Draft Decisions: Amini, Ishchenko, Ferrari, Suigo
Iranian forward Mohammad Amini will keep his name in the 2026 NBA draft, agent Xavier Severin tells Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). Saturday at 5:00 pm ET was the league’s official withdrawal deadline for international early entrants.
Amini, 21, has spent the past four seasons playing for Monaco and Nancy Basket in France’s top domestic league, the LNB Élite. He averaged 7.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on .500/.265/.625 shooting splits in 27 games (22.6 minutes per contest) in 2025/26.
Here are a few more notes on international early entrants:
- Vsevolod Ishchenko is also staying in the draft, agent Alex Saratsis tells Givony (Twitter link). The Russian wing averaged 8.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.0 APG and 1.3 SPG on .506/.451/.781 shooting in 48 games (23.6 MPG) this past season for Lokomotiv Kuban. He’s ranked 60th on ESPN’s big board, making him a potential second-round pick.
- Italy’s Francesco Ferrari has withdrawn from the draft after gauging the interest from NBA teams ahead of Saturday’s deadline, according to BasketNews contributor Orazio Francesco Cauchi (Twitter link). Ferrarri, who reportedly interviewed with the Pistons, Hawks and Bucks, played for Virtus Bologna in the Lega Basket Serie A last season, averaging 4.4 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 11 games (10.2 MPG).
- Italian center Luigi Suigo, who withdrew from the draft and committed to playing for Villanova next season, discussed his decision in a recent interview with Sky Sport, as Iacopo De Santis of Pianeta Basket relays. “Unfortunately, two or three days before the draft combine, I sprained my ankle in practice. I couldn’t participate in the drills, which I believe would have significantly raised my draft stock,” Suigo said in part. “I did a few workouts; I trained with the Wizards, Spurs, and Celtics. They went well. My plan was to remain in the draft if I had a guarantee of being selected within the top 20 picks. I have a lot of confidence in myself. And now, the important thing is to work hard. Villanova will be a place where I can do that very well. [If I had stayed in the draft] I could have remained in the first round, possibly with Boston (No. 27). But I don’t want to rush things. I decided to get an extra year of development, and to declare again next year for a higher pick. The earlier you are drafted, the more a franchise is committed to your development.”
- As our early entrant tracker shows, Serbian center Pavle Backo is the only international prospect we haven’t seen an update on regarding whether he stayed in or withdrew from the draft. The NBA figures to reveal its official list of early entrants within the next few days.
Draft Notes: Lendeborg, Warriors, Wilson, Suder, Kayil
Former Michigan forward/center Yaxel Lendeborg worked out for the Warriors on Thursday and believes he’d be a great fit with Golden State, writes Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. Lendeborg is a projected late lottery pick and the Warriors hold the 11th overall selection.
“I would say, like five assists a game maybe to start off,” Lendeborg said. “A lot of defense, fast-break opportunities for me. Depending on if I’m here or anywhere else, my role will be a lot different. But if I was here, I’ll be more like a secondary ball-handler. Whenever Steph [Curry] is taken out of the game, I’ll be there to assist, maybe provide a little more offense or instant offense.”
In addition to the Warriors and Thunder (Nos. 12 and 17), Lendeborg has also worked out for the Heat (No. 13), Bucks (No. 10), Hornets (Nos. 14 and 18), and Mavericks (No. 9), and has upcoming workouts with the Clippers (No. 5) and Hawks (No. 8), Johnson notes.
“In a way, it kind of makes me envision myself playing on a team like this, Charlotte, the Heat, all those teams that I’m getting mocked to,” Lendeborg said. “It kind of gives me something to get attached to. I can’t get too attached, though. If I don’t get drafted by any of them, I don’t want to be upset. Either way, it’s nice to see and it’s a blessing to be part of this.”
Here’s more on the 2026 NBA draft:
- While North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson is viewed as a less-polished offensive player compared to fellow top prospects Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa, he expressed confidence in his shooting and passing ability at last month’s combine, as Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network writes. “People don’t think I can really shoot, which is kind of funny to me. I really work on it and I can shoot,” Wilson told reporters. “I didn’t have the best numbers this year, but it was an interesting situation because that’s not what I was asked to do at the college I was at. I was just doing what I needed to do to help us win. People that say I can’t shoot, I feel like that’s interesting, but I’ll prove it over time. It doesn’t really matter.”
