2026 NBA Draft Grades and Trades!

Giannis finally gets moved and the entire league exhales, then the 2026 NBA Draft immediately turns into a two-day sprint of fits, swings, and front offices telling on themselves. We start with the trade shockwaves, what Miami looks like with a true superstar centerpiece, and why these deals take so long to crystallize when picks, timing rules, and cap math all collide. From there, we get into the draft itself and why the new format changes how the night feels for fans and how teams manage the chaos. 

Then we get to the real fun: draft grades and the decisions behind them. We talk through the teams that clearly knew who they were targeting and nailed it, including Atlanta’s mix of character, quickness, and frontcourt versatility, plus Chicago’s athletic, high-upside additions that should make them a must-watch League Pass team. We also break down Detroit’s aggressive move up for Ebuka Okorie, San Antonio’s blend of medical-risk upside with immediate big-man insurance, and why OKC somehow keeps finding pieces that make sense around their core. 

The centerpiece is Memphis. We walk through how the Grizzlies turn pick 16 into a trade-down ladder, stack second-round assets, land Cameron Boozer as the franchise engine, and still come away with Isaiah Stewart as a culture and defense tone-setter. We close with the biggest steals, the biggest reaches, and the player-team fits we can’t stop thinking about as Summer League gets closer. 

If you love NBA Draft analysis, draft grades, and roster-building strategy, subscribe, share this with a draft-obsessed friend, and leave a quick review. Which team do you think won the 2026 NBA Draft?

Transcript

Welcome And Draft Night Whiplash

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Welcome back to the Draft and Stand Ashup Podcast. I'm your host, Andrew. It is June 25th. The 2026 NBA draft is in the books. We have so much to get to. We gotta get to the intro first.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

One of the most exciting drafts I can remember.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

And in the years I've been doing this, I think this draft is the best. Oh man, that was a crazy like last four to five days at this point. Things kind of really got popping Monday as we saw that Giannis was finally dealt the league hostage situation is finally over. He's with the Miami Heat, which is who we the most of us kind of assumed. You know, there's just been so much smoke there for so long. These type of trades take a really long time. I've been talking to a couple of people with the league offices and stuff, and it sometimes it can take you know a year or two years to really get things moving. At the end of the day, they get Tyler Hero, Hami Hawkes, Kelel Ware, I believe, as well. There's some pick stuff and Giannis. I cannot remember if Bobby Portis is involved because the initial thing I I saw didn't have him in there, but then other people have said that the trade has to be done on the sixth for some reason. So, but that that's gonna be the gist overall. You know, so you assume Davion Mitchell is gonna start. Maybe they keep Norman Powell at this point. I uh we'll see. I don't know. I mean, the Pistons might be angling to get him because they have made also some cap space that will also get into, you know, you've got Giannis, you've got, let's see, uh, Bam is gonna be there. Andrew Wiggins is probably gonna opt in. And, you know, so it's gonna be a weird because it's the East, so you don't really need a lot of talent to make the playoffs. But I imagine that they'll they'll add a couple of other, you know, cheap pieces here and there. Uh moving on from that, you had Julius Randle was dealt from Minnesota. We have kind of seen this on the wall. They really went for it two years ago when you know they they had Carlanted Towns, Rudy Gaber, and everything else, and they were really up against it, made the West Finals, ended up not beating the Mavericks, and then they traded away Towns for Julius Randle because he was cheaper. And now they're trading away Julius Randle for nothing, just to dump entirely. They then, today, as recording this, they then traded for LaMelo ball, you know, and they also traded away Naj Reed. So basically, you know, people thought that Nas would be starting with Julius gone, and now Julius is gone and Naj Reed is gone. Dante Di Vincenzo is hurt, they trade for LaMelo. You know, they they draft Isaiah Evans. So we'll talk about that during the draft portion here. And they give up a bunch of like some picks, some pick swaps over to the Hornets. Then so I guess we're assuming that Kobe White might be the starter there, you know, for them, unless they they make some other kind of move. Kobe White was really, really killer for them late. I think that's more so what happened here is Lamello played back up his value. They were able to sell high, and Kobe White looked like this new super fan favorite. You know, he was just awesome for them. So I I assume that's the direction that they'll be going in. So just in general, man, these moves are already popping. It's exciting. I believe Austin Rivers is signing for a giant deal, he's going to be getting like 46 per Trey Young is expected to be getting, my god, almost like 60 million at some point, which I the the Wizards, like, what are you doing? You you you just got out of this business and you're right back in it. I just I every time I think that they do something smart, they then shoot themselves in the foot again.

Giannis To Miami And Fallout

SPEAKER_00 3:52

It's so weird. But let's move on to the draft because I that's the stuff that's you know that that the show's all about, and that's what we are really here to talk about. Okay, man. I'm still not used to it being on two days. I know it's uh it's been what this is like the third year that they've done two rounds, and I get it from a financial standpoint from ESPN. It's better to uh you know get get more eyes on, and and then people are you know probably tuning out, you know, years ago when we because it was like a five-hour show. I just like to have it all done in one round, man. You know, I think that's a lot of fun. You know, people can really do all of their content, you know, that are wanting to do that, all the people that that are writing, all the moves are getting made. So I'm old, so I'd like it all in one night. But you know, it's still cool. At least now it the second round is more of a production, the original one they were in. I mean, in like the smallest little office building. There was like 20 people crammed into a room that was like 20 feet wide. It was super awkward. So at least now it feels a lot more, you know, real. I

