The dad shows are strong on Apple TV+, and there is also plenty of room for addictive spy shows on the streaming services elsewhere. Fortunately, Slow Horses has been cranking out seasons in rapid succession, so that we have been having a steady supply of not only Gary Oldman’s farts but also his grumpfests.
Can you blame spymaster Jackson Lamb for being cantankerous? He’s running the joint where British intelligence agents go to serve their career purgatory, and life for them is filled with the dullest of administrative tasks, until, well, it isn’t. These agents inadvertently end up tending to matters that are of the utmost importance to the fabric of society, and the fourth season will follow Mick Herron’s fourth Slough Horses book, Spook Street. Now for the most important question.
When Does Slow Horses Season 4 Come Out On Apple TV+?
The series returns on September 4, 2024 with two episodes. Then weekly arrivals will take place until the season finale on October 2. According to Apple TV+, “This season opens with a bombing that detonates personal secrets, rocking the already unstable foundations of Slough House.” Sounds like a banger, and I’m not talking about the farts.
Slow Horses co-stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Olivia Cooke, Jack Lowden, Rosalind Eleazar, Saskia Reeves, Jonathan Pryce, Steven Waddington, and Paul Higgins.
The final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, came out 13 years ago. Does anyone have a Time-Turner handy? Because I feel ancient. Despite author J.K. Rowling turning into a real-life villain, Harry Potter remains remarkably popular (Universal’s magical The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a big reason why), especially among millennials. But HBO wants younger generations to feel the same thrill current 30-somethings did when Hagrid showed up at 4 Privet Drive for the first time, so Harry Potter is being turned into a TV show that will be a “faithful” take on Rowling’s books.
Here’s everything we know so far about HBO’s Harry Potter series, including plot details, a release date, and whether Rowling is involved.
Plot
The Harry Potter series (which does not have an official title yet) will “dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years” and be a “faithful” adaptation of the source material, according to HBO and Max content chief Casey Bloys. There were early reports that each season would cover a different book — i.e. seven seasons, seven books — but Bloys said the show would run for “10 consecutive years,” so some stretching might be involved. This is good news for the weirdos who are still upset that the S.P.E.W. plotline was cut from the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie.
The key names involved with the series so far include Succession veterans Francesca Gardiner, who is on board as showrunner, and director Mark Mylod, as well as Rowling herself. She’s listed as an executive producer.
“We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way,” Bloys said in a statement. “Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World. In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new [original series] will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.”
Here’s the full logline: “The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years. Each season will bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic, and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”
“I don’t think so,” the actor who portrayed Harry Potter in all eight films before finding his true calling (playing “Weird Al” Yankovic) told E! Online. “I think they very wisely want to [have] a clean break. And I don’t know if it would work to have us do anything in it. I’m very happy to just watch along with everyone else.” This presumably means Radcliffe’s co-stars Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) aren’t making cameos, as well.
It’ll be a brand new cast, but no one has been announced yet.
Release Date
HBO has penciled in a 2026 premiere date for the Harry Potter series, which was originally being developed as a Max original series. But it’s now an HBO original (along with the It prequel Welcome to Derry), a small but important distinction that ensures the show will air on HBO, not just stream on Max.
Trailer
Nothing yet. Instead, please enjoy the first trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (or, yes, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, as it was called in the United States). John Williams’ score still goes hard.
[This post contains spoilers for The Bear season 3]
The Bear‘s soundtrack is often dad-rock focused, but a memorable moment from the show’s second season is when Richie (played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach) fully embraces the power of Taylor Swift. Is the “Love Story” scene the best use of a Taylor Swift song in any television show ever? Possibly! Swift herself certainly enjoyed it.
Is There A Taylor Swift Song In The Bear Season 3?
Can Swifties expect any more needle drops in season 3 of The Bear, which premiered late Wednesday? Yes, indeed. Midway through episode 4, “Violet,” Richie drops his daughter Eva off at Frank’s house. Who is Frank? He’s the fiancé of his ex-wife Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs) played by suddenly-everywhere Josh Hartnett. When Frank opens the door to meet Richie and Eva, “Long Live” from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) can be heard playing in the background.
