Month: June 2021

Okay, HBO Max. We see you.

The streaming platform is bringing its A-game this month, and by that, we mean it’s delivering a handful of new shows, straight-to-theater drops, and cult favorites to its growing subscriber list. Over on HBO Max, the new iteration of Gossip Girl serves up some drama while LeBron James headlines a Space Jam sequel. And, on HBO, a limited dark comedy series starring a whos-who of veteran talent looks like a promising binge.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) HBO and HBO Max this July.

Gossip Girl (HBO Max Original Series Premiere streaming 7/8)

Hello, Upper East Siders and anyone who’s missed the misbehaving privileged youth of Constance Billard. HBO Max is hitting the refresh button on this soapy teen drama, introducing a new set of wild and wealthy kids running the streets of New York City — or at least driving around them in daddy’s limo. This group though is going to wrestle with having wealth, power, and status so expect storylines to feel more inclusive and updated, but hopefully, just as scandalous.

The White Lotus (HBO Limited Series streaming 7/11)

A who’s who of comedy veterans (and Connie Britton) star in this limited series from HBO that focuses on the rich, white guests of a five-star Hawaiian resort and the native staff that must attend to their every deranged, insulting, inappropriate whim. Steve Zahn, Molly Shannon, Jennifer f*cking Coolidge, they’re all here and they all deliver some deliciously dark comedic turns.

Space Jam: A New Legacy, 2021 (Warner Bros. Film Premiere streaming 7/16)

LeBron James captains the sequel to everyone’s favorite 90s basketball/Looney Tunes crossover movie. James plays a version of himself as he tries to rescue his son from a rogue A.I. after they’re both trapped in a digital dimension. In order to do that, he’s got to lead a team of familiar cartoon characters to victory on the court.

Avail. 7/1
Come! (aka Eat!), 2020
8 Mile, 2002 (HBO)
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2, 1996 (HBO)
All Dogs Go to Heaven, 1989 (HBO)
Behind Enemy Lines, 1997 (HBO)
Beneath the Planet of the Apes, 1970 (HBO)
Bio-Dome, 1996 (HBO)
Black Panthers, 1968
Blackhat, 2015 (HBO)
Brubaker, 1980 (HBO)
Cantinflas (HBO)
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, 1972 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Cousins, 1989 (HBO)
Dark Water, 2005 (HBO)
Darkness Falls, 2003 (HBO)
Demolition Man, 1993
Dirty Work, 1998 (HBO)
Disturbia, 2007 (HBO)
Doctor Who Holiday 2020 Special: Revolution of the Daleks, 2020
Duplex, 2003 (HBO)
Escape from the Planet of the Apes, 1971 (HBO)
Eve’s Bayou, 1997
Firestarter, 1984 (HBO)
First, 201
For Colored Girls, 2010 (HBO)
For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada, 2012 (HBO)
Full Bloom, Max Original Season 2 Finale
Gandhi, 1982
Ghost in the Machine, 1993 (HBO)
The Good Lie, 2014 (HBO)
Gun Crazy, 1950
House on Haunted Hill, 1999
Identity Thief, 2013 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Ira & Abby, 2007 (HBO)
Joe Versus the Volcano, 1990
Judas and the Black Messiah, 2021 (HBO)
Laws Of Attraction, 2004 (HBO)
Lucky, 2017 (HBO)
Maid in Manhattan, 2002
Married to the Mob, 1988 (HBO)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, 1997
Mississippi Burning, 1988 (HBO)
Monster-In-Law, 2005
Mousehunt, 1997 (HBO)
My Brother Luca (HBO)
No Sudden Move, Warner Bros. Film Premiere, 2021
Planet of the Apes, 1968 (HBO)
Pleasantville, 1998
The Prince of Tides, 1991
Project X, 1987 (HBO)
The Punisher, 2004 (HBO)
Punisher: War Zone, 2008 (HBO)
Rambo, 2008 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Reds, 1981 (HBO)
Reservoir Dogs, 1992 (HBO)
The Return of the Living Dead, 1985 (HBO)
Return of the Living Dead III, 1993 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Rounders, 1998 (HBO)
Saturday Night Fever, 1977 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Scream, 1996
Scream 2, 1997
Scream 3, 2000
Semi-Tough, 1977 (HBO)
The Sessions, 2012 (HBO)
Set Up, 2012 (HBO)
Snake Eyes, 1998 (HBO)
Staying Alive, 1983 (HBO)
Stuart Little, 1999
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 2003
Tom and Jerry in New York, Max Original Series Premiere
Trick ‘R Treat, 2009 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, 2007 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman, 2005 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself, 2009 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail, 2009 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family, 2011 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion, 2006 (HBO)
Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too, 2010 (HBO)
The Watcher, 2016 (HBO)
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, 2007 (HBO)
Westworld (Movie), 1973
White Chicks (Unrated & Uncut Version), 2004
The White Stadium, 1928
Won’t Back Down, 2012 (HBO)
Zero Days, 2016 (HBO)

