The 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup went about how it almost always does. Team USA cruised to a gold medal behind a 7-0 record and massive point differential to extend the program’s all-time record to 58-0 and its eighth straight gold medal. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje walked away with MVP honors as he was shockingly dominant across the board and broke the tournament’s rebounding record. Boumtje Boumtje wasn’t the only standout, though, as Beckham Black, CJ Rosser, NaVorro Bowman Jr, and others had tremendous tournaments for Team USA along with plenty of other meaningful showings from guys like Nikola Kusturica, Luke Paul, Omer Kutluay, and more.

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Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje – USA – F/C – Duke Commit (2026)

Given the numbers that he put up, it’s no surprise that Boumtje Boumtje earned the tournament MVP. For pretty much every minute that he was on the floor, he was too big, strong, and powerful for anyone to deal with. At first, it looked like Boumtje Boumtje’s success was solely derived from his power. It felt like, “oh great, another brutish big from Team USA.” That skepticism didn’t last long at all, though, as Boumtje Boumtje quickly showed his agility, shooting, defensive versatility, and passing. Don’t get me wrong, a ton of Boumtje Boumtje’s production comes from the insane level of physicality he plays with, but he isn’t reliant on it. The fact that he’s going to be a two-year college player, starting this coming season for Duke, makes his developmental curve fascinating. The biggest area that Boumtje Boumtje left me wanting more was with his shot creation. He had plenty of powerful drives, but everything was in a straight line with minimal bend or change of pace. It’s a nitpick because he may never really be asked to play that way, but if people are going to start throwing around Cam Boozer comps, then I’m going to need to see his on-ball creation take a leap. Aside from that nitpick, Boumtje Boumtje was a dominant and versatile play finisher, an explosive at-rim finisher, and showed a ton of positional skill. Defensively, he protected the rim, moved pretty well in space, jumped passing lanes, and singlehandedly controlled the boards. The main area for improvement for me is his defensive consistency in space. He would go through spurts of playing way too upright with slow feet. It wasn’t a glaring issue, just something that’d continue to take his game to a ridiculous level.

Beckham Black – USA – G – Uncommitted (2027)

I promise it’s not hyperbole when I say that Beckham Black looked like a superstar in the making in this tournament. He looked like the exact type of point guard that’ll eventually go top five in his draft. The way that he controlled the offense and effortlessly created whatever he wanted was shockingly polished. He did a great job of having the ball on a string, changing pace, and playing off of both feet. He finished with finesse, power, and through contact while also having games where he was scorching hot from outside. When you combine his scoring versatility with his defensive playmaking and playmaking creativity, it’s easy to understand why he’s the top-ranked recruit in his class. The biggest thing for Black to work on going forward is his consistency. It’s tough to put too much weight on this as most of the games were blowouts, so some lax decision-making and execution at times is understandable. If Black’s defense, ball security, and shooting were consistent every game, though, he could’ve easily walked away with the MVP instead of Boumtje Boumtje.

NaVorro Bowman Jr. – USA – G – Uncommitted (2027)

NaVorro Bowman wasn’t the most dominant player in this tournament, but he was one of my favorites. While some aspects of his game were pretty inconsistent, his defense was elite throughout. He was an absolute menace defending on the ball, showcasing quick feet, quick hands, and good physicality. Away from the ball, Bowman was attentive on rotations, versatile with switches, and more than eager to jump passing lanes to turn defense into offense. Offensively, Bowman is currently at his best in the open court where he can maximize his quickness and aggressiveness. In the halfcourt, though, is where we saw more of his inconsistencies arise. He was at his best when he was acting as an off-ball guard who played simple and made quick decisions. There were plenty of flashes of scoring versatility and intelligent passing reads. When he tried to take on more of a creator role, though, his ball security and on-ball shooting struggles were amplified. Bowman’s foundation of an incredibly high-motor guard with elite defense and promising off-ball creation is enticing enough. As his ball security and on-ball creation improve, though, his overall stock and impact are going to skyrocket.

CJ Rosser – USA – F – Uncommitted (2027)

CJ Rosser’s steady growth throughout this tournament was so much fun to watch. Every game he seemed to get a little more comfortable and add a little more to his game. Currently, Rosser looks at his best as a 3-and-D wing, but that is underselling how high his upside is. Rosser regularly showed off a reliable spot-up jumper but continued to implement more movement shooting, off-ball scoring versatility, and off-ball creation as each game passed. By the finals, Rosser was easily one of the most impactful and versatile players on the court. His handle needs to continue to get tighter, but it’s fine in the open court and as an off-ball creator. I also loved some of the connective passing reads that he consistently executed that proved that he’s much more than just a scorer. Where Rosser’s confidence really popped, though, was on defense. He has good fundamentals and instincts that pair tremendously with his size and length. Rosser shut down drives, switched consistently, was active off the ball, and proved to be a reliable weak side rim protector. He profiles like the exact type of wing that we consistently see go in the top 10 in every draft.

Cayden Daughtry – USA – G – Uncommitted (2027)

Cayden Daughtry has been on a tear recently, and this tournament isn’t an exception. What stood out the most with Daughtry’s game was his defense, transition offense, and playmaking. In pretty much every game, Daughtry was super disruptive on defense coming off the bench. He got into ball handlers, showed off his quickness, and capitalized on lazy ball security. Daughtry also was solid on the boards, which gave him another avenue to thrive in the open court. Team USA typically dominates these tournaments because of their athleticism and ability to ramp up the pace and pressure. Daughtry was a big catalyst for this all tournament as his transition offense was fantastic. He made some high-level playmaking reads, proved he could make the simple pass, and got plenty of buckets for himself. I wish we would’ve gotten a little more from Daughtry in terms of running the halfcourt offense, but given his role coming off the bench against second units, he did a tremendous job of buying into his role and capitalizing on their glaring advantage with depth.

Jordan Page – USA – G – Uncommitted (2027)

Jordan Page didn’t put up crazy numbers, but I adore how he approaches the game. Page almost never forced the issue or focused on filling up his own numbers. Instead, he constantly did the little things, filled in where needed, and played winning basketball. It was the exact type of impact and mentality that coaches and fans will fall in love with. He played fantastic all-around defense, proved to be an intelligent and versatile passer, and showed off some fun scoring versatility. He wasn’t one of the flashier performers, but he played some of the most consistent winning basketball.

Nikola Kusturica – Serbia – F – UCLA Commit (2026)

Nikola Kusturica was one of the biggest storylines from this tournament as he led the scoring charge for Serbia throughout. Kusturica showed tremendous versatility from start to finish, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 60.8% from two and 26% from three (on 7.1 attempts). The biggest standout in Kusturica’s game was his offensive aggressiveness. He was fantastic getting to the rim. He was active without the ball, physical on drives, and didn’t struggle to finish with power or finesse. While his handle wasn’t overly dynamic, he did showcase some functional wiggle, burst, and physicality on his drive. Once he tightens up his handle just a little bit, he’s going to be a nasty slasher. Kusturica also showed some intriguing passing upside, but his consistency and accuracy left a lot to be desired. There’s certainly a lot to be unlocked there, but I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as a strength right now. The biggest question about Kusturica’s offense is his jumper. He started the tournament off with a few scorching hot games, but his efficiency plummeted as the games continued. I love the variety and volume of his attempts, but there are some very real mechanical issues. Kusturica has a nasty hitch at the top of his shot, he brings the ball across his face from left to right, and he has some aggressive knee collapse on his load up. Defensively, Kusturica’s fundamentals need some fine-tuning, but he is super competitive, active, disruptive, and covers a ton of ground. Heading to UCLA next year, Kusturica should hopefully be able to make a positive impact pretty quickly with his slashing, off-ball movement, transition offense, defense, and rebounding. His shot needs work, and hopefully he doesn’t fall into the same pitfalls we’ve seen from numerous international prospects who’ve gone to UCLA in recent years.

Matija Lukic – Serbia – F

Matija Lukic was one of the more intriguing and effective off-ball wings in the entire tournament as he averaged 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 60% from two and 41.9% from three on 6.1 attempts. Lukic was at his best as a spot-up shooter with a smooth, consistent release. What made him stand out, though, was his off-ball activity and ability to attack closeouts. Lukic moved well without the ball and regularly got paint touches on drives where he’d finish it off himself or make a nice pass to a teammate. Lukic struggled when he tried to create on the ball as his handle, burst, and wiggle were underwhelming. As a secondary creator, though, Lukic was significantly more effective and comfortable. Whether it was through his off-ball creation, shooting, or team defense, Lukic consistently stood out in every game by making winning plays.

Luke Paul – Australia – G

Paul came into this tournament as Australia’s headline name — the youngest player ever to sign an NBL Next Stars contract — and the tape showed exactly why, alongside exactly what still needs to sharpen up. Paul was incredibly fun for the vast majority of the tournament. His shot, from both on-ball and off-ball situations, looked really pretty. My only complaint about it was how low his volume was. He needs to let that thing fly way more frequently, but he also needs to speed up his release to do so. The highlight of Paul’s game, though, is his passing. He has tremendous vision and is very accurate as a passer. Despite not being an overwhelming athlete, Paul regularly got paint touches that he used to create for others. He was a true three-level playmaker. Unfortunately, Paul had two of his worst games against the two best teams he faced in USA and Serbia. Against lesser competition, Paul’s athleticism wasn’t an issue as his change of pace/direction, craft, and IQ were enough. Against USA and Serbia, though, his inability to create space and easy looks on the ball was exacerbated, as were his defensive limitations. Paul had a tremendous tournament and thinks the game at a very high level. He still has a steep mountain to climb, though, especially if he continues to be a low-volume shooter.

Omer Kutluay – Turkey – G

Omer Kutluay was one of the most fun offensive engines in this entire tournament. He wasn’t immune to some overdribbling and questionable decision-making, but I chalk most of that up to the insane offensive load he had to carry. Kutluay was one of the most creative and shiftiest on-ball creators in the tournament. His handle, creativity, and change of pace/direction allowed him to get wherever he wanted whenever he wanted. This led to dynamic scoring outbursts and stellar playmaking reads. It’d be fascinating to see what he looks like in a context that doesn’t demand that he creates everything, but I am a little skeptical about what his game looks like when the responsibilities are scaled down. The plus side, though, is that he proved he can handle that level of creation demand. Kutluay also showed some promise as a defender. He wasn’t very physical and struggled navigating screens, but he had good instincts and was disruptive in passing lanes.

Nathan Soliman – France – F

Nathan Soliman, along with the rest of this French team, was unfortunately one of the biggest disappointments of this tournament. Coming into it, I was very excited to see Soliman’s two-way impact and athleticism. Unfortunately, we didn’t get much of it at all. Soliman had two monster games against Canada and Italy, two solid ones against USA and China, and was largely invisible against Japan, Turkey, and Lithuania. Offensively, Soliman was at his best attacking the rim. He was a physical driver with some encouraging pop on his first step and above-the-rim finishing. He was also very good on the boards for most of the tournament while also incorporating some impressive defensive flashes. My biggest issue, though, was Soliman’s consistency as he frequently disappeared from games. He didn’t show much on-ball creation or playmaking. His defense was super inconsistent too as he too frequently floated, lost track of his man, and just went through the motions. There’s clearly a very solid two-way wing lurking there, but he has a lot of work to do to unlock his full potential.

Messi Yangala – France – F

The player I came away the most impressed with on France’s team was Messi Yangala. He was very solid cutting, finishing around the rim, and rebounding. I also loved his defensive versatility. He has very intriguing athletic tools and doesn’t struggle to move in space. Unfortunately, he doesn’t shoot, and his ball skills need substantial work. For most bigs, that’s not uncommon or that big of an issue. The problem, though, is that Yangala is listed at 6’7”. That’s tough. Hopefully he has an incoming growth spurt or massive developmental leap, but I was intrigued with his foundation.

Quick Hits

· Asa Montgomery – F – USA Uncommitted (2027): Montgomery was an interesting two-way role player. He played strong defense, was physically imposing, and proved to be a mismatch nightmare. There wasn’t much on-ball creation, but his off-ball impact was impressive.

· Erick Dampier Jr. – C – USA Uncommitted (2028): Dampier being one of the youngest players in the tournament is pretty exciting. He clearly has a high feel for the game, which is evident in the advanced passing reads he consistently made. Other than his passing, the rest of his game was pretty inconsistent with scoring, defense, and athletic limitations. He’s a very fun name to keep an eye on long term, especially if he can improve his foot speed and scoring consistency.

· Nathan Djako- G – Cote d’Ivoire: Djako was pretty fun defensively. His offense left a lot to be desired, but his 3.7 steals per game with 4.9 rebounds was a fun combination.

· Antonio Browne – G – Australia: Browne was super fun. He’s shifty and funky and constantly pops on the film. Unfortunately, that’s for both good and bad reasons. For every flashy drive, three-point make, or creative assist, he followed it up with an avoidable turnover, questionable shot, and chaotic energy. Brown is fun, but he has to tone down the chaos in his game.

· John Aryang – F – Australia: Aryang is super raw, but he has some intriguing tools. He was at his best attacking the rim in transition or off the ball. He had some good defensive moments too. His handle, passing reads, and shooting mechanics (push release way out in front of his face) need a good amount of work, though.

· Darius Karutasu – F – Turkey: Karutasu was a crucial off-ball scorer and rebounder for Turkey. He had some massive scoring outbursts with his play finishing versatility. Unfortunately, it looks like there may be some athleticism limitations, but he was a very fun stretch four.

· Lun Jarc – F – Slovenia: Jarc ended up with some really impressive averages (18, 6.8, and 3.5), but they didn’t seem to reflect his actual impact. Jarc struggled to create much of anything on the ball, was inconsistent with his shot, and struggled with fouls at times. Despite all of this, there were a lot of really encouraging signs of him growing into a stretch four with quality connective and complementary skills on both ends of the floor.

· Jakob Siftar – G – Slovenia: Siftar was by far at his best in an off-ball role. He struggled with scoring consistency and on-ball creation. However, his cutting, his ability to attack close outs, and his secondary creation were a bright spot in his game.

· Jayden Cecil – G – New Zealand: Cecil was one of the most electric scorers in the entire tournament, averaging 29.9 points while shooting 48.1% from two and 38.3% from three. Cecil struggled with ball security, defensive consistency, and finishing through contact, but he had a massive scoring load and showed off some insane scoring versatility and volume all tournament.

· Gabrielius Buivydas – G – Lithuania: Buivydas was inconsistent, especially with his shot and ball security, but he had some incredibly fun games. He was good getting to the rim, grabbing rebounds, and showed some really creative playmaking. He struggled with physicality and ball security, but I’m excited to see how his game grows.

Share No Ceilings

Restricted free agency has a way of making everyone sound more certain than they really are. The team points to the market and argues that the player has not received the contract he believes he deserves. The player points to his production, his age, and the contracts already handed out around the league—or even inside his own locker room. Fans usually settle on one number, decide whether it is too high or too low, and treat the entire situation as though one side must be acting irrationally.

Peyton Watson’s current situation with the Denver Nuggets is more complicated than that. Watson is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in just under 30 minutes per game while shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from three. At 23 years old, he looked less like an interesting long-term project and more like a player Denver could reasonably expect to start during the next stage of Nikola Jokic’s career.

He also remains unsigned deep into restricted free agency.

Denver reportedly offered Watson approximately five years and $70 million. Watson is now giving serious consideration to playing next season on his roughly $6.5 million qualifying offer, which would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. That possibility arrived just as the Nuggets matched the two-year, $12 million offer sheet Spencer Jones signed with Oklahoma City, a decision that pushed Denver above the second apron and reportedly increased its projected luxury-tax payment from about $36 million to $68 million.

There are several reasonable ways to react to all of this. Watson can believe he has earned more than Denver offered. The Nuggets can believe one strong season doesn’t guarantee that every part of his improvement will continue. Denver can also want Watson back while recognizing that his next contract may force the organization to change another part of the roster.

All of those things can be true at once, which is what makes this less of a debate about Watson’s exact salary and more of a test of how Denver has managed the young players around Jokic.

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Watson Became a Much More Interesting Player

Watson has always made sense as an idea. He entered the NBA with the length, athleticism, and defensive range teams look for in a modern forward. At roughly 6’8”, he can cover ground quickly, challenge shots from the weak side, and recover into plays most wings would have already lost. There have been possessions throughout his career where Watson looked capable of becoming the type of defender a playoff team could move around depending on the matchup.

The problem was never imagining what he could do defensively. The problem was building enough offense around it.

That matters because defensive potential only carries so much value if the player creates problems for his own team on the other end. Playoff defenses are too prepared and too willing to ignore limited offensive players. If a wing cannot make an open shot, attack a hard closeout, or move the ball before the advantage disappears, his defender becomes free to crowd the paint, bother a primary creator, or help somewhere else (see Dyson Daniels and Ausar Thompson at times in this past postseason for their respective teams).

Denver has already experienced the value of players who understand how to function around Jokic. The offense doesn’t require every teammate to create his own shot; however, it does require players to recognize space, cut at the correct time, make quick decisions, and punish the openings Jokic creates. Watson began doing more of that last season.

The three-point shooting is the most obvious improvement, and it’s also the part of the evaluation that requires the most care. Watson reached that 41.1% number on 3.6 attempts per game after shooting 35.3% on two attempts per game the previous season. One year doesn’t give us enough evidence to assume he is now one of the league’s better shooters, but the improvement was large enough to change the way defenses had to treat him.

Watson increased his scoring from 8.1 to 14.6 points per game, nearly doubled his free-throw attempts, and raised his overall shot volume from 6.3 to 10.8 field-goal attempts per game without losing efficiency.

That is a more important development than the three-point percentage by itself. There is a difference between a low-usage player converting a small number of open opportunities and a young wing maintaining good efficiency while being asked to create more of his own offense. Watson was still operating as a supporting player, but Denver began using him as more than a cutter, transition finisher, and weak-side option.

The important part was not that more shots went in. Watson looked more willing to take them, and defenders had to respond differently. Once a closeout arrives with more urgency, Watson can use his first step and long strides to get into the paint. That gives him chances to finish, draw help, or make the next pass.

He still needs to improve that last part. Watson can beat the first defender, but sometimes rushes the decision that follows. His handle is better, but it can still become loose in traffic. His turnovers increased as his role grew, which is not unusual for a young player taking on more responsibility, but does show where the next stage of his development needs to come.

That’s not a major concern if the rest of his game continues to move in the right direction. Watson does not need to develop into a primary option for his next contract to work. He needs to become reliable enough that his defender can’t ignore him and skilled enough to make a simple play when the ball finds him. If he can make open threes at a respectable rate, attack a shifting defense, finish above the rim, and improve the speed of his reads, his offense will be more than good enough to support what he provides defensively.

The defensive evaluation also deserves more detail than simply calling Watson versatile. His length gives him unusual recovery room, especially when helping from the weak side. He can meet players around the rim without being planted in the paint, and there are larger forwards he can bother in ways Denver’s smaller perimeter defenders cannot.

Watson blocked 4.9% of opposition two-point attempts while he was on the floor, placing him near the top of his position in block rate. That is unusual for a wing and helps explain why his defensive value can extend beyond whichever player he is guarding. He can rotate from the corner, challenge a drive after appearing out of the play, or provide an additional layer of rim protection when Denver plays smaller lineups.

Again, we can’t call Watson a “complete defender” yet. Watson can chase the highlight instead of finishing the possession. He still needs to improve his defensive rebounding and become more dependable with his positioning away from the ball. There are moments when he makes up for a mistake with athleticism, which is useful, but the next step is avoiding some of those mistakes in the first place.

That distinction becomes important when discussing his contract. Denver is not being asked to pay Watson because he has already become one of the league’s best two-way wings. The Nuggets are being asked to pay for a player whose offensive efficiency, shotmaking, defensive playmaking, and ability to handle a larger role all moved forward at the same time.

The improvement was not limited to a few additional points per game. Watson became more useful across the board offensively, which is one of the hardest forms of growth to find in a young supporting player.

That would be difficult enough to price without Christian Braun’s contract sitting in the middle of the conversation.

Braun Is the Comparison, Even When He Isn’t

Christian Braun and Peyton Watson are not the same player. Braun is the steadier option right now. He is stronger against guards and can spend more time handling the point of attack. He runs the floor, cuts hard, rebounds, finishes extremely well inside the arc, and generally understands how to contribute without asking Denver to change its offense for him.

There is real value in that, and Braun has also played meaningful postseason basketball. He was part of Denver’s 2023 championship rotation and became a full-time starter before receiving a five-year, $125 million extension in October 2025. He earned that deal after averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 39.7% from three during the 2024–25 season. His production fell to 12.0 points per game across 44 appearances last season, and his three-point percentage dropped to 30.1%.

That decline doesn’t automatically make the extension a mistake. Braun was coming off a strong season, had already proven he could fit around Denver’s stars, and was entering the years when teams normally expect a player to continue improving. It would be unfair to judge the entire decision only through the season that followed.

The difference between Braun and Watson is easier to understand when looking beyond scoring. Braun generally plays with less offensive risk. He makes quicker decisions, turns the ball over less often, cuts naturally around Jokic, and can contribute without needing many possessions directed toward him. That reliability is valuable on a team whose best lineups are built around Jokic and Jamal Murray controlling most of the offense.

Watson offers a different kind of value. He finished last season with a higher block rate, more free-throw pressure, and greater responsibility creating his own scoring opportunities. Braun is better equipped to keep an already good possession moving. Watson has shown more potential to rescue a possession after the first option breaks down.

Denver needs both types of players, particularly because its strengths and weaknesses are so clearly separated. The Nuggets finished 54–28 while leading the NBA in scoring at 122.1 points per game. Their offensive rating was 122.6 points per 100 possessions, placing them near the top of the league. They also ranked only 21st in points allowed and remained a below-average defensive team across several broader team measures.

That context helps explain Watson’s value. Denver doesn’t need another player who requires the ball on every possession. It needs wings who can survive next to Jokic offensively while giving the defense more size, ground coverage, and room for error.

Braun provides more resistance at the point of attack. Watson provides more help around the rim and a greater ability to cover mistakes from the weak side. Braun is better at staying inside the structure of a possession. Watson can make plays outside of it.

That does not make one player clearly better. It makes them useful in different ways. The question is whether Denver thought far enough beyond Braun when it committed.

Watson and Braun were selected in the same draft. They developed at the same time. They occupied many of the same wing minutes, even though they offered different strengths. Both were approaching new contracts while Jokic, Murray, and Aaron Gordon already carried much of Denver’s payroll.

Their contract situations were always going to affect each other. Once Braun received $125 million, Watson had an obvious comparison inside his own organization. Denver could explain that Braun had played more, started longer, contributed to a championship, and offered a more dependable role. Watson’s representatives could answer that their client was younger, had just taken a larger offensive step, shot better last season, and possessed a physical ceiling Braun could not match.

Neither argument is ridiculous, and that’s exactly why Denver should’ve expected difficult negotiations.

Watson’s side doesn’t need to prove he’s already better than Braun. It only needs to ask why the difference between them should be worth tens of millions of dollars. Denver doesn’t need to argue that Watson is not valuable. It only needs to explain why one breakout season should not immediately place him in Braun’s contract range.

The Nuggets may be correct that Watson is worth less than $25 million per season. They also made that position harder to defend when they agreed to Braun’s contract first.

This is where contract discussions often become too focused on whether a player is “worth” a certain amount in isolation. A contract doesn’t exist by itself. It impacts future negotiations, changes the way other players view their roles, and determines how much money remains for the rest of the roster.

Denver may have reached a fair number with Braun while failing to leave itself a clean answer for Watson.

The Nuggets had other options before this point, although none came without risk. They could’ve tried to extend Watson before his breakout. He may have rejected a smaller offer and chosen to bet on himself. Denver may not have been comfortable committing meaningful money before the shooting and offensive development appeared. There is no guarantee an agreement was available.

But that conversation should have been part of a larger plan. How much was Denver willing to spend on both wings? Which player did it believe had the better long-term fit? Was there a number at which keeping both would become too expensive? If so, when was the best time to make that choice?

Those questions did not begin this summer. They only became more expensive this summer.

Restricted Free Agency Doesn’t Always Find a Fair Price

The lack of a major outside offer for Watson will be used as proof that Denver’s current proposal is close to his true value. That is not necessarily how restricted free agency works.

An unrestricted free agent can negotiate with every team that has the money and interest to sign him. A restricted free agent is negotiating against a market that knows his current team can match the offer, and that changes the entire process.

A team may believe Watson is worth $20 million per season but have no interest in tying up its cap space only for Denver to keep him. Another team may need a sign-and-trade but may not value Watson enough to send Denver draft compensation. A third may like Watson but lack the right contracts to make the deal work.

Denver’s second-apron position creates more problems. Teams above that line face major limits on the trades they can make and the tools they can use to add players. That doesn’t make a Watson sign-and-trade impossible, but it makes a simple two-team deal less likely.

This is why a quiet restricted market doesn’t always mean there is no demand for the player. Sometimes there is no clean way to act on the demand.

Watson’s qualifying offer gives him a way out of that market, but it comes with real risk. He would give up the protection of a long-term contract and return for one season knowing that an injury, a drop in his shooting, or a smaller role could hurt his value. He would also become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

That may be worth the gamble if Watson believes Denver is asking him to accept a discount based more on the team’s financial problems than his basketball value.

From Denver’s side, the qualifying offer would solve very little. The Nuggets would keep Watson for another season and maintain the best possible roster in the short term, but they could enter next summer with no matching rights and no return if he leaves. The team would also be paying heavily for that one season.

The NBA set the 2026–27 salary cap at $164.961 million, with the first apron at $209.015 million and the second apron at $221.686 million. Denver moved above the second apron after matching Jones’s offer sheet, before resolving Watson’s contract.

The tax bill matters, but the basketball restrictions matter more. A team above the second apron has fewer ways to improve. Trades become more difficult. Useful exceptions disappear. Future draft flexibility can eventually be impacted. Those rules are designed to make it harder for expensive teams to keep adding talent without giving something up.

Denver should be willing to spend around Jokic. He is one of the best players the league has ever seen, and every year of his prime gives Denver a real chance to compete for another championship. Ownership should not treat the luxury tax as a reason to weaken a contender simply for the sake of lowering the bill.

But spending aggressively is not the same as spending without a plan.

A high tax payment can be justified if it preserves the right roster. The concern is whether Denver can pay Braun, Watson, and the rest of its core while still having enough options to fix problems later.

Watson and Braun can play together. Their games are not completely repetitive. Braun gives Denver more stability against guards and in transition. Watson offers more size, length, and rim protection. Braun fits more naturally into a smaller offensive role. Watson has a better chance to grow into someone who can create a little more for himself.

The issue is not whether their skills fit. The issue is how much of Denver’s money should be committed to those skills.

If Watson receives somewhere around $18 million to $21 million per season, he and Braun would combine to make more than $40 million annually. Denver would still have major salaries committed to Jokic, Murray, Gordon, and Cameron Johnson while trying to maintain depth at every position.

That may still be the right decision. Good two-way wings are expensive because every team needs them. Denver cannot simply assume it will replace Watson’s defense and development with a minimum signing or a late draft pick.

Denver’s overall team profile also makes that replacement harder. The Nuggets already had one of the league’s best offenses while protecting the ball at an elite rate. They didn’t need Watson to transform them into a functional scoring team. His greater value came from helping Denver place more size and athleticism around Jokic without giving away the offensive end. Denver ranked first in turnover percentage among NBA teams, and Watson’s improvement as a shooter made it easier to play him without damaging one of the roster’s greatest strengths.

The concern is on the other side. Denver finished with a strong regular-season record and elite offensive production despite a defense that remained closer to the bottom third of the league than the top. Watson’s ability to block shots, cover larger wings, and provide help away from the ball addresses an area where the Nuggets have less margin for error.

That doesn’t mean Watson alone fixes Denver’s defense. His rebounding and consistency remain part of the problem, and the Nuggets still need better defensive results from the group as a whole. It does mean his value to Denver may be greater than his traditional scoring average suggests.

The Nuggets also need ball-handling behind Murray. They need enough frontcourt support to survive minutes without Jokic. They need shooting and lineup options. They need some way to react if an injury or playoff matchup reveals a problem in February that was not obvious in July.

Every dollar doesn’t have equal value once a team reaches the apron. The contract paid to Watson may be fair, while the total cost of carrying it could still force Denver to give something up elsewhere.

That is why I land on Watson’s value being below Braun’s contract while still believing Denver should make a serious effort to keep Watson.

A deal between roughly $17.5 million and $21 million per season feels fair based on what Watson has shown. That range pays him as a good young wing with a chance to become a long-term starter without assuming the 41.1% three-point shooting is guaranteed to hold or that the remaining parts of his game are already finished.

Denver’s reported five-year, $70 million offer is at the bottom of that range. It is not insulting. There is a reasonable basketball case for the number, and Watson also has a reasonable case for wanting more.

The Nuggets could stretch toward four years and $80 million—or slightly beyond it—if doing so allows them to keep a valuable young player through the rest of his development. They would need to enter that agreement knowing another move is likely coming, rather than signing Watson and hoping the rest of the roster somehow remains untouched.

That is the part Denver should have planned before now.

Which salary is movable? What would the team lose on the court? What draft compensation would it take? Is the money saved worth the player sent out?

Cameron Johnson could eventually become the most obvious larger contract to move, but trading him would cost Denver shooting and forward size. Trading Braun soon after his extension would be a dramatic reversal, particularly after a down season. Moving Gordon would damage one of the most important basketball partnerships on the roster. Smaller moves may reduce the tax without creating enough room to solve the larger issue.

There is no painless answer because the painless version of this situation would have required Denver to settle some of these questions earlier.

If Watson and the Nuggets cannot find a long-term number, Denver should continue looking for a sign-and-trade. The best return would likely involve draft value, a cheaper young player, or as little incoming salary as possible. The second apron makes that difficult and may require a third team, but losing Watson next summer for nothing would be a poor result after four years of development.

If Watson chooses the qualifying offer, Denver should keep him. Giving away a good young player just to lower the immediate bill would make the team worse during another important Jokic season.

But Denver cannot treat the qualifying offer as a victory. It would buy one more year, not solve the problem.

Watson is worth keeping because of what he has become and what he still may become. His defense gives Denver options. His shooting and ability with the ball finally gave the offense somewhere to go. At 23 years old, there is enough left to explore that walking away would carry its own cost.

He has not proven enough to receive Braun’s contract automatically, but that does not mean Denver can point to a limited restricted market and assume its own number is the only fair one. The Nuggets earned this problem by drafting well. They found Braun late in the first round, found Watson later in the same draft, and developed both players into useful parts of a contender.

That’s supposed to be a good thing.

Eventually, though, successful development creates difficult choices. A team cannot pay every young player without considering what happens to everyone else, especially when three established stars already take up most of the payroll.

Denver may still find a way to keep Watson, and it may even be the correct decision. But the Nuggets are no longer deciding only whether Peyton Watson deserves another contract. They are deciding whether they can pay him, keep Braun, protect enough depth around Jokic, and still leave themselves a way to adjust when the next problem arrives.

Drafting Watson created an opportunity. Developing him created value. Waiting this long to decide what to do with that value created everything else.

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Now, It’s Time to Work

Four hours. That’s the amount of sleep I got during the night (or morning). But this wasn’t a regular four hours of sleep. My body has been operating three hours ahead of when the events in Vegas are set to take place. Surprisingly, I wasn’t alone. Albert responded to my breakfast text—as did Jam. Nick tagged along for some omelets and fellowship.

With a much smaller group of the No Ceilings crew, the four of us really got to know each other. I’ve always thought of Nick as an intelligent person, but I learned more about his musical abilities and education. As if my opinion of him could be any higher, I found out that he was even more cultured than I knew. Albert actually has an incredible story that I won’t share the details of (not my story to tell) of how he left New York for L.A., and how he, Nick, and the other founders of No Ceilings truly got their start in building the organization I would join after their first cycle.

I’ve spoken to Jam so much before, during, and after podcasts—as well as spending time with him in Portsmouth—that I knew a great deal about how he came into loving basketball and his path to No Ceilings.

After our breakfast, Albert had to make his way to the airport to fly home. Before he headed home, I shared with Mr. Garbage Time that I had a mental checklist of things that I wanted to do with particular members of the No Ceilings family. Of note, these things included:

• Have a drink with Rucker.

• Eat a steak with Nathan.

• Stand next to Albert.

Again, cannot give too many details, but Rucker’s desire to share an adult beverage with people is a list to be on—so I was able and happy to get that one checked off. One of the longstanding inside jokes within our team is Nathan’s preference for how his steaks should be cooked. While I was not able to get this one checked off, I was happy to get the chance to break bread with him the night before. As for Albert, I have heard legends that he is taller than you would think. For me—someone who is six feet tall—I can confirm that he is about three-ish inches taller than me. We hugged and said our goodbyes to Albert.

From there, our trio got even smaller. Jam made arrangements to meet with some folks that he knew throughout the day, and I had the speaking engagement I was offered by Sports Management Worldwide.

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Media Advice, Darryn Peterson, and Getting Older

In Part One of this Summer League Pilgrimage piece, I wrote about some sort of FOMO—about how I have a tendency to lose sight of the cool things that have happened over the past six years of me podcasting in my garage in Washington state, to now being invited to speak as a member of a media panel for a prestigious event like Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW).

Thinking about the journey is one thing, but being in front of people who are aspiring to cut their teeth in the basketball world was pretty humbling.

Nick and I arrived at the Westin Hotel, where we gathered our credentials, met with some of the staff, and prepared to take the stage—quite literally. When we went to the conference room, Chad Buchanan—the General Manager of the Indiana Pacers—spoke on a number of topics:

• How he went from being a player to finding his way into the front office.

• What it’s like to manage NBA players.

• What his staff looks for in prospects.

• Et cetera, et cetera.

I will note that Nick and I were very pleased to discover that many of the things we value at No Ceilings checked many of the boxes Chad emphasized.

Now, it was my turn. That’s right, after seemingly all of the event’s attendees lined up to ask Chad questions, it was my turn to speak. Not only that, but I was part of a panel with Dei Lynam—a veteran broadcaster and media pillar—as well as Lauren Rosen, the sideline reporter for the Los Angeles Clippers, among many other roles.

Needless to say, I was like a duck on the water—calm on the surface but stirring underneath.

After Dei, Lauren, and I gave brief discussions of our backgrounds, several attendees lined up to ask the panel questions. This is where I felt more “in my element,” so to speak. My military experience has led me to a leadership—or supervisory—role, where I love training people to do things. Questions ranged from “How do you find the time to watch film, write, and put out content while working to gain a following?” to “Have you ever had a ‘cut the camera’ moment with a player?” to “How do I make entertaining content while maintaining a professional scouting opinion?”

Once our panel’s time was up, I chatted with my fellow panel members and some attendees who had further questions. Nick and I thanked the SMWW staff and left the Westin. After a quick trip to our hotel to change, we then made our way back to Thomas & Mack to catch more hoops.

Now, because we had the SMWW event, we missed some of the games throughout the day. BUT, we made it to the gym in time to catch Sacramento vs. Washington, and then the Clippers vs. Utah. With Nick being a Kings fan, it was cool to see him be engaged with the future of his team. With me being an “Acuff guy”, it was easy to root along with my friend. Acuff struggled with efficiency—a common theme throughout Summer League—but he also displayed some passing. He even had some nice defensive moments.

Maxime Raynaud had a big game, too. It was funny because, as we were watching him throughout the game, I would give Nick some commentary based on the results of Raynaud’s possessions. For example, in the first quarter, Raynaud was very perimeter-oriented. When he continuously played outside and missed a shot, I would look at Nick and say (jokingly, of course): “Yeah, I’m out on Raynaud.” In the second quarter, Maxime did better and flashed a full gambit of moves. This resulted in me telling Nick: “I’ve always liked Raynaud; could not be more in.”

This prompted our beloved Editor-in-Chief to remind me that it was only one short quarter ago that I doubted the French big man. Those who know me will tell you I only speak in sports and movie quotes. My response to Nick exemplifies this, when I replied:

“I live my life one quarter of basketball at a time.”

We laughed and enjoyed the rest of the game.

We also saw AJ Dybantsa and Will Riley go off for their big performances. The biggest thing I harped on throughout the cycle was how offensively advanced AJ Dybantsa is compared to other power wings and forwards who have made big names for themselves in the NBA. That sentiment was ever-apparent while watching him develop chemistry with his new teammates in DC. He was able to get wherever he wanted. One play that stood out in particular was when he started out with the ball at the top of the key, drove right, hit a sharp cross, and rose up for a smooth middy.

Will Riley was absolutely lights out. While Nick and I were watching him, we could not help but notice how much sauce his game has. I know, very professional. But it’s true! He played with supreme confidence. If he wanted to hit a deep three, he did it. If he wanted to get to the hoop, he did. His game was very comparable to that of Kelly Oubre Jr. As a second-year player in Summer League, Riley reminded many Sacramento players that there are levels to the NBA.

Now, because we’re old and still recovering from the night before, we debated whether to stay for the late game. We landed on Darryn Peterson as the determining factor. If he played, we stayed. He did, so we did too.

And, truthfully, I’m very glad we fought through. I’ve been a Darryn guy all season long. It was awesome getting to see him interact with staff, teammates, and even the event staff. He made himself available to the kids in the arena a fair bit. At one point, a group of kids took pictures with him, came back to their seats, and talked about how “chill” Darryn is.

For as chill as Darryn may appear to be, the “killer” stuff with him is very real. His frame in person is everything you would want it to be, and his shot is—all hyperbole aside—effortless. He is one of the more natural scoring talents I have evaluated. The big-time dunk that circulated on social media drew one of the biggest “pops” (reactions) I heard during my time here. The biggest thing that stood out to me with Darryn, though, was how much he wanted to attack Clipper rookie Keaton Wagler.

Now, Wagler caught fire in the second half of the game, but Peterson defended him with purpose—picking him up 3/4 of the court and pestering him as he tried to get situated and his teammates into position. This would ultimately be Peterson’s last performance at Summer League, so I was happy to see him.

As I mentioned in Part One of this recap of my time in Summer League, meeting some people I have worked with and kept up with was one of my favorite parts of making the journey to Vegas. That sentiment continued this day as well. I had the chance to meet one of my favorite people on Draft Twitter—and someone I have begun to turn to for guest spots with some consistency—James Barlowe. Draft Junky James was super cool to chop it up with in person, and he was just as cool as he has been online and on shows. I also met someone who I haven’t worked with (yet!) in Christian Odjakjian. Nick and I sat with Christian for probably about 30 minutes. I knew he was a knowledgeable dude, but the level of Sicko I discovered Christian was quite impressive. That man has the same disease as the No Ceilings crew.

The Blues, More Farewells, and The Last Man Standing

Once we broke from the stadium, Nick and I made our way back to the Luxor (our hotel if you’re a “Part Two only” reader) to reunite with Jam. We did the whole “what are y’all feeling like for dinner?” song and dance, which led us to walk around the Mandalay Shops at our neighboring hotel. We landed on the House of Blues—mainly because it felt like they had to have some good ribs at a minimum.

It did not disappoint.

Great ribs, pulled pork, and some awesome sides were certainly worth the stop, and the music was incredible too. As we were eating, there was a musician (I feel truly terrible that I could not find his name) who played into the blues aesthetic, but worked in hits from different genres. For example, one moment he played No Diggity. Next, he played Black Magic Woman. Then he played Tennessee Whiskey.

It was a great way to end the night.

We made our way back to our room, where Nick and I would conk out while Jam stayed up to make his red-eye flight back home. So we would tell Jam goodnight and goodbye.

After getting some much-needed sleep, Nick and I would get some breakfast at an Irish Pub in the Mandalay Shop. I had another first: a rasher sandwich and chips. The time at the pub was great because, for some reason, our waiter was very keen on quoting Harry Potter with us. It was another fun experience. But soon after our meal, Nick hit the road to head back home.

This led to me being the lone wolf of the No Ceilings team. The good news? There were still plenty of hoops to lock onto.

One of the tips Tyler Rucker gave me was to catch some games in the “smaller gym” at Thomas & Mack. See, there are two playing floors at the venue, allowing multiple games to be played simultaneously. I had yet to be in the smaller setting, but the Pistons and the Knicks were the first game, and they were there.

Now, if you have attended the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, the smaller gym feels much like that. The seating is more communal, and you’re right on the floor. So, I felt more at home watching Detroit and New York face off.

While I have been a big-time Ebuka Okorie fan—and he had some fun moments—I was tremendously impressed by Jack Kayil. When I watched his film this year, I felt most of the guard’s game was heavily predicated on his athleticism. There were glimpses of Russellwestbrook or Dennis Smith Jr. in his film. The inconsistencies in his game had me concerned. Boy, has he done a number on me. He played much more under control than I had grown to understand. If he can hit shots in the NBA the way I saw him do in Summer League, the defending champions may have added a true winner on the margins.

I stayed throughout the night, watching multiple games. In those games, a few players stood out in tangible ways. Cameron Boozer was every bit as strong as I expected. There were several possessions where he got the ball on the perimeter and worked his way into the paint.

Caleb Wilson continued to shoot from deep while still finding ways to finish with ferocity in the paint. I will say that—while the defense still requires some work—Caleb finished the first quarter with two blocks and a steal. This gave me a ton of comfort in how I projected him to be impactful on that end.

Brayden Burries was so impactful for the Bucks. The shooting feels remarkably comfortable for him, and he is so strong and quick on both ends of the floor that he is going to find a way to be successful in a meaningful way.

