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Draft Rumors: Top Eight, Maluach, Raptors, Sixers, Hornets, More

June 17th, 2025 at 3:14pm CST by Luke Adams

There appears to be a consensus developing among many of the teams and executives around the league about the top eight prospects in the 2025 NBA draft, Jake Fischer writes for The Stein Line (Substack link). According to Fischer, while the order after the top two remains up in the air, Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, V.J. Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, Tre Johnson, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach are widely viewed as the the top eight players available this year.

“If it’s not those eight (drafted in the top eight), it will be seven of those eight,” one Eastern Conference executive told Fischer.

That developing consensus may be one reason why the Raptors’ selection at No. 9 is widely viewed as the top-10 pick most likely to be traded, according to Fischer.

While league sources tell Grant Afseth of RG.org that multiple members of Toronto’s front office are thought to be high on Maluach, the Duke big man seems unlikely to still be available at No. 9. He has visited the Wizards (No. 6) and Pelicans (No. 7), in addition to the Hawks (No. 13), and is also expected to meet with the Jazz (No. 5) before the draft. As such, the Raptors have been spending time evaluating centers who are little further down on draft boards, such as Danny Wolf and Asa Newell, Fischer reports.

A number of teams in the back half of the lottery, starting with the Pelicans at No. 7, have been connected to center prospects too, Fischer notes. That group includes the Bulls at No. 12 and the Hawks at No. 13 — Nikola Vucevic and Clint Capela have spent most of the last few years as those teams’ starting centers, but Vucevic is a trade candidate and Capela is entering free agency, so the Bulls and Hawks may each be looking to add a young player to their frontcourt.

Here’s more on the draft:

  • The Sixers (No. 3) and Hornets (No. 4) have conveyed to teams that they’re prepared to listen to trade offers for their picks until they’re on the clock next Wednesday, sources tell Fischer. The Jazz (No. 5) haven’t actively encouraged trade interest in their pick, while the Wizards (No. 6) are considered a possible trade-up candidate, Fischer adds.
  • The Raptors worked out guards Jase Richardson and Nolan Traore on Monday, according to Afseth. Both players are projected first-round picks, though Richardson is at No. 20 on ESPN’s big board while Traore is at No. 25. It’s unclear if Toronto is considering one or both at No. 9 or preparing for possible trade-down scenarios.
  • Washington State’s Cedric Coward and French center Joan Beringer are receiving legitimate lottery consideration, Afseth writes in a separate RG.org story. The Hawks (No. 13) and Spurs (No. 14) are among the teams closely monitoring Beringer, sources tell Afseth. “He hasn’t been playing the game that long, but you’d never guess it with how quickly he picks things up,” one scout said of Beringer.
  • Wisconsin’s Steven Crowl, who has worked out for the Warriors and Nuggets, among other teams, is having a strong pre-draft process and is considered a good candidate for a two-way contract, per Afseth.
  • Illinois’ Will Riley was considered a likely target for the Magic at No. 16, according to Fischer, who says it’s possible some teams in the late teens will have a shot at Riley now that Orlando has traded that pick to the Grizzlies.
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Bulls, Heat Linked To Jonathan Kuminga Sign-And-Trades

June 16th, 2025 at 11:01am CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls and Heat both have interest in potential sign-and-trade deals for Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Kuminga, who’s eligible for restricted free agency in two weeks, is looking for an “expanded and consistent role” after watching his playing time with Golden State fluctuate throughout the season and the playoffs, Scotto adds.

Scotto notes that the Warriors engaged in trade talks with Chicago regarding center Nikola Vucevic prior to February’s deadline. He now has a $21.48MM expiring contract, and he would provide Golden State with the scoring big man it has been lacking.

Vucevic will turn 35 in October, but he has remained durable and productive, appearing in 73 games this season and averaging 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31.2 minutes per night. Vucevic also shot 40.2% from three-point range and would appear to be a comfortable fit in Steve Kerr‘s offense.

Scotto states that the 22-year-old Kuminga would be a much better fit than Vucevic for a Bulls team that wants to get younger. He fills an obvious need as an athletic power forward, and he would have a chance to put up big numbers in Billy Donovan‘s up-tempo system.

