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The Orlando Magic took a step forward in 2022-23, emerging from the NBA’s basement after a rough start to be a competitive group (34-48) that carries optimism into the 23-24 campaign. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Paolo Banchero, earned Rookie of the Year honors as he led the team in scoring at 20 points per game, adding 6.9 boards, and while there’s work to do in terms of being more efficient, the flashes of brilliance and immediate translation of his skills and physical presence was apparent.

While Banchero is the centerpiece, Orlando has a number of recent top-10 picks that are intriguing as well. Franz Wagner continued to show his growth as a two-way wing, averaging 18.6 points per game on terrific efficiency, and Wendell Carter Jr. brings them an interior scoring presence (15.2 points/8.7 rebounds per game). This offseason is a fascinating one for Orlando, because they are a team seemingly in position to make a move towards being a playoff contender, but haven’t had much of an opportunity to see their full group on court together. Only Banchero, Wagner, and Bol Bol topped the 60-game mark this past season. While guard play is the apparent area of need, they can’t quite be sure what they have in former top-5 pick Jalen Suggs, as his career has been injury plagued to start, and Cole Anthony likewise was a recent mid-first round investment. They also have their highest priced player, Jonathan Isaac, figuring to return in full this fall after coming back at the tail end of this past season in limited action.

One would expect them to seek out a veteran scoring guard this offseason, with the sixth overall pick providing a chance to gauge trade opportunities as well as an opportunity to continue add young talent. At some point, the Magic will need to consolidate some of that young talent to take the next step, but after already improving over the course of last year, patience wouldn’t be the worst thing for this Orlando team.

Roster Needs: Backcourt scoring, wing depth

Anthony Black (No. 6 overall), B: This was a tricky spot for Orlando. Not only did the Magic enter the night with two of the top 11 picks, but some of the top-rated players remaining on the board were somewhat duplicative with Paolo Banchero and/or Franz Wagner. As a result, Anthony Black is the choice, and he is a versatile, talented perimeter player. Black’s primary question mark on the offensive side is his perimeter shooting, which could be a clunky fit in Orlando, but Black gives the Magic another ball-handler with the size to be a menace defensively.

2023 Free Agents:
Mo Wagner (UFA)

Roster:
Jonathan Isaac
Markelle Fultz
Wendell Carter Jr.
Gary Harris (non-guaranteed)
Paolo Banchero
Jalen Suggs
Cole Anthony
Franz Wagner
Chuma Okeke
Michael Carter-Williams (team option)
Bol Bol (non-guaranteed)
Goga Bitadze (team option)
Caleb Houstan
Admiral Schofield (team option)

The Detroit Pistons weren’t expected to post the worst record in the NBA last season, but after Cade Cunningham suffered a season-ending injury amid a difficult start to the season, Detroit shifted their attention fully to the future. The result was a 17-65 campaign that was not rewarded by the ping pong balls in Chicago, as they fell to fifth in the Draft order.

Cunningham’s return provides some reason for optimism, and it’s clear that the goal is for some solid improvement next year after giving Monty Williams a record-setting contract to take over as head coach. Still, there are a lot of holes to fill on this roster and some congestion to clear up, particularly in the frontcourt. Jalen Duren, James Wiseman, Isaiah Stewart, and Marvin Bagley III all want to operate in similar space, and at some point the front office will need to make some decisions as to which of those they’ll consider core pieces. In the backcourt, Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are unquestionably the planned centerpieces, but depth behind them is shaky, as Killian Hayes has not panned out as hoped as a former top 10 pick.

The wing is where their need to upgrade talent is clearest, as Bojan Bogdanovic (21.6 ppg) was their leading scorer a year ago and is a terrific veteran presence, but beyond him they don’t have much. What we don’t know right now is how patient Detroit is looking to be after a few years at the bottom of the East. The fifth pick could bring a chance at another high-upside swing, but if the goal is to make a stride in terms of competitiveness next season, they might not be interested in another boom-or-bust pick. How they approach that pick will give us the clearest indication of what their immediate goals are this summer.

Roster Needs: 3-and-D wing, Frontcourt clarity, Point guard depth

Ausar Thompson (No. 5 overall), B-: For many evaluators, the No. 5 spot represents the first slot with real, tangible uncertainty. Ausar doesn’t quite match the obscene athleticism of his brother, Amen, but he is a tremendous athlete in his own right with size and versatility. At this juncture, Ausar plays more like a wing and could provide key flexibility for Detroit on both ends of the floor.

