Samwise NBA Newsletter
Friday, June 26, 2026
Washington Wizards Select BYU Forward AJ Dybantsa With No. 1 Pick in 2026 NBA Draft
The Washington Wizards selected BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The 19-year-old, 6-foot-9 wing led the nation with 25.5 points per game at BYU, breaking Danny Ainge’s 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record with a 43-point eruption. Dybantsa gets to the rim at will, scores in the midrange, and draws fouls at a high rate while displaying point-forward potential. He joins Anthony Davis and Trae Young in Washington, giving the Wizards a face of the franchise to build around and the ceiling to be a future MVP.
Sources: ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Memphis Grizzlies and OKC Thunder Earn Top Draft Grades After Strong Showings
Multiple outlets awarded the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder top marks following the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft. Memphis selected Duke forward Cameron Boozer at No. 3 and Mexican-born wing Karim López at No. 21. Analysts called Boozer a skilled scorer, smart orchestrator, and savvy rebounder versatile enough to meet the demands of modern big men. Oklahoma City drafted 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara at No. 12 and shooter Bennett Stirtz at No. 16, directly addressing needs exposed in the Thunder’s Western Conference Finals loss. Mara’s nifty passing and finishing drew strong reviews, while Stirtz brings knockdown three-point shooting to balance OKC’s defense-heavy backcourt.
Sources: Yahoo Sports SI.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Charlotte Hornets Trade LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and Picks
The Charlotte Hornets traded All-Star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033). Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game in 72 regular-season games during the 2025-26 season. He joins Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves’ core will feature a 24-year-old backcourt of Edwards and Ball along with 25-year-old wing McDaniels, all under contract through the 2028-29 season. Minnesota was searching for a co-star for Edwards after guard Donte DiVincenzo ruptured his Achilles during the playoffs.
Boston Celtics Enter Active Trade Talks to Move Jaylen Brown After Missing on Giannis
The Boston Celtics have begun actively listening to and engaging in trade discussions centered on All-Star forward Jaylen Brown, per reports. Having failed to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo—a move that reportedly would have involved Brown going to Milwaukee—the Celtics now risk entering training camp with a disgruntled star if they do not trade him. Multiple teams are interested in Brown, with a bidding war expected. Separately, New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy has signaled a desire to be traded and has been mentioned as a potential Boston target. Multiple outlets reported the Celtics remain in discussions with potential trade partners involving both players as the offseason heats up.
Austin Reaves to Sign Four-Year, $185 Million Max Deal to Stay With Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30. Reaves declined his $14.9 million player option to negotiate the new deal, which is the richest contract in NBA history for an undrafted player. He averaged 23.3 points on 49 percent shooting, including 36 percent from three, along with 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals last season, though he appeared in a career-low 51 games due to calf and oblique injuries.
Trae Young to Sign Four-Year, $212 Million Extension to Remain With Washington Wizards
Trae Young intends to sign a four-year, $212 million extension to remain with the Washington Wizards, committing to the franchise’s rebuild after a turbulent season. Young, a four-time All-Star, declined his $49 million player option before agreeing to the new deal, which will pay him an average of roughly $53 million per year. The Hawks traded Young to Washington in January for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Young played in just 10 games for Atlanta and made only five starts with the Wizards before missing the remainder of the 2025-26 season with back and quad issues. His return provides Washington a veteran cornerstone alongside No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa.
Sources: ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Detroit Pistons Trade Isaiah Stewart to Memphis Grizzlies for Three Second-Round Picks
The Detroit Pistons traded big man Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks on Wednesday night, during the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. The deal gives Detroit roughly $15 million in cap flexibility as key contributors Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and Kevin Huerter approach free agency. Stewart, 25, has two years and $30 million remaining on his contract, with a team option for 2027-28. He averaged 10 points on 55 percent shooting, five rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game off the bench for a Pistons team that reached 60 wins last season for the first time in 20 years.
Sources: ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Hawks Land Henri Veesaar as Late Second-Round Steal After Projected First-Rounder Slides
Center Henri Veesaar, projected by many draft analysts as a late first-round pick, slid all the way to the second round before the Atlanta Hawks selected him 52nd overall after acquiring the pick from the Los Angeles Clippers. The unusual slide had a specific cause: Veesaar and his agent were adamant he would not sign a two-way contract, which deterred teams from taking him late in the first round. Veesaar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 threes per game last season while shooting 60.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three. Draft analysts praised Atlanta’s selection as exceptional value.
Sources: Yahoo Sports SI.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
2025–26 NBA Playoffs — Final Bracket
Eastern Conference
ECF: New York Knicks def. Cleveland Cavaliers (advanced to Finals)
Semis: Knicks swept Philadelphia 76ers
Semis: Cavaliers def. Detroit Pistons
Western Conference
WCF: San Antonio Spurs def. OKC Thunder 4–3
NBA Finals
🏆 New York Knicks def. San Antonio Spurs 4–1 — 2026 NBA Champions
Finals MVP: Jalen Brunson (32.6 PPG, 45 pts in clincher)
First Knicks title since 1973
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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