Some other players truly surprised me. Sergio de Larrea had a big game for the Mavs, but one of the biggest men of mystery in the 2026 NBA Draft, Vsevlod Ishchenkov, felt like he belonged on the floor. His connective feel allowed the ball to hum for Dallas, as he both finished and manufactured points. Khaman Maluach had been on a tear all Summer League long, but watching him rebound, absolutely demolish Milwaukee’s shot attempts, and even hit three-pointers…the Suns may have an All-NBA-level player on their hands if everything breaks right. And, speaking of breaking right, my take that Koa Peat could be this draft class’s Peyton Watson may not have been a high enough bar for the Arizona prospect to clear. He played strong, but was also super bouncy. He was very vocal on the court, too, letting the whole gym know when he was doing something well. He even took some jumpers that looked more natural and comfortable for him than the ones we saw at the NBA Combine.

A Pro Day, a Sunken Ship, and the Final Slate (For Me)

I’ll spare you the finite details of an exhausted 36-year-old man who went back to his room and immediately passed out. That’s what happened since I was a one-man band with places to be the next morning.

After some sleep and a brief No Ceilings housekeeping, I got into another Uber to make my way to the One Motive Pro Day I was invited to by their founder, Drew Kelso. Drew has become someone in the space that I have grown to really trust, respect, and admire. Our love of the game and shared Arkansas kinship have really strengthened our bond. Drew and his team have become prominent in their field in finding unearthed gems, so when they offered me the opportunity to attend their pro day, I quickly accepted.

The event was pretty awesome. It was held at a local high school gym and offered some great access to the players and Drew’s staff. There wasn’t much time wasted getting into the scheduled events. The players opened with some stretching and drills, and then went right into the game. I found a seat next to some NBA scouts (there were actually quite a few teams in attendance) whom I knew, and we watched the exhibition. There were some players there I’ve known for a bit. Ethan Taylor was there—and showed off some of his scoring prowess that I’ve seen during his time with Air Force. Jamar Brown was also featured. I loved getting a chance to see the leadership traits during the drills and in between plays. He also showed a high level of intensity and athleticism.

There was one player who truly impressed me, whom—I’ll admit, I wasn’t very familiar with. That was Okechukwu Okeke out of Albany. Okeke is listed at 6’10”, but he played larger—and this wasn’t an event where he was just the tallest dude. Drew’s group had five players who were his height or taller. He set bruising screens, blocked shots, elevated off of two feet, and even made some slick passes out of the short roll. In short, Okeke played hard all exhibition long. He even stayed behind after the event to thank each and every person for coming. When he thanked me, I told him he played his ass off and did a good job. This brought a big smile to his face. I love it when big men have a little something wrong with them in the right ways.

Once the Pro Day was over, I dapped Drew and his staff up, thanked them for letting me swing through, and Ubered back to the Luxor.

Now, there was something that I had to do in Las Vegas before I made my voyage back home—and it didn’t have to do with basketball. My youngest son, Miles, has autism. I’m not saying that to elicit any response (my son is amazing), but mainly to provide context. You see, Miles has become hyper-fixated on the Titanic. He has long loved all sorts of vehicles, but he has found some interesting documentaries about the legendary ship on YouTube Kids.

He wants to know all he can about the sunken wonder.

It was quite serendipitous to learn that the Luxor Hotel is home to the Titanic Artifact Exhibit. Now that I was all by myself in this big old city, it made me feel a little closer to home to take some pictures of the exhibit, have my picture taken on a replica of the stairwell, and even buy a children’s book with some cool facts about the Titanic.

It gave me the chance to come home a little bit of a hero. Funnily enough, that became one of the things I looked forward to most all week.

Once the tour was over, I had a chance to choke down some food and make my way back to Thomas & Mack for what would be my final day in the gym.

I made it back just in time to beat tip-off for Sacramento and Brooklyn. I was pleased to discover that Darius Acuff Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. would both play. At this point in the Summer League calendar, it’s not uncommon for teams to “shut down” their top prospects after seeing them play for a couple of days. Even for second-year players like Egor Dёmin, Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell, they were still pushing to get reps in for Summer League. This was great news for me.

Though I was the last No Ceilings member in Vegas, I wasn’t alone. Most of the time I spent in the gym, I was able to hang out with a scout I recently had the chance to get to know. It pays to be in the gym, kids. Get out there!

While we spent time talking about the current rookies, some sleeper prospects for next year, and how we got to be where we are now, the Kings and Nets treated us to some solid performances. In this game, I watched Darius Acuff play the most comfortable and complete game I had seen during Summer League. He was able to space the floor, made some slick cuts to the paint off the ball, and showed some good defensive possessions. His draft peer, Mikel Brown, also showed out. His creativity off the live dribble was very exciting. His ability to know where his escape routes are while driving to the rim is rivaled by very, very few players in the 2026 NBA Draft class. The shooting touch was also on display—exemplified by a possession in which Mikel went for a deep three-pointer on a break-down dribble.

Following that game, I stayed for the matchup between the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. Whether the decision was his or his team’s, AJ Dybantsa did not play in the game—but he was there in support of his team. All hope was not lost, however, as Caleb Wilson suited up to play. It would be reported after the game, but Caleb reportedly pitched the idea of playing in this game. Obviously, it worked. While watching Wilson—who was my favorite player in this class—I had this thought:

I hope that the Bulls work Caleb to primarily be an interior finisher, but also allow him to take some shots from deep. Don’t get me wrong, he had a very strong performance, but there were moments where I felt like Caleb didn’t go after the “little things” out there. I didn’t feel that way during the regular season, but I also understood the idea of letting him explore the studio space.

Once the game was over, so was my night at Thomas & Mack. After another Uber and a bite at Wahlburgers, I went back to my room to get some more work done and prepare for my trip back to Georgia.

So Long for Now, Vegas

Even with no idea what my first-ever trip to Summer League would be like, I was blown away by my time in Las Vegas. So many firsts for me helped to make this trip special, but it was the realization of connections that made my time there unforgettable. While I was somewhat sad to say some “see you laters,” I was super grateful for the time that I was able to spend with the people who have helped make my basketball journey special.

Also, while I am being pretty cheesy and heavy about a very fun time, I know that this trip is really just the beginning. I’m aware that more is coming for our team, and I know we are going to get to do more like this.

That awareness has been a catalyst for my tendency not to appreciate things as they happen—being present in the moment. As I stated in Part One, the one thing I’m trying to improve on is taking in the special things that happen to me as they happen.

So, as I left, I bid Las Vegas a farewell…until the next time!

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Some Sort of FOMO

Have you ever had moments where you’re so focused on getting to “the next thing”?

Did you have times when you were working so hard to accomplish what you wanted—or needed—to do that you lost sight of the journey that got you there?

Me too.

Growing up in small-town Arkansas, I dealt with this a lot. On top of the shared experiences of school and work, I also dealt with the challenge of helping my dad manage a ranch—something I honestly grew to really dislike. I woke up early before school and had to feed and water anywhere from 60 to 100 dogs—as well as 10 to 15 horses—at a time. Then I would go to school, come home, and take care of those animals again.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Like most children, I had no idea that a work ethic was being instilled in me as I went through it; I only thought about how much fun my friends and peers were having and how few responsibilities they seemed to have. The day after I turned 16, my dad drove me to the closest fast-food restaurant, where I would apply for a job. If you’re wondering if that meant that I didn’t have to help out on the ranch anymore…I think you know the answer.

While I had plenty of moments where I genuinely despised having to do so much at a young age, it made me who I am today. I’ve carried my drive and determination into the military. I’ve also carried it with me into scouting and basketball media.

The only “downside” of this nose-to-the-grind mentality is that it can cause me to develop tunnel vision. If left to my own devices, I can completely lose the forest for the trees in life; it’s something I’ve really had to work on. But the older I get, the more mistakes I make that I choose to learn from.

And that’s one of the reasons I wanted to document my pilgrimage to Fabulous Las Vegas. Putting these memories to paper is a forcing function that reminds me to appreciate the journey rather than immediately moving on to the next milestone. I also wanted to share the experience with the No Ceilings family and, hopefully, encourage others to make the trip someday.

Every pilgrimage has milestones. Mine happened to include delayed flights, my first Uber ride, Thomas & Mack, a blackjack table, and conversations I’ll remember far longer than any box score.

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Traffic, Flying, and Ubers

Given my military background, I’m sure you’ve assumed that I’m punctual. Being late to things gives me a genuine uneasiness—it’s something I’ve worked on over the years.

My family of six woke up at 5:30 AM ET to pile into our van and take me to the Jacksonville airport. To reach the JAX airport from where we live, you’ll typically spend time on I-95 South. Normally, you can make it in under 30 minutes, but, fun story, traffic was at a standstill after spending less than five minutes on the interstate. While my flight was in limbo, my sweet kiddos kept asking fair-but-pokey questions:

“Dad, are we going to make your flight?”

“What’s taking so long?”

“Dad, what happens if you don’t get to the airport on time?”

Fun times.

My amazing wife opted to drive since she would have to drop me off on top of it all. First-world problem for sure, but I was—straight-up—not having a good time.

As you have probably assumed, I did make it to the airport on time, and I did so without letting my time-related anxiety get the better of me! Small victories are still victories!

I had five hours to myself on my flight to Harry Reid International Airport—which was delayed due to a staffing issue and another plane’s schedule. I spent my time doing things like listening to Pop-Goes-Punk covers of songs, listening to podcasts, and playing Cribbage on my phone. As we were in the air, I also wanted to take a look at the scenery from my window seat. See, I’ve never seen any sort of desert environment before. I also saw black mountains for the first time.

Side note: this account is going to finish a lot of “firsts” for me—some pretty silly, as we’ll get to later.

Once I touched down at the airport, I hopped on the tram to another terminal to pick up my luggage. From there, I had a “first”!

My first Uber!

Yeah, living in southeast Georgia, there isn’t much of a need to take Ubers. Since I did not want to deal with the hassle of renting a vehicle, though, I knew I would use one of these services to get around. I downloaded the app, asked for a driver, and one arrived in under five minutes! I was blown away by how fast I was able to hitch a ride.

My driver, Aman, was very nice. In my ignorance, I asked if I could sit in the front with him (I later learned from the more experienced No Ceilings crew members that this behavior wasn’t normal). I even mentioned to Aman that he was my first Uber driver, and that it was my first time in Vegas.

We went through the normal, small-talky questions I imagine most others experience:

“What brings you here?”

“Where are you from?”

“What do you do for a living?”

I always love being asked this question because I can answer it in several ways. I could have opted to go the “media” route with Aman, but, for whatever reason, I shared my military background. From there, I was pelted with questions about our President and other fun, geopolitics-based questions. After all, who doesn’t enjoy sharing foundational beliefs with complete strangers, am I right?

I did what I normally do in that situation: played dumb and placed the question-answering back on him. Seriously, aside from those questions, Aman was everything I could have asked for in my first Uber driver.

Aman dropped me off at The Luxor—the hotel our No Ceilings crew had and would be shacked up in for the duration of our stay. Most of the team was already at the Thomas & Mack Center, but I was able to catch up with some of the guys! Jam Hines—whom I hung out with at Portsmouth roughly four months ago—and Nick Agar-Johnson were still at the hotel. We hopped in my second-ever Uber and made our way to the gym!

Thomas & Mack, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and New, Familiar Faces

I cannot adequately explain just how exciting and fulfilling it was to lay eyes on the gym I had heard so much about over the years. Decorated in warm oranges, yellows, and reds, this place felt like home.

I made it.

For years, Thomas & Mack had existed only through livestreams, podcasts, YouTube recaps, and social media clips. I’d watched prospects play on this court from thousands of miles away and listened to countless conversations that happened inside this building. Walking through those doors felt strangely familiar—as if I already knew the place despite never having set foot inside.

The pilgrimage had finally become real.

Walking up the stairs, my mind raced with the possibilities of who I would meet, on top of the excitement of finally meeting most of the No Ceilings family in person. I mentioned that I had spent time with Jam at Portsmouth a few months earlier and had met Corey years ago during the Thompson Twins in their Overtime Elite days, but aside from those interactions, this would be the first time I was meeting most of the people I’d worked alongside for years.

As Nick, Jam, and I took our seats, we watched the Charlotte Hornets play the New Orleans Pelicans. I was excited to see players like Christian Anderson Jr., Hannes Steinbach, Sion James, Liam McNeeley, and Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Pels had people play, but none of their young headline players were on the court.

Of course, I couldn’t completely turn off the evaluator in me. Even in Summer League, scouting never really stops. Watching Charlotte deploy Christian Anderson more as a floor spacer than a primary creator reaffirmed some of the questions I’d had throughout the draft process. Hannes Steinbach flashed on the glass but also struggled defending in space and passing the ball—areas I’d been curious about entering the league. It was only one game, and far too early to draw sweeping conclusions, but it reminded me how quickly old scouting notes resurface once the ball is tipped.

As the game progressed, we were met by Draft Deeper himself: Nathan Grubel. As Nathan made his way down our handshake line, he came up to me and said:

“There you are, you big m*****f*****!”

That drew a big laugh and a big hug.

We kept watching the game, and I could not help but notice how impactful Ryan Kalkbrenner was. I mean, of course I knew he was good—I named an off-season award after him this past Summer. But seeing him move in the open court was something else. For some unknown reason, New Orleans kept attacking him in the paint—to which Kalk sent many shots in reverse.

As the game went on, I felt a tap on my left shoulder. Our social media guru, Paige Otto, swung by! After a big hug, we talked for quite a while. One thing I learned about Paige during my time with her is that she has a genuine curiosity about people, so it was very cool to chop it up with her.

As the game went on, the more No Ceilings people I met. Metcalf rolled over to the crew a little bit later. Corey and Albert caught up with us shortly thereafter, and then Rucker swung by shortly after them. Lots of hugs, lots of “it’s awesome to finally get to hang with you”s ensued, but we also kept an eye on the games, of course.

Of all I’ve heard about Summer League, the biggest thing that keeps people coming back is meeting more people in the basketball community. On top of getting to fellowship with my No Ceilings family, I was able to meet folks I’ve worked with over the years.

I can tell you that Bryce Simon of Game Theory is tall and every bit as nice as you think he would be. I also got to meet Gilbert “Gil” and Erik Ruby of the PHNX family! Also, both of those dudes were just as nice in person as they have been whenever they have asked me to talk NBA Draft with them. And the meeting of these guys was just on the first day! If there is anything I can say about the communal feel of Summer League, it’s everything you would hope for.

Throughout the day, I kept having the same realization: Summer League isn’t just where basketball people gather—it’s where basketball friendships are maintained. Podcasts became conversations. Twitter avatars became hugs and handshakes. The games brought everyone together, but it’s the people who make the pilgrimage worth taking.

After the game, it was back to the hotel to get put together for our big team dinner!

Carmine’s and the REAL Vegas (According to me)

Of course, we Ubered back to the Luxor. To keep a good thing going, I continued to ride in the front seat of our Ubers, as I was told that not knowing the intricacies of Uber etiquette was very wholesome.

Once at the hotel, it was a quick change of ensemble for some of the crew, and another trip in an Uber! One of the funniest things I learned about Las Vegas is that “hotels” are really just enormous malls with attached hotel rooms. Every hallway seemed to lead somewhere different—a casino, another restaurant, a luxury store, another casino, somehow another restaurant—thankfully, I was surrounded by people who had done this a time or two.

The restaurant we had reservations for was in the famous Caesars Palace. There was a lot of beautiful architecture and an elegant aesthetic to the resort, and I was genuinely blown away at how massive this place was. As we were walking down the “street” inside, we arrived at Carmine’s—a very classy and delicious Italian Resturant.

Funnily enough, we apparently walked right past the All City team—where Gil and Erik contribute on the PHNX front. I was made aware of this by a text from Erik.

All 11 of our team sat down at our adjoined tables. Albert—who may have the most class among our No Ceilings crew—ordered food for the table. We were able to share veal parmesan, a rigatoni bolognese, garlic and oil angel hair pasta, meatballs, and fried calamari. Wine, beer, water, and dessert worked their way into the meal as we talked about this past cycle’s success and discussed some remarkable opportunities ahead (stay tuned).

Once we broke away from the meal, the team enjoyed a very Vegas night out. Or, at least, by my account. We hopped around hotels, responsibly enjoyed some beverages, and I was treated to my first-ever night of gambling!

Now, I was and am familiar with the “how” when it comes to playing card games. And when I say the “how” of playing card games, I mean knowing how certain cards let you reach 21 in blackjack. As was the case with so many things during this trip, I wasn’t nervous about the gambling itself. I was nervous because I had absolutely no idea what the unwritten rules were. When do you tip the dealer? Why weren’t people tipping the dealer? Is there a wrong way to buy in? How do I avoid accidentally breaking some unwritten rule—ending up in a casino basement getting pummeled and accused of counting cards?

Everyone else looked completely comfortable while I was trying not to slow down the game for others.

But in terms of getting chips, what are the different types of buy-ins, etc.? I was a little out of my element.

You may already be thinking: “Gee, this redneck from Arkansas who has never even been in an Uber until age 36 had to have gotten waxed at the table.”

I’ll have you know that I actually made $150 on the night my first time gambling!

At one point, I was playing at one table with Paige, but I eventually ended up at an all-No Ceilings table with Metcalf, Corey, and Albert. There was a lot of shared strategy, some talk of hating the number 12, and, on the other hand, me hitting on a $100 wager, thanks to some excellent vibe-coaching from Albert.

Once the night (morning, actually; time is not real in Las Vegas) came to a close, I unfortunately had to say goodbye to most of the crew. Rucker, Metcalf, Corey, Paige, and Nathan all had plans to leave the following day—another reason I will not miss the opening weekend of Summer League next year. Luckily, I would have Nick, Jam, and Albert to hang out with for the following day.

Those who stayed all made it back to their rooms at about 4 AM Vegas time, with Albert having plans to head back home later that day. I had a speaking opportunity with Sports Management Worldwide the next day, while Jam planned to spend part of the day with some NBA folks.

As the night finally came to an end—or perhaps more accurately, as the next morning began—I headed back to my room with just a couple of hours of sleep ahead of me before another full day of Summer League.

I had already experienced more firsts in twenty-four hours than I could count. My first Uber. My first glimpse of the desert. My first walk through Thomas & Mack. My first time gambling. Most importantly, my first opportunity to spend meaningful time with the people who have helped make No Ceilings feel like home.

The pilgrimage had only just begun.

Part Two picks up with a day of basketball, a speaking engagement, and even more reminders of why everyone tells you that once you’ve experienced Summer League in person, you’ll spend the next eleven months looking forward to coming back.

Follow me on Twitter: StephenGHoops

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The 2026 NBA Draft might be in the rearview mirror, but there’s one staple event left for the draft class before we can close the book on the 2026 class and continue looking toward the 2027 NBA Draft class and beyond.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Summer League action in Las Vegas. The whole NBA landscape has gathered together in Sin City to watch hoops and talk shop. While a handful of top talents had already kicked off their summer session play in Sacramento, San Francisco, or Salt Lake City, the majority of the stars from the most recent draft played their first minutes in an NBA uniform over the past two days.

Our No Ceilings crew has been soaking up the basketball over the past two days, and as always, we have thoughts. Here are our biggest takeaways from the action after two jam-packed days of hoops.

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1. Who had the best performance on Day One? Who had the best performance on Day Two?

Metcalf: I thought Morez Johnson Jr. was tremendous. He showed everything he did at Michigan and then some. He was great on the boards and showed his defensive versatility by sliding his feet in space, being active away from the ball, and playing drop. His communication was outstanding; you could clearly hear him calling out rotations and directing things from the opposite end of the arena. What likely stood out to most fans who were unaware of his game, though, was his offensive impact. Johnson didn’t shoot it at an outrageous rate, but he was more than willing to let it fly. He also made quick decisions with the ball, showed a ton of versatility out of the roll, and displayed great scoring touch around the rim. There isn’t much more Johnson could’ve done.

Nick: Morez Johnson Jr. was the clear winner in the clubhouse for Day One, so I’ll go with AJ Dybantsa here instead. He was relentlessly attacking the basket from the opening tip in the marquee matchup, and he finished with 27/7/3 on a night when all eyes were on him. He looked the part of the #1 overall pick, tying Blake Griffin’s record for points in a Summer League debut for the top pick, and showcased the kind of inevitability that any fan would have hoped to see from him.

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Your favorite NBA team’s clock is ticking.

I’ve tried to figure out the right words to start this one out, but I continue to go back and forth about the angle. Instead, I think pouring it all out makes the most sense.

Let me give you a little background about myself to steer you down this road.

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I was born and raised in California, but I grew up as a degenerate Boston Celtics fan.

Yes, due to recent events…you probably all just let out a chuckle after reading that previous sentence.

I first fell in love with basketball while watching old videos of the 1980s Celtics. When some kids were getting bedtime stories about Michael Jordan. I was rewinding VHS tapes with my old man, watching Larry Bird steal the ball in the ‘87 Eastern Conference Finals. This wasn’t just an ordinary type of fandom. It was something that became everything when it came to growing up in my household. My old man bleeds green. An hour-long phone call to catch up on life usually consisted of 55 minutes of Celtics basketball talk. Every single current player on the roster would somehow get a player comparison to a pro from 30 years prior.

Let’s fast forward to today. Before you start to come to conclusions… no, this isn’t a Jaylen Brown therapy article, but let’s go ahead and get that out of the way. I echo the same feelings that most Boston Celtics fans feel. When I got the Shams notification, I felt like my phone had burned my hand, and I threw it down on the bed in disgust.

But after days of pondering what the hell just happened…a bigger reality hit me.

That’s what basketball is.

That’s what being a fan of an NBA team is.

Every single basketball fan has been a GM in their own mind. If our favorite team wasn’t good enough, we try to fix the problem in our own heads. What free agents are on the horizon? How much cap space do we have? What does this year’s draft look like? Could our team make a couple of trades and swing things in the right direction?

In order to build a contender in the NBA, there’s always been a three-way stop with roads that have various mileage on them. Teams have had the ability in NBA history to build throughout the draft, free agency, or trades. Some of those roads require some strategic planning to try to speed up the journey. More often than not, luck is required. You need to hit gold in one area before piecing it together in others. If you can do that, without any hiccups along the way…your team starts to see an opportunity arise. A light in the darkness suddenly shows you your window to contend for the biggest prize. From there, the question has always been…how long can you keep that window open?

Although there have been numerous paths to build a contender in the NBA, there has been one path that has been incredibly special for those lucky fan bases: building through the draft.

It’s the most difficult path because it requires the most patience of all. There was an era of NBA basketball that focused on making this a priority. You’d see franchises not just draft players but also invest in humans. There wasn’t an hourglass that said if you don’t show results this quickly, it’s time to cut the cord. Instead, the teams with patience gave the opportunity for young teenagers to patiently find a way to build some confidence, which has always been the golden key to unlocking the developmental path.

As fans, that’s the best feeling in the world. Not only did your team draft a young talent, but you got to see them grow in front of your own eyes. Each year of their young careers, you’ve been waiting for the “switch” to be flipped and prove that they are about to fulfill the potential that you bought in on early. Once you start to notice that the game is slowing down for that player, you realize that your team might finally be onto something. As fans, we all have just wanted to see our teams keep the young talent long enough to see them shine when the spotlight is the brightest.

But that injury brought forth an early opportunity for another 3rd overall pick in Jayson Tatum. My team’s patience allowed a promising second-year jump from Jaylen Brown. Then, over the next six years, I got to watch them continue to take serious strides toward climbing the mountain top in the Eastern Conference. It seemed as if each year, the duo would suffer crushing defeat after crushing defeat. Despite rumors floating every offseason, Boston kept the duo together, determined to see it through. They built through the draft, stayed patient to keep the band together, and found ways to travel down the other paths to build a legit contender.

There was nothing better as a fan than seeing “your guys” finally be able to put it together and win at the highest level. You’ve stuck with them since the beginning, and here it is: them getting over the hump and becoming NBA champions.

But it seems as if those days are running out.

The NBA has made changes to the salary cap, as basketball fans should know very well. At first, like the majority of fans, the changes to the cap seemed to be a foreign language. There are so many brilliant minds in the NBA world that specialize in capology, meaning that we had to quickly navigate to them to have it “translated.” Don’t be afraid to admit it: it’s intimidating. It takes a lot of patience to break down and completely understand it. Honestly, it usually takes talking to an expert to have us remove the idea of having headaches

But this year…on July 1st… it started to hit me like a hammer.

All of the clouds started to clear up.

All of the roads led to a one-way street.

Our favorite team’s clock is ticking.

Throughout the different areas of the NBA, that realization has started to hit teams harder than ever. Analytics have continued to develop in waves over the eras of basketball. They’re not going anywhere; if anything, they’re only going to continue to get more intense. That should be a good thing. Understand the recent trend and draft history, and you’ll notice a serious trend when it comes to the ability of teams to bring home strong hauls on draft nights.

In recent history of the NBA, teams were willing to attach picks without pause in order to acquire the missing piece of the puzzle. But that direction has started to shift. The reason why you might ask? The fear of the second apron.

Now, teams are understanding how valuable every NBA draft pick is—not just first-round picks, but second-round selections as well. You have to find any possible way to improve the margins. It could be strengthening the end of the rotation, free agent signings, developing two-way players AND keeping them, or finding second rounders who give you an opportunity to slow the clock down. Even if it’s the smallest amount, you’re seeing a complete league shift when it comes to the importance of depth. We all grew up watching the NBA Draft, and it seemed like there was always a portion of the night in which picks would go up for sale. Teams would basically be “over it” and asking “who wants to buy this?” The second round seemed like a flurry of stash candidates who most likely wouldn’t end up coming overseas. At the same time, though, the league has sent out a message. One loud warning to all teams that are trying to win a championship. Your window to win a title might be open, but it could shut just as fast…the clock is ticking.

After the title in 2024, it looked like the Celtics could contend for years to come. Two of the league’s top wings, arguably entering their primes, looked poised to be under team control for a lengthy amount of time. At the time, every Celtics fan would have told you their championship window was as open as possible. But injuries, aging players, and future salary constraints saw that window close just as fast. Boston dealt with injuries, players aging rapidly, and a nightmare conclusion featuring their superstar tearing his Achilles. That’s how quickly life can change in the NBA. One year, the window is propped open. The next? It’s suddenly slammed shut.

In previous eras, that might have simply meant: OK, let’s hold on to our key pieces. Figure out a plan to either build in the draft or open up some free agency possibility. Then reload and get back on track.

But that’s not what the new CBA has in mind. Instead, we’re already starting to see a trend in which teams are trying to escape the late realization of facing the guillotine. Teams are operating in fear. Spending top dollar might get you some of the best talent. But eventually, it’s going to also bring you the biggest headaches.

Teams are having to pivot and realize that depth might have to be more important than simply star power. That could lead to shipping stars out of town…including some who have been around for a long time.

I’m going to break down some specific rosters and cap percentages that paint the potential “dead-end” down the road.

But here’s a little appetizer for you to get familiar with to start. Each year, the NBA releases projections for teams regarding the cap increase. In order to prevent spikes, the most current CBA agreed to have a bit of a “smooth” cap growth maximum of 10% each year. Now stay with me. Here’s where it gets scary.

Due to some underwhelming local TV deals, the cap for the upcoming 2026-27 season is projected to go up by just 6.7%, which is slightly lower than expected. As of now, the cap is projected to increase by 5.5% for the 2027-28 season. (Per Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic)

That means that any potential “emergency” breathing room for high-salaried teams just got even tougher. If you were somehow “banking” on that life preserver for the upcoming years, chances are…you’re going to be in trouble. Now, there are still a lot of brilliant minds around the league that specialize in this, who have most likely understood the projections and how to prepare for this. But it’s one thing to be prepared and another to realize…alright, now we’ve got to dance with this nightmare.

I said it at the beginning of this piece, and I mean it: this isn’t me venting about the Celtics.

This is me trying to paint a picture for every single NBA fan base out there. As I write this right now, we’ve seen plenty of young teams start the rebuild and understand what lies ahead. They’re building throughout the draft. They’re strategically adding talented pieces, trying to keep and develop their own young talent for years to come. But what happens when that talent, all of a sudden, starts to find their groove? What happens if they reach their potential and sign that big contract to reward their development? That first contract extension is now proving to be the start of the clock. You only have so much time before the following contract, which could shockingly be the nail in the coffin for your franchise’s future.

But hey, I told you this wasn’t going to be a Celtics vent. So let’s look around the league.

Take a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Less than a year ago, the Thunder were NBA champions, and many thought they couldn’t be touched. They had a young roster that was insanely deep. It looked as if OKC was going to be a potential dynasty, something we arguably haven’t seen since the Golden State Warriors run from 2015-2022. OKC’s roster, paired with ridiculous draft capital, had them positioned to be multiple title contenders for years to come.

Admit it: after they won their first championship, it seemed as if fans were wondering if anyone could even touch OKC. The Thunder looked poised to repeat, even getting off to a remarkable 24-1 start this year. Eventually, injuries crept into the conversation, as well as the reality of how hard it is to repeat for any franchise. Despite those injuries, OKC would find itself one win away from another appearance in the NBA Finals. They fell short to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7, and obviously will be out for revenge next year.

In previous NBA years, we wouldn’t think much of it. A young team seemed to simply get hit with the injury bug at the worst time. It’s a reason why depth has become so important for teams. Not only do you need to be great throughout the regular season, but you also need to stay as healthy as possible throughout the postseason. But the difficult realization for Thunder fans is that the second apron fears no one.

Right now, OKC still has a good amount of time before things get shaky. Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are all locked up for the foreseeable future. This season, those three will combine to make up 74.7% of the cap. For the 2027-28 season, things start to get a little…interesting.

SGA will have his extension kick in, which will take his cap hold from 24.7% to 35.0%. Now, obviously, a player like SGA is worth that type of cap hit because he is one of the best players in the league. But that 10.3% jump is gigantic in the scheme of things. On top of that, Holmgren and J-Dub will see their cap hold jump by 0.7% each. Now, that might not sound like a lot…but any jump on top of an extension is getting you into shark-infested waters.

By the 2028-29 season, those three players will combine to make up 88.6% of the cap.

You can make an argument that the league still is giving some “benefits” to teams when it comes to dealing with this dilemma. You’re allowed to exceed the aprons, of course, if you’re re-signing your own players. You just have to convince the owner to sign a large check for the luxury tax and also have potential first round picks “frozen.”

Basically, what it comes down to is this. You draft well enough, and you have to pony up big extensions to keep that talent around. Once that first extension begins to kick in, your clock is officially running, because the next round of extensions could also result in your front office scrambling to find any way possible to start the clock over. You can get to the mountain top, but once you do…the second apron starts to lurk in the shadows. You can’t run or hide. Eventually, you’re going to have to face the music.

That’s where the fandom in me goes insane. Shouldn’t we be rewarding these franchises for developing and drafting these players? Should we be penalizing them for keeping players on the roster for years to come? Shouldn’t there be a reward for the fact that you’ve been able to find players in the draft, and keep them, while creating a contending team?

That’s the question I continue to wonder about moving forward right now. It seems as if that answer is no. The league right now is telling us they want variability. They want chaos. They want teams not to be stuck together for years to come, but how does that treat us as fans? It seems like the days of watching players stick around with your organization for their entire career are gone.

We had the era in which players were trying to team up with other superstars. The NBA quickly realized they needed to make some changes in order to stop superstars trying to navigate their way to team up with their friends. Insert this new CBA, which hopefully will be scrapped down the road, which instead told us now you can’t keep those players. Now you eventually might just have to get rid of them.

In a weird way, you can argue that the fans are being penalized. We can’t even find the capacity to get attached to players on our teams because the harsh reality is that they likely won’t be there long.

This isn’t just the Thunder, either.

Let’s talk about the New York Knicks!

They are coming off an unbelievable season. NBA champions: what a story of an incredible job of putting together an awesome roster that just from top to bottom was impressive.

But now…the clock’s ticking for Knicks fans, who might not want to agree to this. You just saw an example of it as fan favorite Mitchell Robinson is out the door, signing with the Boston Celtics. That’s the first domino that starts to paint an ugly future picture. Karl-Anthony Towns is going to be a looming free agent, with a player option for $61 million in 2027-28, which is set to be around 35.2% of the cap. Ownership clearly understands what it means to jump into the second apron. Every owner does right now; it is a death sentence for these teams. You can’t stay there. The moment you get there, you have to find a way to get out. You’re suddenly in the water with the sharks, and you’re trying to find a way to get back onto the boat.

So is the NBA telling the Knicks right now, you’ve got one more year before things start getting ugly? After putting together this awesome basketball roster, the NBA is telling Knicks fans its days are numbered?

The Denver Nuggets are dealing with this issue as we speak. Denver is preparing to have both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray make up 66.2% of the cap. The next three players on their roster are Aaron Gordon (19.4%), Cameron Johnson (14%), and Christian Braun (13.1%). Because of the limited space, Denver is now having to deal with figuring out whether to keep Peyton Watson or have to potentially move him. Watson is a perfect example of what we talked about earlier: a raw prospect when Denver drafted him, but they stressed patience to allow him to develop. Now, down the road, Denver might unfortunately have to move on despite Watson starting to put the pieces together.

Let’s say the Nuggets want to keep Watson right now. According to ESPN cap guru Bobby Marks, if the Nuggets wanted to keep Watson and they waived a player like Jonas Valanciunas, for example…

Signing Watson to a $25 million-per-year contract would result in a tax penalty of…

$177 million dollars.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Remember when teams would suddenly look like they were a potential dynasty, nd then every team would try to figure out a way to make a “better version” to take down the giant in the NBA? Dynasty seems like a funny word these days. Do teams even have the bandwidth to try to create a dynasty? Is the CAP preventing that idea from ever existing again?

Take a look at your favorite team. Not just the roster, look at the CAP percentages. We’re now telling teams that when they have two players who are adding up to more than 60% of the cap, they’re handcuffed. You don’t have the flexibility to make serious moves to improve your roster.

Fans want to watch their teams draft potential stars. Even more, there’s nothing more exciting for a fan than being with your guy from the beginning. Every fan base knows exactly what I’m saying. You’ve had a player throughout your fandom who has blossomed into something special. Most of the time, when that player has turned into a unique talent, the organization has realized it and rewarded them to keep them as part of your favorite team as a fan.

Now, it seems as if that road is as short as ever. One injury. One bad season…all of a sudden, you could see your name on the chopping block.

Changes need to be made. We need to figure out a way to reward these teams that have done a great job of acquiring talent and developing it. That answer won’t come overnight, but the clock should be ticking for the NBA as well. Not just for our favorite teams. You’re telling us that we can’t get attached anymore.

Once our teams arrive at the highest level, we can be stripped down just as fast.

And THAT is a problem.

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Ah yes, that magical time of the year is here.

We made it through draft season. Now, it’s an opportunity to kick your feet up and simply just watch some basketball.

EXCEPT this isn’t just basketball. It’s SUMMER LEAGUE boys and girls!

Listen up. The 2026 NBA Draft is behind us. California Classic and Salt Lake City Summer Leagues have already been underway. Now, we prepare for a little action in Vegas.

As tradition, we’re going to breakdown some of the notables in every Summer League roster. Always, the goal is to try to keep these as updated as possible, especially when it comes to players who might be suddenly “shut down” throughout early portion of Las Vegas.

ATLANTA HAWKS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Kingston Flemings (8th), Zuby Ejiofor (23rd), Henri Veesaar (52nd)

• NOTABLES: Asa Newell, Kobe Knox, Keshon Gilbert, Isaac McKneely

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Kingston Flemings

SUMMARY: As tradition, let’s get the party started with the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks announced their Summer League roster and it’s going to be a sneaky contender on the “Wagon Alert.” Atlanta features a heck of a 2026 NBA Draft class, but there’s some fascinating names throughout the roster to monitor.

The Hawks added some serious beef to the front court in the 2026 NBA Draft. Zuby Ejiofor will be a joy to keep an eye on. Despite some Hawks fans questioning the pick, it won’t take long for Zuby to showcase why Atlanta fans should be thrilled with the first round selection. Ejiofor is a high-energy defensive weapon who knows his role on the court and thrives at it. He’s a smart two-way player who understands how to make an impact and excel at the little things.

Atlanta found some tremendous value with Henri Veesaar “falling into their lap” in the second round. Veesaar is more of a “finessee” big. He’s a sensational pick-and-pop weapon who can stretch the floor from deep and has some underrated feel to his game. Both Veesaar and Ejiofor should be names that get plenty of run, even together, throughout Summer League.

Second year forward Asa Newell will be another fun one to keep an eye on. Newell was Atlanta’s first round pick last year and has the tools to be a sophomore leap candidate. He’s one that was expected to be taking some serious steps forward in his game for the next couple of seasons. The hope, for Hawks fans, is that Newell cements himself early.

Some other intriguing names fill out the roster. Kobe Knox was an intriguing name that generated some buzz with his play at the G League combine. Keshon Gilbert has always been a bucket-getting machine. Don’t be surprised if Louisville guard Isaac McKneely gets red hot from outside and starts to turn some heads as well.

The one to watch out for is 8th overall pick Kingston Flemings. Personally, I think Summer League is CRUCIAL for rookie point guards. You want to have as many reps possible to get the rust off and get some valuable experience when it comes to adjusting to the speed of the game. For Flemings, as well as all of the rookie guards in this class, it’s not going to be simply about dominating from the jump. You want to continue to see promising signs of progression throughout Summer League. He should have an opportunity to get plenty of run for the Hawks, and he’s going to be a fascinating name to keep an eye on. Flemings thrived in a tough system at Houston last year. He could be one that “opens things up” a bit in Summer League play.

BOSTON CELTICS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Chris Cenac Jr. (27th), Dillon Mitchell (40th)

• NOTABLES: Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Wiliams, John Tonje, Tucker DeVries, Milos Uzan, Curtis Jones

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Hugo Gonzalez

What an interesting offseason the Boston Celtics are certaintly having…but let’s stick to the important stuff here. This Celtics Summer League has the potential to be one of their most entertaining rosters in recent memory. There’s a lot of talent and a lot of weaponry that should be on full display in Las Vegas.

Boston added a high-upside big man in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft when they selected Chris Cenac Jr. with the 28th overall pick. A former five-star recruit, Cenac was viewed as a potential preseason top-10 pick, due to his tools and upside alone. Cenac didn’t take a leap production wise that many were hoping during his only season at Houston, but he remains a tremendous talent who could thrive with the right organization. He’s going to have some jaw-dropping moments, but Cenac landing with the Celtics couldn’t be a better hope for both sides.

Don’t overlook second round pick Dillon Mitchell as well. Another former five-star recruit, Mitchell was the poster-child prospect for “if the shot comes around…” throughout his collegiate career. The shot never did on a consistent basis, but Mitchell also figured out how to become a two-way weapon without it. He’s an athletic freak who flies around and causes nightmares on the defensive side of the ball. Mitchell has figured out how to make an impact without the shot offensively, including some serious strides as a playmaker. He’s going to be one that requires your full attention whenever he’s on the court, as he’s a highlight machine.

Some interesting notables to keep an eye on throughout this roster as well. Milos Uzan was teammates with Cenac and was a popular sleeper in NBA Draft circles going back to last year. Uzan is a plus-sized floor general who plays tough and is coming off a bit of a down year. There’s playmaking chops and real defensive ability to his game. Tucker DeVries was a bucket-getting machine in college. He’s a burly wing with underrated playmaking ability who can get red-hot in a hurry. DeVries dealt with numerous injuries throughout his collegiate career but has always been able to put the ball in the basket. Curtis Jones is a bit of a wildcard to monitor as well. The former Iowa State product was a heck of an asset off the bench as a senior and put up some impressive numbers last year in the G League. He could be a wildcard to get an extended look by the Celtics.

Don’t forget about Celtics second-year big man Amari Williams. After turning heads with some impressive play in Maine last year, Williams got a little bit of run with the Celtics during the regular season. The hope is that Williams is able to take a leap, and cement himself as another intriguing option in the frontcourt for the Celtics. He’s a versatile defensive piece with serious playmaking chops.

The one to watch out for is second-year wing Hugo Gonzalez. Time will tell just how much run Gonzalez gets, as he’s been participating with Spain in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Gonzalez was a pleasant surprise for the Celtics as a rookie and looks to be a serious piece for the organization moving forward. He’s got the tools to be a big-time leap candidate this year, and it will be interesting if Boston is wanting to have him get more on-ball reps throughout Summer League, as his playmaking ability is just waiting to be unleashed.

BROOKLYN NETS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Mikel Brown Jr. (6th), Joshua Jefferson (28th), Tyler Bilodeau (43rd)

• NOTABLES: Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf*, Danny Wolf

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Egor Demin

Another strong NBA Draft class and the Brooklyn Nets are starting to put together an exciting roster of young talent. Because of the plethora of picks the Nets have had over the last two years, you can put the Nets in the “wagon alert” column for those keeping track at home. Let’s get into this monster.

Despite taking a plethora of guards in the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooklyn chose wisely to go the “BPA” route in this years draft. The Nets selected Mikel Brown Jr. with the sixth overall pick, giving them a dangerous floor general with serious offensive firepower. Brown has the tools and ability to be one of the best guards in the draft. After dealing with some back injury issues throughout his freshman season, Brown was cleared at the NBA Draft combine and should be good to go. The playmaking and floor spacing of Brown alone are sensational. But getting him as much reps as possible in Summer League, when it comes to adjusting to the speed, will be as valuable as ever for this Nets team. He’s a bet to put up some very fun numbers throughout Summer League.

Brooklyn added Iowa State senior Joshua Jefferson with their second selection in the first round. Although not officially on the roster (below), Jefferson is expected to be added once trades are finalized (get ready for a lot of that folks). The Nets have clearly invested in drafting some high feel playmakers across the board in their last two drafts. But Jefferson has some of the most impressive vision and feel of the bunch. I like to say that Jefferson has “old-man” game. He’s not the greatest athlete, but beats opponents with his mind and anticipation. If his shot can be consistent from outside, he’s going to be a valuable piece on the court.