Avail. 7/2
Lo Que Siento por Ti (aka What I Feel for You) (HBO)

Avail. 7/3
Let Him Go, 2020 (HBO)
Nancy Drew, Season 2

Avail. 7/7
Dr. STONE, Seasons 1 and 2 (Subtitled) (Crunchyroll Collection)
Shiva Baby, 2021 (HBO)

Avail. 7/8
The Dog House: UK, Max Original Season 2 Premiere
Genera+ion, Max Original Season 1 Finale
Gossip Girl, Max Original Series Premiere
Human Capital, 2020 (HBO)
The Hunt, 2020 (HBO)
Looney Tunes Cartoons, Max Original Season 2 Premiere

Avail. 7/9
Frankie Quinones: Superhomies (HBO)

Avail. 7/11
The White Lotus, Limited Series Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 7/12
Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes, Documentary Series Premiere (HBO)
Wellington Paranormal, Season 1

Avail. 7/15
Tom & Jerry, 2021 (HBO)

Avail. 7/16
Betty, Season 2 Finale (HBO)
Space Jam: A New Legacy, Warner Bros. Film Premiere, 2021
Un Disfraz Para Nicolas (aka A Costume for Nicolas) (HBO)

Avail. 7/17
The Empty Man, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 7/18
100 Foot Wave, Documentary Series Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 7/22
Through Our Eyes, Max Original Documentary Series Premiere

Avail. 7/23
Corazon De Mezquite (aka Mezquite’s Heart) (HBO)

Avail. 7/24
Freaky, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 7/26
Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes, Documentary Series Finale (HBO)

Avail. 7/27
Batwoman, Season 2
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)

Avail. 7/30
Uno Para Todos (aka One for All) (HBO)

Leaving 7/3
The ABC’s Of Covid-19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Parents Part 2, 2020

Leaving 7/4
Annabelle, 2014
Annabelle Comes Home, 2019 (HBO)
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, 2021
The Curse of La Llorona, 2019
The Nun, 2018

Leaving 7/5
Lost And Delirious, 2001

Leaving 7/8
Mad Max: Fury Road, 2015

Leaving 7/10
It: Chapter 2, 2019 (HBO)

Leaving 7/11
An Elephant’s Journey, 2018
In the Heights, 2021
Thanks for Sharing, 2013