- Peter Suder was considered a relatively unheralded prospect when he was invited to the combine, but NBA teams have grown familiar his game over the last couple months, per Grant Afseth of Ballislife.com. “I’ve done 17 (pre-draft) workouts so far and have five more through June 20,” Suder told Afseth. “One of the main things I’ve learned is that it’s your job now. That’s how it’s treated at the next level. It’s not really like recruiting in college. You go in, show what you can do, and then move on to the next workout. The main thing I’m working on right now is movement shooting and different types of catch-and-shoot situations. I’m just trying to perfect that skill for the next level.” The former Miami Redhawk, a 6’5″ guard, was named MAC Player of the Year as a senior last season and is ranked 93rd on ESPN’s big board.
- German guard Jack Kayil is keeping his name in the draft, agent Milan Nikolic confirmed to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). Givony reported a month ago that the projected second-round pick planned to stay in the draft as an early entrant.
Central Notes: Giannis, Pacers, Workouts, Buzelis
Assuming the Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo before the draft, they apparently are looking to rebuild quickly through this draft class.
The Bucks will assuredly receive the Heat’s No. 13 pick along with other draft capital if they deal their franchise player to Miami, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line tweets. Fischer also hears that Milwaukee is calling other teams in search of a third top-20 pick in this draft, potentially another one in the top 10.
Milwaukee already holds the No. 10 selection in the draft, which is 10 days away.
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- The Pacers will hold another workout for draft prospects on Monday, featuring Donovan Atwell (Texas Tech), Anthony Dell’Orso (Arizona), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue), Xaivian Lee (Florida), Rienk Mast (Nebraska), and Braden Smith (Purdue), according to a team press release. It’s their fifth pre-draft workout this year. This group is mainly comprised of second-round prospects, headlined by former Boilermakers point guard Smith (ranked No. 38 on ESPN’s Best Available list).
- The Pacers have eight extension-eligible players on the roster, including Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The Indianapolis Star’s Dustin Dopirak notes the eligibility date, current contract, and most lucrative possible extension for each of those players and gives his insights on how the front office might approach each of those decisions.
- In an interview with K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (video link), Bulls forward Matas Buzelis describes the impact that broadcaster and former Bull Stacey King had on the team’s younger players. King, 59, passed away last weekend.
Stein’s Latest: Irving, Mavs Vets, Brown, Murphy
The Mavericks have been receiving trade calls for Kyrie Irving but have reportedly stood firm in their stance that the star point guard is not available, Marc Stein writes in the latest story for The Stein Line (subscriber link).
New Mavs president Masai Ujiri has stated from the beginning of his tenure with the team that he hopes to see Irving and franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg play together, despite the sizable age gap between them.
The Pistons and Timberwolves are two teams known to have interest in the 34-year-old’s services, while the Rockets have not inquired after him despite some speculation that they’d be a suitor, Stein reports.
Irving is coming off a missed season due to an ACL tear and is still under contract in Dallas for two more seasons. It appears that Ujiri wants to get a sense of how he can help Flagg’s development before determining whether to deal him.
We have more from Stein’s newsletter:
- While the Mavericks are signaling their lack of interest in dealing Irving, some of their other veterans may be more available. Stein writes that Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford are all players the team is seen as more open to the possibility of moving, with Thompson standing out as a clear candidate to be moved, given his expiring contract.
- After previous reports from the Stein Line indicated which teams were most active in pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stein adds that there is interest around the league in whether a robust market could form for a third team to take on Jaylen Brown in a deal that would send the Bucks star to the Celtics. The Trail Blazers, Rockets, and Hawks have all been rumored to have interest in Brown, but his contract makes it somewhat difficult to find good fits from a salary-matching perspective.
- Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III remains one of the most sought-after names on the trade market, with Stein describing the interest for him around the league as “intense.” The Pistons and Pacers are two teams that have reportedly registered their interest. As of yet, the trade discussions have all been initiated by other teams rather than the Pelicans offering him in deals. However, Stein notes that this is the first time that the Joe Dumars-led front office has been willing to entertain offers.
