But man, today’s free agency haul for the Lakers is fantastic. They landed four role players who can all contribute at a playoff level while also filling different niches that will make Los Angeles better in multiple areas. There are a couple issues with the moves that aren’t strictly related to what happens on the court, but we’ll get to those later. First, let’s talk about each of LA’s new acquisitions.
Collin Sexton is one of the most undervalued guards in hoops. He’s a volume scorer who has pretty much only played for bad teams in his career, which has caused people to overlook how impressive his profile is. Sexton isn’t the typical inefficient microwave combo guard. He’s actually incredibly efficient for his role. Across his eight-year career, he’s averaged 18.3 points on 47.2% from the field and 38.9% from three (he’s done that in just 29.0 MPG, by the way). He also keeps turnovers down, another type of efficiency that matters too, especially in a league that heavily values the possession economy right now.
Getting an offensive talent like Sexton for under $10m AAV is an absolute steal. Sure, he doesn’t offer much defensively (even if he tries to), which won’t lend well to him playing alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. But, as a sixth man, which will likely be his job, Sexton should be phenomenal. This could be the 2026 version of Jalen Brunson playing behind Luka Doncic (without the eventual superstar breakout).
Quentin Grimes is the quintessential modern off-guard that every contender should want. The only real hole in his game is that he’s a bit too streaky for a shoot-first guy. But, he makes up for that with great closeout attacking ability, sharp connective passing, and steadfast point of attack defense. He’s solid even when his shot isn’t falling, and when it is, whew. This is a picture-perfect fit next to Luka. No more notes.
As for Sandro Mamukelashvili, he’s managed to establish himself as a no-doubt rotation piece despite getting drafted 54th overall and being one of the funkiest players in basketball. He’s a power forward with the perimeter comfort of a guard; a true stretch four with a way better handle than most guys of his size and role. His defense doesn’t stand out, but it’s not bad. He can hang on the perimeter against quicker wings. Again, this is a no-brainer fit for a Luka-led team (on offense specifically).
Now, for the headliner: Walker Kessler. From a purely on-the-hardwood perspective, this is an awesome get. Kessler will be just 25 years old at the beginning of next season and he’s already a tried-and-true starting center who blocks shots, rebounds, and converts chippies with the best of them. Everything Deandre Ayton isn’t, Walker Kessler is.
Of course, the Lakers did pay a hefty cost to make that splash. They’ll owe Kessler $130m over the next four years ($32.5m AAV), and they also coughed up two unprotected firsts plus two swaps to the Jazz in order to get him. That’s a significant investment for a player who has injury concerns and hasn’t played a postseason game (or, arguably, any high leverage game in general) in his career.
But, Kessler is good, flat-out, and he makes too much sense for this squad and what they need. If they’re able to make/win the Finals, it won’t matter how much they paid for him (see: Knicks with Mikal Bridges). And, after today, they have a much stronger chance of doing so.
The elephant in the room is that all of this was possible for LA because LeBron is walking in free agency. Whether or not they could have convinced the GOAT to stay is one thing, but the question is, what would give them a better shot at a title: having Bron, Luka, Reaves, and a similarly below-par role player core to last year, or having Luka, Reaves, and a well-rounded roster with versatility on both ends of the floor?
It might be a painful truth, but there’s an easy answer there. Sure, the big three the Lakeshow had was flashy, but they’re trying to maximize Luka’s prime now. If you want entertainment, you better hope LeBron goes to Golden State.
All in all, it’s been a heckuva free agency for the Lakers. A few questions will need to be answered, but in the moment, LA faithful should be nothing but excited.
Feature photo credit: Charlie Perlman, Daily Northwestern
The 2026 NBA Draft was a tale of two rounds. The first round was stacked, and almost every team walked away with a genuinely exciting prospect. It was also a largely unchaotic night, as the class thinned out at the withdrawal deadline, leaving the T30 virtually set in stone. The second round had less flash, but was more unpredictable, with only razor-thin differences separating what ended up being mostly a group of seniors that heard their names called that night.
So many of the prospects in this class seem destined to succeed, and it will be so interesting to see who ultimately walks away as winners. Here are my initial grades for how each team performed in the 2026 draft.
Atlanta Hawks
Draftees: Kingston Flemings (8th), Zuby Ejiofor (23rd), Henri Veesaar (52nd)
The Trae Young trade left a gaping hole at point guard in Atlanta, and it was only a matter of time before they made a move to patch it. Kingston Flemings could be the Hawks’ new backcourt commander, a lightning quick and slithery ball handler who can run the pick-and-roll and hit pullups from anywhere. He will amplify the uptempo style of play the Hawks have adopted while also improving their halfcourt offense.
Ironically, though, like Young, Flemings has some serious size concerns as a shorter guard with underdeveloped strength and a barely positive wingspan. He gives a lot more effort on defense than Trae, but could cause similar headaches if teams start hunting him because he’s far from physically imposing.
Ejiofor and Veesaar will both boost Atlanta’s interior game, but in different ways. Ejiofor is a slightly undersized center, but he’s a defensive beast with supreme versatility. In some ways, he’s a stronger Onyeka Okongwu (on defense only). Veesaar, who was a shocking faller, could go down as one of the biggest steals of the draft if his rim protecting stretch five potential materializes.
Grade: A-
Boston Celtics
Draftees: Chris Cenac Jr. (27th), Dillon Mitchell (40th)
The Celtics bought one of the draft’s true lottery tickets in the first round. Chris Cenac has enticing upside in many areas with plenty of routes to success, but he’s also so raw. There’s a world where Boston turns him into a two-way weapon that extends their era of Eastern Conference dominance, but there’s also a world where he can’t keep up with the team as they chase championships and gets lost in the shadows. How much emphasis Joe Mazzulla and the rest of his staff place on Cenac’s development will determine how much they get out of this pick.
Mitchell has some makings of an instant-impact rookie with his standout athleticism and defensive tools. However, his complete lack of a go-to way to score puts a hard ceiling on how much he’ll be able to contribute in meaningful games.
Grade: B-
Brooklyn Nets
Draftees: Mikel Brown Jr. (6th), Joshua Jefferson (28th), Tyler Bilodeau (43rd)
It’s good that Brooklyn chose to ignore the fact that they drafted three PGs last year, because they landed a potential franchise star in Mikel Brown Jr. with the sixth pick. In a class with several backcourt star bets, Brown stands out as the one who most clearly fits the mold of the modern All-Star guard. Brooklyn is a superb situation for him because he’ll be able to take the reins of the offense early on, but he’ll also have Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. to relieve some pressure from him, plus an elite coach in Jordi Fernandez guiding his way.
Getting some adults in the room later in the draft is smart business for the Nets. Jefferson and Bilodeau should both be at least somewhat playable in year one as two guys with defined roles and the ability to produce steadily within them.
Grade: A
Charlotte Hornets
Draftees: Hannes Steinbach (14th), Christian Anderson (18th)
The outlook of these picks for Charlotte looked a little different in the moment than it does after the LaMelo trade. While most of the team’s core and identity are still in place, they’re now missing their engine, and the lack of playmakers still on the team could hurt Steinbach specifically. The Washington big man’s value is offensively tilted, but he’s reliant on others creating for him, so the type of synergy he builds with Coby White and Kon Knueppel will be something to monitor. Playing time may also have to be earned for Steinbach, as he’ll be sharing the frontcourt with Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
As for Anderson, he may find himself as the backup point guard from day one. Being thrown into the fire like that could do wonders for his development, but could also have him looking like a minnow in a pool of sharks. After all, rookie point guards usually struggle. If he eventually achieves a high-end outcome, he could be something like a miniature LaMelo for the Hornets.
Grade: B-
Chicago Bulls
Draftees: Caleb Wilson (4th), Dailyn Swain (15th)
Bulls fans have been in desperate need of reasons to get excited for too long. Now, they have a blue chip guy to rally behind in Caleb Wilson. While Wilson has some refinement to do, his potential is as high as anyone’s in this class. The cherry on top is he seems genuinely excited to be in Chicago. Together, Wilson and Matas Buzelis could bring the Windy City into a new golden age.
Swain is a bit of a confusing pick. Not because of the value, but because of the roster context. The shooting in Chicago’s projected starting lineup of Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Nic Claxton, and (shooting guard TBD) is pretty poor, so if Swain is going to share the floor with those guys, someone is going to have to make some outlier developments from beyond the arc.
Grade: A-
Cleveland Cavaliers
Draftee: Meleek Thomas (34th)
Rumors said he could go as high as 15th, but Meleek Thomas surprisingly fell all the way to the second round. This pick has heist written all over it. At the very least, Thomas will be a sparky off-guard who can get buckets off the bench and will compete on defense. His 3&D chops and scoring versatility will be welcomed on a Cleveland team that has a bunch of specialist role players (Sam Merrill: shooter, Dean Wade: defender, etc.).
Grade: A-
Dallas Mavericks
Draftees: Morez Johnson Jr. (9th), Sergio de Larrea (25th), Tobi Lawal (48th), Vsevolod Ishchenko (56th)
Morez Johnson being the first Wolverine off the board was a pleasant surprise. He spent most of the season in the shadow of Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara, but his name has been on fire since the combine in May. His athleticism and defense are both off the charts, and there’s no world where he fails in the league, especially with his Michigan coach Dusty May now behind the clipboard in Dallas.
Cooper Flagg took on a huge creation load as a rookie, but if Sergio de Larrea pans out, he could assume some of that burden. The Spaniard’s combination of handling and shooting at 6’7” is quite intriguing.
The second round haul for the Mavs is underwhelming. Tobi Lawal is an insane athlete and, by all accounts, a hard worker, but his NBA role is very much up in the air. Ishchenko is fun, but he could be one of those stash guys who never comes over.
