Malachi Moreno Withdrawing From Draft
After declaring for the 2026 NBA draft as an early entrant, freshman big man Malachi Moreno is withdrawing from consideration and returning to Kentucky for his sophomore season, Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 reports (via Twitter).
Moreno is a 19-year-old center who averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game this season for the Wildcats. He stood out as a strong offensive rebounding prospect with intriguing play-making and solid rim protection, though he struggled at times to finish at the rim.
Measuring over 6’11.25″ barefoot with a 9’3.5″ standing reach and weighing nearly 243 pounds, Moreno has very good size for a big man, and he moves well despite not being the most explosive athlete. He was ranked 47th on ESPN’s big board.
Moreno’s return will help bolster Kentucky’s frontcourt for next season.
NCAA early entrants who are testing the draft waters have until the end of the day on May 27 to withdraw their names if they want to retain their college eligibility. The full list of early entrants can be found right here.
Northwest Notes: Jazz, Love, Irving, Wolves
The Jazz have a chance to add a critical piece to their rebuild after landing the second pick in the loaded 2026 draft. While many of the discussions around the pick have focused on AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Darryn Peterson (Kansas), two other players are well worth discussing, Sarah Todd writes for The Deseret News.
Cameron Boozer (Duke) and Caleb Wilson (UNC) are two power forwards with franchise-changing potential who are genuine threats to upset the top of the draft order, Todd writes.
Boozer, who has well-documented ties to Utah and the Jazz organization, is generally considered to have a slightly lower ceiling than that of Dybantsa or Peterson due to his athletic limitations, but his cerebral game and ability to shoot and pass at a high level could help mitigate that. Meanwhile, Wilson is an athletic marvel with a burgeoning mid-range shot-creation skill set who reportedly impressed during the combine due to his demeanor in interviews.
Private workouts and medical results could end up having a large impact on how the order of the top four shakes out.
The Jazz have a loaded starting rotation of big men, but the Spurs have shown this year that bringing a No. 2 overall pick off the bench can still yield major dividends.
We have more from around the Northwest Division:
- Caleb Love will be a free agent after playing last season on a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers. In his limited opportunities, Love showed that he’s clearly an NBA player and still has room to grow, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “He’s got some (stuff) to him,” an anonymous scout told Freeman. “They have to make a decision with him. I think he’s better than a two-way contract guy. He played both sides of the ball in the games that I saw. He’s a physical guard. He created. He’s crafty with the ball. You want to see if he can be disciplined enough to incorporate everything into the system.”
- The Timberwolves need to find a secondary offensive star to pair with Anthony Edwards and the well-rounded skill set of Jaden McDaniels, and they should take a hard look at Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving, opines Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune. As Souhan explains, given its relative lack of trade assets, the team doesn’t necessarily seem like a strong contender for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, but Irving could be more attainable and would help to alleviate the defensive attention that Edwards receives.
- The Wolves held a pre-draft workout on Friday that featured sharp-shooting forward Milan Momcilovic out of Iowa State, per Darren Wolfson of KSTP (Twitter link). The 6’8″ junior shot 48.7% from three this season on 279 total attempts. He has until Wednesday to decide whether he will stay in the draft. Alex Karaban (UConn), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford), and Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee) have also worked out for the Wolves, per HoopsHype. Minnesota holds the 28th and 59th picks in this year’s draft.
Thunder’s Jalen Williams Out For Game 4
The Thunder will once again be shorthanded in Game 4, as Jalen Williams has been downgraded to out with left hamstring soreness, Rylan Stiles of SI.com notes (via Twitter).
Oklahoma City took Game 3 by a score 123-108 without Williams and will try to replicate that success as the team looks to take a 3-1 lead over the Spurs heading back home.
The Thunder were already down one rotation player, as word broke on Saturday that they would be without breakout guard Ajay Mitchell due to a right soleus strain. Mitchell has started a majority of the games Williams has missed this postseason; with him sidelined, the Thunder will need to find another source of offense to help complement the rest of the starting lineup.
Cason Wallace will start in place of Williams, per Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (via Twitter). Alex Caruso and Jared McCain have stepped up offensively throughout the series, and their contributions will be even more important with a pair of rotation regulars sidelined.
And-Ones: Lewis, Sochan, Fournier, Parker
The 2026 draft class lost another guard prospect on Friday, as ball-handler Acaden Lewis opted to remove his name from the draft pool, per Jon Rothstein of CBS (via Twitter). Lewis will instead transfer to Miami after leaving Villanova.