Leaving 7/15
Burlesque, 2010

Leaving 7/17
The Notebook, 2004

Leaving 7/26
The King’s Speech, 2010

Leaving 7/31
17 Again, 2009
A Clockwork Orange, 1971
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, 1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, 1988
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, 1989
A Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street, 2010
Adam’s Rib, 1949
America’s Sweethearts, 2001
Anaconda, 1997
The Apparition, 2012 (HBO)
Are We There Yet?, 2005
Argo, 2012 (Alternate Version) (HBO)
AVP: Alien vs. Predator, 2004 (Alternate Version) (HBO)
Badlands, 1973
Beau Brummel, 1954
The Benchwarmers, 2006
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, 2011 (HBO)
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!, 2012 (HBO)
Billy Madison, 1995 (HBO)
The Book Of Eli, 2010 (HBO)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula, 1992
Bringing Up Baby, 1938
The City of Lost Children, 1995
The Color Purple, 1985
The Comebacks, 2007 (Alternate Version) (HBO)
The Conjuring 2, 2016
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, 2002 (HBO)
Don’t Let Go, 2019 (HBO)
Downton Abbey, 2019 (HBO)
El Angel (aka The Angel), 2018 (HBO)
Eyes Wide Shut, 1999
Fool’s Gold, 2008
Fort Tilden, 2015 (HBO)
The Four Feathers, 2002 (HBO)
The Gay Divorcee, 1934
Get A Job, 2016 (HBO)
The Goonies, 1985
Grand Canyon, 1991 (HBO)
Hairspray, 1988
Happy Gilmore, 1996 (HBO)
Hellboy Animated Collection, 2006, 2007
The Hurricane, 1999 (HBO)
I Know What You Did Last Summer, 1997
Iniciales SG (aka Initials S.G.), 2019 (HBO)
J. Edgar, 2011
Jackie Chan’s First Strike, 1997
Jacob’s Ladder, 1990 (HBO)
Jeremiah Johnson, 1972
Keeper Of The Flame, 1943
Kill Bill: Vol. 1, 2003 (HBO)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2, 2004 (HBO)
Kung Fu Hustle, 2005
The Lego Ninjago Movie, 2014
Less Than Zero, 1987 (HBO)
Life Stinks, 1991 (HBO)
Lincoln, 2012 (HBO)
Little Children, 2006 (HBO)
Little Man Tate, 1991 (HBO)
Lovely & Amazing, 2002
The Lucky One, 2012 (HBO)
The Madness of King George, 1994 (HBO)
Marisol, 2019 (HBO)
Me 3.769, 2019 (HBO)
Michael Clayton, 2007
Mickey Blue Eyes, 1999
Monster-In-Law, 2005
Mulholland Dr., 2001
Muralla (aka Muralla, The Goalkeeper), 2018 (HBO)
Murder on the Orient Express, 1974 (HBO)
Music and Lyrics, 2007
My Dream Is Yours, 1949
My Girl 2, 1994
My Girl, 1991
My Sister’s Keeper, 2009
Now, Voyager, 1942
Old Dogs, 2009 (HBO)
The Opposite Sex, 1956
The Pledge, 2001 (HBO)
Precious, 2009 (HBO)
The Producers, 1968
The Prophecy, 1995 (HBO)
The Prophecy II, 1998 (HBO)
The Prophecy III: The Ascent, 2000 (HBO)
Prophecy IV: The Uprising, 2005 (HBO)
Prophecy V: The Forsaken, 2005 (HBO)
Pulp Fiction, 1994
Rachel and The Stranger, 1948
Radio Days, 1987 (HBO)
The Reluctant Debutante, 1958
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise, 1987 (HBO)
Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love, 2005 (HBO)
Revenge of the Nerds, 1984 (HBO)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, 1991
Roger & Me, 1989
Rollerball, 2002 (HBO)
Romance on the High Seas, 1948
Rumble in the Bronx, 1996
Safe House, 2012 (HBO)
Salvador, 1986 (HBO)
Shall We Dance?, 2004
Shallow Hal, 2001 (HBO)
Shocker, 1989 (HBO)
Sinbad of the Seven Seas, 1989 (HBO)
Sprung, 1997 (HBO)
Stop-Loss, 2008 (HBO)
Sunshine Cleaning, 2009 (HBO)
Swing Time, 1936
Tea for Two, 1950
Thief, 1981 (HBO)
This Is Spinal Tap, 1984 (HBO)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 2011 (HBO)
Top Hat, 1935
Trapped in Paradise, 1994 (HBO)
Troll 2, 1990 (HBO)
Troll, 1986 (HBO)
Two Minutes of Fame, 2020 (HBO)
Underdog, 2007 (HBO)
Untamed Heart, 1993 (HBO)
Up in the Air, 2009 (HBO)
The Visitor, 2008
Waiting for Guffman, 1997
The Wedding Singer, 1998
Wendy, 2020 (HBO)
Wildcats, 1986 (HBO)
The Wings of Eagles, 1957
Without Love, 1945
Woman of the Year, 1942
Worth Winning, 1989 (HBO)
Young Man with a Horn, 1949

This week, Tucker Carlson decided to deflect (as Tucker is known to do, he’s very good at it) from a damning report about himself and piled onto Don Lemon. Let’s back up a second because there’s a huge mess here that isn’t even close to being mopped up.

The New York Times‘ Ben Smith recently reported that Tucker is secretly “a great source” for unflattering stories about Donald Trump. Instead of Tucker confirming or denying this story (there’s no way he would confirm, and he won’t deny because he loves speculative attention), Tucker decided to completely ignore the story both off-and-on the air. Tucker still won’t answer the still-pressing question of whether he’s been vaccinated, and he even pushed back at Smith with a crack about the writer’s sex life.

And Tucker decided that it was a good time to pick on Don Lemon, given that the CNN host had been profiled by the Washington Post magazine profile to promote his book, This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism. The WaPo mentioned that Lemon lives in Sag Harbor, N.Y., and Tucker used the opportunity to baselessly point out that Lemon lives in a multimillion dollar house in a community that “is just 3% African-American.” Tucker even added, “No, he does not live in Section 8 housing,” and then he argued that Lemon’s living situation is evidence that he “runs away from diversity.”

Lemon responded to these racially charged remarks with disappointment:

“Section 8 housing. Let me simply just say this: If you think that a Black person who doesn’t live in public housing can’t experience or understand racism in this country, well, that just says much more about you and your ignorance on these issues than it does about me.”

Lemon added that he generally prefers not to respond to these sorts of things from the “Fox Propaganda Network,” because he doesn’t like to “punch down.” Presumably, that’s why he didn’t directly respond to Carlson’s wild ranting about a kitchen decoration that he called a “white supremacist QAnon cookie jar” in Don Lemon’s kitchen. Carlson had rambled about “shapeshifters” while adding, “Now, we’re not calling anyone a white supremacist here, but you have to ask yourself… what is this symbol of hate posing as a cookie jar, doing in Don Lemon’s kitchen?”

Apparently, Lemon felt that addressing that particular jab would be a step too far.