Don’t overlook second-round selection Tyler Bilodeau as well. The former UCLA product is an absolute sniper on the floor with good size and should be a fun addition to the roster that can develop into a reliable rotation piece. It will be interesting to see the growth in Danny Wolf’s game after an up-and-down rookie season. Wolf has the tools to be a player that could take a nice step in his game as a sophomore. He could be a sneaky candidate to make some noise early on in Summer League.

After some flashes throughout his rookie year, fans should be paying close attention to second-year wing Drake Powell. A raw product out of North Carolina, Powell is a talent that looked as if he could be a classic “when things start to click…” hopefully in his second or third year. If the offensive growth starts to show up, things are going to get exciting for Nets fans.

The one to watch out for is second-year wing Egor Demin. All things considered, Demin had a fantastic rookie season in terms of showcasing promising flashes to build off of. The fact that Demin shot 38.5% last year from three on 6.2 attempts per game is remarkable considering his body of work in college. If Demin can start to showcase improvements in his handling and creation, Nets fans are going to be in for quite a ride.

He’s a contender to have a “short” Summer League and is flirting with an early nomination for the “Too Good for Summer League” list. (If you know, you know)

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Hannes Steinbach (14th), Christian Anderson (18th)

• NOTABLES: Tidjane Salaun, Liam McNeeley, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Michael Ajayi, Kylan Boswell

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Liam McNeeley

Charlotte is starting to build something exciting folks. After an impressive 2025 NBA Draft class, led by monster Kon Knueppel, the Hornets had themselves another strong draft haul this year. Because of it, the Hornets look to have themselves a strong unit ahead of Summer League.

The Hornets got one of the top rebounding bigs in this years class in Hannes Steinbach. The former international product is going to be a force around the basket, as he’s a garbage man who is always ready to take out the trash. Although they were rare, Steinbach showcased some eye-opening flashes with playmaking at Washington. It will be interesting to see if he has a little more “freedom” to showcase that part of his game throughout Summer League. Charlotte added to their backcourt with their second pick of the first round, adding Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson. An absolute sharpshooter from outside, Anderson was one of the best pick-and-roll ball handlers in the 2026 draft class. He’s going to need to add to his frame eventually, as well as work on his self-creation, but Anderson has the tools to be a solid get for the Hornets. Anderson and Steinbach spent time together playing for Germany in FIBA play, so seeing them together on the court again will be a fun one-two punch.

A couple of second-year players for the Hornets find themselves on the Summer League roster. Ryan Kalkbrenner should be a fun one to watch. Kalkbrenner showed some good flashes throughout his rookie year and will be hoping to prove he’s worthy of getting some extended minutes this season. The sneaky one to watch out for is Sion James. These are the type of players that really start to blossom in their second or third season. James averaged 22.5 minutes per game last year as a rookie, which is a promising development for a second round selection. If the game continues to progress, he could become even a more consistent part of the rotation.

It’s going to be a BIG Summer League for third-year forward Tijdane Salaun. The former 6th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft had some promising moments last year. But the time for Salaun to start showcasing some serious strides forward is now. The hope for Hornets fans is that Salaun can “pop” off the screen and look like a player who could “show enough” early on to have his Summer League cut short.

The one to watch out for is second-year forward Liam McNeeley. Plenty of attention was focused on Rookie of the Year runner-up Kon Knueppel last year. But McNeeley is still a big-time prospect who is a candidate to showcase some big strides after a full offseason. If McNeeley can showcase big improvements, it’s going to be another dangerous rotation piece for this Charlotte Hornets team that is quickly on the rise.

CHICAGO BULLS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Caleb Wilson (4th), Dailyn Swain (15th)

• NOTABLES: Noa Essengue, Tobe Awaka, Donovan Atwell, Jaylin Sellers

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Caleb Wilson

“What do the five fingers say to the face? SLAP” Alright, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. The Chicago Bulls are up next and boy, it’s going to be an exciting draft class to watch out for.

Chicago landed one of the top prizes of the 2026 NBA Draft with Caleb Wilson. In case you forget, Bulls fans have had some success during the organizations history when it comes to high-flying athletic freaks from the University of North Carolina. Wilson has as much upside as any prospect in this class. He’s a psychotic competitor with a rare combination of length and fluidity on the court. Wilson is a monster on the glass and has some fantastic footwork to set up defenders. He’s going to be at the top of the list when it comes to “don’t blink while watching because you might miss something special” when Caleb is on the court. There’s going to be some rawness, and that’s expected with Wilson. The defensive side of the ball has some work to do with consistency, but Wilson will also have a couple of defensive sequences that have you scrambling to pick your jaw up off the ground. Buckle up Bulls fans and enjoy the ride.

I loved the swing Chicago took with their second first-round selection in Texas wing Dailyn Swain. Although a junior, Swain won’t turn 21 until the final days of Summer League. Swain intrigued NBA scouts when he was at Xavier and was more of a pitbull defensive playmaker. After eventually transferring to Texas to follow in the footsteps of head coach Sean Miller, Swain got to showcase some fantastic creation ability for the Longhorns this year. The shot is the swing-skill, and always has been for Swain. It will be interesting to see how Swain does without such a high usage, as he was basically the first, second and third option for Texas last year.

Couple of quick hitters deserve some spotlight. Texas Tech guard Donovan Atwell can light it up and will be a fun microwave scorer to keep an eye on. Arizona senior big man Tobe Awaka is a sleeper to watch out for. Awaka has a gift for being a bad man on the glass. Despite some offensive question marks, Awaka knows how to impact the game and was a gigantic reason for Arizona’s big season last year. He’s on a two-way deal with the Bulls and could be an intriguing one to monitor as a potential rotation asset. Jaylin Sellers is coming off a big year from Providence and is another tough guard who could pop a bit.

The one to keep a close eye on is second-year forward Noa Essengue. Throughout the offseason, the rumor mill has suggested a growth spurt for Essengue. Honeslty, at this rate…the legend might have him at 7’9”. On a serious note, the former 12th overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft needs to get some serious Summer League run under his belt. Essengue was expected to be a bit of a “project” due to his youth, frame, and general rawness. But a shoulder injury in December saw him miss the majority of his rookie year. The hope for Bulls fans is that Essengue can played a lengthy amount of minutes and showcase some growth.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Meleek Thomas (34th)

• NOTABLES: Ernest Udeh Jr., Xaivian Lee, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Tristan Enaruna, Malaki Branham

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Meleek Thomas

Cleveland is a team that is expected to potentially be running back a majority of their roster for the upcoming season. For now, it looks as if the Cavaliers are going to be trying to groom some of their talent in the hopes of creating some rotation assets with upside.

I thought Cleveland got some great value with moving back in the draft and still landing Meelek Thomas early in the second round. Thomas is a bucket-getting machine who can light it up in a hurry. He’s gifted when it comes to his ability to make incredibly difficult and off balanced shots look natural. Thomas had a solid start to the year for Arkansas. Eventually he hit a bit of a wall before pushing through and finishing the season out strong. Thomas has the frame of more of an NBA point guard, despite the game of an off-ball two. So adding strength is going to be key for his development. But I think there’s good poential here for the Cavaliers to work with. He’s going to be a fun one to watch progress throughout summer league.

Ernest Udeh Jr. will be an interesting one to watch. Udeh has the tools to figure out a way to be a nice rotation asset in the league. He’s got great measurables and can really do some damage around the basket. Xaivian Lee was a box score machine at Providence before spending his final season at Florida. His frame is going to need to fill out, but Lee has some versatility to his game that should make him an exciting watch in Las Vegas. Nae’Qwan Tomlin finds himself back on the Cavaliers Summer League roster. Tomlin put forth some eye-opening performances at last year’s Summer League, eventually earning himself a spot on the Cavaliers roster. The hope is that his game can take another step forward.

Tristan Enaruna is another name to watch out for. He spent most of the year last year in the G League with the Cleveland Charge. If the three-point shot can showcase some strides, Enaruna could surprise some folks. Malaki Branham find himself on the Cavaliers Summer League roster as well. The former 20th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft has bounced around the league recently and could be one out to showcase he deserves serious recognition for the main roster.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Morez Johnson Jr. (9th), Sergio de Larrea (25th), Tobi Lawal (48th), Vsevolod Ishchenko (56th)

• NOTABLES: Coope…just kidding. Ryan Nembhard, John Poulakidas

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Sergio De Larrea

The Dallas Mavericks have had an exciting offseason, adding a new front office and head coach to the mix. On top of that, the Mavericks were busy in the draft, adding a total of four intriguing prospects to monitor.

Dallas landed one of my favorite prospects in this class in Morez Johnson Jr. with the 9th overall pick. While there was plenty of connections to new head coach Duty May, Morez will be a table setter for the Mavericks for years to come. For Mavericks fans, I would stress patience with Johnson, especially at Summer League. We don’t often see bigs put up “sexy” box scores at Summer League due to the style of play. Instead, just focus on the game by game progression, and the level of impact. Johnson will be a defensive piece to get excited about, with plenty of offensive game that is starting to rise to the surface.

Second year wing John Poulakidas became a fantastic find for the Mavericks last year, especially after some strong play in the second half of the season. He will be a fun one to watch out for, as Poulakidas could carve out a consistent role in the rotation if he can showcase his game continues to be on the rise.

Former Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal is a generational type of athlete. He’s a bit raw offensively, but Lawal knows where to impact the game. He’s going to need to be a high level defensive piece if he wants a chance to carve out a consistent role. If anything, Lawal will have fans on the edge of their seats the moment he steps onto the floor. The athleticism is that freakish.

Ryan Nembhard finds himself on the roster for another Summer League and he should be leaned upon heavily as the table setter for the Mavericks in Vegas. Nembhard was a great find for the Mavericks last year, as he’s a fantastic change of pace guard with outstanding playmaking ability. Despite being undersized, Nembhard has the tools to be a consistent rotation piece on this roster for the foreeseaable future.

Mavericks fans should get familiar with Vsevolod Ishchenko. He’s a bit of a late bloomer after an eye-opening growth spurt over the last couple of years, but this is a legit talent that could find a way to eventually stick. Ischenko has good athleticism and really took some strides as a shooter. He’s a fun one to monitor throughout Summer League if he can pop early.

The one to watch out for is international guard Sergio De Larrea. There’s a lot of tools with Sergio’s game and he’s been a name on the rise in the scouting world over the last couple of years. The size, playmaking and shooting growth suggest that De Larrea could be a piece that comes over and gets run as a rookie. Summer League should be a good “measuring stick” to just how ready he could be. Sergio has been playing oveerseas currently in the FIBA Qualifiers, so time will tell when he will make his official SL debut.

DENVER NUGGETS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Trevon Brazile (35th), Bryce Hopkins (49th)

• NOTABLES: Aaron Nkrumah, Mark Mitchell Jr., KJ Simpson, Mark Sears, Rylan Griffen

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Bryce Hopkins

Denver has a bit of a wild Summer League roster that might have you saying “I remember that name…” The Nuggets traded back out of the first round and added a couple of intriguing second round selections in the 2026 class. Former Arkansas forward Trevn Brazile will be one of the major ones to watch out for. Brazile has the tools to be a legit forward who can stick on a roster and be a rotation asset. He’s a lengthy stretch-big with great athleticism who thrives as a lob threat. Brazile can also step out and space the floor, giving him some legit upside as a versatile two-man option.

I think there could be a bit of a sleeper here for Denver Nuggets fans when it comes to Bryce Hopkins. The former Providence product was an absolute bucket with the Friars before eventually ending up at St. John’s. Hopkins shocked me at the NBA Draft combine with his physical transformation. Throughout his collegiate career, he was more of a player who overpowered defenders with his frame. Now, looking slimmed down, it looks as if Hopkins might try to be more of a 3, which could be a fascinating development given his skillset. I thought that was a sneaky fun second round pick to keep an eye on moving forward.

A couple of intriguing “don’t overlook them” players appear on this Summer League roster as well. Aaron Nkrumah was a name that was buzzing as a potential early second round draft pick. Nkrumah has some work to do consistently on the offensive side of the ball but he is an ABSOLUTE ball hawk defensively. He should be a fun “mini-project” for the Nuggets, because the size and defensive juice give him some serious intrigue. Mark Mitchell Jr. has some measurables that you dream of in a forward. After more of a play finisher at Duke, Mitchell ended up his collegiate career at Missouri. There’s still some intriguing versatility that could be leaned upon in a specific area at the NBA-level. A pair of fesity floor generals find themselves on the Nuggets roster in Mark Sears and KJ Simpson.

Simpson spent most of his rookie year with the Charlotte Hornets last year, before ending up on a two-way with the Nuggets. Sears spent some time with the Milwaukee Bucks last year and will be trying to showcase that the offensive versatility is taking a step forward. Rylan Griffen is another intriguing one to keep an eye on. The former Alabama product spent a year with Kansas before ending his collegiate career at Texas A&M. He’s coming off a promising year when it comes to the outside shot and it will be interesting to see if there’s still some tools to unlock with his game.

DETROIT PISTONS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Ebuka Okorie (17th), Ugonna Onyenso (53rd)

• NOTABLES: Chaz Lanier, Jaden Henley, Isaac Jones

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Ebuka Okorie

Coming off a sensational year, the Detroit Pistons look to be hoping to take another step forward towards contending in the Eastern Conference.

The “sophomore” to watch out for is second year wing Chaz Lanier. The hope is that Lanier can be ready to take a big step forward and give Detroit another dangerous bucket-getting machine in the rotation. He spent most of his rookie season in the G League with the Motor City Cruise and should be a key name to watch out for.

Jaden Henley is a versatile piece to monitor if you’re looking for a sleeper to pop. Henley is coming off a strong year at GCU and has the frame and versatility to intrigue. Isaac Jones will be another one to watch for Pistons fans. Jones is on a two-way with Detroit after spending most of his first two seasons in the G League. If the outside shot can showcase some consistency, Jones has the versatility to intrigue as a legit roster candidate.

I thought Detroit got an underrated big in the second round in former Virginia product Ugonna Onyenso. Despite being a senior, Onyenso is still just 21-years-old and has the tools to be a promising upside piece as a rotation big. Onyenso has a pretty vanilla role on the offensive side of the ball, but he has some special abilities as a defensive big. In terms of rotational depth, Onyenso has legit tools to work with to make him an asset longterm.

The one to watch out for here is Ebuka Okorie. Detroit desperately needed some more firepower in the backcourt to give Cade Cunningham some help last year. Okorie is coming off a sensational season for Stanford and put up some eye-opening numbers against elite competition. Many want to see if the Okorie production is “legit.” If it is, Detroit could have themselves a heck of a weapon in the backcourt with Cunningham. Okorie has fighterjet speed in the open court but always seems to have another gear in his back pocket just in case. If the outside shot is consistent, he’s going to be a player who could put up some wild box scores in Vegas and beyond.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Yaxel Lendeborg (11th), Lajae Jones (54th)

• NOTABLES: Will Richard, Graham Ike, Nick Boyd

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Yaxel Lendeborg

There’s some exciting pieces on this Golden State Warriors roster. Personally, I think there’s two names who could earn some serious minutes this year in the rotation.

Let’s shed some light on some of the other sleepers to monitor. Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd was an absolute bucket getting machine last year. Despite being an older prospect (25-years-old), Boyd saw tremendous growth in his scoring last year. He averaged 20.7 points per game while posting splits of 48/36/83. I would keep a close eye on former Wyoming and Gonzaga big man Graham Ike. He’s a productive machine and has a fantastic frame as a potential rotation asset. Ike knows what he is on the basketball court (underrated aspect), and knows how to make the best of it. If he can showcase a little more pop as a defensive anchor, I think there’s a real shot he can earn a spot for an “extended look” by Golden State.

Golden State added Lajae Jones in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Coming off a solid final season at Florida State, Jones was viewed by some as a popular deep sleeper heading into the draft. He’s going to be one I’m fascinated to monitor in terms of a game-by-game basis at Summer League.

I thought Will Richard showcased some fantastic stuff last year, both at Summer League and during brief stints in the Regular season. Richard is the perefect type of player that is primed to take a serious step forward when it comes to a potential sophomore leap. The reason why I’m so high on Richard as a piece for the Warriors is the match of scheme + players strengths. Richard already showcased he’s starting to fit this Warriors system perfectly. With Golden State having a roster that needs some players to step up and bolster their rotation, I think Richard can be one of those guys this year.

The one to watch out for is rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg. I thought Golden State’s first round selection was the most fascinating pick in the entire draft leading up to draft day. Despite many wondering if Golden State should swing for upside or a higher floor selection at #11, I though Lendeborg fit both areas perfectly. Lendeborg has the mentality makeup and versatility on the court to be a perfect fit early on as a rookie for Golden State. He’s a player who plays with extreme toughness and is going to be willing to play a wide range of roles for the Warriors. Even though he’s an older rookie, I think Lendeborg has the tools to be a big time contributor for the Warriors out of the gate.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Bruce Thornton (31st)

• NOTABLES: Quadir Copeland, Tristen Newton, Isaiah Crawford

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Bruce Thornton

I’m not going to sugar coat it. Houston’s roster is lacking the firepower they have had on display in other years. Still, there’s some fun names to watch out for in Las Vegas.

I thought Houston did a great job in moving up in the second round to secure Bruce Thornton with the 31st pick. Thornton is a tough guard from Ohio State who is a rare case of “wow, he played his entire collegiate career at only one school?!” Remember how those days used to be common? On a serious note, Thornton did something throughout his collegiate career that is one of my favorites with prospects…he showed legit improvements each season. He’s a versatile player who Houston will be trying to groom as a potential rotational asset early on.

I think Quadir Copeland could be a legit name to watch out for here for Rockets fans. Copeland is more of a jumbo-sized guard with legit playmaking and feel chops. He plays the game with a bit of swagger and can really do some damage on the attack. The outside shot is the swing-skill, but Copeland could be an intriguing piece due to his downhill ability and playmaking.

Tristen Newton finds himself on the Rockets SL roster as well. He’s currently on a two-way contract with the Rockets and has been a name that has consistently been on the verge of earning a spot on a roster. Newton has been a player who has spent some time in the G League with various teams before putting up some big time production. He will be motivated to showcase he deserves a legit spot with a team. Fellow two-way player Isaiah Crawford also is back for another Summer League. Crawford, like Newton, has put up some promising numbers in the G League and will be hoping to showcase enough to earn a legit look with the big club.

INDIANA PACERS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Braden Smith (38th)

• NOTABLES: Taelon Peter, Kowacie Reeves Jr., Jalen Slawson, Tamin Lipsey

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Taelon Peter

The Indiana Pacers are looking to make some noise in the Eastern Conference this year. With a roster that is finally healthy, Indiana will be looking to find some intriguing depth pieces with their Summer League roster.

The Pacers traded into the second round to land former Purdue product Braden Smith. There’s plenty of intriguing guards on the Pacers roster, but Smith could be a perfect change of pace guard to groom for the future. He’s got the mentality and feel for the game to stick at the NBA level despite the size questions. His versatility and playmaking vision alone should make him a fun watch in Vegas.

Couple of intriguing sleepers to monitor moving forward on this Pacers SL roster. Kowacie Reeves Jr. is coming off a strong final season at Georgia Tech. The 6’7” guard has a thin frame but took some tremendous strides this year with the Yellow Jackets, especially when it came to his outside shot. Tamin Lipsey is another feisty guard to watch out for. Despite being a bit undersized, Lipsey is an absolute pest on the defensive side of the ball and was an impactful piece throughout his time at Iowa State. Forward Jalen Slwason has spent the last couple of years in the G League and has put up some impressive numbers. He was previously on a two-way with Indiana and has got the versatility to intrigue, but will need to have a strong showing to stick on a roster.

The one to keep an eye on here is Taelon Peter. The second year guard has some flashes last year as a rookie at Summer League and will hopefully be ready to take a bit of a leap for the Pacers in his second season.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Keaton Wagler (5th), Baba Miller (36th), Nick Martinelli (55th), Narcisse Ngoy (57th)

• NOTABLES: Kobe Sanders, Sean Pedulla, Fletcher Loyer, Cam Christie

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Keaton Wagler

A very fun Summer League roster for the Los Angeles Clippers that has a bundle of different toys to keep an eye on. Let’s start off with the notables. Kobe Sanders is a bit of a “hey, I’m a sleeper to get shut down early.” Saunders showcased some intriguing flashes throughout his rookie year and could be a legit piece for the Clippers moving forward. Cam Christie is a classic “don’t forget about me” name who could be ready for a big step next year.

Fletcher Loyer is a dude who can just absolutely play and shoots the cover off the ball. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the game comes around, but he’s a sleeper to watch out for. Don’t overlook Sean Pedulla. The former Ole Miss guard was the G League Rookie of the Year last year and will be motivated to show he belongs on this roster.

The Clippers added a plethora of draft picks in the 2026 class. Baba Miller continues to be an intriguing talent that looks to slowly be putting things together. He’s a stretched out forward with some fascinating skills to his game and could be one that figures out how to be a legit asset at the next level. Nick Martinelli was a beast at Northwestern throughout his collegiate career and could offer some intriguing depth as a rotation piece to groom.

The one to watch out for is Keaton Wagler. The Clippers stayed put with the 5th overall pick and invested in Wagler for the foreseeable future. Wagler has the feel and floor spacing ability to be a tremendous guard in this stacked class. It will be interesting to see if the Clippers try to groom him early on as an off-the-ball weapon, or if he gets a majority of the on-ball reps. I imagine we will get a healthy dose of both throughout Summer League.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Cameron Carr (24th)

• NOTABLES: Adou Thiero, Peter Suder, Chase Ross, Robert McCray IV

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Cameron Carr

Not a ton of firepower on the Los Angeles Lakers Summer League roster, but there’s still some names to watch closely. Adou Thiero will be a fun one to monitor. Thiero was a good find last year for the Lakers in the second round. He missed Summer League with an injury and eventually would get some run in the G League during his rookie season. Thiero has the tools to be a dynamic wing with his explosiveness and ability to get downhill. It will be interesting to monitor how he progreses.

Peter Suder is an interesting name to keep an eye on. Suder signed as a two-way player for the Lakers and had himself an impressive final season at Miami (OH). I think there’s some fun potential for Chase Ross to be a bit of a “wait and see” sleeper. Ross has the potential to be a dynamic rotation asset with his relentless motor and his defensive weaponry. He had to play a role at Marquette during his senior year that was asking a lot, mainly as an offensive go-to option, and he could be one that figures out how to thrive in his speciality at the NBA level. Robert McCray IV is another name coming off a strong final season at Florida State who cannot be overlooked.

Personally, I thought the Lakers got tremendous value when Cameron Carr fell into their laps on the night of the draft. Carr was a redshirt-sophomore at Baylor this year after transferring to Tennessee but he’s oozing with potential. He’s a legit bucket-getting machine who could get early minutes as a rookie if he can consistently make an impact as a two-way player. But there’s legit tools to groom and upside for him to be a heck of a value in this class.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Cameron Boozer (3rd), Karim Lopez (21st), Richie Saunders (32nd)

• NOTABLES: Cedric Coward, Taylor Hendricks, Javon Small, Jahmai Mashack, Walter Clayton Jr.

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Cameron Boozer

A new era in Memphis Grizzlies basketball is about to begin and it kicks off with a juggernaut prospect and a loaded Summer League roster. Yes folks, we have a bit of a “wagon alert.”

Although the Grizzlies will be getting their feet wet during the Salt Lake City classic, a pair of players are expected to make their debut in Las Vegas. Rookie forward Karim Lopez was an interesting get by the Grizzlies this year. Many expected that the Grizzlies could be a team looking to add to their backcourt in the draft. Instead, Memphis moved back and added an upside swing in Lopez. He’s got the strength and frame to be an intriguing forward piece to groom moving forward. If the rest of the skills can continue to take steps forward, Lopez has the potential to be a good get. He’s going to be a fun one to monitor the progression in Vegas.

Another name who is expected to make his summer league debut in Vegas is second-year guard Walter Clayton Jr. After being selected by the Utah Jazz, Clayton was eventually a piece sent to Memphis in the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal. I’m still curious to see what WCJ can do, as I thought he could be a second-year “put it together quickly” type of player out of the draft.

Memphis added Richie Saunders as well in the second round. Saunders isn’t expected to play after suffering a late season ACL injury, but he’s going to be a Grizzlies-type of player when he eventually makes his return to the court. Couple of notables deserve some serious spotlight. Cedric Coward finds himself on the Summer League roster. Coward could be a name that has a very short lived SL experience, as he’s coming off a strong rookie year. Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack are two pitbulls who continue to look like pieces for the future for this organization. I’ll be interested to see how much run Taylor Hendricks gets in Summer League as well. After a rough start to his career, I think Hendricks can be a fun piece to let get back on the right track in Memphis.

The one to watch out for, as you guessed, is Cameron Boozer. It’s going to be fascinating to see how much run the Grizzlies give Boozer in Summer League. I would think after a couple strong showings, the Grizzlies could look to play it safe with their prized possession. Boozer will be a playmaking machine as he is a robot when it comes to processing the floor on that side of the ball. I think it will be interesting to see how much creation opportunity he gets on offensive, as well as how the defensive side of the ball is coming along. He’s going to make Grizzlies fans very happy in a hurry.

MIAMI HEAT

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Ryan Conwell (37th)

• NOTABLES: Trevor Keels, Vlad Goldin, Tre Donaldson, Keyshawn Hall

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Ryan Conwell

This Miami Heat roster is fascinating because I think there could be some legit names who could be contributors this season. Ryan Conwell was one of my favorite sleepers in this years class. I thought Conwell had a season that was impressive, given that Louisville had to deal with some adversity throughout the year. He’s going to be a player that could be the classic “look, the Heat found another guy that’s going to be solid.” I think he could be a solid re-draft climber years down the road.

Tre Donaldson is a sneaky name to watch out for. Donaldson played a bit all over for his collegiate career but for big-time programs. He’s a former elite football recruit that plays like it on the basketball court. If you’re looking for a “Heat Culture” guard that can be a serious sleeper, Donaldson can become that.

Personally, I can’t ever get over the idea of Trevor Keels. I still wonder if this could be an intriguing fit for the Heat. But he’s back for another Summer League run. Vlad Goldin is a legit name to watch out for. I thought Vlad could be a really good find by the Heat after last years draft. After the Giannis trade, the Heat are going to need to find some serviceable bodies in the frontcourt for depth. Goldin has the tools to be a filler for the time.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Brayden Burries (10th), Nate Ament (13th), Malique Lewis (60th)

• NOTABLES: Kasparas Jakucionis, Kam Jones, Bogoljub Markovic, Boopie Miller, Rafael Castro

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Brayden Burries

Life after Giannis begins for Milwaukee Bucks fans with Summer League. Obviously there’s going to be a different mindset with this roster. The hope is that the Bucks can find a couple of surprises pieces to groom moving forward and there’s a lot of names to look at.

Milwaukee took a swing with their second 1st round selection in Nate Ament. Although I was a bit lower on Ament as a prospect, I thought he would be a smart swing for a team with two first round picks. Ament has the upside to be a valuable talent down the road, but I thought it was going to need to be a team that could stress patience. With Ament landing in Milwaukee, the hope is they are the perfect team to give him that path to develop. Ament had a bit of a rollercoaster season at Tennessee. After being hyped as a potential preseason top-5 pick by some, Ament struggled throughout the first half of the season before a small, but eye-opening SEC stretch. There’s a lot of thrilling flashes, but there’s going to need to be patience required. He’s expected to make his debut in Las Vegas as the Giannis trade has officially processed.

2025 second round pick Bogoljub Markovic will be a notable name to monitor. After being stashed for a year, Markovic signed a deal and should be a “let’s see what we got” name for the Bucks for the upcoming season. He should get plenty of run in Summer League, and will be a fun one to watch out for. Rafael Castro and Boopie Miller will be a pair of sleepers to monitor. Castro had himself a strong collegiate career at George Washington and could be a fun one for the future to develop. Miller, despite being undersized, can flat out play.

After a late update, the Milwaukee Bucks have also added a couple of intriguing names to the roster. The biggest one is second year guard Kasparas Jakucionis. After a shocking fall in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, Jakucionis got off to a slow start in last years summer league with the Miami Heat. That was until Kasparas started to show some promising signs throughout the year. He’s coming off some fantastic play overseas in the FIBA Qualifiers, and it will be interesting to see how early the Bucks let him get some extended run. Don’t overlook Kam Jones as well. It hasn’t been the start to his career that Jones has hoped for, after being a second round pick with the Indiana Pacers. But this is going to be an ideal opportunity for Jones to sort of get his potential NBA career back on the right track in a hurry.

The name to watch out for is Brayden Burries. Milwaukee will have a bundle of new toys on their roster from the Giannis haul, but Burries should be a fun asset to groom. He’s got the tools to be a legit franchise building block moving forward and is a tough two-way guard. I think Burries could be a heck of a get for Milwaukee, and i’ll be fascinated to see how he develops, especially with his on-ball reps.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Isaiah Evans (33rd), Trey Kaufman-Renn (59th)

• NOTABLES: Joan Beringer, Rocco Zikarsky, Zyon Pullin, Enrique Freeman

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Joan Beringer

The Minnesota Timberwolves have some big names to keep an eye on, including some that could be sneaky fun contributors for the upcoming season.

I thought Minnesota got one of the best microwave scorers in the draft in sharpshooter Isaiah Evans. Despite Evans not taking the leap that many hoped as a sophomore, I thought the defensive side of the ball showcased some good development. He’s got to showcase that he can be a consistent 3-and-D type of asset if he wants to get run as a rookie.

Trey Kaufman-Renn was an intriguing second-round grab by the Timberwolves. TKR was a productive machine at Purdue and could be a sneaky value get if the three-point shot can ever come around at a consistent level.

Rocco Zikarsky continues to be a fun developmental big for the Timberwolves. He’s trending upward after a strong year in the G League and could be one to watch out for as a future asset on this roster moving forward. Zyon Pullin and Enrique Freeman continue to be some fun sleepers for Timberwolves fans to monitor as well.

The one to get overly excited about is Joan Beringer. This one could be a legit “shut it down” candidate. Beringer was tremendous throughout his Summer League debut last year, especially when it came to his defensive showings. Throughout the year, it looked as if Beringer had taken some eye-opening strides when it came to his physical transformation. He remains a player that is very highly thought of within the organization and he should be ready to roll.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Jaron Pierre Jr. (58th)

• NOTABLES: Micah Peavy, Kobe Bufkin, Hunter Dickinson

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Jaron Pierre Jr.

New Orleans Summer League roster is lacking a punch, but there’s still some sleepers that deserve some spotlight. Kobe Bufkin is back. Everybody is excited about this. Bufkin hasn’t had the NBA career he had hoped for, but this will be a big opportunity to showcase he deserves a spot on this Pelicans roster. Micah Peavy should be a fun one in Las Vegas. He got some limited run throughout the regular season before ending the year on a high note. Peavy was the 40th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and will hopefully be ready to take a step forward for the Pelicans.

You can run but you cannot hide from Hunter Dickinson. The former collegiate big man is back for another year at Summer League and could have a good chance to stick on this roster moving forward with a solid showing.

The one to watch out for is Jaron Pierre Jr. The Pelicans selected Pierre with the 58th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He had an interesting year at SMU and can really do some damage in transition with his downhill ability and athleticism. There’s some areas of his game that need to be cleaned up but if that happens, Pierre could be a great valued pick for the Pelicans.

NEW YORK KNICKS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Jack Kayil (39th), Tyler Nickel (47th)

• NOTABLES: Mohamed Diawara, Pacome Dadiet, Dillon Jones

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Pacome Dadiet

The defending champion New York Knicks will have a roster that features some exciting talent. New York’s roster is so deep that the hope is that some players on the Summer League roster can really cement themselves as potential rotation assets.

Mohamed Diawara is the one to get excited about. There’s a bundle of upside with his game just waiting to be unlocked and Summer League is going to be a perfect opportunity for him to get some valuable reps. He’s a name Knicks fans should be excited about moving forward.

Dillon Jones finds himself back for another round of Summer League. Although Jones hasn’t found his groove in the league just yet, he’s still a versatile player that could start to make his mark with the right bounce. He should be motivated to cement himself.

The Knicks added a pair of fun talents in the draft in Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel. Kayil was making some buzz overseas and was set to play for Gonzaga this year. That was until he de-committed and decided to keep his name in the 2026 NBA Draft. Reports have suggested that Kayil is going to be stashed next year overseas. Similar reports have put out conflicting reports that Kayil could be added to the Summer League roster if his club allows it. Tyler Nickel is a bucket who can really light it up from outside. If the Knicks are looking for a potential sharpshooter to groom, then Nickel is going to be the guy.

The one to keep an eye on is Pacome Dadiet. The former 25th overall pick from the 2024 NBA Draft was selected as a bit of a “wait-and-see” wing with fun upside. Despite the Knicks roster, Dadiet needs to showcase he’s taking some legit strides to be a name to keep around for years to come. The hope for Knicks fans is that he can hit the ground running and show that he’s the next in line to be a potential option on this roster.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Aday Mara (12th), Bennett Stirtz (16th), Otega Oweh (41st)

• NOTABLES: Brooks Barnhizer, Payton Sandfort, Lamar Wilkerson

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Aday Mara

The Oklahoma City Thunder had another haul on draft night, which is a sentence I’ve gotten familiar with writing over the years. Bennett Stirtz was a sneaky get for the Thunder, who continue to look for ways to stack their depth. Stirtz is a high feel, lethal shooter from beyond the arc. It will be interesting to mointor Stirtz throughout Summer League. The hope is eventually the Thunder tell him to let it fly, as he can get red hot from just about anywhere on the floor.

Otega Oweh was another fun addition in the second round. I think Oweh could end up being a great value from this draft, as his NBA role will look much different than his collegiate one. He was a bit of a pitbull on defense before transferring to Kentucky and I think there’s good longterm potential there.

Some notables to watch out for. Brooks Barnhizer looks to be the next wave of players the Thunder are grooming to be rotation pieces. He’s a tough-minded player with some versatility to his game and if the shot comes around, should be a NBA player for a long time. Payton Sandfort is a legit sniper who can get red hot in a hurrry. I’ll be interested to see what Lamar Wilkerson can do after a bucket-getting season at Indiana.

The one to monitor is rookie big man Aday Mara. A rollercoaster of a path towards becoming a lottery pick, the giant of a center is a ridiculous playmaking wizard on the basketball court. Mara thrives with his feel and shot blocking ability. The biggest question remains about the conditioning part of his game. The highs are going to be tremendous, but I’ll be fascinated to see how the rest of the game comes around for Mara throughout each Summer League game.

ORLANDO MAGIC

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Izaiyah Nelson (51st)

• NOTABLES: Jase Richardson, Noah Penda, Malik Reneau, Cam Reddish, Keon Johnson, Colin Castleton, Ricky Council IV

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Jase Richardson

ORLANDOOOOO. This is one of the funkiest rosters of Summer League and I absolutely love it. There’s some fun talent followed by a couple of “wait, who is that?!”

I’m jacked to see what Jase Richardson can do in his second Summer League. I thought he had a very solid rookie year to build off of and think that Jase can be a big asset for this Magic team as they try to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. The same could be said for second year forward Noah Penda. The two should be options that earn a big climb in minutes this year, especially if they can showcase it early on in Las Vegas.

Couple of sleepers to monitor for this roster include second round draft pick Izaiyah Nelson and UDFA Malik Reneau. Nelson is a player that you might hear talking throughout the entire game if you’re going to be at the game in person. He’s extremely vocal on the defensive side of the ball and needs to showcase some development as a consistent two-way weapon to stick. Reneau is a bit of a rebounding machine who has started to try to open up his game as more of a versatile threat.

We’re about to take a walk down memory lane with this roster…Cam Reddish and Keon Johnson find themselves on the roster, as two players looking to find a way back on a NBA roster. The talent shouldn’t need to be described, but it’s always fun to see some old friends. Colin Castleton continutes to be a big man that is on the verge of sticking. Don’t forget about Ricky Council IV as well.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Labaron Philon (22nd)

• NOTABLES: Johni Broome, Duke Miles, Nick Townsend

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Labaron Philon

The Philadelphia 76ers have been in the news for some exciting moves over the last couple of weeks. But this 76ers Summer League roster is as stacked as it has been in recent memory.

This has a serious chance to be the Labaron Philon show folks. Philon was one of the top guards in college basketball this year but slipped through the cracks on draft night. He’s landing with a 76ers team that has some serious firepower in the backcourt, and that was before adding another talented piece in Jaylen Brown to the mix. Philon is a sliterhy bucket-getter who should be motivated to put up some very loud numbers in Las Vegas. Given this roster, he should have the opportunity to do so.

Johni Broome finds himself back for another year of summer league run. Like Philon, Broome should have plenty of chances to showcase that his game is taking a step in the right direction. A couple of other sleepers to monitor include Duke Miles and Nick Townsend. With a main roster that features a lot of firepower, the 76ers are going to need to find some potential cheap rotation pieces.

PHOENIX SUNS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Koa Peat (30th)

• NOTABLES: Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, CJ Huntley, Corey Camper Jr.

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Khaman Maluach

This is honestly one of the more exciting Summer League rosters I can rembember in quite some time for the Phoenix Suns. Personally, I’m jacked up to see what Rasheer Fleming can do after a full offseason. After weighing in at about 232 at last years combine, reports have Fleming up to 250 as of late. Got to love weight gain season. Fleming showcased some intriguing defensive flashes throughout his rookie year and could be a name poised to take a nice step forward with his development in year two.

Koby Brea was lighting nets on fire last year at Summer League. Phoenix rewarded Brea with a solid contract recently and he looks on the path to being a name that can earn a potential role in the rotation sooner rather than later. The Suns also drafted “Mr. Arizona” in Arizona Wildcats freshman Koa Peat. Despite an underwhelming predraft process, I love the Suns mentality to trade up and get a talent like Peat at the end of the first round. He needs to forget everything that was told to him about the shot in the predraft process, but Peat has the toughness and intangibles to be a really solid longterm piece for this organization. If he somehow is wide open and hits his first three, that crowd pop might rival Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Just kidding…but seriously.

Couple of sleepers to watch out for. I think CJ Huntley is a fun one to monitor after showing some promising stuff in the G League last year. Nevada’s Corey Camper is also another one I would not overlook.

The big one to watch out for is second year big man Khaman Maluach. The Suns drafted Maluach 10th overall last year and the expectation was that Maluach would be a talent you’d hope to see some real strides with in his development in year 2-3. Back for another round of Summer League, it’ll be awesome to see what the emphasis has been for Maluach in terms of his offensive game. The hope, is that he can get as much Summer League reps as possible.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: None

• NOTABLES: Yang Hansen, DJ Steward, Chris Youngblood

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Yang Hansen

To put it politely, there’s a lack of pop on this Portland Trail Blazers summer league roster. The main attraction will be Yang Hansen. He was the wildcard last year after the Blazers sent shockwaves and selected him in the first round. But Hansen has the game and versatility to be a legit name moving forward.

The expectation should have been realistic for Yang when it came to how quickly he would transition to the NBA. Not was it only a big learning curve for the on the court play, but completely adjusting to a new lifestyle is a sizemic adjustment as well. After getting plenty of reps in the G League last year, Hansen averaged 17.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He was especially impressive last year in Summer League and time will tell if Hansen is primed to deliver and take a sizeable jump in year two.

One sleeper to keep an eye on is Chris Youngblood. He spent some time last year in the G League with both the Oklahoma City Blue and Rip City Remix. Youngblood looked like an intriguing talent after some showings in last years Summer League with OKC. In 17 G League games last year, he averaged 22.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 45.7% from the field.

DJ Steward will be another familiar name to monitor. He’s spent most of his career putting up some impressive numbers in the G League and continues to look for any way to carve a spot out on a roster.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Darius Acuff Jr. (7th), Alex Karaban (29th), Emanuel Sharp (45th)

• NOTABLES: Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell, Jonathan Mogbo

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Darius Acuff Jr.

This is probably an underrated “wagon alert” when it comes to Summer League squads. I thought the Kings have done a fantastic job in the last two drafts of adding talent and navigating the board to accumulate value.

After the California Classic, the Kings announced their roster ahead of Las Vegas and an intriguing name was added in second-year big man Maxime Raynaud. Coming off a sensational rookie year, Raynaud will be a big name to monitor to see if his game is about to take another step forward. I thought Nique Clifford showcased some awesome growth last year and should be a name that is poised for a nice step forward this season. Clifford was one of the most impressive players at Summer League last year and had to fight off some growing pains early in the year. After finishing the regular season on a high note, it will be interesting to see if Clifford can carry some momentum into training camp and beyond. The Kings found another great piece in undrafted free agent Dylan Cardwell who has been just what the doctor ordered. Cardwell has been a building block when it comes to shifting the identity and future culture of this organization. He’s a bully of a big man who plays with his heart on his sleeve. Don’t overlook two-way player Jonathan Mogbo who I thought was a sneaky nice depth signing by the Kings. If he can impress, he could carve out a role on this roster.

Sacramento has plenty of returners to get fans excited. But there’s a fantastic rookie class as well. Alex Karaban suffered an ankle sprain in practices and has yet to hit the floor in Summer League. He should be a fun one to monitor once he eventually makes his debut in Las Vegas. I thought the Kings got a potential steal in the second round in former Houston guard Emanuel Sharp. He’s a classic player that seemed to get overlooked when it came to measurements and upside. But at the end of the day, Sharp brings toughness and winning intangibles on the court. He’s going to have plenty of Kings fans excited.

