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Atlantic Notes: Nets Draft, Celtics, Knicks, Broome

June 28th, 2025 at 11:50am CST by Earnest Marshall

The Nets‘ draft left fans with more questions than answers after they spent an NBA record five first-round picks in the same class, with the talents of some selections overlapping. Still, as Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily writes, one thing is for certain: the Nets made sure to value what they saw as high-character players during this process.

“I loved just how hard a worker he is,” general manager Sean Marks said of No. 8 overall pick Egor Demin. “I saw him up close and personal in his individual workouts and other workouts that we had here with the group, and was able to compare what we saw during the season to what we saw now, and the uptick and the improvement that we saw was pretty outstanding. So I know he’s a class act of a young man, but he’s also a real worker, and that’s exciting for me, when the guy’s going to put in the due diligence.”

Brooklyn’s brass didn’t see the class as overlapping as much as outsiders did. In particular, Marks expressed that Demin and No. 19 overall pick Nolan Traore could coexist.

“I think we’d love to see both of them play together, for sure,” Marks said of Demin and Traore. “I think we always look at it a little bit of best player available at that particular time … But, you know, I think we’ve got to be very careful penciling a player into being a certain position, or playing a certain way when they’re 19 years old.”

In a subscriber-only story covering similar ground, Brian Lewis of The New York Post describes Marks’ type as quick-processing, ball-moving play-makers.

“Where we’re going with this is, we’re trying to find a brand of basketball that not only we think translates to a competitive brand out there and it’s going to fit with the Brooklyn community,” Marks said, “But it’s also where the NBA is going: guys who can play multiple positions, guard multiple positions and make it hard on the defense.”

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

The Celtics elected to trade back from No. 32 in the draft to obtain the Nos. 46 and 57 selections as well as two future second-round picks. “All the time we’re looking for the ability to get more assets in the future and still get a bunch of good players,” vice president of basketball operations Mike Zarren said in explaining the decision, per MassLive’s Brian Robb. “We felt pretty confident that there’d be guys we liked lower in the draft and we had the ability to add a couple of really good future draft picks in addition to getting those guys. So, that’s what we did.”
While there is still uncertainty about where the Knicks stand in their head coaching search, Ian Begley of SNY reports Mike Brown made a strong impression and has garnered internal support. In the same story, Begley explores where the Knicks standing entering free agency, noting that they’ll have the taxpayer mid-level exception worth up to $5.7MM to offer free agents, as well as the veteran’s minimum.
By using a second-round pick to draft Johni Broome out of Auburn, the Sixers made a bet on a player who has been exceptional at every level of basketball he’s played, and one who should be a strong culture fit in Philadelphia, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes (subscriber link). “I would say my will to win and hating to lose,” Broome said of his biggest strength. “When you hate losing, you do whatever it takes. … If that’s owning up to your mistake or calling out one of your teammates’ mistakes, I think that’s what helps winning, when everybody’s bought in and everybody’s on the same page of wanting to win. I think that’s just where it comes from.”

Stein’s Latest: Mavs, D-Lo, Paul, Exum, Sixers, Hawks

June 27th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Within his latest NBA rumor round-up for The Stein Line (Substack link), Marc Stein reiterates a report he published on Twitter earlier this week, writing that the Mavericks are “increasingly regarded as the favorites” to sign point guard D’Angelo Russell.

Dallas will likely be limited to offering free agents the $5.7MM taxpayer mid-level exception, and Stein suggests Chris Paul will be another Mavs target using that MLE. However, there’s a growing belief that Paul would want to play somewhere closer to his home in Los Angeles if he continues his career, Stein explains.

Meanwhile, while the Mavericks still have interest in re-signing him, there’s a chance that a roster crunch could spell the end of Dante Exum‘s time in Dallas. Assuming Brandon Williams – who is on a non-guaranteed contract – is retained, the Mavs will have 14 players on standard contracts even before adding a free agent point guard.

According to Stein, a handful of EuroLeague teams – including Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahce, and Partizan Belgrade – are interested in trying to lure Exum back overseas. But the former No. 5 overall pick is still focused on trying to stick in the NBA even if there’s no pathway back to the Mavs for him, Stein writes.