Brazile in Denver is the best fit to come out of the second round. Every one of Brazile’s strengths— athleticism, mobility, floor spacing, above-the-rim finishing, defensive versatility— will be amplified when he’s playing in the Nuggets’ Jokic-centric system. Hopkins, a rugged interior-oriented forward, could see a similar boost. Sharp work from Denver here to add cheap talent that matches their ethos as they try to extend their contention window.
Ebuka Okorie is a stud hiding in plain sight. He’s rarely mentioned in the same conversations as this draft’s headliner guards, but he should be. Okorie is an electric downhill engine who carried insane responsibility as a freshman at Stanford and produced like a superstar. Everyone and their momma knows how badly Detroit needs more creators, and they just got a guy who could be an on-ball All-Star. Even if he doesn’t hit that absolute ceiling, he could be the ideal sixth man behind Cade Cunningham in the backcourt.
The Isaiah Stewart trade was tough news for Pistons fans, but the addition of Onyenso, one of college basketball’s premier shot blockers, should cheer them up a bit.
Grade: A
Golden State Warriors
Draftees: Yaxel Lendeborg (11th), Lajae Jones (54th)
In past drafts, Golden State has made the unfortunate mistake of drafting prospects that can’t play Warriors basketball, like James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, for example. Yaxel Lendeborg and Lajae Jones are the opposite of that. Both are do-it-all forwards who can connect lineups on both sides of the ball (to different degrees, of course, because Yax is much better than Jones). There’s limited upside in these picks, but in the short term, these two guys should be able to help maximize the twilight of Steph Curry’s career.
Grade: B
Houston Rockets
Draftee: Bruce Thornton (31st)
As much of a hooper as Bruce Thornton is, all of his physical limitations are kinda scary. But, Houston has the right infrastructure in place to cover up his weaknesses. They also need a guy with his strengths— their halfcourt offense can be a rough watch. Thornton might only see the floor for long stretches when other guys get injured, because playing him next to Fred VanVleet or Reed Sheppard doesn’t feel too plausible. Still, he and the Rockets could quickly establish a healthy symbiotic relationship.
Grade: B-
Indiana Pacers
Draftee: Braden Smith (38th)
The Pacers have a type when it comes to their point guards, and Braden Smith fits it. He’s like the long lost son of Tyrese Haliburton and TJ McConnell, or, even better, a Target discount rack Chris Paul. As much as the Purdue legend has mastered his craft, he and his 5’11” self will be facing a steep uphill battle in a league that is becoming more and more unfriendly to little guards.
Grade: C+
Los Angeles Clippers
Draftees: Keaton Wagler (5th), Baba Miller (36th), Nick Martinelli (55th), Narcisse Ngoy (57th)
There are no nits to pick with the Keaton Wagler selection. He should be a core piece for LA moving forward regardless of what direction they choose this offseason. The other new Clippers are a mixed bag. Baba Miller and Nick Martinelli are two of the funkiest players in the class. They don’t fit cleanly into any preexisting role player molds, which could be a blessing or a curse for them.
As for Ngoy, he’s going to be an NCAA stash guy, making him the single most out-of-left-field choice of the night. He didn’t even formally go through the draft process. Bit of a head-scratcher from the Clips, not sure what the value there is.
Grade: B
Los Angeles Lakers
Draftee: Cameron Carr (24th)
The “steal of the night” award may go to the Lakers. Carr was getting some tangible lottery buzz leading up to the big night, but he somehow slipped way past that range. He feels like the picture-perfect complementary wing prospect, and his bouncy 3&D skillset should pop when he plays alongside Luka Doncic under the brightest spotlight in basketball.
Memphis’ collapse from being one of the most exciting young teams in basketball to a bottom feeder has been kinda crazy to witness, but Cam Boozer should have them right back on the upswing soon. There’s a very real chance he goes down as the best player in the draft, and even if he doesn’t, he’s still going to be a cornerstone type of guy. The kid wins everywhere he goes.
Lopez was always going to be a sketchy pick no matter where he ended up. He’s that raw. This is a much better spot for him than if he would’ve gone near the lottery though. The Grizzlies haven’t had the most success developing unrefined forwards (see David Roddy, Ziaire Williams, and even, to some degree, GG Jackson and Jake LaRavia), so that’s something to keep an eye on.
Unless his ACL injury seriously dampens his ability, Saunders will make Memphis’ already deep wing room even stronger with his plug-and-play offensive skillset. The trio of Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Saunders could all be playoff contributors in the near future.
Grade: A-
Miami Heat
Draftee: Ryan Conwell (37th)
There’s one main reason to play Conwell: he bombs threes. We’re talking about 9.6 attempts per game last season at Louisville. That’s nuts for the college level. Conwell’s shooting could end up being quite important for the Giannis-and-Bam-led Heat.
Grade: B-
Milwaukee Bucks
Draftees: Brayden Burries (10th), Nate Ament (13th), Malique Lewis (60th)
A new era for the Bucks is beginning, one where their only solidified core piece is Ryan Rollins. Brayden Burries and Nate Ament could both become faces of the rebuild in due time.
Burries isn’t the typical Jon Horst pick, but that’s a good thing. His combination of strength, defensive solidness, on and off ball ability offensively, and past winning experience with Arizona suggests he’ll be at least a steady role player. If he taps more into his off-the-dribble scoring and playmaking, he could be the perfect two guard to pair with Rollins.
Ament is a fascinating player, and this is the type of pick that won’t be able to be graded properly until five years from now. The foundation for him to be elite in this league is there, but it’s going to be a long, twisty road for him to reach that pinnacle. Milwaukee will need to find the right balance for his development, because too much pressure on him could make him fold, but if he doesn’t get enough reps, he’ll drown.
Lewis is a tough defender and an improving shooter, but he has little to no juice off the bounce, and the NBA is starting to move away from guys who can’t do anything offensively but shoot standstill jumpers or cut to the hoop. Still, a fine bet at 60.
Isaiah Evans is going to love playing with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. They’ll get him so many open looks. Only streakiness and a slight lack of muscle will hinder Evans as an immediate contributor, and if he hops those hurdles, he could play a meaningful part for the Wolves as they look to make another deep playoff run next year.
Kaufman-Renn was a late riser who saw his stock spike at the combine in May. He’ll have to shake off athletic and tweener concerns, but he was undeniably productive at Purdue, and sometimes, guys who are just good at basketball figure it out.
Grade: B
New Orleans Pelicans
Draftee: Jaron Pierre Jr. (58th)
The Pels are pretty stacked on the wing, at least, as long as Trey Murphy and Herb Jones are still on the team. Those two, plus Saddiq Bey, Jordan Hawkins, and Micah Peavy will all be ahead of Pierre on the depth chart at the beginning of his career. He has the versatility and offensive talent to play real minutes as a rookie, but New Orleans may not be the best spot for him to find his footing.
Grade: C
New York Knicks
Draftees: Jack Kayil (39th), Tyler Nickel (47th)
New York plays Brunson ball, but the level of heliocentrism they’ve embraced may not be sustainable for a dynasty. Kayil is a project, but his shotmaking and passing feel are part of his sell. In a couple years, he could be leading bench units for the Knicks. But, although the Mike Brown regime is different from the Tom Thibodeau regime, this is a team that hasn’t invested much into young players in recent years, so that’s something to keep an eye on. As for Tyler Nickel, he has one job (shoot the ball) and will be a cheap, quality reserve.
Grade: C+
Oklahoma City Thunder
Draftees: Aday Mara (12th), Bennett Stirtz (16th), Otega Oweh (41st)
This is the most Thunder-coded draft the Thunder could’ve had. They checked all their favorite boxes. Mara’s intersection of size and feel is special, and the concept of him teaming up with the frontcourt with Chet Holmgren is terrifying. Stirtz is entering a loaded backcourt, which may hurt him in the short term, but if/when Ajay Mitchell or Jared McCain become too expensive, the Iowa guard can take their spot. Oweh is a sparky POA defender and athletic finisher who will bolster an already ridiculous perimeter fortification for OKC.
Grade: A
Orlando Magic
Draftee: Izaiyah Nelson (51st)
The fit of Nelson in Orlando isn’t much to write home about. He doesn’t address any of their biggest needs. But, we’re talking about an inconsequential slot in the draft here, and Nelson is by no means a poor prospect. If Mo Wagner leaves the Magic, the USF big man could be his replacement.
Grade: C
Philadelphia 76ers
Draftee: Labaron Philon (22nd)
If Cameron Carr isn’t the steal of the draft, Labaron Philon is. The NBA Twitterverse was utterly shocked by the tumble he took, especially because he would’ve been an awesome fit for teams like Detroit, Toronto, and even Charlotte, who picked ahead of Philadelphia. But, Philon is a Sixer, and Philly faithful should be ecstatic about it. Of course, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe already being in place as the backcourt of the future is the elephant in the room, but Philon is such a gifted player that the opportunity to get him this late in the round couldn’t be refused. This kid is a stud.
Grade: A
Phoenix Suns
Draftee: Koa Peat (30th)
Peat went from a polarizing prospect to a forgotten one pretty quickly in draft conversations. There are obvious red flags in his profile, but getting a standout athlete freshman who played a key role on a winning team at the college level at 30 is a very worthwhile swing for the Suns. Phoenix isn’t rich with on-ball playmakers, something Peat requires to hit his ceiling offensively, but at the same time, they’ll have plenty of spacing around him, which will help hide his shooting woes.
Grade: B
Sacramento Kings
Draftees: Darius Acuff Jr. (7th), Alex Karaban (29th), Emanuel Sharp (45th)
Outside of this class’ big four, Acuff gives off the most “franchise guy” vibes, so it’s clear why Sacramento, who is in such a dark place as an organization, coveted him. So much has been made about Acuff’s archetype and how it’s valued in the league today, but there is still room for small guards to become stars if they’re special enough. Acuff might just be special enough.
