Final Mock Draft Picks and Closing

Comeing out, we got a loaded episode. I got James Worthy podcast. neverever expected interview the legend, James Worthy. We talked about the Lakers, how much he still hates the Celtics and a lot else. We got Tim Bond Temps talking about some of the most intriguing offseason teams around the NBA. We have Evan Wash talking about the future of the NBA draft and I close the show with my full first round We got game two later tonight of the NBA finals. I'll be reacting to that game with a recording on Saturday. So look for a special edition weekend episode the Kevin O'Connor show talking about game two and plus, we got some more other guests coming from this week here the NBA finals. That's all coming up right now on the Kein O'Conor Show It's the best time of the year in the NBA right now with the conference finals, then the finals, then the draft and summer League And on gameime, you got the advantage as a fan. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use and the game time guarantee means you can trust you'll get one hundred percent authentic tickets no matter the event that you're trying to go to, plus Fees are always included so you get to see what you pay I'm very thankful to get credentials to these events in the basketball world. So I will be using the game timee app instead. my summer concerts coming up. I'm very excited about it. One of the cooler features about the Gameime app is the seat views. You get to have a panoramic view of your seat in the app before you buy And I've been using that when I've been looking for tickets at venues that I haven't been to before to get an idea of what it's going to look like when I decide or what seat I'm going to have at the concerts that I'm going to. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time Download the Gameime app, create an account and use code KOC. for twenty dollars off your first purchase. Terms do apply again Create an account and Rdeem code KOC for twenty dollars off. Download the Gameime app today. ONDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, OndDecks loans up to four hundred thousand dollars make it happen fast. Rated A plus by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of five star trrust pilot reviews, ONDeck delivers funding you can count on. Applying mininutes at Ondeck dot com Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OndDck or Celtic Bank. ODeck does not lend in North Dakota all loans and amounts subject to lender approval Introducing Taco Bell's new jalapeno citrus salsa with bright citrus, real red jalapenos, Gailo chiles. Usually, you add sauce to the food, but when the sauce is this good, the food is just there to get the sauce to your mouth. That rolled quesadilla, not a rolled quesadilla anymore Now it's a sauce shovel Taco Bell'salapeeno citrus salsa. Get it with any item on the cananttina chicken menu while it's here. The partarticipate in U.S Taco Bell locations for a limited time only while supplies last. contontact store for availability Welcome back to the Kevin O'Connor show. Be before we get started, we wanted to let you know that Yahoo's all new twenty twenty six soccer pickam is here just in time for the world's biggest soccer tournament. So please be sure to join at Yahoo Fantasy dot com slash soccer Pick him. Now joining me from ESBN, Tim Mont Temps. Tim. What's up What's up AOC? How you doing fun podcasting together. We done this. I know, man. It's nice Pretty cool. So we're going to look ahead to the offseason here, our four most intriguing offseason teams. Okayay. What do you go? startart us off I mean, I think you have to start with the Oklahoma City Thunder, right. Obviously you could start with the boxs to the honest, but when you look at the fact that the Thunder are coming off this series or they just lost the spurs, obbviously everybody thought all season. we're going to be back in Oklahoma City again. So they've got to try to catch the spurs, which is the first part of the challenge. What do they have to do to get better? And then they have all these massive decisions to make, right? Obviously, what are they going to do with Hartenstein and Lou Dort two team options for those guys. I think there's a pretty good chance they decline Kendrich Willams team option. probably getting back on a cheaper deal, mayaybe a minimum deal. That saves a few more million dollars. But right now They someomewhere between thirty and forty million dollars over the second apron if they bring everybody back on their current salaries They're probably not going to be thirty forty million over the second apron U So what do they come up with for a deal for Hartenstein? What do they decide to do with Dort What are they doing in a Caseason Wallace extension? What do they do to try to upgrade this roster to try to take on this spurst team because as you know The Spurs are young. They're only going to get better. They've got a lot of assets and This crew is all going to be here, right? So you know what you're chasing trying to beat Viictor Wimanyama. What are these guys going to do to get better? because clearly they werent good enough to win. I think along those same lines I'm thinking about Denver Denver, you have still one of best players in the world in Nicoa Yokach. You have a very good supporting cast with one of those players who were without this postseason, Payyton Watson who looked like a future all star In the weeks Yokch with He had one of the great had sort of the Ln Sanity like two or three weeks or he's unbelievable. And then we just basically didn't see him again. Exactly. He was out and how much do you trust that? How much is the team going to try to pay him a restricted free agency? somebody willill somebody think they can overpay him and get him out of Denver since we know Denver is not going to go deep into the aprons Exactly. And so is Denver going to have to tear down their roster becausecause they're cheap in order to keep Pyton Watson or are they just going to let Payton Watson talk and say, you know what? you're overpaying him. Well, and by the way, there's one other thing is Nickole Yokich going to sign the Super Max extxtension? Now He has said he wants to be in Denver forever, but a few years ago when he had the first chance to sign this extension, what did you do? He said, I'm going to sign the extension. and then he signed it He has not said I'm going to sign the extension. So the first question for me for Denver is, is he going to sign the extension? Now he may, you know, be over in Serbia and just sign the thing on july first or whenever he's officially able to sign it Um, but That to me is one of the biggest questions the whole summer. L willill he sign it? And then what happens if he doesn't? Now, I think again, I think he's going to, but Until he says I'm signing it and we see him sign it. I'm at least going to wonder if's to happen or not. He's at least in a position right now where he should at least think about it, right? I mean I mean depends on what his goals are. Like if you wants to just be in Denver, sure. great be in Denver. But if he wants to look at, okay, do I want to have the best chance to win a championship It's going to be hard to do that in Denver with where they sit and where this team sits and where Oklahoma City sits like the rest of these scens of the West have a lot of work to do. And it will be interesting because this is a guy who has said he wants to be a Denver Lifer, but he also said that at a time where it felt like Denver was going to be contending forever And now we're at a point where it's like maybe not so much. So for a guy who does have a chance to become one of the ten greatest players in NBA history, but needs another ring Maybe you do have to go somewhere else to get it, but who knows, mayaybe Denver could do something else to turn things around It will be really interesting. And like you said, one of the one of the interesting pivot points of the summer will be no assuming Yokich extends I do they want to keep Payt Watson. if so how do they do it? rightight? Because in theory, they're not going to have Pyton Watson Cam Johnson and Christian Brown on the team. So do they move on from Christian Brown? to they move on from Cam Johnson to keep Pyton Watson do they let Payton Watson leave? Do they do a sign and trade? Does he get overbid on and leave and for to see that That will be an interesting thing because like you said, they were not good enough already And now you're maybe going into the summer and not keeping this whole team that you already had. that probably wasn't good enough. So Definitely real questions to watch for in Denver What's your next team Tim? I mean, we' go to Milwaukee. I think you have to, right? Unfortunately, we're back in this same circular thing with Janis. Will he get traded? Will he not get traded. obbviously if Jan as does get traded. that is the single biggest domino short of Nicole Ookens that could really change in the league this summer Um, and then that gets into where does he go? Does he go to Miami? Does he go to Orlando? Do he go to Cleveland? Does he go to Boston? Does he go somewhere else? right? Like Whatever trade happens with Janis in theory, it will probably end up being a three or four team trade just because as you know with the The new apron roules, every team, every trade almost has to become a three or four team trade with a salary that big And then if it does happen, okay, what are all the ripple effects of that? right? That's why you know, I thought when you go back to Taylor Jenkins introductory press conference Jimmy Hazlam, the co owner of the box, to me laid it out pretty clearly. They're either going to Strade Dianis by the draft or they're going to pivot and make moves to try to keep you onest. So then okay, if they do keep you honest and they don't