Category: News

At times during the 2021-22 campaign, the Washington Wizards were quite competitive, even as Bradley Beal appeared in only 40 of 82 games. Beal’s future is perhaps the most interesting part of Washington’s offseason considering the presence of a player option and the potential for a (very) lucrative extension, but the Wizards also entered the summer in possession of a top-ten pick.

Washington has not yet struck gold in the draft for quite some time, instead focusing on relatively low-ceiling players in the late lottery and the middle of the first round. The result is a clear chasm between Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and the rest of the roster when it comes to upside, and Washington began the draft with a similar conundrum to weigh when it came to the No. 10 pick — one made even more interesting when it was reported that Beal was declining his player option with an eye on becoming a free agent.

Roster Needs: Defensive reinforcements, more shooting, health, upside talent

Johnny Davis (No. 10 Overall), B: This is pretty much exactly where I’d have Davis on my board. Early in the season, Davis was mentioned as a top-five candidate after a hot start, but this is an appropriate value for a player with a well-rounded skill set. Davis is a capable on-ball scorer with good feel and the ability to shoot. He is also a feisty defender that should be very solid-to-good against smaller wings and lead guards. He probably isn’t a star, but he projects as a future starter and Washington could use those.

2022 Free Agents:
Thomas Bryant (UFA)
Raul Neto (UFA)
Anthony Gill (RFA)
Tomas Satoransky (UFA)
Cassius Winston (RFA)
Bradley Beal (UFA)

Roster:
Kristaps Porzingis
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kyle Kuzma
Rui Hachimura
Deni Avdija
Ish Smith (non-guaranteed)
Corey Kispert
Daniel Gafford
Vernon Carey Jr.
Isaiah Todd
Johnny Davis

For more than two decades, the San Antonio Spurs were a postseason fixture, winning titles and generally competing at the highest levels. The Spurs are now in a different phase, however, with the franchise missing the playoffs in three consecutive seasons and landing below the .500 mark in each campaign. San Antonio continues to extract value from a relatively limited roster, but the team’s current corps could use the infusion of talent that an intriguing draft class can provide.

While the Spurs did not enter the draft with a top-eight pick, only a small handful of teams began the cycle with more draft equity than San Antonio on account of three picks in the top 25 and another top-40 second round selection. That type of arsenal opens up a great deal of possibilities, and, ultimately, San Antonio stayed pat at No. 9 and took an in-state prospect.

Roster Needs: Another prominent shot creator, overall roster clarity

Jeremy Sochan (No. 9 Overall), B-: This may be seen as a reach for some, but Sochan is very Spurs-y. He brings immense defensive potential with versatility, length, and acumen. Sochan is also comfortable with the ball in his hands on offense, and San Antonio has a penchant for getting the most from players with shooting limitations. If he can smooth out his offensive repertoire, Sochan could be a monster role player.

2022 Free Agents:
Lonnie Walker IV (RFA)
Devontae Cacok (RFA)
Joe Wieskamp (RFA)
Robert Woodard II (RFA)
DJ Stewart Jr (RFA)

Roster:
Dejounte Murray
Doug McDermott
Josh Richardson
Jakob Poeltl
Zach Collins
Romeo Langford
Josh Primo
Keldon Johnson
Keita Bates-Diop (non-guaranteed)
Tre Jones (non-guaranteed)
Jock Landale (non-guaranteed)
Jeremy Sochan

For much of the 2021-22 NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans were in the wilderness. New Orleans endured a brutal start and, without Zion Williamson on the floor, the Pelicans appeared to be rudderless. Then, the Pels caught fire, riding a positive wave of improved play and the acquisition of CJ McCollum to a berth in the play-in. From there, New Orleans reached the playoffs and eventually challenged the top-seeded Suns in impressive fashion, even with Williamson never appearing on the floor.

By all accounts, Williamson is expected to be ready to roll for 2022-23 and, with McCollum and Brandon Ingram in the fold, the Pelicans have an intriguing core. New Orleans also benefits from the ineptitude of the Los Angeles Lakers last season, with the Pelicans inheriting the No. 8 overall pick from Los Angeles.