A 6’2″ left-handed point guard, Lewis showed a good deal of craft and skill as a play-maker for the Wildcats as a 20-year-old freshman, averaging 5.3 assists per game while posting a 33.7% assist percentage. He was second in the Big East in total assists and assists per game and third in steals.
Despite averaging 12.2 points per game, Lewis struggled with his efficiency throughout the season, shooting just 27.0% from three and 58.3% on free throws. He was also sixth in the Big East in turnovers.
Lewis, who visited Miami before eventually committing to Villanova, will look to form an imposing two-way partnership with athletic big man Somto Cyril, who is a high-level lob threat and rim protector.
We have more news from around the basketball world:
- Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan has been named to Poland preliminary roster for this summer’s World Cup qualifiers, Johnny Askounis writes for Eurohoops. Sochan will be a free agent this summer and the next round of qualifying games will take place in early July, so it remains to be seen whether the former lottery pick will suit up for the Polish team in those games. The 32-man preliminary roster is expected to be pared down to 15 players by June 8, Askounis notes.
- Longtime NBA wing Evan Fournier has been named MVP of the EuroLeague Final Four after scoring 20 points with five rebounds and four assists to help Olympiacos win the tournament over Real Madrid, Askounis writes. After the game, he thanked the fans, whom he credited for the victory, congratulated Madrid on its season, and downplayed the notion that failing to make the Final Four last season was a source of motivation for him. “Honestly, no,” he said. “My motivation comes from love.”
- Spurs legend Tony Parker is expected to become the head coach of ASVEL Villeurbanne in France for next season and is on track to earn a salary of approximately 1.2 million Euros, which would make him the highest-paid coach in the history of the French League, writes Donatas Urbonas of Basket News. Parker, who is currently the team’s president, was previously a shareholder before selling his stake in the team, is also looking to bring in national team head coach Vincent Collet as either a lead assistant or a consultant as he seeks to surround himself with experienced, capable voices. Collet worked as a consultant for the Cavaliers this season. Urbonas reports that several new investors are expected to join ASVEL, a major change in the finances for the club, which had one of the lowest budgets in EuroLeague this season.
Sixers Notes: 22nd Pick, McCain, Drummond, Grimes
The Sixers have the 22nd pick in the 2026 draft and could use a rookie who can come in and contribute right away. But the team has an even more pressing concern: finalizing their next head of basketball operations.
Bob Myers, the president of the Sixers’ ownership group, would ideally like that decision to be made before the team is on the clock, but he’s not setting anything in stone, Adam Aaronson writes for PhillyVoice.com.
“If it hasn’t happened, that’s okay, too,” Myers said. “But the goal would be to have someone in place for the draft to get acclimated with the new group… whoever we hire, not sure who that will be, will likely, possibly already be evaluating the draft from where they’re coming from … But yeah, I’d like to, and I hope to, but it’ll be as much time as required to get the best person. Because again … the goal would be to have someone that’s the right person for a long amount of time after that.“
In terms of which prospects are being tied to the Sixers, there’s an emphasis among draft analysts on getting the team either a forward to address its thin depth on the wing or a center who can help solidify the position if and when Joel Embiid misses time.
Allen Graves, a raw forward from Santa Clara with intriguing defensive play-making, Dailyn Swain, a slashing wing from Texas, and Luigi Suigo, a 7’3″ giant out of Italy with interesting offensive upside, are all players who have been mocked to Philadelphia at No. 22.
Given that the Sixers have three players on max contracts, two of whom have some level of injury risk, drafting someone who can help right away is particularly important for this franchise, Gina Mizell says in a video for the Philly Inquirer about storylines for the offseason.
We have more from the Sixers:
- Jared McCain could have held a grudge against the Sixers and Daryl Morey after the team’s former president of basketball operations said he “sold high” on the young guard when trading him to the Thunder. But after his 24-point explosion in a Game 3 win over the Spurs, McCain chose the high road. “It’s never to prove anybody wrong. I try to keep a positive outlook. I like proving my support system right, the people who really believed in me, I like proving them right,” McCain said, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (Twitter video link). “… Daryl’s still the guy that drafted me, so I’ll always have love for him for that. He trusted me, believed in me enough to take me at the 16th spot, so I’m forever grateful for that, no matter what.”
