Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 6/11/2026
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2026 NBA Offseason Preview: Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets were widely lauded for the moves they made last offseason. The first domino to fall was a cost-cutting maneuver, as Denver traded Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick to the Nets for Cameron Johnson.
Swapping out Porter's $38.3MM cap hit for Johnson's $21.6MM saved the Nuggets a significant amount of money in 2025/26 and will do the same in 2026/27, when there will be a similar cap disparity between the two players ($40.8MM for Porter vs. $23.1MM for Johnson).
Since depth had been an issue for the Nuggets the past few years, their priority last summer was building out their roster with veterans who could play real minutes. They signed Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown to minimum-salary contracts, then traded Dario Saric to Sacramento for Jonas Valanciunas.
The final big 2025 offseason move for Denver was signing Christian Braun to a five-year, $125MM rookie scale extension shortly before the season started. The Nuggets prioritized locking up Braun, a full-time starter who had a strong third season, over fellow 2022 first-round pick Peyton Watson, who is now headed for restricted free agency.
Denver got off to an excellent start to the 2025/26 campaign, with a 20-6 record that belied the fact that Braun (serious ankle sprain) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring strain) both got hurt in November. Then Johnson (knee sprain/bone bruise) went down in late December, followed by Nikola Jokic (knee sprain/bone bruise) and Valanciunas (calf strain) a few days later. Each player missed multiple weeks.
Jokic was having a career year to that point, and while disaster was certainly averted, his numbers went from otherworldly historic to merely terrific. He wound up appearing in a career-low 65 games, including having to play in the final contest of the season to qualify for major postseason awards. The Serbian superstar tied an NBA record co-held by Celtics legends Bill Russell and Larry Bird by finishing either first or second (he was runner-up again) in MVP voting for a sixth consecutive season.
Watson, the primary beneficiary of all the injury absences, was having a career year prior to suffering a hamstring strain just before the trade deadline in early February. He showed real upside as an on-ball scorer and cutter on top of his defensive instincts, length, athleticism and versatility, which is why the team wants to retain him this summer.
Despite all the injuries -- Braun and Gordon combined to play 80 games, while Johnson and Watson played 54 apiece -- and a mediocre stretch in the middle of the season, the Nuggets ended the year on a 12-game winning streak and entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed after going 54-28. Jamal Murray played a major role in the team's success, appearing in 75 games and posting terrific numbers en route to his first All-Star and All-NBA (third team) appearances.
The Nuggets' first-round opponent was one of their division rivals, the Timberwolves, who eliminated the Denver in the Western Conference semifinals in a seven-game series in 2024. The Nuggets were attempting to defend their title at the time, having won their first championship the year before.
Denver's lack of size, athleticism and defense against Minnesota this postseason was jarring. Jaden McDaniels not only prevented Murray from having any kind of offensive success with his smothering defense, he also targeted the Canadian guard on the other end of the floor. And Jokic had the least efficient playoff series of his career against Rudy Gobert. Crucially, Gobert was daring Jokic to shoot, and the superstar center converted just 19.4% of his 6.0 three-point attempts per game.
Injuries were a factor for both teams, with Watson missing the whole series and Gordon suffering yet another soft-tissue injury in Game 2. Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles tendon at the start of Game 4 for Minnesota, and Anthony Edwards sprained his knee later in that same contest. But the Wolves were the mentally, emotionally and physically tougher team, winning the series in six games.
After a disappointing first-round exit, the Nuggets have to figure out what steps to take with an aging core that will only get more expensive going forward.
The Nuggets' Offseason Plans
The main reason Denver's roster projects to be far more expensive going forward is the fact that Jokic will be eligible this summer for an extension that will pay him a projected $285MM over four years. He's reportedly expected to sign the deal after reiterating following the team's postseason elimination that he wants to be a "Nugget forever."