Two-Day Draft Format Thoughts

SPEAKER_00 4:53

guess just to start off with uh I'm gonna talk my biggest winners and the grades I gave him. I'm gonna talk my biggest losers in the grades I gave him. I'm gonna bring up my my best picks in terms of value versus my board and the worst. And we're gonna get into my just favorite specific, you know, teams that that that pick certain players that I think are just awesome fits. Uh, and then of course I'll get into the Memphis Grizzlies because well, you know, for one, I'm I'm biased, but also they you know made a really smart move twice. And so I kind of want to get into both of that and just kind of give a bunch of like you know, love here and there. So let's start with my big winners. I think at the top of of this, I I'll talk about Memphis in a little bit, but you know, because I I I did give them like an A plus, just not being on bias, but just over everything. So I I will get into them. But let's start with the Atlanta Hawks. I really like Kings and Flemings, and they took him at pick eight. I, you know, I've you know his interviews were killer, he's uh very self-aware, he's a smart kid, he's a little nerdy. I don't know if people know that, but he's like really into to like anime and things like of that nature. You know, I think he's very you know cerebral, you know. Just I as I so just in terms of character, I think he's gonna be awesome for Atlanta. He is smaller, and a lot of Hawks fans sure have PTSD from Trey Young, but his defense is like light years better than Trey. And that's not saying he's Gary Payton or anything like that. I just his level of effort and his level of defensive disruption is really, really good, especially being, you know, 19 years old, I believe. You know, so he's gonna get to go in there and then playing with Dyson Daniels and Kill Oxander Walker and Jalen Johnson, you know, just so many big athletes. It's just gonna be so much fun there. He's he's super quick. Here, I've said it before, he reminds me a lot of like Conley, except you know, a better overall defender. I I I love that pick for them. Then, you know, beyond with with you know Kingston Flemings, I really love that they also got Zuby Edgefor. Zubi, as I said, like he was ranked number 19 on my board or 20 in that range, 23 years old, you know, awesome senior, awesome man, just super hard worker, great reach, awesome athlete, super big hands. Um, he can play as as a not say as like an offensive hub, but he he's got the ability to be a really good secondary playmaker out of that, like, you know, high post on the wings, you know, it'll area and certain actions. So I and I think he's really cool. People initially did not like this move because Zubi is only 6'8 or so, and they already have a Nance Ocono, excuse me, who's also around the same similar build. People wanted them to get a bigger center. So it was very much this like, you know, why not get Terra Schreed or something like this? I think at the end of the day, teams begin to develop exactly who they like and who they are. And I think Zuby Edge 4 fits what they do there so well, which is really big bodies who can slide their feet, play every defensive position, really smart players. He's gonna be awesome there. And then the reason I gave them an A is because they were able to trade and get Henry Visar, the big man out of North Carolina. So, so he fully fills that like larger style role. He's also a different style of big for them. Some people are saying that he made the wrong decision, going back, you know, or or leaving you know college to go there. And I don't know. I mean, I'm not him, you know. I'm sure he he cost himself money, but if his goal was that he wanted to be in the NBA, then that's his that's his goal and that's his choice, right? So like you can call him dumb, but if he's good, then he'll make money and it'll be fine. You know, I'm sure he he made money while he was in college. He's gonna like make you know money as a round two pick. At the end of the day, he's still gonna be able to have a good career. He'll make generational wealth still, you know. So I don't think that's a that's a big issue, but he is a bigger center, also really smart. He is an okay defender. I don't see him being able to switch that much on the wings, but his shot is is is very strong. So he'll he'll definitely give them a different type of big and and you know, just overall scoring option, you know, as well. So I really like that fit. All those guys, super talented, you know, the the Hawks man just continue to make really, really good decisions. Very impressed by them.

Hawks And Bulls Earn Top Grades

SPEAKER_00 9:24

After them, I've got the Chicago Bulls. I also gave them an A. Obviously, I love Caleb Wilson. You know, I think that is a just absolute, it's gonna be great for them, super cool kid. I don't know where his upside is one way or the other. You know, I just you know, I think him, Matas Bizales, Josh Giddy, like that team is gonna be super fun and bursty and just so much fun to watch. I'm excited to have you know league pass this year. I'm I'm I'm definitely gonna be catching more of their games. And then at 15, they get another player that I really like in Dalen Swain. I did not know where Swain was gonna go. He fits so many molds, but the Bulls pick him up here, man, and it just makes so much sense. I think at the end of the day, Swain could be either a really strong uh combo guard for them, or he can also play some three. He's you know, six foot six. I think his winspan was uh six foot nine. You know, he's got a really great frame, he plays awesome on the ball. He, you know, is a great one-on-one type of player. Uh, his passing can be a little erratic. You know, he seems to know the correct reads, his timing is just not quite there yet. He is able to score almost at will in the paint, he easily gets around people. You know, him playing with Josh Giddy could be fun. You know, his his on-ball shooting is better than his off ball. So that's gonna be something that he has to work on. If his defense gets back to where it was at Xavier, man, this pick will be people will be like, well, how did they get Paul George? You know, if his defense gets back to where people thought it would be, uh, this could be the type of pick that at best it makes them a contender, but at worst, it doesn't hurt them. Like, I I love this pick for them here. You know, there's some people that are not super into swing because they don't know what he's gonna be, but his potential is so good, and his floor is gonna be a guy that probably just you know is in your 10-man rotation, and that's fine. I at pick 15, that's totally fine. And at best, he can be, you know, maybe like your number two scorer or something for you. So I I absolutely love that pick for them. Super