trade him by the draft. Well then they've got three first round picks. They've got some big expiring money can they go out and make some moves to make the team better, right? So I think one way or the other Milwaukee's at the center of a lot of what's going to happen in the NBA this off season and we'll probably know between now and the draft what's going to happen with the honest which will set up a lot of other things. I'm glad you hit on the possibility of he still stays a buuck because I think everybody assumes he's going to be gone. They haven't traded him yet And if he's on the team on october first, I think he's going to sign the extension. So to me this is a this is a Milwaukee Bcks question. Do the bucks look at it and say Don't have a path to contention now. done this dance the last few years of like willill he stay or Won he stay and we need to just shake hands say this has been unbelievable run. There'll be a stat here, the best buck ever your Jersey iss going to be retired. all this is great, but we've got to turn the page and move forward or do they say, all right, look, we're going to sign you out to this extension. He's got to be a buck. We're going to do the best we can to make this work and then we're going to go try to use our draft picks to get better And that whatever way they go with that decision is going to lead to a lot of movement And obviously to me makes them one of the most interesting teams to watch in the leagite. I want to stick with a team in the top ten because I feel like there's a lot of focus on the top four. There's a lot of focus on the clippers at five because they got the pick from Indiana. There's focus on the nets as a young team. There's focus on a bunch of teams, obviously in the top ten What are the Mavericks going to do number nine. The team that I feel like nobody ever talks about is Atlanta eight. They just made the playoffs. They had a really good year. Y. They made a huge trade getting rid of Trade young. SJ M call in a great year. They the most improved player in the Kale Alexander Walker. Y. They' a great spot and they have the eighth pick this year. Yeah. And that's a spot in this year's draft, which is pretty loaded I think Atlanta is in a position to either let's keep building young, let's not rush things or to be in a spot where it's like, hey We have this highly valuable asset. We have multiple picks. Let's let's do something. Let's do something big. So I'm intrigued by the paths Atlanta could go this off season. Yeah, the Hawkss in a really interesting spot, right? They've got the eighth pick. They've got the twenty third pick, which they got as part of a different deal in the draft U So they got two first round picks in this year's draft, which as you said, is still very good U It's going to be as ser as they do there. They have to decide what they're going to do with Jonathan Cominga. He had some interesting moments down the stretch. U But I think the main reason you trade for Jonhnath the get the trade deadline is to have a big expiring contract on that team option this summer to potentially go out and make some moves, right? You mentioned the Tay young trade getting out of that Tay on contract looks pretty good right now. However, you did see especially in that next series Atlanta had a lot of trouble in the half court generating offense. So do they go get player with that eighth pick, you know, whether it's Michquele Brown or Keaten Wagler or Kinkson Flemings or any of these guys you know, Darry S Coff, one of these guards to be the guy that's maybe the next you know, floor general for them going forward U Do they go a different direction pick? Do they move back and get some more assets? Do they trade it for some impact veteran player now, right?? They still have a bunch of trade exceptions and different sire exceptions they can go. If they do decline Coming' option. they can go a lot of different ways there. You know, it seems like it's pretty likely they'll probably have acCing back on some deal, I would think Um, but yeah, like I You know, they just extended out Sleay their GM gave him a a deserve bump up to presresident, gave him a long term deal. They'll see if they get an extension done Quin Snyder, but the Hwks are in the middle of a lot of stuff and it it will be interesting to see what direction they go because they do, like you said, Jalen Johnson's in his early twenties. Dyson Daniels is a young guy and Y Cong was a good player. They can ext have a choice on him to extend in this summer. He's a terrific player. obbviously Zachary had a disappointing second year. hopefully he'll be able to bounce back and play better U But yeah, there's a lot of interesting things going on there up to and including what are they going to do on draft night? So they are a team that I think is flying under the radar, but an easastern conference where there's a lot of things going on. the Hawks are an interesting team to watch for sure. Definitely. mean, I think with the new draft system as well, it's going to be very interesting to see the way in which certain teams value their future picks and how that changes the possible trades that could be out. Yeah, I'm really interest to see if teams like to me there's one or two ways you can go with that, right? One is you can basically lean into it and say We have no idea where this pics are going to go. So if people really value the picks Let's use them to go get impact players, right? Be an average pick now has more value than it did before because there's a higher chance of it jumping up On the other hand, you could see teams say well because there's a higher chance of it jumping up We're going to really rein it in and wait and see, especially because we don't know this is only going to be the system for a couple of years and then maybe it's going to change again in twenty thirty. So I am just generally very interested to see what the game theory of the draft is over the next couple years because U you know, and one school of thought might be to try to hoard as many picks as you can Another might be, hey these picks individually are more valuable than ever so we can maybe get more value out of them in trade than we could have otherwise. So that that push and pull and how teams evaluate that. I do think is going to be very interesting. It could have a big impact on someome of these kind of deals. we're talking about because say, you know, if you're a team like Milwaukee All of a sudden, I think it's like usually in the past, you know, Kevin, like a lot of times teams will look at these trades and say, we need to get our picks back, right? Be like the nets. they made that trade with Houston because the nets are like, we got to make sure we can control where we get in the draft, even though it didn't end up working out great. Now it's like, well If we just get some picks Who knows where they're going to wind up, right? So it if you're talking about like a Yanestraade, for example, They don't necessarily have to engage with say, Portland, which has a bunch of bux picks. because Maybe the Bck specks will jump up or maybe the Bck Ps will be the fifty pick in the draft. But if they get F fiveive picks from a bunch of teams It might end up having more value to them that it would have in the past is trying to get their own stuff back. So there's a lot of things like that that could have a really interesting impact on the off season. veryery interested to see where that goes. I really can't wait, especially like a team like Detroit. They waited. They didn't make a deal d during the season and now they have all of their picks in the future. Are they going to cash those in? that turn out to be a mistake. could it turn to be the right choice. It's impossible to predict. I don't think anybody has answers because we don't what the system iss going to look like That is that is going the sunsetting of it, I do think is weird and that you already know it's only going to be a couple of years. But like look, you just casually mentioned Detroit They've got a ton of big questions to answer. What are they going to do with oursar Thompson as an extension? What are they going to do with Jayalen Durn as a restricted free agent? Are they going to make a big move to try to add another perimeter creator, which obviously they desperately needed and that showed in the playoffs, right? The team that beat them Cleveland Cavaliers. what are they going to do? They I think they're going to get a deal done with James Harden, but They have to get this down of the Mitchell extension done. They have to decide are they going forward with this group? Are they going to radically change it? There's really only one way to do that, which is trading Evan Mobbley they put have Mobile on the trade block. That's a guy that has a ton of value that could really get them in a lot of interesting conversations, right? Orlando just hired Sohn Sweeney off the spurs, but That's the team that's disappointed the last couple of years. What did they try to do? Do they try to get better? We haven't talked at all about Minnesota. They have a ton of interesting stuff ahead. likeike what are they going to do? Do they decide to trade some of these bigs to try to balance out the roster. They they try to go get a point guard to play with Anthony Edwards, some other creator. Can they get Io Dumo resigned? Do they are they going to be able to keep Dnted Evenchanzo do they have to move him as obviously he's unfortunately out with the Achilles We off we haven't even mentioned the Lakers. There's the whole LeBron James question What's how going to happen with Austin Reeves, right? Like there this summer is going to be prettyt fascinating and especially If the San Antonio Surs win and the team a team with a twenty two year old superstar with two co stars on the team both being in their rookie and second years of their deals like That is a pretty gigantic mountain to have to climb Um You know, it's just going to be fascining to see heives, I mean weven't talk about Boston either. I mean, I think it's got a chance to be a very fascinating summer with a lot of stuff happening across the league and Going into the playoffs, a lot of my conversations you probably had similar were about There's there are a lot of teams because of how wide open the league felt thought they had a chance this year And if there's five, six, eight teams that think they can make the conference semifinals or the conference finals And then three or four or five teams that think they can make the conference finals or the finals In each conference There's only so many teams that can actually get into those conversations, right And when you are disappointed in the playos, that typically leads to change and I think this summer' got a chance to have a lot of change And it's going to be very, very interesting to see what that means. I can't wait, Tim. B time of the year, finals, draft, off season all coming up. That's's a czy month but it's awes. can't wait,im. Thank you so much for join me. Hey time,ude. appreciate. U' next got James Worthy joining the Kevin O'Conor Show. It's the best time of the year in the NBA right now with the conference finals, then the finals, then the draft and summer League And on gameime, you get the advantage as a fan. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use. and the game timee guarantee means you can trust you'll get one hundred percent authentic tickets to no matter the event that you're trying to go to. pllus Fes are always included so you get to see what you pay I'm very thankful to get credentials to these events in the basketball world. So I will be using the gameime app instead my summer concerts coming up. I'm very excited about it. One of the cooler features about the Game timeime app is the seat views. You get to have a panoramic view of your seat in the app before you buy And I've been using that when I've been looking for tickets at venues that I haven't been to before to get an idea of what it's going to look like when I decide or what seat I'm going to have at the concerts that I'm going to. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time Download the Gameime app, create an account and use code KOC. for twenty dollars off your first purchase. terms do apply. again Create an account and Rdeem code KOC for twenty dollars off. Download the Gameime app today. ONDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team or bridging cash flow gaps, ONDeck' loans up to four hundred thousand dollars make it happen fast. Rated A plus by the Better Business Bureau, and earning thousands of five star trrust pilot reviews, ONDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes at Ondeck dot com dot Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OndDeck or Celtic Bank. Ondeck does not lend in North Dakota to all loans and amounts subject to lender approval Queen Carvania stood haloed by the morning sun. army hung on her every word. My champions, I have sold my chariot on Carvana. 'Twas a lovely SUV, an inexplicably queenly offer. They're even coming to the castle to collect it Tight, We feast An offer you can feast on. sell your car today on Carmana Pick up these Mly By now joining me the NBA Hall of Famer, Lakers Legends, Champion, James Worthy G on, Janes. How are you? Here we are in San Antonio for the twenty twenty six finals. It's exciting. I want to start off with you with a team that's not here. your Los Angeles Lakers. As you watch these two teams we'll see in the finals, the Spurs and of course the Kicks. We saw the thunder sweep the Lakers. What are the missing ingredients with the Lakers to be here at this stage over the next couple of years Well, I think number one, they have to enough players together over a period of time. so that they're building chemistry and building good habits. And I think they were on their way to doing that The last couple of years, obviously bringing in Luca the emergence of Ox Reeves and guys like U, Ry Hachamira But I think that what's missing is, you know, a big Uh Aiton is is a is a, you know, he's a he's a big that that has some skills. the skills that can, you know quantify what we need from a center. We need a rugged center that can rebound and that can accommodate what Luca and LeBron and Austin and those guys are doing. So and we need role players. We need a better bench U three and D guys six, six, six eight who can shoot to three and come in and provide instant office. That's what you're seeing from the teams that are emerging and the teams that are consistent they have those days. I mean, it's interesting you mentioned A and obviously he was a discount edition, a worthy edition. in some ways he exceeded what he's getting paid. But on the other hand, he is not fulfilling what is necessary from a big man in today's NBA. It's funny how things kind of circled back. The bigig man has come back in a big way the last four or five years. Of course, you have Weemby in the finals last year. It's, you know, double big with Chet, Isaiah Hartenstein year before that, Boston with Porzingus and Horford, so many different combinations and so many shapes and sizes able to play in the front court Aitan doesn't necessarily have that dog in him My question with the Lakers is and this is my concern with them If they're going to pay Austin Reeves whatever it is that he's going to get paid Can they fill all those other gaps in the rost or they're going to be needed As you said, finding all those wings, finding that big man I worry in today's day and age that it's going to be really hard to fill those defensive gaps the lakers around a core with Luca and Rid is getting as paid as much they would be. Yeah, that's that is the question Will that happen You know, Reiz is expected to get a nice bag this year hasn't been done yet and that's a decision. that I think the liickors are going to have to make because if they do give him u, the money that he's, u, that he's expected to get then you're going to have, you know, you're going to have issues. not be able to bring in. So the liquers have a big uh decision to make Are they going to, you know allow Reeese to go out in the free market and free up some money? What are they going to do with LeBron? Are they going to pay LeBron a max deal or not? Is he's going to accept that Uh, and so those are the decisions that they are currently making, they're bringing in new assisted GMs So if they're going to keep Reeves U then they will be somewhat stuck with a similar situation having to pin on Aiton and Jackson Hayes. they may be able to get a moderate big, but not the big that I think they need to get to the promised land they're trying to get to. Now I mentioned kind that mindset having that dog in you, your nickname Big game James, you've offered some of the best games we've seen in fininals history That mindset, that big game mindset. canan that be taught? or is that just something like you for example, always had as as you were a kid? It's it's kind of innate in you for me. U you know, the regular season was really difficult. You know, you travel went a lot and we flew commercial and You might have Larry Bird on a Tuesday night You flly us to New York, you have Bernard King Thursday off come back on Friday to have Dr. Jay. so it's hard during the regular season. But when you get a team for seven aimes And that's the only team you have to worry about. two or three players that you're focused on, a lot of video, a lot of study time I always looked at my you know, post season should be better. Iways expected and I train to do that watched a lot of my opponents U It doesn't happen by accident. You have to put it into the work But to me I just enjoyed rising to the occasion Eespecially, you know, being the third guy behind, you know, Koreeman magic just wait for my opportunity You mention being the third guy. you come in as a number one pick with a team that already has magic Johnson and Karem abduljabar on it What's the mindset going into a situation like that? And how do you find your lane without necessarily disturbing what those guys already had? Not only that, they had Hall ofif Fame with Jamaal Wilks, they had Hallif Fame with Bob Mcadoo They had Halling with Michael Cooper Uh, and that's what Jerry West wanted. Uh rarely does a number one draftit go to the best team But due to a trade they made with Cleveland years ago, the co just a corin flip between the clippers and the And the Lakers and Bill Sharman Uh, you know, they chose they didn't really need a score If they did, they probably would have taken Dominiqu Wilkins or Terry Cummins. they need a role player, someone that can fit in And so it was perfect for me. I didn't have to come in and be the franchise player, even though I, you know, you may have lost a little bit. of scoring and attention and endorsement and things like that I won through championships and achieved everything I could possibly achieve for guy who Really only wanted a college scholarship out of this. You probably wouldn't have it any other way, right? But like everybody's different. Some players they just want to put up thirty points per a game. They just want to get buckets. But that speaks to what she said about that innate. mentality the approach to the game. in your time, with basketball throughout your life as a player or broadcast or everything you've done over the last four plus decades What are those qualities you look for in those person like for the Lakers, for example, surrounding a guy like Luca, what does the front office seem to be looking for to best maximize him? Sooters U particularly those who can hit the three consistently U guysuys who can defend And notot necessarily you