Earlier in the episode, we also see Eva’s Taylor Swift blanket.
fx on hulu
“I’m not, like, an anti-Taylor Swift person, I just never really got into her. I was nervous about that because I had to learn the lyrics — I wasn’t familiar with the song,” Moss-Bachrach told Variety last year about the Swift scene in season 2. “We had also been shooting something the night before, and my voice was completely torched. So it’s a very hoarse rendition. I would have liked to have tried to sing it beautifully, and you got a pretty rough version.” The Bear should release “Love Story (Pretty Rough Version)” on streaming.
In case you missed it: In late May, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek shared a statement in which he described the “cost of creating content” as being “close to zero.” His comments were more likely about the barrier to entry being lower than it has before than it was about devaluing or underestimating the resources is takes to create music. Still, what he said rubbed people the wrong way.
Today, with the cost of creating content being close to zero, people can share an incredible amount of content. This has sparked my curiosity about the concept of long shelf life versus short shelf life. While much of what we see and hear quickly becomes obsolete, there are…
That includes Deadmau5, who caught wind of the quote a few days ago and wrote on Instagram, “Incorrect. The cost of creating content was 25+ years of my life and much of those proceeds going to your company you complete f*cking idiot.” In response to a comment about hating Spotify, he responded (as NME notes), “I feel that, I’m about to pull my catalog from these f*cking vultures, enough’s enough.”
In the comments, Dutch DJ Leroy Styles went long outlining some of the costs involved with making music:
“This is crazy. It’s almost zero or a couple of zeros!!
Here’s a breakdown of some of the costs.
High-Performance Laptop for Music Production
For a high-performance laptop suitable for music production, consider models such as:
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Max, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD): Around $3,499
Dell XPS 17 (32GB RAM, 2TB SSD): Around $3,000
Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD): Around $3,999
Total Estimated Cost
Adding up these costs, assuming no sales or discounts:
VST Plugins:
Omnisphere: $499
Komplete 14 Ultimate: $1,599
Waves Mercury: $7,599
UAD Ultimate: $4,999
EastWest ComposerCloud X: $239.88/year
FabFilter Total Bundle: $899
iZotope Everything Bundle: $1,999
Soundtoys 5 Bundle: $499
Arturia V Collection: $599
Slate Digital All Access Pass: $179.88/year
Total for Plugins: $18,910.76 + $419.76/year
And then your time making music. Recording Studio Time:
Professional studios can charge from $50 to $500+ per hour.
Producer Fees:
Producers might charge per track or hour, ranging from $300 to $10,000+ depending on their reputation and experience.
Session Musicians:
Rates can range from $50 to $500+ per hour or per song.
Mixing and Mastering:
Mixing engineers typically charge $200 to $1,000+ per track.
Mastering can cost between $50 to $500+ per track.
Equipment and Software:
Purchasing or renting instruments, microphones, and recording software can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Promotion and Distribution:
Digital distribution services (like DistroKid, TuneCore) can charge $20 to $50+ per year.
Marketing campaigns, including social media ads, can range from $100 to $10,000+.
Miscellaneous Costs:
Travel, lodging, and other incidental expenses can add up.
Overall, the total cost to produce a single song can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, while a full album can cost significantly more. My 1st album has cost me 18k euro.
And don’t forget your time!!”
Ek responded to the original wave of backlash in early June, writing, “I understand how it came across as very reductive and that wasn’t my intent. Just to clarify – my original point was not to devalue the time, effort, or resources involved in creating meaningful works, whether it’s music, literature, or other forms of creative expression. […] The significant drop in the cost of creation tools (microphones, laptops, cameras) has led to an unprecedented explosion in the volume of what people are able to produce.”
Obviously seeing the feedback to this one and wanted to respond. It’s clear I was far too vague in the post, including with my clumsy definition of content. I understand how it came across as very reductive and that wasn’t my intent. Just to clarify – my original point was not to… https://t.co/kMR0zE17Ay
Unfortunately, déjà vu struck on Wednesday night, June 26.
“The Love Earth Tour has been a great experience for us so far,” a statement on Young’s website reads. “GREAT AUDIENCES AND MUSIC. WE HAVE HAD A BLAST! When a couple of us got sick after Detroit’s Pine Knob, we had to stop. We are still not fully recovered, so sadly our great tour will have a big unplanned break.”
The statement continues, “We will try to play some of the dates we miss as time passes when we are ready to rock again! We know many of you made travel plans, and we apologize for the inconvenience. Thanks for your understanding and patience. Health is #1. We want to stay and do more shows and more albums for you….and for us. With love and thanks to all of you from Crazy Horse….. Neil, Micah, Ralph, and Billy. Love Earth.”