However, outside of Jokic, everything could potentially be on the table for the Nuggets, as president Josh Kroenke acknowledged at his end-of-season press conference. Murray and Gordon notably can't be ruled out as possible trade candidates after playing vital roles in the team's success for the better part of the past decade. A more likely outcome has long been presumed to be shedding Johnson's salary to re-sign Watson, though that's far from a fait accompli.
Draft Workouts: Lendeborg, Warriors, Brown, Kings, Wolves
The Warriors will host six prospects on Thursday for a pre-draft workout, the team announced (via Twitter). According to Golden State, that group will feature Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lendeborg is coming off a memorable 2025/26 season in which he was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year, was named a consensus first-time All-American, and won a national championship with the Wolverines. The 6’9″ forward, who will turn 24 in September, is considered a probable lottery pick and is viewed as perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the 2026 draft class, which could make him an intriguing fit for a Golden State team that holds the 11th overall pick and is looking to make the most of Stephen Curry‘s late 30s.
Besides Lendeborg, Thursday’s workout group will also include Tennessee center Felix Okpara, Utah State guard Drake Allen, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell, South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson, and Ole Miss big man Malik Dia, per the team. Okpara (No. 46 on ESPN’s big board) and Boswell (No. 55) are considered the highest-rated prospects among those five players.
Here are more updates on pre-draft workouts around the NBA:
- Louisville guard Mikel Brown, a projected top-10 pick, has recently met with the Nets and Bucks in Orlando and also has pre-draft visits lined up with the Hawks, Clippers, and Mavericks, according to James Barlowe of NBA Big Board (Twitter link). Each of those clubs holds a pick between No. 5 and No. 10 in this year’s draft.
- The Kings are hosting Marquette guard Chase Ross, San Diego State guard Reese Dixon-Waters, Providence guard Jaylin Sellers, Cal forward Chris Bell, Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington, and George Washington center Rafael Castro for a workout on Thursday, per James Ham of The Kings Beat (Twitter link). While none of those players are top prospects, Castro (No. 73), Washington (No. 85), and Sellers (No. 99) show up on ESPN top 100.
- UConn forward Alex Karaban and St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins were among the players who worked out for the Timberwolves on Sunday, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News and SKOR North. Karaban is viewed as a potential first-round pick, coming in at No. 30 on ESPN’s big board, while Hopkins ranks 48th. Minnesota holds the 28th and 59th overall picks in the 2026 draft.
Knicks Notes: Anunoby, Hart, Alvarado, Towns
Even after erasing a 29-point deficit against the Spurs on Wednesday, the Knicks were one possession away from their historic comeback effort falling short, having given up their lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter of Game 4. However, OG Anunoby sealed the victory with an incredible tip-in off a missed Jalen Brunson three-pointer with just 1.2 seconds left in the game, giving the Knicks a 107-106 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
“I don’t know if there was a play bigger than any other play in the history of Knicks basketball,” head coach Mike Brown said of Anunoby’s basket, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “… That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball. I’m not you guys. You guys know better than me. But it was just unbelievable.”
Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required) agrees with Brown’s assessment, writing that – as long as the Knicks can win one more game over San Antonio and secure a title – Anunoby’s tip-in will go down as one of the most iconic plays in all of New York sports, along with memorable moments like David Tyree’s “helmet catch” or Derek Jeter’s “flip.” As Bondy writes, Karl-Anthony Towns referred to it after the game as the “right hand of God.”
As Kurt Helin of NBC Sports details, Anunoby’s series-changing play, the highlight of huge 33-point performance, was influenced in part by Brown having encouraged him to be a “monster on the offensive glass” in Game 4.
“(Brown) told me I need to get on the glass, offensive glass, especially, and just use my ability, size, strength, athleticism, to make an impact on the offensive glass,” Anunoby said. “And it happened at the end.”
We have more on the Knicks, who will take a 3-1 series lead back to San Antonio for Saturday’s Game 5 after completing the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history:
- Josh Hart missed an open breakaway layup with less than two minutes left and the Knicks down by one point, then let Stephon Castle get behind him on defense a few possessions later and was forced to foul the Spurs guard, who gave San Antonio a temporary lead by making both free throws. Hart was relieved after the game not to have to relive those moments over and over, as Zach Braziller of The New York Post relays. “I’ve got a special shout-out for OG, man, because he saved me, at least for this game, a lifetime of regret,” Hart said.