know, hide him in the in the defense but take a little bit of pressure off of him Um, They need a big uh who can protect the paint And also u We will receive loobs and be a force defensively Um, and they need players around him who can also create They needed Oseres. LeBron was able to do it at forty one to take some pressure off of Luca when they start to blitz him Teams will figure out a way to disrupt a guy like Luca or a guy like KD. So he needs guys and I think he loves The fact that Austin raises on the team because he loves what Austin does what he doesn't have the ball, but they need They need what Oklahoma has Um When he's out of the game, they need a base they can come in and forty, fifty, sixty pointsed from time to time No, they need it consistently I mean, isn't the skill level in the NBA just so high nowadays where like every team, it seems like these contender level teams have ball handling across positions, shooting across positions, defensive versatility across positions on the roster. I mean, that's what we're going to see in the finals with with the Kicks in the spurs. And I think that's what like the funder were're missing without AJ Mitchell Without Jayale Williams last round and their seven game serious loss against the Spurs. It's just like that bar is so high nowadays Yeah. Isn't it? There's no more play calling. you know, back when I played everybody had a play And the coach is controlled you know, the temple. you had to unless there was a fast break. And we had specific plays, a play for Karim, or play for magic. play for me. now it's open court That's why you got to have three and D guys who can't handle the ball multiple ball handlers who can who can pass sho and get to the racket. And so I get to the rim And so that's the way teams have been building over the last, I'll say Seven to eight years. You need multiple guys doing multiple things guuards they can rebound I when you're guy goes to the base like ache. you need guys like a McCain a Wildsman come in. and still sustain that. And I think that that's the way the league is growing. a superior athlete who' very versatile along those lines Does Lua need to have the ball in his hands less For me, he's more of a target when he handles the ball a lot W I'm more for him initiating in the office and doing what he does Uh, sometimes I think You know, it's eighteen, twenty seconds before he tries to make a pass. And that's just not really having the personnel I think when you get the personnel And the worldall is moving. U I saw a play San Antonio ten passes. O one possession and it touched the floor maybe once. And so when you have those type of players that can attack every angle L a Reeves Brian Ruy he's getting there. he's a great shooter. But when you have guys who can go downhill and collapse to defense That's what the Lakers. I think that's what that's what we need before he can get it out of his hands Win in his hands. he's he's he can he can score But I think sometimes Plers get lost a little bit when the ball needs to be moving I think that's a good way to put it. I mean like with he's called Luca Magic for a reason, right? Like he's brilliant with the ball in his hands. But at the same time, I still think back to pre draft withu Luca with Real Madrid. He would move off ball a little bit more. He but a little bit playing overseas. And I'd like to see the Lakers integrate some of that. You mentioned LeBron Do you think LeBron James will be back? Do you think he should be back for this roster to best maximize next year with Luca I didn't see too many players that play better than he did This year when I looked at his numbers and I looked at Shay's numbers, they were I mean, I haven't seen any athlete like this U He loves LA His family loves the and I think You know, u if the price is right, if if, you know, but I, you know, He's a max player The question is is he willing to not be a max player takeake less U otherwise, I don't know. h, because if he's got to getaid and office' got to get paid they're going to have to deal with Silar situation we did this year. D tell which was't bad. U we got to third or fourth U, you know, without Luca, I guess Oklahama we wouldn't have a chance. Did't farewell when we had him But they know what the mission pieces are Dodgers are coming in now with all the analytics and new you know, that are so smart, so we'll see some changes, I believe. Do you still hate the Celvics As much as I did back then I still ateem. Oh yeah Yeah. That's never gone away. It's not going to go away. Wow The celtic. You still take out the cigar after those wins. If we win. you know, listen. I love Sic Maxwell. He's a North Carolina guy I love EMail car He's a North Carolina guy Uh I've had some conversations with Kemica. We don't hate each other. But we're just gonna hate to setll it. That's all Do you think the Celtics should trade Jayen Brown for Yonas that would work financially That would work if they still have tatum a healthy Tatum in the surround that would work for them So I can't say anything wrong with that I think it would be a smart thing for them to do should the Lakers go for Yanis Yes, if we can do it. Okay 'd have to we'd have to get rid of some players But we need we need him too. Everybody's everybody's u You know going afteronis He still has some good years left And he's one of those bigs that gets it done. So yeah What is your single most fond memory from your Laker Celtics rivalry? I Beating them on their parquet floor in nineteen eighty five, first time the Lakers ever beat the Celtons Jerry West and Elza Baylor and both, those guys never did it So Not only are we represent ourselves, but we represent all those ed memories and we had just lost the year before in ' eighty four So it was a comeback, but that was it. No no other team has won on that floor. And to be able to do it there was amazing. Do you have a favorite Jerry West memory Love Jerry West. Yeah. We both have the same initials U, J W U he never went back to to Boston Garden Uh, but Jerry was, uh, my biggest fan And there was the trade room was in eighty six We lost of Houston u in the Western Coffers finals and they were looking to trade perhaps And Jerry West said, can't do it. He said, If you do it, I'll quit And that's That's the story that always stick with me, man Okay, a lot of brutal honesty Uh and we miss he's a great mate James, thank you so much for joining. Thankas for sh. It's good one. Thank you. much.. Oh good. Up next, Evan Wash from the NBA talking about NBA draft lottery reform and the future of the NBA draft. Are now join me from the NBA League offffice The creator, the orchestrator of NBA draft, lotter reform and a lot of other cool stuff league. That's Devin Wash Evan. How are you? Do doing Well, How are you Well, draft lottery reform has passed. Yeah Ecited, How you feeling about it? feeleing good. honestly this was a lengthy process, but an accelerated one. We found this you know bit of a crisis this year with some of the behavior that we saw and so it necessitated some pretty dramatic change for next season. And so we worked with our stakeholders, our board of governors Um team business folks te excuse me, team basketball folks and settled on a reform that we really think is going to have a pretty big impact on behavior going forward. I'm excited about it. I mean, obviously, like there's, you know, nothing's perfect. I think but three two one ultimately is going to hopefully eliminate the abomination that is tanking, right? But there's always loopholes. What are some of the things that the leeague is kind of watching out for over these next three years before it sunsets in twenty twenty nine? That's just something to be aware of when it comes to loopholes. So the way we thought about this was As long as you tie record to draft position in some way, you can never fully eliminate the idea that a team might want to lose to improve their draft position, right? That if we're not giving all thirty teams equal chances or going to a wheel or something that just fully divorces, like, yes, the more you lose, the better position you might be in But if you look at what three to two one does, at the bottom of the standings with Draft Relegation, It's an actual penalty to finish in the bottom three and so not only will teams try to fight their way out of the bottom three. Obviously the rest of the non play in field will try to stay above those three. And so you should see more competition at the bottom of the standings We should also see more competition in the middle of the standings becausecause what happened under the current system is teams really had to make a choice between competing for the play in or chasing lottery balls effectively. Now you can have a bit of best of both worlds, right? The team can be the ninth or tenth seed in the play in, they can have their two lottery balls, they can make the playoffs and keep those two lottery balls. And so we should see more competition there. Does that mean that no team might strategically pivot in the middle of the year to avoid the plane entirely. Possibly does that mean that teams within the play and field will want to perhaps manipulate their seating? That's possible. But I think we structured it in a way to minimize the incentive to do that. and we put significantly added penalties for the league office and the commissioner to just bolster that and say, look, if you were to do that, there's even more risk to doing it. so combination of the actual Incentives with the risk of the discipline, we think should really attack this in. Basically the threat is the deterrent. right The threat combined with the lack of incentive in the first place, you're not gaining as much as you would be in the current system from losing games intentionally. And in fact, in many cases, you're actually being