The name to watch out for, of course, is Darius Acuff Jr. It’s always thrilling to see a top 10 point guard able to showcase his skills at Summer League. But it’s always one that takes a little bit of “pump the breaks” when it comes to early expectations. Acuff struggled a bit in his first game, but it was some struggles that are more often than not when it comes to that first game for guards. After a strong bounce-back game, it will be fascinating to see how Acuff can continue to stack games moving forward in Las Vegas.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Jayden Quaintance (20th), Tarris Reed Jr. (26th), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (42nd), Maliq Brown (44th)

• NOTABLES: Carter Bryant, Miles Kelly

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Carter Bryant

San Antonio won’t have the “sexiest” of Summer League rosters, but there’s some legit rotation pieces to watch closely in terms of developmental pieces. Jayden Quaintance finds himself on the Summer League roster, but he won’t be playing at all. He’s still recovering from his previous injury, and the Spurs are going to want to take as much time as possible when it comes to getting Quaintance ready to hit the floor. The talent is fantastic, and the Spurs know this. But they should be in no rush to have him playing any time soon.

I loved what the Spurs did in getting Quaintance and also doubling down on another big in Tarris Reed Jr. He’s going to be a big that can give the Spurs some real muscle in the paint with his rebounding and strength. Reed has some underrated playmaking ability as well that took a gigantic leap during his final season at UConn. Don’t overlook second round selections Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown as well. You can consider both prospects specialists, as they know exactly what they can bring to an NBA floor. Gillespie can be a tough bucket-getting machine, but consistency is the key to unlocking a player who can stick in a rotation. Maliq Brown isn’t much of an offensive threat, but the defensive and “glue-guy” ability is perfect for a team like the Spurs.

The one to watch out for is Carter Bryant. The Spurs hit the ground running last year, surprising many with their impressive run to the NBA Finals. Bryant showcased some fantastic signs throughout his rookie year and looks like a talent that could explode as a sophomore leap candidate. The three ball has been trending in the right direction and the defensive side of the ball is going to be his bread-and-butter. San Antonio doesn’t need him to add a bundle of toys on the offensive side of the ball. But if he can showcase that the creation is coming along, it’s going to be a gigantic development for the Spurs.

TORONTO RAPTORS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Allen Graves (19th), Jaden Bradley (50th)

• NOTABLES: Alijah Martin, Chucky Hepburn, Collin Murray-Boyles

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Collin Murray-Boyles

Toronto has themselvevs another strong roster ahead of Summer League. I was a bit lower than some, but Allen Graves could be an interesting fit here for the Raptors. He was an analytics darling and stands out with his awareness on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see how Graves adjusts to the NBA game and what type of role Toronto could have for him early on.

One of my favorite second round sleepers in this class was Arizona senior guard Jaden Bradley. The Raptors have continued to add some fun guards in the second round of recent drafts but Bradley could be a little bit different type of weapon. He’s more of a physical tone-setter who makes defenders play to his speed and has outstanding feel.

Speaking of those guards, Alijah Martin and Chucky Hepburn find themselves back for Summer League as well. I’m still curious to see Martin, as I believe he was the type of player that could take some big steps in his 2nd or 3rd season. Hepburn has been a scrappy defender going back to his collegiate days, and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the game is coming along.

The name I’m most excited to see is Collin Murray-Boyles. Honestly, I was a bit shocked to see CMB on the Summer League roster for the Raptors. After becoming a puzzling evaluation for some out of South Carolina, I thought Murray-Boyles was tremendous throughout his rookie year. The fact that Murray-Boyles was taking and making so many threes with confidence, compared to where he was as a prospect, was a remarkable development. He’s going to be a player that could be shut down quickly, but I cannot wait to see where the offensive versatility is at.

UTAH JAZZ

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Darryn Peterson (2nd)

• NOTABLES: Cody Williams, Ace Bailey, Matthew Cleveland, Eric Dixon

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Darryn Peterson

In the last couple of Summer Leagues, it seemed as if the Utah Jazz just had an absolute wagon of a roster each year. Now? They still have some lethal firepower in the mix.

I thought there was some tremendous signs of an awesome developmental path for Ace Bailey during his rookie season. I loved how Utah got Bailey to develop some legit confidence early on when it came to his off-ball shooting ability. Now, it’s time to see what the next piece of the puzzle is for Bailey moving forward with his game. The tools are still tremendous and the upside for Bailey to be a longterm building block for Utah are legit.

Cody Williams finds himself back for another Summer League run but this year feels a little different. Williams has put on some eye-opening weight in the best way possible and his frame has taken a fantastic transformation. You started to see Williams put the pieces together last year at times when it came to figuring out how to get to his spots on the floor. Now, Williams has some serious weight to throw around and it’s been a noticeable improvement early on at the Salt Lake City classic.

Matthew Cleveland and Eric Dixon continue to be some sleepers to monitor. Dixon can shoot the cover off the ball from beyond the arc as a big man.

The name to watch is Darryn Peterson. After some head-turning performances at the Salt Lake City classic, the buzz continues to build around Peterson. He’s coming off a year in which I never felt we truely saw the 100% prospect of Darryn Peterson while he was at Kansas. But after two Summer League games, it looks as if the previous prospect so many believed in, is starting to look like himself. The offensive versatility has been tremendous early on and Peterson is most likely another strong showing away from entering serious “alright, we’ve seen enough” territory. That strong showing could possibly come on Thursday night against AJ Dybantsa…

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

• 2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: AJ Dybantsa (1st), Felix Okpara (46th)

• NOTABLES: Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Jamir Watkins

• KEEP AN EYE ON: Tre Johnson

We save the best for last folks. The Washington Wizards suddenly have a much different vibe compared to previous offseasons. After a number of swings before the NBA Trade Deadline, Washington looks like a team that is trying to make some serious noise in the Eastern Conference.

Let’s start with some of the notables. Will Riley showcased some serious “are you watching this” signs last year and will be one of the top names to monitor in terms of leap candidates. Riley was a player that started to see the game slow down and was putting it together in impressive fashion. His size and versatility could give the Wizards a very exciting piece for the future. Don’t forget about Jamir Watkins as well. The versatility for Watkins remains his best calling card and he’s got the potential to be a legit rotation asset on this roster.

I thought Washington added a smart potential rotation piece in the second round in Felix Okpara. He’s a physically imposing big man with good measurements who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work. For a Wizards team that is suddenly trying to put together some legit depth on the roster, Okpara has the tools to be one that can be molded into a serviceable backup big.

Everybody knows that AJ Dybantsa is going to get all of the spotlight here. Dybantsa has been one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. Washington believes in the hype, as they selected him first overall in a stacked draft class. When AJ is on, its a terrifying development. There’s going to be some growing pains throughout the year but Dybantsa has the raw tools to be a franchise superstar for an organization that has been starving for one. Don’t be surprised if Dybantsa is an absolute monster, even at Summer League, when it comes to getting to the free throw line.

I know plenty are expecting that Dybantsa would be the clear “one to watch out for” but this is my dance with madness, and my excitement level is higher for another name. I cannot wait to see what second year guard Tre Johnson can do at Summer League. I said it on the No Ceilings Summer League preview pod and I meant it, this is the type of player that was born to be a second-year leap candidate. Johnson has some awesome flashes throughout his rookie year and he’s the type of player that goes crazy with a full offseason to work on his craft. If Johnson can showcase that things are starting to fall into place, it’s going to make Wizards fans even MORE excited about a potential duo of Johnson & Dybantsa for the foreeseeable future.

NBA Summer League is arguably the greatest experience for a fan that any professional sports league has to offer.

Fans get to walk around these various Summer League offerings and can see several games for the price of admission, sit closer to the court than they normally would, and potentially even rub elbows with various scouts, executives, and players alike (especially in Las Vegas at Thomas & Mack Center).

Yes, Summer League is an excellent NBA marketing opportunity to introduce the newest crop of players to its fans, be it rookies making “debuts” or second and third-year players getting more minutes and exposure after being hidden on the bench for a season or two.

But it’s also an evaluation opportunity for those interested in scouting professional basketball IF used correctly.

What do I mean by that? Well, there’s always an obsession with critiquing prospects in Summer League based on their statistical performances and highlight plays, as anyone would during the NBA’s regular season. If a player has an incredible shooting performance, then they’ll be discussed online like they’re on their way to the Hall of Fame.

But if a player has a game filled with missed shots and/or turnovers? Consider them ready to receive the skepticism and heavily critical feedback of the league’s fans and evaluators alike.

It would be really easy for me to just say don’t put stock in Summer League and end this piece here. But that’s not what I believe.

Talk to coaches, developmental staff, and anyone who is around the game of basketball for a living, and they’ll tell you to not obsess over Summer League, but don’t dismiss it entirely either.

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The “how” behind watching Summer League basketball goes a bit deeper than judging a player on makes or misses. There are specific elements within these games to take note of that matter for a player’s short and long-term growth, and even the outlook of their respective franchise(s).

For example, a player can go 1-of-9 from the field in the first half of a game, but as we know in the business of scouting, that raw percentage shouldn’t fully determine whether to call the half “poor” by itself. What was the player’s process like? What was the context of those shots? Were they good or even great shots that just didn’t go in?

Summer League is such a small sample size in relation to any other aspect of an NBA player’s career. Regular seasons are 82-game sample sizes. Potential postseason runs are a fraction of that, but still a much more complete sample than anything found in the NBA’s various Summer Leagues.

In order to properly evaluate Summer League basketball, one must keep context in mind when scouting and evaluating player performances. These players are coming together in large part for the first time on limited practice. Even some players who are with the same squad and coming back for a second or third season are finding themselves primarily adjusting to on-court life with rookies, or veterans trying to play their way back into the NBA. There’s little continuity from a teammate’s perspective, and even from a coaching standpoint when factoring in how few head coaches or lead assistants actually are in charge during Summer League. Whomever is in charge of manning the team’s day-to-day operations may be implementing sets and schemes that the organization’s head coach and front office want prioritized for their own evaluations, but these could be new to many players taking part in these Summer League games.

Past those initial layers of context, there are also the on-court factors behind what actually takes place during Summer League games, and who has the ball in their hands the most. Summer League is tilted towards backcourt play, particularly through the lens of scoring point guards. Most of the league’s skilled floor generals are already established NBA talents, and are therefore not taking part in Summer League. On occasion, you’ll find examples of crafty, pass-first guards who are great extensions of a coaching staff, but most of these guards are wired to operate off quick actions and look to put the ball in the basket at the first opportunity. Therefore, frontcourt players aren’t always going to get as many shots as they could during a regular season outing UNLESS they are featured draft picks who are prominent within the organization’s hierarchy coming in like AJ Dybantsa or Cameron Boozer.

That’s why it’s CRUCIAL to evaluate players past just the shots they’re taking on the court. It’s one thing to not judge a player by makes or misses, but volume also shouldn’t be taken too much into account both positively or negatively, as that too is dependent upon the construction of the roster AND the organization’s goals for evaluating its players in this setting. A player can carry a sky-high usage in Summer League, which likely means that the franchise is evaluating said player to see if they can take on a considerably larger role next season. Summer League is as much an experimental environment as it is a proving grounds for players to earn jobs and opportunities within the league.

Going beyond makes, misses, and shot volume, scouts and coaches are looking at which players provide value to a team past just points contributed. Are they filling in the gaps on offense away from the ball, both in terms of moving without it and crashing the offensive glass to hunt for extra opportunities? Are they running the floor in transition, filling the lanes appropriately? How are they making the most of non-scoring touches on the floor? Are they able to recognize defensive gaps and passing windows, and make those correct reads even if it doesn’t result in an assist that gets logged in the box score?

All of the different layers that exist in scouting players for the NBA Draft also exist in evaluating pro personnel for who can impact the game at the NBA level. It’s not only about putting the ball in the basket, but also the connective elements. Does a player know how to handle a complementary role if they’ve had the ball in their hands all the time at the college level? How can they adjust to different roles depending on the game? Trust me: for some players, it’s more difficult than they’d care to admit to get used to different on-court roles or substitution patterns/minutes assignments, but Summer League offers the best context for coaches and front office personnel to evaluate these players taking on different challenges and seeing how they can adapt to what’s in front of them.

I’ve spent so much time discussing what to watch for on offense that I almost didn’t get through what teams are looking for on the defensive end. As the game has shifted to a more physical postseason, I can already see some of those game principles in play during the first few games of the California Classic and Salt Lake Summer Leagues. Refs are swallowing the whistle more often, meaning there’s room for players to show how they can handle the new level of physicality compared to what they find in college basketball or at lower-level leagues overseas.

Also, it’s not just about how much a player can finish through contact on offense. Can a player show that level of physicality on defense, and really match the intensity of their offensive matchup? A lot of the time, you’ll find that defenses can have greater effect on a Summer League game than the offense, because of all the factors I laid out above in terms of practice time and a lack of chemistry/familiarity. Defense is about structure and scheme of course, but there’s also a major factor of effort and on-court communication that can come easier on defense than offense.

Before quickly judging a player’s raw offensive output, consider the defense said player is going up against. Is that defense well-connected, and filled with veteran personnel who have already taken their lumps adjusting to the physicality and athleticism of the next level? What about the opposing roster’s overall construction? How many bigs are sharing the floor? Is the team more guard or wing-focused on the perimeter?

When scouting the defensive end of the floor in Summer League, I play close attention to the decision-making on that end of the floor as much as I do on offense. Are they paying attention to detail in the sense of timing on boxouts, when to gamble for steals, and timing their rotations properly to fill in the gaps and shut off driving lanes?

I can’t stress enough that basketball at its highest levels is about making the right decisions on a consistent basis. Yes, there are athletic factors and bars that have to be cleared in order to succeed at an NBA level. Also, skill with the ball has never been more important than it is now. However, the mental aspects of the game that tie both together can absolutely be evaluated during Summer League play. Is a player ready to take the next step as a professional? If they are, you can tell based on their play in Summer League. Are they quicker at making reads both on and off the ball? Are they locked in defensively off the ball, playing rotations, and effectively closing out on shot opportunities?

If they’ve taken steps forward in the sense of their timing and anticipation rather than being late in these spots, then these are real signs of growth that are best observed by watching the Summer League action on the court, rather than just box score watching and hoping a player had a scoring performance that’s worth sharing on social media.

One can always learn more about basketball when watching, even during events like Summer League. Your favorite NBA team’s hidden gem could be taking meaningful steps forward on the court before your very eyes, just not in the box score.

I’d invite anyone reading this piece to watch Summer League over the next few weeks to take some of these things into account, and comment back here with deeper observations of their favorite players past just how many points they scored and what their field-goal percentage was. After all, we can all stand to keep learning more about the NBA and its players!

Share No Ceilings

After a year of being relegated to just the Chase Center, the California Classic is once again back in Sacramento as the NBA split the Summer League games between SacTown and the Bay.

The first games of Summer League were in Chase Center, as those California Classic games kicked off on July 3rd before Salt Lake City and Sacramento Summer League commenced.

I had the chance to watch the Saturday and Sunday games in Sacramento in person because Vegas Summer League just wasn’t enough July NBA action for my tastes. Also, there was no way that I could pass up on Summer League games in my own backyard. Here are my thoughts on my in-person scouting experience.

Day One

There’s always something special about arriving at Golden 1 Center for Summer League. Plenty of cities, regions, and countries around the world are basketball “places” first and foremost, and Sacramento is absolutely one of those places. It isn’t exactly a scouting note per se, but the energy in the arena is a palpable part of the experience—especially when the Kings are on the court. There’s a reason that visiting teams from the Arco era through to today talk about the atmosphere that Kings fans generate when there’s basketball being played, and the degree to which that carries over to Summer League games never fails to put a smile on my face.

Enough civic pride, though—on to the basketball!

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***NOTE: trades are likely to have happened in the editorial process, the day of this post, or even while you’re reading this. Please exercise patience if some of the write-ups are no longer up to date.***

I know everyone is going to read this piece and react with complete reason and restraint, right?

Seriously, though, the 2026 NBA Draft class was one of my favorite groups to evaluate. Months of film, analytics, historical context, conversations, and countless revisions eventually became my final big board.

And then the actual draft happened.

Trades take place leading up to, during, and immediately following the draft. Situations and environments change. The unknown suddenly becomes the known.

And if our information changes...

Shouldn’t our rankings?

This isn’t a traditional re-draft. No one has played an NBA game yet, so pretending we suddenly know who the best players are would be a fool’s errand. Instead, this is an Environment-Adjusted Big Board—a look at how each prospect’s landing spot changes my outlook on their NBA future.

Some players landed in organizations that accentuate their strengths. Others may have a steeper path to minutes, a less-than-ideal developmental timeline, or a roster that muddies their projection. None of that changes who they are as prospects; it just gives us another data point. And…

It’s okay…

It’s okay to think about how this new information and allow it to change how we feel about the future of this class. Like everything leading up to this moment in time, this is a data point—something to consider. It’s an exercise. It’s an untangling of thoughts.

It’s fun.

So…let’s go ahead and have some fun!

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#1. Darryn Peterson | Utah Jazz

Darryn Peterson was my #1 prospect coming into the 2026 season, and I truly feel like he is set up for the greatest degree of success. Most of the major players on the team are still intact; the only significant change has been Walker Kessler getting shipped off to play with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in LA. Be that as it may, Utah selecting Peterson felt like the most hand-in-glove fit among the top players in this year’s draft. His floor spacing will allow Keyonte George to work pick-and-roll/pop actions with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ace Bailey. Speaking of Ace, I truly love the idea of him and Darryn working together to get open shots from deep. While he isn’t likely going to be the “lead guard” on volume with the Jazz, Darryn will certainly have moments where he can flex that muscle the same way he did in high school. Peterson’s floor and ceiling outlooks both look encouraging, and he is now primed to prove he is the best player among his peers.

#2. Cameron Boozer | Memphis Grizzlies

To let you in behind the curtain, there was another write-up here for Cam prior to the Ja Morant trade (and this has happened with other prospects, too). Even with Ja now off the team, I still feel good about having Boozer here as the second-ranked player in my post-draft re-board. Memphis has shown to have a reliable cast of guards who can still help take pressure off of Cam in a way he hasn’t known. The wing players are still going to be able to space the floor for him, and allow Boozer to finish with craft and touch. He’ll also make plays from a number of areas on the floor. The defense with Boozer—and Memphis at large—is the biggest concern for me when it comes to Cam. Bringing in Isaiah Stewart helps to insulate Cam, but he will need to show some more nimble footwork, as the best players of the NBA will look to take Boozer out on an island on the perimeter. I’m not the most confident in his ability to keep up in that regard. Still, it feels apparent that his impact to this team on the court and within its culture is much needed, and he should make Day One impacts in both aspects.

#3. Caleb Wilson | Chicago Bulls

I went back and forth on which prospect to pick here, but I went with the team that seems to make more financial sense. There is a ton of space with Chicago for them to add or move players, which gives Caleb Wilson a bit higher of a chance to have a better roster. The Bulls could a couple of floor-spacing big men who could open the floor for him, while having one of the best table-setters in Josh Giddey. Matas Buzelis and Leonard Miller have great positional size to offer up while playing alongside Caleb—not to mention another ball-handling forward that we will get to in a bit. This opens the court up for Wilson to be a rim-pressuring monster with tremendous upside. His passing feel went underrated during the cycle, and should play into some interesting pick-and-roll looks with a number of other players on the team. He’ll need to actualize his tools to get the most out of himself here, but there is a good chance for him to do those things with the talent surrounding him.

#4. AJ Dybantsa | Washington Wizards

I hope people read this part after seeing the name and number associated with this write-up.

The talent of AJ Dybantsa is immense—as well as his upside—and I truly think he has the skill to vastly exceed this slot. But, in the days before and after he was drafted, the Wizards have behaved in a confusing way. Anthony Davis has been speculated to be traded for weeks, but he remains with the team. He could quickly be moved, but I do worry about what this could lead to in terms of construct and chemistry. AD aside, the recent contract extension of Trae Young wasn’t well-received by the majority of fans and analysts. Sure, Trae could help make AJ’s life easier—and he might. However, the appeal of Dybantsa is from him having the ball, and we haven’t seen Trae be willing to play off others on volume. His prior team, Atlanta, was not only willing to move off of him, but to do it without getting any pick in return—and moving him within the division! The lack of floor spacing also makes AJ’s life more difficult. Luckily, Sarr is a willing shooter from deep—and Davis has been too—but neither are remarkably efficient. Again, I am rooting for AJ, but I question how the current roster meshes.

#5. Kingston Flemings | Atlanta Hawks

I was lower on Flemings coming into the draft, but I genuinely love the fit with him on the Atlanta Hawks. The questions I’ve had with Flemings haven’t been because of his defense or his passing, but mostly because of the load he would have to take on as a two-way player. If Kingston were taken to be a primary option to a random team, I would have worried about how that would impact the defensive side of the ball—which is really what separated him from the other guards in the class. Between Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker—those four averaged over 21 APG. Flemings becomes additive within this Hawks system, and gives them yet another perimeter defender and transition threat. With CJ returning, there is no immediate need for Kingston to step in and be the Point Guard, which gives him the ability to give that consistent effort on the defensive end. The concerns about the way his jumper looks have been well documented all season, but the good news is that Atlanta already had (and has added) shooting from multiple players on the team.

#6. Jayden Quaintance | San Antonio Spurs

The player no one knew where to mock fell to the team no one knew how to mock. One of the glaring weaknesses for the Spurs that showed up all playoffs long was how they would bleed points once Wemby came off the floor. The minutes watch for Victor likely won’t go anywhere, and neither will the Luke Kornet on/off numbers. After getting punched in the mouth, adding the player who has the highest upside relative to where draft outlets were projecting him was a smart play (especially considering their subsequent move). JQ’s skill has long been discussed, as many analysts hedged their ranking of him by complimenting the young big’s talent. His intersection of twitch and power is genuinely terrifying and allows him to make breathtaking defensive plays and be a monster on the boards. His offense will be limited to arm’s reach as a scorer, but Quaintance also showed off some moments of brilliance as a playmaker. The Spurs can allow his strength and conditioning to build up following his injury. Sprinkling JQ in rotations with Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Carter Bryant, and Victor Wembanyama could be the ultimate “shut off their water” lineup.

#7. Morez Johnson Jr. | Dallas Mavericks

Morez Johnson going to Dallas is the pick that really introduced a wrinkle in the draft. With Dusty May making the jump to the NBA, it appears that he may have advocated for and influenced which Michigan man the Mavs would draft—despite how “in the dark” he may have been. This team already features Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving—with players like Dereck Lively II, Klay Thompson, and Naji Marshall rounding out the top of the rotation. This allows Morez to do the things that he is good at—defend, rebound, make sharp moves to the rim—while also providing him the leeway to develop next to players with sound basketball IQ. The biggest thing I could see helping his perception with the masses is the development of his deep ball. Should he start in a lineup that features Flagg and Lively, the spacing could get a little murky if he isn’t a player who could open things up on his own. The addition of Santi Aldama be have chipped away at some of Johnson’s projected minutes, but this gives him another frontcourt mate to help out and be helped out by. This placement of him is slightly a bet on him being a solid contributor on an ascending team, but Morez does have just as much of a shot to develop as any other young players within this class.

#8. Aday Mara | Oklahoma City Thunder

Look, I have been one of the people who have mentioned the words “Aday Mara” and “Wemby-Stopper” within a few sentences of each other during the draft cycle. Many members of the basketball community have hand-waved and gnashed their teeth as soon as this notion began to circulate within mainstream draft coverage. I understand that Aday Mara isn’t going to defend Wemby one-on-one. I get it. I do. Really. However, OKC does need to focus on this Spurs team. Most of the answers were probably on the injury report for the Thunder—but, you can’t tell me adding a 7’3” big man with a near-10 foot standing reach, who can pass, rebound, and protect the rim isn’t going to be helpful. Him running DHOs with SGA and Ajay would be a ton of fun—as well as him running high/low actions with Chet, I-Hart, and J-Will. Again, I am not suggesting that Mara is going to single-handedly wall off Wembanyama, but I’m of the firm belief that in order to stop an oddity, you need oddities of your own. Aday Mara is such an oddity.

#9. Darius Acuff Jr. | Sacramento Kings

Part of this exercise is separating how I feel about players in a vacuum from how I feel about their likelihood to become the best version of themself based on where they landed. I had Darius Acuff Jr. as the fifth-best player on my board going into the draft. But Sacramento is a tough spot (not impossible) to project Darius becoming the player I think he can be. There is a weird hodgepodge of up-and-coming players, as well as vets. Acuff and Sabonis as a two-man game can be very fun—allowing for some interesting DHO sets. Pick-and-pops with Acuff and Maxime Raynaud could be a ton of fun. So could lob passes from Darius to Dylan Cardwell. But with the Kings having Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan on the team, I wonder how the pecking order plays out. I’m largely high on the outcome being positive, but I’m not sure on the larger contracts on the team. Add to the mix of confusion that Jalen Duren is reportedly meeting with the Kings to potentially find a new home. Without knowing who will be a part of that potential deal, there is even more ambiguity on how this team will look. This feels like a good threading of the needle of talent and team projection for me.

#10. Keaton Wagler | Los Angeles Clippers

Oh yeah, Wagler’s write-up is another update following a trade. In my opinion, the Clippers were fleeced again in a Kawhi Leonard trade—shipping out the All-NBA player for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and some picks without getting Collin Murray-Boyles in return. As it stands, Keaton’s best teammates appear to be Darius Garland Jr., Brandon Ingram, and (hopefully?) Bennedict Mathurin. Garland is a very capable offensive teammate, but is a smaller backcourt player—placing more defensive responsibilities on the wing players. Brandon Ingram is another professional bucket, and he is coming off his second All-Star season. BI’s scoring prowess should help alleviate some pressure from Keaton when he is on the floor, but he is far from being a primary defender himself. Bennedict Mathurin’s Restricted Free Agency will be a looming decision for the team, too, and will figure into the team’s pecking order and rotational decisions for the coaching staff. This situation just leaves me slightly concerned for Wagler now, as I’m not sure what his role will be on a team that is good enough to have a couple of All-Star-level offensive talents, but not quite good enough to project to be a real threat in the Western Conference. Is he a starter for a middling team? A sixth man? Do we trust the Clippers to nail their draft picks and properly manage their younger players? I still buy the talent of the player—his environment just became a little more concerning.

#11. Yaxel Lendeborg | Golden State Warriors

While the interviews of Yaxel Lendeborg post-draft may raise some concerns about Yax, the basketball fit makes a lot of sense. The upward developmental trajectory with Lendeborg has led to him being a reliable floor-spacer, relentless rebounder, and solid defender. And—even though he is going to be one of the oldest rookies drafted in the lottery—he is still going to provide young legs for one of the slowest teams in the NBA. The chemistry between Yax and Draymond Green will be fun to monitor and will be of particular interest to big NBA media—given the chronicled interactions between Green and other, younger teammates. Stephen Curry is going to do what he does best, and he can fit next to any assimilation of talent, but Lendeborg’s ability to open up the court should make Curry’s life at least a tiny bit easier—and vice versa. The Warriors haven’t been particularly potent as of late, and there could be reason enough to be skeptical of Steve Kerr’s inclusion of inexperienced talent. Given the lack of options for the team and the vast skill set of Lendeborg, though, Yax could be the rookie who actually plays a sizable role for Golden State—even if a super team forms!

#12. Labaron Philon | Philadelphia 76ers

I was high on this matchup of team and talent even before the Jaylen Brown deal! Much has been made (even by me) of the weight concerns that accompany Labaron Philon. After weighing in under 180 pounds in consecutive NBA Draft Combines, there is a major uphill climb for Philon to be a successful NBA player. Being drafted to a team that has developed young guards is a good first step. Say what you will about Philly trading away Jared McCain and Isaiah Joe, the Sizers have brought along Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe nicely—and this should give confidence to Labaron. Not to mention that now they have moved off of the oft-injured Paul George for Jaylen Brown—a player who carried the Boston Celtics to the NBA Playoffs by the scruff of their necks. Even with a rollercoaster-type player in Joel Embiid, Philly has real talent who can be accentuated by a motivated JB. Coming off the bench, Philon can play next to either of the starting guards, as he shot the ball incredibly well for a year-and-a-half while at Alabama. Labaron’s at-rim finishing has been among the best of all the guards in the 2026 NBA Draft Class, and he has shown the ability to defend at a high level. His size will allow him to only be so impactful defensively, but Labaron is smart and can at least be an irritant on that end. Philly played above expectations last season, and there is a good chance that Philon can help them continue to be in the mix in the Eastern Conference—even in a bench role.

#13. Mikel Brown Jr. | Brooklyn Nets

Mikel Brown Jr. is another player who I had ranked significantly higher than where I have him here. To be blunt, there is a severe lack of trust that I have in the way the Nets have gone lately. I understand they “got another first rounder” for taking on Julius Randle’s contract, but Minnesota moved back five spots to get maybe the best shooting prospect in the class. They moved off Nic Claxton too, for almost nothing. There isn’t a ton of defense on the team, and the shooting is in the “if you squint, you can see it” territory at best. This isn’t great context for Mikel as a talent—regardless of his awesome shooting and creative playmaking. He also has the pressure of being the second guard taken in a class where he could easily be outdone by those behind him. Again, I loved the talent, but a single player can only do so much to change the perception and production of a poor team. Honestly, there is a case that he could go lower on this ranking, but I will still hold to some of the upside that had me rank him as the second-best guard in the class.

#14. Brayden Burries | Milwaukee Bucks

Burries is yet another player who I had ranked higher before the draft than where he falls in this exercise. Honestly, he fell to the one team that could have had me cool on his environment—and a lot of that comes down to the fear of the unknown. Part of the trade package from Miami to get Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks was Tyler Herro. In theory, Herro could be moved relatively soon. In the meantime, He projects to play over Burries—and, he kind of should. Herro is one of the more underrated scorers in the NBA, so there is a clearer path for the Bucks to center the team around him. This also helps bolster any potential trade packages in the future. Ryan Rollins also figures to get a lot of run, as he has been a proven commodity for this team. Burries could be an Alex Caruso-type of guard off the bench. He can pressure the rim, he has shown the ability to space the floor, and he has looked like a stellar defender. There is less pressure here for Brayden, but he will have to punch his way up on a “scrappy-at-best” Bucks team in the East.

#15. Tarris Reed Jr. | San Antonio Spurs

As if the Spurs needed a potential “monster-in-waiting” with Jayden Quaintance, they doubled down by getting Tarris Reed Jr. further back in the draft than many were led to believe. While JQ can continue to recover and learn the nuances of being an NBA player, Tarris can provide some immediacy to San Antonio. Like Quaintance, Reed is a proficient passer out of the pivot spot and can be trusted to find the players who like to make cuts on this team. He is a monstrous rebounder and moves better than you would first expect. With the center rotation coming into question in the latter stages of the NBA Playoffs, the Spurs made the ultimate “take your medicine” move by trading up to draft Tarris Reed Jr. a few spots after Quaintance. By adding Tarris and JQ in the draft, and signing Tobias Harris out of Free Agency, the reigning Western Conference Champions appear to be even more dangerous.

#16. Bennett Stirtz | Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder could have almost taken anyone, but the fact that they added another perimeter player made sense. Adding on that they took one of the best guards in the class, things are going the right way in OKC. With Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe now gone—and with there being a strong probability that either Lu Dort or Cason Wallace will be out somewhere down the line—the Thunder likely needed another perimeter-oriented player to bet on. Stirtz has shown the ability to take on so much that scaling down for him feels like it will be pretty easy. He possesses the whole dribble-pass-shoot thing that the Thunder have shown to value, and he thinks the game to a very high degree. With his size and length, Bennett has been a capable defender, and the Thunder typically get the best out of their players on that end too. OKC doesn’t have to hand the keys over to Stirtz anytime soon, which does alleviate otherwise added pressure. However, one can’t help but think that Bennett will thrive in any opportunity that this team gives him.

#17. Cameron Carr | Los Angeles Lakers

With LeBron out the door, the Lakers have looked to add to a Luka-led roster. With Austin Reaves in tow as secondary creator and scorer to Doncic, the winning formula for a team like this is adding a rim-running lob threat, and 3-and-D players. Carr fits the mold of a 3-and-D player, as he has a strong case to be the best shooting prospect in this class. He’s also a world-class athlete—capable of finishing above the rim on cutting actions away from the ball. Defensively, he covers a ton of ground and even shows some rim protection prowess. He is a bit slight of frame, but as he gets stronger, he can help space the floor for Doncic and Reaves to run actions with whichever big man is out there. He’ll likely be asked to take on some of the more difficult assignments, which would worry me in the immediate. But the addition of Quentin Grimes gives Cam a little bit of time to grow accustomed to the NBA. As he gets stronger, he should be able to work his way into a larger role, taking on difficult perimeter assignments.

#18. Ebuka Okorie | Detroit Pistons

One of the things that the NBA Playoffs told us was that Cade Cunningham needs some sort of help on offense. The notion that the 2026 NBA Draft class was so deep at the lead guard position that one would have to fall came to fruition, and that allowed the Pistons to get Okorie. There is a strong case to be made that Okorie has the highest upside of the guards outside of the Wagler-Mikel-Acuff-Kingston quadrilateral. His speed, handle, and ability to get to his spots offer some instant offense to a team that needs it. The questions about his shot and passing feel are finally going to be answered, but I’m optimistic that he is going to show why I ranked him 11th on my board. If there are concerns about his defense, this is the team that could insulate him. But his awesome wingspan should help him adjust to the league despite being a sub-6’4” guard. But there is still an overall lack of spacing that does muck things up a bit—especially with Tobias Harris off of the team.

#19. Christian Anderson | Charlotte Hornets

I feel like I am on a bit of an island following the results of the LaMelo Ball trade. I’ve heard all of the “sell high” conversations that everyone is saying, but who is the rim-pressure guy?! Kon? He hasn’t been one. Miller? He hasn’t been one. Newly-drafted Christian Anderson? He hasn’t been one either. This is a lot of pressure to place on the team collectively. With Ball now gone, Coby White is likely the starting guard, with Anderson now being put in a position to take on more of an immediate role. I’m not worried about the shooting translating. I’m not worried about the connective passing translating. But, is there now going to be some expectation for Christian to be the new point guard of the future? If so, I don’t know how fair or reasonable that is. There is just a lot of uncertainty with a player I was, admittedly, a little lower on.

#20. Nate Ament | Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are actually shaping up to be pretty interesting to monitor. Honestly, they may be atop the League Pass rankings for me. The Bucks added Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jamie Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. After adding the aforementioned Brayden Burries, they were able to add Ament. Now, I am slightly worried that, after facing poor Kevin Durant comparisons, that the 6’10”, tall, skinny, high-upside prospect is now going to be looked at as the “Giannis Replacement” for the Bucks. I just think that will be a natural and almost subconscious connection to make. I do like that Ament won’t have to be the “savior” for the team, as Herro is a professional bucket. Ryan Rollins is a bucket. Ware has high upside as a backup—or even replacement—for Myles Turner. Jaquez is a smart, connective player. Burries and Jakucionis have the potential to be scary as greyhounds to unleash off the bench. Ament has the runway to work on the jumper and to become a stronger and more capable defender. I was actually lower on Nate compared to this re-rank of him, because I did not see star upside—even Jaden McDaniels-level upside. But this is actually an interesting place for him to land and become a best-outcome version of himself with little to no pressure.

#21. Allen Graves | Toronto Raptors

The Raptors made a move that required me to provide a bit of a revision here, but most of how I felt about Graves still translates over with Kawhi Leonard now on the team. Graves comes into the NBA with a relatively safe floor. At his size, the way he shoots the ball, rebounds it, and the level of feel he possesses…it just feels like he will bring some sort of value offensively. His athletic concerns are valid, but he gets an opportunity to play next to Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Jakob Poeltl. Because he can do the things that he can, Graves fits next to each of those guys relatively cleanly. His floor spacing opens up driving lanes, as well as some of the guards and wings to run pick-and-roll looks. The question with Graves on this team is: How much playing time should we expect with a team that is looking to contend atop the Eastern Conference? How much of his game should we expect Toronto to explore with real…aspirations? If the athleticism concerns prove real, I’m not sure how much of a runway Graves will have with the Raptors.

#22. Hannes Steinbach | Charlotte Hornets

There was a significant amount of buzz regarding Steinbach’s standing among NBA teams coming into draft night. He was rumored to go even higher than the 14th pick that was used to get him—though I was slightly lower, having him at 19. It’s crazy how much the LaMelo trade shifted my view of Charlotte’s draft, because, initially, I loved Steinbach for this team. I felt he would start, be a screener and handoff guy for Ball, and get second-chance buckets. Now, not only is Ball gone—leaving a vacuum at the paint-pressure role on the team—but now Naz Reid is probably starting over him. This isn’t to say that Hannes can’t be a contributor off the bench for Charlotte, but the general thought is that the team is now “strategically” expecting to take a step back. So, is Hannes a hustle bench player of a lower-rung Eastern Conference team? And are we just expecting that some shadowy silhouette of a future player to be the answer for the team? Some may hope so, but I’m a bit skeptical.

#23. Dailyn Swain | Chicago Bulls

I’m in a weird spot where I kind of like what the Bulls have done in the draft, but I also want to acknowledge the amount of push-ups that still need to be done. Chicago did the right thing by taking Caleb Wilson—regardless of the outcome. But, considering the number of players who were still available at pick 15, taking Swain is a bit of a head-scratcher for me—and I liked Swain; I had him 17th on my board. This does feel like a bet on the frame and what he showed off this season at Texas. Floor spacing isn’t something this team has an abundance of, and the only comfort Dailyn showed as a shooter was off the catch when wide open. Wilson feels like a lock to start next to Buzelis. The newly acquired Nic Claxton figures to play some sort of role for the team. Josh Giddey is going to man the helm on this team. The hope is that Giddey has his third season in a row where he shot 36+% from deep and could go for a fourth, while Matas rises above the 34.9% that he posted. With Swain, if he could play the two-guard spot for Chicago, he would bring another ball-handler who shot 40% from deep…albeit on very low volume. This would likely be needed in the long term, though, as Chicago signed Norman Powell in free agency. There also has to be some hope that the defensive tape while Dailyn was at Xavier is still within the player. Swain does fit the S.L.A.P model, but if he can’t shoot, he feels relegated to playing alongside Leonard Miller off the bench.

#24. Zuby Ejiofor | Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the busiest teams in the Eastern Conference—bringing back CJ McCollum, working the draft the way they did, bringing in Aaron Wiggins for a couple of second round picks, and taking on Devin Carter’s contract while getting another pick for their troubles. The addition of Kingston Flemings made so much sense and, to a very respectable degree, so did the selection of Zuby Ejiofor with the 23rd pick in the draft. The biggest question I have is: Where does his playing time come from? Jalen Johnson is the star of this team moving forward. The Hawks seem keen on Onyeka Okongwu, as they should. There is no shortage of wings and guards who allow this team to play Five-Out. Zuby will likely come off the bench and be able to provide some high-intensity, high-effort plays—in the mold of an Isaiah Stewart type of player. However, he is smaller, and he doesn’t shoot—so Atlanta will have to be creative with the lineups they look to use him in. Luckily for him, there are several players who can open up the floor for him. While I liked Zuby a great deal (I had him 21st on my board), I’m not sure how much playing time he will realistically get on the team.

#25. Henri Veesaar | Atlanta Hawks

I’m not sure how you could say the 2026 NBA Draft was “chalk” while Henri Veesaar fell into the 50s. Even for me—who had Veesaar ranked 37th—the fall for Henri was unexpected, though I understand how he may have been “steered” to the Hawks. While I was lower on him in a vacuum, the fit with Atlanta makes so much sense. He is someone I can envision playing next to Okongwu, as both players have some floor spacing to them. His passing fits their “our team is the point guard” philosophy. He is a good rebounder and has good touch around the rim. Atlanta was very smart to go after another frontcourt player who allows them to roll out a different look the way Veesaar does. There is a real shot that he could end up yielding a higher return than Ejiofor for the Hawks, too.

#26. Karim Lopez | Memphis Grizzlies

I really liked Lopez coming into the draft—and that’s relative to other prospects and where many had him ranked within the consensus. Lopez going to the Grizzlies made some sense with how they appeared to value size and strength, but he’s already going to be relegated to a bench role. Karim figures to play the 4, which puts him behind his classmate, Boozer. With the Ja trade bringing in Jerami Grant, there is yet another level of uncertainty as to how much time Lopez will get. Sure, he’s young, and he still has time to develop. But, as we like to say, the best way to get better at basketball is by playing basketball. This is where I have concerns with Lopez. So much of the developmental time is guaranteed to go to Boozer. There are still younger players on the team also seeking to improve. Being a young, depth player behind other younger teammates rarely ever works out for the young depth pieces. But it’s not impossible.

#27. Richie Saunders | Memphis Grizzlies

I know that Saunders fits into a similar situation as Lopez, but his archetype is a cleaner introduction to a team. Floor spacing is something you really cannot have too much of, and Richie looks to provide that at a minimum. He has good size, he plays hard, and can open things up for Boozer, Edey, Coward, and company. His injury is slightly concerning, but we know he will play basketball again at some point in his life. In all seriousness, when he comes back, there is a world where his steady hand could serve Memphis well in a pinch-starting spot—even if it’s for a shorter minutes total. He is a scrappy defender, but he doesn’t figure to improve the team’s defense. That’s one area I’m curious to monitor with the Grizzlies, but I’m not going to knock Saunders for that. I’m also curious to see if Memphis does some sort of BBQ Tater Tots dish to honor the spud heritage of the Saunders family.