Pistons Bet On Upside

SPEAKER_00 11:23

good. Going down from them, the Detroit Pistons for me also have an A. You know, you might be a little bit confused by that. So during the night, the Pistons had pick 21. A lot of people assumed they would be going after somebody, maybe like LeBaron Phylon, Cameron Carr, you know, so somebody probably in that range, you know, maybe a bit at Starts if he fell there. As the draft is going on, it gets to pick 16, the Memphis Grizzlies, which we will get into a little bit more. But basically, they end up trading back with the Thunder and then trading again with the Pistons. The Pistons give pick 21 and three second-round picks to move up, and they take Abuka Corey. If you listen to the mock draft we had last week, you know that I am a pretty big fan of Abuka. I had I took him 13 overall to Miami Heat, and Chip, I think, had him number eight or number nine on his board. Parker and Rusty were not as big as fans, but I really like what he does. He's six foot one or six foot two in shoes. He's got that Dennis Schroeder build. He has a plus six wingspan. His ball handling is killer. I mean, he I don't want to say he's got Kyrie like handles, but man, I I think he's gonna shock people with this like highlight factory ability. Like, you know, him going to Detroit is so cool. He's gonna give them something completely different off the bench. He can be a complete on-ball guy to let K do his thing. He is some of his issues are people don't like that he doesn't finish at at like the highest clip at the rim, and his uh shot selection was a little tougher, so his numbers weren't great, but he shoots it well from the line. You know, I think like his three rate was was really high as well. I think he's a guy that can just get to his spots, get buckets if he needs to. And also his his assist facilitation, I think would be better, man. Like he played with Stanford, their team wasn't super good. So, you know, maybe he took on a larger offensive role. He's also really great in passing lanes. You know, I expect he should, even though he's short, he should be able to play up a little bit on certain shooting guards just because he's got such great reach. But I also really like their you know, second pick on Yensu out of you know Virginia. Like I had a round one great on him. Like I had him around like 28 or so. I mean, I love this pick for them. This them landing on Yensu makes it okay that they gave away Isaiah Stewart. He is a big body, he can come in, he can immediately do what they need to do as this big man insurance now. He is a legitimate, you know, around like seven foot, huge wingspan. Uh, he's a little older, but he's he's a great athlete. Man, he only played 19 minutes a game off the bench, which everybody's still really worried about why he was so limited. Even with that, his uh blocks, his block, his block rate might have been the best in the class. Really good rebounder. You know, he's he's not gonna be a big scoring threat, but you know, it doesn't really matter. Like, you know, he's able to come in, he can he can switch on defense, you know. He just I I love everything he does. I think he's gonna be a great backup big for you know the next 10 years. And they get him at like pick, it was like 50 something, I believe. Uh so I love that for them. It's such such a great round two pick for me. Uh moving on from the Pistons that I gave an A2.

Spurs Stockpile Defense And Size

SPEAKER_00 14:29

We go to the Spurs. I also gave the Spurs an A. You know, they they end up at 20. They take, you know, Jaden Quaitons. And I don't think anybody really thought that they would they would do that. But I will say in the mock draft, I said that, you know, I expect the team to take him will be a team that has a larger amount of runway. So either a team with multiple picks or a team that doesn't need him to be good. There was a lot of questions about his medicals. He apparently a lot of teams passed on him because he's gonna need another surgery already. So that is a real concern. But I also said I could see him challenging Victor Womanyama for defensive player of the year awards going forward. But now he's on his team, so you know, I we'll see how that goes. But I mean, like, I think I I said that he moves like a 2K player. I more specifically in real life, he reminds me of like Amari Stodemeyer, if that makes sense. When he came out of high school, Amari's uh nickname was Manchild, and he just he was six foot you know, eight or nine, but man, he was built like a larger-than-life person. And the way he moved was like it was like a bigger LeBron James. It was just crazy how he was able to to move and just and just you know, and slide and and just cover ground, and it was just it was impressive. And Jaden does the same things, man. Like you look at some of his highlights, and I always say like you actually watch you know games, because like yes, he is this explosive defender, but he also has a lot of issues where he doesn't always sit down in in a seat. You know, he is his hands are he he plays a lot of recovery defense, and he's so athletic that I get it, you know, he he can do those things, um, but he's gonna have to learn real, real technique and going to Spurs, man, that is like the perfect place for him to go and learn. So that that was very, you know, unexpected for me, right? But then they they trade back in and they take terrace reed, who I also loved. I had uh like like also did this round one great on Terrace. It might have been right right where where they they like it traded. And in fact, this is where Atlanta's pick was. So I was I was okay, this makes sense. They got, you know, they they got you know terrace reed as well, and then also Zubi. But then, you know, it was moved and like Terish Reed, man, that's awesome for the Spurs. You know, you you look at what happened in the finals, and victory got worn down throughout, you know, not only the playoffs, but also, you know, in the season. And they didn't really have, I mean, you can say, you know, Cornette and this, but I mean, they didn't really have competent bigs behind him. Terrace Reed is a giant person. He's you know, seven foot one, great wingspan, super mobile, very defensive. You know, he's probably only gonna play in that, you know, dunker spot, maybe maybe some high low stuff, but a lot of you know, just like you know, rim running, you know, for the most part, super smart guy, really great character. You know, him a playing. I I mean, I wouldn't be shocked if they put him at the five and let me play some four, maybe. You know, I just like that. Is just a super, super cool pick. Fully in on that. Then they go and get Jacoby Gillespie out of Tennessee, who I I had a really good grade on. You know, he is, you know, he's a smaller guy, but man, he is also really smart, has great instincts. You know, he's a little bit older player. He he his shooting metrics could be bonkers. Like, if he gets to a place where he can find a way to fit in in the league and and really like find a team that can get him in that niche role, man, he could be awesome. Like, I man, is if he if he kind of hits, he could be a guy who is a real player in like a 10-man rotation. I love I love that because they they need guard shooters, and that is exactly what he does. He is shorter, but you have so much size elsewhere, you can probably hide him, man. And he tries on defense. Like, I get it, he'll get hunted, you know, here and there. But when you've got, you know, Kelton Johnson, De'Aaron Fox, Stefan Castle, Victor Wemanyama, and Terrish Reed now, it doesn't matter because all those guys can just like you know make up for him, and then he can play on the ball and then get everybody else where they need to be and also hit a lot of threes. I I I love that pick. And then they got Malik Brown, just like the Spurs, man. They they're just man, they're it's just the language, they are fucking killing it. You know, they have got just they they already got lucky with all these other round picks, and now they're just man, they're they're trading up for round ones for for good players, they're trading into round two and finding talent that people don't want for some reason. Malik Brown is another defensive, super minded, you know, forward. Uh, he played at Duke. Chip is uh who was on the show last week, is a very big fan of his. Some of the scouts I talked to also think that he he definitely makes it in the league. The the main concern is gonna be on offense, but you know, he seems like a guy that is just gonna, you know, he's a high motor, super smart, good rebounder. He can switch on multiple bigs, on wings. You know, it's just finding his ways to score elsewhere. But man, he is a great defender. That is a really fun pick from them, right?