Here’s more from Stein:

Providing updates on a couple of popular Mavericks assistant coaches, Stein says the Nuggets are now among the teams with interest in hiring Jared Dudley away from Dallas, joining Memphis and Cleveland, while the Magic continue to put on a “full-court press” in the hopes of poaching God Shammgod from Jason Kidd‘s staff.
Despite rumors and speculation in recent weeks suggesting that the Sixers explored the prospect of moving off Paul George‘s contract and trading down from No. 3 in the draft, a league source familiar with the team’s thinking called that “nonsense,” according to Stein. Jake Fischer reported several weeks ago that Philadelphia wasn’t trying to get rid of George using that lottery pick.
Although they had interest in Masai Ujiri earlier in their front office search, the Hawks aren’t expected to circle back now that the longtime Toronto executive is out of work, Stein says. One source close to the process tells Stein that Atlanta is operating under the assumption that general manager Onsi Saleh will be the team’s head of basketball operations for the foreseeable future.

Sixers Re-Sign Justin Edwards To Three-Year Deal

June 27th, 2025 at 5:34pm CST by Luke Adams

July 6: Edwards has officially re-signed with the 76ers, according to NBA.com’s transaction log. Edwards’ deal includes a third-year team option, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

June 27: The Sixers will decline their minimum-salary team option on forward Justin Edwards in order to sign him to a new three-year contract, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

According to Charania, the new deal will pay Edwards roughly $2MM in 2025/26 and will be fully guaranteed for the first two years.

Edwards, who will turn 22 this December, joined the Sixers last summer as an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky. He opened the season on a two-way deal before being promoted to the standard roster after the trade deadline in February.

The 6’7″ forward had an impressive rookie year in Philadelphia, averaging 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steal in 26.3 minutes per game across 44 outings (26 starts). He registered a shooting line of .455/.363/.696.

The Sixers will have the ability to complete this deal with Edwards using his Non-Bird rights. While it sounds like it might be worth the veteran’s minimum (which is projected to start at $2,048,494 for a second-year player in ’25/26), the minimum salary exception can only be used for deals of up to two years.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Edwards’ deal includes a team option in year three, since that would give the Sixers the ability to make him a restricted free agent in 2027 instead of having to take him to unrestricted free agency in 2028.

Sixers Declining Jared Butler’s Team Option

June 27th, 2025 at 2:49pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers will turn down Jared Butler‘s $2.35MM team option for the 2025/26 season, reports Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). Friday represented the deadline for the club to make its decision.

Butler, a 6’3″ point guard who will turn 25 in August, was the 40th overall pick in the 2021 draft and has played for four teams – Utah, Oklahoma City, Washington, and Philadelphia – since entering the NBA. He was traded from the Wizards to the Sixers in February along with four second-round picks in a deal that sent Reggie Jackson and a “least favorable” 2026 first-round pick to Washington.

Butler had his best NBA season in 2024/25 in Washington and Philadelphia, appearing in 60 total games for the two teams and averaging 9.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .448/.355/.824.

It’s unclear whether Butler will still be in the 76ers’ plans after the team declines his option. Because he has four years of NBA service, the former Baylor standout is ineligible for a qualifying offer and will become an unrestricted free agent.

That doesn’t mean Philadelphia can’t or won’t re-sign him, but the club added No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe this week to an increasingly crowded backcourt, so the front office will likely have other priorities in free agency.

The 76ers also hold team options on Lonnie Walker ($2.94MM) and Justin Edwards ($1.96MM). Those decisions are due by Sunday.

Sixers’ Andre Drummond Opting In For 2025/26

June 27th, 2025 at 12:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Sixers center Andre Drummond has decided to pick up his $5MM player option for the 2025/26 season, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The move locks in Drummond’s salary for next season and lines up him to return to the unrestricted free agent market in the summer of 2026.

Drummond initially signed a two-year, $10MM contract with Philadelphia last offseason. The Sixers made him a priority in free agency after coming to terms with Paul George on a maximum-salary contract because they wanted to make sure they had a reliable veteran backup for Joel Embiid.

As it turned out, Embiid played just 19 games in 2024/25 due to a knee issue, but Drummond battled health problems of his own, with a nagging toe injury limiting him to 40 appearances, including 23 starts. He averaged 7.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 18.8 minutes per game.