In just a few days, the latest album from Faye Webster, I Know I’m Funny Haha, will be out in the world. She has shared some promising previews of the album leading up to it, and today, she has offered what will presumably be her final pre-release single, “A Dream With A Baseball Player.”

The song comes across like a bedroom jam with a funky bass line and some ’90s R&B vibes. Webster says of the track:

“A song about Ronald Acuna Jr, obviously. Off tour I spent so much of my time watching baseball that I thought I wanted to be a baseball player. But I’m not, so I guess the next best thing was having a crush on one. I guess this song explains what having a crush feels like. Having made up conversations with them in your head even though you don’t speak their language, wearing their team jersey every day, things that make you feel closer to this person that you don’t know at all. But I sang at the Braves game, and they let us meet so I think I got that one out of my system.”

Watch the “A Dream With A Baseball Player” video above. Webster also added a run of 2022 dates to her upcoming tour, so find her full list of upcoming shows below.

09/07/2021 — A&R Bar @ Columbus, OH
09/08/2021 — Mahall’s @ Cleveland, OH
09/09/2021 — Hi-Fi @ Indianapolis, IN
09/13/2021 — El Club @ Detroit, MI
09/14/2021 — Club Cafe @ Pittsburgh, PA
09/15/2021 — 9th Ward @ Buffalo, NY
09/17/2021 — Higher Ground @ Burlington, VT
09/18/2021 — Portland House Of Music @ Portland, ME
09/20/2021 — Sinclair @ Boston, MA
09/21/2021 — Music Hall of Williamsburg @ New York, NY
09/23/2021 — The Foundry @ Philadelphia, PA
09/24/2021 — Union Stage @ Washington D.C.
09/25/2021 — The Southern @ Charlottesville, VA
09/27/2021 — Mercy Lounge @ Nashville, TN
09/29/2021 — Georgia Theatre @ Athens, GA
09/30/2021 — Terminal West @ Atlanta, GA
02/01/2022 — Saturn @ Birmingham, AL
02/03/2022 — Trees @ Dallas, TX
02/04/2022 — The Parish @ Austin, TX
02/05/2022 — White Oak Music Hall @ Houston, TX
02/07/2022 — Crescent Ballroom @ Phoenix, AZ
02/08/2022 — The Casbah @ San Diego, CA
02/10/2022 — The Fonda @ Los Angeles, CA
02/11/2022 — The New Parish @ San Francisco, CA
02/13/2022 — Douglas Fir Lounge @ Portland, OR
02/14/2022 — Neumos @ Seattle, WA
02/15/2022 — The Biltmore @ Vancouver, BC
02/19/2022 — Slowdown @ Omaha, NE
02/21/2022 — Fine Line @ Minneapolis, MN
02/24/2022 — Horseshoe @ Toronto, ON
02/25/2022 — Petit Campus @ Montreal, QC
03/01/2022 — Webster Hall @ New York City, NY

I Know I’m Funny Haha is out 6/25 via Secretly Canadian. Pre-order it here.

Travis Scott might not want to be considered a “brand” or to “market” himself but at this point, it seems like every move he makes is selling something. His 2021 Astroworld Festival reportedly sold out in under an hour, and his Cacti spiked seltzer has become an instant best-seller at retailers all across the country.

So it should come as no surprise that the one-man brand is practicing a bit of corporate synergy to (ahem) spike sales of his spiked seltzer by taking a page out of Willy Wonka’s playbook. Starting today, fans will be able to secure entry to Astroworld Festival by finding one of 100 cans of Cacti that will unlock two tickets — a la Wonka’s golden tickets granting entry to the fabled chocolate factory. The cans are hidden inside 9-count variety packs of Cacti; they’re strawberry, decorated in custom Astroworld decorations, and signed by Travis himself.

Finding a can will allow fans to claim the tickets online, and Travis is also holding sweepstakes for some fans to win tickets digitally.

Intriguingly, the Astroworld Festival still has yet to announce a lineup for the event in November. That probably won’t stop Travis’ enthusiastic fans from pursuing those golden ticket cans; 2020 saw Travis’ prior partnership with McDonald’s become so successful it lifted the fast-food giant out of a historic sales slump.

For more info on Astroworld Festival, visit the official website.

Saweetie and Quavo may have publicly ended their relationship back in March amid cheating rumors, but they’re apparently still parsing through each other’s things. Though some may think it’s reasonable to keep a gift given by an ex partner after a split, that’s not the case with the luxury Bentley convertible Quavo gave Saweetie as the car is now up for sale.

For Saweetie’s birthday in December, Quavo went all out by getting her a custom powder blue Bentley complete with monogrammed headrests. Saweetie was overjoyed about the gift at the time, but it looks like Quavo took the car back after their breakup. According to a report from TMZ, Quavo has decided to put the GTC V8 car up for sale at the luxury and exotic car dealership Jakes Motorcars.