Hornets Swing For Value

SPEAKER_00 19:29

You know, beyond you know that I really like the you know Hornets draft. I gave them a B plus. I I've I've had Hannes mock there at at 14. I honestly I think I have Hannes at 10 on my board. So like this is just in general good value. But Hannes here is just awesome, man. He gives them something completely different. He gives them a really multi-level skill big who can play grab and go. He can rebound every single damn shot. I think he is gonna get his jumper where it's really dangerous. You know, he's he's pretty athletic. He's he's not huge, but he's like 6'10, maybe like 6'10 and a half in shoes. Good, solid wingspam. He has been in that like super German, you know, like in their developmental league for a long time, from 16 upwards. Just man, like that. That's just I love that pick so much. And I get it, you know, his defense isn't gonna be great. But, you know, the Hornets now trading Lamello, they are obviously they've got stuff in the works, man. So I imagine that they'll get something else going here. But I I love that. And then they get Christian Anderson at picks 18. And I love that pick. I thought, you know, it's you know, he I get it, he's six foot one or so. I think he's a sophomore, but he, you know, he's really good at getting the ball to his teammates. I think he averaged a little over seven assists in college. Might be the best shooter in the draft, man. Like, you know, he is, and not just that, but he shoots it at a good clip. And, you know, he's not like his dribble's solid. He's not super bursty, but he's really crafty. And I think, you know, you know, basically when they move off of LaMelo here, so you get Christian Anderson, who's who's obviously not as big, but he's gonna be probably the same level of defender as as ball was, but he's gonna shoot it probably more efficiently, hit hit the same amount of threes, pass out the ball, and this is gonna open up shots for you know Conka Nipple and Brandon Miller, you know. So I think if your plan is to be adding, you know, in that that that that like addition by subtraction, you know, model in sports, I think this also works here, you know. And I don't know, like I really like you know Anderson here, like you know, and then we uh move on to the Mavs. I gave