hurt by it And so that reduced incentive combined with the risks of discipline, again, we think is just going to take a massive step towards eliminating this issue. Now this is a three year trial, essentially. and then it's going to sunset and the league is going to reevaluate whether to make changes put in a bra new system and one of the things that's been reported on by multiple people is a draft credit system, possibly for twenty thirty What does that mean? Can you give like an explainer for people to understand what draft credit system would be? Sure, it means whatever you want to So really, I mean, it's half joking, but it's very undefined right now. I think what happened was As we started go down this reform path, we first met with our board. We talked about a bunch of different concepts, ideas for lottery reform. It wasn't necessarily the case that any one of them all of a sudden got a ton of support and attention. It was We knew we were going to have to make some compromises, trade offs B virtue of as we just talked about, continuing to tie record to draft position, there's always that little bit of risk that teams see a way to manipulate their record in order to improve the draft position. And so there's this whole category of ideas that got discussed through this process. where that would just be fully eliminated And the basic way to think about this is you completely divorce a team's record from their draft position. And instead, you allocate draft picks based on some new asset that gets created, much like a salary cap determines free and trade opportunities, right? And so for example, you could have a credit, a draft credits that get allocated to each team. and in a basic form, those credits could be used in one of three ways. They could be used to trade with other teams in the same way teams currently trade future first on picks. They could be used to bid on draft picks and that could be either directly onto the draft pick or to bid into a lottery, or those p or those credits could be retained for a future season And so the thinking behind it is it gives teams a lot more control to be able to strategically manage their draft assets. They can decide how and when they want to acquire the credits. They can decide how and when they want to deploy them. It allows teams to flex up or down their use of those credits based on the strength of draft classes. and it should just create a much closer tie in between the use of the asset and the return on that asset. whereereas our current system relies almost entirely unlock Tally. And so with this it would be you would cash in your credits for a specific pick or for specific odds or something like that. Yeah, so what I just describeed is incredibly high level. There are infinite, but many, many levers to play with here, right? What is the bidding mechanism? which teams are eligible to bid? Are we bidding only for the top pick or we bidding to enter into a lottery? How do those credits get redistributed after the draft? right? What is the trading model? How would you convert existing trades into this system? Because unless we want to wait until seven years go by when all of the existing trades are reconciled, right? We would have to figure out a way to convert all those into this system. So there's a bunch of unknowns for this. and I think you'll probably find a little bit less enthusiasm once we start to dig into the specifics, but at least for now, there's energy to explore it. We think there's some viability to it. So we think it's worth the time in this period to study it deeply. Which speaks to what you just said, like w how some teams are like, I don't know if I want to trade picks after twenty twenty nine is twenty thirty and beyond. We don't know what the system is going to look like I think that there's always a bit of risk and randomness when you're trading picks that far out. Obviously, if you're trading a pick one, two, maybe even three years out, you have a little bit of sense of where that team's going to be. When you start talking about five, six, seven, that's a risky proposition to start with. and of course, We had teams that had traded picks in the future that are now impacted by this reform. So there's already this notion I We didn't go there, but there's already this notion that like reform can impact already traded picks. And so I don't think you're going to see a whole lot of dampening of the market, but it will be in teams minds as they think about this offseason, what that future could look like. For sure. I mean and hopefully for Memphis next year, the Utah pick is they're in the playoffs It doesn't matter It's not relevant to the conversation. Hopefully that's the case one year from now. But I'm excited for three two one. I think personally, anytime the league seems to put in changes, whether it's the target score in the all Star game, whether it's the play or the NBA cup, peopleople like, ah this is stupid. Yeah. And then people start to like it. So we'll see with this because the randomness will Here's the thing. We've had randomness since twenty nineteen when the odds were flat. It's been really random since then. So we've already experienced it that it's just going to be to a greater degree and speaking about the cup We did have Dylan Harper after the sppurs clinched to at the NBA finals Gott to get revenge. I'm paraphrasing what he said exactly. G to get it back for the cup. Yeah. We get our first cup finals rematch. F first cup finals rematch. So so we've subtly done some things. So we have our rivals weeek in January where we typically feature, you know recent playoff matchups or brother vers brother. We did a OKC versus Milwaukee, right? The first two cup champions are finalists playing each other. So you know, we've done different versions of that, But it was great to see, you know, Harper say that after the game and I think just we'll continue to lend credibility to the cup. This was If you think about it, kind of the Kicks and Spurs coming out parties this year, that was the first big national stage for Weenby and this team to be on back in December and the Kicks obviously coming off their conference finals appearance, but actually lifting a trophy for the first time. no banner, but a trophy. L of confetti. Ls of conffetti.. And so so the opportunity to celebrate, obviously that do we think that just builds And now the Kicks have the chance to be the first double winner in the season. So you know, that's the kind of thing that we were envisioning when we instituted the cup And we think we'll just build over time. And then someday inevitably willll be a team then wins the cup as best regular season record and finds itself in the finals for a chance to be the first triple crrown. Triple C crown and then we'll have our NBA Europe league We'll do a community shield where we take the winner of NBA Europe, come play the winner of The NBA Cup are the finals, mini tournaments, the future, the future is limitless How about expanding the NBA Cup to thirty two teams seday Every team involved single elimination tournament. We might beanding the expanding the NBA to thirty two teams but yes, we cup. We could also expand the cup. So we've talk we talked about early in the cup iterations, couldould we bring in the champions of other leagues around the world? couldould we have, for example, the Eur League champion and the CBA champion join and have a thirty two team cup The challenge, of course, is what we ended up creating was built into the regular season schedule. So it gets a little complex when you're saying wait a minute, an NBA team NBA team someere, But it could change. And so I think as we look at expansion, as we look at NBA Europe, there's tremendous opportunity to build out things like the Cup, create new properties that will just add more and more meaning to the calend. I'm excited for all of. Thank you so for joining me. Thanks,ein Up next, my mock draft for the first round of the twenty twenty six NBA drafts It's the best time of the year in the NBA right now with the conference finals, then the finals, then the draft and summer League And on game time, you got the advantage as a fan. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and just a few taps. 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'was a lovely SUV, an inexplicably queenly offer. They're even coming to the castle to collect it. Tonight We feast An offer you can feast on, sell your car today on Carmana Pick up these mailifi aboutout twenty days to the NBA draft. Let's do another mock draft based on all the latest intntel around the league startarting with the number one pick. It's still AJD Bona to the Washington Wizards. Not a lot has changed there with him being considered the favorite The number one pick Darren Peterson still possible going here as well Cameron Boozer cannot rule him out as well, but the Bana seems like the very strong favorite be the number one pick for the Washington Wizards and it's so easy to understand why when you look at their roster, their needs, what D Bonzer could bring to them with his go to scoring superstar level potential. put him with Tong and AD two veterans, young guys like Kyshan, George, Alex Sar, Bow Koolabali, Treay Johnson and Will Rilly They're just missing a six foot nine versatile shot creator Like AJD Bona wouldn't shock me at off. He's just the easy choice on Draft night for the wizards, but it's not an easy choice considering the guys come next. number two. The Utah Jazz I'm still keeping Darren Peterson here based off of everything I'm hearing. However I'm intrigued by the fact that the Utah jazz worked out Mike Heel Brown a couple of weeks ago. I had Brown on my podcast. He said out he's healthy. He's going to be working out for the jazz that week. That was in late May Clearly, the jazz are turning over every