Samwise NBA Newsletter
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Bucks Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami Heat in Blockbuster Pre-Draft Deal
After 13 seasons and one NBA championship in Milwaukee, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is headed to Miami. The Bucks agreed Monday night to trade the Greek Freak and Bobby Portis to the Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks — including the No. 13 selection in Tuesday’s draft — a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-rounder. Milwaukee chose Miami’s package over a competing offer from Boston because it provided more young talent and long-term flexibility. The deal is expected to be finalized July 6.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
2026 NBA Draft Round 1 Opens Tonight at Barclays Center
The 2026 NBA Draft’s first round tips off Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, live on ABC and ESPN. The Washington Wizards, who hold the No. 1 pick after winning the draft lottery, face a compelling choice between BYU forward AJ Dybantsa and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. Dybantsa — the Big 12 Freshman of the Year — is the heavy favorite, with odds of -750 to go first overall on FanDuel Sportsbook. The top five picks belong to Washington, Utah, Memphis, Chicago, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Round 2 follows Wednesday night on ESPN.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, NBA.com
Wizards Weighing AJ Dybantsa Against Darryn Peterson for No. 1 Pick
Heading into Tuesday’s NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards have not publicly committed to a selection despite holding the No. 1 overall pick. BYU freshman forward AJ Dybantsa is the heavy pre-draft favorite, with his downhill scoring and elite physical tools seen as franchise-defining potential. Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, however, has drawn significant internal interest from Washington, with the margin between the two prospects described around the league as razor-thin. Peterson’s elite three-point shooting and perimeter shot creation contrast with Dybantsa’s more physically imposing, interior-driving game. The choice could define Washington’s next decade.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
Timberwolves Shed Julius Randle in Three-Team Trade Involving Nets and Bulls
The Minnesota Timberwolves executed a salary-clearing move Monday on the eve of the NBA Draft, trading Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal. Brooklyn simultaneously sent center Nic Claxton — owed $23.3 million next season — to the Chicago Bulls, who sent forward Mo Gueye to Minnesota. The Wolves received the No. 33 second-round pick from Brooklyn plus Gueye. Randle’s $33.3 million salary now shifts to Brooklyn’s books. The move immediately created financial room for Minnesota to pursue free agent targets heading into July.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
Timberwolves Agree to Five-Year, $112 Million Deal with Ayo Dosunmu
Hours after clearing salary in a three-team trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to terms with free agent forward Ayo Dosunmu on a five-year, $112 million contract that includes a player option in the final season. The Wolves had identified Dosunmu as a priority signing, particularly with guard Donte DiVincenzo sidelined indefinitely due to a torn Achilles tendon. Minnesota’s cap maneuvering — sending Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick to Brooklyn on Monday — created the financial space necessary to land Dosunmu ahead of free agency’s official opening on June 30.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Mavericks and OKC Thunder Discussing Draft-Night Trade Centered on No. 9 Pick
Heading into Tuesday’s NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder have discussed a trade that would send Dallas’s No. 9 overall pick to Oklahoma City in exchange for the Thunder’s No. 12 and No. 17 selections, plus a player attached to the deal, according to reports. The Thunder, who hold picks via their Clippers and 76ers acquisitions, are eyeing a move up while shedding salary ahead of upcoming luxury tax thresholds. The Mavericks would emerge from such a deal with two additional first-round selections, adding depth to a roster being rebuilt around Luka Dončić.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated
Champion Knicks Re-Sign Mohamed Diawara to Multiyear Deal
The New York Knicks, fresh off their first NBA championship in 53 years, moved Monday to retain restricted free agent Mohamed Diawara on a multiyear deal worth more than $10 million. Diawara, 21, had initially forgone a longer rookie contract to sign a one-year deal worth just over $1.2 million after being the No. 51 pick in last year’s draft, betting on his own development. He secured a roster spot on the champion Knicks during the 2025-26 season. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the deal, which keeps the 6-foot-9 forward in New York for the foreseeable future.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
2025-26 NBA Playoffs — Final Results
Eastern Conference
🏆 Knicks vs Spurs — Knicks win 4–1 (NBA Champions)
Finals: Game 5 final score 94–90
2026 NBA Draft Tonight
Round 1 — 8 p.m. ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn
No. 1 Pick: Washington Wizards (Dybantsa vs. Peterson)
Free agency opens June 30
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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