Saweetie didn’t get much use out of the whip before ending things with Quavo, as the car reportedly only has 2,191 miles on it. Due to its luxury look and low mileage, Quavo is apparently asking $279,888 for it. Seeing as Saweetie recently teamed up with Tesla for a new car giveaway, it doesn’t look like she’ll be needing that Bentley anyway.

Saweetie is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Dave Chappelle isn’t above apologizing for things he has done and regretted—like the time he told Saturday Night Live viewers “to give Trump a chance” during his opening monologue shortly after the 2016 election. But one thing he’s definitely not sorry about is calling conservative commentator and professional shit-disturber Candace Owens a “rotten bitch” during his 8:46 comedy special, which premiered on YouTube in June of 2020.

As the Daily Beast reports, that earlier comment about Owens came up during the most recent episode of “The Midnight Miracle,” the podcast Chappelle hosts with Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey. When Chappelle asked his co-hosts, “There is no possible way that I owe Candace Owens an apology, is there?,” their response was an immediate: “F*ck that!”

To put Chappelle’s comment in better perspective: 8:46 was released shortly after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who has since been convicted of murder. At the time, Owens—whose career is essentially based on offering the worst possible takes at the worst possible times—had a lot to say about the case, which all really boiled down to her belief that Floyd was a bad guy who deserved what he got. So it was hardly surprising when Chappelle brought her up during his show, saying: “That rotten bitch, she’s the worst. I can’t think of a worse way to make money. She’s the most articulate idiot I’ve ever seen in my f*cking life.”

Owens responded to Chappelle’s comments at the time—calling him a legend, then daring him to make the same comments to her face. (Does she know anything about Chappelle?)

Chappelle, Kweli, and Bey also talked about how Owens—ever the contrarian—worked with the NAACP to sue her high school for discrimination back in the day, but that she has since transformed into the “mascot for colonial interests in America today.”

Jon Stewart joined in the conversation a little later in the episode, and offered his thoughtful take on why Chappelle was “so effective in what you said about Candace Owens: Because they have held you up as an avatar of truth-telling, because you’re willing to speak your art in the way that you want to speak it.”

Stewart also made the point that Owens’ whole brand is based on being a troll. “Her life is provocation, her brand is provocation, that’s how she makes her money,” Stewart said, adding that it’s a “provocation and a troll that’s meant to increase brand recognition.”

In the end, Chappelle did apologize to Owens for one thing: “I’m sorry I called you ‘articulate.’”

You can access Chappelle’s podcast here.

(Via Daily Beast)

On the heels of an interminable 2020 NBA Draft cycle, it may seem as if the 2021 NBA Draft is sneaking up on basketball observers. After all, there isn’t the kind of lengthy break between events this time around and, as such, there was a sense of relative normalcy as the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery unfolded on Tuesday, June 22. Much of the league is focused on the ongoing postseason but, for several clubs, the bouncing of ping-pong balls were of significant interest, and the Detroit Pistons landed the No. 1 overall pick.

While the top spot is always the grand prize, there were several interesting dynamics in play when things finally settled. The Houston Rockets will pick No. 2, avoiding a potential drop that would’ve resulted in an extra pick for the Oklahoma City Thunder. From there, the Golden State Warriors will pick twice in the Lottery and both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors hopped up the board.

As a disclaimer, this is a quick-fire mock draft and much will change in the future. Mock drafts are also different than big boards, which should be stressed at every turn.

1. Detroit Pistons – Cade Cunningham (G/F, Oklahoma State)

In the coming weeks, the Pistons may consider other candidates. Within seconds of the Lottery, however, Cunningham’s representation indicated he would visit only with Detroit and, at least in my view, he is the clear No. 1 prospect. The Draft should start at No. 2.

2. Houston Rockets – Evan Mobley (C/F, USC)

Mobley is my No. 2 overall player, but the Rockets could easily go in a different direction. For one, Christian Wood is currently the most valuable piece on Houston’s roster and he plays the same position. Then, there are plenty of folks who would prefer Jalen Green and/or Jalen Suggs to Mobley, regardless of fit. For now, we’ll still slot Mobley here, but with many caveats.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jalen Green (G, G League Elite)

The Cavs also have a strong incumbent at center with Jarrett Allen, which may come into play should Mobley slide. Here, Green is available and he brings a sky-high upside as a scorer and a big-time athlete. Cleveland has invested heavily in its backcourt, but Green can play with either Darius Garland or Collin Sexton, at least in theory.

4. Toronto Raptors – Jalen Suggs (G, Gonzaga)

Toronto may be in a transition phase with Kyle Lowry hitting free agency. The Raptors do have Fred VanVleet, of course, but Suggs has the size to play either guard spot and he is a cerebral, highly skilled player. Given where they were mid-season, the Raptors coming away with Suggs would feel like a grand slam.