stone hair reviewing all of their options. and this is a age led front office that once traded down from number one. to number three in the fults tatum draft. So interesteresting nonetheless to keep track of their their choices that they're making, their actions, but nonetheless, if they stay at number two, it does seem like Darren Peterson is the most likely choice given the fact they are already very deep in the front court, Jaron Jackson Jr. Walker Kusler, Lary Markin in And the back court DP with Konte George could be a very good fit and then Ace Bailey sliding right in there in the middle. They a very long versatile lineup. So Peterson gets the nod here, but tabs on Utah. I'm just intrigued by some of the actions they're taking with the pre draft workouts Number three, Memphis Grizzies Cambooer, bit of a no brainer selection here. in my opinion, a lot of people, many of you probably watching this video wonder why he's just not the consensus number one pick. I completely get it. Boozer is just so safe stillill with high upside as well, given his six foot eight with great shot creation ability, great playmaking ability. And what do we see in these finals? What do we see in these playoffs High effort. toughness matter. and so does high IQ. Boozer checks all of those boxes with his ability to play across different positions, take on different roles, post ups, screen, operate out of the short role It frezes off a movement. I mean, the dude is an absolute beast. And if he's paired with Zach Edy and Cedric Howard and Jalen Wells and this young Memphis team, I'd be pretty fired up about what their future is going to look like moving forward. Number four Caleb Wilson going to the Chicago Bullls. All right. so this one You know, not a surprise. the best of the remaining prospects. Kaylea Wilson, elite athlete. they need a big. all of that makes sense. What I'm intrigued by is this week, the Bowlls, according to my League sources held a big group workout with four potential lottery picks. Gards Keaton Waggler and Kingston Flemings. And then Nate Amens and Morz Johnson Four guys that could be taken in the lottery all worked out against each other Is this The bulls thinking about pick fifteen. Is this like whoever's available there Are they trying to trade up from fifteen to get another top ten pick or they Loo at their options at four. A they thinking about do we actually want Kayla Wilson That's those are the conversations I'm having with people around the league right now. and I'm curious for you guys. Wing this mock draft or listening to it What do you think icago's objectives are here because there's plenty of people who think Caleb Wilson with his elite athleticism with the flashes we've seen him have against Duke and against Kansas as a shooter People say, Oh Wilson could end up the best player in the draft class, right? That's what that's always what you hear. But then there's the skeptics who say W, he's actually not an anchor. He's actually more of just one of the guys defensively. He's never really been able to shoot So there's skeptics. What side are the bulls on and their workouts indicate they're at least looking at some guys and that Six twelveish range. Is that to move up Or is it to move down Or is it to reach at number four? I look forward to seeing how that all plays out Number five, Mike Helell Brown to the Los Angeles Clippers Brown seems to be a riser in this pre draft process here, he's healthy He's working out. everythingthing I've heard is that he's doing really well on these workouts. The clippers at five. they are not a lotck to stay here The clippers could very well trade down from this five spot or even out of this five five spot according to the sources I've spoken to and Michael Brown seemeems to be the guy that a lot of teams would be targeting here above Pet Waggler above Darius Aff and we'll see though. I mean, we still got today is june fifth There's still some time to go before the draft thingsings can change, but as of today, Michael Browns the hot name this fifth spot Number six, the Brooklyn Nets I've got them taking Nate Aent here in my latest mock draft. Ament is all over the place on boards. You hear him in the five, six seven eight range and then you hear him in the late teens depending on who you talk to I tend to believe that there is a lot here with Brooklyn. I reported a few weeks ago around the draft combine that the nets were strongly linked to Ament and ai Mara, the Michigan Center. That remains unchanged. It does seem like there's some interest there from Brooklyland rather than one of the many guards in this range. It would make sense to target a six foot ten guy who can handle the ball and shows versatility and H an up and down college year and was a top four prospect entering the year though. Sometimes the high school Prouct matters more to team evaluators more so than just the college sample, a much smaller sample compared to high school and USA competition and everything else and just projecting a guy forward. So Ament at six ten with his versatility for a Brooklyn roster right now. That's currently the pick I have. But again, like I said with the clippers at number five, the nets are a team to watch out as a trade down. selection teams are trying to move into this five or six range because in part, it seems like number seven, the Sacramento Kings. they are not a team that I've heard in many trade conversations. It seems like they're likely to stay here. I can't imagine them moving down. That's in part because they're in love with Darius Acuff ACff said it since the combine. it remains true today. They view ACff as a potential franchise player. does not guarantee that he will be the pick. It does not guarantee that he will even be on the table. It is very possible someone could take A cuff ahead of this seventh pick with the Sacramento Kings, but at six foot two with his creation ability off the dribble. We're seeing Jalen Brunson right now in these NBA finals look like an absolute stud Right? He is carrying these New York Kicks all the way to the NBA finals with everything he can do. A cuff has that ability on ball and off ball Obviously, he's just a zero or not even a zero. He's a negative defensively, a big time negative, even worse defensively than Jalen Brunson. However Brunson is competing What it matters the playoffs. So if you want to talk about small guards Maybe in the NBA playoffs, A Cuff with a six seven wingspan and his, you know, free safety style bodies, very strong wide shoulders. mayaybe he can tap into something. greater defensively than he's been able to show or did was willing to show of Argansas Number eight, the Atlanta Hawks. I had Tim Bon Temps on my podcast this week. I've recorded that from the NBA finals in San Antonio and I said to him Why is nobody talking about Atlanta Atlanta to me is one of the most intriguing teams in the top ten. This isn't their pick originally. It's the Pelicans pick that they got. They were a playoff team. They were up in the first round against the New York Kicks. This is one of the most fascinating teams of the league entering this offseason with two first rounders, a young roster on the rise. What are they going to do with this number eight pick I've heard differing perspectives from around the league. So maybe it's not very helpful for me to say this. You have some sources who say Atlanta is going for a guard. period end the story And then you have people saying they love a Dai Mara and they want to add a true center I think it's probably something in the middle The hawks probably have the guards that they want. And then the guards that they don't care about and then they would instead lean towards a center like Mara That's my sense of kind of supporting it all together with what we're hearing about at Lanta. That said who's to guard on the table for him for them there in this mock draft It's Keate Waggler. a guy a lot of people think is the fourth or fifth or sixth best player in the draft. here at the eighth pick at six foot five with reallyally a high IQ and great feelield for the game. He would fit this Atlanta offense. beautifully considering the way they share the ball Waler's ability to play with and without it and make quick decisions. I think he would be able to play next to CJ McCllum if they bring him back. I'd assume they're going to and also play with Jayalen Johnson these other guys growing in Atlanta in the years to come Number nine, Dallas Mavericks I got the Maverick's taking Braden Burryes. The Briden Burryes seems to be a very popular name here right now. Adam Finkelstein over at CBS spports reported earlier this week how there's a belief in League circles that Burryes and his agency are trying to angle their way to Dallas. that Burrys isn't taking a lot of workouts right now This is a very interesting report from Finkelstein because you look at history Rich Paul The agent for Burs, the CEO at Clutch Sports, what did he do A few years ago with Vallas Mavers She' shut down workouts for Derek Lively because he wanted Lvewly to slip Dallas at number twelve There was opportunities for Lively to work out for teams in the top ten and they said no. because they steered him to Dallas because they wanted lively to be the guy for Luca Well, what do they want now? They want Buress to be the the six foot four dog in the back court 's a pair with Cooper flag if that's true And also it would it would matter if the team just says screw it. we're going to take them ahead of time. I had reported around the Cbine that there was ome hype around Burryess as the fifth or sixth guy. taken in the draft. There are a lot of teams that love him with his versatility. So I do think Dallas would be a sensational fit for him. him and Cooper would just be pretty awesome together for for the next decade plus in the NBA. Nber