2023 Free Agents:
Hamidou Diallo (UFA)
Cory Joseph (UFA)
Rodney McGruder (UFA)

Roster:
Bojan Bogdanovic
Cade Cunningham
Marvin Bagley III
James Wiseman
Alec Burks (team option)
Jaden Ivey
Killian Hayes
Isaiah Stewart
Jalen Duren
RJ Hampton (non-guaranteed)
Eugene Omoruyi (team option)
Isaiah Livers (team option)

The Houston Rockets have had one of the NBA’s two-worst records for three consecutive seasons, going 22-60 in 2022-23. This year, that landed them fourth in the lottery, where they figured to be among the teams considering moving their pick in an effort to land some more immediate help to a very young team.

Jalen Green is the centerpiece of the Rockets rebuild, leading the team a year ago with 22.1 points per game, and with new head coach Ime Udoka in town, the expectation is for a step forward in 2023-24. The question for Houston is how they put the pieces together and what players are considered part of their core. How do they view Kevin Porter Jr.’s fit alongside Green? Is Alperen Sengun their long-term option at center? Those specific questions will be answered in time, but what we do know is the Rockets will soon want to start consolidating some of their young talent and adding veterans who can help them be more competitive.

Roster Needs: More talent, Rim protection, Passing

Amen Thompson (No. 4 overall), B+: Thompson isn’t without flaws by any means, but he brings tremendous upside to the table. Amen projects to be immediately be one of the best athletes in the NBA on arrival, and his combination of on-ball playmaking and defensive potential is tantalizing. The big question is whether he’ll develop a solid jump shot, which could determine his ultimate ceiling.

2023 Free Agents:
Boban Marjanovic (UFA)
Willie Cauley-Stein (UFA)
Frank Kaminsky (UFA)
DJ Augustin (UFA)

Roster:
Jalen Green
Kevin Porter Jr.
Jabari Smith Jr.
Jae’Sean Tate
Alperen Sengun
Tari Eason
Usman Garuba
Josh Christopher
TyTy Washington Jr.
KJ Martin (team option)
Daishen Nix (non-guaranteed)

The Portland Trail Blazers are facing a summer where they need to decide on a franchise direction for the immediate future. Damian Lillard put forth one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 32.3 points and 7.3 assists per game, but was shut down for the second straight year towards the end of the season so the Blazers could tank their way into better draft position, posting a 33-49 record.

The result was vaulting into the third-overall selection, which gave them a chance at selecting a very talented young player or trade it for some veteran help immediately. Lillard has, unsurprisingly, been vocal about his desire not to go through any sort of a rebuild, so we know what side he is on, but it takes two to make a trade and finding a team looking to use veteran players to move up only makes the task more difficult. If they choose to make the pick, it will only raise further questions about whether this will be the offseason they finally consider trading Lillard, despite both his and the team’s insistence neither party wants that to happen.

Whatever the case, Portland is in need of picking a direction and going all in, because the past few seasons have not gone according to plan. They either need a considerable talent upgrade this summer to try and build a competitor around Dame, or to go in on the youth movement and shift their focus to trying to contend in the more distant future.

Roster Needs: Picking a direction, Frontcourt upgrade, 3-and-D wings

Scoot Henderson (No. 3 overall), A: In the majority of drafts over the last two decades, Henderson would’ve been the No. 1 overall prospect. With Victor Wembanyama involved, that wasn’t the case in 2023, but Henderson slipping to No. 3 on the board provides incredible value for Portland. Granted, the Blazers may have some interesting decisions to make in the future with Damian Lillard, but Henderson is too good to pass on with this pick.

2023 Free Agents:
Jerami Grant (UFA)
Cam Reddish (RFA)
Matisse Thybulle (RFA)
Justise Winslow (UFA)
Drew Eubanks (UFA)

Roster:
Damian Lillard
Anfernee Simons
Jusuf Nurkic
Shaedon Sharpe
Nassir Little
Kevin Knox (team option)
Keon Johnson
Trendon Watford (non-guaranteed)
Jabari Walker (non-guaranteed)
Jeenathan Williams (non-guaranteed)

The Charlotte Hornets entered the 2022-23 season with low expectations despite an above-.500 record the year prior, largely due to the roster taking a step backwards in the offseason. With the team’s second-best player Miles Bridges pleading no contest to domestic violence charges in the offseason, the Hornets never added a replacement as he sat out the season without signing anywhere as a restricted free agent.

Along with a general talent deficit, the Hornets were plagued by injuries, as only four players on the roster (Terry Rozier, PJ Washington, Nick Richards, and JT Thor) appeared in 60 or more games during the season. Star guard LaMelo Ball headlined their many absences, as he suffered three different ankle injuries, limiting him to 36 games on the season. The result was a 27-55 record, but they were able to vault into the No. 2 pick in the Draft Lottery, giving them a chance to add some much needed young talent to a roster that is lacking.

Ball continued to look terrific in his limited action, averaging 23.3 points and 8.4 assists per game, and they showed some signs of coming around defensively late in the year, with rookie center Mark Williams impressing in the closing weeks of the season. Still, this is a team that simply needs more talent throughout the roster, and will need to address that even beyond their addition of the second pick in the draft.