Mavericks Hits And Thunder Fits

SPEAKER_00 21:43

them a B plus. I obviously I love Merez Johnson. I hate that he's going to a rival in in the Mavericks, but I love that. I've I've talked endlessly about Merez Johnson. People were shocked that he went top 10. I I've been saying this for you know what, like six weeks now that I'm I'm positive. That he's he's going top 10. It was almost guaranteed once they they hired May away from the the Wolverines. Man, I mean Morez, dude, so apparently he killed it in all of his workouts. He, in terms of his interviews, people loved him. He has crazy, crazy high character. And he is a this just like pure culture setter. Every report was that anytime that Michigan didn't play well in the locker room on the court, he was the guy. It wasn't, it wasn't Yaxel, it wasn't a Daimara, it wasn't Elliot Hidot. Morez at 19 years old is the person getting them fired back up. And I said this about Dylan Brooks for years. You know, he had this crazy high motor. He was very erratic, but I will take having a guy that I have to ask to calm down as opposed to trying to ask a guy to get, you know, to to like ramp it up, right? I I mean like guys that that need somebody to help them become energized are just not the best guys on team. So like I would I mean, like Dylan Brooks, man, dude, that guy was ready to play every single night. Morez will be the same for Dallas. Some of their fans are a little upset. You are going to love Merez Johnson. Like he is going to like I legitimately think he'll be able to play Wemby. He's got a great wingspan. He is going to be three times as strong as that man. He's got a really great low center of gravity. I think he'll be able to keep him out on the wing and not really let him inside the paint. I think that is a great pick. But I'm I'm giving them a B plus because they also got Sergio De La Reya. I believe that they, you know, traded back in to get him. Love this pick, man. Six foot six guard, played for Valencia out of Spain. He's been in their in their leagues for a while now. You know, he's kind of like maybe like a better, bigger Ricky Rubio, except he has a jump shot, you know. So his defense obviously is not as good as what Rubio's was. Rubio had really, really great hands. And you know, but Sergio is gonna be a lot of fun. I don't know if he comes over this year. They they might so originally I thought he was going to the Knicks, and that was like this, you know, draft and stash type of thing. So I was like, okay, that, you know, I like totally get there. He broke. This is like a perfect play for them as well. But he could come over, you know, now and everything. So I don't know how much his contract costs, but I could see him coming over and he could be perfect with Cooper. You know, he he's got a lot of size. You can play him, you know, as that league guard, you know, type of guy, you know, him, you know, just running it. And I just like I really love what this new regime is already doing. I know that there's that video that nobody's really hyped in the room as a draft more res. I don't man, I don't care. I think Messayu Jury is just very professional, and I think that's just how he is in his war room. But I I I love both of these picks for them, you know, super, super cool. And then, of course, we cannot leave without talking about the thunder. I also gave them a B plus. Daimara, you know, at 12. Everybody thought that made sense. Nobody, nobody was sure if he would fall to them, but he gives them, you know, this insurance and they wanted to move on from Hartenstein. He can play with Chet, he can play with, you know, Jalen Williams, the big, not the wing. Uh, so you know, he's not gonna have to score a lot there. He's gonna be a really cool, just like a bigger passing connector. He he can pass over people and around people, you know, really good rebounder, awesome at the rim. I think I hope they didn't get him specifically for Wemby, but if that's the case, they might be disappointed because I don't think he can probably guard him where he needs to guard him. But, you know, they also get Bennett Sturts. You know, I thought this was a good pick. I had, I think, I think I had Bennett at 12 on my board. So this was pretty good value here for him. You know, it showed that once they had a couple of injuries, you know, in the finals, that it was really on on Shay, and they didn't really have a way to help facilitate beyond him. You know, Jeremy Cainan is a good guard, but that's not his job. You know, like like he is he is a scoring guard. Bennett, man, he can come in, you know, this year if need be. Uh, I mean, I I assume that they don't need him because they're gonna obviously they saw off Casey Wallace and AJ Mitchell, you know, so they're not gonna need him, but Bennett can just basically learn in that system. And uh he's you know six foot three, he's got a six foot six wingspan, super smart guy. You know, he feels very much like a obvious, you know, player for the Thunder. His defense isn't great, but you know, it doesn't need really need to be because everybody else on the team is really good defender. So you can like, you know, it's kind of you know when you're talking about uh Jakob Gillespie with the Spurs, right? You know, you look at the Thunder, they've got you know Alex Caruso, and still they have Lou Dort, you know, and they've got you know, just like like like SGA and Jalen Williams, and just you know, so they've got all these bigger guys that can play defense on the side, like you know, on the wings for him. So I don't think that's really gonna be a need from him at all. So I I love that. And then they also got Otega Oway out of Kentucky, the older guard, you know, pretty good scorer, you know, solid shooter, you know, just like a a pretty good, you know, just in general college, you know, prospect. I don't know, maybe, you know, maybe it's on like a two-way or something. I don't know how many of those that they have because they've got like a thousand players. So the the Thunder just look good, you know. So it's very annoying, but that's just kind of how it is, right? So some of the steals that of the draft. Oh

Knicks And Nets Get Critiqued

SPEAKER_00 27:19

well, well, actually, so let's talk about the teams that I didn't like. There's only a couple here. The New York Knicks, I gave them a D. They just I don't know, man. I'm not a big fan of Kyle out of Germany. He is a low efficient gunner. He he's never seen a shot that he does not like. He is so basically to me, he's a smaller shooting guard that's not crazy explosive. You know, I don't he might be like a worse Cam Thomas. I don't know. So I I'm not I'm I was not super into him. And then they they and then they go and get Tyler Nickel, who Tyler Nickel, man, if you need a shooter, he is awesome. Like he is a straight shooter. He's not gonna give you anything else. He is uh, you know, like a six foot five, you know, guard or wing play for Vanderbilt, and you know, he can shoot the hell out of the ball, man. But he's gonna get cooked everywhere else. He's not super explosive. I mean, like I think he's fine to get drafted. I think even where they had him, though, was kind of a reach. So I'm just I don't know. I'm not really in on eat on like either of those picks. I would have liked the Knicks to have been a little bit more aggressive in round two, trying to get some cheap, you know, deals on their bench because they are expensive. The Nets, I gave a C to. Mikel is probably my biggest reach in the draft. I where I like I I get the Nets taking him. I get people thinking he should be up there, you know, but he I had him at like 13 or 14, I think. Just I think he has really big bus potential. And but he also has really big star. But it's such a wide swing here. I don't think he ends up in the middle. I think either he works or he doesn't, you know, and Michael going to the Nets is gonna be tricky. Man, you know, Julius Randle being there, I hope helps him. You know, hopefully it's not Michael Porter Jr. because he could learn a lot of bad habits if it is him. But, you know, he's a guy that I think is more of a J.R. Smith, like an off guard. I don't think he's a point guard, but you know, we'll see if he I assume that they they let him and Yeager play together. Jaeger's more of like a really tall guard that you know passes well and shoots threes. I don't know what what else he does, but Mike Hell, he's got some explosion to him. He's got the build to be a good defender. We'll see if he ends up being one. I think he has a real chance at being a high-level guy from from outside in terms of just being able to make a lot of threes. You know, he's got a pretty good handle. His his on-ball left pass with with his, I'm sorry, his on-ball left hand passes are are real. I think those are really spicy. He does tend to overpass, though, and throw throw the ball into the stand. So he's gonna be tricky, man. It's really gonna be on him. I assume his back is okay because I don't think the Nets would have, you know, taken him here, but we'll see. I if this hits, it's very cool for the Nets. I just I'm I'm I'm lower on him than I think other people were. Then they took Joshua Jefferson at 28. I just I like Joshua Jefferson. I don't know if I like where they got him, and I don't know if I like this fit. You know, you've already like you got Julius Randle and Danny Wolfe, and you know, and then a few other guys and like Darwin Sharp. I don't know. I just Tyler Boleto is he was, you know, he does one thing really well. You know, he is a big who can shoot. You know, he's good at the mid-range, he's good from three, he's not really good on the ball. He was UCLA's best player. You know, I think they they reached on him as well. You know, I don't know, I don't know, man. I just like you I just I don't know what he's gonna do for them. It it feels like a really weird fit. You know, you already have Danny Wolf and he he does his stuff. You know, like he doesn't shoot as well, but he does other stuff. So I just I don't know what he's gonna be for them. It's very strange, but I guess it is what it is, you know. So let's move