Scotto describes Kuminga as a “fallback option” for Miami, which is placing a greater priority on Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo if he becomes available while working to acquire Kevin Durant from the Suns. If those pursuits fall through, the Heat could turn their attention to Kuminga as they search for more talent to combine with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

Kuminga wasn’t able to reach an extension agreement with the Warriors last summer, but he looked ready to be a long-term fixture with the team before suffering a severe right ankle sprain in early January that sidelined him for more than two months. By the time he returned, Golden State had traded for Jimmy Butler, which changed the dynamic of the organization.

Kuminga didn’t play at all in the Warriors’ final game, which they needed to win to avoid the play-in tournament, and he was barely used in the first round of the playoffs, except for a brief stretch when Butler was injured.

Regular playing time has been an ongoing issue for Kuminga, who met with Kerr during the middle of the 2023/24 season to express his frustrations. Scotto notes that Kuminga was involved in trade talks when Golden State had hopes of landing Durant in February, and there’s a sense that he might benefit from a change of teams.

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Draft Workouts: Jazz, Wolves, Kings, Broome

June 12th, 2025 at 5:56pm CST by Rory Maher

The Jazz are hosting a pre-draft workout on Friday featuring Colorado State wing Nique Clifford, North Carolina wing Drake Powell, Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner and Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier, multiple league sources tell Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Clifford is the top-ranked prospect of the group, according to ESPN’s big board, coming in at No. 22. Powell (No. 31), Kalkbrenner (No. 33) and Lanier (No. 37) are also viewed as strong bets to be drafted, either late in the first round or early in the second.

Utah currently controls four picks — Nos. 5, 21, 43 and 53 — in June’s draft.

Here are a few more notes regarding pre-draft workouts:

  • The Timberwolves, who control the 17th and 31st picks, are holding a workout Thursday that includes Asa Newell (Georgia), Jamir Watkins (Florida State), Keshon Gilbert (Iowa State) and Steven Crowl (Wisconsin), reports Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News and SKOR North (via Twitter). Newell, who was invited to the green room, is ranked No. 21 on ESPN’s board, while Watkins is No. 39. The other two players are unranked.
  • The Kings will be hosting six players for a workout on Friday, the team announced (Twitter link via Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee). The six are Ryan Nembhard of Gonzaga, Curtis Jones of Iowa State, Koby Brea of Kentucky, Kadary Richmond of, Norchad Omier of Baylor, and Vladislav Goldin of Michigan. All six prospects appear on ESPN’s board, ranging from No. 47 (Brea) to No. 95 (Omier). Sacramento currently only controls the 42nd pick, but is rumored to be interested in moving into the first round.
  • Big man Johni Broome, the 40th-ranked prospect on ESPN’s list, had a workout with the Warriors today, tweets Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The former Auburn star said he has previously worked out for the Clippers, Pistons, Hawks, Nets, Raptors and Celtics, and has upcoming workouts scheduled with the Thunder, Timberwolves and Suns, according to Rankin. Golden State controls the 41st pick.
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Brandin Podziemski Undergoes Core Muscle Surgery

June 12th, 2025 at 7:28am CST by Luke Adams

Brandin Podziemski underwent a second offseason procedure this week, according to the Warriors, who announced in a press release that the guard had surgery on Tuesday to repair a core muscle injury.

Podziemski had undergone left wrist debridement surgery two weeks earlier. Golden State indicated at the time that he was expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of training camp. The team repeated that message in the wake of his latest procedure.

Podziemski averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.8 minutes per game across 64 regular season outings during his second NBA season in 2024/25.

Although the 22-year-old posted a solid shooting line of .445/.372/.758 in the regular season, he struggled with his shot in the playoffs, making only 36.4% of his attempts from the floor, including 32.8% of his three-point tries.

Podziemski’s wrist and core issues may have played a part in that postseason drop-off, though it sounds like he was probably dealing with the latter for much of the season. He missed 12 consecutive games in December and January due to what the team referred to at the time as a right abdominal injury.

The Warriors guard will earn a salary of roughly $3.7MM next season, with a decision due on his 2026/27 team option (worth $5.7MM) by the end of October. Assuming that option is exercised, which looks like a lock, he’ll become eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2026 offseason.

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Bucks Rumors: Giannis, Lopez, Portis, Porter, Trent

June 11th, 2025 at 9:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

As Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo ponders his NBA future, he won’t let outside events rush the decision, Shams Charania of ESPN said today in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (Twitter video link). There has been speculation for weeks that the two-time MVP might demand a trade to improve his chances of winning another NBA title, but Charania suggests that interested teams may have to wait a lot longer.