5. Orlando Magic – Jonathan Kuminga (F/G, G League Ignite)

Depending on who you ask, there is a top-4 or a top-5. Kuminga is very often associated with the No. 5 spot in a big board setting, though, and the Magic end up here. Every team in the NBA could use a player with the traits Kuminga brings, even when acknowledging that he seems to be less “safe” than the other four guys.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder – Scottie Barnes (F, Florida State)

Oklahoma City could’ve landed a pair of top-5 picks. Instead, they only pick at No. 6 and asset accumulation mode continues. Barnes isn’t unanimously beloved as a prospect, but he has incredibly interesting tools with a 7’2 wingspan and versatility on both ends of the floor. The Thunder can afford to swing.

7. Golden State Warriors (via Minnesota) – Jalen Johnson (F, Duke)

Golden State has two picks and they can get creative, should they decide to keep them. Johnson’s market is seemingly split after a weird season at Duke, but he has size (6’9) and versatility that could fit snugly with the Warriors. His passing would seemingly pop in the offense Steve Kerr runs, and some of his issues as a half-court scorer could be mitigated while playing with Steph Curry.

8. Orlando Magic (via Chicago) – James Bouknight (G, UConn)

Bouknight is a bucket getter. The Magic did invest in Cole Anthony last year, but that was a non-Lottery pick and Orlando should be in best player available mode. That may not be Bouknight, but they have to continue searching for creation help and he brings it.

9. Sacramento Kings – Moses Moody (G/F, Arkansas)

The Kings nailed their pick last year with Tyrese Haliburton. That opens things up a bit, with Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox forming Sacramento’s perimeter core. Moody would fit anywhere, but he is a 3-and-D prospect that just turned 19 years old, and he projects to be a highly valuable piece.

10. New Orleans Pelicans – Josh Giddey (G/F, Adelaide 36ers)

Giddey’s stock is exploding as a top-10 perch would’ve seemed wild a few months ago. The Pelicans could go in a number of directions, but Giddey is an impressive playmaker and ball-mover, and his creativity would fit nicely in what New Orleans found with “Point Zion” last season. They would need to buy his shooting to take him here, but that isn’t too much of a stretch.

11. Charlotte Hornets – Kai Jones (C/F, Texas)

Jones is kind of in his own category in this Draft. He flashes an absurd ceiling with some of the plays he can make offensively, and he’s a tremendous athlete at 6’11, with fluidity and explosiveness. If you see him on the wrong night, though, you will wonder why he’s a potential Lottery pick. The Hornets still don’t have their center of the future and, outside the top-10, it would be hard to find a player with higher upside.

12. San Antonio Spurs – Alperen Sengun (C/F, Beskitas)

Sengun is very Spurs-y. There are questions about his defense and athleticism at the NBA level, but he has been dominant force in the Turkish league. His skill level is really impressive for a player his size, and the buzz is that Sengun is trendy toward lottery lock status.

13. Indiana Pacers – Davion Mitchell (G, Baylor)

Mitchell is a fascinating evaluation and there is a defined split in his evaluation. Some see him as a potential top-7 pick, banking on the intangibles he showed in leading Baylor to a national title and appreciating his on-ball defensive aptitude. Others are very skeptical, referring to his middling free throw shooting, one-season uptick beyond the arc, and lack of height (6’0 in socks) as clear red flags. Mitchell will also be 23 years old when training camp begins. It will be fascinating to see where he lands.

14. Golden State Warriors – Keon Johnson (G/F, Tennessee)

The Warriors end up with both Lottery picks with the last name of Johnson. While Jalen’s skill set is nuanced, Keon’s primary appeal, at least right now, is his explosive athleticism. He does flash some intrigue as a passer, but Johnson will need to shoot it better to justify this slot.

15. Washington Wizards – Usman Garuba (C/F, Real Madrid)

Thomas Bryant is under contract and Robin Lopez had a strong year for the Wizards. However, neither is a long-term answer on both ends, and Garuba is a malleable piece that projects to be an impact defender in the NBA. Washington could go just about anywhere, though, even after taking a pair of combo forwards in the last two years.

16. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Boston) – Jaden Springer (G, Tennessee)

Oklahoma City has an impossibly deep war chest of picks and they can afford to swing as a result. Springer has his pros and cons, but he may have the highest ceiling of any remaining player on the board. In addition, his projected skill set, particularly defensively, would fit well next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

17. Memphis Grizzlies – Franz Wagner (F, Michigan)

The Grizzlies tried to fill their need for a big, defensive-minded wing when they acquired Justise Winslow. That didn’t work out and, even with the emergence of Kyle Anderson, Memphis could still be in the market for a do-it-all role player. Wagner does have some questions with his jump shot, but his defensive instincts are strong and he projects as a long-time role player that should contribute to winning.