Grizzlies Masterclass And Beef Stew

SPEAKER_00 30:58

on to the Memphis Grizzlies, man. Like, you know, this is gonna be a little bit longer. I give the Memphis Grizzlies an A plus, and it starts with Cameron Boozer, obviously at number three. He was my number one pick in this draft, so it's not shocking that I think that that's a great pick, right? So we we we've kind of talked at length about Cameron Boozer. Everybody, I'm sure everybody who's listening to this knows everything about him. I think I was actually just talking to some NBA people, and you know, one of them actually agreed that if he was starting a team today and he we we we're kind of talking a little bit about if you if we had the number one pick and we were starting a franchise, who would you want? And a couple of people wanted said that they they would rather have you know AJ just because of fan appeal, this and that. And me and a few others, and somebody that I respect said, you know, that he would do you know Cameron Boozer. And we we kind of just talked about that we think he's gonna do everything for the team. He is gonna be, you know, just a guy that that is gonna win games, he he's gonna do more than just score for you, but you know, it it's it's all really you know close and relative, you know. So so whatever. But you know, Cameron is I think he'll be like an offensive engine for Memphis, you know, but you know, like blah, blah, blah. He's he's great, man. And I don't want to waste some ways more time talking about that. You know, I'm just glad that it wasn't you know Caleb or uh Darren Peterson. But moving to all the craziness, because it starts kind of started with Memphis at pick 16. So there was a lot of rumors that the Grizzlies were trying to trade up in the draft for another top 10 pick. Some of the targets were Kingston Flemings, Res Johnson, Braden Burries, maybe Yaxel, that that wasn't confirmed, and Dalen Swain. Those were the guys that they were very high on. And all those guys started to get drafted. They were not able to make a deal work. So when it got to them, they took Bennett Sturts. And I was like, okay, you know, Sturts I like. We have a lot of guards, but you know, I'm very much you just take the best player and your talent figures it out, right? So I like I was okay with that. And then 20 seconds later, it was okay. Well, actually, Memphis is trading this to the Thunder. They're gonna get two second-round picks and pick 17. So I'm I'm like, okay, so like maybe you, you know, you just maybe uh another team wanted Bennett and you kind of use that to get a little bit more, you know, tools and assets. Okay, cool. So then they move back and they get Abuka Corey. I was like, okay, Abuka Corey, you know, has some juice to him. I think people in Memphis will like him. You know, I I can see him fitting here. Then it came out that we were trading uh that Memphis was trading that pick to the Pistons. So they were getting now the pick at 21 and three extra second round picks. So now they have traded back twice and they've gotten five second-round picks and the pick at 21. So at this point, I was kind of like, okay, so so you know, a corey goes, 19 is Alan Graves, 20 is Jaden Quayton. So I'm like, okay, so LeBaron Phylon's still there, you know, Cameron Carr is slipping, you know, and you know, Cameron Carr, there's some reports that there were some character concerns, you know, dating back to when he was with Tennessee, and that's why because a lot of people talent-wise, he probably should have gone lottery, but he it's why he fell to I believe 25 or or four, you know, in this in this draft. And so when it got to him, I was like, okay, you know, he's very talented. You know, you get him at 21. And honestly, I thought that's who the Pistons fans would have wanted, but you know, it is what it is. So instead, they take Krim Lopez. And I am not a big Krim Lopez guy, you know, it's been very well documented. But even then, this wasn't that big of a reach. I think I had Kareem at 26. So this is only like, you know, five spots. It's not a huge reach. I would have rather done somebody else, but okay, you know, and and they're talking about it, and it's like, okay, you know, Kim, you know, he's probably like a project guy. They they tried to get a lot of the other players that I did really like, didn't work out. So you instead you just take a player that you think has a higher upselling and you get five second round picks. So from from a talent standpoint, I was like, okay, it's not as good, but you get five second-round picks. Going into round two of the night, there's a lot of rumors that Memphis and the Knicks are trying to trade out of their picks. The Knicks trade 31 to Houston for Bruce Thornton, who I think was Houston's only pick of the night. I love Bruce Thornton there, super cool. Then it gets 32 and they take Richie Saunders. I was like, okay, so are they trading this? But they end up keeping Richie. And this feels like a very Zach Kleiman pick. People that don't know Richie Saunders, he was awesome out of high school, and he actually gave up two years, I believe, to go do like a Mormon mission. So he didn't start college until a little bit later at BYU. And when him and AJ were together, I mean, they looked really good. And uh Richie, man, so after his year last year, people had him as like around one grade, probably. And then this year, people thought he would go low 20s, actually, you know, six foot uh five guard. He had you know good reach. He is a legitimate shooter, you know, he's he shot high 40s his entire, you know, from high school, he got into college, he shot mid 40s there, at like a real clip. He is a a run through a wall guy and get back up, build the wall for you, and then run through it again, type of guy. So, you know, very much like a bigger, better John Contra, right? Unfortunately, he tears his ACL in February, and that's kind of when everybody uh just knew that BYU was kind of cooked because you know him and AJ looked really good together, but without him there, it just it was too much on on you know AJ, right? So a lot of people really liked Richie Saunders, and a lot of the people that are are in this game had him around, you know, at like a first round grade, probably like in the mid-late 20s range, right? I had him at 27, I think. So the issue is he won't be playing this year at all. I don't know what type of contract he gets because you have a couple of other guys on the two-ways, you not sure what to do there, right? So he probably doesn't come back obviously until the 2027 season, and that's fine. You know, you you've got a real you know, roster hunch here, but he's already 25, he'll be turning 27 that year. So it's it's gonna be funky. He is a really good player. So from a talent standpoint, I get it, right? Cool. Then it goes on a little bit, and it comes out that the Grizzlies are actually trading for Isaiah Stewart. Isaiah Stewart, or known as Beef Stew, is the most Memphis player that I can probably think of in the entire league. You know, he he would have fit Grit and Grind so much here. Uh everybody here has wanted him for a long time. And not only that, but you get him by giving the Pistons back their three second round picks. So I don't know if maybe it was, you know, you you got Karim and those picks, and then they were like, hey, how about Isaiah Stewart, you know, for the picks back? And so, you know, so you get Isaiah Stewart, he's on, he's got two more years, he's only 25 years old. Super, I mean, like, he can play, man. Like, you know, he he was probably would have made all NBA defensive teams if he hadn't gotten injured. But, you know, he can play with Cameron, he can play with Zach Edy. He is he can shoot well from the three range on the corners, you know. I think around like in the mid 30s. So he's not like a killer or anything, but he can definitely hit the shot out there, you know, and and that's something that he is pretty solid at doing. He's a good rebounder, he's got one of the best rim defensive in terms of just like you paint numbers in terms of turning away shots and stopping people. And then he is tough as nails. You know, you can find like a 10-minute video of him wanting to smoke. You know, that there's a lot of guys who who talk a big game, and you know, he put all of them in their place, he willing to fight an entire team by himself, like like that dude. Like the fact that Zach Kleiman said he wanted dogs, and you look up today, and the roster is Scottie Pippen Jr., Cedric Howard, Zach Edy, Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Stewart, Cam Spencer, you know, uh Taylor Hendricks, and just on you know, Saunders, you know, that there's a game where Saunders is like bleeding from his head and he's still out there playing. Like it just, you know, you you've like prosper, just there's all these guys now that you have, and you're like, now winning's gonna matter so much. And you just know it's gonna matter. Uh, you know, small, like you you know that those guys are going to do everything to win. And a lot of I think a lot of people are still mad about Jaron's quote where he said, at least we're not poor when they just look terrible. Or I'm sorry, no, at least we're not homeless. And it just rubbed everybody the wrong way. That that's just who he's been his whole career. He was a guy of privilege, you know, basketball was cool to him, but it, you know, it's not something that he was so passionate about that he would, you know, break bones to to like win, you know. And I think the guys you you're currently building around very much feel that way. And even if they're not great next year, I think the forum, which is the arena in Memphis, I think will be very much so. I don't know, I'm not saying sell-outs, but it would like this past year was kind of dead. I think you get probably 60 to 70 percent average now, as opposed to I think around 40 to 50 percent last year. I think the the games will be a lot of fun. Guys will be fighting on the court. I'm I'm super excited for it. But to go into the draft, you get Cameron Boozer, Karim Lopez, Richie Saunders, two second round picks, and Isaiah Stewart is a A plus. That is incredible. You know, you it's just it's such a masterclass by Zach Kleiman. Every time that you think he's doing something that is a little bit, you know, just like I say dim-witted, but you know, something below standard, you figure out, oh, he's actually doing a lot here as well. And I have given him a lot of you know grief over the years, but you know, I mean, like, you know, he he does things like this, and you're like, oh man, he's up there with you know, Sam Preste and you know, and and a lot of these other really good, you know, good GMs that when he has tools and money and assets, he can really, really make it work. So I I give them an A plus. Let's