- The Knicks’ reserves weren’t very effective on Wednesday, combining to score just four points through the first three quarters. But New York native Jose Alvarado changed that in the fourth quarter, when he scored eight points on 3-of-3 shooting and was a +17 in nearly 10 minutes of action as the team mounted its furious comeback. Towns said Alvarado’s performance was a reminder that he’s a “big-time player,” while Landry Shamet said the game changed when Alvarado checked in, according to Howie Kussoy of The New York Post. “That’s when things really started to shift,” Shamet said. “He’s a spark. The energy he brings for us … he was ready to go and stepped in and made some huge plays for us.”
- Towns got into early foul trouble and was forced to sit most of the first quarter, but he further cemented his place in Knicks lore by bouncing back to register a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds) and tipping Dylan Harper‘s inbounds pass on the final possession of the game, preventing the Spurs from getting a clean look at a potential game-winner, writes Fiifi Frimpong of The New York Daily News (subscription required).
Mavericks Notes: Irving, Finances, Marshall, Lively, Thompson
In the latest step in his recovery from a torn ACL that forced him to miss the entire season, Kyrie Irving put his skills on display Tuesday at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina, according to BasketNews. The Mavericks guard offered advice and motivation to the top 100 high school players in the United States, then gave some of them a chance to face him one-on-one in the Can You Guard Kyrie Challenge (Twitter video link from NBA Central).
The team hasn’t provided an official update on Irving’s status, but he was reportedly impressive in his battles with the high school stars. Irving said recently on social media that he’s nearly 100% recovered.
“This mission is bigger than just the basketball court,” he told the players. “I pray that you guys understand that you have a chance to change your life with the game of basketball, to utilize it as a vehicle to take you around the world, to meet different people, gain insight, gain knowledge. Last year, I had a very traumatic injury, tore my ACL. And just to be back out here in front of you guys, it’s just an honor. I don’t take for granted, man, it’s been a long year, mentally, emotionally, something – when something that you love gets taken away from you for a temporary moment, that really defines you.”
There’s more on the Mavericks:
- Dallas didn’t get much value in terms of players by trading Anthony Davis to Washington, but unloading his $58.5MM salary for next season puts the team in much better financial shape, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron states in his offseason preview. The Mavs currently have 13 players under contract for 2026/27 with a total commitment of $161.8MM. They are comfortably below both aprons and roughly $38MM away from the luxury tax line. They also created a $20.8MM trade exception in the Davis deal that enables them to acquire someone for up to $21MM. In addition, Dallas has access to the $15MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception as well as the $5.5MM bi-annual exception. Gozlan notes that using that space to take on unwanted salary from other teams could be an easy way to restock the Mavericks’ future draft assets.
- One of the team’s most important offseason decisions will be whether to extend Naji Marshall, who will become eligible for a new deal on July 6, Gozlan adds. Marshall should attract plenty of trade interest with an expiring $9.4MM contract, but the Mavs have indicated that they want to keep him as part of their future. Gozlan projects a new deal in the range of the MLE at around $45MM over three years, which is low enough to avoid creating a six-month trade restriction.
- Dereck Lively II will also be extension-eligible, Gozlan notes, but the Mavericks are unlikely go that route since injuries have caused him to miss 121 games over the past two seasons. Gozlan expects that the new front office will want to watch Lively for a year before making a decision.
- Gozlan also suggests that 36-year-old Klay Thompson might become a buyout candidate whether he stays in Dallas or gets traded. Thompson will have a $17.5MM expiring contract and isn’t in the situation he expected when he signed with the Mavs to team up with Luka Doncic on a contender. Gozlan points out that Dallas could take back up to $26.5MM in a Thompson deal.