18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami) – Ziaire Williams (F/G, Stanford)

It was a weird year for Williams and he may fall below this as a result. At the same time, he is a Lottery-level talent at 6’7 with the ability to space the floor and check a lot of boxes as a modern wing. As noted above, Oklahoma City can keep taking swings, and he was a consensus top-10 pick out of high school for a reason.

19. New York Knicks – Sharife Cooper (G, Auburn)

Cooper is a tricky evaluation. He is absolutely electric as a passer and ball-handler, and he is remarkably quick with the ball in his hands. Cooper is also small with defensive questions and a jumper that is, at best, unproven. He is one of the players most difficult to pin down in terms of a range, with some observers talking Lottery and others not seeing it all.

20. Atlanta Hawks – Corey Kispert (G/F, Gonzaga)

Kispert’s perceived value took a hit in the championship game against Baylor, but he remains a tremendous shooting prospect. That is certainly his calling card, although Kispert, at 6’6 and 224 pounds, has enough size to potentially hold up defensively.

21. New York Knicks (via Dallas) – Isaiah Jackson (C, Kentucky)

Jackson may go higher than this, as he has fans across the league. The Knicks don’t have a glaring need at center if Mitchell Robinson sticks around long-term, but Jackson’s Kentucky connection might come in handy with the current pipeline from Lexington to New York City.

22. Los Angeles Lakers – Chris Duarte (G/F, Oregon)

The Lakers are clearly in win-now mode, so the fact that Duarte is 23 years old (and will be 24 soon) isn’t as much of an issue. Beyond that, Duarte is one of the best bets to be an early contributor in a positive way, as he can shoot, handle the ball enough, and defend his position.

23. Houston Rockets (via Portland) – Josh Christopher (G, Arizona State)

It feels like someone will take Christopher in the top 35 picks or so. He comes with high-end prep pedigree and clearly has a knack as a scorer. He also had an uneven season at Arizona State but, in general, scoring is rarely undervalued. Christopher will fill it up, and the Rockets have three picks, meaning they can take a swing or two.

24. Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee) – Trey Murphy (F, Virginia)

Murphy is the opposite of Christopher in a lot of ways. He is an elite-level shooter, at least at the college level, and there are tools for him defensively at 6’8 or 6’9. He wasn’t necessarily on the radar for most observers this season, but the buzz is strong on Murphy as a potential long-time rotation player.

25. Los Angeles Clippers – Tre Mann (G, Florida)

Reggie Jackson found a groove in the playoffs but, prior to that, it was no secret that the Clippers need a lead guard. Mann is more of a scoring/shooting threat than a distributor, but he’s 6’5 with the ability to pull up and a high-level feel for the game.

26. Denver Nuggets – Roko Prkacin (F, Cibona)

Prkacin is kind of a mystery, but the Nuggets can be patient. His statistical profile is intriguing, and Prkacin is the youngest player in the Draft — he’s 18 and won’t turn 19 until November. He wouldn’t help them right away, but Denver has the luxury of being able to stash him in a way that some other teams may not.

27. Brooklyn Nets – Miles McBride (G, West Virginia)

Brooklyn doesn’t need another guard, particularly if Spencer Dinwiddie returns. With that said, Dinwiddie could leave in free agency, and McBride is more of a two-way option that can change games defensively. He can shoot off the dribble, make enough plays, and bother the opposition in a change-up role next to Brooklyn’s stars.

28. Philadelphia 76ers – Cam Thomas (G, LSU)

It would be fair to say that Thomas isn’t known for his well-rounded game. In fact, one might say he was one-dimensional, or at least close to it, at LSU. Thomas can really score, though, and his profile as a shot creator is very intriguing at this point in the draft. Philadelphia does have other options in the backcourt after drafting Tyrese Maxey and giving Seth Curry a marquee role in the postseason, but Thomas would give them more options on the perimeter, something the team desperately needs.

29. Phoenix Suns – Ayo Dosunmu (G, Illinois)

Phoenix doesn’t need a ton right now, as evidenced by their trip to the Western Conference Finals. In the future, though, another shot creator in the backcourt wouldn’t hurt, particularly as Chris Paul ages and Cam Payne hits free agency. Dosunmu has fans around the league, and he really improved as a shot-maker during his college career.

30. Utah Jazz – Aaron Henry (G/F, Michigan State)

The Jazz really need another big wing defender. That is hard to find at this point in the Draft, but Henry might be able to deliver defensive value while fitting in Utah’s offensive scheme. He’s an underrated ball mover and, if he makes enough threes, he can stick as a low-usage role player who defends and makes the right plays.

Candyman was originally scheduled to come out on June 12, 2020, but due to the pandemic, it was pushed back to September 25… then October 16… before being delayed a third time (at least it wasn’t five times) to August 27, 2021. It won’t be delayed again, unless the world is swarmed by a plague of bees. I’m not discounting anything after the past 16 months. Anyway, Nia DiCosta’s Candyman is a sort-of sequel, sort-of reboot to the 1992 horror classic of the same name, produced by Jordan Peele. It looks great.