ten, Milwaukee Bucks I get them taking Kingston Flemings Houston guard here. Flemings is small, only six three. He's not big. He's lean. He needs to get stronger, obviously. That's all true, but the dude a bucket getter High IQ player, great passer him on my pod a few weeks ago. He is' outstanding kid as well, just very outgoing true to himself. I think for the bucks, he'd be a nice reasonable pick to invest in Whether Yanna stays where whereher Yanas goes. too me, like that's what the buooks seem to be thinking about here How do we want to build this out? regardless of Janis's path moving forward. But I wouldn'tule out Janas ike's like it's not a non zero chance that he stays. You know what I'm saying? Like I think with Yanest, there's still a chance that he stays, but it's more likely than not that we're going to see a Yianest trade sometime around The draft. All right up next, we got the Golden State Warriors number eleven. What are they going to do with Stehen Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kurtb back. I got them taking the Michigan Center a die Mara To me, I think if you're pairing a big with Draymond Green, you want somebody that can help him defensively Toast, frankly over the course of the regular season and conserve his energy for April in May and the Warriors Hope once again June And so Mar, I think with his elite size seven foot six wingspan, two hundred and sixty pounds, he would be a great enforcer on the defensive end next to Draymond Green. And not only that offensively Mar is a very good offensive player. He's a very good decision maker, quick passer, talented screener Maybe can shoot some spot up threes. maybe we'll see I'm skeptical. He's such a poor free throw shooter, but Maybe. I mean, he's he's teased he's teased it before. So we'll see. But I think Mara for the warriors at number eleven would potentially be a big time steal Number twelve, the OKC Thunder seemeems like they're probably going to try to move from this spot. There's all the reporting around them trying to trade up. U That's pretty loud out there around the league. So these leaks are not coming from a thunder That's for sure. Nothing ever leaks from the thunder. It seems like it's leaking from everybody else that Okay he's trying to move up, but Cim Lopez if they stay here, that's the pick I have for them because I think if they stay at twelve Were they missing in the San Antonio series I mean, a couple things. Chat Homgrren was a total shrinking violet. It would have been nice if Chat could have done anything off the dribble, but also it felt like sometimes they're a bit too small at the forward spot. They didn't have another guy like the Kicks and the finals have OG in and Obi Right Parimope has very similar body at six eight with a seven foot wingspan, already a man's body at nineteen years old two hundred and twenty two pounds very strong. spent the last two years in the NBL I think he's somebody that would fit what OKC is missing from a roster construction standpoint and would come in and be somebody that could potentially even play a little bit early on in his career, but I can see the thunder going a lot of different. directions here and ultimately, I do think OKC iss going to be a potential trade down team from the spot in number twelve Number thirteen, Yaxsoel Lendenborg to the Miami Heat. acccording to my sources, Lendenborg had a workout this week with the Miami Heat does not guarantee that he's the guy here. There's a lot of stuff out there about Yaxel still in his recovery from his injury. He suffered in March pererhaps Having the best stretch of workouts. it does seem like there are other players rising above him. So even though I have him at thirteen, in this mark do think for the people who say, Yaxel should be a top ten guy. Why isn't he a top ten guy? you might be a little bit disappointed with where he goes come draft night because it might even be lower than number thirteen. But if he does stay here This is a great fit for him in Miami. You got guys in that roster that can handle the ball. You got guys like Bam ata Bio that are great ri protectors. You have Cleell whereare as another bigig in that front court as well. Yaxle his versatility can play the three. He can play the four. He has multip positional versatility and multiple roll versatility as well. And so I think for the heat, he would make a lot of sense Even though he's older, he's going to be twenty four as a rookie, even though there's the maturity questions with him Dude's incredibly talented and We'll see how the next few weeks go with him Number fourteen, the Charlotte Hornets. I get I'm taking one of my favorite prospects in the whole draft class. Morez Johnson out of Michigan very possible that Arez goes higher than this. fromom what I understand, he is having a great month of workouts with teams. He's very impressive. the shot with him is the big question Nothing else is Nothing. I mean, the dude is one through five, switchable on defense, an elite finisher at the basket out of rollles to the rim off of cuts. He's a screener, he's a cutter. He's a dog. He just plays so hard. He is so gritty just a winner through and through and he's only twenty years old with a seven foot four wingspin two hundred and fifty pounds. These guys don't grow on trees at all You can't find these guys easily. six foot nine, two hundred and fifty one pounds with a seven foot four wingspan. G me Marez Johnson when he has that body type in the brain to match Dude's a beast. And if he falls here at Charlotte, I can't think of many better fits for him from a roster standpoint, when you think of pairing him with Lomeello Ball and Con K Nipple and Brandon Miller, Oh that could be Unbelievable Number for number fifteen here the Chicago Blls are out of the lottery here. number fifteen Chicago. got them taking Cameron car six foot five wing out of Baylor I think for the bulls, if they take Wilson fourth, which is the most likely result Finding a guard or a wing here would really be the best way to complelimment Modas Bucellis Asceenay Gid. You already have three guys in that six eight, six nine, six, ten range. haaving a wing who can shoot and get to the basket. We saw what Car did at the NBA Draft C by thirty points in that game after a very good season at Baylor, almost twenty points per game on high efficiency. I think he'd be a sensational choice the fifteenth pit for the Balls and Farewell Mikeael Her There's a lot of guys like that. M go higher, M go lower. It's that type of year. as you know, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the next guy, this is very true Abookca O Cory, the Stanford guard going to the sixteenth pick Memphis Grizzlies. Corey is in that group of guards with phylon and sturts And they are fighting for these slots. These guys are fighting in workouts to show that they are the next best in the group. These guys could go late late lottery or late first depending on how the board falls for now in this current mock, I've got a Corey going here to the Memphis Grizzlies Jamarant is likely done Even if he stays around, which seems highly unlikely. OCorei is somebody that they can grow with a downhill attacker with still, in my opinion, an underrated shot I think O'Corey with the touch he has from in the paint and from the free throw line at eighty three percent from the line, fifty percent on floaters that thirty four percent mark from three point range. I'd expect that to improve in the years to come. So O'Corey is a guy I'm incredibly high on given the fact that he got to the basket for fifty percent of his shots and that was despite the fact that Stanford team was Okay, nothing special. Imagine him with Zach Edy Camboozer Sedrra Howard, Jayle Wells said T be ridiculous Number seventeen. I got Suuego the the Italian Wimby as he calls himself going here at the seventeenth p. I see him mocked in the stuck around a lot And he very well might just go in the second round and he very well might not even be in this year's draft class. He's got a couple of weeks to decide on that He might end up going to Villainova. But Fnder. canan't trade up And if the Thunder Don't find a sexy deal out of the seventeenth pig Where it makeakes sense they take a guy that could be a draftting stash Or if they don't get a dim Mara at twelve, wouldn't it make sense They take the next best thing at seven foot three, two hundred and eighty nine pounds with a seven six wingspan at nineteen years old. Swuego might be better than M. in his NBA career. He feels like the type of guy I remember W that. twenty fourteen draft was it? Maybe I'm getting my ears mixed up. I think twenty fourteen. was the year. Chris Aabs pusing is flirted with entering the NBA draft and he decided not to He came out in twenty fifteen. He became a top five pick to the New York Knicks But the year prior to that in twenty fourteen, when he was testing the waters, The funder were the team who wanted him. Pick in the Thens Suego is not KP in terms of perfect player to player cal. I'm just saying in terms of international to NBA transition. You're taking this guy potentially one year ahead of being a top ten pick a year from now I think it's too low. When I see him on the thirties in the forties in mock drafts Maybe that's where he ends up being. and if that's the case, he's going to go back to school But he's seven foot three. He can shoot a little bit. He's a really talented passer, just a mammoth around the basket Great rebounder as well. I'm I'm very high on this guy. justust like I was with Por Zengas back in twenty fourteen. I had him ranked, I think in the top ten twenty fourteen and ended up going back to school and very well. I mean going back overseas might be the same thing withith Swaggo, but we'll see about that. numberumber eighteen Steinbck Hanas going to the going into the Charlotte