Roster Needs: Health for Zion, more shooting

Dyson Daniels (No. 8 Overall), B+: Daniels is the highest-rated remaining player on my board and a personal favorite. There are questions about his offensive ceiling, especially as a shooter, but Daniels has point guard skills in a wing-sized body. He’s also one of the better perimeter defenders in the draft, and he should fit in well with Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Zion Williamson.

2022 Free Agents:
Tony Snell (UFA)
Jared Harper (RFA)
Gary Clark (UFA)

Roster:
CJ McCollum
Brandon Ingram
Zion Williamson
Jonas Valanciunas
Devonte’ Graham
Larry Nance Jr
Jaxson Hayes
Garrett Temple
Kira Lewis Jr
Trey Murphy III
Willy Hernangomez
Herbert Jones
Naji Marshall
Jose Alvarado

After a period of sustained success that included eight consecutive trips to the postseason, the Portland Trail Blazers suffered a downturn in results in 2021-22. Portland posted its worst record (27-55) in more than 15 years, leaning heavily into the tank after a long-term injury to Damian Lillard sent things into a spiral. The reward for the Blazers’ open effort to lose games at the end of the season is the No. 7 overall pick, with endless rumors about Portland’s potential desire to move that selection for present-facing help to support Lillard and a new, retooled era of Blazers basketball.

The night before the Draft, Portland showed their desire to win now by dealing a 2025 first (via Milwaukee) to Detroit for Jerami Grant. That immediately was followed by a report that the Blazers were actively pursuing OG Anunoby with the No. 7 pick, further indicating that Portland was not planning on making that selection.

In the end, the Blazers held firm at No. 7, as the promise of Draft night trades fell flat early on.

Roster Needs: A long-term co-star alongside Lillard; frontcourt stability, defensive help around a Lillard-Simons backcourt, overall direction in the present and future

Shaedon Sharpe (No. 7 Overall), B: With all of the talk about Portland using this pick for present-day help, Sharpe is a bit of a curveball, but perhaps the aim for ready-made contributors was lessened by the acquisition of Jerami Grant. In Sharpe, the Blazers are taking an upside swing on a player that was No. 1 in the 2022 high school class before reclassifying. He is a bit of a mystery after not playing in a competitive game for a year, but Sharpe’s tools are tremendous as a potential high-end scorer down the line.

2022 Free Agents:
Joe Ingles (UFA)
Jusuf Nurkic (UFA)
Anfernee Simons (RFA)
Ben McLemore (UFA)
CJ Elleby (RFA)
Elijah Hughes (RFA)
Keljin Blevins (RFA)

Roster:
Damian Lillard
Jerami Grant
Eric Bledsoe
Josh Hart (non-guaranteed)
Nassir Little
Justise Winslow
Keon Johnson
Didi Louzada
Greg Brown III
Trendon Watford
Brandon Williams (two way)
Shaedon Sharpe

A flavorful, stylish pair is gassing up for the road trip comedy 80 For Brady. Guy Fieri and Billy Porter will feature in the film about four best pals (played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field) who trek to Super Bowl LI for the championship-winning quarterback. The cast also includes Harry Hamlin, Bob Balaban, Sally Kirkland, Jimmy O. Yang, Sara Gilbert, and more. There’s no word yet on who Porter plays, but Fieri cameos as himself, and presumably they’re both a part of the ensemble of weirdos that the quartet means on the road. Bonus points to the film if Fieri and Porter appear together as best friends launching a cooking show that every single human on earth would binge.

The film, directing by indie producer and WeCrashed actor Kyle Marvin, has already wrapped filming, but doesn’t currently have a release date. It is, however, being produced by Tom Brady himself, who also plays a 5-years-younger version of himself. The film is based on a true story, with Marvin and co-writer Michael Covino rewriting a script from Booksmart’s Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins. Be on the lookout for the Paramount film soon. Maybe Brady will have retired and unretired a few more times by then.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

Though they posted intriguing metrics during the competitive portion of the season, the Indiana Pacers effectively pulled the plug during the 2021-22 season. Not only did the Pacers move on from a central piece in Domantas Sabonis, but Indiana essentially deployed a G League-level roster for a large portion of the second half of the campaign. The end result was a 25-57 record, the franchise’s worst mark in decades, and when the ping-pong balls stopped bouncing, Indiana came away with the No. 6 overall pick.