- Andre Drummond had an interesting season for the Sixers, performing well at the beginning and end of the year despite long stretches where he was relatively ineffective, Aaronson writes. Drummond managed to turn himself into something of a stretch five and is still a good rebounder, though he’s not nearly as elite on the boards as he once was. The question is whether the team can upgrade his spot on the cheap, given its lack of financial flexibility. If the answer is no, Drummond could find himself reunited with the team he has played over 100 games for over the last two seasons.
- After signing his qualifying offer following a lengthy game of chicken in restricted free agency last summer, Quentin Grimes was not able to recapture the magic he showed late in the 2024/25 season, writes Aaronson in his end-of-season review. Instead of proving himself to be a team cornerstone, he instead showed that he was more of a solid rotation player. While they could technically keep both free agents, the Sixers will most likely want to choose one of Grimes or Kelly Oubre Jr. to retain next season, according to Aaronson. That’s a complicated decision for several reasons. Oubre was more established this season in his role and will likely be cheaper than Grimes, who is younger and a better shooter. However, the team holds Grimes’ full Bird rights, which gives them more flexibility to sign him after trying to fill other holes. There’s also the question of whether Grimes would want to stay. There’s a lack of upward mobility in the backcourt pecking order behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and last summer’s protracted negotiation that didn’t result in a deal may have soured him on Philadelphia, though the departure of Morey could help smooth over any lingering resentment that remains.
Spurs Notes: Guard Health, Wembanyama, Fouls, Game 4
The Spurs are attempting the difficult feat of beating the reigning champions while their primary and secondary point guards are battling through leg injuries. The good news is that both Fox and Harper are expected to be available to play in Game 4 on Sunday, per head coach Mitch Johnson (Twitter link via ESPN’s Tim McMahon).
De’Aaron Fox returned from his high ankle sprain for Game 3 but clearly wasn’t moving as well as usual, writes Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. Dylan Harper, who injured his adductor in the third quarter of Game 2, seemed similarly limited, finishing Game 3 with just six points on seven shots, far less than the 15.5 PPG he’d been averaging in his previous 11 outings.
To make matters worse, Fox came up hobbling in the third quarter after Luguentz Dort fell onto his ankle while diving for a loose ball. He was able to finish the game despite the scare.
“Once the pain subsides for a little bit, I felt like I was fine,” he said. “I was able to move a little bit, so I wanted to still be out there.”
We have more notes from the Spurs:
- Victor Wembanyama is challenging conventional wisdom about how experience trumps young talent in the postseason, writes ESPN’s Ben Golliver. At just 22 years old, Wembanyama has been perhaps the best all-around player in the 2026 playoffs. However, he knows there’s more he can do to get the Spurs back on track after losing back-to-back games to the Thunder, their first consecutive losses since January. He says it starts with him being a better team player, Michael C. Wright writes for ESPN. “I feel like I’m having trouble making my teammates better right now,” Wembanyama said. “My shooting splits aren’t terrible. I need to be more of a team player, facilitate better, rebound the ball better, push their defense a little bit further and see how much they need to help with my teammates and [then] feed them.“
- One area of the game that Johnson is focused on improving is keeping the Thunder off the free throw line, which hurt San Antonio in Game 3, Orsborn writes. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 12 free throw attempts, and Johnson was unhappy with how many of those were self-inflicted. “I think probably half of them were from us being undisciplined first off the floor,” the Spurs coach said. “He got us out of position and took advantage of it. I can’t remember how he got all 12 free throws, but I know a few of them were pretty good defense it felt like up until that point.“
- Wembanyama believes Game 4 will be a good measuring stick game, both for himself and the team, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. The Defensive Player of the Year noted that this series is a new experience for most of the players on the roster and that everyone can be better. “It was the first playoffs for many of us,” he said. “Of course, there was going to be hard trials. It is to be expected. But now, we’re going to see what we’re made of.” Johnson noted that the team has to adjust its offensive approach, since it spent the season having Harper, Fox, and Stephon Castle attack the advantages drawn by Wembanyama’s presence, a playing style that’s difficult to maintain with two of the three guards banged up, per Jeff McDonald of the Express-News (via Twitter).