While Drummond, one of the NBA’s all-time best rebounders, continues to grab boards at an elite level, the Sixers struggled during mightily during his minutes this past season, posting a net rating of -15.5 when he was on the court. Of course, Philadelphia had a poor season all around in ’24/25, but the team had a more respectable -4.3 net rating when Drummond didn’t play.

Drummond is one of three Sixers veterans holding player options for next season. The team is still waiting on decisions from Kelly Oubre ($8.4MM) and Eric Gordon ($3.5MM).

Philadelphia now has five players on guaranteed salaries for 2025/26. Those five players – Embiid, George, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Drummond – will earn a combined $154MM, which is right around where the salary cap is projected to come in.

Izan Almansa To Sign Exhibit 10 Contract With Sixers

June 27th, 2025 at 8:49am CST by Luke Adams

Undrafted free agent Izan Almansa has agreed to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sixers, reports Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com.

Almansa just turned 20 earlier this month but has already put together an impressive basketball résumé, having spent time with Overtime Elite, the G League Ignite, and – most recently – the Perth Wildcats in Australia. In 29 games for Perth this past season, he averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per contest, making 51.1% of his field goal attempts but just 53.4% of his free throws.

The 6’10” forward/center has also represented the Spanish national team in several competitions, including at the 2023 U19 World Cup, where the Spaniards won gold and he earned MVP honors.

Almansas was the only one of 12 prospects in the green room for Thursday’s second round who didn’t get drafted, but it didn’t take him long to catch on with an NBA team.

His non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract could be converted to a two-way deal before the season or would put him in line for a bonus worth up to $85K if he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate.

Sixers Sign Igor Milicic Jr. To Exhibit 10 Contract

June 27th, 2025 at 12:14am CST by Luke Adams

July 9: The Sixers have announced that their Exhibit 10 deal with Milicic is official, tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.

June 27: After going undrafted, Tennessee’s Igor Milicic Jr. has agreed to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sixers, reports Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress (Twitter link).

Milicic bounced around during his four college seasons, spending one year with Virginia, two at Charlotte, and one with the Volunteers before becoming automatically draft-eligible this spring. The 6’10” forward, whom Chepkevich lauds for his “two-way versatility,” averaged 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 25.4 minutes per game across 37 starts for Tennessee as a senior.

Milicic was the No. 70 prospect on ESPN’s final big board entering the draft and ranks 18th among the players who went undrafted.

Milicic is the second undrafted rookie said to have reached a contract agreement with the 76ers, who are reportedly signing Hunter Sallis to a two-way deal. Milicic’s contract will be entirely non-guaranteed, but could pay him a bonus worth up to $85K if he’s waived before the season begins and then spends at least 60 days with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.

It’s also possible Milicic will get an opportunity to vie for a two-way contract, since an Exhibit 10 deal can be converted into a two-way prior to the regular season.

Sixers To Add Hunter Sallis To Two-Way Contract

June 26th, 2025 at 10:08pm CST by Earnest Marshall

The Sixers are signing former Wake Forest guard/forward Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).

Sallis played his first two collegiate seasons with Gonzaga before transferring to Wake Forest. While he played well in limited minutes at Gonzaga, he really blossomed with the Demon Deacons, averaging 18.1 points while shooting 47.2% from the field and 34.7% from three in two seasons there.

Sallis ranked as ESPN’s fifth-best available undrafted player. At 6’5″, he’ll slide into the Sixers’ wing depth chart. The 76ers have Alex Reese currently signed to a two-way deal, so they will have one more two-way slot available after completing the Sallis signing.

Alongside Reese, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Jeff Dowtin closed 2024/25 on two-way deals with Philadelphia.

Latest On Ace Bailey

June 26th, 2025 at 5:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, Ace Bailey‘s representatives told a team with a top-five pick that they didn’t want that club to draft him and that he wouldn’t report to the club if it selected him, sources tell Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

ESPN’s report doesn’t name the specific team in question, but it seems relatively safe to assume it wasn’t the Mavericks or Spurs, who were always locked in on Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, respectively. That leaves the Sixers at No. 3, the Hornets at No. 4, and the Jazz – the team that ultimately drafted Bailey – at No. 5.