#28. Chris Cenac Jr. | Boston Celtics

With Jaylen Brown being traded to the inter-divisional 76ers, it remains unsure as to how competitive Boston will look to be next season. Sure, Paul George is a good talent when healthy—but how healthy can we expect him to be? Not to mention that Jayson Tatum is coming into his first full season post-injury. Neemias Queta took on the starting role for Boston last year, and we knew that there would likely be a yearning for the team to improve at that position. That thought process was solidified by the Mitchell Robinson signing. Chris Cenac Jr. could be Boston’s answer in the long term, but he has a long road ahead of him. He isn’t a strong rim protector—which is something that we know is vitally important to how Boston has historically looked to defend. He does rebound well, and he can really move—I think about how well he moved defending AJ Dybantsa when he faced BYU far more than I should. But he needs to become better at keeping the ball out of the basket as the backline guy. To add to the positives, he does fit the Celtics’ offensive philosophy for the most part, as Cenac looks to space the floor to some degree. I would like to see him improve more as a decision-maker—and he certainly can as he continues to develop. My biggest question is Boston’s patience and willingness to allow Cenac developmental minutes during the season. And that is hard to project given their recent roster decisions.

#29. Koa Peat | Phoenix Suns

I spoke about this with Charlotte a couple of times within this piece—that the moves after the draft left me more sour on their draft decisions. The same thing applies here with Phoenix trading into the First Round to take the in-state prospect, Koa Peat. Peat’s season at Arizona resulted in wins, but his standing within the class fell as the cycle progressed. His shot has been picked apart enough, so I’ll move on from there. Koa’s consistency was also called into question. Even still, he was the one prospect who came remotely close to Cameron Boozer’s accolades and accomplishments. I still think he could be the Peyton Watson of this class—being a far better pro than what we saw of him in college. Then the Suns did the most Suns thing ever, and traded for a Michigan State alum in Miles Bridges. Considering the things that come along with Bridges, trading for him is going to come with inherent criticism on its own. Moving off of two floor spacers, some pick gymnastics, and getting someone who plays the same position as the guy you just moved capital to acquire…like I said, it was the most Suns thing ever. Even without getting Bridges, you have a lot of developmental time to invest in Khaman Maluach for a (hopeful) Sophomore breakout. Also, Rasheer Fleming plays the same position. Peat has the talent to overcome these concerns. I’m more so worried about the environment that he is going to have to punch his way through.

#30. Ryan Conwell | Miami Heat

It’s such a Miami Heat thing to do: get a dog of a player on the margins who fits what their star player needs. After moving off so many young players to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, landing Conwell is an A+ selection. Ryan shot 35% on 17.4 attempts per 100 possessions. On open threes, he shot about 39%—which is the sort of shot he should expect playing next to an MVP-caliber player in Giannis. He’s also a very strong and capable defender, with his lowest Steal Percentage in college being at 1.8 in his Sophomore season. If he is in a position where he can sell out as a defender—like in Miami—he can be a frightening, two-way guard. Miami thrives in getting players like Ryan Conwell, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to me at all if he plays a vital role for Miami and ends up being far more productive than his 37th overall selection would suggest.

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There’s nothing like current events to stir up a piece that I wasn’t expecting to publish for No Ceilings NBA.

Jaylen Brown…what a DIVISIVE conversation that’s taken place over recent days based on a quote from former NBA executive and current ESPN analyst Bobby Marks.

Marks, in an interview on SiriusXM, had this to say about Brown in terms of what he heard regarding Brown’s potential trade value from an anonymous NBA front office member:

“I had an analytics guy tell me, ‘We view [Jaylen Brown] as the seventh-best player on a TEAM.”

Well… that certainly stirred up the pot with many around basketball, including former players, analytics scouts, and media, weighing in on the topic with subjective opinions regarding Brown and how any analysis could come to such a conclusion.

Which is why I felt it was necessary to comment on what I believe to be my core philosophy as a basketball scout and analyst. If you’re looking for further discussion around Brown’s value, there are plenty of other pieces handling that specific topic.

My goal is to outline where I stand on the core pillars of basketball analysis: analytics, film study, and the human elements of intel and intangibles. The deeper I’ve dug into basketball, the more I’ve come to believe that all three of these elements MUST work hand in hand, and one isn’t more important than the other.

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In terms of how I’ve used these different components to analyze the game in the past, present, and future, here’s the line I’ve walked when using and combining these different pillars: analytics and data help ASK the questions relevant to a player or team, the film helps me ANSWER those questions by providing the necessary on-court context that I can derive solutions from, not just confirm the problems present. And finally, the intel portion of analysis, i.e., gathering information about a player’s specific situation, role, and any factors off the court, works hand-in-hand with the other two elements to provide additional context that could be beneficial in actually solving the problems at hand OR suggesting a potential solution.

This is where basketball analysis gets a little complicated nowadays. There’s this immense focus on debating which player is better than the other, or who is actually good enough to stick around the league—or better yet, the one I’m most guilty of: which player should be ranked higher on a big board, or is deserving of this financial contract?

These are all fine conversations and studies to engage in, as it’s a way for fans to interact with the game and other fans. Obviously, these are real-life problems teams and executives are trying to solve that affect the competitive livelihoods of themselves and everyone around them within the organization.

What can get lost in these debates or studies is actually FINDING a solution to the problem at hand, rather than just pointing out what’s wrong with a player.

If an NBA player is a bad shooter, how can we identify that while also offering a potential solution to the problem?

Using this as a baseline example, each of the three core pillars I outlined above can help solve this problem, or at least present solutions to said problem.

Analytics are an incredible set of tools to utilize in basketball analysis because they’re able to quantify basketball at a large sample size that’s far quicker to complete the analysis of than purely trying to watch as many basketball games as it may take to solve a short-term problem or complete any historical analysis. There is no human being who can watch the amount of basketball from start to finish that it takes to compare shooting metrics across the entire league within a season, or multiple seasons, to identify patterns and come to reasonable conclusions. That’s just a fact. And it’s a great point that data scientists have repeatedly articulated.

So, having data, even just for one player that’s able to capture a large sample size of shooting metrics across various plays and shot types, is critical to solving the issues at hand because said data gives you an ACTUAL starting point for further analysis. Where does the player struggle shooting the most? Are there touch indicators anywhere else that suggest a foundation of potential shooting success?

Those numbers can help you ask the right questions and point you in a clear direction for further film analysis.

When watching back the tape of specific situations that have been identified for said player in our example, one can start coming to conclusions around the context of WHY a player has shot poorly. Is there a mechanical issue with the player’s jump shot? Is the player not taking high-quality shots, and WHY is the player continuing to find themselves in those situations if that’s the case? These are things that analytics models can help you identify, but they can’t provide the same context as actually watching back the tape to figure out how to solve the problem.

The final component is the trickiest for those not working directly in basketball to actually apply to their analysis, but the longer I’ve been around the game, the more I’ve understood how critical it is to actually understand what TYPE of solution to propose in order to solve the problem.

Intel and context around a player’s situation, be it his teammates, coaches, staff, and people around him, past, present, and future, can all help to contextualize what needs to happen next in solving a problem. If a player has struggled to convert a high percentage of catch-and-shoot shots, has that player been put in that type of role before? Has he been taught how to operate and work off screens, relocate, and play in that context? Or has said player always grown up with the ball in their hands and has only really been an off-the-dribble scorer? What type of role does the staff expect him to play? What is THEIR developmental plan for said player to improve in this regard? And what is the player’s support system and work ethic like to actually put in the time to fix the issue?

I can present a potential solution to helping a player improve in this regard, after having properly identified the areas of shortcoming using the data and watching the film to understand the on-court context. But if said issue isn’t a priority to the player’s current on-court role, OR those around him have other plans and priorities for his development, then will the issue itself even be actioned with a proposed solution?

Not only that, but actually fixing and improving elements of a player’s shot is generally not a 1-2-3 process and requires several layers of work that focus on balance, mechanics, and mental conditioning in terms of confidence and composure, actually letting those shots fly in opportune situations.

By now, you’re probably thinking I went down a convoluted rabbit hole in trying to present my personal philosophy around where all of these elements coincide with one another. But if you’re left asking more questions about just one example above, rather than feeling like I’ve answered something for you, then you’re exactly where I want you to be. Basketball is simple in nature, but complex and layered when actually breaking down what all goes into succeeding at a high level.

And NO success comes in the league without utilizing all three pillars to identify and solve basketball problems. If you’re a player who is focused on the on-court work, I’d venture to say you have coaches or developmental staff who are analyzing the data AND film to outline a plan and help you execute it to better serve your team and win more games. Coaches in the film room are being provided with data to better map and route where they need to focus next when presenting game tape to players. Data scientists are most certainly receiving feedback from coaches and players on what they feel are improvement areas, and their ideas around where to focus next, and data scientists are taking those suggestions and using the data to find those areas of opportunity, which get the feedback loop going again because THAT is where the questions come from!

All three of these pillars are working in unison to create a feedback loop. Basketball is played by humans, so the intel and organizational context are as critical as what the film says and what the data shows. But without the data, how would we be able to perform macro and micro analysis on areas of improvement in the time people actually have to prepare and train? Without the game tape, how would we have any context behind what the numbers say, and how to properly execute a game plan put in place by a coaching staff?

I say all of this to come back to one key point: NONE OF THESE ELEMENTS IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER! Use of one by itself doesn’t leave anyone with the type of analysis needed to actually SOLVE basketball problems at hand, which is what we all should strive to focus a bit more on than just high-level conclusions, myself included.

Will this piece solve the great debate between “Spreadsheets” and “Eye Test”? Absolutely not. Hopefully, I’ve at least sparked some ideas in anyone reading this as to how they can grow and evolve their process to get closer to solving basketball problems than just saying “Player X is a bad shooter” and stopping there. I’ve never been one to try to swing a room on an argument in 30 seconds, because if I’m able to accomplish that, said room probably didn’t have much conviction behind what was bandied about in the first place. What I always hope to do is inspire thought behind a subject and provide a new way to think about a topic or issue at hand that leads to a self-found answer and deepens one’s personal philosophy. And I know I’m not alone on that front, as all of us at No Ceilings NBA strive to do that very same thing.

So to bring us full circle, I ask you, the reader, this question: if you have a strong conviction about a player, what is the WHY behind the conviction, and HOW can you help solve the problem? If you were in the room with said player, or a member of his staff, what would be a potential solution to the problem beyond just pointing out the problem?

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The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, but the dream is still far from over for the prospects who didn’t hear their names called from the podium. Many of them will still go on to sign contracts with NBA teams. Here at No Ceilings, we’re just as interested in those guys as the big dogs at the top of the class.

Today, we’ll be giving the spotlight to the undrafted free agent draft class of 2026. I’ll break down where they’re headed, what they bring to the table, and what they will need to improve to make their games work at the NBA level.

This piece is one of my favorite things to write every cycle. I love the margins, I love the possibility of the improbable, and I love showing appreciation to guys who are still way better at something than most people could ever dream of being at anything. When I first got deep in the world of scouting, it was easy to find stuff on the big-name prospects. But the further down a draft board I went, the less information about the players there would be. I’ve always made it my goal to write the type of things I would have wanted to read, and this is one of those columns.

If you don’t think the undrafted class matters, think again. Want proof? Look at the rosters of teams from the conference finals and beyond this year—Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Julian Champagnie, Luke Kornet, Jose Alvarado, Max Strus, and Dean Wade are all undrafted success stories. Plus, we just witnessed Austin Reaves sign a max contract, the richest in history for an undrafted player. Winning on the margins matters.

I also want to give a MASSIVE thank you to the people who make this column a reasonable undertaking—namely, Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress and Rookie Scale. Without his Undrafted Free Agent Tracker, this information would be extremely difficult and/or impossible to compile. All contract information and player heights come from his site. I’d also like to give a big tip of the hat to our good friends at Synergy Sports and Sports-Reference. All statistical information is sourced from those two sites.

This was submitted for publication at approximately 6:00 P.M. on June 28, 2026, and I conducted a last-minute review at 6:00 A.M. on June 29, 2026. Apologies to anyone I missed between now and when you read this!

Before digging in, make sure you’re subscribed to our Substack. At No Ceilings, Draft SZN never ends, and we’re still going to pump out some excellent content this summer. Also, you can follow me on Twitter/X here.

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Atlanta Hawks

Exhibit-10:
-Isaac McKneely

Isaac McKneely is a sweet-shooting, 6’4” guard who most recently played at Louisville. It’s all about the shot with him, and for good reason, as he’s long been one of the most prolific and efficient three-point shooters at the college level. Across four high-major seasons, McKneely connected on 41.4% of his threes on 6.0 attempts per game. His percentage never dipped below 39.2%, which is pretty wild given the volume and variety of his shot diet. The rest of his game remains a question, though. He’s been a low-mistake player more than a true initiator; also, he doesn’t do much on the glass, and I’m unsure who he guards at the NBA level. If he can add some more layers to his game, his shooting ability could enable him to find a spot in the league.

Boston Celtics

Exhibit-10:
-Tucker DeVries
-Milos Uzan

Tucker DeVries has long been a favorite of mine and came in at 45th on my final board. The most notable thing about his game is his three-point volume. He took 12.5 threes per 100 possessions over the course of his college career, and he made 35.9% of them. That’s a rare blend of volume and efficiency for someone who measured at 6’6.25” with a 6’9.5” wingspan and a 221.8-pound weight. He’s not just a shooter, though. The coach’s son from Indiana plays with tremendous bend and craft out of ball screens. He sees the floor well, competes on the glass, and is a pretty disruptive defender for his archetype because he always knows where to be. Injuries and inconsistency have limited his output over the years, and those factors could stifle his NBA chances. That said, he’s precisely the type of player I’d want on a two-way. He’s big, physical, smart, and fits the “shoot it and move it” mold that so many good role players fall into.

Milos Uzan was the 99th-ranked prospect on my personal board, though I am very low on him relative to consensus. The 6’4” guard is an outstanding offensive organizer and orchestrator. He’s a super savvy pick-and-roll operator who plays ball screens in a variety of ways to keep defenses on their toes, and he can make every pass in the book. If nothing else, he’s a great player to have professionalize your G League program and make everyone around him play a semblance of normal basketball. My concerns with Uzan are that he’s contact averse (career .150 free-throw rate), floater reliant, inconsistent as a scorer (49.3 TS%), and doesn’t bring a ton on the defensive end of the floor. If he ever does become a reliable knockdown guy from three and can take some steps forward on defense, he could carve out an NBA role.

Brooklyn Nets

Exhibit-10:
-Dion Brown
-Ben Humrichous
-Duke Brennan

Dion Brown is a speedy, slashing guard who loves to run in transition and feast off cuts. The 6’3” guard is tough to keep track of off the ball given his constant activity. He made a comical 67.8% of his twos last season, which I don’t know that I’ve ever seen before from a college guard who actually played a meaningful role. Brown rebounds like a wing, too (6.9 ORB%, 17.0 DRB%). The issue is that he rarely shoots threes (career 5.5 attempts per 100 possessions), and he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. He’ll have to get better at the traditional guard stuff.

Ben Humrichous is a 6’9” big-bodied marksman. He hit 36.8% of his threes at the D-I level and had a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio this year, though his playmaking volume was low. There is a blueprint for strong, tall shooters who hit shots and don’t turn it over. Where Humrichous needs to move the needle is that he has to be an excellent shooter, not just a good one. His rebounding and defensive metrics have long been lackluster, though he stays in front of the ball fairly well.

Duke Brennan is a skilled bruiser out of Villanova. He’s a menace on the glass, posting a 15.1 ORB%. Plus, he’s a super talented passer. While his assist-to-turnover ratio was even on the year, I was very impressed by his vision and pass placement, as he can find openings before threading the ball through tight windows. I don’t love how he gets off the floor, and his ball-screen defense is well behind the curve, which contributed to a dire 1.9 BLK%. If he can tidy up the defense, his blend of toughness and skill could find him a roster spot at some point.

Charlotte Hornets

Two-Way:
-Kylan Boswell
-Michael Ajayi

Exhibit-10:
-Wyatt Fricks
-Max MacKinnon
-Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

Kylan Boswell was the 84th-ranked prospect on my board. One interesting note here is that Boswell is still only 21, as he reclassified to enter the college ranks early, so he has more of a developmental runway than most players featured in this column. He spent his whole college career on great teams at Arizona and Illinois. While he’s only 6’1.25”, he does have a 6’7” wingspan and a burly 225-pound frame, so he’s much less of a mismatch target than most his height on defense, where he can really hound the ball at the point-of-attack. Offensively, he’s a poised table setter (3.0 APG to 1.1 TOV) who can get into the paint and draw fouls (.415 FTr). The question for Boswell is his shooting. After making 38.2% of his threes during his first two college seasons, that number fell to 27.2% during his final two years. Simply put, that’s not good enough for a 6’1” player who derives their value from playing on the ball at the NBA level. If the shot gets back on the horse, his physicality and feel should enable him to hang around. If not, he’ll have a hard time sticking.

Michael Ajayi came in at 86th on my final board. His biggest flaw is immediately evident on the stat sheet, which is his 26.1% mark from three this past season. He has funky mechanics and has long struggled from distance while being too short to play the five. The good news is that Ajayi is absolutely massive for a four and plays his tail off. He led the Big East with 11.1 Rebounds Per Game last season. He’s also become a smart middle-of-the-floor passer, as made clear by his 19.4 AST%. Ajayi’s blend of size, toughness, and feel makes him worth a swing to see if he can figure out the shot.

Wyatt Fricks was one of my favorite margins guys who never got much buzz, slotting 80th on my board. The 6’9” wing from Marshall constantly makes things happen. He’s a nimble mover and a super eager rim helper who posted a 5.7 BLK% this past season. Offensively, he has the bounce to send home electrifying slams, and he made 34.7% of his threes on high volume. Fricks is skinny, and his playmaking isn’t anything to write home about, but his length, activity, athleticism, and shooting development are interesting.

Max Mackinnon is a 6’5” jack-of-all-trades from LSU by way of Australia. He’s comfortable dribbling, making plays (2.5 APG to 2.0 TOV), and shooting the three (37.6% on 5.7 attempts per game). I thought he looked super poised and under control throughout the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in a way few others did. I worry that his lack of a “superpower” skill and his red-flag defensive playmaking marks (1.0 STL%, 1.0 BLK%) may be too much to overcome.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is a sturdy, 6’3” guard who bombs threes (career 37.8% on 10.6 attempts per 100 possessions). Coming out of Alabama’s fast-paced system, he’s ready for the NBA’s tempo, too. He’s not a true point guard, though. Throw his run-of-the-mill defense at 24 years old, and he still needs to develop to get over the hump.

Chicago Bulls

Two-Way:
-Tobe Awaka
-Jaylin Sellers

Exhibit-10:
-Donovan Atwell

Summer League:
-Houston Mallette

Tobe Awaka may be short for a big man at 6’8”, but his 7’2.5” wingspan goes a long way to compensate. Despite his lack of height, he had the top offensive rebound rate in the entire Big 12 this season. His sheer physicality and tenacity on the glass make him a colossal chore to deal with. He can hinder smaller opponents with his strength on defense, too. Where it gets tricky is that Awaka isn’t an elite finisher; also, he has little in the way of ball skills, he doesn’t currently space the floor, he doesn’t block a lot of shots, and he doesn’t protect the rim at a super high level. Basically, he’s a “Work Hard Guy” with a single elite trait. There are worse bets to make, and he could become a guy who comes in off the bench and catches second units sleeping, but he’s a bit unrefined currently.

Jaylin Sellers is a walking bucket. The 6’4” combo guard put up 18.3 PPG on 47.3/42.9/85.9 splits last season. He scored in bunches both at Portsmouth and during the G League Combine, too. He’s dynamite shooting off movement, he can create his own looks in the mid-range, and he’s a crafty rim finisher. The reason I’m lower on him, though, is that the dynamism stops after his scoring. Sellers can dribble the air out of the ball, and he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. His defensive effort leaves a lot to be desired. Few can put the ball in the cup like Sellers, but the other stuff will need to come along for him to stick.

Donovan Atwell (95th on my board) is a 6’4.5” sharpshooter from Texas Tech. He sank 45.8% of his threes on 8.4 attempts per game this past season, which is almost unfathomable. Plus, he’s a low-mistake player who keeps the offense moving. He offers very little inside the arc, he doesn’t rebound much, and his defense isn’t anything to write home about, so there are worries that he doesn’t have enough ways to impact the game. Still, he has a superpower, so you can’t totally write him off.

Houston Mallette is a gunner out of Alabama. He puts up a lot of threes and aggressively hunts pull-up opportunities. The 6’5” marksman also developed as a decision-maker and rebounder this past season. He’s long struggled to get into the paint, and he’s never been much of a defender.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Two-Way:
-Ernest Udeh Jr.

Exhibit-10:
-Xaivian Lee
-Rashaun Agee

Summer League:
-Tre’Von Spillers

Ernest Udeh Jr. came in at 60th on my final board, so I think he’s great value on an undrafted two-way. At 6’9.25” barefoot with a 7’4.5” wingspan, a 9’3” standing reach, and a 257.4-pound weight, Udeh has prototypical size for a traditional big man. He’s a killer on the glass (13.1 ORB%, 25.8 DRB%). His end-to-end speed is awesome, and he gets off the floor well, so he can get super-efficient looks as a roller and in transition. Defensively, he’s a pretty freaky lateral mover for a guy his size. He can really sit down and move his feet. Udeh’s attention to detail on defense can be lacking, so he’s never blocked as many shots as his tools would suggest, and he’s not particularly skilled with the ball. While those things will likely hold Udeh back from becoming a positive impact player, I think his motor, size, and basics should enable him to eat innings if nothing else.

Xaivian Lee was my 81st-ranked prospect. The 6’2.5” guard had a frustratingly inefficient year for the Florida Gators, posting 42.0/29.2/76.5 splits. He can get too much dip on his chip as a self-creator and force tough shots. If he can reel in his more frustrating tendencies, he could find a way to stick. He’s a clever, productive passer. Lee plays super hard, and he’s pretty shifty, enabling him to get in on the glass in a way most guards can’t and collect steals. He had a rough final college season, but there’s still hope.

Rashaun Agee is a well-built 6’7” action player out of Texas A&M. He owns the glass, disrupts plays on defense, and is an intelligent passer from the interior. The downside is that he’ll turn 26 during his rookie season, and he only made 26.4% of his threes last season.

Tre’Von Spillers is a long wing from Wake Forest, standing 6’6.75” with a 7’2” wingspan. He’s a super versatile, disruptive defender (2.0 STL%, 6.7 BLK%) and an energetic rebounder. His three-point volume was low, and he hasn’t shown a ton of juice as a creator, but he shot a solid percentage from deep and kept his assist-to-turnover ratio positive. He could find a bench role in time if his perimeter offense continues to develop.

Dallas Mavericks

Nothing Yet :(

Denver Nuggets

Exhibit-10:
-Aaron Nkrumah
-Mark Mitchell
-Giovanni Emejuru

Aaron Nkrumah came in at 51st on my final board, so his only getting an E-10 is a stunner to me. Good for Denver, I guess. The warts are pretty clear—he’s a skinny wing who played at Tennessee State and lives in the mid-range. I love the upside, though. He’s a late-bloomer who posted a comical 4.9 STL%, giving him an outlier area of production that few others can offer. He’s great in passing lanes, and he’s outrageous at getting into the ball at the point of attack. His hand speed and timing are out of this world. Plus, he can finish above the rim in transition (21 dunks), shoot the three a little bit (35.1% on solid volume), and make plays for others (18.1 AST%). He was great at G League Elite Camp, so there’s some reason to believe in his scalability. I adore this pickup.

Mark Mitchell slotted 88th on my board. He’s a physically massive forward (6’7.75”, 7’2” wingspan, 238.8 pounds) with a high level of feel (21.2 AST%). The question is his shot. He did make 38.8% of his threes this past season, but it looks funky, and he’s far too content to pass up open looks. He guards the ball really well, but he’s never been particularly disruptive off of it. He’s a bit too small to play the five without offering the spacing typically offered from a modern four man, but if that changes, watch out.

Giovanni Emejuru is a 6’10” bruising big man from East Carolina who American Conference bigs struggled to deal with on the interior. He’s a bully on the offensive glass (13.4 ORB%) who gets off the floor well and can finish above the rim (60 dunks). He’s still quite raw skill-wise, though, having averaged 0.5 APG to 1.8 TOV while having more defensive lapses than one would like to see.

Detroit Pistons

Exhibit-10:
-Jaden Henley
-Drake Allen
-Corey Stephenson Jr.

Summer League:
-Roddy Gayle Jr.
-Orlando Thomas

Jaden Henley ranked 59th on my final board. The concern is that 6’6.75” wing’s three-point shot has been a roller coaster over the years, and he just went 26.8% from deep as a senior. The good news is that all the other tools are there. Henley is a great athlete who tallied 27 dunks last year. He’s excellent at grabbing defensive rebounds (18.5 DRB%) and steals (2.9 STL%) before getting his team out on the run. Plus, he’s a rock-solid playmaker (20.1 AST%). If Henley is able to find a degree of consistency with his shot, he could become the type of do-it-all wing that every NBA team could use. He’s the exact type of swing teams should be looking to make on the margins.

Drake Allen is an ultra-funky switchblade guard. He’s a super intelligent, athletic player at 6’4”. His defensive playmaking metrics (4.5 STL%, 1.9 BLK%) were definitely juiced by Utah State’s aggressive scheme, but even with that being the case, it’s tough to find guards who even come close to sniffing those numbers. He’s a hard-nosed attacker who can finish above the rim and make great passes to punish help. His scoring ability and age are concerns, as he averaged a meager 7.9 PPG in the Mountain West as a guy who just turned 25.

Corey Stephenson is a 6’5.25” 3-and-D wing with a 6’11” wingspan from Florida International. He sank 39.8% of his threes on high volume while registering a 2.4 STL% and a 1.9 BLK%. He’s also a good rebounder on both ends of the floor, and he has the bounce to finish above the rim. His game lacks connective tissue, though. He gets tunnel vision as a scorer and had a firmly negative assist-to-turnover ratio. If he can better operate within the flow of an offense, he could find a home.

Roddy Gayle Jr. is a powerfully built 6’4” guard out of Michigan who thrives at getting to the rim. He also took steps forward as a defender last season. His three-ball still isn’t a reliable weapon, though, and he’s never been the most consistent playmaker. Orlando Thomas is a 6’2” guard from NAIA program Langston University. He’s a sweet-shooting lefty who gets the ball out of his hands fast off the catch. His negative assist-to-turnover mark at his size and level of competition is worrisome, though.

Golden State Warriors

Exhibit-10:
-Nick Boyd
-Graham Ike

Summer League:
-CJ Gunn
-Reese Dixon-Waters

Nick Boyd ranked 79th on my final board. The 25-year-old guard from Wisconsin lives at the rim. While he doesn’t have the most sophisticated playmaking bag, he’s at least great at avoiding turnovers. He’s also a solid three-point shooter who’s confident pulling up in the mid-range. At 6’1” with a 6’2.5” wingspan and a slight 176.2-pound frame, there are scalability concerns about his play style given his body type and lack of explosive athleticism. Throw in the fact that his defense has never been anything special, and he’s likely going to have to make an impact quickly to keep his foot in the door.

Graham Ike (93rd on my board) is a skilled, bruising big man from Gonzaga. He can bully people on the interior, but it’s the perimeter flashes that are most intriguing with regard to his NBA projection. He shot 35.8% from three over the last few years, hit some mid-range pull-ups, and showed some slick dribble moves you don’t often see from a 250-pounder with a 7’5.25” wingspan. Unfortunately, he’s a total mess on defense, registering a meager 3.3 BLK% while playing in the WCC. His positioning in ball screens and level of engagement will need to come along for him to be effective. At nearly 24 years old, I’m skeptical of that happening, but you could bet on worse things than a massive human being with dribble-pass-shoot upside.

CJ Gunn is a high-flying wing from DePaul who loves to get to his mid-range pull-up. He’s an athletic, stifling defender (2.3 STL%, 2.5 BLK%) who has improved his feel as a passer. The hangup here is his shot, as he only went 32.7% from deep last year, but he’s never been afraid to shoot them. Reese Dixon-Waters is a well-built 6’5” wing who can score inside or out when attacking from a spot-up. He’s got some juice out of ball screens, too. He’s sort of a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none, though.

Houston Rockets

Two-Way:
-Quadir Copeland

Summer League:
-Oscar Cluff

Quadir Copeland was the highest-ranked undrafted free agent on my board, slotting 42nd overall. The concern with Copeland is that he might not shoot. While he made 39.7% of his threes last year, the 6’5.25” jumbo playmaker from NC State didn’t take very many, launching only 1.7 attempts per game. Throw in a career 28.5% mark from deep, and the skepticism is reasonable. That said, if Copeland can become a reliable shooter, he’ll be a highly impactful two-way wing. He was a true point guard this past season, slinging 6.5 APG to only 2.8 TOV. He’s strong, shifty, and creative, enabling him to collapse defenses at will. Then, his floor vision takes care of the rest. On the defensive end, his 6’10.5” wingspan gives him a level of switchability rarely found in players who can organize an offense. His 3.6 STL% shows how active he is off the ball. He generates a ton of live-ball turnovers that get his team out on the run. I get the downside—if Copeland doesn’t shoot enough threes, or if he isn’t a threat to make enough threes, defenses could ignore him, and the offensive outcome would fall on its face. But if he does connect from deep often enough, which I believe is possible between his mechanics and efficiency this past season, there’s a path for him to be the type of switchblade guard we routinely see in playoff rotations.

Oscar Cluff (78th on my board) is a physically imposing big man who finished his college career at Purdue. He’s not the best lateral or vertical mover, but he’s strong, tough, and crafty. His 17.5 ORB% and 12.5 AST% give him an interesting intersection of skills, and I think he’s a solid bet to end up on a two-way or ten-day contract next year.

Indiana Pacers

Exhibit-10:
-Tamin Lipsey
-Kowacie Reeves Jr.
-Keba Keita
-Rienk Mast

Summer League:
-Jalen Warley

Tamin Lipsey (56th on my board) is an analytics darling because he’s awesome at contributing to the possession battle. The Iowa State point guard had a career 4.4 STL%, he averaged 5.1 APG to 1.5 TOV, and he’s an excellent offensive rebounder (5.2 ORB% last season) for his position. His game is about using his speed to get into the paint, making great decisions, forcing turnovers, and sneaking in on the glass. The likely reason NBA front offices are seemingly lower on him is that he’s short (6’1.5”, 6’2” wingspan) and a poor shooter (31.6% from three, 65.6% at the line last season). Plus, his outings at the Portsmouth Invitational and the G League Combine were both lackluster, creating concerns that he could be a “system player.” I get it, but I would’ve been inclined to give Lipsey a two-way in the second round because he’s smart and has a few areas of near-outlier production.

Kowacie Reeves Jr. (91st on my board) from Georgia Tech can score inside and out. He shot 38.7% from deep last season, but he still has the juice to drive to the cup and finish above the rim. He was a clear cut above the field athletically at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He’s really skinny, he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio last year, and his defensive impact is inconsistent. Still, strong character reviews, his movement ability, and inside-out scoring make him worth a swing. BYU’s Keba Keita is an undersized big (6’6.75”) who might not have the skill to compensate (0.3 APG to 0.8 TOV, zero made threes, 55.2 FT%), but he’s a ridiculous athlete who can finish lobs and make a ton of plays on defense (2.6 STL%, 8.3 BLK%). Rienk Mast is a skilled big man from Nebraska who slung 3.1 APG to only 1.7 TOV. He can stretch the floor and orchestrate offense from the top of the key, and he’s still not afraid to bang on the glass. Unfortunately, he’s about to turn 25, and he’s a poor athlete who struggles on the defensive end.

Jalen Warley is sort of a Ben Simmons mold, a 6’6” savvy playmaker from Gonzaga who can sling assists and play good defense. He took seven total threes during his last two college seasons and only made one, which is problematic from a “what position does this guy play?” standpoint.

Los Angeles Clippers

Exhibit-10:
-Fletcher Loyer

Summer League:
-Riley Kugel
-Themus Fulks

Fletcher Loyer is a sniper out of Purdue. The 6’3.5” guard hit 43.2% of his triples on 6.6 attempts per game, and he can sink them in a variety of contexts. He’s also a sharp, quick decision-maker (2.1 APG to 1.0 TOV). The athletic testing and measurement portion of the combine was far from kind to him, and those issues show up on the court, as he doesn’t impact the game much beyond his shooting.

Riley Kugel is a 6’5” wing with a pro-ready frame. He was a really hot name a few years back after a red-hot stretch to close his freshman year, but he stumbled the next two seasons. He quietly shot the ball well and made better decisions this past season. If he can stay consistent and get better on defense, he could get a cup of coffee.

Themus Fulks is a high-level offensive organizer, but at 6’1”, he’s not much of a defender, and he’s never been the most willing shooter.

Los Angeles Lakers

Two-Way:
-Peter Suder
-AK Okereke

Exhibit-10:
-Chase Ross
-William Kyle III
-Robbie Avila
-Robert McCray V

Summer League:
-Jacari White

Peter Suder came in at 76th on my final board. He’s a powerfully built combo guard out of Miami-Ohio who really knows how to play. He’s a savvy, polished orchestrator who slung 4.0 APG to 1.9 TOV and hit 42.1% of his threes. Defensively, his physicality and awareness led to him registering a 2.3 STL% and a 1.3 BLK%. His college team nearly ran the table in the lead-up to the NCAA Tournament, and Suder was one of the best players during the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Unfortunately, he had a tougher time at the NBA Combine. Suder is a slow mover who pays extremely upright, so it’s hard for him to maintain advantages once he creates them against better athletes. His 42.1% mark from three this past year also could be fool’s gold; the volume was low, he only hit 73.4% of his free throws, and he was a career 29.8% from deep coming into the year. If he’s a legit lights-out shooter, he could absolutely stick, but I think he’ll need to be that, given his subpar athletic traits.

AK Okereke is a 6’9” late bloomer from Vanderbilt with an intriguing mix of size, skill, and smarts. He can really put it on the floor and fight his way to spots, and he has great vision (2.0 APG to 1.1 TOV). His toughness gets him to the line a lot. Plus, he hit 40% of his threes on 6.0 attempts per 100 possessions. His defensive production took a step back at the high-major level, and he’s a pretty rigid mover. He’s also long been a poor rebounder despite having a strong frame. If he can continue to stretch the floor while improving his mobility, I could see him carving out a roster spot.

Chase Ross ranked 84th on my board. The 6’4” Marquette guard struggled with efficiency on a depleted Marquette team, but I still think he could shine in a bench role someday if things break right. He’s a livewire athlete who thrives at generating steals (3.9 STL%) on defense and bursting into the paint on offense. If he can knock down open jumpers and improve his handle/vision a little bit in the G League, he could be a dude that we see making an impact on an NBA roster down the road.

Robert McCray V finished 90th on my board. He’s a 6’2.75” human highlight reel who can throw down jaw-dropping jams, and he puts those tools to use on defense, too. Offensively, he ran the show for Florida State this past year, tallying a 43.8 AST% that demonstrates the extent of his heliocentrism. The issue, which popped up at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, is that he can over-dribble, and he’ll need to work on adapting to more of an off-ball role at times. William Kyle III is a hard-charging 6’9” big man who finished his college career at Syracuse. He’s a big-time athlete who always finished near the top of the dunks leaderboard. Defensively, his agility and bounce make him a high-level shot blocker (9.6 BLK%), but he can also switch out on the perimeter. Kyle is a bit short and a bit skinny, which could create issues for him at the NBA level. He’s an okay but inconsistent passer, and he’s not a shooter, so he’s a 4/5 tweener for now.

Robbie Avila is more than a meme. The 6’10” big from Saint Louis is a genius passer and a killer shooter for his height (41% from three on 4.6 attempts per game). The issue is that he’s not strong, bouncy, or quick enough to have a defined position on defense. Right now, he’s too easy to shoot over inside and not nimble enough to guard on the perimeter. If he gets faster or more powerful, he could find a route down the road. Jacari White is a 6’3” sharpshooter. He hit 41.3% of his threes over the course of four D-I seasons. He’ll need to grow as a defender and playmaker to generate more traction, though.

Memphis Grizzlies

Two-Way Contract:
-Carson Cooper

Exhibit-10:
-Zach Cleveland

Summer League:
-Brendan Hausen
-Jestin Porter

Carson Cooper (97th on my board) is a 6’11” big man who has a ton of rim gravity. He rolls to the basket hard and has the bounce to finish above the rim. He tallied 51 dunks last season while ranking in the 91st percentile as a roller on Synergy. Plus, he’s a decent passer who hit 78.8% of his free throws, so perimeter expansion could be on the table here. Defensively, Cooper lacks polish. His 4.8 BLK% is perplexing on the surface for a player with his size, power, and bounce, and when you put on the tape, it becomes clear that his positioning in ball-screen defense needs a lot of work. If he can become more impactful on that end, he could definitely find a traditional roster spot down the road.

Zach Cleveland is a 6’7” wing from Liberty with a point-forward skill set. He registered a ridiculous 35.7 AST% for the Flames while acting as their primary offensive hub. He can facilitate from the nail or generate offense out of a ball screen. Plus, he’s a good athlete who can finish above the rim and create events on defense (2.2 STL%, 4.0 BLK%). Unfortunately, he’s a dreadful shooter. He went a career 4-for-36 from three and shot 53.1% at the charity stripe last year. I’m skeptical of him thriving in an off-ball role, as he went quiet during the Portsmouth Invitational and G League Combine games. If he can figure out a gadget player role, though, his playmaking and feel could allow him to thrive.

Brendan Hausen is a 6’4” sharpshooter who drilled 38.3% of his college threes. When I saw him behind closed doors during his pre-draft process, he had more point guard stuff than I expected to see in his game, too. He’s coming off a rough year at Iowa, and his defensive output has long been limited, so he’ll need to put last year in the past and grow on the other end of the floor. Jestin Porter is a 6’1” guard who brings heaps of defensive nastiness (2.8 STL%, 1.1 BLK%), but we’ve never seen him act as a lead initiator, and he’s been inconsistent as a scorer over the years.

Miami Heat

Two-Way:
-Tre Donaldson

Exhibit-10:
-Keyshawn Hall
-J’Vonne Hadley
-Tre White

Summer League:
-Ezra Ausar
-Nate Kingz
-Meechie Johnson Jr.
-Arnas Sakenis

Tre Donaldson is a 6’0.5” guard from Miami (FL) who had a good pre-draft process. He’s well put together at 205.8 pounds. He’s also a real-deal point guard who organized the offense for the Hurricanes this year while posting a 29.6 AST%. Plus, he can stretch the floor, as evident by his 37.7% mark from three-point range. On top of that, he can get downhill pretty well, he’s a solid finisher, and he can drill mid-range jumpers when necessary. He’s always been a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none, and I’ve never really bought into his defensive output. However, if there’s anyone who can help him take a leap, it’s the Heat.

Keyshawn Hall (63rd on my board) is a bulky, 227-pound, 6’6” wing with dribble-pass-shoot upside. He can really put it on the floor, he’s a solid passer (14.9 AST%), and he sank 37.9% of his threes on good volume. Defensively, he can use his body to make people uncomfortable, and he’s a good rebounder. There will need to be a massive adjustment to his offensive approach. Hall can be a big-time ball stopper. If he can operate with more of a “.5” approach, I think he’s off to the races. If not, I could see him driving an NBA coach nuts, especially when accounting for his defensive inconsistencies. Tre White slotted 71st on my board. I love the shooting and toughness the 6’5.25” wing from Kansas brings to the table. He hit 40.3% of his threes and 87.2% of his free throws this past year. He’s also a tenacious driver with serious bounce who can finish above the rim and get in on the offensive glass. Defensively, he’s a handful to deal with at the point of attack. His feel is lacking, though. He never had more assists than turnovers, and he’s never been a disruptive defender because the timing just isn’t there. If those things come along, he could be a valuable bench player. J’Vonne Hadley is a 6’6.5” player from Louisville who checks a lot of boxes. He’s a solid defender, a decent rebounder, a clever passer (1.8 APG to 0.9 TOV), and he made his threes on low volume this season (44% on 2.5 attempts per game). His low-volume nature from deep and run-of-the-mill athleticism means he’ll have to get more threes up and hit them with good consistency in order to rise up the ranks.

Nate Kingz is an intriguing combo guard from Syracuse. He made 40.1% of his threes in two D-I seasons, he’s a solid decision maker, and he has serious above-the-rim bounce. He’s pretty disruptive defensively, too. He’s never been much of a rebounder, and his physicality needs to come along. Ezra Ausar sits on the other end of that spectrum. He’s a big, imposing athlete who bodies people up on defense and can finish in the open floor. Skill-wise, the 6’9” powerhouse has a long way to go, as he’s always posted negative assist-to-turnover marks and has yet to prove he can space the floor. Meechie Johnson Jr. is a guard who bounced between Ohio State and South Carolina. He grew into a real point guard last season while showing a new brand of physical, downhill basketball. He likes to shoot a lot of threes, but he’s never hit them consistently enough to really pop. Arnas Sakenis is a towering big man from Southern Illinois. He had an 11.0 BLK% and a 12.1 ORB%, so he’s long done some of the classic center stuff well. He’s not the most agile mover, and his ball skills are just decent.

Milwaukee Bucks

Two-Way Contract:
-Rafael Castro

Summer League:
-Boopie Miller

Rafael Castro is one of my favorite undrafted pickups, ranking 43rd on my board. I can understand why he ended up here. Castro came from a mid-major program in an era where mid-majors are depleted. He’s undersized for a big man at 6’9” with a 7’1.5” wingspan and a slender 224.4-pound frame. Plus, he’s not a shooter. Still, I think he’s a great bet to provide a positive impact at some point. He’s a hyper-disruptive defender (7.6 BLK%, 3.7 STL%), a blur in the open floor, and a rugged rebounder (11.8 ORB%, 26.5 DRB%). Castro has a rare level of speed for a center, he’s bouncy, and he plays ridiculously hard. Plus, he’s got some skill to him. He was a hub for George Washington at times, showing an ability to put it on the floor and sling it on the move. I think there’s a world where Castro emerges as a Paul Reed-type event creator/”make stuff happen” guy.