Scotto’s Latest: Irving, Leonard, Acuff, Hawks Draft, Front Office Hires
Masai Ujiri‘s comments since arriving as the Mavericks new president and alternate governor have been consistent and future-facing, leading some executives around the league to wonder about the long-term fit of Kyrie Irving alongside franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg, Michael Scotto reports for HoopsHype. Ujiri has expressed enthusiasm about seeing the two stars plays together, as has newly hired assistant general manager Mike Schmitz.
“That’s something you dream of,” Schmitz said. “Having a magician with the ball like that who can pass, dribble, shoot, and someone with the connective qualities of Cooper. It’s a match made in heaven.”
However, given the difference in timelines — Irving is 34 years old and coming off a torn ACL, while Flagg will enter next season at just 19 — there are questions about how long it makes sense to keep the duo together. The Mavs have a top-10 pick in this year’s draft as well as 21-year-old Dereck Lively II, so they’re well-positioned to undergo a youth movement to build a future contender around Flagg, especially if they can continue adding to that young core in a deal for Irving. On the other hand, Kyrie could provide veteran stability and help Flagg continue to develop into a superstar while making the team more competitive.
The Mavericks struggled to find an answer at point guard this season, ranking 22nd in assists and 18th in turnovers with Irving rehabbing. Brandon Williams started 15 games while Ryan Nembhard started 27. Both showed themselves to be useful NBA role players, but not necessarily starting point guards to build around should Irving be moved.
The 2026 draft lottery is loaded with intriguing point guards, though, at least one of whom will likely be available when the Mavericks are on the clock with the ninth pick.
We have more news and notes from Scotto:
- In addition to monitoring Dallas’ plans for Irving, rival executives will be keeping a close eye on what the Clippers do with Kawhi Leonard and the fifth overall pick, Scotto writes. If the Clippers make Leonard available, many execs would have him and Giannis Antetokounmpo “neck-and-neck” as the top player on the trade market, Scotto adds. On the other hand, if L.A. retains – and possibly extends – Leonard, rivals are curious about whether the team would consider moving the No. 5 pick. Assuming the Clippers keep that selection, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler is widely viewed as their most likely target, according to Scotto.
- Echoing prior reporting from Kevin O’Connor, Scotto cites league sources who say the Kings are “enamored” with Darius Acuff, the point guard out of Arkansas. The question is whether the electric scorer will still be available when the Kings are on the clock. Acuff averaged 23.5 points and 6.5 assists while making 44.0% of 5.8 three-point attempts per game this season.
- Rival executives who have spoken to Scotto believe the Hawks will use the No. 8 pick to either select a point guard from the group of Wagler, Acuff, Mikel Brown, and Kingston Flemings, or to take 7’3″ Michigan center Aday Mara. Mara’s stock has been rising and he’s considered a lottery lock due to his size, passing ability, and potential as a defender and rim protector. According to Scotto, Atlanta would also like to bring back CJ McCollum, a veteran leader who had a red-hot start to the Hawks’ first-round series against the Knicks.
- The Mavericks are looking to fill out their front office under Masai Ujiri, and two potential targets they’re eyeing are Prosper Karangwa, the Sixers‘ assistant general manager, and Patrick Engelbrecht, the Raptors‘ director of global scouting, with whom Ujiri worked for over a decade.
- The Mavs are not alone in their interest in Kawanga, Scotto writes, as the Lakers are also eyeing him, Heat vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler, and Jazz vice president of player personnel Bart Taylor, among others, as they look to build out their front office. Timberwolves assistant general manager Steve Senior reportedly passed on an offer from the Lakers, opting to stay in Minnesota.
- The Jazz are tapping Shane Fenske as general manager of their G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, per Scotto. Fenske, who is the Jazz’s assistant general manager, was preceded by Katie Benzan, who is not leaving the team but rather changing roles within the franchise, notes Ben Anderson of KSL Sports (Twitter link).
Bucks To Retain Darvin Ham, Hire Joe Boylan
Head coach Taylor Jenkins‘ coaching staff for the Bucks is taking shape. In addition to the recently reported addition of Patrick St. Andrews as an assistant, Milwaukee is bringing on Joe Boylan and retaining Darvin Ham, Eric Nehm and Sam Amick report for The Athletic.
Ham spent six of the last eight seasons with the Bucks, working first under Mike Budenholzer and more recently under Doc Rivers. In between those two stints, he was the Lakers’ head coach for two seasons, taking them to the Western Conference finals in 2023. He was considered a candidate for the Pelicans’ head coach vacancy this summer before Jamahl Mosley was eventually hired.