“His status will not be tied to the NBA draft, it won’t be tied to free agency,” Charania said. “It’s much more likely that his future plays out into July and into August in terms of him seeing the landscape of not only the Bucks – seeing the landscape of the league, seeing what other teams do.”

Antetokounmpo reportedly met with Bucks officials last month to discuss the direction of the franchise. Nothing was leaked from that meeting, but there has been a sense of growing skepticism around the league that Antetokounmpo will actually be on the trade market this summer, with an NBA executive predicting to Adam Zagoria of NJ.com this week that the 30-year-old “isn’t going anywhere.”

Charania states that Antetokounmpo’s history of being loyal to Milwaukee contributes to that feeling, but cautions that he hasn’t reached a final decision yet.

“When you’re a star of that caliber, the league moves how you want it to move,” Charania added. “The league will move when you’re ready to ask for a trade or if you’re ready to say that I’m staying, I want to be back.”

There’s more on the Bucks:

  • Teams interested in trading for Antetokounmpo have begun to move forward with alternate strategies as the draft and free agency draw nearer, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line states in his latest Substack column (subscription required). League sources tell Fischer that the Bucks aren’t considering any of the trade offers they’ve received for their star forward, and they seem to be operating as though they expect him to be on the roster next season.
  • Milwaukee may find it challenging to retain free agent center Brook Lopez, Fischer observes in the same piece. Sources tell him that the Lakers, who are known to be in the market for center help, have been interested in Lopez for several years. The Rockets, who were close to signing Lopez two years ago, may try again if they can’t reach a new deal with Steven Adams, their own free agent big man.
  • The Bucks are hoping to keep Bobby Portis, but he might have several mid-level offers to choose from if he declines his $13.4MM player option for next season, Fischer adds. He identifies the Warriors as a possible suitor, noting that Steve Kerr has been a fan of Portis since coaching him in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
  • Stein hears that Kevin Porter Jr., who’s expected to decline his $2.55MM player option for next season, and Gary Trent Jr. will also draw plenty of interest on the free agent market.
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Northwest Notes: Nuggets, Jordan, Thunder

May 30th, 2025 at 9:01pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Nuggets are looking to rebuild their depth after losing several key free agents in recent years, such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, while certain signings – such as Reggie Jackson and Dario Saric – have proved unsuccessful. Bennett Durando of the Denver Post breaks down some of the potential options they could look at in free agency as they seek to create another title-contending roster.

The first name Durando looks at is a former Nugget: Bruce Brown. Brown left the Nuggets for a two-year balloon deal with the Pacers in 2023, and was included in Indiana’s trade for Pascal Siakam the following season. He split this season between Raptors and Pelicans, but only played 41 games due to injury.

Brown is still a fan favorite in Denver, Durando writes, and posted about the Nuggets hiring head coach David Adelman on his Instagram story. It’s believed that there is mutual interest between the two parties moving forward.

Durando also mentions Chris Boucher, whom the Nuggets looked at prior to this year’s trade deadline. Boucher averaged 10.0 points in 17.2 minutes per game for the Raptors this season while shooting 36.3% from three, and could make for an interesting backup center, a position where the Nuggets desperately need depth.

The other options cited by Durando are Tyus Jones, Larry Nance Jr., Jake LaRavia, Dennis Schröder, Justin Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, Luke Kennard, Clint Capela, and Mason Plumlee.

We have more from around the Northwest Division:

  • DeAndre Jordan, the Nuggets‘ current backup center, took to Instagram to thank Denver fans after wrapping up his 17th year in the NBA, notes Denver Gazette’s Vinny Benedetto (via Twitter). “Can’t say enough how grateful I am for this team, this city, and everyone who supported us along the way. Playing this game never gets old, and doing it with this group made it even more meaningful,” he wrote, before adding “This isn’t a retirement post!” Jordan is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer.
  • “These guys are uncommon,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of his team, as reported by The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Part of that is the youthful exuberance the club displays after the final whistle blows, which Amick likens to a college program. However, there’s nothing playful about the Thunder’s approach during the game. Their ferociousness on the floor, combined with the genuine joy the players appear to feel for each other, marks it as a model of sustainable competitive team-building. “It makes sense. They’re great people first. That’s why it’s so easy to coach this team,” Daigneault said. That’s why Amick believes that this Thunder team is here for the long haul.
  • There are striking similarities to this Thunder team and the rise of the Warriors dynasty, writes ESPN’s Zach Kram. Both teams feature a 26-year-old MVP guard leading a team to nearly 70 wins en route to winning the Western Conference in five games, and both were largely built through shrewd drafting of heady, versatile players who could impact the game on both ends of the floor. For Golden State, that meant Klay Thompson and Draymond Green complementing Stephen Curry‘s greatness. For the Thunder, it means Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren supplementing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s dominance. Both teams added a versatile, dominant defender via trade: the Warriors acquired Andre Igoudala while the Thunder traded for Alex Caruso, and they both had smart rim protectors who could be taken off the floor when the team wanted to go small (Andrew Bogut and Isaiah Hartenstein, respectively). The Warriors eventually added Kevin Durant to complete the dynasty. While the Thunder might not have that opportunity, they do have one of the biggest stockpiles of draft assets to trade in the league, so it’s not entirely out of the question. The important part is: both teams were built to last.
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Latest On Jonathan Kuminga

May 29th, 2025 at 2:26pm CST by Rory Maher

Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is set to hit restricted free agency this summer after an up-and-down fourth season in Golden State. As Anthony Slater of The Athletic details, Kuminga’s future with the Warriors is uncertain due a number of factors.

League sources tell Slater that Kuminga still views himself as a future All-Star and is trying to find a home where he can have an expansive offensive role to showcase his abilities. The 22 year-old forward had a rocky playoff run, having been outside of the rotation for most of the first-round series against Houston, only to have a featured role in the second-round series vs. Minnesota after Stephen Curry sustained a hamstring strain.

Kuminga was an effective and efficient scorer (24.3 PPG on .554/.389/.720 shooting) in those four games against a strong defense, Slater notes, giving some credence to the notion that the former lottery pick could put up big individual numbers under the right conditions. And despite some differences of opinion in how Kuminga sees — and values — himself and the way the team has wanted him to play, none of the differences between the involved parties are “irreconcilable,” according to Slater’s sources.

However, Kuminga may not be able to achieve his individual goals playing for the Warriors, who are trying to build out a championship roster around Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. The “cleanest path” forward might be finding a sign-and-trade that could work for both the Warriors and Kuminga, Slater writes.

As Slater observes, head coach Steve Kerr has long hoped Kuminga would become a Shawn Marion-type player — someone who can excel without the ball, defend multiple positions, and rebound at a high level. But Kuminga is more of a ball-dominant scorer who is inconsistent in other areas, making his on-court fit in Kerr’s system an awkward one at times.

While the Nets are not currently expected to give Kuminga an offer sheet, Brooklyn may be open to the idea of multi-team sign-and-trade scenarios this offseason as a means to maximize its cap space, league sources tell Slater. That could give the Warriors, Kuminga, Nets and interested suitors a mutually beneficial way of finding something they’re all seeking.

The problem with a potential sign-and-trade, Slater explains, is that Kuminga will be subject to base year compensation rules, and the Warriors would be hard-capped at the first apron if they take back more than 50% of Kuminga’s starting salary. While everyone involved is “expected to explore all options,” due to the aforementioned restrictions, Warriors sources have been dropping hints to Slater that the “most obvious and prudent path” might be simply re-signing Kuminga.

Going that route would give Golden State more time to assess Kuminga’s fit, and the base-year restrictions would be removed in that scenario in January, when Kuminga would theoretically become trade-eligible.

Owner Joe Lacob is known to be a big fan of Kuminga’s and told the young forward to stay open-minded about a potential return, according to Slater, who hears Kuminga “hasn’t slammed the door shut” on that possibility. The Warriors have final say due to Kuminga being a RFA, but Slater suggests Kuminga might not be thrilled with a reunion unless certain circumstances change.

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Brandin Podziemski Has Wrist Debridement Surgery

May 28th, 2025 at 8:44pm CST by Arthur Hill

Brandin Podziemski underwent left wrist debridement surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles, the Warriors announced (via Twitter). He’s expected to make a full recovery and be ready when training camp opens this fall.