Boopie Miller was an excellent college point guard for SMU, draining threes, getting to the line, and organizing the offense at a high level. At 5’11.25” with a negative wingspan and a 161.4-pound frame, defensive and physical questions are prevalent.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Summer League:
-Devin McGlockton
-Toby Harris
-Aidan Mahaney

Devin McGlockton is a bruising 6’7” four-man with a 7’1” wingspan out of Vanderbilt. He’s long been one of the best offensive rebounders at his position, and he can be disruptive on defense at times, too. His inconsistency as a shooter and passer has limited his buzz. Toby Harris is a 6’8” sniper from Iona. He sank 41.1% of his threes on 6.8 attempts per game in his lone D-I season. While his size helps him stay in front on defense, he wasn’t disruptive, which is concerning given the level of competition he faced, and his offensive processing needs to come along. Given his late-blooming profile, the hope is that he can figure those things out with more high-level reps. Aidan Mahaney is a 6’3” scoring guard from UCSB who drilled 38.5% of his threes on high volume this past year while posting a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s a lackluster defender and athlete, so he’ll need to make strides on that end of the floor.

New Orleans Pelicans

Exhibit-10:
-Melvin Council Jr.
-Chris Bell

Summer League:
-Shawn Phillips Jr.
-Dominique Daniels Jr.

Undisclosed:
-Solomon Washington
-Jordan RIley

Melvin Council Jr. is a controlled, poised orchestrator from Kansas. He had a 28.8 AST% and a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio this past season. He can create for others, and he knows how to do so without biting off more than he can chew. His long arms (6’9.25” wingspan) help him to act as a disruptive force on defense (career 2.6 STL%, 1.5 BLK%). Unfortunately, he’s long struggled at putting the ball in the basket. He went 39.2% from the field this past season, and his career 29.1% mark from long range makes it tough to believe in his jumper. If he’s not a threat to score, the value of his playmaking could be depleted.

Chris Bell is a lights-out shooter who hit 40% of his threes last season while taking 11.6 attempts per 100 possessions. He also showed a willingness to take contact when he attacked this year, leading to a .360 Free Throw Rate that’s higher than you typically find from a high-volume gunner. Bell’s impact in other areas is muted, though. He’s just okay defensively and held back by a skinny frame. His assist-to-turnover mark was wildly underwater, too. If the decision-making and body ever come along, a team may have something with him.

Shawn Phillips Jr. is a seven-footer out of Missouri who finishes everything (68.3 FG%) and puts a lid on the rim (9.0 BLK%). He’s a poor free-throw shooter who had a dreadful assist-to-turnover ratio, though. Dominique Daniels Jr. is a 5’10” bucket getter from Cal Baptist with a ridiculous mid-range bag and a crafty interior scoring game. He’s only a career 31.6% shooter from deep, and he’s not the most polished playmaker.

Solomon Washington is a 6’6.25” defender with a 7’0.5” wingspan and a 240-pound frame. His technique and size make him a nightmare to deal with at the point of attack, but his offensive output leaves a lot to be desired. Jordan Riley is a 6’3.5” combo guard with a 6’10” wingspan and jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism. He also posted a 3.0 STL% and a 1.5 BLK% in a high-usage role, so there’s two-way potential. He’s not a good shooter, though, and that will have to change for him to make headway.

New York Knicks

Summer League:
-Oziyah Sellers

Oziyah Sellers is a 6’5” wing who hit just under 38% of his threes during his college tenure. I also thought he made important strides where necessary at St. John’s this past season, playing with a greater degree of defensive assertiveness while demonstrating improved passing feel. His interior scoring, physicality, and defense still need to improve, though.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Two-Way:
-Josh Dix

Exhibit-10:
-Nate Johnson
-Lamar Wilkerson
-Christoph Tilly

Summer League:
-Elijah Mahi
-Bryce Harris
-Sam Alexis

Josh Dix is a 6’5” guard from Creighton who can add value on or off the ball. He’s a menace pulling up in the mid-range and from three, but he’s also comfortable as a catch-and-shoot target. As a career 38.5% shooter from deep, he’s a good bet to space the floor. He’s a really steady playmaker, too (2.3 APG to 1.2 TOV). My concern with Dix is that I worry he’s not athletic/physical enough for his jack-of-all-trades skill set to shine. That said, he was a well-regarded prospect coming into the year, and this could prove to be a savvy “buy low” move given that Creighton wasn’t an ideal context this season, which may have suppressed his production.

Nate Johnson was 82nd on my final board. The Kansas product is 6’2.5” with a 6’7” wingspan and an awesome 217-pound frame. He’s a physically imposing defender who gets a ton of takeaways (3.7 STL%). He also sank 40.8% of his threes this past season. Johnson’s on-ball scoring and playmaking can be up and down, but he fits the “switchblade guard” archetype that I so dearly love and that we routinely see on playoff rosters. Lamar Wilkerson from Indiana ranked 74th on my board. My concern is that at a bit over 6’3”, he lacks the on-ball creation juice and size that could slot him into the dreaded “not quite wing” mold that doesn’t hold much value. Still, he has a strong frame, he shoots the cover off the ball, and he has some toughness on the defensive end. Christoph Tilly is a 7’0” big from Ohio State. He’s not a great athlete, which limits his output on the defensive end, and he’s never quite found consistency from deep. That said, he’s a very smart, skilled facilitator (career 16.1 AST%), so if he can grow on either of those fronts, he could carve out a role.

Elijah Mahi finished 67th on my board and was worthy of a two-way in my book. The 6’7” wing from Santa Clara can really create. He has an awesome mix of power and dribble moves that enable him to get to spots, draw fouls, and collapse defenses before finding open teammates. While he can be heavy-footed and his defense comes and goes, he did improve on that side of the floor this past season. If Mahi can adapt a “.5” style, continue to grow on defense, and find consistency from long range, I think he could be a home run pickup. That sounds like a lot, but it’s worth the swing given his rare mix of size, strength, skill, and savvy.

Bryce Harris is a 6’4” combo guard from Howard who is built like a tank. He’s a suffocating, savvy defender (2.1 STL%, 3.6 BLK%) who is a chore to deal with both on and off the ball. He’s awesome on the glass, too. He doesn’t move super well, and his shot has been up and down over the years. But it wouldn’t shock me if the OKC developmental system gets him cooking. Sam Alexis is a long four-man from Indiana who can disrupt plays on defense, finish inside, and has some passing craft. He’s undersized for a five, though, and he’s struggled to maintain success from deep.

Orlando Magic

Exhibit-10:
-Malik Reneau

Summer League:
-Mike Sharavjamts

Malik Reneau is an inside-out forward who can bully people inside and hit the occasional three. He’s also a hard-nosed rebounder who can throw some slick passes. Unfortunately, for every good pass, it feels like there’s a bad one (2.8 TOV to 2.1 APG), and he’s sort of a 4/5 tweener on defense. If Reneau’s off-ball engagement on defense can develop while he continues to grow as a shooter, there might be something here.

Mike Sharavjamts is a 6’8” dribble-pass-shoot threat with a level of skill and feel not often found in someone with his length. He still needs to get stronger and play with a greater level of defensive engagement.

Philadelphia 76ers

Exhibit-10:
-Duke Miles

Summer League:
-Amani Lyles
-Javontae Campbell
-Isaac Johnson

Duke Miles slotted 94th on my board, though other smart people who I trust thought he could be a standard contract guy. He’s a bruising downhill guard (.490 FTr) and an intelligent passer (27.4 AST%) who got a boatload of steals (5.0 STL%). If you value the possession battle, which you should, the appeal is clear. My concern is that Vanderbilt’s system juiced his production, and that as a 175-pound 24-year-old, what he did as an older college player in that system won’t be scalable to an NBA floor. Still, on an E-10, it’s well worth kicking the tires.

Amani Lyles is a 6’8” four-man with a 7’0” wingspan who stuffed the stat sheet for Akron last year. He can bully his way to buckets inside, shoot a little bit, battle on the boards, and make opponents deal with his physicality on defense. His passing feel and handle are limited, which is troublesome given the level of competition he faced last year. That said, his breakout shooting season leads me to wonder if he could be a late bloomer who still has some untapped potential. Javontae Campbell is my favorite type of Summer League swing. He’s a short guard from Bowling Green who never shot the three particularly well, but he’s an outlier because of his ridiculous defense. His back-to-back seasons with a steal rate over five are not something you find very often. There’s a Jose Alvarado dream one can latch onto here. Isaac Johnson is a seven-footer from Hawaii whose polished drop coverage defense made their team one of the toughest to score against in college hoops last season. He’s also a hard-nosed offensive rebounder and a willing three-point shooter, which is a valuable intersection of skills. At nearly 26 years old, he’ll need to be a knockdown guy quickly in order to get over the NBA hurdle.

Phoenix Suns

Exhibit-10:
-Corey Camper Jr.
-Sam Hoiberg

Corey Camper Jr. from Nevada came in at 96th on my board. He’s slender at 181 pounds, and at 6’5” with a barely positive wingspan, he’s a bit small for a wing. That said, he’s got some great perimeter traits. He sank 46.4% of his threes spotting up, 40.9% of his threes in transition, and 37.2% of his threes off screens, per Synergy. For a guy who can really shoot it, he also gets downhill pretty well and can read the floor (2.7 APG to 1.2 TOV). As a 23-year-old coming from a mid-major without good positional size, there are fair questions to be asked about how he’ll scale up.

Sam Hoiberg picked up a lot of steam this past year. He was a key part of Nebraska’s rise up the college basketball ranks. He takes good care of the ball, generates a ton of steals (3.7 STL%), and puts a lot of pressure on the rim (62.3% at the basket in the halfcourt, per Synergy). At 6’0”, he’ll have to overcome size concerns and become a more willing shooter, but the requisite toughness and feel are present.

Portland Trail Blazers

Exhibit-10:
-Barry Dunning Jr.

Barry Dunning Jr. is a 6’6” prospect out of Pittsburgh who checks a lot of boxes. He’s a great rebounder, he can make things happen on defense (1.4 STL%, 3.3 BLK%), and he’s grown as a shooter over the years. The issue is that his feel and timing as a playmaker hit some road bumps when he went back to the high-major level. He still needs to get more comfortable as a decision maker while continuing to iron out his consistency from beyond the arc.

Sacramento Kings

Exhibit-10:
-BJ Edwards

Summer League:
-Marquel Sutton
-Elias Ralph
-Anthony Dell’Orso

BJ Edwards is a well-rounded 6’3” guard from SMU. He hit 37.2% of his threes, slung 4.9 APG to only 1.9 TOV, and his persistent defensive effort led to a 4.0 STL%. Offensively, he can be a bit contact-averse, and his three-point percentages have varied over the years while being lower on the volume spectrum for a guard. If Edwards can become a more prolific shooter while ironing out the consistency, he could stick.

Marquel Sutton is a powerful 6’8” forward who wrapped up his college career at LSU. He’s an interior bruiser on offense and a two-way force on the glass. That said, his off-ball defense is inconsistent, and his offensive perimeter game has a long way to go as a shooter and passer. He’s a solid G League flier given his physicality, size, and toughness. Elias Ralph is a 6’7” wing from Pacific who hit 40.9% of his threes and got after it on the glass. His negative assist-to-turnover ratio is concerning, though. Anthony Dell’Orso is a jack-of-all-trades wing who spent the last two years at Arizona. He’s wiry and tough, and his feel has improved over the years. He just needs to shoot it with more consistency.

San Antonio Spurs

Summer League:
-Tyon Grant-Foster
-Miles Barnstable
-Harry Wessels

Tyon Grant-Foster is an electric wing athlete who had a 2.8 STL% and 5.3 BLK% over the course of his D-I career. He’s a hyper-disruptive defender and a serious threat in the open floor. He’s long struggled with shooting (26.2% from three) and playmaking (1.2 APG to 1.4 TOV), which is concerning given that he’s already 26. Miles Barnstable is a 6’2” guard from Tulsa who can shoot the cover off the ball. He hit over 40% of his threes on high volume last season. His playmaking and defense still need to develop, though. The 7’1” Harry Wessels is another great talent in the Australia-to-St. Mary’s pipeline. He’s a monster on the offensive glass and a reliable defensive anchor, but his ball skills aren’t quite where one would hope, and he’s more of a back-to-the-basket guy than a face-up player.

Toronto Raptors

Exhibit-10:
-Nate Bittle
-Nimari Burnett

Summer League:
-Jalen Celestine
-Malik Thomas

Nate Bittle slotted 53rd on my board, so he’s killer value on an E-10. The Oregon big man is massive, standing 6’11.5” with a 7’6” wingspan at nearly 254 pounds. He has prototypical drop coverage big size, and he knows how to use it, taking wise angles in ball-screen defense to limit clean looks and collect blocks (career 7.8 BLK%). Offensively, he’s a skilled top-of-the-key orchestrator (19.7 AST%) and a willing shooter, though not the most consistent one. Bittle is heavy-footed and lacks bounce, making him a below-the-rim interior finisher. His athletic concerns mean that he’ll probably need the three-ball to actualize to find a rotation spot, but he’s the type of guy I’d spend a two-way on. Nimari Burnett will turn 25 during his rookie season, but the 6’4.5” wing from Michigan can shoot it, finish above the rim, and make good decisions. Defensively, he’s fine at the point of attack, but doesn’t bring much off the ball. The hope is that the plug-and-play role he thrived in for Michigan will continue to work at the next level.

Jalen Celestine is a 6’6” sniper who hit over 40% of his threes for Cincinnati this past season. He’s a solid shoot-it-and-move-it player. He’s yet to show much inside the arc, and his defense is just okay, which is troubling given that he’ll turn 25 during the season. Malik Thomas is a 6’5” multi-level scorer out of Virginia. His defense didn’t scale particularly well from San Francisco to the ACC, and he’s never been the most willing passer.

Utah Jazz

Exhibit-10:
-Micah Handlogten
-Jaxon Kohler

Summer League:
-Mohamed Wague

Micah Handlogten was a great sneaky pickup by the Jazz. A quick look at his stat sheet may raise questions, as he only scored 4.1 PPG in his senior year, but I think there’s a Dylan Cardwell “oh wow, this all just works at the next level” outcome on the table for him. He played a limited role in one of the nation’s best frontcourts at Florida, but the 7’1” big man is an elite offensive rebounder, a solid defensive mover, and a rock-solid passer. He’s long been dreadful at the free-throw line, so he’ll need to get better there.

Jaxon Kohler ranked 98th on my board. The idea is that the Michigan State four-man provides a coveted intersection of shooting (38.9% from deep on 4.3 attempts per game) and offensive rebounding (12.8 ORB%). Where it gets dicey is that he’s a 4/5 tweener defensively with heavy feet and lackluster lift, and he’s not the best passer, either. If Kohler can get his body to a point where he’s sliding his feet well on the perimeter, and if he can improve his passing, he could be a worthwhile NBA roster member in time.

Mohamed Wague is a 6’10” big man from Oklahoma. He’s a great mover with a solid frame who disrupts on defense (2.0 STL%, 7.5 BLK%) and owns the offensive glass (17.5 ORB%). His playmaking is just alright, he gambles a lot on defense, and he’s very foul-prone. If he can refine some of his tendencies, there could be a deep rotation action player type outcome on the table.

Washington Wizards

Exhibit-10:
-Seth Trimble
-KeShawn Murphy

Summer League:
-John Camden

Seth Trimble is a 6’1.5” defensive menace from North Carolina. He has a 6’7” wingspan and a 200.6-pound frame. When you factor in his dogged approach to the game, he plays much bigger than his listed height. He often took on the toughest matchup for UNC, even when it was further up the positional spectrum than you’d think. He killed the athletic testing at the NBA Combine, which wasn’t a surprise given how well he gets into the paint and elevates at the rim. He’s never been a polished playmaker or shooter, so the offense may simply be too far away. But I had him 62nd on my final board because I’m terrified to bet against his tools and tenacity.

KeShawn Murphy from Auburn is sort of like if Oso Ighodaro were hefty and strong instead of super mobile. He’s a bruising rebounder who makes opponents work through his frame on the defensive end. Offensively, he’s a skilled passer. He’s not a floor spacer yet, and he’s likely too ground-bound to be an NBA five-man. The hope is that his smarts and budding skill set could lead to him being a viable mismatch four down the road.

John Camden is a 6’8” shoot-it-and-move-it forward who hit 39.5% of his threes while posting a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio at Cal this past season. His big, sturdy frame helps him to contain the ball on defense. Athletic limitations are present here, so he’ll need to continue to maximize what he does have.

The John Butler Award

Every year, I present the John Butler Award to one player. This goes to the undrafted player who is highest on my board without a deal at press time.

Past winners

2022: John Butler

2023: JT Shumate

2024: Spencer Jones

2025: Viktor Lakhin

This Year’s Winner is…

KASHIE NATT!

This is a tricky one, as Kashie Natt is still trying to get a waiver to play college basketball at Oklahoma State next season. I can’t provide too much insight as to where that process stands, but given that he played four full college seasons, I’m not optimistic. Still, I’d be all over him if I were an NBA team. He was one of the top two-way contract targets on my board, coming in at 44th overall.

Natt is a 6’3” switchblade guard. He is an outlier rebounder for his position (9.3 ORB%, 23.5 DRB%). He’s a hyper-active defensive playmaker (4.3 STL%, 2.1 BLK%). He puts a ton of pressure on the rim and can finish above it. He also took decent care of the ball and shot it well (38.3% from three). The bearish case against Natt is that he was a 23-year-old playing at Sam Houston State in a non-primary offensive role. I get it, but I’d always prefer to bet on the outliers. Natt is physical, athletic, tenacious, and while I wouldn’t rave about his skill level, I think he knows how to play the exact role he’d be asked to play in the NBA. Plus, this is a super valuable type of player to have. Unathletic offensive organizers, undersized fives, and pretty good shooters who don’t offer much else are dime-a-dozen. Switchblade guards aren’t, and it’s no coincidence that the league’s best teams often feature at least one player in this mold. Front offices, get on this!

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The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, as eyes around the NBA world turn toward free agency and Summer League to follow. For some people, that might signal that Draft Season has passed.

However, if there’s one thing that long-time No Ceilings followers know deep down, it’s this:

Draft Season never sleeps.

We’ll have plenty more to come in terms of the players in the 2026 NBA Draft class, with Summer League on the horizon. However, it’s never too early to get acquainted with the prospects on the horizon.

It might be way too early, but it’s never too early for draft time around these parts. Without further ado, here is our way-too-early first Mock Draft for the 2027 NBA Draft.

Let’s get after it.

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#1. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Tyran Stokes | F | Kansas

#2. CHICAGO BULLS — Jordan Smith Jr. | G | Arkansas

#3. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES — Caleb Holt | G | Arizona

#4. BROOKLYN NETS — Anthony Thompson | F | Ohio State

#5. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS — Bruce Branch III | F | BYU

#6. ATLANTA HAWKS (via MIL) — Baba Oladotun | F | Maryland

#7. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via UTA) — Luigi Suigo | C | Villanova

#8. WASHINGTON WIZARDS — Brandon McCoy Jr. | G | Michigan

#9. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via DAL) — Braylon Mullins | G | UConn

#10. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via PHX) — Dylan Mingo | G | Baylor

#11. TORONTO RAPTORS — Tounde Yessoufou | G | St. John’s

#12. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS — Thomas Haugh | F | Florida

#13. CHARLOTTE HORNETS — Cameron Williams | F | Duke

#14. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via ATL) — Amari Allen | G | Alabama

#15. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via LAC) — Trey McKenney | G | Michigan

#16. ORLANDO MAGIC — Billy Richmond III | G | Arkansas

#17. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS — Deron Rippey Jr. | G | Duke

#18. HOUSTON ROCKETS — Ivan Kharchenkov | F | Arizona

#19. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Motiejus Krivas | C | Arizona

#20. UTAH JAZZ (via CLE) — Dame Sarr | G | Duke

#21. INDIANA PACERS — Stefan Joksimovic | G | Baskonia

#22. PHOENIX SUNS (via MIN) — Jason Crowe, Jr. | G | Missouri

#23. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via LAL) — Abdou Toure | F | Arkansas

#24. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via DEN) — Christian Collins | F | USC

#25. DETROIT PISTONS — Quentin Coleman | G | Illinois

#26. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via MIA) — Patrick Ngongba II | C | Duke

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

#28. BOSTON CELTICS — Miikka Muurinen | F | Arkansas

#29. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (via OKC) — Alex Condon | F/C | Florida

#30. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via SAS) — Matthew Able | G | North Carolina

SECOND ROUND

#31. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Tyler Tanner | G | Vanderbilt

#32. DALLAS MAVERICKS (via CHI) — Daniel Jacobsen | C | Purdue

#33. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via MEM) — Juke Harris | G | Tennessee

#34. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via BKN) — Stefan Vaaks | G | Illinois

#35. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via NOLA) — Colben Landrew | G | UConn

#36. DETROIT PISTONS (via MIL) — Hugo Yimga Moukouri | F | Nanterre 92

#37. INDIANA PACERS (via UTA) — Flory Bidunga | F/C | Louisville

#38. NEW YORK KNICKS (via WAS) — Shelton Henderson | F | Miami

#39. DETROIT PISTONS (via DAL) — Cayden Boozer | G | Duke

#40. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via PHX) — Nik Khamenia | G/F | UConn

#41. TORONTO RAPTORS — Caleb Gaskins | F | Miami

#42. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS — Malachi Moreno | C | Kentucky

#43. SACRAMENTO KINGS (via CHA) — Na’jai Hines | C | UConn

#44. ATLANTA HAWKS — Obinna Ekezie Jr. | C | Louisville

#45. UTAH JAZZ (via LAC) — Matas Vokietaitis | C | Texas

#46. UTAH JAZZ (via ORL) — Jaxon Richardson | F | Alabama

#47. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via GSW) — Arafan Diane | C | Houston

#48. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via HOU) — Rueben Chinyelu | C | Florida

#49. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Tajh Ariza | G/F | Oregon

#50. CHICAGO BULLS (via CLE) — Mario Saint-Supery | G | Gonzaga

#51. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via IND) — Pryce Sandfort | F | Nebraksa

#52. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (via MIN) — Amani Hansberry | F | Virginia Tech

#53. BROOKLYN NETS (via LAL) — Zvonimir Ivisic | C | Illinois

#54. UTAH JAZZ (via DEN) — Miles Sadler | G | West Virginia

#55. DETROIT PISTONS — Cameron Houindo | F | Olimpija

#56. NEW YORK KNICKS (via MIA) — Isaiah Johnson | G | Texas

#57. NEW YORK KNICKS — Milan Momcilovic | F | Kentucky

#58. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via BOS) — J.T. Toppin | F | Texas Tech

#59. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via OKC) — Derek Dixon | G | Arizona

#60. MIAMI HEAT (via SAS) — J.J. Andrews | G/F | Arkansas

The dust has settled on the 2026 NBA Draft, after a two-day affair that saw plenty of chalk followed by plenty of surprises. From freshman phenoms to super-senior surprises and everything in between, this draft had everything—and given the ever-evolving NCAA landscape, this draft will stand out even more in the context of history with the international influx to college basketball and the early entrant withdrawal rates both at all-time highs.

Still, more than anything else and just like every other draft, it will be the 60 prospects who heard their names called on Tuesday and Wednesday nights who will define the 2026 NBA Draft. Before we wrap up this cycle and move on to Summer League and the 2027 NBA Draft (stay tuned on both fronts), we here at No Ceilings had to carry on tradition and give our Superlatives for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Thanks to all of you, No Ceilings family; this one’s for you!

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1. Who was the biggest “riser” of the draft?

Rucker: I’m going to cheat here a little bit. I’m going big picture here. What incredible rises throughout the entire 2026 NBA Draft cycle for Morez Johnson Jr. and Ebuka Okorie. At the beginning of the year, no one expected both Johnson and Okorie to be party crashers in a stacked draft class. Not only did they do that, but Johnson ended up as a Top 10 pick, and Okorie ended up going inside the Top 20. We always stress patience at No Ceilings throughout the entire year, and Johnson and Okorie are a perfect example of why. As the season continued to progress, it became evident that the talent was real; it was awesome to hear their names called relatively early in the first round.

Maxwell: I’m actually going to shout out Dillon Mitchell here. I know that’s odd, as the guy was picked 40th. A few years ago, though, he was my go-to example of a type of player who would be on mock drafts entering college only to fall off them as their career progresses. Mitchell was basically an undersized play-finishing big a few years ago. At St. John’s, he did a stellar job of reinventing himself as a high-flying, wheeling-and-dealing, high-feel gadget player despite barely dishing out assists early in his career. We focus a lot on the people at the top of the draft. But the mental fortitude Dillon Mitchell displayed by being a top recruit, falling entirely off the radar, and then fighting to get back on it…what an incredible story.

Metcalf: It has to be Morez Johnson. I’ve had Johnson as a Top 10 prospect since January, so I love the pick. For most, though, this was the biggest surprise of the lottery. Coming into the year, almost no one else had Johnson as a first rounder, as most viewed him as just a bruising, energy big. Over the last two years, though, Johnson has proven that he’s so much more and is just barely scratching the surface. I adore this pick and think their front line of Lively, Johnson, and Flagg is going to cause other teams a lot of problems.

Stephen: I don’t know if this is going to “count” in the eyes of some, but I am going with Jayden Quaintance. I hear you: “But Stephen, everyone had said all season long that his talent is the equivalent of a Top 10 pick.” My response: “You can’t have it both ways.” Yeah, everyone hedged their bets by complimenting the talent of JQ while simultaneously knocking him to the tail end of their Mock Drafts due to health concerns. What happened as soon as the San Antonio Spurs drafted him, though? “Brilliant move by the Spurs!” Based on where he went–and the praise given to the team that drafted him–I was shocked by both of those things. That was due to the discourse that surrounded him up until the moment he was drafted.

Jacob: I’m going to take a seat on the Morez Johnson Jr. train. Once the Michigan Wolverines hailed to the victors, it became painstakingly obvious that their star-studded frontcourt players cemented themselves as first round picks. However, it wasn’t obvious in what order the trio would be selected. Then the Mavericks hired Dusty May a day before the draft, indicating that a Michigan Wolverine might be heading to Dallas. Johnson has always possessed high upside potential, all while playing with an unmatched toughness and energy. He’s the type of player who gets maximized playing with a talent like Cooper Flagg, which likely explains his drastic ascension.

Rowan: When it comes to the start of the draft process until draft night, for me, it would have to be Allen Graves. Graves had a great redshirt freshman season and was beloved by advanced metrics, but a middling combine and understandable scrutiny over his overall draft profile made his stock one that was harder to pin down. In Toronto, Graves is going to play next to players like Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, who also dominate through their all-around games. It’s a testament to his process and belief that he ended up as one of the biggest risers while landing in such a favorable spot.

Nathan: There are a few answers that stand out to me between Morez Johnson Jr. and Allen Graves being popular picks amongst the team. However, I’ll say a different name: Keaton Wagler. Wagler wasn’t thought of as a prospect at all before this season started. His name gained a small bit of buzz as scouts got into Illinois practice to watch the team, but he himself had zero attention on his radar before the cycle started. Now he ended up as the #5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after having led his college program AS A FRESHMAN to a Final Four appearance. No story in the draft this year is better than Wagler’s.

Nick: Allen Graves is the pick here for me. While his first round buzz has been building since the end of the college season, I was still a bit surprised that he ended up being a Top 20 pick in this draft. Still, his advanced stats and ready-made stretch 4 game make a lot of sense for the Toronto Raptors. Graves keeps the recent run of success in the draft for Santa Clara going, and he will be a fascinating addition to Toronto’s frontcourt.

2. Who was the biggest “faller” of the draft?

Rucker: I felt like there was a sneaky chance that Labaron Philon Jr. could be the “short stick” of this point guard class when it came to a player potentially slipping through the cracks. Unfortunately, that suspicion was right. Philon was a player I was especially high on. I came into the year wanting to see some legit growth in numerous areas, and Philon answered them all with serious conviction. When Philon measured in with almost identical numbers weight-wise compared to last year’s combine, I started to feel like we could be going down a one-way road. When you heard some mixed reviews about his predraft process, I started to look for a way to make a U-turn. Philon has serious offensive firepower. He’s sensational with his change of gears and can make defenders look silly with his stop-and-go ability and hesitations. I thought he landed in a great spot with the Sixers, as he can give that young backcourt another weapon in their arsenal.

Maxwell: It’s got to be Henri Veesaar. Obviously, once he got into the second round, there was a steering component involved to get him to a team that had a traditional roster spot available for him. But to me, it shows the danger of players in that 20-40 range sitting out of the combine scrimmages. Dailyn Swain wasn’t even good in the scrimmage he played because he was super sick the week before, but I think it did put him front of mind in some ways. Cam Carr may have fallen even further if he didn’t put on a show in front of everybody. I wonder if Veesaar regrets not trying to ball out in Chicago.

Metcalf: I was shocked that Cameron Carr fell as far as he did. I get that he’s skinny and may be tough to get along with at times, but guys who are that athletic, with that wingspan, and are that lethal of shooters have no business falling into the mid 20s. Carr is going to a tremendous spot where he won’t have to create anything on offense. Yet again, though, there was a common theme with the biggest fallers. The NBA continues to tell us what they value, and it’s not skinny players. Also, Henri Veesaar…yikes.

Stephen: It has to be Henri Veesaar–and I’m saying that as someone who had him in the late 30s on my board. Even for someone who was lower on him, I largely expected Veesaar to be taken in the back end of the first round based on the intel. Once the draft advanced past the 30s, my mind immediately raced into thinking, “oh, this is the agency driving him to UDFA so he can pick his team.” Then, the LA Clippers took him at pick 52 and traded him to ATL. It was just a weird situation that left me with more questions. “Why Atlanta?” “Why pick 52?” “Why didn’t another team just take the talent?”

Just strange.

Jacob: Relative to my board, Labaron Philon was the biggest faller. One of the guards falling in this draft was inevitable. While I was extremely high on Philon over the past two cycles, I can acknowledge the conundrum. Being only 6’2” and 175 pounds, the margin of error is slim. On top of that, to truly be an impactful playoff contributor at this size is a rare accomplishment. Front offices likely questioned if he was talented enough to be a primary ball-handler and scorer, yet Philon has already shown he can play second fiddle as a connective piece in his freshman campaign. While I’m not saying Labaron Philon will be a Tyrese Maxey talent, his slide is certainly reminiscent of Maxey’s.

Rowan: After a dominant defensive season at Arizona State, I was hopeful that Jayden Quaintance could get healthy enough to meet the hype he once had as a prospect. It’s rare to blend his athleticism and defensive instincts in a big man. Sadly, Quaintance couldn’t get back on the floor and may need another procedure to play again, which led to him falling to the Spurs. While it isn’t the fall some projected into the late 20s, it’s still a steep fall for someone who had lottery consideration at the onset of the year.

Nathan: By where I expected these players to be, preseason off my board, I would say both Koa Peat and Jayden Quaintance were huge fallers on draft night. By pure ranking/draft spot, I’d go with Peat here. I had high expectations for a 6’7” power forward who could handle, pass, and provide value in several defensive schemes. At times, even though he made plays and contributed to a winning program at Arizona, he just felt a bit passive. He didn’t score as often as he could have or rebound with the same force I had seen from him at lower levels. Add in the jump shot being where it is, and it all led to his tumble down to #30 in the 2026 NBA Draft. Peat has some work to do in terms of rebuilding his image as an NBA prospect.

Nick: There are a few players who stand out to me in this regard, but I’m still stunned by how far Henri Veesaar fell in the 2026 NBA Draft. I was a bit surprised when he fell out of the first round, and I fully expected him to be one of the first players called when the second night of the draft began. Atlanta was not the landing spot that I expected for Veesaar, but his shooting touch and size should allow him to earn a rotation spot for the Hawks and quickly prove that he should have gone off the board before the 52nd pick.

3. Who projects as the best UDFA target given how the draft fell?

Rucker: I was a bit shocked to see Tennessee State guard Aaron Nkrumah fall completely out of the second round. It’s always a bit tough with the second round because you can see some guys prefer to eventually just navigate their way towards free agency. It will be interesting to see where Nkrumah ends up, but it’s a pretty easy sell: good frame at 6’6” and some tools to develop offensively, but an absolute ball hawk on the defensive side of the ball. He’s sure to be a popular name on the UDFA market.

Maxwell: I think the highest-leverage UDFA is Quadir Copeland. The downside is clear because he’s a guard/wing who is gun-shy from three. That said, he hit a good percentage on them, and he was assertive with his shot during the pre-draft process. IF the shot gets there, he’s off to the races. He excels at collapsing defenses, he’s a great passer, he’s a potent defensive event creator, and he has a rare blend of size and skill. If Copeland hits, he’ll hit big.

Metcalf: Donovan Atwell is a sneaky name to keep an eye on. He was a sniper at Texas Tech this year. With Golden State, he could provide some pretty realistic off-ball shooting depth right away. He’s a reliable spot-up and movement shooter who should fit in with what they do as an organization in terms of play style and responsibilities.

Stephen: I could make a case for two names: Aaron Nkrumah–who I had 34th, and Quadir Copeland–who I had 39th. Nkrumah was more of a “shot-in-the-dark” bet for me, as I bought the defense and athleticism–on top of a developing shot. The Nuggets added him on an E-10 contract. I loved that decision, as Denver drafted Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins in the second round–clearly placing an emphasis on athleticism and versatility on cost-controlled contracts.

For Copeland, who landed with Houston on a two-way contract, he makes a lot of sense as an athletic, versatile, plus-sized ball-handler on the team. With his improved shooting, he can, again, provide great value on a cost-controlled contract.

Jacob: As self-appointed president of the William Kyle III fan club, I feel obliged to go with him. However, I’ll pivot to another former Syracuse Orange in Quadir Copeland. Copeland flashed a ton of dribble/pass/shoot skills throughout his collegiate career, while also possessing real size. Houston honestly may be the ideal landing spot, lacking size at the point guard position. Copeland’s success will come down to how coachable he is at an NBA level.

Rowan: It helps that the Milwaukee Bucks just traded their franchise player, but Rafael Castro chose a shrewd spot to start his NBA career. The Bucks did trade for Kel’el Ware and have Myles Turner still on the roster, but I can’t imagine Turner will be there long with the team’s pivot to tanking. That, plus Bobby Portis’s departure, leaves a hole for a big man who can grab rebounds, finish in traffic, and set good screens—just like Castro can.

Nathan: I became a big fan of Quadir Copeland as the year went on. His season at NC State was pretty awesome as a downhill driver who could really attack defenses, make plays, and he plays with effort and energy on the defensive end. He fits the profile of a wing that can return excellent value off an UDFA deal should his jump shot continue to trend in the right direction. I really thought he’d come off the board as a draft pick, but that’s just the way the second round works sometimes.

Nick: Quadir Copeland was the highest player left on my board from the moment that Henri Veesaar was drafted, so I was really glad to see that he signed a two-way with the Houston Rockets. He will provide great size and point guard skills for a team in need of size in their guard rotation, and Copeland has a good shot at being one of the first two-way contracts to get converted next season.

4. “Folks, we got him!” Which selection screams best “fit” for its team’s fanbase?

Rucker: There are a lot of fun answers here, but I’m going to go a little outside the box. I think Brooklyn Nets fans should be thrilled with landing Mikel Brown Jr. at #6. There were plenty of rumblings that the Nets could go in a number of different directions with that selection leading up to draft day, but Brooklyn did a great job of throwing out smoke and sticking with the choice to go BPA near the top. The Nets took a plethora of guards and playmakers in the 2025 class. However, Nets fans haven’t had a floor general with THIS type of superstar upside in a very long time. Brown has the goods to be an absolute star. There will be some growing pains (as there will be with every young point guard), but once Nets fans see Brown when he’s “on” out there, they are going to understand what the buzz was all about. I think Brown’s basketball IQ and intangibles are going to fit beautifully with that coaching staff. Brown is a type of talent that once things start to come together and the game slows down, we’re all going to be in for a heck of a ride.

Maxwell: I’ve got Yaxel Lendeborg to the Warriors here. He provides much-needed youth (even at his advanced age for a prospect) and versatility to their frontcourt. He was #8 on my personal board, and for a team that’s still trying to compete, I’d probably have him even higher. I love what he brings to the table and how it fits in schematically for Golden State.

Metcalf: This feels like cheating, but it’s Darryn Peterson. Peterson was the best player in the draft in my eyes and is a tremendous fit with the Jazz. Peterson is a classic SG who effortlessly flows between on-ball and off-ball reps, is a lethal shooter, and has a ton of defensive upside. Playing alongside Keyonte George, Peterson should be able to ease his way into the NBA by focusing on his off-ball scoring/shooting while slowly rediscovering the playmaking he showed in high school. The Jazz have one of the most fun rosters in the league next year, and I’m expecting a massive turnaround from them. In terms of need, BPA, and stylistic fit, it’s tough to come up with anything better than Peterson with the Jazz.

Stephen: I’ll be boring and agree with some commentary above me. Darryn Peterson fits the Jazz to a “T”. Even the calm, cool, and collected personality we’ve seen from him in his young playing career fits the vibe of what we have become used to from Utah. Say what you will about the missed time and the cramps, even in a “down season,” we saw Peterson put on a stellar season–particularly as a shooter. If you’re hesitant about Darryn’s playmaking, you can rest easy on the fact that he is one of (if not the) best shooters in this class. His floor-spacing opens up so much space for Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and every member of the frontcourt. His defense was pretty solid, regardless of his offensive load. This two-way ability makes him a seamless fit for the team, while the rest of his game provides the upside to be the best player of this class.

Jacob: My first instinct is to go with Cam Boozer to Memphis, but I’ll switch gears for the sake of not being repetitive and go with Kingston Flemings to Atlanta. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels are awesome combo guards, but neither profiles as a primary ball-handler. Flemings patches up that hole, being one of the best stop-and-go guards in the entire class who can navigate screens. His paint touches are going to open up the entire floor for the Hawks. Flemings also thrives in transition, a major strength of Jalen Johnson—not to mention that Flemings is a true competitor and student of the game. Atlanta may have their point guard of the future.

Rowan: Cameron Boozer is my choice, which may seem odd, but stick with me. Boozer is a humble, quiet star who won’t dominate every headline but will show up and show out every day. The best Memphis teams of recent history have been built upon homegrown stars who had their fair share of detractors. Boozer, at his peak, could be the best player the Grizzlies have ever had, and he’s got the zealous attitude toward improvement to endear himself to a fan base that desperately wants and deserves a superstar to cheer for going forward.

Nathan: To be honest, from a “fit” perspective, I thought NBA teams really knocked it out of the park in terms of drafting talent that met the needs of each franchise while also meshing well with what the teams have prioritized. This was an awesome draft through and through with “fit” successes. My absolute favorite fit, though, for a prospect? How about Yaxel Lendeborg with the Golden State Warriors? As much as I adore the Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer fits with their new respective franchises, Lendeborg had to be the pick for Golden State. This team doesn’t have anyone else on the roster, besides Draymond Green, who brings what he does at his size. At 6’9” with a 7’3” wingspan, Lendeborg can actually handle the ball, rebound, make plays on the move, and defend multiple positions while offering some of the best defensive event creation in the draft. He tripled his 3PAr this season at Michigan, and was efficient on his outside shots, albeit a little streaky at times. The Warriors are trying to maximize everything Stephen Curry has left, and there may not be more than four other players in this draft more talented than Lendeborg. He will make an immediate impact in the Bay Area.

Nick: Cam Boozer and Memphis seem like a match made in heaven for both player and team. Boozer has been so dominant for so long that his relentlessness can slip by unnoticed, but the force that he brings when attacking the glass and attacking the basket fits perfectly with the Grit and Grind ethos. The aesthetic elements of his game might not exactly be reminiscent of Tony Allen, but there are parts of both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in Boozer’s game. Boozer, new frontcourt mate Karim Lopez, and Zach Edey will leave opposing frontcourts bruised and hurting for years to come.

5. Which team had the best overall haul of the draft?

Rucker: What a sentence to write: It’s the Sacramento Kings for me. I thought Scott Perry and the Kings did a great job last year of getting their guys while also allowing the board to play into their hands. The Kings front office followed that up with a similar recipe: staying patient and allowing Darius Acuff Jr. to fall right into their laps at #7 while also being aggressive enough to get back up into the first round and snag Alex Karaban at#29. Sacramento added one of my favorite second round sleepers in the second round in Emanuel Sharp. This is a class that might not scream “upside” outside of Acuff. However, it’s a class that has the bones to help this organization take another step forward. You look at the type of players that the Kings have added in the last two drafts, and they are starting to build a young team that is full of the right mentality you need. Acuff will be a great young guard to develop and allow to blossom. Karaban is a winning player who knows how to utilize his strengths on the basketball court. Sharp is the type of player who figures out a way to play a very long time at the next level. I thought this was a great haul for Sacramento, and this is how you start building a little momentum with your future.

Maxwell: The Memphis Grizzlies got the top player on my board with the third overall pick, so I have to say them. Boozer brings so much optionality to their team. The screens that guys like him, Beef Stew, and Zach Edey are going to set are going to make them one of the most grating teams to compete against in the entire league. He gives them another high-leverage passer in their frontcourt. He’s the high-upside, straw-that-stirs-the-drink mismatch nightmare this team desperately needed to move up in the crowded Western Conference pecking order.