Trading up to get Alex Karaban at 29 felt unnecessary, frankly. Sure, he has a winning pedigree, but he’s not some lock to be a reliable role player. There’s a non-zero chance he’s a UConn system merchant, and he’s also behind the NBA curve athletically. Parting ways with an extra SRP to move up for him when he very likely could’ve been available at 34 is sorta silly. Oh well.
Emanuel Sharp is the type of competitor and character guy who can help build a culture in Sactown. Fun get at 45.
Grade: A-
San Antonio Spurs
Draftees: Jayden Quaintance (20th), Tarris Reed Jr. (26th), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (42nd), Maliq Brown (44th)
San Antonio saw Luke Kornet get fried in the playoffs and immediately drafted three bigs to replace him.
In all seriousness, this team was missing some extra edge and physicality in the frontcourt specifically, and now they have some. Tarris Reed and Maliq Brown are both ultimate hard hat superheroes, the kind of guys who do whatever it takes to get ‘er done. They both radiate year one contributor vibes, although Brown will need to find a way to make himself a threat offensively.
Quaintance is such a wildcard. He’s been regarded as a top-ten-caliber talent, but his injury history is so murky that his future is nearly impossible to project. The Spurs can afford to be patient with him, and if he eventually becomes the defensive monster he has the potential to be, then he and Wemby would turn the paint into an impenetrable prison defensively. The NBA should be petrified of Quaintance blossoming in Alamo City.
Inconsistent shooting was one of San Antonio’s few weaknesses, something the Gillespie pickup will help clean up.
Grade: A-
Toronto Raptors
Draftees: Allen Graves (19th), Jaden Bradley (50th)
Redundancy is the headline for Toronto’s haul here. Allen Graves is a variant of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. That’s not a bad thing inherently, because Barnes and Murray-Boyles are both great, but there’s going to be an odd man out there, and it’s also just not an archetype the Raptors needed more of when they have so many flaws in their offense that need fixing. Jaden Bradley, although he’s a better pullup shotmaker than Jamal Shead, still isn’t much of a scorer overall.
Graves and Bradley both have winning role player upside, and there’s certainly an argument that just adding good players matters more than considering fit in the draft. It’s also true that Toronto won’t win a playoff series until they revamp their halfcourt attack, and Graves and Bradley aren’t going to help much there.
Grade: C+
Utah Jazz
Draftee: Darryn Peterson (2nd)
The Jazz were always going to be the overarching winners here. If AJ Dybantsa would’ve fallen to them, then they would’ve walked away with the best player of the draft. But, instead, they got a guy who is only a hair worse than Dybantsa and is also a phenomenal fit for them. Peterson has perimeter superstar plastered on his chest like Superman’s logo. He’s exactly what Utah needed to complete the legitimately formidable core they’ve assembled. Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and (assuming he returns) Walker Kessler will easily be a playoff-caliber lineup as soon as next year.
For the first time in a minute, it’s time to get excited about the Jazz.
Grade: A+
Washington Wizards
Draftees: AJ Dybantsa (1st), Felix Okpara (46th)
Washington is finally going to be relevant again. AJ Dybantsa could be their next franchise icon, the savior that drags them out of the pits of the standings. Peterson and Boozer both would have been more than fair options here, but the Wizards the right guy for them.
If the Warriors pry Anthony Davis away to form their dream 2K-esque big four, then Okpara could find himself in the rotation early on, which he should be ready for.
The 2026 NBA Draft is going to be a really exciting one. I say that because of how talented this crop of prospects is, which is something a million people have pointed out a billion times, but I also say that on a personal level. This is the most knowledgeable I’ve ever felt about a class. I watched more college hoops this past season than any previous year (I’m so locked into the NBA it can be hard to make time for other leagues), and I even had the incredible opportunity to attend the Draft Combine in Chicago as credentialed media.
So, it’s my pleasure to present my annual “what I would do” mock draft! This is based solely on my opinions and board— predictions and general consensus are not in play. You may find that my first round doesn’t have many hot takes, but I genuinely believe the hype on a lot of these guys, so that just is what it is.
Let’s get started!
Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa (Forward, BYU)
Dybantsa has the most obvious superstar potential in this class. The BYU phenom is a few improvements away from being the prototypical NBA wing star. He’s an unbelievable athlete. He’s really comfortable as an on-ball creator for himself and others, even against heavy pressure. He should be able to develop the versatility to contribute in every aspect of the game, not just scoring. The concerns with the three-point shot and the defensive results are there, but it feels like the kid is going to figure everything out.
The Wizards have the bases loaded right now with two All-Star veterans (Trae Young and Anthony Davis, if the latter sticks around) and some promising young talent (Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, etc.). Drafting Dybantsa could easily be the grand slam that sends everyone home and propels Washington out of their rebuild.
Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson (Guard, Kansas)
This feels like the perfectmatch for both Utah and Peterson. As much as the Jazz may be enamored with Dybantsa, Peterson is the smoother fit for what they’re building. He’s going to be a lethal scoring weapon in the league both on and off the ball, and it’s the latter area where he’d be able to shine from day one in Utah within Will Hardy’s creative offensive schemes.
Like the Wizards, the Jazz are very close to exiting their tanking phase, especially after the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. If Peterson reaches his sky-high ceiling, this team could ascend to contention. Even his median outcome would give the franchise a big boost.
Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer (Big, Duke)
As of right now, today, Cam Boozer is the best basketball player in this class. His production, feel, and impact are undeniable. He’s going to translate to the NBA seamlessly and make a difference. However, it’s tough for guys of his archetype (post-oriented bigs who are tweeners defensively) to be top dogs on successful teams, so an All-NBA First Team future feels less possible for him than it does for Dybantsa and Peterson. Still, the Grizzlies would be landing a true cornerstone here who they could lean on regardless of how the rest of their roster shapes up in the coming years.
Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson (Forward, North Carolina)
Wilson could be the superhero that swoops in and finally saves Chicago from mediocrity. He’s treated as more of a consolation prize, the next best thing after the “big three,” but the UNC forward is very much a transcendent talent in his own right. He’s probably the most otherworldly all-around athlete amongst his peers, and he’s teeming with tools on both sides of the ball. If the Bulls land Wilson, the duo of him and Matas Buzelis would give Windy City faithful something to believe in for the first time in a long time.
Los Angeles Clippers (via Indiana): Aday Mara (Center, Michigan)
The Clippers are in a fascinating position here. They’re not in desperate need of a franchise-altering youngster like some of the teams below them are, which leaves them with some room to get creative. Selling high on Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline left them with a gaping hole at center, so instead of bringing in another point guard when they already have Darius Garland, they should strongly consider Aday Mara. Mara is the best true five in the class, a giant of a man with a high floor supported by his elite rim protection and passing. His intersection of size and skill will serve him well in a league that covets exactly that (see: Wemby, Chet Holmgren, Karl-Anthony Towns, Evan Mobley, Isaiah Hartenstein, Donovan Clingan, Onyeka Okongwu, and more in the 2026 playoffs).
Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr. (Guard, Louisville)
Out of all the lottery-tier guards, Brown is the most built for stardom in today’s NBA. At nearly 6’5” in shoes with a 6’7” wingspan, he’s a real combo guard in stature, and he’s one in practice, too. Brown is a bomber from deep, an advanced playmaker, and just an overall offensive stud. Lingering back injuries are the only serious obstacle standing between him and returning borderline top-five value. Yes, Brooklyn drafted Egor Demin, Ben Saraf, and Nolan Traore last year, but those guys aren’t nearly good enough to justify passing up on a prospect of Brown’s caliber.
Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr. (Point guard, Arkansas)
Sacramento has to be beyond bummedabout missing out on a top four pick, and who can blame them? Outside of their unfortunately fluky 2022-23 campaign, their fans have been deprived of excitement for too long. Adding Darius Acuff, who they’re rumored to love, could be the move that shifts the direction and narrative for the Kings. Simply put, Acuff has that “it” factor. Everything about his game, his freshman season at Arkansas, and the way he carries himself screams star. He’ll have to fight hard to overcome his size and defensive deficiencies, but his gifts on offense shine too bright to overlook. If any “little” guard is going to succeed, it’ll be Acuff.
Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans): Ebuka Okorie (Guard, Stanford)
Okorie is being slept on in a major way. His offensive engine potential is nothing to be scoffed at, and it all starts with his relentless downhill game. The Stanford guard pressures the rim as well as anyone in the draft. He can get buckets from outside, too. His playmaking isn’t up there with Brown’s or Acuff’s, but with all the advantages he creates, he still generates plenty of easy kickout and dumpoff looks for teammates. When the Hawks moved on from Trae Young, the absence of a legitimate point guard on the team was noticeable right away. Okorie could fill that spot while being less ball dominant than Young, allowing Jalen Johnson to maintain All-NBA form.
Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler (Guard, Illinois)
Wagler took the Big Ten by storm as a freshman at Illinois, emerging as one of the best bucket getters in the entire country. He’s a smooth operator, a fluid scorer, and an excellent shooter who makes up for lacking athleticism with nuance, craft, wiggle, and finesse. Unlike Brown, Acuff, and Okorie, he projects to be more of a secondary option, but that’s no issue for Dallas, who already has Cooper Flagg. Flagg’s downhill dynamism paired with Wagler’s perimeter prowess would give defenses headaches for the next decade.
Milwaukee Bucks: Labaron Philon (Guard, Alabama)
Milwaukee should take a swing at 10, Giannis or not. Their only cemented core piece right now is Ryan Rollins, and this is a rare opportunity for them to add standout talent via the draft as a team without many picks in their cabinet. Alabama’s Labaron Philon is the best star bet left here. He radiates confidence offensively, using his wizardly handle and trusty pullup jumper to torch defenders of all sizes. Philon stands closer to 6’4” with a 6’6” wingspan, and that frame, along with his steady catch-and-shoot ability and capacity to ramp up defensively, equip him to play alongside Rollins or even the Greek Freak in an off-ball role as well.