Bucks To Hire Vince Legarza, Brad Jones To Coaching Staff
The Bucks are hiring assistant coaches Vince Legarza and Brad Jones to help round out their coaching staff, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Legarza is a 36-year-old who got his start as a player development coach in Atlanta, where he worked alongside new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins. Legarza then joined the Jazz as an advanced scout and assistant coach and stayed in Utah for four years. He spent the 2022/23 season as a Bucks assistant before working for the Suns from 2024-26.
Jones also spent three years with the Jazz, though he didn’t overlap with Legarza during his stint in Utah (2013-16). He went on to spend the 2018/19 season coaching the Memphis Hustle and then was as a Grizzlies assistant coach from 2019-23, working under Jenkins at the time.
The Bucks are building a staff featuring several coaches with whom Jenkins is familiar, having previously hired Patrick St. Andrews along with Joe Boylan.
Latest On Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Bucks are seeking clarity regarding what several teams are willing to offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo before reaching a final decision on a trade, league and team sources tell Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
The Celtics, Timberwolves and Magic are among the teams involved in negotiations, according to the authors’ sources. The Trail Blazers have also expressed interest in acquiring Antetokounmpo, but Milwaukee seems to prefer using Portland as a third team to help facilitate a deal and reclaiming some of the draft picks it sent away in the 2023 Damian Lillard trade.
The Heat, who made an aggressive pitch for Antetokounmpo prior to the trade deadline, are still viewed as the frontrunners across the league, according to Amick and Nehm. Many sources expected a deal with Miami to be completed in February before the Bucks pulled out, and the current package is expected to include Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., either Pelle Larsson or Kasparas Jakucionis and draft assets that could involve up to three first-round picks. The authors note that Herro unfollowed the Heat on Instagram this week, creating speculation that a deal was about to get done.
Sources who spoke to Amick and Nehm cited “a sense of distrust” from some teams lingering from the way Milwaukee conducted trade discussions leading up to the deadline. It was the first time that general manager Jon Horst actually welcomed league-wide offers for Antetokounmpo, and the team seemed willing to make a deal. However, skepticism mounted about the Bucks’ “level of sincerity” as the deadline drew close, and the two-time MVP ultimately wasn’t moved.
Amick and Nehm cite the Celtics as posing “a serious threat” to Miami’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo, as league sources tell them that he would be willing to commit to a four-year, $275MM extension with Boston. Jaylen Brown would likely be headed out in that scenario, with the Bucks expected to flip him elsewhere in exchange for younger players and draft picks if it winds up being a two-team deal.
Amick and Nehm describe the Wolves as “an emerging option” for Antetokounmpo. It’s been repeatedly stated that he prefers to stay in the Eastern Conference, but league sources tell the authors that the Bucks are interested in what Minnesota could offer. They hear that Milwaukee would want Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr. and the team’s two tradable first-round picks (No. 29 this year and their 2033 selection). However, the Wolves consider McDaniels off limits, according to Amick and Nehm, along with young center Joan Beringer. It’s also not certain, they add, that Antetokounmpo would sign an extension with Minnesota.
Sources tell Amick and Nehm that some teams are asking the Bucks to present them with offers that they would consider acceptable, rather than going back and forth with proposals. The hope is not only to get clarity from Milwaukee’s side, but to minimize the number of players whose names get leaked to the media. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam indicated last month that the team hopes to resolve Antetokounmpo’s future by the start of the draft, so that leaves 11 more days for the machinations of a deal to play out.
And-Ones: Teams To Watch, Haugh, Thomas, Korkmaz
While the NBA Finals are reaching their dramatic conclusion, teams around the league are preparing for what comes next. The 2026 offseason has the potential to be an exciting one, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks, who break down 10 teams that could define the summer.
The Celtics will be a team to watch as they look to continue building a contender around a healthy Jayson Tatum. Boston lacks the bigger-dollar contracts needed to bring in top-tier players unless the front office decides to move one of Jaylen Brown or Derrick White. The Celtics will also have to decide if they want to decline Neemias Queta‘s team option and sign him to a long-term deal or pick up the option and figure out his contract by next summer.
The Cavaliers have decisions to make on their high-scoring backcourt, as Donovan Mitchell is extension-eligible and James Harden is up for a new deal at 36 years old. The Pistons, meanwhile, have the choice between continuing to build slowly and steadily or taking a big swing.