Best Values And Biggest Reaches

SPEAKER_00 41:08

move on to the guys I think were the best value gets in the draft. Um so based on my board, and and this is just where guys are picked, right? So I've got Bennett starts to OKC. That was a plus five. Maybe I was too high, but just just based on it if my value is correct, right? So let's just assume that this was a good pick based on value. Cameron Carr to the Lakers uh was a plus six. That's also great value. Uh Zubi Edge of Hord to Atlanta was plus four. Terry Shreed to the Spurs was plus three, and Isaiah Evans to Minnesota was plus six. So if let's just say that like my my assumptions are right in terms of where these guys should should have been picked or or where like you know, my value was. I think all these were you know really, really good. And just based on the teams that are kind of drafting them, I I feel pretty confident about that, man. Swinging the other way, though, the people that were the worst were, I mean, obviously I I've been very open that I'm not a big Nate Aymant guy, I'm not a big Chris, you know, SNAC guy. So they had the worst, you know, kind of the the worst rate. So Nate was a minus 21, but that's because I had him at like 31 or something. So everybody else probably had him at like 15 or 17 or something, so it's not that bad. But for me personally, I don't think it's shocking that he went at 13 and not 10 after they they realized that you know that they could get him at 13 because I don't think a lot of people really wanted him. I've got Michael Brown at a minus eight. I've got Chris Sinek was a minus 12. Alex Carriban was my biggest, actually. I've been very open. I'm not a big I'll I don't think he's a pro. The Kings actually trade up for him in the first round, and I have him at a minus 28. I just, you know, I he probably goes in the 30s or something, but I just I don't think he does anything for you, man. I think he he plays a couple years, and then he's just a guy. And then Braden Smith out of Purdue, I had at a minus 15, he goes to Indiana. I don't get that pick. You know, you could have gotten Bradley, who went like I think four, four picks later, and he's better in every conceivable way. But you know, Braden Smith is white and he goes to Indiana, so that makes a lot of sense, actually. I think James Bradley was the obviously best pick for them to do, but you know, I guess it just kind of is what it is. Now