Golden State Warriors: Morez Johnson Jr. (Big, Michigan)
Johnson is one of the biggest physical anomalies in the draft. He’s 6’10” with a nearly 7’4” wingspan, freakish mobility and quickness, and a burly, more than NBA-ready body. We’re talking about arguably a top-three defender on the board here with his size, switchability, and toughness all influencing his immense impact on that end of the floor. He’s not the most skilled offensive player, but the Warriors don’t need more shooting. They need guys who do the dirty work, like Johnson.
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Yaxel Lendeborg (Forward, Michigan)
Giving OKC a polished prospect like Yaxel Lendeborg feels unfair for the rest of the league. The 2026 Consensus All-American would be able to step in and play meaningful minutes for the Thunder from day one, further strengthening their all-time defense and stopping gaps on offense. Lendeborg is the ultimate connector and the ultimate winner, too. It’s only right that he lands with a team with a championship pedigree.
Despite his impressive freshman year at Houston, Flemings has more question marks surrounding him than the other guards in this range. He’s 6’3.5” in shoes with a 6’3.5” wingspan and he’s super slender, making lack of size a real concern for him. On top of that, his mid-range volume significantly exceeds his three-point rate, so his comfort spots on the floor will have to shift at least a tad for him to thrive. Still, his blinding quickness and sharp P&R play would make him the type of ball handler/table setter Miami is missing in their backcourt.
Charlotte Hornets: Nate Ament (Forward, Tennessee)
Charlotte going with another raw project might feel scary with how Tidjane Saluan’s career has panned out so far, but Ament makes sneaky sense for this team. The Hornets have plenty of perimeter-programmed scorers, but they need more physicality and defense on the wing. Ament, while generally a theoretical commodity, is already built to handle some contact and compete on D and on the glass. If he puts on some muscle and straightens out his shot, he could be the ideal forward to pair with LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller.
Chicago Bulls (via Portland): Brayden Burries (Guard, Arizona)
Burries is as complete of a guard as you’ll find in this class. From strength, to role versatility, to IQ, to winning experience, he’s got it all. The odds of him translating to the pros are pretty high. He’s a bit limited athletically, and his on-ball scoring isn’t as electric as that of Brown, Philon, or even Flemings, so a star outcome might not be on the table. Still, he would be a great backcourt complement to the (hypothetical) duo of Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis in Chi-Town.
One of the Draft Combine’s hottest names, Carr is the picture-perfect wing prospect. It’s difficult to imagine him failing in the NBA with his combination of length, shooting, athleticism, defense, and fearlessness. The Grizzlies already have several guys in his mold (Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson), but why not add one more? You can never have too many versatile small forwards in today’s league. If this mock became reality, this pick could go down as a steal for Memphis, as Carr’s range starts as high as 10 with the Bucks.
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia): Hannes Steinbach (Big, Washington)
OKC could be parting ways with Isaiah Hartenstein this summer for cost-cutting reasons, which would leave a big hole in their frontcourt, because Chet Holmgren just proved he can’t be a full-time center. Steinbach would be good insurance for the Thunder. He’s a double-double machine; a glass cleaner with soft touch as a paint scorer and some solid interior defensive chops as well. Even if Oklahoma City didn’t need significant minutes from the big fella year one (which could be the case, especially if Thomas Sorber breaks out), this would be an ideal long-term developmental situation for Steinbach.
Charlotte Hornets (via Phoenix): Chris Cenac Jr. (Big, Houston)
Another project pick for Charlotte, Cenac possesses some fun tools that the team could use to build him into the optimal combo big for their system. The kid’s mobility, finishing ability, and shooting potential are legit, he just needs time to iron everything out and grow into his frame. He won’t be ready for action as a rookie, but the Hornets can afford to be patient with Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner on board already.
Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson (Point guard, Texas Tech)
Toronto has size, defense, and tenacity in spades up and down their lineup. They’re short on shooting, though, which was extra clear in the playoffs when Immanuel Quickley was injured. Anderson is one of the three to five best pure shooters in the draft, a flamethrower off the dribble and the catch who can also make stuff happen out of the pick-and-roll. He’s pretty small, but the Raptors have more than enough enormity to cover up his modest stature at least partially.
San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta): Jayden Quaintance (Big, Kentucky)
Quaintance was a consensus lottery guy for a large part of this cycle, but his injury problems have sent his stock plummeting as draft night approaches. It also doesn’t help his case that his offensive skillset is elementary. Still, if he stays healthy, the big man might hit All-Defensive heights in his prime. San Antonio nabbing Quaintance as their Wemby backup could be terrifying for the rest of the league.
Detroit Pistons (via Minnesota): Bennett Stirtz (Point guard, Iowa)
Detroit’s roster is devoid of shot creation outside of Cade Cunningham (with a nod to Marcus Sasser and Daniss Jenkins), a blaring red flag that has to be addressed for the team to achieve true contender status. Stirtz proved himself time and time again in college as an offense unto himself, an ultra steady and heady floor general with inhuman stamina. Either off the bench or as a starter next to Cade, Stirtz would stir up the drink for the Pistons and add a healthy dose of flavor.
Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City): Dailyn Swain (Wing, Texas)
Philly has a backcourt for the future in Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and, for now, at least, they still have Joel Embiid manning the middle. Swain would complement that crew on the wing nicely. The Texas product could be a souped-up Kelly Oubre Jr. for the Sixers, slashing the paint and grinding on defense while also keeping the offense connected with his passing. Figuring out his jumper would make Swain a virtually impeccable role player.
Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland): Luigi Suigo (Center, Italy)
Aday Mara heard his name called before Atlanta’s first bite at the apple in this mock, but now they’re getting another massive foreign center in Luigi Suigo. The Italian, like Mara, is a plus passer for his position who can also work in the post and protect the rim from a standstill. Suigo is raw, but he has the makings of a funky difference maker at the five spot.
New York Knicks: Meleek Thomas (Guard, Arkansas)
New York has done well to surround their supernova Jalen Brunson with top-notch off-ball players, and Meleek Thomas would be another drop in that bucket. Thomas is an uber-confident shooter who uses his unorthodox form to drill shots many players wouldn’t even think of attempting. He has a fiery motor, too, and could take on some of the point-of-attack matchups Brunson can’t handle.
Los Angeles Lakers: Henri Veesaar (Big, North Carolina)
Veesaar’s towering presence on both ends is exactly what Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves need behind them. The Estonian can execute drop coverage effectively while doubling as an efficient roll and pop man. The only worry with this fit would be that Veesaar sometimes struggles with physicality, a flaw shared with Deandre Ayton, who drove JJ Redick and Lakers fans crazy this past season.
Denver Nuggets: Koa Peat (Forward, Arizona)
Peat is built like an NBA player in every sense. He’s a truck of a man who can plow his way to the rim and jump out of the gym. His skills are a bit rudimentary, though, so he’s reliant on others setting the table for him. That said, there’s not a better playmaker he could join forces with than Nikola Jokic. It’s safe to say Peat and the Joker would link up for countless lob plays, similar to what Jokic and Aaron Gordon have done for years now.
Boston Celtics: Tarris Reed Jr. (Center, UConn)
The gap between Neemias Queta and Nikola Vucevic in terms of playability in the playoffs for the Celtics was chasmic, so much so that the team would be smart to double down on ruggedness at center. Tarris Reed is an established winner with a definite understanding of his job on the court. His excellence as a traditional big would help him earn real minutes in year one for Boston.
Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit): Sergio de Larrea (Guard, Spain)
With retirement on the horizon for Mike Conley, and the Rob Dillingham experiment having backfired, Minnesota needs to find a point guard that can take some burden off of Anthony Edwards’ back. Sergio de Larrea is a cerebral P&R director who knows his spots and how to find his teammates in theirs. His insufficient burst and strength will make his learning curve steep, but he has the IQ to rise the ranks.
Lopez is the biggest wildcard in the class. On one hand, he doesn’t have even one NBA trait right now, and everything from his jumper, to his handle, to his defense require incubation that could take two or three seasons. On the other hand, he has the foundation of a helpful utility forward with his blend of height, power, and budding ball skills. Maybe Cleveland isn’t a favorable spot for his development, but at the same time, they could really use a player like the conjectural version of Lopez alongside Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
The more spacing around Cooper Flagg, the better. Evans is a lethal movement shooter with endless confidence and a knack for the moment. His NBA role is obvious, and it’s one that would allow him to fit into any system. Here, he’d be reuniting with his former Duke brother Flagg as the Mavs look to regain their bearings post-Luka.
New York Knicks (via Oklahoma City): Zuby Ejiofor (Big, St. John’s)
Memphis Grizzlies (via Milwaukee): Allen Graves (Big, Santa Clara)
Brooklyn Nets: Joshua Jefferson (Forward, Iowa State)
Donovan Mitchell is under more scrutiny than ever before.
Outside of a 39-point second half in Game 4 and an all-around awesome Game 7, Mitchell had what can be considered a subpar series against the Pistons. The same can be said about his first round against Toronto. It’s not that he was playing objectively poorly, because he definitely wasn’t. He averaged 28.1 points versus Detroit. He just fell noticeably short of his lofty standards.
Mitchell has been widely considered one of the biggest playoff risers in the league for years. His postseason resume is littered with stretches of fantastic individual play. As a rookie in 2018, he posted 28.5 PPG in his very first playoff series, which Utah won. In the bubble in 2020, he put on his iconic 36.3 PPG masterclass against Denver. Every year, Mitchell has moments of brilliance when it matters most. He hasn’t earned the wins to match his reputation, but he’s managed to largely avoid criticism because it’s been tough to say he hasn’t done everything he could. Until now, that is.
But, even though he hasn’t been going nuclear, Cleveland is still finding success. Mitchell has advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time in his career despite his relatively underwhelming performance.