Southwest Notes: Castle, Ejiofor, Grizzlies’ Draft, Pelicans
Stephon Castle used some strategy to maneuver his way to the Spurs in the 2024 draft, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. San Antonio held the No. 4 pick, and Castle was intrigued by the chance to team his perimeter defensive skills with an elite rim protector like Victor Wembanyama,
“I was just looking on the defensive side of things (in San Antonio), where being able to pair with Victor was definitely a plus in my eyes,” Castle said. “I just thought it would have been a perfect fit, and I feel like it was.”
To reach the Spurs, Castle had to get past the Rockets, who held the third pick. Castle was aware of coach Ime Udoka‘s interest in him, but preferred not to join a team with a veteran point guard already in place. Houston had Fred VanVleet, so Castle opted against holding a private workout with the Rockets. The strategy worked, as Houston selected Reed Sheppard, and Castle went on to win Rookie of the Year honors and become a fixture on a young team that’s already in the NBA Finals.
“I think being (in San Antonio) was always number one on my list,” Castle added. “Internally, I always felt like I was the best player in that draft. (But) I didn’t know what could happen. My agent always told me, like, anything can happen in a draft. Like, you could not work out for a team, not have talked to a team, and they can still take you. So, I mean, I wasn’t really planning on playing in Houston. I didn’t really know how any of that worked. I was kind of hoping I could slide my way to San Antonio. It kind of worked out for me.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor will have a pre-draft workout with the Spurs on Thursday, according to Adam Zagoria (Twitter link). San Antonio holds the 20th pick, which falls within Ejiofor’s projected draft range.
- Cameron Boozer appears headed to the Grizzlies with the third pick, and the team may try to find Ja Morant‘s eventual replacement at No. 16, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal states in a subscriber-only story. Cole examines the fit for Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson, Alabama’s Labaron Philon, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz and Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie.
- The Pelicans are hiring David Cosgrave as vice president of health and performance and Joe Sharpe as head athletic trainer, states Rod Walker of NOLA. “David Cosgrave and Joe Sharpe bring a level of professionalism and experience that immediately strengthens our organization and supports our commitment to build a fully integrated, best-in-class medical and performance team,” executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement.
- Scoop Jardine announced that he’ll be joining the Pelicans as a “global director scout” (Instagram link). The former Syracuse standout spent time playing in the G League and in Canada before moving into coaching at the high school level.
And-Ones: Rozier, Payton, Clarke, Silver
The trial for Terry Rozier and three other defendants in a federal gambling case is scheduled to begin on February 8, 2027, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. The former Heat guard pleaded not guilty in December to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, claims that the NBA has mishandled the investigation and is wrongfully preventing Rozier from continuing his career.
“The NBA has literally flagrantly fouled the presumption of innocence,” Trusty said (Twitter video link). “… They’re still trying to find ways to pretend they’re victims and that Terry should be prohibited from playing basketball. … They are not on the side of angels in this case.”
Trusty has petitioned Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to remove a bond restriction that prevents Rozier from playing in the NBA, and the league has been given a Monday deadline to respond, Vorkunov adds.
Rozier also pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of sports bribery and honest services wire fraud conspiracy that were filed by federal prosecutors last month, per ESPN.
Rozier’s lawyers have asked the Department of Justice and Judge Hall to dismiss the charges against him.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Former SuperSonics star Gary Payton is confident that the NBA will be returning to Seattle soon, Dana Scott of The Arizona Republic writes in a subscriber-only story. “There’s a lot of talk. The government over there in Seattle is going to be fine,” Payton said. “Seattle will be back with Las Vegas, so I’m not really worried about none of what they’re talking about. We’ll work it all out. There’s nothing that’s going to snag them. The ownership with Tod Leiweke (CEO of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken) and all them, we’re going to be fine. I’m just excited for them to get back. We should’ve never lost it but we’re gonna be back.”
- Brandon Clarke‘s death last month has brought new scrutiny to kratom, the substance he was carrying in his car during his recent arrest in Arkansas, per Melody Gutierrez of The Athletic. Many states are moving to outlaw kratom, including Clarke’s home state of Tennessee, which is placing restrictions on it starting July 1.