Neil Young And Crazy Horse’s aforementioned Pine Knob show in Clarkston, Michigan occurred on May 22.
According to Ticketmaster, Neil Young And Crazy Horse’s canceled Love Earth Tour dates are Bend, Oregon (July 25), George, Washington (July 26), and West Valley City, Utah (July 29). Their Ohana Festival 2024 (September 27-28) appearance and Hollywood Bowl (September 29) show does not have a “canceled” delineation as of this writing.
The 2024 NBA Draft certainly wasn’t the most anticipated Draft in recent memory, as the lack of a clear star prospect took some shine off of this year’s group. Still, as is always the case, someone from this year’s class will end up popping unexpectedly, and there were certainly players out there that could help teams achieve their goals for next season.
As we do every year, we tracked the Draft as it went and graded each pick as it happened. There were no outright disasters in this year’s Draft, partially a product of there not being so much talent that there were really egregious reaches to be had, but there were some teams that did extremely well for themselves at the position they were selecting. Some teams got real value and filled big needs in this year’s Draft, while others took some riskier swings. As always, we won’t know who the real winners and losers of this year’s Draft are until years from now, but here’s our best effort at handing out grades before any of these prospects touch an NBA court.
1. Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, B
In a draft that doesn’t feature a traditional No. 1 overall talent, someone had to go at No. 1, and it is Risacher. He has clear appeal as a 6’9 wing who can both shoot and defend, with a clear step forward this season as a perimeter threat. Risacher doesn’t bring tremendous star equity typically associated with this draft slot, but he provides Atlanta with a two-way wing in a league that can’t find enough two-way wings.
2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, A
Washington sticks at No. 2 and grabs the No. 1 overall player on my draft board. As noted extensively at No. 1, Sarr isn’t kind of “Tier 1” player you might expect at No. 1, but the Wizards add one of the most talented players in the draft. Sarr’s defensive potential is vast with a 7’4 wingspan and real mobility, and he projects as a potential anchor of a five-out approach in the future.
3. Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard, A
This is a very, very fun fit that also checks the “best available” box. While the Rockets do have Fred VanVleet, Sheppard can play both guard spots and, most importantly, provide dead-eye shooting. His statistical translations are off the charts and, long-term, he pairs quite well with Amen Thompson.
4. San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle, B+
This would’ve been a bit of a curve ball a little while ago, but Castle has fans in the league to be sure. His defensive potential is excellent, and while he was in a small role at UConn, Castle impressed by buying into what the Huskies needed and playing winning basketball. The biggest question, by far, is his perimeter shooting, but Castle is an upside swing for a team that can afford that given San Antonio’s own picks and a stockpile coming from Atlanta.
5. Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland, A-
I’m higher on Holland than most, but there are several people I trust that had Holland firmly in the top three coming into the draft. He’s quite polarizing, largely because of his shooting questions, but Holland is the type of athletic, physical, competitive wing that can pop if things come together. The overall fit in Detroit isn’t the best because they need shooting and Holland won’t bring it anytime soon. But he does fit snugly with Cade Cunningham, and Holland is a true upside bet for a new front office.
6. Charlotte Hornets: Tidjane Salaun, C+
This is a total upside swing for Charlotte. Given where the Hornets are in their building process, that is a very reasonable way to approach the pick, albeit a little early for me for Salaun at this slot. But Salaun has immense tools, including a 9’2 standing reach and tremendous athletic potential. The overall package is raw, but there is a lot to like.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan, A
For me, Clingan has the highest floor in this class, and his rim protection is the best single trait in the class. That is a strong foundation, especially with Portland able to stay put at No. 7 and take him without any additional investment. It does create a bit of a challenge with Deandre Ayton but, from a draft perspective, Clingan was my highest-rated player available and he can help to transform Portland’s defense.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (trade with Spurs): Rob Dillingham, B+
Dillingham is far from a “safe” bet given his stature. He’s tiny. Everyone knows this. However, he does have legitimate on-ball upside in a draft that doesn’t have much of that. In Minnesota, they can also take it slowly with him on a team that features Mike Conley, and Dillingham does pair snugly with Rudy Gobert behind him on defense, where the young guard projects to struggle.
9. Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Edey, C
This is high for Edey, but it’s also understandable. Make no mistake, Edey was a generational college player and he is more than just big. But he is truly enormous. His rebounding, screen setting, hands, and finishing near the rim are tremendous. The big question is how he’ll translate to the NBA, particularly when asked to defend in space against NBA athletes. Memphis also tends to play fast, which Edey may not be suited for, but the Grizzlies clearly wanted a center and they got one.
10. Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, B
He is probably best known as the brother of OKC’s Jalen Williams, but Cody is a lottery-level prospect on his own. He is exceptionally thin and battled injuries during his freshman year at Colorado, but Williams has real two-way appeal long-term. He projects to shoot and, if he can add strength, he should be able to hold up on defense.
11. Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, B+
This could be said for many prospects in this draft, but can Buzelis shoot? That’s the biggest question. He shot it well in high school but had a rough year in the G League. He also needs to get stronger (and bigger in general), but Buzelis is very athletic and has the length and fluidity you’re looking for in a modern forward.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nikola Topic, A-
Nothing could be more Thunder than this. Topic is coming back from a significant knee injury, and he may not be available for much of the 2024-25 season. However, Topic received real top-five buzz earlier in the cycle, and he is a big guard with the ability to play on the ball and pass. His fit with OKC’s current roster might be a bit clunky, but Sam Presti simply takes his guys. Topic may have been the best talent available.
13. Sacramento Kings: Devin Carter, B+
The Kings were reportedly shopping this pick all week but, in the end, they take one of the late risers in the class. Carter is arguably the best guard defender in the draft, and he took a large step forward as a shooter in his final college season. The Kings missed on this type of pick with Davion Mitchell, but Carter has a better overall package.
The Wizards were kind of a blank slate coming into the night, and they landed a pair of high-level, high-upside prospects. Sarr arrives to anchor the frontcourt, and Carrington is quite intriguing as a creation bet in the backcourt. He has a sky-high still level, and Carrington operates in the pick and roll like a veteran. It makes a lot of sense as a partnership.
15. Miami Heat: Kel’el Ware, C+
Candidly, I was surprised by this pick. Ware has tremendous measurables and skills, which aligns with a pick in this range. If the whole package comes together, Ware can become a starting center or better. But his concerns with motor and attentiveness don’t scream “Miami Heat,” so it was a bit of an off-the-radar choice, especially on a team with Bam already entrenched at center. Still, there is clear upside with Ware.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, B
McCain is a big-time shooter. That’s the primary appeal, but he also checks a ton of boxes as a quality support player. You’d love it if he was a bit bigger next to Tyrese Maxey, but McCain’s defense is solid and he has a ton of gravity.
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Dalton Knecht, A
Knecht is 23 years old and isn’t the highest upside bet. At the same time, he simply fell too far, and the Lakers present a strong opportunity for him. He’s one of the best shooters in the class but, more than that, Knecht is a potential three-level scorer who plays an NBA-style game on offense. The defense is a lot less exciting to be sure, but this is a very solid landing spot for him and a great value for LA.
18. Orlando Magic: Tristan da Silva, B
da Silva is an older player, having turned 23 earlier this year. That might speak to a perceived lack of upside, but da Silva is a player that takes very little off the table. Orlando can benefit from his shooting, at the very least, and he’s a quality ball-mover who projects as a solid supporting defender.
19. Toronto Raptors: Ja’Kobe Walter, B-
The Raptors always seem to need shooting and Walter projects to provide it. While he isn’t a tremendous defender by any means, Walter has a 6’10 wingspan, and he also has the ability to create his own shot in spurts. There is a bit of concern about his athleticism, but if it holds up, Walter can succeed.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson, B-
The Cavs take a bet on a potential two-way wing, and that makes complete sense. This might be a touch high for Tyson, even in a flat draft, but he is a good athlete that can handle the ball with quality feel and the potential to defend.
21. New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi, B+
The Pelicans are clearly in the market for a long-term center, and Missi might be the guy. He is very athletic, doesn’t need the ball, and should be able to protect the rim and rebound. It’s a pretty straight-ahead archetype, and you wouldn’t pick Missi’s offensive skill set in a vacuum to pair with Zion Williamson, but he can be a quality two-way option.
This just makes too much sense. Holmes is a personal favorite of mine as a dribble-pass-shoot big man who can also defend. He took great strides as a defender during his career at Dayton and, while it was a three-year run at the college level, Holmes has some ceiling to explore. In Denver, it isn’t as if he’s needed to start anytime soon, but Holmes projects to be a quality backup sooner rather than later, with the benefit of long-term two-way upside.