That kind of draft perch does coincide with the team’s record but, in this case, this is new ground for the Pacers. In fact, Indiana has not picked inside the top ten since 1989. That is a reminder of the usual competitive cycle of the franchise, but Indiana does have a rare opportunity to take a swing and add high-end talent to the mix.

Roster Needs: Star talent, forward depth

Bennedict Mathurin (No. 6 Overall), B+: By traditional No. 6 pick standards, this isn’t a home run, but that’s the nature of this class rather than an issue for Indiana. Mathurin is a very solid pick here and he projects as a valuable “3-and-D plus” player. He is a high-end shooter who should defend at a solid level and give the Pacers a valuable two-way wing.

2022 Free Agents:
Ricky Rubio (UFA)
TJ Warren (UFA)
Jalen Smith (UFA)
Lance Stephenson (UFA)
Nate Hinton (RFA)
Gabe York (RFA)

Roster:
Malcolm Brogdon
Buddy Hield
Myles Turner
TJ McConnell
Goga Bitadze
Tyrese Haliburton
Chris Duarte
Isaiah Jackson
Oshae Brissett (team option, non-guaranteed)
Terry Taylor (non-guaranteed)
Duane Washington Jr (non-guaranteed)
Bennedict Mathurin

A year ago, the Detroit Pistons struck gold in their rebuild, winning the NBA Draft Lottery and the opportunity to select Cade Cunningham. Following a bit of a slow start, Cunningham showed all the signs of a future star and, for the most part, Detroit was competitive in the second half of the season despite a 23-59 overall record. As such, there is a lot to be excited about for the Pistons, with Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and other pieces set to make another step forward in the near future.

Through the lens of the 2022 NBA Draft, the Pistons landed at No. 5 overall, and that brings another opportunity to add to the talent arsenal for the future. Cunningham’s versatility and size gives Detroit’s front office a great deal of flexibility when it comes to roster building, and after trading Jerami Grant for a 2025 first round pick (and clearing lots of cap room), it’s clear the focus is on the long-view.

Roster Needs: A perimeter running mate for Cunningham, more shooting, another strong guard

Jaden Ivey (No. 5 Overall), A: This is a home run for the Pistons. Even without a truly elite evaluation on Ivey, he represents a tremendous value at No. 5 overall in this draft. In addition, Ivey’s best fit might be as a No. 2 offensive option that doesn’t have to carry the full workload, and placing him next to Cade Cunningham makes a ton of sense. It might take time, but there is a lot to like about Ivey’s future.

2022 Free Agents:
Marvin Bagley III (RFA)
Rodney McGruder (UFA)
Jamorko Pickett (RFA)

Roster:
Kelly Olynyk
Cade Cunningham
Killian Hayes
Hamidou Diallo (team option)
Cory Joseph (player option)
Isaiah Stewart
Frank Jackson (team option)
Saddiq Bey
Carsen Edwards (team option)
Saben Lee
Luka Garza (team option)
Isaiah Livers
Braxton Key (two way)
Jaden Ivey

The Sacramento Kings continue to operate with the NBA’s longest playoff drought, last appearing in the postseason following the 2005-06 campaign. Over more than 15 years of struggles, the Kings have not posted a .500 record over 82 games, even as the franchise overhauls its roster on a consistent basis. During the 2021-22 season, Sacramento made a substantial investment in acquiring Domantas Sabonis as the frontcourt partner for guards like De’Aaron Fox and 2021 lottery pick Davion Mitchell.

It remains to be seen as to how that experiment will work, but the Kings finished at 30-52 in the standings last season. Sacramento did jump to No. 4 overall on the draft board, however, bringing the opportunity for a potential swing, even amid rumblings that the Kings might rather focus on the present in turning that selection into a more established contributor. Ultimately, Sacramento kept the pick and made a rather surprising selection compared to the consensus big board.