St. Andrews has a close relationship with Jenkins, stemming from their time working as assistant coaches together with the Hawks and extending to their time in Memphis during Jenkins’ tenure as head coach.
Like St. Andrews, Boylan worked with Jenkins in Memphis, spending one season with the Grizzlies after working with the Timberwolves from 2021-24. Boylan held a variety of player development roles before he was hired by Minnesota, spending time with the Pelicans, Grizzlies, Warriors, and Celtics.
Bucks To Hire Patrick St. Andrews As Assistant Coach
The Bucks are hiring former Trail Blazers assistant coach Patrick St. Andrews as an assistant under new head coach Taylor Jenkins, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). St. Andrews previously worked with Jenkins when they were both with the Grizzlies.
St. Andrews was in charge of managing Portland’s minutes distribution and restrictions due to injuries last season, according to Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (via Twitter), who notes that St. Andrews was one of the team’s top assistants.
Prior to stints in Memphis and Portland, St. Andrews spent five seasons as an assistant with the Bucks, making this move something of a homecoming. It also gives Jenkins a familiar face as he continues to build out Milwaukee’s coaching staff.
Pistons Notes: Thompson, Langdon, Contention Window, Offseason Needs
The Pistons are facing a critical offseason as they continue to try to build their roster into a title contender. One decision they will face is whether or not to extend Ausar Thompson, who was recently named First Team All-Defense.
While the playoffs exposed some of the limitations of the current roster, it also illustrated the importance of Thompson to what Detroit wants to do, writes Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News.
“(Thompson) was big-time,” president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said. “He took a huge step last year, and as the season went on, you saw how much he impacted the game on both ends of the floor. … He competes at a high level. He is team-first. He is going to put in the work. We are excited about our future with him.”
While a majority of Thompson’s impact comes on the defensive end, Langdon believes Thompson can continue to grow his offensive skill set.
“Remember, last year, he did not play a full season,” Langdon said. “He worked through the summer, but it wasn’t like he was going to this year. We won’t have as many restrictions on him this summer as he had last year. He will be able to go out and do some serious work, and I know he is excited about it. You will not have to worry about Thompson putting in the work and competing.”
We have more Pistons notes and news:
- Langdon didn’t make a major move at the trade deadline, opting to send out Jaden Ivey to bring in Kevin Huerter and a pick swap that ended up moving the team from No. 28 to No. 21 in this year’s draft. The lack of added firepower may or may not have hurt the team in the playoffs, but it helped show where the roster really is, Omari Sankofa II writes for the Detroit Free Press. Now the question becomes whether Langdon will make a bigger offseason swing to bring in a true second scoring option next to star Cade Cunningham. “We’re always going to feel like we can get better and that’s the goal, is to be a championship contender,” he said. “We didn’t think it would come this fast, these questions about being a championship contender after Year 2. We have to factor that into the equation as well. Two years ago when I took the job, nobody in here thought I’d be getting championship contender questions two years later. But here we are.”
- While Detroit’s regular season success raised its playoff expectations considerably, losing in the second round was not the end of the team’s window of contention, but rather the start of it, Sankofa writes. The Pistons have all their future first-round picks, including five tradable firsts, as well as 15 future second-rounders, while also maintaining considerable financial flexibility moving forward, especially relative to some of their peers in the Eastern Conference. “We’re still super young,” Langdon said. “All of our guys are going to iterate and get better. They’re going to all be better players next year than they were this year, just like we saw from last year to this season. We’ll take a deep dive, we’ll figure out what we need to add and we’ll step out, we’ll look at it at 35 thousand feet. We won’t look at us as a one seed. We look at us as, ‘How do we get better?'” While the Eastern Conference is expected to get tougher next season as the Pacers and Celtics get back to full strength, the Pistons expect to improve as well, both internally and externally.
- One key area the team will need to address this offseason is adding more ball-handling, Shawn Windsor writes for the Free Press. This is not only to take some of the burden off Cunningham, but also to add more variability to the attack. “The more ball-handling you can have on the floor, the better,” Langdon said. “I think you see these teams that are successful have a lot of people that can … whether it’s initiate [offense], bringing the ball up, or actually execute in the halfcourt in terms of getting paint touches and making decisions. I think the more guys like that you have, the more difficult it is to guard.” Thompson’s improvement as a ball-handler will be crucial, but the Pistons may also need to turn to outside help to maximize their offensive potential.