23. Milwaukee Bucks: AJ Johnson, C
I get it with Johnson. He has a 6’8 wingspan with big-time athletic tools. He can create space and, if things come together, there is clear upside. At the same time, he’s really, really raw right now, and he’s gotta get stronger to play at the NBA level. This is also a pick that is very focused on the future for a team that is also in win-now mode. It’s an interesting fit.
24. Washington Wizards (trade with Knicks): Kyshawn George, C+
If nothing else, George’s shooting should play. He’s also a pretty good passer, and he has a 6’10 wingspan as a wing. That’s an enticing package. Unfortunately, he is a strongly below-average athlete for an NBA wing, so there are defensive questions and the shot is going to have to carry him. But it also might just do that.
25. New York Knicks: Pacome Dadiet, C+
Dadiet was a bit off the radar for most casual observers as an 18-year-old forward who played for Ratiopharm Ulm this season. While he wasn’t spectacular, he was able to contribute at an impressive level, and he has strong physical tools. He moves well without the ball on offense, and if he can overcome limited burst athletically, there’s a path to success.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (trade with Knicks): Dillon Jones, B-
Jones was a four-year player who will be 23 in October, and he has an interesting skill set. Jones was an incredible rebounder at the college level despite modest height, and he has a 6’11 wingspan that helps to neutralize his below-average athleticism. He can create his own shot as well, and while his production happened at a mid-major in college, Jones just knows how to play.
Shannon had a highly productive, All-American level season at Illinois in 2023-24. He’s also a five-year college player with some questions about translation. At the same time, his age (23) is less of an issue at this point late in the first round, and Shannon might be able to add punch for a win-now team given his athleticism and shot creation equity.
28. Phoenix Suns (trade with Nuggets): Ryan Dunn, A
I will admit to being in the tank for Ryan Dunn for quite some time. He is the best non-center defender in the draft, and Dunn’s defensive production at the college level was comical. He terrorizes opponents on that end of the floor, and there is always room for a player like that. Why, then, did he fall this far? Well, Dunn might be the worst offensive player projected to be drafted in this class. As such, it is a bet from Phoenix that they can find some way to unlock him, either as a “big” on offense or as a potential corner three-point shooter. It’ll be an interesting bet, but the Suns can play him in a way that most teams can’t given the presence of Durant, Booker, and Beal.
29. Utah Jazz: Isaiah Collier, A
Collier is one of the more intriguing creation bets in this class, and this is quite a fall for a player widely projected in the top 5-10 picks only a few months ago. Collier is far from a finished product, particularly with his inconsistency and inefficiency this year at USC, but he’s also an NBA athlete who has all the physical tools of a top-level point guard. Utah does have Keyonte George as well, but Collier’s upside is too tantalizing to pass on at this stage.
30. Boston Celtics: Baylor Scheierman, B
Boston can hide Scheierman’s athletic shortcomings more than any team in the league given the defensive infrastructure. Because of that, this pick makes a ton of sense. Scheierman can rebound and be in the right place on that end, but the more appealing side of the floor is his offense. He can really shoot. He moves the ball well. It wouldn’t be great everywhere, but Boston can unlock Scheierman.
Boston is a juggernaut, one that has done a good job building out a roster around a pair of All-Stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Their core guys are all signed long-term (except for Tatum, who is going to get a monster extension this summer, and Derrick White, who also stands to cash in with the team), and they don’t really have any major questions on their roster going into the offseason. And yet, there are few better spots to be in than being able to add talent from a position of strength, and at the end of the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Boston got the opportunity to do that with the No. 30 pick.
They ultimately took Creighton forward Baylor Scheierman to add another shooter to the roster.
Baylor Scheierman (No. 30 Overall), B: Boston can hide Scheierman’s athletic shortcomings more than any team in the league given the defensive infrastructure. Because of that, this pick makes a ton of sense. Scheierman can rebound and be in the right place on that end, but the more appealing side of the floor is his offense. He can really shoot. He moves the ball well. It wouldn’t be great everywhere, but Boston can unlock Scheierman.
Team Needs: A Fourth Guy, A Fifth Guy, A Sixth Guy
You should probably ignore what Mat Ishbia said about other teams wishing they could trade everything with the Phoenix Suns on the back of last year’s disappointing season. The first year of the Bradley Beal/Devin Booker/Kevin Durant trio in Arizona was defined by stops and starts, as injuries kept them from ever really building a rhythm. As a result, the team lost in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Mike Budenholzer replaced Frank Vogel as their head coach.