The Clippers, Lakers, Bucks, Nuggets, Wolves, Heat, and Thunder round out the rest of the teams that ESPN’s duo believes will help shape the outlook of the offseason.
We have more news and notes from around the basketball world:
- Thomas Haugh was one of the higher-profile prospects to withdraw from this year’s draft class, having opted to go back to Florida. His decision was influenced by new NIL money, though he also appreciates the stability of one more year in college before he embraces the chaos of the NBA lifestyle, according to Mark Long of The Associated Press. “The NBA life is no joke,” Haugh said. “I think my mom didn’t really realize that until she talked to [Grizzlies guard Walter Clayton Jr,‘s] mom a little bit. Like, you can get traded any day of the week. You’re not out there getting dinners with your guys every night or going on fun trips and stuff like that. It’s a job.” He’s hoping that his return will allow the Gators to compete for another national championship.
- After leading Paris Basketball to its third straight Finals in France’s domestic league, German coach Julius Thomas has drawn interest from several NBA teams looking to add to their coaching staffs, Kevin Martorano writes for Sportando, citing a BeBasket report. While there are no specific teams listed, multiple clubs have reportedly approached Thomas with an eye towards next season.
- Former Sixers wing Furkan Korkmaz has reached a deal with Besiktas in his home country of Turkiye, Bugra Uzar reports for Eurohoops. Besiktas’s future is uncertain, as it has a chance to be promoted to the EuroLeague or stay in the BTK EuroCup. Korkmaz helped lead Turkiye to the silver medal in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament and is coming off a season with Tofas in the Turkish league, where he averaged 9.0 points in 19.7 minutes per game. He appeared in 328 NBA regular season games from 2017-24.
Fischer’s Latest: Bucks, Mavs, Hawks, Kings, Sabonis
In addition to creating the impression that they’ll have an additional first-round pick beyond their own 10th overall selection in the draft later this month, the Bucks have some rival front offices believing they want to trade up from No. 10, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Milwaukee has met with Mikel Brown and worked out Darius Acuff while also expressing interest in Keaton Wagler and Kingston Flemings, according to Fischer, noting that all four of those guards are considered likely to come off the board within the first nine picks.
One source who spoke to Fischer speculated that the Bucks are simply doing their due diligence in case one of those players slips to No. 10, pointing out that acquiring a pick in the 5-9 range won’t be easy. According to Fischer, rival teams believes the Clippers (No. 5), Kings (No. 7), and Hawks (No. 8) are all happy to stay where they are, while the Nets (No. 6) have also indicated they’re comfortable standing pat.
A team hoping to move into the top 10 might need to talk to the Mavericks (No. 9), who have let potential trade partners know that they’re very much open to the idea of moving in either direction, sources tell Fischer.
Here are a few more highlights from Fischer’s latest collection of NBA rumors:
- Although the Hawks haven’t shown any interest in moving off of the No. 8 pick, league sources tell The Stein Line that they’ve told teams they’re more than open to offers for their second first-rounder at No. 23. There’s a sense that Atlanta would prefer to make just a single first-round selection, says Fischer.
- Following up on Wednesday’s Domantas Sabonis rumors, Fischer classifies the Kings‘ talks with the Hornets as “preliminary,” reiterating that Sacramento would like to acquire either the No. 14 or 18 pick while Charlotte has resisted that idea. If the Kings move Sabonis, they’re hoping to take back as little multiyear salary as possible, Fischer adds, so a player like forward Miles Bridges, who will be entering the final year of his contract, would appeal to Sacramento.
- The Kings continue to insist they’d want first-round draft capital to part with Sabonis, a three-time All-Star, Fischer reports. They’ve shown interest in the Raptors‘ No. 19 overall pick, per Fischer, but it’s unclear whether Toronto will renew its pursuit of the Lithuanian big man after exploring a deal prior to February’s trade deadline.
- In case you missed it, we passed along Fischer’s latest reporting on Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier today.
Giannis Rumors: Heat, Blazers, Celtics, Wolves, Warriors, More
Even though the Heat and Trail Blazers are the only two teams that Jake Fischer of The Stein Line has been able to confirm are in active pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, that doesn’t mean they’re the only two clubs still interested in acquiring the Bucks star, as Fischer writes in his latest subscriber-only story at Substack.