The correlation between Mitchell’s “struggles” and the deepest run he’s ever made is fascinating. Looking at that and his career as a whole raises the question: what does it really mean to be a playoff riser?
Ultimately, it boils down to two things: adaptability and mentality.
Elevating your game under the brightest lights isn’t about scoring a billion points or “carrying” your team. It’s not even really about anything tangible, or, at least, not something that applies to every player. Rather, it’s about the mental approach. It’s knowing what your team needs you to do to win and doing it at the highest level.
Game 7 against Detroit was Mitchell’s best outing of the playoffs so far, even though he scored “only” 26 points. Why? He played an entirely different brand of basketball than he had been playing, fulfilling what Cleveland needed from him. Instead of hunting mismatches in iso and settling for tough jumpers, he was laser-focused in pressuring the rim and making plays for others, not just himself. As a result, he dished out eight assists and finished with a +17 plus/minus while the Cavs won by 31 on the road.
Mitchell realized that he could impact the game not by scoring as many highlight buckets as possible, but by being a playmaker and seeking out easier looks when they came to him. That’s an example of the adaptability and mentality it takes to win a championship in the NBA.
In the Conference Finals (and beyond, if he makes it), Mitchell will hopefully carry over this mindset. If he can identify how he can help the Cavaliers beat this Knicks team and execute, he’ll find himself in the Finals. And if that happens, he’ll have the mantle of playoff riser cemented on him for life.
I was lucky enough to be at the NBA Draft Combine this past week, acting as Brew Hoop’s boots on the ground, and it was an incredible experience. Now, I’m (unfortunately) back home, and I return with plenty of thoughts. In this article, I’m gonna dig into some winners and losers from the event, with some extra notes about other notable performers.
I also wrote an article for Brew Hoop with some takeaways through a Bucks lens, so check that out to read what I have to say about some of the bigger names in the class who are projected to be available when Milwaukee is on the clock at 10 on draft night.
Let’s dive in!
Winners
Morez Johnson Jr.
For my money, only Cameron Carr did more to boost his stock this week than Morez Johnson. Johnson was already very deserving of lottery rankings, but he just firmly established himself in that tier. His athletic testing was ridiculous— how a 6’10”, 250lb guy can move as quickly and fluidly as him is beyond me. The only blip in his Combine performance was the spot-up shooting drill, but after throwing up some bricks in that, he turned right around and aced the movement drills.
Matt Able
There’s a chance Able goes back to college for another year, but it would be totally justifiable for him to be all in on the draft after the week he had. The freshman showcased a real NBA skillset, shooting the deep ball really well and making quick decisions off the dribble. He had some minor lapses in the scrimmages, but nothing abnormal for a kid his age, and he overall looked good in that setting. For Able, the choice to stay in school shouldn’t be about the money anymore, because he’d be sure to get a guaranteed deal in the league off the bat. The question is, does he want to continue his development in the NBA or at North Carolina?
Tyler Bilodeau
Bilodeau’s jumper flew as pure as anyone’s in the shooting drills on Tuesday. The UCLA veteran is a tried-and-true floor spacer with legit size. His NBA value proposition is clear and that should have him on radars for a two-way contract. Bilodeau was placed in groups with a lot of first round locks for testing and media availability. Does that mean anything? Probably not, but I still found it interesting.
Baba Miller
The first things that jump out with Miller are how giant he is (nearly 6’11” barefoot) and how well he moves at his size. The Cincinnati product had a strong scrimmage showing on Wednesday specifically, looking a step above the competition as a functional athlete. He had some moments of questionable decision making and over-dribbling, but he also made sharp passing reads and knocked down a couple triples. This is a certified second-round-caliber guy.
Jeremy Fears Jr.
Fears was phenomenal in the scrimmages. In what’s inherently a disorganized setting, he controlled the chaos and took over the game as a floor general, dictating every offensive possession and making all of his teammates look better. The jumper is a real concern, as is the fact that he’s just 6’0” barefoot. I had it in my mind all week that he’d be going back to Michigan State no matter what, but walking away, I’d draft him in the second round this year. Guys as smart as him don’t grow on trees.
Felix Okpara
This is a deep center class, and Okpara has generally moved in the shadows as a result. His value came to light this week, though, as he impacted the scrimmages with his activity and enthusiasm for the dirty work. Okpara is a traditional big and has all of the tools to excel in that lane. His mobility and IQ put him a tier ahead of some of his more cumbersome peers.
Dillon Mitchell
Mitchell was awesome in almost every facet of the game during the scrimmages. He’s an all-world athlete who hustles hard and plays within the flow of an offense. There’s one major problem though. He basically can’t score. He can get a bucket in transition, sure, but in the halfcourt, it can get rough. That’s a serious red flag, but he let teams know at the Combine that he can overcome that (to some degree) and still contribute.
Nick Boyd
Boyd showed at the Combine what Badger fans saw all season: he’s an NBA player, period. His speed, dexterity, and coordination are all elite, and he pairs those physical traits with unquantifiable feel for the game and unmatched competitive spirit to make his presence felt on every court he steps on. Wisconsin’s finest had two solid scrimmage outings that woke more people up to what he brings to the table.
Noam Yaacov
Yaacov to the G League Combine was equivalent to what Jeremy Fears was to the NBA Combine. The Danish guard is quick as a wink and he has his handle on a string. He was a leader on the floor, communicating constantly and organizing his allies to arrange the offensive attack. If he leaves his name in the draft, a guaranteed contract could have his name on it.
DJ Armstrong
A relatively unknown name before the Combine, Armstrong earned some new fans (well, at least one new fan: me) with how he played in the G League scrimmages. The UMBC guard is a sniper. He can get hot in a jiffy and hit a variety of treys. Shooting can get a guy’s foot in the door, and it’s going to do so for Armstrong.
Fletcher Loyer
Speaking of shooters, it’s become impossible to ignore Fletcher Loyer. Is it likely that he’s going to have anything more than a cup of coffee in the league? Nah, probably not. But, the chance he sticks is higher than it’s ever been. He has one cemented NBA skill, and it happens to be one of the most important ones. Plus, he’s smart and he’s a winner.
Losers
Tyler Tanner
Tanner’s skeptics got some fresh fuel early in the week when he measured in just short of 5’11” barefoot. The big driver of his falling stock was his Combine scrimmages, though. It was admirable that he chose to suit up when most guys of his status don’t (in fact, another guy is on here because he didn’t play enough), but it kind of came back to bite him. He was largely invisible out there amongst competition he’s supposed to be better than. Ultimately, Tanner should return to Vanderbilt and continue to hone his craft. A first round slot would almost certainly be his in 2027.
Allen Graves
It’s been tough for me to fully buy the Graves hype, and this week didn’t help. His athletic testing was underwhelming, as were his shooting drills. Perhaps playing in the scrimmages could have flipped the narrative for the Santa Clara forward. Look, he’s going to be some kind of useful role player, but at this point in time, anything higher than a pick in the 30s would feel rich for Graves.
Joshua Jefferson
The title of worst performer in drills may belong to Jefferson, whose athletic and shooting numbers were very far from ideal. Now, if you’re a Jefferson believer, it’s not because of his bounce or agility, it’s because of his smarts and toughness. The All-American didn’t do anything that dampened those strengths, but his weaknesses were on full blast.
Reuben Chinyelu
Chinyelu’s motor and activity were great in the scrimmages, so much so that I almost left him off this section. However, his ball skills looked, frankly, terrible, and that’s really rough, man. The necessary floor for big men in the NBA today when it comes to IQ and feel are higher than ever. Most guys of Chinyelu’s size can make effective short roll reads, or at least just catch and dunk the rock with ease. Meanwhile, Chinyelu fumbled like half of the passes that came his way this week. That’s something for him to work on if he goes back to Florida.
Peter Suder
There was no issue with Suder’s general process. The problem is that he just couldn’t buy a basket in the drills or the scrimmages. His senior year at Miami (OH) was his only collegiate season where he shot the three efficiently, and even that was on low volume, so there are questions about the legitimacy of his shooting that he didn’t answer this week. For a guy with a pretty low athletic cap, that’s worrisome.
John Blackwell
If there’s one thing Blackwell made clear in his three years at Wisconsin, it’s that he can score. We keep waiting to see what else he can do, but he hasn’t shown us that yet and the clock is ticking. If/when he drops out of the draft to play at Duke, he’ll need to develop as a point guard offensively and a defender to make a tangible leap in draft rankings. Unfortunately, that might be a tough ask at this point in his career.
Dailyn Swain
Swain played in the scrimmage on Wednesday, which he didn’t have to do, given he’s undoubtedly a first round pick. But, he was mediocre in that game, and after that, he opted to sit out on Thursday, leaving scouts with a more sour taste in their mouths. He had nothing to lose, he should’ve gone out there on Thursday. Also, his jumper looked quite clunky in drills.
Jaxon Kohler
Kohler is not an NBA player. It sounds harsh, but it really isn’t, coming from a guy like me who appreciates the G League (and every other league in the world, even if I don’t keep up with EuroLeague and NBL stuff). He’s a big dude who can shoot, he’s gonna be valuable somewhere, it’s just not going to be the NBA. He’s not athletic enough and that was obvious at the G League Combine.
Lamar Wilkerson
Wilkerson wasn’t filling up the scoring column in the G League Combine scrimmages like he did at Indiana, which is fine, because he’ll be a role player in the NBA anyway. However, his inability to contribute in other aspects caused him to go ghost out there. He’s gotta work on the ancillary stuff to stick.
Other Players of Note
Christian Anderson
Anderson measured smaller than most of his small guard peers, but he outdid them athletically, so make of that what you will. Also, in the least surprising news ever, he scorched nets in drills.
Tarris Reed Jr.