Roster Needs: Wing defense, Secondary creator, Shooting

Brandon Miller (No. 2 overall), B-: It isn’t a surprise to see Miller come off the board at No. 2 overall, but Scoot Henderson is the better prospect, which knocks Charlotte’s grade down a bit as they went with fit over best player available. With that said, Miller is a worthy No. 2 overall choice in most drafts with a combination of size and shooting that provides a strong median outcome.

2023 Free Agents:
PJ Washington (RFA)
Kelly Oubre Jr. (UFA)
Miles Bridges (RFA)
Svi Mykhailiuk (UFA)
Dennis Smith Jr. (UFA)

Roster:
LaMelo Ball
Gordon Hayward
Terry Rozier
Cody Martin
Nick Richards
James Bouknight
Mark Williams
Kai Jones
Kobi Simmons (non-guaranteed)
JT Thor (non-guaranteed)
Bryce McGowens

The San Antonio Spurs fully embraced the tank in 2022-23, trading Dejounte Murray to the Hawks for three first round draft picks (and Danilo Gallinari, who they released) in the summer and sending Jakob Poeltl to the Raptors for another first round pick at the deadline.

The result was a 22-60 record that got them a bottom three record in the NBA and a 14 percent chance at the top pick in the Draft Lottery. Sure enough, during last month’s lottery, the Spurs’ numbers came up and they secured the right to draft French star Victor Wembanyama. That was the entire point of the 2022-23 season, and now they will look to rebuild quickly around their new franchise cornerstone.

There are some solid complementary pieces already on the roster, with wings Keldon Johnson (22.0 points per game), Devin Vassell (18.5 ppg), and last year’s first round pick Jeremy Sochan providing some reason for optimism about their young core. They also have a solid rotation point guard in Tre Jones (6.6 assists per game), but one figures upgrading their guard rotation and just generally add more shooting to the roster will be a priority this summer to surround Wembanyama with the support he needs to thrive.

Roster Needs: Big man, No. 1 scoring option, Point Guard, Shooting

Victor Wembanyama (No. 1 overall), A+: The Spurs had a bit of good fortune in the lottery to even have the chance to draft Victor Wembanyama, so this isn’t exactly the product of incredible scouting work, but he’s the best prospect in the draft by a wide margin and one of the best prospects to enter the league in the in decades. Of course, that doesn’t ensure anything once he arrives, but the tools are virtually unprecedented and San Antonio has a franchise centerpiece.

2023 Free Agents:
Romeo Langford (RFA)
Tre Jones (RFA)
Sandro Mamukelashvili (RFA)
Gorgui Dieng (UFA)
Keita Bates-Diop (UFA)

Roster:
Keldon Johnson
Devin Vassell
Jeremy Sochan
Zach Collins (non-guaranteed)
Doug McDermott
Devonte’ Graham
Khem Birch
Malaki Branham
Blake Wesley
Charles Bassey

Today (June 22), Bon Iver shared a taste of some of their earliest material. Before Bon Iver was Bon Iver, members Brad Cook, Phil Cook, Justin Vernon and Joe Westerlund were part of a short-lived band called DeYarmond Edison. An upcoming box-set called Epoch, which contains 5-LP, 4-CD and a 114-page story will chronicle DeYarmond Edison by way of music and photography.

Ahead of Epoch, the band has shared “Hazelton,” an early demo that eventually became Bon Iver’s “Holocene.” Vernon previously recorded “Hazelton” between 2005 and 2006, with the idea that it would be part of a solo album. On “Hazelton,” Vernon sings over simple, melancholy guitar loops, not knowing that he would end up foreshadowing the end of DeYarmond Edison

“Saddle up, we’re calling up the pain / Stilling doubt to single out the strain / You came, you saw, you sawed her brain / You cut out all the parts that held your stain,” sings Vernon.

Additionally, the group has also shared “Liner,” a more percussive song, on which Vernon taps into his memories and recalls a painful loss.

“Untied me from the buoy / I sank so you could too / Fall like a wrench / Fall like a rock / Fall like a wall,” he sings.

In addition to music and previously unpublished photos, Epoch will also feature 60,000 words worth of interviews.

“This is the sound of sorting through an overabundance of new info, mostly for yourself, said Grayson
Haver Currin, the box set’s executive producer and biographer, in a statement. “And, even in the rather fraught process, finding out just where it is you’ve been headed your whole life.”

You can listen to “Hazelton” and “Liner” above, and watch a special trailer for the Epoch box set.

Epoch is out 8/18 via Jagjaguwar. Find more information here.

Time was steadily slipping away for any hope of saving Titanic tourists aboard the OceanGate submersible, and on Thursday, the Coast Guard confirmed that a debris field belonged to the Titan vessel, and tragically, none of the passengers survived. The public has held various degrees of empathy for the billionaires aboard the submersible (and much of the discussion has grown ugly), yet no one can deny that a particularly sad development is the death of 19-year-old Suleman Dawood.