Metcalf: It’s been a while since I’ve said this, but I think it’s the Bulls. For starters, they had the easiest pick of the night at four, where they just needed to grab whoever was there from the top four names. They didn’t screw that up, which is huge. Then, at #15, they continued to add to their SLAP philosophy (SLAP!) with Dailyn Swain. They are rapidly accruing a lot of wings/forwards of that mold, but it’s a new regime, so no one is guaranteed anything. For this new front office to start off their era with someone as dynamic, charismatic, and exciting as Caleb Wilson, and then have the opportunity to grab one of the most versatile and productive wings in the country this year in the middle of the first round is about as encouraging of a start as you could dream up.

Stephen: The San Antonio Spurs. I already spoke about the fact that they drafted Jayden Quaintance, but they also traded for the rights of Tarris Reed Jr. For me, this was very much a “take your medicine and eat your vegetables” textbook execution of playing the board by the ahead-of-schedule Spurs. They got punched in the mouth by the New York Knicks in the Finals–larelgy due to a lack of physicality and in the front court. JQ offers ridiculous upside for a team that didn’t need him to be a Day One return on investment when he was taken at 20. That concept was only amplified by San Antonio trading to get Tarris Reed well beyond where he was projected to go. Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. were projected as the better big men on most boards, but there is a very strong probability that the Spurs could have the two best centers in the class playing behind Victor Wembanyama.

Jacob: The Chicago Bulls. That felt weird typing out. The picks of Caleb Wilson at four and Dailyn Swain at 15 make perfect sense, as both fit Chicago’s fast-paced, heavy rim-pressure style. Wilson is the most talented player the Bulls have drafted since Derrick Rose, giving them their first legitimate young cornerstone since 2008. Dailyn Swain has one of the highest upsides in the entire class. The wing has a legit handle and is a force to reckon with at getting to the bucket. The swing skill for both Wilson and Swain will be the outside shot. The two do complement each other, and the Bulls building blocks in Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey naturally. For the first time in a long time, Chicago has a strong foundation of young talent.

Rowan: While other teams grabbed great players too, I think the Atlanta Hawks came away with the best haul. Holding firm and taking Kingston Flemings is an act of patience, as they let the board fall as it may to get them a future starting point guard. Nabbing Zuby Ejiofor to back up Jalen Johnson cements their forward rotation as one of the most versatile young front courts in the NBA. Finally, snapping up Henri Veesar late in the second round gives the Hawks a massive body to put in the middle, which they’ve lacked for the past few seasons. Atlanta stuck to their needs, let the board fall how it may, and took three players who could play meaningful minutes on a playoff team from last year. Hard to argue with that.

Nathan: This has to be the Memphis Grizzlies when factoring in the second round. Richie Saunders is an excellent complement to every other player on this roster and will fit right in as a do-it-all shooter in the backcourt. Karim Lopez may not have the biggest fan in me, but he adds to the massive size and strength of this frontcourt that is now spearheaded by not only Zach Edey, but Cameron Boozer, who was the top-ranked prospect on my personal board. I LOVE what the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, and Sacramento Kings did, among others. But this Grizzlies team has a very legitimate chance to be much better than people think next season.

Nick: Rucker already mentioned the Kings, so I can put my bias aside and leave them in the honorable mentions category here. I think that the Atlanta Hawks would be at the top of my list here. Kingston Flemings is an exceptional guard prospect on both ends of the floor, and Atlanta was able to just let him fall into their lap at #8. Then, they picked up one of the most versatile big men in the draft, Zuby Ejiofor. However, he wasn’t necessarily the center that it seemed like they really needed. Then, the board fell their way once again, and they were able to pick up Henri Veesaar at #52. In a draft where I thought there were plenty of winners, Atlanta takes the top prize in my book.

Share No Ceilings

The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone just like that. Obviously, we don’t make judgments on a player until a few years into their career. None of this is to say that I’m rooting against a player/team or that I think they’re a bad player. The grades are based on my evaluation, process, fit, and comparable players that could’ve been taken instead. For those that I’m low on, I can’t wait to be wrong and learn from it. Based on my evaluations, here are my first round draft grades.

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1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa – A

You can’t go wrong with any of the top three, but AJ Dybantsa feels like he was made in a lab to be the #1 pick. Dybantsa put together one of the most impressive scoring seasons we’ve seen from a freshman as he got to the rim at will, lived in the midrange, and feasted at the line. While the Wizards have had plenty of top picks recently, they don’t have anyone who profiles like Dybantsa. From day one, he should be able to step into their rotation as a starter and be a dominant scorer and rebounder. He has perennial All-Star written all over him, and if his defense gets to the levels that it should, his ceiling gets astronomically higher.

2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson – A

For many, myself included, Darryn Peterson was the best player in this draft. It was a funky year where the messaging and narrative got out of control, and he still put up some of the most impressive numbers from a freshman guard that we’ve ever seen. With Utah, Peterson fits like a glove. From Day One, Peterson should provide lethal shooting, off-ball scoring, secondary creation, and a positive defensive impact from the SG spot. Peterson’s quick decision-making and positional malleability will be warmly welcomed in Will Hardy’s system. It wouldn’t be surprising if we see his dynamic playmaking from high school quickly reemerge in Utah.

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer – A

This may have been the easiest pick of the night. Cameron Boozer is one of the most analytically impressive prospects we’ve ever seen, so it isn’t shocking the Grizzlies jumped all over him. Boozer is a PF, but he had the statistical profile of a PG at Duke this year. His feel and IQ are second to none in this draft. He’ll immediately raise the floor of this team, improve their rebounding, and inject a ton of playmaking. The different looks that they’ll be able to generate out of the pick-and-roll are going to be tremendous. Now that he doesn’t have to create EVERYTHING on offense, too, hopefully we see Boozer’s attention to detail and effectiveness on defense get back to what we saw before Duke. The size, versatility, and physicality that continues to litter this Grizzlies rotation is very fun.

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson – A

Alright, this was actually the easiest pick of the night. It’s very cool that the Bulls have a rookie who is actually this exciting. Not only does he fit the ideals of this new front office, but his upside is astronomical. Wilson has a very long way to go on defense, but his highs are up there with anyone in this class. Where he’s sneakily more ready to make an impact, though, is on offense. Despite not being an outside shooter yet, Wilson is a terror in transition, great at getting to the rim, surgical in the midrange, and an exquisite passer. It’s rare that outside shooting isn’t a swing skill for players, but there are a ton of outcomes where Wilson is a perennial All-Star even if the shot never becomes a real weapon. As the Bulls start their rebuild, Wilson is the exact type of player and person to help inject a ton of energy and optimism.

5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler – A

Keaton Wagler wasn’t my PG1, and some people don’t even think he’s a PG, but it’s tough to argue too much against this pick. What Wagler did this season was astounding, as he went from an unranked high school prospect with two offers from power conference programs to the number five pick. We rarely see that type of rise, but every bit of it was earned. Wagler has great positional size, and I honestly don’t care that he’s skinny. He’s tough, doesn’t shy away from physicality, and is highly adept at stringing together counters to make up for his lack of elite athleticism. The fact that he already has that level of craft and composure to go along with his passing and shooting is enthralling for what his game could continue to grow into. Oh, it also helps that essentially every teenager ever has gotten stronger as they age, so I’m not too worried in the long run.

6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr. – A

Nets fans may be frustrated with another PG, but Mikel Brown is not like last year’s guards. He was my PG1 and is the most well-rounded of this top tier of PGs. Brown’s recent growth spurt is a massive differentiator for him. He’s a lethal shooter both on and off the ball, a highly creative playmaker, a legitimate athlete, a versatile scorer, and a better defender than he gets credit for being. The key, though, is that he has to improve his ball security and shot selection. With the Nets, and in Jordi Fernandez’s system, I’m optimistic that this will happen. Having the opportunity and capability to play both on and off the ball will be huge for Brown. The Nets will want him running the show, but he’ll also be used as an off-ball scorer. On the nights when he’s getting a little too careless, they have numerous players who can fill that role without having to take Brown off the court. He’s the exact type of PG you want to build around.

7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff – A-

The Kings got their guy! It was good to see that they stayed disciplined and didn’t bite on the bait of having to move up to get Acuff. What Acuff did this year on offense was ludicrous: insanely high volume and efficient playmaking, scoring, and shooting in an on-ball and off-ball role is tough to argue against. I wasn’t an Acuff fan coming into the year, but what he did at Arkansas was undeniable. Now, there is the elephant in the room with his defense, which is pretty awful. I fear that he’ll get targeted relentlessly at that end of the floor and am much less optimistic than others about his defensive viability. However, he very easily could be one of the rare PGs whose offense is so good that it doesn’t matter. If he can just get passable on defense, it should be more than enough for him to produce very fun basketball in Sacramento for a long time.

8. Atlanta Hawks: Kingston Flemings – B+

We had heard that the Hawks may have moved this pick, but I love who they took, given that they didn’t. Flemings is a high-character player with a lightning-quick first step and a ton of room for growth. His playmaking, speed, and defense are some of the best in this draft. The reason I couldn’t get higher than a B+, though, is that there are still a lot of questions, especially with this roster. Flemings has to figure out his at-rim finishing and foul-drawing, as both were really poor this year. Additionally, there are still some questions about the viability of his jumper. If those don’t make crucial strides soon, I do worry that defenders will be able to sit on his drives and take away his superpower of collapsing defenses. If that happens, it’ll be increasingly difficult to play him with a lot of guys on this roster.

9. Dallas Mavericks: Morez Johnson Jr – B+

This was an A+ in my heart, but I needed to take a deep breath and remove my bias. I love Morez Johnson’s game and was higher than anyone on him all year. He’s a versatile defender and a freak rebounder, and he’s barely scratching the surface on offense. Having a front line of him, Cooper Flagg, and Dereck Lively could be terrifying for opponents. However, if Johnson’s offense doesn’t continue to develop like I think it will, the fit could get clunky on offense. I love the fit and baseline that Johnson provides the Mavericks, as all he does is make winning plays.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries – A-

Let the rebuild begin. This felt like a no-brainer based on how the board was falling. Burries doesn’t necessarily have an elite skill, but he does a bit of everything that contributes to winning basketball. His positional versatility and physical strength should make him a Day One rotation guy who can play with essentially anyone. Burries still has a ton of growth with his shot and playmaking, but his versatility doesn’t pigeonhole him into a specific role in the backcourt. Even if the Bucks fall in love with a PG next year or just make the smart decision of keeping Ryan Rollins around, Burries doesn’t put any roster construction limitations on the team.

11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg – B+

Thank goodness everyone in Golden State was on the same page with this pick, right? Right?!? I love this for the Warriors. Lendeborg is one of the most versatile players in the entire draft as he can guard 1-5, rebound, create for others, knock down shots, and create his own. Whatever role he needs to play, he’s more than capable. I don’t care at all that he’s older, because the Warriors have relentlessly botched developmental projects. With Lendeborg, they’re getting someone ready-made for the rotation who elevates everyone else around him. I think Lendeborg could be the beginning of a trend in older players not being shunned in the draft—especially in this apron era of the CBA that drastically limits team-building capabilities.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara – A-

Please do not view Aday Mara as the “Wemby stopper.” His superpower on defense is rebounding and protecting the rim. If you want him matched up on Wemby all the time, that means he’s not in position to do that, even though he moves way better in space than people think. In the playoffs, the Thunder got exposed with a lack of size and rebounding in the paint and a lack of perimeter creation after just two injuries. They very clearly have a type, and that’s players who have an exceptionally high feel for the game. The Thunder addressed both of the issues they faced against the Spurs while still getting two players who fit their type. Mara’s fit is clear. He’s massive, rebounds at a high level, and is one of the best processors in this class. The way that he’ll elevate their offense as well can’t be slept on. He’s a big-time facilitator, versatile at rim finisher with either hand, and a legitimate vertical spacer. Mara’s hands are pretty good, too, as long as the pass is above his shoulders. As long as they don’t spam him with pocket passes (looking at you, Shai), he should be just fine.

While we’re here, let’s tackle Bennet Stritz because the theme is exactly the same. Stirtz is a lethal shooter, smart passer, and has outrageous conditioning. He plays exactly like pretty much every other guard on this team does, so it wouldn’t be surprising if we see someone become expendable. Even though Stirtz was the system throughout college, that doesn’t mean he can’t play off the ball. He’s just one of those guys who fits just about anywhere.

13. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament – B-

The links between Ament and the Bucks were strong. If this were their only pick, or their pick at 10, my grade likely would’ve been much lower. However, I don’t mind the swing with their second pick. If Ament hits, he could be a tremendous player. My problem is that nearly everything about his game and projection is theoretical. Outside of a great month’s stretch, Ament looked lost, inconsistent, and not physically ready. The key is going to be what type of player is he willing to be? If he wants to be one of these high-volume scoring forwards that he continuously and irresponsibly gets compared to, I fear he’ll end up looking like a certain wing already on the roster. However, if he’s willing to buy into the little things and play his role, the outcomes become much more encouraging. This felt like a solid lottery ticket type of swing, even though I was lower on Ament. I hope he spams Khris Middleton film.

14. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach – B+

Steinbach made too much sense at this spot for him not to be the pick. He immediately helps their frontcourt depth and brings an elite skill to the table with his rebounding. After that, though, the rest of his game needs work. His biggest hole is his defense, but there may be some fun two-big lineups that they can eventually roll out. For that to happen, though, his theoretical passing and shooting have to become much more tangible. He has an elite skill and fills a need, but he still has work to do.

15. Chicago Bulls: Dailyn Swain – B

SLAP! Look, Bryson Graham has a type. For starters, it was really cool to see Swain’s reaction and how much it meant to him. What he did at Texas this year was pretty outlandish with his slashing, PNR creation, and playmaking. My concern is that he won’t be able to or allowed to do any of that in the NBA. If he gets stuck in a 3-and-D type of role, it’ll be a bummer. Especially since there are a lot of guys throughout this roster who play a lot, like Swain does. I wouldn’t have minded a little more proven floor spacing with this pick, but it’s impossible to deny what Swain did this year. With a new front office, no one from the past regime is guaranteed a spot. Going forward with guys like Wilson and Swain, at the very least, is super exciting for the Bulls.

16. Oklahoma City Thunder: Bennett Stirtz – B

See Aday Mara.

17. Detroit Pistons: Ebuka Okorie – B-

I think I was the most skeptical of Okorie of the No Ceilings team, but I do understand the swing here. The reason I can’t get higher than a B-, though, is that I think guys like Christian Anderson, Allen Graves, Cameron Carr, and Labaron Philon would’ve made more sense. So, why does this pick make sense? Okorie is a blur with the ball. He plays with insane speed but is always under control. He put up bonkers numbers in a horrible situation this season, so I promise I get the intrigue. I can’t fully buy it, though. For starters, I think I’m a little more skeptical of the shot than others. The numbers and versatility were good this year, though, so I’m likely overthinking that aspect. More concerning, though, was Okorie’s defense and at-rim finishing. The Pistons luckily have insulation for him on defense, but his consistency, fundamentals, and screen navigation need a ton of work. Hopefully, his issues were a symptom of his offensive energy expenditure. Around the rim, Okorie did a good job of drawing fouls, but he was rather woeful as a finisher. Stanford’s lack of spacing is an easy explanation, but it’s not like he’s going to be playing in acres of space with the Pistons. I understand the swing. He’ll be extremely fun if he hits, but there’s a lot that needs to go right to get there.

18. Charlotte Hornets: Christian Anderson – C+

This grade feels harsh, and I promise that it’s more about the position they went with rather than the player. Christian Anderson is a lethal shooter and versatile guard who runs an awesome two-man game. If the Hornets bring back Coby White and keep Tre Mann around, then I really don’t get this selection. Someone like Cameron Carr or Allen Graves would’ve provided similar strengths in a position of need. However, if White and/or Mann are out the door, Anderson makes way more sense, and my grade would likely be a full letter higher. If they can get to a point of playing Anderson with Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball, and Brandon Miller, their offensive firepower is going to be insane.

Quick note, all of the above was done before the LaMelo Ball trade rumors. If that ends up happening, this grade changes to more of a B+/A-.

19. Toronto Raptors: Allen Graves – C+

I’ve gone on a journey with Allen Graves this year. While I’m not in love with his game like others, the baseline sales pitch of 6’9”, good rebounder, good spot up shooter, and smart team defender is an extremely easy sell. I also don’t hate him going in this range. Where I struggle, though, is that I don’t see the upside that others do and don’t think he makes sense on this roster. I really worry about Graves’ lack of athleticism, shot creation, defensive versatility, and handle. There’s a world where the Raptors run out Graves, Collin Murray-Boyles, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett and have one of the funkiest lineups ever. It very well may work, too, but color me skeptical.

20. San Antonio Spurs: Jayden Quaintance – B+

I adore that the Spurs had the cojónes to swing on Quaintance here. We knew he was going to fall, but also that someone was going to swing. Quaintance very well may not play this year, which is a bummer. Hopefully that’s not the case, but the Spurs are in a position to endure that if needed—especially since they robbed Tarris Reed from the Nuggets. Reed can provide solid backup or third-string center minutes with his rebounding, defense, athleticism, and passing. He’s a perfect fit for what they need, and an incredible safety net in case Quaintance doesn’t work. Quaintance very easily could be the biggest steal and best defender from this class. He simultaneously had one of the best individual prospect games this year (against St. John’s) and one of the worst (against Alabama). His offense still needs work, but he is a game wrecker on defense. A lineup of him, Victor Wembanyama, Steph Castle, Carter Bryant, and Dylan Harper could easily put up some of the best defensive numbers we’ve ever seen. That’s how good Quaintance could be. I couldn’t get higher than a B+, though, because he is still a massive risk, and there were a few players on the board who really could’ve helped with their shooting issues.

21. Memphis Grizzlies: Karim Lopez – C-

This was, unfortunately, my least favorite pick of the night. Memphis did a great job of working the board, getting their guy, and getting a bunch of assets. Also, this was a very cool moment for Mexico and Lopez. Unfortunately, I’m just lower than most on Lopez. He’s still very young, so hopefully, there is a massive leap in his game lurking around the corner. He’s big, strong, a great rebounder, and he’s sneaky effective/creative around the rim. I have no clue how he gets on the floor early, though, because his defense was awful this year. His footwork, balance, and fundamentals are a complete mess. This limits him on the ball but also off the ball, as he’s hesitant and inconsistent on closeouts. He does a good job of being the low man and making that initial rotation. Once multiple rotations and closeouts are required, though, Lopez is frequently late or out of control. Offensively, there are some fun passing and slashing flashes, but his shooting mechanics are extremely inconsistent (primarily in the lower body), and his handle is very loose. As always, I hope he ends up being much better than my evaluation, but I thought Memphis had numerous chances at players who made a lot more sense.

22. Philadelphia 76ers: Labaron Philon – B-

The LaBaron Philon fall was unfortunate but not totally shocking. It is ironic that they used the pick from the Jared McCain trade to draft another guard because they were thin on guards this year. It’ll at least be interesting to see how that process grades out. Philon’s growth this year was a lot of fun to watch. He’s shifty, dynamic, and creative. He should help their backup PG minutes, but he’ll also get bullied, as it’s pretty rare for guys at his weight to make a major impact. I really like Philon’s game, but it made more sense to me for Philly to target wings or forwards at this spot—like Carr, Zuby Ejiofor, or even Tarris Reed.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Zuby Ejiofor – B-

What Zuby Ejiofor did on defense this year was fantastic and completely surprised me. Every single year, Ejiofor got better as a defender, passer, decision maker, and scorer. He should help with Atlanta’s defense very quickly, given his strength and versatility. What I worry about, though, is his fit. The Hawks felt like they needed another rim protector, and Ejiofor isn’t exactly that, at least as a primary one at the NBA level. Ejiofor is more of a pure PF, but he could allow them to run more of a scramble drill, switch everything type of defense where he can be disruptive from the weak side. Offensively, he’s a good passer and has a solid handle, but his shot has to take a leap. It’s still pretty slow and mechanical, but it feels like it’s trending in the right direction. There are some fun PJ Tucker-type outcomes for him.

24. Los Angeles Lakers: Cameron Carr – A

Cameron Carr may be the steal of this draft. We had heard the Lakers were strongly linked to Tarris Reed and Isaiah Evans, both of whom were available here, but it makes so much sense that they made the move up to nab Carr. This draft was bereft of 3-and-D wings, and Carr was by far the best one. He’s a lethal shooter, great athlete, versatile off-ball scorer, and disruptive defender with great length. Carr had way too many creation responsibilities at Baylor this year, which watered down some of his numbers. Going to a situation where he’ll be asked to do none of that, though, it’s tough to imagine a better landing spot. Carr will immediately provide the creators for the Lakers with a great shooting outlet. Carr’s shooting gravity will also hold defenders and open up the lane for drives and rim runners. Phenomenal value for the Lakers.

25. Dallas Mavericks: Sergio De Larrea – B

This was a fun move by the Mavericks to grab a PG late. De Larrea is crafty, an improved shooter, smart team defender, and awesome playmaker. The fact that he measured in at 6’6” is huge for him. I love the upside swing, and it’ll be interesting to see if they bring him over right away. De Larrea still has to prove that the shooting improvement is legitimate, though. It’s a little slow, and if he doesn’t shoot at an above-average level, he could become pretty easy to defend, as he isn’t a blazing athlete. His athletic concerns show up the most on defense as he can be slow-footed and have iffy balance. He’s a great value swing but far from a certain thing.

26. San Antonio Spurs: Tarris Reed Jr. – B+

See Jayden Quaintance. Denver… what are you doing? I get that they’re trying to save money for the Watson extension, but Reed would’ve filled a massive hole for them. Tough to go any higher than a D.

27. Boston Celtics: Chris Cenac Jr. – B-

I thought that the Celtics may look for a more ready-made piece like Joshua Jefferson or Alex Karaban, but it makes sense that they went home run swinging, which is typically their MO. Cenac could be one of the best bigs from this class. With his athleticism, size, rebounding, and shooting upside, the idea of him is tremendous. Like Ament, though, the vast majority of his game is still very theoretical. Cenac doesn’t shoot it consistently, isn’t a good passer, struggles to create his own shot, and is a frustratingly poor defender. He has the tools and desire to be a good defender, but he gets lost a lot and has never been as disruptive as he should be. He’s a great long-term development pick who could return immense value if a few crucial pieces fall into place, but it also wouldn’t be shocking if we rarely see him get minutes this year.

28. Brooklyn Nets: Joshua Jefferson – C+

I’ve never been a big Joshua Jefferson guy, but his skillset fits the “does a bit of everything, almost like a PG” archetype that the Nets have fallen in love with. Jefferson was a disruptive defender and an awesome passer. He’s one of those guys whose game is weird and confusing, but he still ends up with 16 and 8. A lot of people are more confident with the shot than I am, and I think that’ll have to get to a really good level for him to stick. Unfortunately, I think his athletic shortcomings could be a massive hindrance.

29. Sacramento Kings: Alex Karaban – C+

This is another case of me not totally understanding the team’s decision, as opposed to me not liking the player. I actually came around a lot on Karaban this cycle and like his spot-up shooting, quick decision-making, off-ball movement, and team defense. I just like it a lot more on a playoff team. The Kings are just compiling a lot of these types of players, and I don’t think he necessarily makes sense for a team that is this far away. At the very least, if he gets minutes, he should be an experienced wing for Acuff to play with.

30. Phoenix Suns: Koa Peat – B-

Even though I soured a lot on Peat this year, and not just because of the new shooting form, he provides way too much value to not swing here. He could easily be one of the bigger steals in the draft if he leans more into his playmaking and defensive consistency and worries less about his outside shooting. Similar to the Kings and Karaban, the Suns are rapidly compiling a lot of forwards with very similar skillsets. I think Peat still needs to get minutes to iron out a lot of the inconsistencies in his game, and I’m not sure this is the situation for that to happen.

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An incredibly exciting first round of the 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone.

But folks, we’re just getting started. Day Two is for the sickos.

A special THANKS to ALL of you who joined us on our first round stream all day yesterday. Be on the lookout TODAY as we will be LIVE once again for ROUND TWO.

The second round is full of some fascinating talent all over the board. If we’ve seen anything over the recent years in the NBA, we’ve seen a shift in how NBA teams view the second round. Now, there’s an emphasis more than ever for teams to try to find any possible way to improve the margins for cheap.

There are some intriguing “specialists” who could offer some legit potential to be a rotation asset for NBA organizations. Here’s a look at some of the best remaining options on the board as we get ready for Day Two of the 2026 NBA Draft.

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Isaiah Evans | G | Duke (26)

We see every year that some value can find its way to slip through the cracks on night one of the draft. Duke sophomore Isaiah Evans was a name that was looking like a bet to come off the board in the mid-20s. However, with a bundle of talent still remaining, Evans finds himself at the top of the best available list.

If you’re looking for a legit lethal catch-and-shoot weapon, Isaiah Evans is your guy. This draft class is shallow on volume shooters who can get red-hot, and Evans is a floor spacer who can get dangerously hot in a hurry. After buzzing as a freshman, Evans returned for his sophomore season and was considered a potential leap candidate for the Blue Devils. The consistency never came around offensively as some might have hoped, but Evans showed some real development on the defensive side of the ball. He seems like a sure bet to be one of the first names off the board, as Evans could provide some legit firepower from outside.

Meleek Thomas | G | Arkansas (30)

An intriguing bucket-getting machine with upside, Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas finds himself as another fascinating name still on the board. Thomas is an incredibly confident offensive weapon who can give defenders headaches with his ability to hit off-balance shots and make it look easy. Thomas has a lot of juice on the ball and can hit shots from all over, including well beyond three-point range. Thomas had a strong start to the season before hitting a bit of a wall during a six-game stretch in December. But after hitting that wall, he pushed through and continued to get better as the year progressed.

He ended the season with a final eight-game stretch of 18.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 47.4% from deep. Defensively, Thomas looks like a high-energy player who cares about trying to get better. Teams have been questioning the exact role or projection for Thomas at the next level, as he’s still a bit thin-framed. But with the on-ball juice and upside he has, it would be a surprise if his name is on the board for too long.

Henri Veesaar | F/C | North Carolina (31)

While playing for the Arizona Wildcats last year, Henri Veesaar was a name that was looking like a potential party crasher for the 2025 NBA Draft class. Instead, Veesaar decided to return to college and transferred to North Carolina for his junior campaign. Veesaar is a tricky one. He’s a legit pick-and-pop monster with a beautiful shot from outside. In terms of teams looking for a big man option as a floor spacing weapon, Veesaar can step in and make a big impact right away. He’s got some underrated feel to his game and can be a nice lob threat as well.

Veesaar is more of a “finesse” big. He’s a bit thin-framed and can get overpowered by stronger bigs. Teams that have a natural five could look at Veesaar as a potential creative weapon that gives some lineup versatility. He’s going to be the best big man option remaining on the board, which should make teams eager to add him early.

Ryan Conwell | G | Louisville (32)

The expectation this year was that Louisville senior guard Ryan Conwell would pack a lethal 1-2 punch with freshman phenom Mikel Brown Jr. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Brown was in-and-out of the lineup with a back injury, which required Conwell to do much of the heavy lifting. He’s a bucket-getting guard who can hit a bundle of shots on the basketball court. Conwell not only has the floor-spacing upside, but he’s shown some good chops off the ball and has solid vision. Conwell doesn’t have the sexiest game, but he has the tools to be a sleeper talent who turns into a valuable rotation asset.

Richie Saunders | G | BYU (35)

Despite coming off an ACL tear at the end of the NCAA season, there’s still plenty of intrigue with NBA teams surrounding Richie Saunders. One of the oldest prospects in the class, NBA teams know exactly what they are getting in Saunders. He’s a hard-working movement shooter with legit catch and shoot firepower, and he works relentlessly on both sides of the ball. Saunders has good size and feel off the ball, which pairs well with his 6’6” frame. He’s a player who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work. Even with questions about his upside and the injury, Saunders is going to get a look by an NBA team at some point. He has the tools to carve out a role in the NBA once he gets healthy.

Trevon Brazile | F | Arkansas (36)

One of the most interesting names that could come off the board early in the second round, Trevon Brazile has a fascinating game that could be a valuable asset in the modern NBA. He’s an athletic stretch forward who can offer some upside as a lob threat and shot blocker. Brazile has some great flashes, which can get you excited about the bundle of tools in his arsenal. He should be an intriguing option for teams looking to add some serious depth to their rotation.

Jaden Bradley | G | Arizona (37)

One of the best point guards in college basketball last year, Arizona senior Jaden Bradley took some tremendous steps in his development over the last couple of years. At around 6’4”, Bradley plays the game with great poise and an impressive feel for the game. He’s not afraid to play with physicality and does a great job of understanding the flow of the game. He seems like a guard who could carve out an early role as a change-of-pace guard with upside to become a consistent rotation piece.

Braden Smith | G | Purdue (38)

Purdue senior Braden Smith was one of the best floor generals in college basketball for the last couple of years. Smith is a maniac (in the best way) when it comes to his mentality and competitiveness on the basketball court. Smith’s challenge is going to be the frame, as he’s listed at around 5’11” and 167 pounds. Despite his physical limitations, Smith has everything going for him to be a worthy swing in the second round. He’s got the tools to figure out a way to stick on a roster.

Baba Miller | F | Cincinnati (39)

It seems like every year, Baba Miller has been a potential upside swing who was on the verge of taking the next leap with his game. Miller has some fascinating tools to work with on paper. He’s 6’11” and has some fantastic ball skills on the court. After starting his collegiate career at Florida State, Miller had stops at FAU and Cincinnati. Miller was one of the pleasant surprises at the NBA Draft combine, including some fantastic play in the scrimmages. He seems like a good bet to get a “let’s see what we can work with here” bet from a team early in the second.

Emanuel Sharp | G | Houston (40)

Despite being a senior, Houston guard Emanuel Sharp seems like a potential serious sleeper in the second round. Sharp is a tough-nosed guard at 6’4” who plays like a bully on the court. He’s taken great strides as a floor spacer over the years and projects to be an intriguing 3-and-D asset in the backcourt. Despite questions about the upside, Sharp seems like a player who can figure out a way to play a very long time at the NBA level. He’s going to be a name who could be a potential re-draft talent.

Best of the Rest

• Otega Oweh | G | Kentucky (41)

• Quadir Copeland | G | NC State (42)

• Dillon Mitchell | F | St. John’s (43)

• Maliq Brown | F | Duke (44)

• Ugonna Onyenso | C | Virginia (45)

• Tyler Nickel | F | Vanderbilt (46)

• Tyler Bilodeau | F | UCLA (47)

• Bruce Thornton | G | Ohio State (48)

• Ja’Kobi Gillespie | G | Tennessee (49)

• Aaron Nkrumah | G | Tennessee State (50)

• Rafael Castro | F | George Washington (51)

• Nick Marintelli | F | Northwestern (52)

• Seth Trimble | G | North Carolina (53)

• Izaiyah Nelson | F | South Florida

• Nate Bittle | C | Oregon (55)

• Tobi Lawal | F | Virginia Tech (56)

• Jack Kayil | G | Alba Berlin (57)

• Lamar Wilkerson | G | Indiana (58)

• Felix Okpara | C | Tennessee (59)

• Kylan Boswell | G | Illinois (60)

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WELCOME TO DRAFT DAY

It’s been an incredible year, but the big day is here.

The phones have been working all morning, and things could get a little nuts tonight.

Yesterday, our No Ceilings team released our annual “What Would WE Do” Mock.

Today is the big one. The Last Dance.

This is everything we’ve been hearing throughout the league from talking to teams. An important reminder to also pay attention to some of the names…

including a couple of interesting bread crumbs…

Some Quick Shouts.

• WE WILL BE LIVE ALL DAY on YOUTUBE starting at 4 PM EST/1 PM PST for a 2026 NBA Draft Preview Show.

• THEN, tonight we will be giving you Round 1 Analysis on YouTube as well.

Don’t Forget:

Check out Splash Sports for their 2026 NBA Draft Predictor contest. Free Entry and a bundle of prizes for the best Mock predictions.

We Love You All. Thanks for a GREAT Year.

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#1. WASHINGTON WIZARDS — AJ Dybantsa | F | BYU

• Names We’re Hearing: Who do you think?

#2. UTAH JAZZ — Darryn Peterson | G | Kansas

• Names We’re Hearing: Again, who do you think?

#3. MEMPHIS GRIZZLES — Cameron Boozer | F | Duke

• Names We’re Hearing: Cameron Boozer

#4. CHICAGO BULLS — Caleb Wilson | F | North Carolina

• Names We’re Hearing: Still the same four.

#5. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS — Keaton Wagler | G | Illinois

• Names We’re Hearing: Wagler seems to be the leader.

#6. BROOKLYN NETS — Mikel Brown Jr. | G | Louisville

• Names We’re Hearing: Looking like Mikel.

#7. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Darius Acuff Jr. | G | Arkansas

• Names We’re Hearing: The whole town knows, Frank.

#8. ATLANTA HAWKS (via NOLA) — Nate Ament | F | Tennessee

• Names We’re Hearing: This might be a “wrong hat” on stage moment…if not, Kingston Flemings, Aday Mara.

#9. DALLAS MAVERICKS — Brayden Burries | G | Arizona

• Names We’re Hearing: Still Burries buzz or Go Blue.

#10. MILWAUKEE BUCKS — Kingston Flemings | G | Houston

• Names We’re Hearing: Nate Ament, Kingston Flemings

#11. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS — Yaxel Lendeborg | F | Michigan

• Names We’re Hearing: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, Cameron Carr

#12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via LAC) — Aday Mara | C | Michigan

• Names We’re Hearing: Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr.

#13. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (via MIA) — Cameron Carr | G | Baylor

• Names We’re Hearing: Cameron Carr, Karim Lopez

#14. CHARLOTTE HORNETS — Morez Johnson Jr. | F/C | Michigan

• Names We’re Hearing: Morez Johnson Jr., Hannes Steinbach, Karim Lopez

#15. CHICAGO BULLS (via POR) — Hannes Steinbach | F/C | Washington

• Names We’re Hearing: Hannes Steinbach, Cameron Carr

#16. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via PHX) — Bennett Stirtz | G | Iowa

• Names We’re Hearing: Bennett Stirtz, Christian Anderson

#17. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via PHI) — Dailyn Swain | G/F | Texas

• Names We’re Hearing: Dailyn Swain, Allen Graves

#18. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via ORL) — Allen Graves | F | Santa Clara

• Names We’re Hearing: Allen Graves, Ebuka Okorie, Labaron Philon

#19. TORONTO RAPTORS — Tarris Reed Jr. | C | UConn

• Names We’re Hearing: Tarris Reed Jr, Allen Graves, Christian Anderson

#20. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via ATL) — Karim Lopez | F | NZ Breakers

• Names We’re Hearing: Karim Lopez, Allen Graves, Chris Cenac Jr.

#21. DETROIT PISTONS (via MIN) — Christian Anderson | G | Texas Tech

• Names We’re Hearing: Christian Anderson, Bennett Stirtz, Isaiah Evans

#22. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via HOU) — Chris Cenac Jr. | F/C | Houston

• Names We’re Hearing: Chris Cenac Jr., Koa Peat

#23. ATLANTA HAWKS (via CLE) — Ebuka Okorie | G | Stanford

• Names We’re Hearing: Ebuka Okorie, Tarris Reed Jr., Labaron Philon

#24. NEW YORK KNICKS — Zuby Ejiofor | F | St. John’s

• Names We’re Hearing: Zuby Ejiofor

#25. LOS ANGELES LAKERS — Isaiah Evans | G/F | Duke

• Names We’re Hearing: Isaiah Evans, Chris Cenac Jr., Koa Peat, Tarris Reed Jr.

#26. DENVER NUGGETS — Labaron Philon | G | Alabama

• Names We’re Hearing: Labaron Philon, Koa Peat

#27. BOSTON CELTICS — Jayden Quaintance | F/C | Kentucky

• Names We’re Hearing: Jayden Quaintance, Joshua Jefferson, Sergio De Larrea, Koa Peat

#28. BROOKLYN NETS (via DET) — Sergio De Larrea | G | Valencia

• Names We’re Hearing: Sergio De Larrea, Meleek Thomas

#29. CLEVELAND CAVAILERS (via SAS) — Henri Veesaar | C | North Carolina

• Names We’re Hearing: Henri Veesaar

#30. DALLAS MAVERICKS (via OKC) — Koa Peat | F | Arizona

• Names We’re Hearing: Koa Peat, Sergio De Larrea

#31. NEW YORK KNICKS (via WAS) — Alex Karaban | F | UConn

#32. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via IND) — Joshua Jefferson | F | Iowa State

#33. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (via BKN) — Meleek Thomas | G | Arkansas

#34. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Ryan Conwell | G | Louisville

#35. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via UTA) — Jack Kayil | G | Alba Berlin

#36. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (via MEM) — Richie Saunders | G | BYU

#37. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via DAL) — Aaron Nkrumah | G | Tennessee State

#38. CHICAGO BULLS (via NOLA) — Bruce Thornton | G | Ohio State

#39. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via CHI) — Emanuel Sharp | G | Houston

#40. BOSTON CELTICS (via MIL) — Tyler Bilodeau | F | UCLA

#41. MIAMI HEAT (via GSW) — Braden Smith | G | Purdue

#42. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via POR) — Maliq Brown | F | Duke

#43. BROOKLYN NETS (via LAC) — Baba Miller | F | Cincinnati

#44. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via MIA) — Tyler Nickel | F | Vanderbilt

#45. SACRAMENTO KINGS (via CHA) - Trevon Brazile | F | Arkansas

#46. ORLANDO MAGIC — Felix Okpara | C | Tennessee

#47. PHOENIX SUNS (via PHI) — Jaden Bradley | G | Arizona

#48. DALLAS MAVERICKS (via PHX) — Vsevolod Ishchenko | G/F | Lokomotiv Kuban

#49. DENVER NUGGETS (via ATL) — Ugonna Onyenso | C | Virginia

#50. TORONTO RAPTORS — Ja’Kobi Gillespie | G | Tennessee

#51. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via MIN) — Dillon Mitchell | F | St. John’s

#52. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (via CLE) - Otega Oweh | G | Kentucky

#53. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Quadir Copeland | G | NC State

#54. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (via LAL) — Nate Bittle | C | Oregon

#55. NEW YORK KNICKS - Kylan Boswell | G | Illinois

#56. CHICAGO BULLS (via DEN) — Seth Trimble | G | North Carolina

#57. ATLANTA HAWKS (via BOS) — Kowacie Reeves Jr. | G | Georgia Tech

#58. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via DET) - Jaden Henley | G | GCU

#59. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (via SAS) — Izaiyah Nelson | F | South Florida

#60. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via OKC) — Nick Martinelli | F | Northwestern

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The hour is almost upon us. After many months of anticipation for Draft Sickos, and many years of hard work from the prospects hoping to hear their names called, the 2026 NBA Draft kicks off tomorrow.

We here at No Ceilings, as always, have a whole loaded slate of draft content for all of you—from one last intel Mock Draft, to draft day streams. For our No Ceilings + subscribers, though, who help make all of this possible, we have one last gift for you before the big day itself. Without further ado, here is our final peek into the No Ceilings War Room for our final Mock Draft video of the 2026 NBA Draft cycle.

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That goes LIVE on TUESDAY MORNING, as tradition.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

The moment is almost upon us. Still, as mentioned earlier, some traditions should be kept.

We gathered one last time (for this cycle, anyway) as a No Ceilings crew in our War Room to debate all 60 picks and decide what we would do in the shoes of the front offices making selections in the 2026 NBA Draft. We made our final cases for our favorite teams and favorite prospects as we did our best to navigate how the chips would fall if we were making the selections. The full details of that debate, as always, will be available for our No Ceilings + subscribers later today.

We will have our Draft Day stream tomorrow, running from early in the day through all of the stunning moments of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, along with the intel that we promised earlier. For now, though, here is our second-to-last Mock Draft detailing what WE would do for the upcoming main event.

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#1. WASHINGTON WIZARDS — Darryn Peterson | G | Kansas

• Profile: 6’5”, 200

• Year: Freshman

  • 20.2 PTS | 4.2 REB | 1.6 AST | 1.4 STL | 0.6 BLK

  • 43.8 FG% | 38.2 3P% | 82.6 FT%

  • 24 Games | 29.1 MIN

Jam: At the end of the day, the Wizards select the best pure talent and most complete guard in the class. Not only is Peterson’s ceiling high as a two-way shot creator and playmaker, but the floor is significantly high as well in a 3-and-D-plus role. It’s scary that we didn’t even see a fully healthy and confident version of him for much of the season. Despite that, he still averaged 20.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1,6 APG, and 2.0 stocks while draining 38.2% of his threes (6.9 3PA) across 24 games. Peterson perfectly fits with the Washington core, is NBA-ready, and gives them a potential young star to help steer the franchise forward while learning from veteran All-Stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

#2. UTAH JAZZ — AJ Dybantsa | F | BYU

• Profile: 6’9”, 217

• Year: Freshman

  • 25.5 PTS | 6.8 REB | 3.7 AST | 1.1 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 51.0 FG% | 33.1 3P% | 77.4 FT%

  • 35 Games | 34.8 MIN

Rucker: The final piece of the puzzle for the Utah Jazz is finding a superstar type of talent to add to the mix. With the second overall pick in a loaded draft, Utah has a tremendous opportunity to find it. Utah fans will be extremely familiar with the BYU product, but Dybantsa has the raw tools that don’t come around often. A near 6’10” forward with a serious amount of offensive weaponry, Dybantsa is the type of superstar upside talent that franchises dream of getting on board. It often takes young forwards years to figure out how to generate easy points by generating contact and building real estate at the free-throw line. However, at just 19 years old, Dybantsa is an artist at it. Landing Dybantsa here gives the Jazz a serious franchise building block that gives them a serious balance of size, length, and offensive firepower throughout the roster. Adding him to the mix with Keyonte George and Ace Bailey gives the Jazz a young trio of bucket-getting firepower on the perimeter that should match beautifully with the suddenly stacked front court of options. Utah is in a good place regardless of what happens at #1, but landing Dybantsa here would be an opportunity to establish a bit of a beast in the Western Conference.