Reed played in both scrimmages, easily one of the top players to do so. His Wednesday game left me wanting more, and he gave more to me on Thursday. He looked considerably steadier and more skilled than the Chinyelus and Flory Bidungas of the world.
Isaiah Evans
Evans inexplicably struggled in shooting drills, and his athletic stuff was poor too. The larger sample is correct in saying he’s still a marksman, but it wasn’t his week.
Braden Smith
Smith’s scrimmages were similar to Fears’ in the sense that he was just so in control out there, shaping and molding every play with the rock in his hands. He measured in at a mere 5’10” barefoot, but it might just not matter with him because he’s a genius.
Trey Kaufman-Renn
How ‘bout all three Purdue guys having positive outings? TKR earned himself a call-up from the G League Combine to the big stage, making his play-finishing utility look as intriguing as ever.
Jacob Cofie
Cofie was on track to be a party crasher like Matt Able, but his momentum waned a bit as the week went on. He finished on a high note with a good scrimmage on Thursday, but he’ll still likely end up back at USC, where he should be a beast as a junior.
Tobi Lawal
Lawal wowed the whole gym when he soared for a 45.5 inch maximum vertical on Tuesday. The rest of his game is a bit iffy, but you can’t say he’s not athletic enough to be in the league.
Aaron Nkrumah
Another guy who got the promotion from the G League Combine to the NBA Combine, Nkrumah delivered some sharp 3&D play in scrimmages. The Tennessee State product is one of the true sleepers in the class.
Tre Donaldson
Donaldson was one of the best players on the floor in the G League Combine scrimmages. He has an uphill battle to the NBA ahead of him, but he’s a fun pace-pushing guard who is going to succeed as a pro somewhere.
Another NBA regular season is in the books. Honestly, 2025-26 was kind of a weird one. An onslaught of injuries really junked up the year, specifically in the award department. So many of the names we’re used to seeing compete for All-NBA and All-Defensive slots were snuffed out by the pesky 65-game rule.
That said, though, there is still so much eligible talent worth celebrating. It’s become such a buzz term to say the league is more stacked than ever, but it’s true. So, I’m proud to present my annual NBA award picks. This article includes my “votes” for all of the real awards as well as Bench Mob Player of the Year and the All-Bench-Mob teams. Let’s dive in!
(Note: for brevity, ineligible players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Cade Cunningham will not be listed anywhere. Honorable mention lists will only include eligible guys.)
Coach of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Mitch Johnson, Mark Daigneault, Jordan Ott, David Adelman
Finalist: J.B. Bickerstaff
This isn’t the first time J.B. Bickerstaff has been in Coach of the Year talks after leading a team out of a rebuild. He has three top-five finishes for this honor under his belt and it’s likely to become four. Bickerstaff conducted an unbelievable turnaround for the Pistons, transforming a laughably bad club into a force to be reckoned with in two years’ time.
Finalist: Charles Lee
One of the best kept secrets in the NBA world is that this generation of young coaches is insane. There are some potential all-timers on the rise, including Charles Lee. A two-time champion as an assistant, Lee knows what winning teams look like, and he’s turned the usually mediocre Hornets into one. The 41-year-old optimized his talent in Charlotte, making them a squad capable of competing with anyone on any given night.
Finalist: Joe Mazzulla
Mazzulla is one of the best minds (and personalities) in all of basketball. He’s instilled an unshakeable, deeply-rooted culture in Boston that fosters success regardless of who’s in the lineup. In the words of Bill Simmons, the Celtics isn’t Jayson Tatum’s team or Jaylen Brown’s. It’s Joe Mazzulla’s.
Timmy Junior was a constant for the Nuggets as they dealt with various injuries throughout the season. The veteran marksman appeared in 80 games, averaging 13.5 points and shooting 40.7% from deep on 6.9 attempts per game. Nobody in the league hit more threes off the pine than him. Hardaway has always been a human heat check. This year, he realized he was on fire way more often than not.
Finalist: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
After a disappointing sophomore campaign, Jaquez is back on the track he was on as a rookie. The UCLA product was key to Miami’s funky ball-screen-averse system, using his nifty post game to create advantages for himself and others inside the arc. He led the NBA in total bench points with 1138 and was second in assists behind only Jamal Shead.
Finalist: Keldon Johnson
Not enough positive things can be said about Keldon Johnson’s development and maturation with the Spurs. He’s accepted a bench role and thrived in it, despite having a 22.0 PPG season as a starter under his belt. That wasn’t an easy transition— he said it himself in a recent Player’s Tribune article. But, he pulled it off, and he’s been a leader for an incredible San Antonio squad in all senses. Keldon finished second in total bench scoring and fourth in cumulative plus/minus.
Alexander-Walker set the NBA ablaze this season, making an improbable leap from quality 3&D guy to 20-point-per-game scorer on a playoff team. His ascension was fueled by his lethal shooting— only Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball, and Luka Doncic drilled more triples than him on the year. Most of his bucket-getting was done off the ball, making the production feel extra sustainable and scalable. The best part? He maintained his defensive effort despite shouldering an increased offensive load.
Finalist: Jalen Duren
Duren was centric (pun partially intended) to Detroit’s prosperity on both sides of the ball. He notched a career-best 19.5 points a night, displaying a higher level of aggression than ever before with the rock in his hands. The first-time All-Star’s greatest improvement came on defense, though. In the past, he struggled with positioning, awareness, effort, and fouls, all fatal flaws for big men given the roles they play on that end. Duren has now erased all of those concerns, as he just anchored the East’s best fortification, making a sneaky case for All-Defense.
Finalist: Ryan Rollins
Nobody in the association genuinely improved more than Ryan Rollins. His season was the definition of a breakout. The former second-round pick posted career-highs in all five major categories, notably jumping from 6.2 PPG to 17.3. Rollins’ competitive attitude, silky scoring, and poise in the clutch gave Bucks fans something to get excited about in an otherwise dumpy year.
2025-26 Most Improved Player: Ryan Rollins
Defensive Player of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert, Derrick White, Evan Mobley, OG Anunoby
Finalist: Scottie Barnes
If you want a versatile defender, look no further than Scottie Barnes. Toronto’s finest is something like a modern Draymond Green with the way he can make every hat look good on the side of the ball that wins championships. Barnes finished top ten in both steals and blocks this season, the only player to do so, while directing the Raptors’ fifth-ranked defensive unit.
Finalist: Ausar Thompson
Ausar is the premier wing stopper in all of basketball. He bothers superstars more than anyone else. His freak athleticism certainly helps him out, but the young twin also has uncanny instincts and a relentless motor. Thompson led the NBA in steals per game at 2.0 and spearheaded Detroit’s elite defense from the point of attack.
Finalist: Victor Wembanyama
We’ve never seen a defender like Victor Wembanyama. He impacts every single possession with his astonishing ability to cover ground and insurmountable length and size. The Alien paced the league in blocks for the third straight season. What else really needs to be said?
2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
Rookie of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears, Cedric Coward, Ace Bailey, Maxime Raynaud, Derik Queen, Will Riley, Tre Johnson
Finalist: VJ Egdecombe
Edgecombe was a nonstop source of energy for the 76ers this season. He delivered explosive highlights on O and D, but he also did the little things, all while playing 35 minutes a night. The third overall pick out of Baylor finished third in PPG and APG amongst freshmen. It’s safe to say Philly is happy to have him around for the long haul.
Finalist: Cooper Flagg
It’s tough to say the consensus top dog in the class did anything but live up to the hype as a freshman, despite the critiques you may see on social media. Flagg carried Dallas’ offense for countless stretches, scoring inside the arc with the strength and polish of a 10-year pro. He finished the year averaging 21.0 points and 4.5 assists and poured in 40+ points four different times. Those are wildly impressive figures for a rookie, especially within the context of how bad the spacing (and team in general, really) around him was. There’s no limit to how good this kid could become.
Finalist: Kon Knueppel
Whew, man, this was a special season from Knueppel. He led the entire freaking NBA in three-pointers as a rook. That’s nuts! The Wisconsin native benefitted from the system he was drafted to in Charlotte, yes, but he was also integral to making that system work. Knueppel is a virtually flawless off-ball offensive player already. His ceiling isn’t as high as Flagg’s, but he ultimately had a better rookie campaign than his Duke teammate.
2025-26 Rookie of the Year: Kon Knueppel
Most Valuable Player
Honorable Mentions: Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell
Finalist: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
From start to finish, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the most consistently dominant (and overall best) player of the 2025-26 regular season. In many ways, he’s approaching basketball robot territory. He’s an automatic scorer at every level and an impeccable decision maker. You can try your hardest, but you will not stop him, evidenced by his passing of Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive games with 20+ points.
Finalist: Nikola Jokic
Somehow, Jokic continues to boost his already absurd levels of production each year. The three-time MVP led the league in rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.7) per game while posting a hyper-efficient 27.7 points. The craziest part? He makes it all look so easy. The Joker barely met the 65-game requirement, but he got there, setting the stage for a sixth straight top-three MVP finish.
Finalist: Victor Wembanyama
Wemby has been pelted with almost unfairly lofty expectations constantly, but somehow, he’s managed to shatter all of them. Superlatives to do this guy justice just do not exist. We already touched on the defense, but Vic also averaged 25.0 points and 3.0 assists on 51.2% shooting this year. He’s a two-way supernova who is going to break basketball.
But, he doesn’t have unchallenged reign over the NBA just yet.
2025-26 Most Valuable Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Garza embodies adaptability, the model trait of a Bench Mobbler. He was tasked with all types of roles over the course of the season, from starter to DNP-CD, and he was ready for whatever came his way. The Iowa legend was a real spark for the Celtics in what was supposed to be a down year. His post scoring and floor spacing were big time off the bench.
Everything Garza accomplished is a testament to his unmatched work ethic. He won seven Bench Mob Player of the Day awards on the season and was named a Bench Mob All-Star for the first time.
