games. He’s also fairly athletic and shows some defensive juice to him–which would fit the identity of Detroit. He isn’t the tallest athlete but, being listed at 6’5”, he should fare well in a backcourt with Cade.

#25. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via DEN) — Sammy Jackson | G | VCU

Albert: Sammy Jackson might be my favorite player in the country. I didn’t say I thought he was the best player; he’s just my favorite. Jackson is so much fun to watch because he’s the ultimate hooper’s hooper. This dude genuinely enjoys playing team basketball; he loves finding his teammates for open looks. Jackson’s teammates are going to love moving off ball because they’ll know the ball will find them as long as they’re getting open. Jackson is a wildly creative passer who has a wide array of passes in his bag. Jackson loves a hook pass, can manipulate defenses with his eyes, and hit beautiful no-look passes anywhere on the floor. As fun as his creative passing is, I love Jackson’s game so much because he is consistent in the mundane. He throws passes with real accuracy, anticipation, and great timing. Like an elite quarterback, Jackson can make the boring look spectacular and can make the spectacular look boring. All of this is more exciting because he’s a solid 6’7” and comes equipped with a smooth shooting stroke. We know how much the Thunder value guys with feel, and the fact that he can shoot and has good size makes him an easy pick for them at this range in the draft.

#26. PHILADELPHIA 76ers — Na’Jai Hines | C | UConn

Parker: The 76ers have needed a backup center since the beginning of Joel Embiid’s superstar ascension. Centers have come and gone from Philadelphia, but the need persists, especially after Ariel Hukporti tore his Achilles. While a first-round pick won’t solve their problems this season, it’s an opportunity to strike on quality depth for the medium term. Hines checks a lot of boxes as a big man. His rim influence is absurd as he inhales rebounds and swats shots at a high clip. He’s an effective play-finisher as well. These strengths should only be amplified in Dan Hurley’s system, where his rebounding, screening, rim protection, and cutting will be highlighted to a degree. He still has to prove he can handle a starter’s workload–from a collegiate standpoint–while also cutting down on his fouls. However, he has all the makings of a draft riser with his frame and analytical profile. For the Sixers, he can answer their outstanding question for a backup big man who has the upside to be a starting center answer in the long term.

#27. BOSTON CELTICS — Braylon Mullins | G | UConn

Rucker: No team has done as good a job lately in terms of developing talent as the Boston Celtics. In this exercise, Boston sprints to the podium to add another intriguing asset to the roster in UConn sophomore Braylon Mullins. On potential and tools alone, Mullins could be a name that finds himself ending up in the Top 10 for the 2027 NBA Draft class. But there’s going to be plenty of evaluators who want to “see it” after an up-and-down showing throughout his freshman campaign. Much of that was due to Mullins’s delayed debut from a preseason injury. The expectation is that Mullins will have all of the opportunity to showcase his skills during his sophomore campaign. If he can deliver early on, he will become a popular riser. For now, Boston adds another floor-spacing asset with a good feel for the game and intriguing defensive tools.

#28. BROOKLYN NETS (via NYK) — Alijah Arenas | G | USC

Finn: Things are trending upward for the rebuilding Nets, but they’re still missing that blue-chip player to take the reins and lead the team back into firm playoff contention. Mikel Brown Jr. could be that guy, or maybe it could be Alijah Arenas, whose ceiling may be meaningfully higher than that of most prospects available this late in the first round. Arenas had quite the shaky freshman year with USC, and picking him is definitely a gamble. However, it’s a bet Brooklyn can afford to take—especially because if it hits, it will hit big.

#29. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via SAS) — Hugo Yimga Moukouri | F | Nanterre 92

Owen: There haven’t been many — if any — teams in the history of basketball that have been able to take the kind of coordinated draft swings that the Thunder have. The luxury of having an influx of picks in every draft means that sometimes, you can afford to take a swing on the “boom-or-bust” prospect. Hugo Yimga Moukouri may not fit that traditional bill of a “boom-or-bust” guy, as he already possesses the ability to win by utilizing traits like strength, touch, and footwork. That said, an underdeveloped array of ancillary skills, which includes but is not limited to a history of poor assist numbers and stock rates, suggests Yimga has a bit of work to do before he can contribute positive minutes on an NBA floor. That said, his rapid developmental trajectory, which by all accounts is fueled by his own work ethic, on top of the right situation, could create the perfect storm for us to look back on Yimga Moukouri as the steal of the draft in a handful of years.

#30. TORONTO RAPTORS (via OKC) — Dame Sarr | W | Duke

Nick: The Toronto Raptors close out the first round by picking up Duke super-defender Dame Sarr. The case for Sarr is pretty simple: he was one of the best defenders in college basketball last season, and he shot just under 40% on his corner threes last year. The offense outside of his corner shooting is a work in progress, to be sure, but his remarkable point-of-attack defense at 6’8” would give Darko Rajakovic yet another weapon to improve what was already a Top 5 defense by Defensive Rating last season. If Sarr can show just a touch more offensively this season, his draft stock could soar; even if he doesn’t, though, his defensive acumen is special enough for him to stick around in the NBA for many years to come.

SECOND ROUND

#31. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Tounde Yessoufou | G | St. John’s

#32. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via BKN) — Thomas Haugh | F | Florida

#33. MILWAUKEE BUCKS — Obinna Ekezie Jr. | C | Louisville

#34. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via NOLA) — Cameron Williams | F | Duke

#35. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via CHI) — Tyler Tanner | G | Vanderbilt

#36. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via MEM) — Cameron Houindo | F | Cedevita Olimpija

#37. UTAH JAZZ (via LAC) — Shelton Henderson | F | Miami

#38. NEW YORK KNICKS (via WAS) — Rueben Chinyelu | C | Florida

#39. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (via DAL) — Tajh Ariza | F | Oregon

#40. INDIANA PACERS (via UTA) — Bryson Howard | G | Duke

#41. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via PHX) — Pryce Sandfort | F | Nebraska

#42. SACRAMENTO KINGS (via CHA) — Alex Condon | F/C | Florida

#43. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via GSW) — Jason Crowe Jr. | G | Missouri

#44. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS — Dylan Mingo | G | Baylor

#45. ATLANTA HAWKS — Davis Fogle | G | Gonzaga

#46. UTAH JAZZ (via ORL) — Deron Rippey Jr. | G | Duke

#47. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via IND) — Dash Daniels | G |

#48. TORONTO RAPTORS — JJ Andrews | F | Arkansas

#49. BROOKLYN NETS (via LAL) — Juke Harris | G | Tennessee

#50. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via MIA) — Miikka Muurinen | F | Arkansas

#51. NEW YORK KNICKS (via HOU) — Isaiah Johnson | G | Texas

#52. CHICAGO BULLS (via CLE) — Juni Mobley Jr. | G | Ohio State

#53. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (via MIN) — Drew Scharnowski | F/C | Duke

#54. DETROIT PISTONS — Amani Hansberry | F | Virginia Tech

#55. UTAH JAZZ (via DEN) — Malachi Moreno | C | Kentucky

#56. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Jeremy Fears Jr. | G | Michigan State

#57. PHOENIX SUNS (via BOS) — Flory Bidunga | F | Louisville

#58. NEW YORK KNICKS — Xavier Edmonds | F | TCU

#59. SAN ANTONIO SPURS — Milan Momcilovic | F | Kentucky

#60. MIAMI HEAT (via OKC) — David Mirkovic | F | Illinois