While it’s unclear if the Jazz were the team out of those three told not to draft Bailey, an earlier report from Bontemps indicated Utah wasn’t on his list of preferred destinations.

Bailey, a former Rutgers wing, made waves leading up to Wednesday due to his unusual approach to the pre-draft process. He canceled a scheduled visit to Philadelphia last week and was believed to be the only prominent U.S. player who didn’t visit any team before the draft.

That strategy led rival teams to speculate that his camp was angling to get him to a specific destination – possibly the Wizards at No. 6 – but Bailey’s agent Omar Cooper contended that there wasn’t anything unusual about his client’s pre-draft activities, according to Givony and Bontemps.

“Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago,” Cooper told ESPN. “He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical (info). They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements.

“No one said anything when Davion Mitchell canceled a workout with the Toronto Raptors. No one criticized Evan Mobley when he didn’t work out for Cleveland, and they drafted him anyway. There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey’s pre-draft process was handled.”

Although Cooper declined to answer questions from ESPN about the Jazz specifically, Bailey suggested on draft night that he wasn’t trying to steer himself to a certain destination, per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

“No, I’m just focused on the basketball part. I had nothing to do with that,” Bailey said, adding that he’s learning about the Jazz and preparing to travel to Utah for the first time. “… I fit in good because we all young, so we all got a lot to learn. We can play with each other, get to know each other, how we play, how we fit in, what works, and then also, I don’t know a lot about Utah, but I’m learning as we go. I know it’s cold and it’s hot. It get cold and it get hot here. Gotta find me a place with a good a good heater.”

Bailey also made it clear that he has big-time goals for his first NBA season in 2025/26.

“I definitely want to win Rookie of the Year,” he said, according to Vorkunov. “Definitely want to be an All-Star my rookie year. I want to do a lot.”

Sixers’ Morey Discusses Embiid’s Recovery, Edgecombe Pick

June 26th, 2025 at 6:41am CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening after using the No. 3 overall pick to select Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey provided a positive update on star center Joel Embiid, writes Dan Gelston of The Associated Press.

According to Gelston, Morey indicated that Embiid – who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April – is on track to be recovered “right around” the time training camp opens in late September, suggesting the team is encouraged by the big man’s recovery progress so far.

“He’s very engaged, attacking rehab,” Morey said. “Doing everything he can to be out there. He had a meeting with (the surgeon) this week. All things, to use a NASA term, are nominal. Things are going well and expected and we expect that to continue.”

Embiid’s left knee has been an issue since midway through the 2023/24 season, when he underwent surgery to address a meniscus injury. He was able to return that spring and played in the Olympics during the summer, but he continued to deal with swelling in the knee in the fall. The injury delayed his season debut until November 12 and prevented him from ever getting fully comfortable during the ’24/25 campaign.

Here are a few more highlights from Morey’s media session:

The Sixers already have rising star Tyrese Maxey, promising 2024 first-rounder Jared McCain, and restricted free agent Quentin Grimes in their backcourt, but didn’t hesitate to add another young guard to the mix on Wednesday when they drafted Edgecombe. “I think we now have one of the best backcourts in the league,” Morey said, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. “When you look at some of these teams that are successful, they all have multiple guards.”
While Edgecombe’s athleticism and defense figure to get him on the court in his rookie year, he intends to do all he can to help out the Sixers’ stars on the offensive end of the court too, as Jones relays. “I’m really focused on trying to shoot the ball at a high level,” Edgecombe said on Wednesday. “My job is going to be trying to release pressure on Joel, Paul (George), and Tyrese.”
Here’s more from Morey on Edgecombe, per Jones: “We’re super excited about V.J. and that we got the chance to draft him. He’s a dynamic athlete. We think he’s one of the best athletes in the draft. We think he has a chance to be a potential All-Star, and he’s going to be a two-way player coming into the league. He has a lot of winning qualities, and we think he is going to be a really good fit. We think he is going to be a great teammate.”
Edgecombe appeared to become the favorite for the No. 3 pick after Ace Bailey cancelled a scheduled workout with the Sixers, but Morey said on Wednesday that Bailey’s refusal to work out for Philadelphia didn’t factor into the club’s draft decision, tweets Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.

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