There had been no indication that Podziemski was dealing with a wrist injury before Wednesday night’s announcement. He appeared in all 12 of Golden State’s playoff contests and led the team with 28 points in the Game 5 loss to Minnesota two weeks ago.

The second-year guard struggled with his shot during the postseason, which could have been a result of the wrist ailment. After connecting at 44.5% from the field and 37.2% from beyond the arc during the regular season, those numbers dropped to 36.4% and 32.8% in the playoffs.

According to the San Jose Mercury News (subscription required), the University of California San Francisco’s Department of Surgery states that the debridement procedure “involves thoroughly cleaning the wound and removing all hyperkeratotic (thickened skin or callus), infected, and nonviable (necrotic or dead) tissue, foreign debris, and residual material from dressings.”

Podziemski quickly made an impact with the Warriors after being selected out of Santa Clara with the 19th pick in the 2023 draft. He immediately earned a spot in coach Steve Kerr‘s rotation and finished fifth in the 2024 Rookie of the Year race.

He turned 22 in February and appears to be a long-term fixture for a Golden State team that needs more production from its younger players to ease the burden on Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

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Warriors Announce Details For 2025 California Classic Summer League

May 28th, 2025 at 12:57pm CST by Luke Adams

The seventh annual California Classic Summer League will take place this summer on July 5, 6, and 8 at Chase Center, the Warriors announced today in a press release.

According to today’s announcement, the Warriors will be joined at this year’s event by the Heat, Lakers, and Spurs. Each team will face every other club once over the course of the three-day event.

San Antonio owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, so it’s possible Dylan Harper – who is considered the overwhelming favorite to be selected at that spot – will make his Summer League debut at this year’s California Classic.

The California Classic, which is held days before the league-wide Las Vegas Summer League, was launched by the Kings in 2018, and has been held in either Sacramento or San Francisco in recent years, with the Kings and Warriors trading hosting duties back and forth.

The event expanded from four teams to six in 2023 and then to eight in 2024, with China sending its national team to participate. However, it seems it will revert to just four squads again in 2025. The Warriors, Lakers, and Heat typically participate every year, while the Spurs have competed since 2023. This will be the first time the Kings aren’t involved in the event.

The California Classic will take place at the same time as the Jazz are hosting the Salt Lake City Summer League in Utah. The Vegas Summer League, which features all 30 NBA teams, will be played from July 10-20.

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2024/25 All-NBA Teams Announced

May 23rd, 2025 at 6:09pm CST by Eli Cohen

The 2024/25 All-NBA teams have been officially announced by the league (Twitter link).

A total of 100 media members voted on the All-NBA teams, with First Team votes counting for five points, Second Team votes counting for three points, and Third Team votes counting for one point.

This year’s All-NBA teams are as follows:

First Team

Second Team

Third Team

The top four vote-getters, Antetounmpo, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, and Tatum, were all unanimous selections to the First Team. James led the Second Team with 17 First Team votes, compared to Mitchell’s 61. Cunningham was the only member of the Third Team to receive First Team votes (six) — he also earned 10 more Second Team votes than the next closest vote-getter, as Towns had 40.

This announcement marks the first All-NBA selections for Cunningham, Mobley, and Williams, and – on the other side of the coin – the 21st consecutive selection for James. No other player in NBA history has been named to more than 15 All-NBA teams.

Curry set a franchise record with his 11th All-NBA selection. Edwards became just the fourth Timberwolves player to be named to multiple All-NBA teams, joining Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love, and Towns.

Other players who received votes, along with their respective point totals, were the Rockets‘ Alperen Sengun (58), the Grizzlies‘ Jaren Jackson Jr. (55), the Clippers‘ Ivica Zubac (15), the Cavaliers‘ Darius Garland (6), the Kings‘ Domantas Sabonis (4), the Pacers‘ Pascal Siakam (4), the Heat‘s Bam Adebayo (3), the Hawks‘ Trae Young (3), and the Suns‘ Devin Booker (2).

The Cavs, Knicks, and Thunder were the only teams to feature multiple All-NBA players. Both the Thunder and Knicks are currently playing in the conference finals for a shot at advancing to the NBA finals.

This is the second year that All-NBA teams have been positionless and have required players to meet a 65-game minimum to qualify for consideration.

Several players, starting with Cunningham, gained or lost eligibility for salary increases due to the All-NBA results. We have more details here.

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