The Yahya Abdul-Mateen II-starring film is set in the Cabrini Green neighborhood of Chicago were residents are “terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror.”

Here’s more:

In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy and his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright, move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials. With Anthony’s painting career on the brink of stalling, a chance encounter with a Cabrini Green old-timer exposes Anthony to the tragically horrific nature of the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, Anthony begins to explore these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny.

Candyman also stars Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colman Domingo, as well as Tony Todd and Vanessa Estelle Williams from the original movie.

The crush of Space Jam marketing is upon us, as the LeBron James-led sequel to the 1996 classic is on the way later this summer. There was a time when no blockbuster movie release is complete without a video game tie-in, and perhaps it’s fitting that the video game version of Space Jam: A New Legacy has some serious throwback vibes.

As Microsoft detailed on the Xbox blog, an international contest was held to determine which direction to go with A New Legacy’s video game version.

The result was a throwback look and style to the game, a side-scrolling beat ’em up with a pixelated James and the Looney Toons dishing out special moves against the Goon Squad.

We were flooded with entries from around the world, and many of them were really great. It was a tough decision. To create the final game, we blended the ideas of two gamers: our youth-competition winner, Narayan from India, and our adult-competition winner, Ricky from the United States. Xbox and Warner Bros. were energized by Ricky’s idea of a classic “beat ’em up” blended with game mechanics that Narayan had suggested. The game is inspired by the upcoming live action/animated feature film with deep reverence for the lively characters in Space Jam: A New Legacy and appreciation of the Tune Squad’s pop culture influence, all while reminiscent of classic arcade games of the 1990s.

The game’s trailer gives you an idea of the silliness in store, and there are a few subtle notes that Looney Toons fans will enjoy here as well. When LeBron knocks an opponent out with a chest pass, for example, it looks like Tweety Birds circle over their heads.

As described by Microsoft, the game may or may not loosely follow the movie. But it does feature the same reported big bad: a guy by the name of Al G. Rhythm.

A rogue artificial intelligence named Al G. Rhythm has trapped our heroes inside the Warner Bros. server, with little chance of escape. The Tune Squad must fight their way through a virtual army of Al G.’s creation while also searching for four pieces of “Legacy Code” that will allow them access to the nefarious villain’s secret location. Al G. has sent two members of the Goon Squad – The Brow and White Mamba – to stop the Tune Squad in their tracks. Fortunately, our heroes have access to a variety of moves, including a special basketball, and some rather unique Space Jam cards, to help them out. But will their teamwork be enough to stop Al G. Rhythm’s evil plans?

As part of the promotion, Microsoft also announced three custom next-gen Xbox controllers to celebrate the release of the Space Jam sequel. The three controllers feature the logos for the Goon Squad, Toon Squad, and a WB-branded cyber design that’s apparently the inside of a server.

If Space Jam isn’t your, well, jam, Microsoft also announced last week it’s bringing back its custom controller workshop, Xbox Design Lab. The lab, which shut down in October ahead of the release of the Series X and S the next month, has you covered if the Goon Squad isn’t your deal.

Space Jam: A New Legacy The Game hits consoles on July 1, starting first in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The game will be a free-to-play through the Microsoft Store starting on July 15, just in time for the movie to hit theaters.

Over the past year, we’ve all had a lot of time to sit at home and discover ourselves, but one person had time to discover new things about his home. Ludacris, who will make his latest appearance as hacker Tej Parker in F9 this Friday, told Ellen DeGeneres that during quarantine, he found out that his home had more amenities than he’d ever thought, including a tennis court and saunas — something he didn’t realize until he was forced, like the rest of us, to work from home for a while. Apparently, the ‘Scatter Brain’ rapper has never properly perused his 22-acre property as a result of his busy lifestyle.

“This is probably the best property to quarantine at, besides your house, of course,” he told DeGeneres. “I have like 22 acres of land. You know, I’m so used to traveling and never being here, so I’m finally able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I’m finding things in my home and on my property that I never even knew were there. I actually have a tennis court, if you could believe it or not. I didn’t even know that this was on the property. Treehouses, saunas that I’m finding, that’s how much I was gone.

However, he continued, he enjoyed the process because “I’m able to finally relax and enjoy this property that I’ve spent so much money on.”

Like the rest of us, though, he did have some time to work on self-improvement, as well — and even turned it into Content. He secured a television special about learning to cook and posted a video of himself flying a plane which went viral on social media. Looks like Tej is picking up some new skills for his next outing, in which, yes, the Fast And Furious franchise finally goes to space. He also got back to his day job, dropping off verses on Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” remix and on Conway The Machine’s “Scatter Brain” with JID.

Watch Luda’s interview with Ellen above.