NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: June 26, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

NBA DRAFT AND PLAYER MOVEMENT

The 2026 NBA Draft concluded with significant player movement and draft-day trades. The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick, choosing him over Darryn Peterson. Dybantsa, who will wear No. 4, expressed his commitment to turning the franchise's fortunes around as Washington welcomed their new star. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson landed with the Utah Jazz at No. 2, a move that saw him taken after Dybantsa. The Memphis Grizzlies used the third pick to select Cameron Boozer, further accelerating their rebuilding timeline. Other notable lottery selections included Morez Johnson Jr. to the Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 and Yaxel Lendeborg to the Golden State Warriors at No. 11. Lendeborg, a Michigan wing, admitted he used to be a Kyrie Irving fan and dislike Stephen Curry. The Chicago Bulls bolstered their frontcourt by taking Caleb Wilson at No. 4, citing his athletic upside. The Detroit Pistons, after selecting Mexico-born Karim Lopez at No. 21, traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies, who also acquired Isaiah Stewart from the Pistons for three second-round picks in a separate transaction. The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons for two second-round picks in another draft-day deal.

FREE AGENCY AND CONTRACTS

As free agency looms, several key players have signaled their intentions to re-sign with their current teams. Guard Coby White intends to sign a three-year, $74 million deal to return to the Charlotte Hornets, while restricted free agent Mark Williams is set to ink a three-year, $38 million contract with the Phoenix Suns. Al Horford plans to continue his career with the Golden State Warriors, expecting to sign a two-year, $14 million contract once free agency officially opens. Meanwhile, Lakers star Austin Reaves is poised to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum extension, including a player option for the final season.

TRADE RUMORS AND COACHING NEWS

Trade speculation continues to swirl around All-Star forward Jaylen Brown. The Boston Celtics remain actively engaged in trade talks for Brown, though Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens stated that Brown remains "valued" by the organization amidst the reported discussions. In coaching news, Micah Nori was hired as the new head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, having been the No. 2 choice for several other NBA teams before securing the top position in Portland. However, the structure of Nori's contract has drawn criticism, with J.B. Bickerstaff, president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, calling it a "slap in the face to our members".

FANTASY BASKETBALL AND DRAFT SUPERLATIVES

to fantasy basketball, the impact of offseason moves is already being analyzed. The trade of Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets is among the transactions being broken down for fantasy owners. For the upcoming 2027 NBA draft, prospects like Tyran Stokes and other top talents are already on the radar in early mock drafts. Draft superlatives from the 2026 class highlight unique player traits, with AJ Dybantsa's jersey situation noted among the personality-based awards.

OTHER NBA NEWS

In other NBA news, Aces coach Becky Hammon has maintained her stance on smaller guards leading teams, despite acknowledging that Jalen Brunson has proven to be an "outlier" in that regard. Hammon clarified that her opinion was wrong regarding Brunson but did not apologize for holding it initially. The Milwaukee Bucks' general manager, Jon Horst, declined to discuss specifics regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, instead emphasizing the team's focus on "building" following their draft selections. The Trail Blazers' governor, Tom Dundon, insists that only public funds should be used for the proposed $600 million Moda Center renovation. Narcisse Ngoy, a 57th-round pick in the NBA draft, will return to play college basketball at Auburn next season.