- Meeting with a small group of reporters last week, commissioner Adam Silver defended the success of the league’s 65-game minimum to be eligible for major awards and All-NBA honors, relays Sam Amick of The Athletic. “Our star participation was up, actually, significantly this year,” Silver said. “Taking injuries out (of the equation), with so-called load management or one-day absences (being the focus), we’re down 30% this year. … (Players) don’t want to disappoint the fans.”
NBA Finals Notes: K. Johnson, Wembanyama, LeBron, Ratings
One of the overlooked reasons for the Spurs‘ victory in Game 3 was the job that forward Keldon Johnson did defensively against Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes in a subscriber-only piece. Despite being six inches shorter and 28 pounds lighter, Johnson was able to use his physicality to throw Towns off his game.
“I just tried to make it tough for him,” Johnson said. “He’s a really good player. He’s been playing at a really high level throughout the series, so I just tried to make it tough on him, make his catches tough, try to make him uncomfortable, just doing whatever I can to make him have a tough night.”
Towns was limited to 11 points on Monday after scoring 18 and 21 in the first two games of the series. Johnson, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, posted a team-best plus-14 rating in 17 minutes of action.
“He’ll do whatever the coaching staff asks him to do, bringing his energy and physicality (to the assignment),” San Antonio center Luke Kornet said of Johnson. “His versatility is important for us.”
There’s more on the NBA Finals:
- Before leading the Spurs to a pivotal win, Victor Wembanyama relaxed on Sunday with a trip to Gramercy Park, one of New York City’s quietest and most exclusive attractions, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Wembanyama and his sister spent the afternoon sketching, admiring the statues and watching a Shakespearian presentation, helping him clear his mind for the challenge ahead. “Really tried to relax. The Playoffs, it’s like a — I don’t know how to say that word — a whirlwind. It’s hard to put your head out of the water,” Wembanyama said after Game 3. “Sometimes, I don’t even got to watch the game back right away. I need some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind.”
- LeBron James suggests that the Knicks’ two road wins to open the series were the result of a lack of attractions in San Antonio that interest NBA players, relays Ryan Anderson of The New York Post. “I mean, San Antonio, we focus on basketball,” James said on his Mind the Game podcast (YouTube link). “You ain’t doing s–t in San Antonio. Nothing at all. Nothing. And I mean nothing.”
- Monday’s contest drew the highest television rating for the NBA Finals since the 1998 Finals between the Bulls and Jazz, the league announced (Twitter link). The game averaged 23.8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, peaking with 26.3 million at 11:15 pm Eastern Time.
Knicks Notes: Towns, Brunson, Brown, Rose, Lin
Coach Mike Brown was upset with the free throw disparity in Monday’s Game 3 loss, but Knicks players don’t believe that’s what caused their 13-game playoff winning streak to end, Steve Popper of Newsday writes in a subscriber-only story. Karl-Anthony Towns blamed an uncharacteristic sloppiness with the ball as New York committed 13 turnovers, several as the result of unforced errors.
“That ain’t cost us the game,” Towns responded when asked about Brown’s comments on the officiating. “Turned the ball over. Didn’t execute. Didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins in a row. That’s how you lose a game. We didn’t do what we’ve been doing for 13. We decided to do something different, and it ain’t going to work. Throwing the ball away is a clear indication of how you’re going to lose the game, especially in the playoffs.”
Another concern Popper raises is stagnation on offense, with Brown saying too often players were standing and watching whoever had the ball. Popper notes that Jalen Brunson finished with 32 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, but he only had five assists as the offense lacked its usual fluidity.
“We’ve got to pick up the ball movement, for sure,” Towns said. “We have to. Two, we have, what, 13 games in a row, 50 days of film to show what it looks like when we’re at our best. So we’ve got good film. We’ll get back to our fundamentals, what makes us great, what made us great, and get back to work.”