Favorite Player Team Pairings

SPEAKER_00 43:20

I I'm just kind of gonna get into some some teams and some players that that like I just really love those actual liking matches. So the Mavericks getting Rez Johnson. I I I love this. You know, he is a person that will be able to be an enforcer for Cooper Flag for as long as those guys want to play together. He can, you know, basically take on any any heavy matchups and let Derek Lively do his thing and kind of like roam as like a weak side, you know, help defender. I think that can be really cool. Uh, you know, I I just think this is a really, really great pick. Dallas fans are gonna love this. I've already said this, but uh, I think Hannes to Charlotte is also one of. Of my favorite fits. He just he does everything that they need in terms of like a big. So I I love all of that. I think he's gonna be a really, really great fit as well. I really like LeBaron Phylon to the 76ers. I think Sam Vicini was talking about that they really didn't have another on-ball guard to really be able to like ball hell and dribble. Like they they had some guys who could, you know, play on the ball, but not like another specific guard. I think Phylon falling here. And I hate it because I I think this is right around where I actually had Phylon, but it wasn't a skill thing. I think Phylon is is good, man. And I think he has real real ability. I think he should be in the MEA. He just he's the only guy in the league that's gonna be his size. He's you know, six foot two, 176 pounds, you know. And we just saw John Morant, who was a little bit taller, but you know, he's barely played because he gets beat up all the time. You know, it's a real thing, you know, just not even like getting pushed around, but having to play 82 games, you know, is tough. On, you know, there's a reason why guys who are really big and guys who are really small, you know, have have issues because though those little injuries just kind of nag. And for big guys, having to put all that weight down. So I don't know. I I don't think he's ever a guy that can give you real minutes in a year uh or or in a season, you know, beyond maybe like 20 minutes or so. If you expect him to play a lot, I I expect he's probably a guy that plays around 60 games on average, but I I really love this pick. You know, him him getting to play with Maxi and BJ's is gonna be a lot of fun. And so I'm super into that. Terrace Reed to the Spurs. I think that is a perfect, perfect fit. Terrace Reed is a great professional already. He is a really, really good kid as well. I say kid, like you know, he's you know 22 or 23, but you know, super I think he gets to join a team that is clearly gonna be a powerhouse for the next five to seven years. He you know gets to play with Victor Omanyama. So as opposed to having to play against him, he gets to you know supplement him. He you know is joining an organization that a lot of people think is the is the best in the entire NBA, just from top to bottom in terms of how it's run. So I just I think that is a perfect match. He gives them so much insurance where if they don't want to play Victor because he has like, let's say, like like a nagging ankle injury or something, you can sit Victor like four to five games and be totally okay because Terras can can play a little bit for you. With Denver, I love Trevin Brazil here. He is something that they desperately need. They, you know, Trevin going to to play with Aaron Gordon and Jokic, just two smart big men, I think could really, really help him out. He has a lot of the skills that I think you know you need to succeed, but I don't know how real they are and how maybe just empty calories they were on that Arkansas team, but you know, he's crazy athletic. They don't have anybody like him. Good size, good reach, a good kid as well. You know, I you know, if he can work on his his on ball stuff, I think that could be pretty good. You know, so I I love him going there. It's it that should be like a really, really great pairing. Next, I've already talked about you know Sergio with Dallas. I think that's also really great. And then you know, Dalen Swain with the Bulls is obviously super killer for them too. You know, him and Caleb Wilson and Montes Pizellas could be uh just an insanely long athletic uh you know team together. Um that's just very, very cool, man. And then, of course, Cameron Boozer, you know, you know, the Grizzlies and AJ, blah, blah, blah. But guys,

Thanks Summer League Plans Goodbye

SPEAKER_00 47:23

very fun. This was a really great you know, draft cycle. I want to thank you know, Rusty for inviting me to go to the Bluff City Media watch party. Uh, getting to talk live was you know a lot of fun, just getting to meet everybody. So that was really cool. Hopefully, I can do more stuff with them going forward. Parker, you know, Fleming, Chip Williams, you know, shout out to both of them for you know us, you know, constantly bouncing ideas off each other in terms of just players and and things of that nature. So I will be going to Vegas, uh Summer League in about three weeks, I believe. I've already got my tickets for everything. I'm super excited. I think the Grizzlies play on the 10th and they're playing the Hawks. That'd be a really, really fun game. So that's gonna be really killer, man. Next week, I might have a guest. Um I'm gonna start to do maybe more, you know, specific team breakdowns or something of that nature, getting into you know, free agency stuff and and just rookies in terms of what's going on. I believe the Utah Summer League might start here soon as well. I think it's a week before the Vegas one, so we'll be talking about those games. But until next time, remember to watch more basketball.

SPEAKER_01 48:20

I've been doing this for 10 years. This is he's two years away from being two years away, and then we'll see.