#3. MEMPHIS GRIZZLES — Cameron Boozer | F | Duke

• Profile: 6’9”, 253

• Year: Freshman

  • 22.5 PTS | 10.2 REB | 4.1 AST | 1.4 STL | 0.6 BLK

  • 55.6 FG% | 39.1 3P% | 78.9 FT%

  • 38 Games | 33.4 MIN

Nathan: This would be a very easy selection for the Memphis Grizzlies should the board fall this way, but honestly, any way it fell would make Grizzlies fans happy on draft night. This 2026 class is a four-horse race, but Cameron Boozer in particular would bolster this team’s offense and give it an identity that isn’t quite present on the roster. Yes, Zach Edey is a per-minute dominant monster, but he has yet to play 50% of his games in two NBA seasons. Is Cedric Coward going to take steps forward as an on-ball wing scorer that can do a bit of everything? What about the other shooters on this roster? Enter Boozer, who makes everyone around him better with his passing/playmaking from the top of the floor, or on the move. As a one-on-one player, Boozer has the ability to create mismatches that benefit not just himself, but the team as a whole. Everything he’s able to do in PnR as the screener or handler, as a post-up threat, or even spotting up off the ball, puts the defense in a bind because of how efficient and creative he is. Not to mention his rebounding efforts WITH guys like Edey and Coward would give this team an immediate physical strength on the court that matters when trying to win the possession battle. There are plenty of ways to manufacture scoring for Boozer, and he, in turn, would maximize everyone else’s ability by creating open, high-efficiency looks for them as well.

#4. CHICAGO BULLS — Caleb Wilson | F | North Carolina

• Profile: 6’10”, 211

• Year: Freshman

  • 19.8 PTS | 9.4 REB | 2.7 AST | 1.5 STL | 1.4 BLK

  • 57.8 FG% | 25.9 3P% | 71.3 FT%

  • 24 Games | 31.3 MIN

Corey: Chicago makes the easiest pick of the draft, nabbing Wilson at four as the other tier-one dudes are off the board. Wilson is 6’10”, long, bouncy, fluid, and he plays with a motor that rarely shuts off. The athlete stuff is obvious. What doesn’t get enough run is that he’s got real feel too. A 1.4 AST/TOV on near-30% usage at 6’10” on a heavily self-created diet shows that Wilson is much more than just a toolsy athlete. Don’t get me wrong, he’s that too. The dude threw down 67 dunks in 24 games, besting the next closest freshman by 12 dunks while playing 12 fewer games. Wilson also has a real deal midrange game, already comfortable hitting tough turnaround faders over contests. The three-point shooting at 26% is a major question mark, and his development there will dictate his tippy top tier potential. Defensively, he’s already a handful. He can get low and move his feet to guard the perimeter, while using his length and bounce to protect the rim. The upside here as a two-way impact swing forward is massive.

#5. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS — Mikel Brown Jr | G | Louisville

• Profile: 6’4”, 190

• Year: Freshman

  • 18.2 PTS | 3.3 REB | 4.7 AST | 1.2 STL | 0.1 BLK

  • 41.0 FG% | 34.4 3P% | 84.4 FT%

  • 21 Games | 29 MIN

Metcalf: The draft feels like it really starts at this pick, as we have a pretty good sense of who the first four picks are going to be. While the Clippers don’t necessarily need a point guard, it would be shocking if they didn’t take one here. The talent disparity is pretty vast, and even though Darius Garland was good for them down the stretch this season, he’s not prohibiting me from drafting a potential franchise point guard. Mikel Brown Jr. has some of the highest upside of any guard in this class and the day one skills to make this an awesome swing for the Clippers. Brown has parking lot range on his jumper and the versatility that’s required from modern shooters. He’s lethal off the bounce, spotting up, and isn’t afraid to let it fly off of movement. On top of that, Brown’s growth spurt and vertical pop make him extremely effective around the rim either finishing or drawing fouls. When it comes to playmaking, Brown is one of the most creative and daring in this class. What needs to get cleaned up, though, is Brown’s decision-making. His erratic shooting numbers are a better reflection of his shot selection than his capabilities, as are his careless turnovers. Brown still has plenty of work to do, but his positional malleability makes playing him early more feasible while also providing some of the highest long-term upside of anyone in this class.

#6. BROOKLYN NETS — Darius Acuff Jr. | G | Arkansas

• Profile: 6’3”, 186

• Year: Freshman

  • 23.5 PTS | 3.1 REB | 6.4 AST | 0.8 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 48.4 FG% | 44.0 3P% | 80.9 FT%

  • 36 Games | 35.2 MIN

Stephen: The Brooklyn Nets are in desperate need of…well–they’re in desperate need. This team lacks an identity, but they make up for it with cap space and opportunity. Coach Jordi Fernandez is widely respected for his coaching philosophy and approach–he just needs eggs to make an omelet. Their bevy of picks does not hold the same value in the traditional sense, in that they can’t strategically tank with the new, short-term relegation system. Not only that, but the Nets haven’t nailed their picks as of late. Brooklyn needs a win.

They go with Darius Acuff Jr. in this exercise as the future and the face of this franchise. Acuff has been an excellent scorer, but some are of the mindset that he “dribbles the air out of the ball”. Darius ranked in the 92nd percentile in being used off screens away from the ball, in the 87th percentile on spot-ups, and in the 66th percentile in handoffs. Of course, he was often used as the pick-and-roll initiator, but he showed that he can thrive playing off of others. He is an excellent passer, and he can operate well with or without a screen on the ball–which is what Brooklyn will likely lean on the most. As the team continues to improve, there is no reason to doubt Acuff’s ability to toggle on and off the ball. Much has been made of his defense on both sides, and we’re at the point where we’re just going to have to see how he improves on that end. In the meantime, getting a player who can lead this team and make everyone’s lives easier is the best way forward.

#7. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Keaton Wagler | G | Illinois

• Profile: 6’6”, 188

• Year: Freshman

  • 17.9 PTS | 5.1 REB | 4.2 AST | 0.9 STL | 0.4 BLK

  • 44.5 FG% | 39.7 3P% | 79.6 FT%

  • 37 Games | 33.9 MIN

Nick: The Sacramento Kings were dead-last in three-point makes and attempts last season, and were 29th in three-point percentage. As someone who has a case for being the best shooter in the 2026 NBA Draft, Keaton Wagler answers that question emphatically, while also coming off a season where he led the Illini to the best offense in the country. His ability to get to his spots with ease, play on or off the ball, and keep the offense running will be much appreciated in Sacramento. Wagler is incredibly adept at running the pick-and-roll, ranking in the 93rd percentile per Synergy; he’s also an elite spot-up threat, knocking down 43.2% of his spot-up triples. Wagler’s defense and rim finishing both leave a bit to be desired, but his shooting efficacy and strengths at running an offense will both mesh well with the Kings–in the present and in the future.

#8. ATLANTA HAWKS (via NOLA) — Brayden Burries | G | Arizona

• Profile: 6’5”, 215

• Year: Freshman

  • 16.1 PTS | 4.9 REB | 2.4 AST | 1.5 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 49.1 FG% | 39.1 3P% | 80.5 FT%

  • 39 Games | 29.8 MIN

Stephen: Say what you want about the need for a big man in A-Town, but Brayden Burries isn’t a player fans should have to “accept” or “settle for” in this daft. Burries on the Hawks gives them another ball-handler, scoring option, and two-way competitor. Yes, this team does have Dyson Daniels and Nickel Alexander-Walker, but you can’t have too many guards who are versatile in the ways players like Burries are. Burries has the dimensions that make him ready to compete from Day One. He’ll be a monster in transition–a strength of this ascending team. He can also space the floor reliably, as he hit 39% of his catch-and-shoot threes. He also held up on the defensive end, as his opponents shot just over 39% against him.

Something that is often said about Burries is that he is a “safer” player–that his floor is higher because of the boxes he checks. There is a real argument to be made that he can handle more on-ball reps. He makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, and he spent most of his time running the pick-and-roll. Trying to fit onto a 36-3 team, the question of whether he could have handled more on-ball reps should be at the forefront of the minds of NBA teams. That’s where the real “ceiling” with Brayden lies–the possibility that he could actually facilitate within a high-functioning offense.

#9. DALLAS MAVERICKS — Kingston Flemings | G | Houston

• Profile: 6’3”, 183

• Year: Freshman

  • 16.1 PTS | 4.1 REB | 5.2 AST | 1.5 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 47.6 FG% | 38.7 3P% | 84.5 FT%

  • 37 Games | 31.7 MIN

Nick: Kingston Flemings ends up being the guard who falls a bit out of the elite guard group at the top of the draft, and Dallas is the team that capitalizes. Flemings’s exceptional on-ball defense, elite pick-and-roll play, and veteran-level ability to pick his spots offensively would make him an ideal point guard of the future to play alongside Cooper Flagg. There are concerns about Flemings as an at-rim finisher and some concerns about his volume from three-point range, but his mid-range mastery and effectiveness as a spot-up shooter (ranking in the 84th percentile and canning 44.0% of his spot-up triples, per Synergy) would allow him to bolster Flagg’s on-ball capabilities while also being adept at running the offense on his own.

#10. MILWAUKEE BUCKS — Aday Mara | C | Michigan

• Profile: 7’4”, 260

• Year: Junior

  • 12.2 PTS | 6.8 REB | 2.5 AST | 0.3 STL | 2.6 BLK

  • 67.0 FG% | 30.0 3P% | 56.4 FT%

  • 39 Games | 23.3 MIN

Corey: Milwaukee makes a pick here that works regardless of how the Giannis situation shakes out. Mara was in Top 10 pick conversations not too long ago, though the path was bumpy, taking time to find his footing in college hoops. But after a stellar junior season in which Michigan went on a championship run, he finds himself back in the middle of those Top 10 convos after leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game while adding 12.1 points on 65.9% True Shooting, and flashing high-level playmaking reads that make him a unique prospect. He’s not explosive, nor particularly physical, playing through height and length more than power, but in a class without another proven primary rim protector, he’s carved out the spot as the top big. If Giannis is still in Milwaukee next season, he fits, and if he’s not, a real deal 7-footer who can protect the rim, make reads, and score around the hoop is not a bad foundation to help lead the next iteration of your franchise.

#11. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS — Yaxel Lendeborg | F | Michigan

• Profile: 6’10”, 241

• Year: Senior

  • 15.1 PTS | 6.9 REB | 3.3 AST | 1.2 STL | 1.2 BLK

  • 52.3 FG% | 38.3 3P% | 81.9 FT%

  • 39 Games | 30 MIN

Rucker: An argument could be made that this is the most fascinating pick in the lottery. Golden State has a huge decision to make. Do you swing for upside or try to get an early contributor who could potentially raise the immediate floor of the team? Plenty of options could be under consideration here for Golden State, including players such as Cameron Carr or Aday Mara, if available. Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg has been a name that seems to have some “cooling” buzz, but the fit with Golden State cannot be overlooked. Lendeborg has the mentality this Warriors team needs right out of the gate. He’s a versatile player who has been a bit of a “late-bloomer” when it comes to his basketball career. Being an older prospect might generate some questions for some, but Lendeborg is the type of player who will continue to find ways to master his craft at the next level. He’d be a great get here for a Warriors team that needs someone to be able to give some life to the depth on this roster.

#12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via LAC) — Morez Johnson Jr. | F/C | Michigan

• Profile: 6’10”, 251

• Year: Sophomore

  • 13.1 PTS | 7.3 REB | 1.2 AST | 0.7 STL | 1.1 BLK

  • 62.1 FG% | 34.3 3P% | 77.9 FT%

  • 39 Games | 25 MIN

Metcalf: The Oklahoma City Thunder kind of got punked by the Spurs in the playoffs as they lacked physicality and rebounding, especially in the front court. Morez Johnson fixes that immediately. On the surface, Johnson is a pretty straightforward evaluation. He’s a tremendous athlete, versatile defender, and fantastic rebounder on both ends of the floor. Johnson has the tools and technique to switch nearly everything on defense while being extremely low-maintenance on offense. He’s the classic big who does all the dirty work that your stars don’t want to do that lead to winning basketball. When you dig a little deeper, though, it’s obvious that Johnson is barely scratching the surface of what he can do offensively. This was the first year that he’s ever really shot it, and the results were very encouraging, especially given where he was just two years ago. The game is also slowing down dramatically for Johnson, which we see in his passing reads and at rim finishing. Johnson still has a good amount of growth left on offense, but his physicality, flexibility to play with other bigs, defensive versatility, character, and rebounding make him a seamless fit with the Thunder.

#13. MIAMI HEAT — Cameron Carr | G | Baylor

• Profile: 6’5”, 184

• Year: Sophomore

  • 18.9 PTS | 5.8 REB | 2.6 AST | 0.9 STL | 1.3 BLK

  • 49.4 FG% | 37.4 3P% | 80.1 FT%

  • 34 Games | 33.6 MIN

Jam: With Miami rumored to be the frontrunner for Giannis Antetokounmpo, this roster is expected to look really different. Regardless of what the final roster ends up being, Carr is a tremendous fit next to any primary creator and playoff-contending team because of his dynamic mix of athleticism, positional size (6’5.75”, 7’0.75” wingspan), three-point shooting (37.4%), and defensive playmaking (2.2 stocks) in a 3-and-D role. Carr was one of the hottest names coming out of the combine, and if the handle takes a step forward as he continues to add strength, there could be more upside to unlock.

#14. CHARLOTTE HORNETS — Hannes Steinbach | F/C | Washington

• Profile: 6’11”, 248

• Year: Freshman

  • 18.5 PTS | 11.8 REB | 1.6 AST | 1.1 STL | 1.2 BLK

  • 57.7 FG% | 34.0 3P% | 75.9 FT%

  • 30 Games | 34.6 MIN

Nathan: The Charlotte Hornets need frontcourt depth in the worst way. Yes, there are options on the roster at center, but the forward spot is a bit thin outside of Miles Bridges. Enter Hannes Steinbach, who could play both frontcourt spots in time depending on the lineup construction, while adding to the team’s biggest weakness: rebounding. Steinbach is an exceptional crasher of the glass, given his size, length, and arguably best-in-class hands when it comes to actually catching the ball. Steinbach is a great interior finisher and someone who could actually run the floor with and catch lobs from the team’s perimeter trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel. Should his three-point shooting continue to develop, along with his face-up skills attacking downhill, there’s a real chance Steinbach becomes one of the best steals of this class outside of the Top 10.

#15. CHICAGO BULLS (via POR) — Labaron Philon | G | Alabama

• Profile: 6’3”, 176

• Year: Sophomore

  • 22.0 PTS | 3.5 REB | 5.0 AST | 1.2 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 50.1 FG% | 39.9 3P% | 79.8 FT%

  • 33 Games | 30.9 MIN

Corey: Wilson at four, Philon at fifteen: Chicago’s having themselves a night. Philon broke out as one of the best guard talents in the SEC this year, and the tape backs it up. He has a Hermione Granger-sized bag that allows him to get into the paint whenever he wants, with or without a ball screen, special short-area quickness, and three-point shooting that made a massive leap from year one to year two. There was arguably no better self-creator in college basketball. The major drawback is Philon’s slender frame. It was a bit disappointing that Philon weighed in only one pound heavier at this year’s combine vs. last year. In a strength-based league, he’ll have to prove he can handle that physicality. However, he plays bigger than he looks and competes as hard as any guard in this class. Chicago walks away with Wilson on the wing and Philon in the backcourt. Excellent draft night for Bryson Graham’s new look Bulls.

#16. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via PHX) — Dailyn Swain | G | Texas

• Profile: 6’7”, 211

• Year: Junior

  • 17.3 PTS | 7.5 REB | 3.6 AST | 1.6 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 54.2 FG% | 34.4 3P% | 81.5 FT%

  • 36 Games | 32.8 MIN

Rucker: Memphis has itself sitting pretty with two selections in this draft. The Grizzlies have been connected to a plethora of point guards in this class. With the future of Ja Morant still in question, there’s obviously a chance that the Grizzlies could go in that direction here as well. However, adding another tough prospect on the perimeter would go a long way for this team as well. Texas junior Dailyn Swain is coming off a sensational season for the Longhorns. Despite the questions about his outside shot, Swain showcased some real on-ball juice this year. Teams were enamored with Swain as a prospect when he was at Xavier, especially due to his ability as a defensive playmaker. If those two versions of Swain can meet in the middle, he’s going to have plenty of potential to be an important piece of the puzzle for an organization. Adding Swain alongside Coward on the perimeter gives the Grizzlies two athletic wings with toughness and downhill ability. A young core of Zach Edey, Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, and Dailyn Swain sounds like a heck of a way to start moving forward.

#17. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via PHI) — Nate Ament | F | Tennessee

• Profile: 6’10”, 207

• Year: Freshman

  • 16.7 PTS | 6.3 REB | 2.3 AST | 1.0 STL | 0.6 BLK

  • 39.9 FG% | 33.3 3P% | 79.0 FT%

  • 35 Games | 29.7 MIN

Jam: This could end up being one of the best value picks of the draft. The OKC-Ament pairing has long been a favorite considering OKC’s development history and ability to be patient with Ament, especially after Morez Johnson Jr., with their first selection. At nearly 6’11, Ament brings a pass-dribble-shoot skillset paired with functional ball skill and multiple-level shotmaking ability. Playing off the gravity of primary creators like Shai, JDub, and the emerging Ajay Mitchell will allow Ament the opportunity to thrive as a spot-up threat/closeout attacker and playfinisher while potentially being primed for more. The defensive infrastructure in place could bring more out of Ament’s defensive tools, something we saw much more of on the grassroots than collegiate level. All the tools are in place for Ament to develop into an impact player on an annual contender here.

#18. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via ORL) - Ebuka Okorie | G | Stanford

• Profile: 6’2”, 186

• Year: Freshman

  • 23.2 PTS | 3.6 REB | 3.6 AST | 1.6 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 46.5 FG% | 35.4 3P% | 83.2 FT%

  • 31 Games | 35.1 MIN

Stephen: The Charlotte Hornets have done well recently by taking “safer” players. While Kon Knuepple has shown that he can handle his fair share of offensive responsibilities, he also excelled in playing off the other perimeter players on the team. Ryan Kalkbrenner provided some stability at the anchor, and Sion James gave the team a savvy, off-ball option who could win with physicality and his ability to think the game. Having already drafted another “eat-your-vegetables” player in Hannes Steinbach, Charlotte picks up one of the more high upside players in Ebuka Okorie.

As a freshman guard in a class defined by freshman guards, Okorie punched his way up into being a legitimate Top 20 talent. His handle, creativity, and length allowed him to get to various levels of the defense and finish well in the majority of them. With Ebuka being the primary scouting target for defenses, life in the interior–and even in his playmaking to a certain degree–didn’t yield the most fruitful production. Teams will have to either accept or deny the context with Ebuka, which is why his range is so volatile. With the Hornets, he can come off the bench and play alongside (or spell) LaMelo Ball. Even with questions on his jumper, Okorie shot 35% from deep–along with shooting 84% from the free throw line, and shooting over 42% on his long twos. Ebuka should get buckets in a more “ethical” manner–playing alongside proven offensive players in Carolina.

#19. TORONTO RAPTORS - Tarris Reed Jr. | C | UConn

• Profile: 6’11”, 265

• Year: Senior

  • 14.8 PTS | 8.8 REB | 2.4 AST | 0.9 STL | 2.0 BLK

  • 61.7 FG% | 0 3P% | 60.8 FT%

  • 34 Games | 27.1 MIN

Nathan: The Toronto Raptors need an actual center, desperately. Collin Murray-Boyles was an answer at that position last year alongside Scottie Barnes in the frontcourt, but Jakob Poeltl just isn’t the player he used to be. Sandro Mamukelashvili is much better suited as a PF rather than playing center for extended minutes. Tarris Reed would give this team an immediate upgrade at the position as an interior-focused player who is great at boxing out, playing post-up defense, and matching physicality on the low block. He sets excellent screens at the top of the floor that actually create separation for shooters, and he is looking to extend his range in time from behind the arc. He has the tools and skill set to play a real high-low game with Barnes and Murray-Boyles that balances the offense, while also supporting both of them at the rim defensively. Raptors fans have been wondering what perimeter talent could be added to this team, given the guard depth of the class, but going after a big man like Reed should be a priority for this Toronto front office.

#20. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via ATL) - Jayden Quaintance | F/C | Kentucky

• Profile: 6’10”, 253

• Year: Sophomore

  • 5.0 PTS | 5.0 REB | 0.5 AST | 0.5 STL | 0.8 BLK

  • 57.1 FG% | 0 3P% | 30.8 FT%

  • 4 Games | 16.8 MIN

Nick: The San Antonio Spurs ended up being the beneficiaries of Jayden Quaintance falling into the 20s on this Mock Draft, and they pick up a potential All-Defensive Team-caliber center here in Jayden Quaintance. The concerns about his medicals are one thing; the concerns about Quaintance’s limited offensive range, though, are certainly mitigated by the number of offensive engines on the Spurs. Quaintance would be a natural lob threat down low while Wembanyama roams on the perimeter, and the shooters for San Antonio would space the floor well in lineups with Quaintance as the lone big. The range for Quaintance might be as large as anyone’s in the draft due to his health, but the Spurs are primed to capitalize on his strengths and cover up for his weaknesses on the court.

#21. DETROIT PISTONS (via MIN) - Bennett Stirtz | G | Iowa

• Profile: 6’3”, 186

• Year: Senior

  • 19.8 PTS | 2.6 REB | 4.4 AST | 1.4 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 47.7 FG% | 35.8 3P% | 84.8 FT%

  • 37 Games | 37.8 MIN

Metcalf: The Pistons desperately lacked ball handling and shooting this year, and we saw what that did to them in the playoffs. Stirtz may not have the outlandish upside as some of these rawer freshmen, but he is built to step into a rotation right away. Stirtz is one of the best shooters in this class who can punish defenders off the bounce or act as a spot-up shooter. That shooting flexibility alone makes him a perfect fit to either back up Cade Cunningham or play alongside him. Additionally, Stirtz’s IQ and conditioning are through the roof. He played an astronomical amount of minutes in college while being the focal point of opposing defensive scouting reports and still was an extremely efficient and high-volume playmaker. Even though he ran the show in college, Stirtz has the feel and versatility to play off the ball as well. He’s more than capable of running the offense, but he doesn’t have to have the ball to make an impact. We know the Pistons need shooting, but bringing in another guard with Stirtz’s shooting, feel, and experience will also make Cunningham’s life exponentially easier.

#22. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via HOU) - Zuby Ejiofor | F | St. John’s

• Profile: 6’9”, 245

• Year: Senior

  • 16.3 PTS | 7.3 REB | 3.5 AST | 1.2 STL | 2.1 BLK

  • 53.6 FG% | 30.5 3P% | 71.8 FT%

  • 37 Games | 30.0 MIN

Nathan: The Philadelphia 76ers need toughness and nastiness in the worst way. This team has struggled to rebound the ball and actually guard opposing wings and forwards in high-leverage situations. Kelly Oubre has been so much better on that end of the floor since coming to Philadelphia, and Dominick Barlow was a low-cost revelation for the franchise last season, but neither has the size and strength of Zuby Ejiofor, who would provide an immediate upgrade to both areas while possessing the attitude and ferociousness this team has lacked from that position for several seasons. He can switch across multiple positions defensively, legitimately help to pressure the ball and pick up away from the basket, and is an absolute pain to try and back down on the block. Ejiofor has the length and standing reach to play the center spot as a backup option, while having the ball handling and passing skill to slot in alongside another big man like Joel Embiid. The shot is his swing skill, as it is for so many young players. But Ejiofor is the exact type of player who tends to go lower than he should, and winds up much higher in re-draft exercises because he’s built both physically and mentally to impact games in the playoffs, especially on defense.

#23. ATLANTA HAWKS (via CLE) - Henri Veesaar | F | North Carolina

• Profile: 7’0”, 227

• Year: Junior

  • 17.0 PTS | 8.7 REB | 2.1 AST | 0.6 STL | 1.2 BLK

  • 60.8 FG% | 42.6 3P% | 61.5 FT%

  • 31 Games | 31.3 MIN

Stephen: After picking up one of the more versatile and impactful guards in the draft, the Hawks address some of the big man concerns that exist on the team by drafting Henri Veesaar. With Onyeka Okongwu being the only legit size on the team, adding the seven-footer makes sense on the glass. He posted a Defensive Rebounding percentage of 21.9–a substantial marker. He’s proven to be a versatile offensive player–working well on both ends of high/low actions with Caleb Wilson. He should work well with Jalen Johnson in 4-5 pick-and-roll actions, or DHOS–as he is more than able to reject the handoff, and make a quick decision.

The defense is truly the biggest concern–but mainly just as an anchor. With Onyeka on the team, Henri can play more into a complementary team defender role, as someone who’s able to slide his feet and challenge shots. As the second big on a team, Veesaar figures to do the majority of the traditional “big man things” at a good clip, but he can also space the floor. Okungwu has also added a reliable jumper, so adding Veesaar gives Atlanta the ability to play 5-Out–something that the best Eastern Conference teams are able to do consistently.

#24. NEW YORK KNICKS — Allen Graves | F | Santa Clara

• Profile: 6’9”, 225

• Year: RS-Freshman

  • 11.8 PTS | 6.5 REB | 1.8 AST | 1.9 STL | 0.9 BLK

  • 51.2 FG% | 41.3 3P% | 75.0 FT%

  • 35 Games | 22.7 MIN

Corey: At #24, the NBA CHAMPION New York Knicks add the most analytically friendly prospect in this draft outside of Cameron Boozer. The redshirt freshman out of Santa Clara is a multi-skilled two-way forward who can make quick passing reads, knock down spot-up threes, make timely cuts, be a monster on the offensive glass, and have a consistent impact on the other end of the floor with his disruption. The profile jumps off the page if you know what you’re looking for with Graves. The questions are fair, though. Combine measurements and athleticism raised some legit concern, and the bench role vs. WCC competition is a legitimate thing to push back on. However, the two-way versatility is real; in a class where a lot of names elected to return, the Graves case gets easier to make by default. New York gets a plug-and-play dude who fits right into what they do. At #24, Graves is exactly the kind of bet that makes you look really smart in a few years.

#25. LOS ANGELES LAKERS — Isaiah Evans | G | Duke

• Profile: 6’6”, 186

• Year: Sophomore

  • 15.0 PTS | 3.2 REB | 1.3 AST | 0.7 STL | 0.7 BLK

  • 43.3 FG% | 36.1 3P% | 86.0 FT%

  • 38 Games | 28.3 MIN

Jam: With the top big man options essentially gone at this point, the Lakers address another one of their needs by selecting arguably the best shooter in the class, Isaiah Evans. Evans is a lethal shooter (career 38% three-point shooter) who brings shotmaking versatility, deep range, positional size (6 ‘6.75”), and unlimited confidence any time that he’s on the floor. He’s someone who would thrive next to Luka, Austin, and LeBron, giving them spacing and draining open threes from their spray outs, along with contested ones when called upon. Evans took another step forward as a more aggressive closeout attacker, rim finisher, and defender. This a perfect landing spot for both sides.

#26. DENVER NUGGETS — Joshua Jefferson | F | Iowa State

• Profile: 6’9”, 245

• Year: Senior

  • 16.4 PTS | 7.4 REB | 4.8 AST | 1.6 STL | 0.8 BLK

  • 47.1 FG% | 34.5 3P% | 70.0 FT%

  • 35 Games | 30.9 MIN

Nick: What do you get for the best passer in the world? How about someone who has an argument for being the best passer in this draft class, while also providing defensive versatility at 6’8” and 245 pounds? Joshua Jefferson is one of those passers who has to be seen to be believed, and he could be a skeleton key-type of addition for Denver regardless of Peyton Watson’s potential future with the team. Jefferson also took a step forward as a shooter this year; while the track record there is not all that large, morphing into a shooter would unlock his game even further. Even if the shooting turns out to be a one-year blip, though, Jefferson’s defensive prowess and absurd passing touch would make him a great pick-up for a team that could always use another passer with size to turn heads with the craziest of dimes down low.

#27. BOSTON CELTICS — Christian Anderson | G | Texas Tech

• Profile: 6’2”, 180

• Year: Sophomore

  • 18.5 PTS | 3.6 REB | 7.4 AST | 1.5 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 47.2 FG% | 41.5 3P% | 80.5 FT%

  • 33 Games | 38.4 MIN

Rucker: The Celtics are hoping that they can survive a potential “bigs” run here with the 27th pick. Reports have suggested that Boston is trying to move up from this pick, and when you analyze the board, you can see why. Most teams are always “willing” to move up, but this organization doesn’t have a strong recent track record of trading up. In this case, Boston falls on the outside of the big run. There’s a chance this type of scenario could happen on draft night, which would most likely see the Celtics try to move out. However, there’s also a surprising piece still on the board. Boston has also never been afraid to take the best player available, especially for a roster that has their eyes always set on the future. Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson is coming off a sensational season for the Red Raiders and would be too good a value to pass up. With such a deep guard class, there’s a chance that multiple floor generals could slip through the “cracks” on draft night. Anderson has tremendous ability as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, especially as one of the best shooters in this class. Anderson’s fit offensively with this system would be a fun one, as he’s a tremendous floor spacing asset with upside.

#28. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (via DET) — Meleek Thomas | G | Arkansas

• Profile: 6’4”, 190

• Year: Freshman

  • 15.6 PTS | 3.8 REB | 2.5 AST | 1.5 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 43.3 FG% | 41.6 3P% | 84.3 FT%

  • 37 Games | 30.5 MIN

Metcalf: Timberwolves fans likely won’t be thrilled about how this board fell, as all of the top point guards are off the board. However, Meleek Thomas is a fascinating upside swing who could fit like a glove. At the start of the season, Thomas got a lot of on-ball reps, and frankly, it was a disaster. He was overdribbling, inefficient with his scoring, and looked lost. Once Arkansas moved him into more of an off-ball role, though, his impact and effectiveness skyrocketed. He turned into a lethal off-ball shooter, made quicker, simpler decisions, and had more attention to detail on defense. The development route for Thomas is going to be fascinating because he is still pretty raw. Many bill him as a sparkplug scorer, which he certainly could be. However, there is a lot more 3-and-D upside with him that could see him grow into an archetype a little more like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope if he really commits to the defensive end of the floor.

#29. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (via SAS) — Karim Lopez | F | NZ Breakers

• Profile: 6’9”, 222

• Year: 2007 Born

  • 11.9 PTS | 6.1 REB | 1.9 AST | 1.2 STL | 1.0 BLK

  • 49.4 FG% | 32.2 3P% | 73.9 FT%

  • 30 Games | 25.6 MIN

Nick: Karim Lopez falls to the Cleveland Cavaliers here, and the Cavs pounced on the top international prospect of the non-NCAA division. Lopez built on a strong first season with the New Zealand Breakers this year, showing increased confidence and proficiency as both a shooter and a playmaker. With a sturdy 6’8”, 220-pound frame, a nearly-7’ wingspan, and some serious competitive fire (especially when attacking the basket), Lopez makes a ton of sense for Cleveland as a jack-of-all-trades type who can fit right in with Cleveland’s defensive scheme and provide complementary offensive play, whether coming off the bench or potentially slotting in as a fifth starter-type going forward.

#30. DALLAS MAVERICKS (via OKC) — Chris Cenac Jr. | F | Houston

• Profile: 6’11”, 240

• Year: Freshman

  • 9.5 PTS | 7.9 REB | 0.7 AST | 0.8 STL | 0.5 BLK

  • 48.5 FG% | 33.3 3P% | 62.1 FT%

  • 37 Games | 24.8 MIN

Stephen: Dallas already had their star player–and arguably their second-best player–before the draft even kicked off. After adding the speedy, two-way lead guard, Kingston Flemings, the Mavs take a swing on the project big, Chris Cenac Jr. The season for Cenac in Houston was actually quite solid—just in a different way than some anticipated. At his size, Cenac is one of the better rebounding prospects in the class–and truly the best one that was available here. While the defensive playmaking numbers weren’t sexy, Chris did show bright moments on that end–including very successful reps against AJ Dybantsa.

While he didn’t shoot the cover off the ball, Cenac did hit over 33% of his three-pointers on moderate volume. He did hit over 43% of his long twos–and was one of the best shooting big men coming into this cycle. Still, he slipped due to his inconsistencies–even at the free-throw line, where he barely shot over 62%. If shooting is going to be a skill he can hang his hat on, he has to leave no doubts moving forward. It was encouraging, though, that he shot over 74% at the rim. As he builds muscle and gains strength, his rim-finishing could be a real weapon.

Not a bad way to swing at the end of the first round!

SECOND ROUND

#31. NEW YORK KNICKS (via WAS) — Koa Peat | F | Arizona

• Profile: 6’8”, 245

• Year: Freshman

  • 14.1 PTS | 5.6 REB | 2.6 AST | 0.6 STL | 0.7 BLK

  • 52.8 FG% | 35 3P% | 62.3 FT%

  • 36 Games | 27.8 MIN

#32. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via IND) — Ryan Conwell | G | Louisville

• Profile: 6’3”, 215

• Year: Senior

  • 18.8 PTS | 4.8 REB | 2.7 AST | 1.1 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 40.8 FG% | 34.5 3P% | 83.2 FT%

  • 34 Games | 30.9 MIN

#33. BROOKLYN NETS — Alex Karaban | F | UConn

• Profile: 6’8”, 225

• Year: Senior

  • 13.1 PTS | 5.1 REB | 2.4 AST | 0.8 STL | 0.8 BLK

  • 46.8 FG% | 37.8 3P% | 86.4 FT%

  • 39 Games | 34.1 MIN

#34. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Richie Saunders | G | BYU

• Profile: 6’6”, 205

• Year: Senior (24)

  • 18.0 PTS | 5.8 REB | 2.1 AST | 1.7 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 48.9 FG% | 37.6 3P% | 81.7 FT%

  • 25 Games | 31.4 MIN

#35. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via UTA) — Sergio de Larrea | G | Valencia

• Profile: 6’6”, 200

• Year: 2005 Born (20)

  • 7.2 PTS | 2.1 REB | 2.9 AST | 0.5 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 45.0 FG% | 41.2 3P% | 81.9 FT%

  • 63 Games | 14.5 MIN

#36. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (via MEM) — Trevon Brazile | F | Arkansas

• Profile: 6’10”, 225

• Year: Senior

  • 13.1 PTS | 7.3 REB | 1.6 AST | 1.5 STL | 1.6 BLK

  • 52.6 FG% | 34.1 3P% | 71.7 FT%

  • 36 Games | 31.5 MIN

#37. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (via DAL) — Emanuel Sharp | G | Houston

• Profile: 6’4”, 208

• Year: Senior

  • 15.5 PTS | 3.0 REB | 1.7 AST | 1.2 STL | 0.1 BLK

  • 41.3 FG% | 37.2 3P% | 89.1 FT%

  • 37 Games | 29.3 MIN

#38. CHICAGO BULLS (via NOLA) — Ugonna Onyenso | C | Virginia

• Profile: 7’0”, 245

• Year: Senior

  • 6.5 PTS | 4.9 REB | 0.6 AST | 0.6 STL | 2.9 BLK

  • 56.8 FG% | 27.8 3P% | 72.7 FT%

  • 36 Games | 18.6 MIN

#39. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via CHI) — Aaron Nkrumah | G | Tennessee State

• Profile: 6’6”, 188

• Year: Senior

  • 17.7 PTS | 5.5 REB | 3.0 AST | 2.8 STL | 0.5 BLK

  • 43.8 FG% | 35.1 3P% | 78.6 FT%

  • 33 Games | 31.3 MIN

#40. BOSTON CELTICS (via MIL) — Tyler Bilodeau | F | UCLA

• Profile: 6’8”, 225

• Year: Senior

  • 17.6 PTS | 5.6 REB | 1.1 AST | 0.5 STL | 0.4 BLK

  • 51.8 FG% | 46.4 3P% | 87.3 FT%

  • 31 Games | 30.3 MIN

#41. MIAMI HEAT (via GSW) — Baba Miller | F | Cincinnati

• Profile: 6’11”, 208

• Year: Senior

  • 13.0 PTS | 10.3 REB | 3.7 AST | 0.7 STL | 1.2 BLK

  • 52.9 FG% | 19.2 3P% | 65.8 FT%

  • 31 Games | 31.8 MIN

#42. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via POR) — Tyler Nickel | F | Vanderbilt

• Profile: 6’7”, 220

• Year: Senior

  • 13.5 PTS | 3.3 REB | 1.2 AST | 0.8 STL | 0.5 BLK

  • 44.5 FG% | 40.0 3P% | 84.7 FT%

  • 36 Games | 30.6 MIN

#43. BROOKLYN NETS (via LAC) — Dillon Mitchell | F | St. John’s

• Profile: 6’8”, 202

• Year: Senior

  • 8.3 PTS | 7.0 REB | 3.0 AST | 1.3 STL | 0.7 BLK

  • 55.9 FG% | 6.7 3P% | 49.4 FT%

  • 37 Games | 28.2 MIN

#44. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (via MIA) — Maliq Brown | F | Duke

• Profile: 6’9”, 225

• Year: Senior

  • 4.9 PTS | 5.2 REB | 1.6 AST | 1.8 STL | 0.6 BLK

  • 62.9 FG% | 16.7 3P% | 50 FT%

  • 38 Games | 20.3 MIN

#45. SACRAMENTO KINGS (via CHA) - Otega Oweh | G | Kentucky

• Profile: 6’5”, 215

• Year: Senior

  • 18.6 PTS | 4.8 REB | 2.7 AST | 1.8 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 46.5 FG% | 33.3 3P% | 73.1 FT%

  • 36 Games | 32.8 MIN

#46. ORLANDO MAGIC — Braden Smith | G | Purdue

• Profile: 5’11”, 167

• Year: Senior

  • 14.3 PTS | 3.5 REB | 8.8 AST | 1.7 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 44.0 FG% | 36.2 3P% | 82.5 FT%

  • 39 Games | 34.5 MIN

#47. PHOENIX SUNS (via PHI) — Jaden Bradley | G | Arizona

• Profile: 6’3”, 205

• Year: Senior

  • 13.3 PTS | 3.4 REB | 4.4 AST | 1.4 STL | 0.1 BLK

  • 46.3 FG% | 39.4 3P% | 80.9 FT%

  • 39 Games | 30.6 MIN

#48. DALLAS MAVERICKS (via PHX) — Jack Kayil | G | Alba Berlin

#49. DENVER NUGGETS (via ATL) — Ja’Kobi Gillespie | G | Tennessee

• Profile: 6’1”, 188

• Year: Senior

  • 18.4 PTS | 2.8 REB | 5.4 AST | 2.1 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 41.0 FG% | 33.8 3P% | 81.4 FT%

  • 37 Games | 34.7 MIN

#50. TORONTO RAPTORS — Quadir Copeland | G | NC State

• Profile: 6’6”, 220

• Year: Senior

  • 13.9 PTS | 3.6 REB | 6.5 AST | 1.8 STL | 0.1 BLK

  • 49.4 FG% | 39.7 3P% | 77.5 FT%

  • 34 Games | 28.8 MIN

#51. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via MIN) — Rafael Castro | F | George Washington

• Profile: 6’10”, 224

• Year: Senior

  • 15.3 PTS | 9.1 REB | 1.7 AST | 1.8 STL | 1.7 BLK

  • 62.7 FG% | 0 3P% | 66.1 FT%

  • 29 Games | 27.2 MIN

#52. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (via CLE) - Seth Trimble | G | North Carolina

• Profile: 6’3”, 200

• Year: Senior

  • 14.0 PTS | 3.8 REB | 3.0 AST | 1.3 STL | 0.2 BLK

  • 47.1 FG% | 28.6 3P% | 66.7 FT%

  • 24 Games | 32.4 MIN

#53. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Bruce Thornton | G | Ohio State

• Profile: 6’2”, 215

• Year: Senior

  • 19.9 PTS | 5.1 REB | 3.9 AST | 1.2 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 55.4 FG% | 40 3P% | 82.9 FT%

  • 34 Games | 36.6 MIN

#54. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (via LAL) — Felix Okpara | C | Tennessee

#55. NEW YORK KNICKS - Kowacie Reeves Jr. | G | Georgia Tech

• Profile: 6’7”, 194

• Year: Senior

  • 15.1 PTS | 3.8 REB | 1.2 AST | 0.9 STL | 0.7 BLK

  • 45.6 FG% | 38.7 3P% | 77.9 FT%

  • 29 Games | 30.2 MIN

#56. CHICAGO BULLS (via DEN) — Tobi Lawal | F | Virginia Tech

• Profile: 6’8”, 214

• Year: Senior

  • 12.3 PTS | 8.5 REB | 0.6 AST | 0.3 STL | 1.1 BLK

  • 54.2 FG% | 25.0 3P% | 76.3 FT%

  • 23 Games | 29.1 MIN

#57. ATLANTA HAWKS (via BOS) — Izaiyah Nelson | F | South Florida

• Profile: 6’9”, 219

• Year: Senior

  • 15.9 PTS | 9.6 REB | 1.2 AST | 1.6 STL | 1.4 BLK

  • 56.1 FG% | 14.3 3P% | 72.5 FT%

  • 34 Games | 27.2 MIN

#58. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via DET) - Jaden Henley | G | GCU

• Profile: 6’6”, 209

• Year: Senior

  • 17.7 PTS | 5.7 REB | 2.9 AST | 1.6 STL | 0.3 BLK

  • 46.6 FG% | 26.8 3P% | 75.6 FT%

  • 32 Games | 31.4 MIN