Roster Needs: Defense, wing talent, more defense

Keegan Murray (No. 4 Overall), C-: Murray is a quality prospect with tremendous numbers. He was highly productive at Iowa and is a multi-faceted forward that could be valuable in many different NBA contexts. However, this is a tier drop from another player (Jaden Ivey) that was available, and it represents an on-brand detour for the Kings.

2022 Free Agents:
Jeremy Lamb (UFA)
Josh Jackson (UFA)
Donte DiVincenzo (RFA)
Damian Jones (UFA)
Neemias Queta (RFA)

Roster:
De’Aaron Fox
Domantas Sabonis
Harrison Barnes
Richaun Holmes
Justin Holiday
Davion Mitchell
Mo Harkless
Terence Davis
Alex Len
Trey Lyles (team option)
Chimezie Metu (non-guaranteed)
Keegan Murray

Not since trying to give real human teeth to Sonic has there been more worry over the representation of a classic video game figure jumping into the movie theater. Ever since Chris Pratt was cast of the voice of Mario for a new animated movie, the internet has been nervous about how he’ll do. The feeling is so palpable, that producer Chris Melandandri felt the need to defend Pratt’s vocal creation, saying that criticism would “evaporate” once people heard it. He also assured that, as an Italian-American, he had no issue with it.

To pile on, Pratt promised in a chat with Variety that his voice is “unlike anything you’ve ever heard.” This is, naturally, an odd thing to say when dealing with a fanbase that would presumably want something at least similar to what they’ve heard before. It’s not like anyone is expecting Pratt to sound like Charles Martinet or Peter Cullen or Lou Albano or even Mario-on-Thames Bob Hoskins. Pratt smartly points out that it’s also an animated project, adding that he’s “not gonna be wearing a plumber suit running all over.” In a way, that means the voice is the only element of the performance, so it’s really make or break. Plus, unlike Sonic, by the time we finally hear the voice in the trailer, it’ll be way too late to change anything. Imagine being brought in to redub every single line you had in a movie because it wasn’t Marioesque.

(via Variety)

With the James Harden era another year removed, the Houston Rockets are in the business of accumulating young, high-upside players for the next great era in the franchise’s storied history. In the meantime, the Rockets have only 37 wins over the last two seasons, pivoting hard to the future both in the Harden deal and in subsequent moves. The 2021 draft was kind to Houston, particularly with the additions of Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, and the 2022 draft provided even more opportunities for the organization to add to its coffers.

Heading into the night with the No. 3 overall pick and another pick at No. 17, the Rockets had the chance to continue their roster transformation, pairing Green with another top-end talent at the center of the team’s rebuilding plan. Before the festivities even began, Houston added another first-round pick in a swap involving Christian Wood, as they continued to prioritize what they hope is a bright future.

Roster Needs: More defensive talent, a long-term creator at the point guard position, overall upside

Jabari Smith (No. 3 Overall), A-: This wasn’t the result most envisioned, but it’s an easy choice for Houston after the way the top two shook out. Smith should fit seamlessly alongside Jalen Green with the Rockets, as the 6’10 forward is one of the best shooters in the draft with great size. He also projects as a plus defender, and his ceiling is sky-high if Smith can continue to develop as a ball-handler and playmaker.

2022 Free Agents:
Dennis Schroder (UFA)
Bruno Fernando (RFA)
Anthony Lamb (RFA)
Trevelin Queen (RFA)

Roster:
John Wall
Eric Gordon
Jalen Green
David Nwaba
Alperen Sengun
Kevin Porter Jr
Usman Garuba
Josh Christopher
Garrison Mathews (non-guaranteed)
Kenyon Martin Jr (non-guaranteed)
Jae’Sean Tate (team option, non-guaranteed)
Daishen Nix
Boban Marjanovic
Trey Burke
Sterling Brown
Marquese Chriss
Jabari Smith