There’s more from New York:
- Speaking to reporters before tonight’s Game 4, Brown addressed the league’s decision to not give Victor Wembanyama a flagrant foul for an incident with Brunson early in Monday’s contest, per James L. Edwards of The Athletic (Twitter link). “They’re not going to listen to me,” Brown told reporters. “I said my piece. You just hope at the end of the day things are consistent on both ends.”
- One of the Knicks’ most valuable qualities is having a core of players who have been together for several years, states Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. As it becomes tougher to keep rosters intact due to CBA restrictions, teams that can establish continuity tend to have an advantage. Vorkunov points out that it’s been true for every NBA champion since 2021. “I think you just get a familiarity and a certain comfort level with those guys,” Josh Hart said. “All of them can go out there and make plays, especially end of shot clock. … I think it’s more so the trust that’s built, and you know where everyone likes the ball and plays for them to execute.”
- Leon Rose‘s refusal to speak to the media has kept him out of the spotlight more than most other NBA executives, but the Knicks’ president has done an incredible job building the current roster, observes Chris Mannix of SI. Mannix examines the moves that Rose has made over the past five years to turn the franchise around, including the 2022 signing of Brunson in free agency. “I think he has a great basketball mind,” Brunson said of Rose. “The way he’s been able to do this, especially here with all the scrutiny people do to him and everything, I just think the way he goes about his business is as good as anyone.”
- Jeremy Lin, who earned his greatest fame during his time in New York, believes Brunson deserves more credit for giving the Knicks a discount in his last extension and providing the financial flexibility that made them title contenders, per Melissa Rohlin of The California Post. “I don’t think enough people are talking about him giving up $113MM to build a team full of players that want to win,” Lin said. “I think that speaks volumes. That’s also historic. It’s not talked about enough. Now he’s starting to get some of the recognition he deserves as a player, but he’s the consummate teammate and professional.”
Central Rumors: Portis, Bulls, Quinn, Niang, Pistons
There’s a “growing belief in some corners” that if the Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the deal will also include Bobby Portis, reports Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link).
Portis, who has played with Antetokounmpo for the past six seasons and won a title with Milwaukee in 2021, has provided consistent production as the team’s top frontcourt reserve in recent years, averaging 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game since the start of the 2023/24 season. The 31-year-old forward/center will earn $14.5MM in 2026/27 and holds a $15.6MM player option for ’27/28.
We have a few more items of interest from around the Central Division:
- Although the Bulls don’t appear likely to make a trade involving their No. 4 overall pick, the idea that they might move up from No. 15 is “gaining momentum,” writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, citing a source. While Cowley suggests that might just mean using second-round assets to move up a spot or two to nab a specific target, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints says rival personnel believe the Bulls might be eyeing Keaton Wagler. The Illinois guard is considered likely to come off the board in the 5-9 range, so that would be a more challenging trade for Chicago to make.
- Cowley and Siegel also checked in on the Bulls‘ coaching search, with Cowley confirming the reported finalists and suggesting that the team will make its choice “well before” the draft begins on June 23, perhaps at some point within the next week. Siegel, who previously identified Heat assistant Chris Quinn as a candidate for Chicago, is hearing that Quinn will “probably” end up remaining in his role on Erik Spoelstra‘s staff in Miami.
- Having traveled to Italy to watch Cavaliers 2025 second-round pick Saliou Niang play for Virtus Bologna in the Lega Basket Serie A playoffs, head coach Kenny Atkinson referred to the draft-and-stash prospect as a “strong, determined young man” and lauded the 22-year-old’s energy and his leadership, per Federico Bettuzzi of Tuttosport (hat tip to Alessandro Maggi of Sportando). “I believe he will be part of our franchise’s future,” Atkinson added.
- Hunter Patterson of The Athletic lists five prospects the Pistons should consider with their No. 21 pick, assuming they’re still available, starting with Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie. Duke’s Isaiah Evans, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, Santa Clara’s Allen Graves, and Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas also earn mentions from Patterson.