Finalist: Caleb Love
Love was having one of the all-time great two-way contract seasons before Portland popped the tires, choosing not to convert his deal as his eligibility dwindled. He was averaging 11.3 points before the All-Star break, but logged just 13 minutes across four games after the hiatus. Still, his run in the fall and early winter shouldn’t be forgotten, and he’ll undoubtedly be ready to pick up where he left off in 2026-27.
Love was named captain of the 2026 Bench Mob All-Star team and won seven BM POTDs.
Finalist: Jordan Miller
Miller has gone through some ups and downs in his three-year career. As a rookie, he played 28 total minutes. In year two, he showed some flashes, even earning a contract conversion, but he was demoted back to a two-way last summer. Finally, he was able to break through in 2025-26, showcasing his smooth on-ball scoring and playmaking chops while helping the Clippers pull off a historic midseason U-turn. Miller averaged 10.0 points and 2.3 assists in 22.1 minutes, looking like a core piece for LA.
Miller earned 10 BM POTD this year, tying Jay Huff for the all-time single-season record. He, naturally, was also named a Bench Mob All-Star.
2025-26 Bench Mob Player of the Year: Jordan Miller
All-NBA Teams
First Team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard
Second Team: Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant
Third Team: Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, James Harden, LaMelo Ball
(Note: if Luka Doncic is deemed ineligible, then Brown would be bumped up to first team, Murray would go to second team, and Scottie Barnes would get the third team nod.)
All-Defensive Teams
First Team: Victor Wembanyama, Ausar Thompson, Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert
Second Team: Derrick White, Evan Mobley, OG Anunoby, Bam Adebayo, Cason Wallace
All-Rookie Teams
First Team: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears
Second Team: Ace Bailey, Maxime Raynaud, Cedric Coward, Derik Queen, Will Riley
All-Bench-Mob Teams
First Team: Luka Garza, Jordan Miller, Caleb Love, Jamaree Bouyea, Dru Smith
Second Team: Moussa Cisse, Dylan Cardwell, Pat Spencer, Jabari Walker, Pete Nance
So, those are my official 2025-26 awards picks. Let me know what you agree and disagree with by tweeting @finleykuehl. Thanks for reading— see you next time!
This is an article I’ve been meaning to write for a long time. The “dream team” I’ve assembled here isn’t a homage to my favorite players, rather, a manifestation of my basketball philosophy. I’ve constructed a roster that represents the style of ball I’d want my team to play as a coach or a general manager.
I’ll lay out the foundation of my philosophy here before naming the roster. Offensively, I’m very much a believer in the stereotypical modern NBA style of offense that emphasizes pick-and-rolls, off-ball split and cut actions and, of course, the three-point shot. We’ll be playing perimeter-centric hoops, but it will all stem from rim pressure. Getting paint touches off drives is the best way to open up shooters, especially when the guy driving is a real threat to score inside. We’ll be leaning heavily on my star (who I’ll reveal soon), but everyone around him accentuates his strengths and will be able to capitalize on the type of advantages I want to create. I’ll add that while three-point-maxing, Daryl Morey-style, is fun in theory, becoming reliant on the long ball is a dangerous game. Just look at those 2017-2020ish Rockets teams, or my Wisconsin Badgers. So, I want to focus on generating good looks from deep, not just chucking and hoping the numbers trend our way.
Defensively, my biggest priority is scheme versatility. I’ve watched more than enough Bucks basketball in the past five years to know relying primarily on one type of defense (drop coverage, in Milwaukee’s case) is a recipe to lose in the playoffs. That said, I sought out players who can wear a lot of hats on the defensive end and will be able to adjust schematically with no issues. I want to have counters for any type of offense we may face.
As much as I’d love to pair Victor Wembanyama with Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum, I opted to build a realistic lineup, at least in terms of talent level. I didn’t consider salaries in the slightest, I wanted to have some fun here, but I don’t think a roster similar to this one would be impossible to have at all. It’s not significantly better than what OKC, Boston or Cleveland have right now.
Now that the framework of the ideology is in place, here is my dream 10-man rotation:
PG1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Wanting Shai as my franchise guy doesn’t really need much explanation in a vacuum. You need a best-in-the-world caliber player to win a title, Shai is obviously that, and that’s why he’s here. But, I chose him over Jokic, Giannis, Luka or Wemby because he best fits what my ideal star would look like. I don’t want a small guard, and I don’t want a big man either because I don’t want to play post-up basketball. Shai is wing-sized, he can handle the rock and get his own bucket at every level at any time and he pressures the rim as well as anyone in the history of the sport. He’s going to open up shooters and torch defenses out of the pick-and-roll. He’s an impeccable decision-maker in my opinion, and I trust him more than Giannis or Luka to carry a heliocentric level of usage on a successful team. He just led OKC to a championship last June, and he’s going to do the same for my squad.
SG1: Desmond Bane
My second star is one of the most underrated players in the league right now. He’s been pegged as mainly a shooter, which is somewhat fair, because he certainly is elite from beyond the arc. But, at this stage of his career, Bane is almost better as a slasher and secondary playmaker than he is as a shooter, which is saying something. He’s a really effective driver and he can set guys up out of the P&R. He’s beyond capable of taking pressure off Shai for stretches, but he’s also a stupidly perfect pairing alongside him. The best way to slow Shai down is to sell out in the gaps and make him a passer, but defenses are going to have to think twice about helping off of Bane. Pick your poison!
SF1: Jaden McDaniels
One word sums up why I like McDaniels: versatility. He does it all on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he can be the main point-of-attack stopper, but he can also switch onto anybody and make plays as a weakside helper. Offensively, he’s developed into a strong shooter, but he can also score off the bounce if he gets run off the line. We’ve seen him produce at a high level on O in Anthony Edwards’ absence before, and I’d feel pretty good about scaling him up to be a full-time third option.
PF1: OG Anunoby
Anunoby and McDaniels would be an all-time-great pairing defensively on the wing. Anunoby is as versatile as anyone in the game on defense, and he would be the key to unlocking the type of scheme malleability I want to install in this team. He’s grown into a nice complementary offensive player too. He hits his spot-up threes and he can attack a closeout. If he was a bit better as a rebounder and passer, he would be the optimal modern forward.
C1: Nic Claxton (Jarrett Allen)
I went back and forth a good bit for the center position. Rim protection is the single most important and impactful defensive trait in my opinion. That’s why I almost picked Jarrett Allen here, because he can warden the paint stoically, but he also has some juice as a hedge and switch guy. Plus, he’s more dynamic than the average play-finishing center offensively. However, I ultimately landed on Nic Claxton because he is one of the most elastic defenders at the five in the league. I trust him on switches as much as any other guy of his size. Offensively, Clax will help us run some of the split-action stuff I mentioned earlier. He’s improved as a passer in the past couple years, and he can put the ball on the floor and drive with wing-like movement patterns from the high-post area. Claxton is also a quality lob threat in the pick-and-roll.
PG2: Collin Sexton
I love Sexton for two reasons. One, he’s way more efficient than the average backcourt microwave scorer. Two, he’s a tier-one competitor. He’s overqualified as a sixth man, but that’s the role he’s been placed in this season, so I’d use him as one, and I feel very confident in his ability to spark my offense off the bench. He gets downhill and touches the paint at a high rate, so between him and Shai, defenses won’t get a break from defending drives. I’d also coach him to increase his three-point attempt rate because his current volume (about four 3PA per game) doesn’t match his talent as a shooter.
SG2: Quentin Grimes
This team wouldn’t be complete without a real 3&D guy. Grimes is a reliable movement shooter and on-ball defender who can play alongside anybody off-ball. He can do some stuff off the bounce, too. Don’t forget his Mickey Mouse March 21.9 PPG run from last season.
SF2: Aaron Wiggins
Similar to Sexton, I also believe Aaron Wiggins is very overqualified for his role as an eighth man on the Thunder. He does everything you could want from a role-playing wing, from shooting and cutting to limiting turnovers and competing on defense. Plus, his on-ball scoring package is more polished than that of most guys of his make and model. The logic of adding Wiggins and Grimes is pretty simple: they’re the type of support staff who can thrive in any situation.
PF2: Dean Wade
Wade would act as an extension of Anunoby and McDaniels on the defensive end. He’s the best wing stopper that nobody talks about. This is a guy who always plays within his role and excels in it. I don’t think you could ask for much more from a 10th man as a playoff team.
C2: Day’Ron Sharpe (Moussa Diabate)
Once again, I struggled to land on a center here. My ideal backup big would be super low maintenance with a high motor and propensity for doing the little things. Moussa Diabate came to mind right away as an elite rebounder with the athletic prowess to move his feet on defense and catch lobs. But, after some more thought, I flipped to Day’Ron Sharpe, who statistically is just as good as, if not better than, Diabate as a rebounder while also offering some passing flair and more feel offensively overall. All told, two Brooklyn Nets make my dream team. Who woulda thought it?
So, that’s my NBA dream team. I just did a lot of yapping so I’ll close things out here. I’d love to hear your thoughts on my squad, as well as who would be on your dream team. Feel free to toss your thoughts at me on Twitter (X) @finleykuehl, I’m always on there talking ball. Thanks for reading!
LaMelo Ball is having the most impactful season of his career. Ironically, though, it’s also the quietest one.
We’re talking about one of the most loved stars of the 2020s here, especially amongst more casual fans. Ball has been a household name since high school. He’s a walking highlight reel with a distinct personality, and he brings an infectious level of joy and excitement to the game. LaMelo is truly one of one.
It’s hard not to be captivated by Ball as a fan, which is what’s made him such a popular figure in the NBA world. It also obviously helps his case that he’s a good player. The former Rookie of the Year made his first All-Star game as a sophomore in 2021-22, and he’s had a case to earn the honor multiple times since then. In 2024-25, he was considered by many to be an All-Star lock, and there was a significant bit of outrage when he didn’t make it.