hornets already had them take Marez Johnson earlier. I think of Steinbecks here you drafting two bigger players It'd just be too hard to pass up It'd be way too hard to pass him up with his skill level a six foot, ten, seven foot two wingspan, the ability to play ins side as a really talented finisher and reboundnder getting second chances for this hornets team. And then the shooting upside with him, I think his touch from the line and from in the paint suggests that that low volume three point shooting we saw at Washington will eventually become a higher volume shot. It will probably take a while. It's not going to happen instantly. But with Steinbeck, I think that's something to bet on for the years to come nineteen Toronto Raptors L Baron Fylon, hereere's another one of those guards I was talking about earlier fighting to be in this range. Maybe it'll end up being stirch come draft night, but for this Mck I have Fylon at six foot three six six wingspan out of Alabama. The concern with him he's just one hundred seventy six pounds. He's so light. You know, we see Brunson in these NBA finals. He's almost two hundred pounds. He's listed at one hundred ninety five. He might be much more than that. He just looks so sturdy and strong Phylon doesn't. Phylon is very feeble is not strong He's not thick. And that's where I think there's some concern with teams around him But the same time dude's incredibly talented and offensively. You know how it looks with him. Sometimes you squint and you're like Is that SDA's little brother? Like that's what it looks like He looks like SGA the way he moves There's just that herky jerky, unpredictability that is so hard to contain. and Phylon has that ability especially that he improved his shot as a sophomore after going back to Alabama last year. So for him, he got better as a shooter gotot even better as a ballhler, got even better as a finisher It's just he's so small And that's why he's in this teen to twenty eight range rather than a top ten pick. Number twenty, the San Antonio Spurs. We're watching them right now in the NBA files. What's missing What's missing from this team? You're not necessarily going to draft for need but you do factor in roster construction. And what's missing, in my opinion, better hireon Barnes, finding a guy that can replace Barnes. You have Carter Bryant coming off the bench. He's a little bit different stylistically than what I'm talking about Carter Bryant more of that Swiss arrmy knife, deffender, multiple position player, someone who can hit spot up threes and attack a close out for you, but not creator I want somebody at that four spot like who could do what Allan Graves does. Graves a draft analytics darling, but also an eye test darling when you watch this dude just diving on the floor for loose balls, willing to take chargers, chase down loose balls, chase down rebounds out of his area. The dude's an absolute beast. It's just teams question actual evidence of him being an NBA player. small sample size coming off the bench for Santa Clara played under twenty three minutes per game, low level of competition in the West Coast conference A lot of questions there on top of the fact he had some struggles against quQad one and quQuad two teams against acccording to CBB Analytics, he shot twelve percent worse at the rim sixty eight percent to fifty six percent against quQad one and two teams compared to quQad three and four. thirteen percent worse from three point range from forty seven percent to thirty four percent. And then on synergy, their tracking data shows that drop from forty eight percent to thirty eight percent. And then out of pick and rolls is the screener, sixty one percent. to thirty nine percent big drop off statistically against the best competition that Santa Clara faced. That said He stayed in this draft and there's a really strong expectation that he feels confident about where his floor is So rather than going back to school transfering proving himself and potentially being top ten next year There's something out there for him. I don't know if it's a promise. I have not heard that word associated with Alan Graves, but there is a belief that he has a strong sense of where he's going I'd imagine the spurs would be kind of appealing for him to play with Victor Wiminyama, Stefan Castle, Dylan Harper when they're all just babies and already in the NBA finals Nber twenty one The Detroit pistons. bigig off season coming up for them. They have all of their first round draft picks, including this one. that they swapped ahead of the deadline to move out bait spots. I get them taking the league Thomas out of Arkansas. I think Thomas would just be a sensational choice pistons here given the fact that we know this guy can play with and without the ball. He played next to to A cff last year in Arkansas largely off the ball. we saw how much better he was in the times that he got to play without A cff when he could run a higher dose of pick and roll and create for himself more often. The dude is a bucket getter from the mid range from three point range can get to the room a little bit. I'd like to see him improve that a bit more in the years to come but for the pistons. What a perfect compliment N to Kate Cunningham to have a high level shooter in that back court next to you that can set you up And you can set him up a lot and he has a willingness to play without the ball as well. So I think Thomas here would be Excellent pick for the Detroit pistons to build this out and best surround Kade Cunningham Next up, the Philadelphia seventy Sers. They got a new GM. They they hired Ganzy, no more Darrel Morig, Bob Myers doing something there. It doesn't seem like he wants to run the team full time, but he's definitely going to have some say I get them taking Chrisinack out of Houston here. Sanak is a guy who P probablybably would have been a lottery pick if college basketball never happened Given the fact that he's six foot ten greatreat athlete has a perimeter style as well. He shows the ability to take mid range and three point jumpers. He's just going to improve his efficiency. I'm not the biggest believer in him personally, but I do think for the Sers, this is a pick given the guys that could be available in this range F a big. You can't trust that Ibed's going to stay healthy or be on the floor. You need to find a big that can play next to Ibede when Ibed's healthy. So that could be that And then replace a bead when a bead is inevitably out Sin that could be that. So I think he's worth the swing and could potentially be a long term piece next to VJ Edcom and Tyes Maxi Number twenty three. I got the Hawks takaking Dleen Swayain out of Texas. Look, man, they already got some wings that can't shoot and do you really want to add another one here That's my question. But at the same time Swayne does everything else at a really high level. And so if you feel some level of confidence that you can improve his shooting, as an eighty percent eighty percent guy from the free throw line as a fifty percent guy on Floaters If you feel like you got the fick for swaying to hit spot up Threes and become better as a pull up shooter, you might have a star on your hands. We already know he had one of the most elite isolation scoring seasons in college basketball history. We know what he's capable of doing on the defensive end of the floor as well. He's even a willing passer. He's not like a b playmaker per se, but he is willing to move the ball And so I think with Swayain, he would be a great fit for the Hawks and Wth the swing hoping that he can improve his shot. I feel better about his chances than I did about some of their recent choices Daniels adding him from the trade with the Pelicans and also with Reseache who I was never high on at all. It looks like a major bust Number twenty four, the New York Kns They're in the NBA finals What's one of the reasons why as of recording on Friday morning, they're up one o and could go up on the San Antoniopurs. It's their bigs, their size, getting second chance opportunities, the screening ceiling off one Benama. there was a play in the second half of that game where Brunson hit a layup and Mitchell Robinson just set this hard screen on Wendy, a Gortot style screen to give Brunson the lane to the basket Mitell Robinson is a free agent this summer And he very well could be a guy who walks don't know if that's going to happen, but if it's going to happen Jaden Quains would be the perfect replacement for Mitchell Robinson at six foot nine with a seven foot five wingspan to dude has a very, very similar type of game with his athleticism, constant lob threat. And if you remember way back wayay back when Mitell Robinson as of the NBA in the late twenty ten s There was some pre draft workout tape of him handling the ball and it was like, Ohh my Godd, is Mitchell Robinson going to be a shock creator? No The answer was no. it does not happen Well with Jane and Queens We did see some of the flashes and his two years in college at Arizona State and then at Kentucky with some of the open floor creation. So There might be something there There's a reason why he was considered a top ten guy before just the torn ACL and the Menisusier and everything else. It's unfortunate those injuries have spped him a little bit of that athleticism, but if he can get that back Aquaintance absolutely has a chance to be a major steel in the NBA draft. Next up, the Los Angeles Lakers with the twenty fifth pick. I get them taking Zubie Edge of four a senior forward or Sig man out of Saint John's Edge of four is just Dog good This dude is a hostler a winning player, somebody that could fit on literally anyy team in the league Edge of fouran with his finishing, he's a bruiser, his playmaking, his decision making and his defense. he can switch everything on the floor