The youngest passenger aboard the submersible reportedly had a bad feeling about the voyage. This doesn’t sound too hard to believe, given that we’ve heard about highly questionable maintenance/repair tactics and abundant red flags for what appears to have been a poorly constructed vessel that ended up imploding. According to Suleman’s aunt, Azmeh Dawood (sister to Suleman’s father, Shahzada Dawood, who also perished in this incident), the 19 year old did not want to be aboard the Titan at all. According to Azmeh, Suleman ultimately took the trip for Father’s Day:

Azmeh Dawood — the older sister of Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood — told NBC News that her nephew, Suleman, informed a relative that he “wasn’t very up for it” and felt “terrified” about the trip to explore the wreckage of the Titanic.

But the 19-year-old ended up going aboard OceanGate’s 22-foot submersible because the trip fell over Father’s Day weekend and he was eager to please his dad, who was passionate about the lore of the Titanic, according to Azmeh.

That hits hard. As well, former OceanGate tourists have agreed that this vessel was not safe, and one man felt as though he was on a “suicide mission.” The company’s CEO, Stockton Rush, is also among the dead following the vessel’s implosion after tickets went for $250,000 apiece. The ongoing saga has led to much debate among those who waited to hear the submersible’s fate as all hope for a lasting air supply diminished.

Additionally, the stepson of British billionaire Hamish Harding feuded with Cardi B, who criticized him for attending a Blink-182 concert while news of his uncle’s status hung in the balance.

(Via NBC News)

You know what’s not hot? Having to field all of the text messages and DMs Paris Hilton is likely getting after news broke that her ex-business partner was involved in a murder-for-hire plot that came to a strange end at a Dunkin Donuts.

Let us explain.

Fereidoun Khalilian is a 51-year-old entrepreneur and entertainment agent who is known by the name “Prince Fred” in the celebrity circles he runs in. Prince Fred is a shareholder in Monster Store, the audio company that partnered with Dr. Dre to create Beats by Dre, and a crypto bro. He also, at one point, was the co-owner of Hilton’s Orlando hotspot, Club Paris. The duo opened the club in 2004 and though Hilton never could spell his last name right, he often used the connection to get out of trouble with law enforcement.

Fast forward to this week, Prince Fred faced the kind of legal trouble not even a Hilton namedrop could make disappear. After discovering that a former employee-turned-filmmaker was making a documentary about the businessman that painted him in a negative light, Prince Fred decided to confront the situation rationally in the hopes of coming to a peaceful resolution.

JK, he allegedly tried to have the guy killed.

Prince Fred was arrested at a Las Vegas Dunkin Donuts by federal investigators who allege he participated in a murder-for-hire conspiracy to silence the filmmaker. Few details are available at this time but purchasing a hitman doesn’t sound too far-fetched for a guy that’s previously been on assault and sexual assault charges.

“His first name is Fred. I can’t spell his last name,” Hilton said of Khalilian in an interview with the New York Daily News in 2005.

Details on the alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy — which did not result in anyone’s death — were not immediately available. The criminal complaint against Khalilian was not yet unsealed Thursday morning.

Before this, Prince Fred’s last brush with the law came when Monster Store slapped him with a restraining order after staff accused him of making “threats of mutilation, death, and threats to family.”

Sounds like a chill dude.

(Via LA Times)

Former Donald Trump attorney Jenna Ellis wasted no time mocking failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake for reportedly living at Mar-a-Lago. The election-denying Lake has been a constant fixture at Trump’s Florida golf club in what PEOPLE sources are calling a blatant attempt to be his running mate in the 2024 election.

“She’s couch-surfing at her friend’s house like a bum college dropout,” Ellis tweeted on Wednesday night.

The dig was quickly caught by the Twitter account for Lake’s campaign, which fired back at Ellis with an insult of its own.

“We see you’ve entered the “school girl gossip” part of your meltdown,” the verified Kari Lake War Room account tweeted, prompting Ellis to drop a scathing response on the failed campaign.

“From what wing of the AZ governor’s mansion did you tweet this?” Ellis tweeted.

The attack on Lake isn’t entirely out of character for Ellis. The former Trump attorney has been on the outs with MAGA world after she admitted to 10 counts of “misrepresenting evidence” about the 2020 election while representing Trump. Ellis made the confession while being censured by the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.

Adding insult to injury, Ellis has emerged as a staunch supporter of Ron DeSantis‘ presidential run. The Florida governor is Trump’s greatest threat for the Republican nomination. Ellis backing Meatball Ron is tantamount to treason to MAGA Republicans who routinely call her a “traitor” on Twitter.

(Via Jenna Ells on Twitter)