Phoenix has the issue of not having too terribly many avenues to get better due to their cap situation and sparse cupboard of future NBA Draft picks. Ironically enough, despite being a team that famously doesn’t pay too much attention to the draft, the team came into Wednesday the No. 22 pick, which affords them a way to get something they desperately need: a young, cost-controlled player who can slide into the rotation alongside a trio of stars who are capable of reaching some pretty incredible highs.
They traded back from 22 to 28, allowing Denver to take DaRon Holmes and get the backup big they’re seeking, with the Suns picking up a handful of second rounders. Once they got to the 28th pick, they took Ryan Dunn out of Virginia, landing the best wing defender in the Draft.
Ryan Dunn (No. 28 Overall), A: I will admit to being in the tank for Ryan Dunn for quite some time. He is the best non-center defender in the draft, and Dunn’s defensive production at the college level was comical. He terrorizes opponents on that end of the floor, and there is always room for a player like that. Why, then, did he fall this far? Well, Dunn might be the worst offensive player projected to be drafted in this class. As such, it is a bet from Phoenix that they can find some way to unlock him, either as a “big” on offense or as a potential corner three-point shooter. It’ll be an interesting bet, but the Suns can play him in a way that most teams can’t given the presence of Durant, Booker, and Beal.
Team Needs: Big Man Insurance, Another Creator, Deep Bench Depth
The New York Knicks have serious aspirations of winning the Eastern Conference on the heels of the 2023-24 campaign. New York made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and very well could have made it to the conference finals if not for a crazy rash of injuries that they could not overcome against the Indiana Pacers.
The team has an All-Star everything is built around in Jalen Brunson, and in the last few days, its core started to take shape around him, Julius Randle, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. New York acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday evening, they agreed to a lucrative contract extension with OG Anunoby. And even though there are now serious questions about whether they can keep Isaiah Hartenstein around going forward, there’s a plan and talent in place at Madison Square Garden, which started out with having two picks in Wednesday night’s first round back-to-back.
After trading the 24th pick to Washington for the 26th pick and a second rounder (No. 51), the Knicks flipped the 26th pick to Oklahoma City for five (5) future second rounders, leaving them with just the 25th selection to make a choice.
Per source: Thunder sending five seconds to New York for No. 26: 2025 most favorable Celtics/Grizzlies, 2026 Warriors 2027 Wolves, 2027 2nd most favorable of four teams (lol) — OKC/HOU/MIA/IND — and last and finally… a 2027 most favorable (OKC/HOU/MIA/IND).
With the No. 25 selection they went with a bit of a surprise, taking French guard Pacome Dadiet, who could be a draft-and-stash option for a team with a very tight cap situation.
Pacome Dadiet (No. 25 Overall), C+: Dadiet was a bit off the radar for most casual observers as an 18-year-old forward who played for Ratiopharm Ulm this season. While he wasn’t spectacular, he was able to contribute at an impressive level, and he has strong physical tools. He moves well without the ball on offense, and if he can overcome limited burst athletically, there’s a path to success.
Team Needs: Immediate Contributors, Guards, Centers
The Milwaukee Bucks tried to shake things up last year by swinging for the fences and turning Jrue Holiday into Damian Lillard. The bet was that Lillard would bring some much-needed juice to their offense alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, while their defense would continue to be elite.
Instead, Milwaukee fired first-time head coach Adrian Griffin midseason, hired Doc Rivers, never got it together, then flamed out in the playoffs as both Antetokounmpo and Lillard dealt with injuries during the postseason — the Indiana Pacers beat them in six games in the first round. Unless they try to majorly shake things up, the team knows what its core is, and it’s pretty easy to identify areas of need around Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis. And on the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft, the team figured to use the No. 23 overall pick to try and address one of those spots.
However, in a bit of a surprise, the Bucks took a swing on a high-upside project in AJ Johnson with the 23rd pick.
AJ Johnson (No. 23 Overall), C: I get it with Johnson. He has a 6’8 wingspan with big-time athletic tools. He can create space and, if things come together, there is clear upside. At the same time, he’s really, really raw right now, and he’s gotta get stronger to play at the NBA level. This is also a pick that is very focused on the future for a team that is also in win-now mode. It’s an interesting fit.
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