3d
Draft Rumors
Jimmy Butler trade: Heat won't act out of desperation
While the Heat prefers to get a deal done sooner rather than later because Butler’s wish to be traded has become clear, league sources have emphasized that the Heat won’t act out of desperation and will only accept an offer it feels helps the team now and moving forward. In any Butler trade, the Heat wants to acquire a quality player (or players) who can help the team this season. That will be the top priority for Miami. But the Heat also doesn’t want to take back long-term salary that’s going to clog its salary cap for the 2026 offseason, unless it’s for top-end All-Star talent. Draft capital is also critical for the Heat, as it currently only has one unprotected first-round pick that it can deal away.
Kevin Durant chooses Kobe Bryant over Michael Jordan for his All-Hoopers starting five
You know they talk about pure hoopers and skill. If you had to draft a starting five, with guys like Jamal and yourself, who would you pick? Pure hoopers—how many players? Five hoopers, is that what you’re saying? KEVIN DURANT: I’m going to leave out a lot of dudes, but if I had to pick five off the top—because you’re just putting me on the spot like that—I’mma go: Kyrie Irving at the one. It’s a debate between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan at the two. I know you’re from Chicago, so you might hear this and get confused, but purely skill-wise—Kobe. Yeah, Kobe. He’s got that three-ball, he can handle, he’s got the wiggle, and he can do all the technical stuff MJ can do. So, it’s a toss-up, but I’mma go with Kobe at the two. Alright, for the three, I’mma go Melo—no, actually, I’mma go T-Mac. Yeah, T-Mac at my three. T-Mac at the three, for sure. I’ll have to play the four since it’s my team. And at the five, I’mma go KG. I think KG is underrated, man. Too underrated. He’s just so underrated.
Rival executives and coaches widely believe that the Thunder are in the early stages of an extended window as a contender, but Oklahoma City’s roster has been built without repeated swings in the upper half of the draft lottery.
5d
Mike Vorkunov: The Suns will get the least favorable of the Denver and Philadelphia 2025 2nd round picks from Charlotte in the Nick Richards trade, according to a league source.
Gerald Bourguet: The Suns value Nick Richards’ athleticism, defense and rim-rolling, as well as the fact that he’s under contract for next year. According to a source, the Suns are getting back a 2025 second-round pick in the deal with Charlotte (so basically gave up Josh Okogie and 2 seconds)
Bobby Marks: Here are the second round pick details sources tell @ShamsCharania and myself. To Charlotte 2026 Denver 2nd 2031 Denver 2nd 2031 Phoenix 2nd To Phoenix 2025 Denver 2nd
Keith Smart will coach No. 1 draft pick candidate AJ Dybantsa at Utah Prep
Utah Prep has a new head coach who has NBA coaching in his background. The high school in Hurricane, Utah, announced that Keith Smart would be their head coach moving forward, which means he will be coaching up BYU signees AJ Dybantsa and Xavion Staton.