According to Fischer, there have “undeniably been rumbles” about the Celtics‘ potential involvement. While his sources say Boston has yet to seriously engage Milwaukee in trade talks about Antetokounmpo and also hasn’t meaningfully explored sending out Jaylen Brown in a trade, those same sources can’t rule out either scenario as a possibility, Fischer explains.
Antetokounmpo shares a skills coach (Drew Hanlen) with Celtics star Jayson Tatum and has been repeatedly said to have an affinity for Boston as a potential landing spot. Additionally, Brown is a far more accomplished player than anyone in the Heat’s offer, which is why the Celtics are considered a potential Giannis suitor that “genuinely concerns” Miami, Fischer writes.
In fact, the Heat may be more wary of the Celtics’ involvement than the Trail Blazers’ pursuit of Antetokounmpo, given that questions about whether Giannis would sign an extension with the Blazers may dissuade Portland from going all-in for the two-time MVP, Fischer notes.
Here are a few more of the latest rumblings on Antetokounmpo:
- The Timberwolves and Warriors were among the teams pursuing Giannis at February’s trade deadline, but sources tell Fischer that neither Minnesota nor Golden State seems to be a major factor in the Bucks’ recent trade discussions.
- Fischer also hears that there haven’t been any “significant” recent talks between the Bucks and Magic about Antetokounmpo. There was some speculation that Orlando could become a more serious suitor after a disappointing season that culminated in a first-round loss, especially given the team’s connections to Giannis — Magic executives Jeff Weltman and John Hammond were in Milwaukee’s front office when the team drafted the Greek forward, and new head coach Sean Sweeney spent four years with Antetokounmpo as a Bucks assistant coach.
- While the Rockets were once viewed as a potential Antetokounmpo suitor, they hadn’t pursued a deal for Giannis as of a few days ago, a source tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
- One scout told Jackson he thinks the market for Antetokounmpo has been smaller than anticipated. Jackson speculates that the changing value of first-round picks due to the NBA’s draft lottery reform may have made some clubs more reluctant to give up those first-rounders.
- There’s no indication at this point that the Heat would trade center Kel’el Ware on his own or that the Bucks would flip him to another team if he were included in a package for Giannis, but a source who spoke to Jackson suggested that, based on the level of league-wide interest, either team would “very likely” be willing to net a first-round pick for Ware.
Draft Workouts: Lendeborg, Warriors, Brown, Kings, Wolves
The Warriors will host six prospects on Thursday for a pre-draft workout, the team announced (via Twitter). According to Golden State, that group will feature Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lendeborg is coming off a memorable 2025/26 season in which he was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year, was named a consensus first-time All-American, and won a national championship with the Wolverines. The 6’9″ forward, who will turn 24 in September, is considered a probable lottery pick and is viewed as perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the 2026 draft class, which could make him an intriguing fit for a Golden State team that holds the 11th overall pick and is looking to make the most of Stephen Curry‘s late 30s.
Besides Lendeborg, Thursday’s workout group will also include Tennessee center Felix Okpara, Utah State guard Drake Allen, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell, South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson, and Ole Miss big man Malik Dia, per the team. Okpara (No. 46 on ESPN’s big board) and Boswell (No. 55) are considered the highest-rated prospects among those five players.
Here are more updates on pre-draft workouts around the NBA:
- Louisville guard Mikel Brown, a projected top-10 pick, has recently met with the Nets and Bucks in Orlando and also has pre-draft visits lined up with the Hawks, Clippers, and Mavericks, according to James Barlowe of NBA Big Board (Twitter link). Each of those clubs holds a pick between No. 5 and No. 10 in this year’s draft.
- The Kings are hosting Marquette guard Chase Ross, San Diego State guard Reese Dixon-Waters, Providence guard Jaylin Sellers, Cal forward Chris Bell, Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington, and George Washington center Rafael Castro for a workout on Thursday, per James Ham of The Kings Beat (Twitter link). While none of those players are top prospects, Castro (No. 73), Washington (No. 85), and Sellers (No. 99) show up on ESPN top 100.
- UConn forward Alex Karaban and St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins were among the players who worked out for the Timberwolves on Sunday, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News and SKOR North. Karaban is viewed as a potential first-round pick, coming in at No. 30 on ESPN’s big board, while Hopkins ranks 48th. Minnesota holds the 28th and 59th overall picks in the 2026 draft.