Ball averaged 20 PPG in four of his first five seasons. He’s done some incredible things on the court so far in his career. The one thing he never did, though, was win. That’s not entirely his fault, because the Hornets have rolled out some pretty poor rosters in recent years. But, if you wanted to make a knock on him, you could’ve said he was an empty stats guy and that his playstyle didn’t translate to winning.
With the way 2025-26 is going for Charlotte, you can’t say that anymore.
The Hornets have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since 2026 began. They’re finally looking like a playoff-caliber team, and a big reason for that has been LaMelo’s growth and maturation.
He’s always had a sporadic (if not flat-out wild) playstyle, which is just what makes him him. But, he’s reigning things in a little this season, focusing more on playing within a system and being a leader. The change is paying off for him. Right now, he’s the best player he’s ever been.
You wouldn’t know that just looking at the counting stats. He’s averaging 19.3 points, the fewest since his rookie campaign, on a career-low (and slightly gross) 39.8% from the field. However, when you watch him play, you feel the difference. He’s still taking (and making) a lot of shots, but he’s cutting down on some of the absurd looks he’s been prone to attempting. His playmaking is popping more than ever, as he finally has real weapons around him and he seeks to activate them.
LaMelo’s willingness to take somewhat of a backseat has contributed to more success for Charlotte, but it’s come at a cost. He’s no longer “the man” in Buzz City in the eyes of the NBA mediaspace. They’ve dumped LaMelo in favor of Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, the shiny new toys.
Look, Knueppel and Miller are both awesome players having awesome seasons. Knueppel should be the Rookie of the Year favorite right now. Miller has future All-Star written all over him. But those two guys are not better than Melo.
With Miller, it shouldn’t even be a debate. Almost all of his value comes from scoring, specifically shooting— he takes more shots in the short mid-range than he does at the rim. He’s on a crazy hot streak, but when he inevitably cools off, it will be clear that he isn’t as important to making the Hornets go as LaMelo is.
Knueppel has more dimensions to his game than Miller, but he’s still first and foremost an off-ball shooter. He’s been an impeccable fit in Charlotte’s perimeter-heavy system, and another way to look at that is he’s being maximized by their style of play, allowing him to look better than he actually is in a vacuum. It’s tough to imagine him reaching the heights he’s touched as a rookie if he was in Washington or Sacramento.
LaMelo, on the other hand, is the driver for the Hornets, the guy who kickstarts the engine and lights the flame with his electric creation ability. Again, for emphasis, he’s the leader for this team and the most central part of their identity. Knueppel and Miller need him more than he needs them.
None of this is meant to be anti-Knueppel or anti-Miller propaganda. It’s all just pro-LaMelo talk, something he deserves more of. The one-time national favorite is doing what people begged him to do forever, win, but now that he’s doing it, he’s been cast aside. That’s not fair.
The bottom line? Put some respect on LaMelo Ball’s name.
Sam Merrill is playing the best ball of his career this season. He’s averaging 13.4 points and 2.2 assists while shooting an absurd 47.4% from three on 7.3 attempts per game. The former 60th overall pick has become indispensable for the Cavaliers, regularly appearing in the starting lineup. Cleveland is 7.2 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass. His impact is off the charts. He’s one of the most underrated players in hoops.
On the surface, though, Merrill is just another three-point specialist, a trade that’s trending toward extinction in today’s NBA. Guys who can’t adapt to different situations and contribute in multiple ways aren’t valuable in high-leverage games. Joe Harris, Bryn Forbes, Evan Fournier and many more snipers have fizzled out of the league in recent years due to their one-dimensionalness. Why hasn’t Merrill met that same fate? He isn’t actually a specialist.
Bryn Forbes could outscore Jimmy Butler in a playoff series, but he couldn’t defend a parked car. Merrill, on the other hand, is an 81st percentile isolation defender and a 93rd percentile screen navigator according to BBall Index. He’s not the type of point-of-attack stalwart you’d stick on a star like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a full game, but he guards his yard really well. Merrill stays disciplined, bumps guys off their spots with his thicker frame, contests shots and overall just doesn’t get picked on.
Merrill is also the definition of a low-mistake player. He commits just 1.2 turnovers per 75 possessions, an 80th percentile rate. He’s not a standout playmaker, but he keeps the ball moving.
Role players who can’t guard and cost their teams possessions are liabilities, and liabilities don’t see the floor in the playoffs. Merrill played 19.9 minutes a night for the Cavs in the 2025 postseason.
It’s true that most of Merrill’s value comes from his shooting. He is, after all, a top five shooter in the world. His medley of unbelievable efficiency and sky-high volume would be borderline unprecedented if Steph Curry didn’t exist. That said, though, he wouldn’t be able to put his three-point talents on full display if he couldn’t do the little things that help teams win.
Isaiah Joe is a very similar case. He’s lethal from beyond the arc, easily the best shooter on OKC’s roster and one of the better pure shooters in the league as a whole. And, just like Merrill, he doesn’t turn it over and he holds his own on D. Oklahoma City is 2.3 points per 100 possessions better offensively with Joe in the lineup, which is in large part because of his shooting (they need it), but again, he couldn’t make that big of a difference if he wasn’t well-rounded.
Sam Merrill and Isaiah Joe (two former Bench Mob Players of the Year, by the way) are redefining what it means to be three-point specialists, allowing them to make tangible impacts on contending teams. Moving forward, smart organizations should be prioritizing these modernized marksmen over the Luke Kennards and Buddy Hields of the world. They’ll be patting themselves on the back come playoff time.
Jon Horst is a fascinating fella. The moves he makes always seem to come out of left field. He works in silence and almost never does what’s obvious. You have to tip your cap to the guy, because the swings he takes have resulted in a championship, but also, more importantly, Giannis Antetokounmpo sticking around for all these years. He’s definitely not a bad GM, but he’s an unorthodox one for sure.
The main thing that makes the way Horst does business abstract is his taste in players. In the iconic movie Moneyball, Billy Beane seeks out players who are statistically effective but have some sort of prominent flaw. Horst does exactly that. Think about Milwaukee’s roster for second. It’s full of guys with odd and unique quirks.
Bobby Portis, for example, can be a game-changing microwave scorer off the bench, but he might be the least willing passer in the league and he’s addicted to head-scratching long twos.
Kevin Porter Jr. is one of the 75 most talented basketball players in the world, but he processes the game worse than some high school point guards and his shot selection is putrid.
Kyle Kuzma, to his credit, is having a genuinely solid bounce-back season after a pretty brutal 2025 playoffs, but, more often than not, he makes the sport look incredibly hard to play. The dude is just awkward.
Jericho Sims has bricks for hands.
Even Giannis himself has some fundamental flaws to his game, most notably his endlessly mind-blowingly poor performances at the free throw line.
Now, basketball is inherently a game of tradeoffs. No player or roster is without their blemishes, so winning games is all about maximizing the strengths of your personnel while hiding the downsides as much as possible. That said, though, this Milwaukee squad is extraweird, and unfortunately, it’s starting to show in the standings. This is the worst the Bucks have been in a long time. Even with Giannis healthy, it was clear heading into the trade deadline that there wasn’t much upside for things to get better without a classic Horst shocker. So, all eyes were on the man in the front office at the trade deadline. What would he do to try and turn things around for this team?
Well, he added another Moneyball guy, of course. Enter Cam Thomas.
Thomas is the best scorer on the planet. Just ask him, he’ll tell you. When he’s on the floor, he’s chucking up a shot every time he gets a chance. He’d rather take the most stupidly difficult middie you’ve ever seen than swing the rock. His playstyle is bonkers, as is his seeming unwillingness to change the way he approaches the game. To be fair, though, Thomas is unbelievably gifted when it comes to putting the ball in the net. He’s a 20-point game disguised as a human with an emotionless face.
You can’t blame Horst at all for taking a gamble on a talent like Thomas on such a cheap contract. There’s serious boom potential here, no matter what way you spin it.
But, at the same time, try to imagine a lineup of Thomas, Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Jericho Sims without physically cringing or laughing out loud. There’s a relatively high chance that we’ll see that group spend significant time on the court together in the near future.
Look, things are pretty bleak for the Bucks right now. Giannis is injured. Cam Thomas is apparently supposed to be the savior. Fans are so starved for young talent that they’re rallying around Ousmane Dieng.
(Dieng, by the way, represents Horst’s other favorite type of flawed player: the “what does he even do?” prospect. Every year, the man drafts some raw kid with no clear NBA skill instead of a polished multi-year collegiate product, and he’s found little success in doing so. MarJon Beauchamp, AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith and Chris Livingston have all flamed out already. You’d think Horst would’ve learned his lesson by now.)
Despite all that, one thing is for sure: Bucks fans shouldn’t give up on this team. We’ve enjoyed quite the run of success in the Giannis era. We saw them win a freaking championship, man! Things were always going to spiral at some point, and the beginning of that fall off seems to be upon us. However, that doesn’t mean Milwaukee faithful should jump ship during the rebuilding period.
It’s gonna be frustrating to watch the post-All-Star-break Bucks if they’re going to commit to the tank. You’re probably going to want to throw your remote at your TV screen after watching KPJ and Cam Thomas take turns chucking up prayers. But, it would also be fun to see Ousmane Dieng break out into a real NBA player. It will be exciting when Thomas goes for 45 points in a meaningless game in April. If/when Giannis comes back, it’s always an absolute pleasure witnessing his greatness.
At the end of the day, part of true fandom is riding with your team through thick and thin. The Bucks are in the thick, yes, but there’s plenty of joy to be found in it. Stick with this funky, occasionally irritating yet lovable squad and it will feel extra rewarding when they return to contender status one day.
At the end of the day, at least you don’t have to be a Kings fan.
The Bench Mob Blog 