Thunder To Sign Zack Austin, Chris Youngblood
The 2025 champion Thunder have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Pitt forward Zack Austin, reports Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress (Twitter link). They will also sign Alabama guard Chris Youngblood to an Exhibit 10 deal, Blake Byler writes for BamaOnLine.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a non-guaranteed agreement that could be converted to a two-way deal before the season or puts the player in line for a bonus worth up to $85K if he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with his team’s G League affiliate.
Austin is a 6’7″ forward who played the last two seasons for Pitt after transferring from High Point University in North Carolina. He was named to the ACC All-Defensive team this season after averaging 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. He also contributed 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest while making 38.1% of his three-point attempts and 90.2% of his free throws. Those numbers were significantly up from his career averages of 33.5% from three and 78.2% from the line.
A high-level athlete with a great motor, Austin’s block percentage of 6.1% ranked 7th in the ACC, and was first among players shorter than 6’10”.
Youngblood is a 6’4″ fifth-year senior who is a career 39.3% three-point shooter with Kennesaw State, South Florida, and Alabama. He averaged 10.3 points per game for the Crimson Tide after starting slow due to an ankle injury. His defining performance for Alabama came in the Round of 16 against BYU, where he scored 19 points and made five three-pointers, helping the team advance to the Elite Eight.
The Thunder previously agreed to a deal with Iowa shooting wing Payton Sandfort.
Southwest Notes: Flagg, Wells, Rockets, Tanke
Most No. 1 picks go to teams that are completely reliant on their transcendent play, but that’s not the case for Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks. That’s something Flagg is excited to take advantage of, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who notes that the former Duke star referred to it as a “blessing” not to be the immediate centerpiece of a rebuilding franchise.
In his introductory press conference on Friday, Flagg discussed how much he’s looking forward to learning from champions and veterans like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson.
“I’m just looking forward to being a sponge. Just getting down here, I’m excited to just learn, soak it all in, and learn from the guys that are older and have been through it all before,” he said. “Those guys have so much knowledge. They’ve been through so much, and they have so much experience that it’s just going to be an incredible opportunity for me to learn and grow under them.”
Mavericks president of basketball operations Nico Harrison is excited about Flagg’s ability to work as a two-timeline linchpin.
“We’re in win-now mode, and so he adds to that, but he’s also the future of the franchise,” Harrison says.
We have more from the Southwest division:
- Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is looking forward to taking advantage of Flagg’s impressive versatility, which he says will be tested in summer league, as Kidd plans on possibly using him as a point guard to see what he can do, writes Grant Afseth for Dallas Hoops Journal. “I want to put him at the point guard. I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts,” Kidd says. “It is all right to fail. It is all right to turn the ball over.” Kidd sees Flagg’s development unfolding in a similar manner to how he approached the development of Giannis Antetokounmpo during Kidd’s time as the Bucks’ head coach.
- According to general manager Zach Kleiman, the Grizzlies‘ somewhat unexpected trade of Desmond Bane was influenced in part by contributions from an unexpected source, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commerical Appeal (via Twitter). “Jaylen’s emergence was a significant part of it,” Kleiman said of rookie wing Jaylen Wells. After being drafted 39th in the 2024 draft, Wells emerged as a primary wing defender and off-ball shooter, helping stabilize a lineup that was looking for answers at the wing position.
- The Rockets have hired Ryan Tanke as their chief operating officer, writes Danielle Lerner for the Houston Chronicle. Tanke was the COO for the Timberwolves and WNBA affiliate Lynx for the past six years, and had been in the organization for 27 years in total before stepping down as the franchise transitions to a new ownership group. One of his responsibilities in Houston will be overseeing the upcoming renovations to the Toyota Center, which Lerner writes is estimated to require $635MM in maintenance over the next 20 years.
Harrison Confirms Jason Kidd Will Coach Mavs Next Season
It appears that Jason Kidd will be staying with the Mavericks. Despite reports suggesting Kidd and the Knicks had “mutual intrigue,” Mavs president Nico Harrison confirmed in a post-draft press conference that he does not intend to let that happen.
“Is that still out there about J. Kidd? I thought I shut that down,” he said, as relayed by Dallas Morning News writer Brad Townsend (Twitter link).
“He will be the coach next year,” Harrison continued.
Although the Mavericks denied the Knicks’ request to speak to Kidd, the lack of a forthcoming extension for the head coach had led to speculation that the issue may not be quite as open-and-shut as it appeared to be.
After drafting their forward of the future in Cooper Flagg, Harrison made the news official: the Knicks will have to look elsewhere to find their coach.
In addition to speaking to Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins, New York recently interviewed Timberwolves head coach Micah Nori and were granted permission to interview Pelicans assistant James Borrego.
Hornets Draft Liam McNeeley With 29th Pick
The Hornets, using the No. 29 pick that they agreed to acquire from the Suns in their Mark Williams trade earlier in the evening, have drafted UConn’s Liam McNeeley.
McNeeley, 19, averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 32.1 minutes per game for UConn in 27 outings (26 starts) as a freshman. He posted an underwhelming shooting line of .381/.317/.866, but was still named the Big East’s Freshman of the Year and claimed a spot on the All-Big East third team.
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, McNeeley’s shooting numbers sell him short and should improve going forward — the 6’7″ wing struggled in part because the Huskies played without a point guard, Givony explains.
McNeeley also struggled due to an ankle injury in January that sidelined him for a month. Prior to the injury, the 6’7 wing shot .429/.379/.850 on 4.7 three-point attempts per game. Now fully healthy, he will look to prove himself as a shooter in the Hornets’ rotation.
After selecting Kon Knueppel with the fourth pick, the Hornets have added a plethora of wing shooting with their two picks to add alongside Brandon Miller.
McNeeley was the final green room invitation on the board, which means that, unlike in the 2024 draft, no invitees will be forced to wait until day two. He’s also the fourth member of his Montverde Academy team to be drafted tonight, following Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, and Asa Newell.
Nets Draft Ben Saraf At No. 26
With their fourth first-round pick of the night, the Nets have selected Israeli guard Ben Saraf at No. 26 overall.
Saraf is still playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany as they vie for a Basketball Bundesliga title this week against Bayern Munich. He recently scored 20 points with four assists and four rebounds in a win against Munich.
Saraf averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists in 24.4 minutes per game with Ulm this season, with a shooting line of .419/.222/.780. He measured in at 6’6″ barefoot with a 6’8.75″ wingspan, giving him ideal size for a guard. He also averaged 2.5 turnovers per game.
How Saraf will fit with Egor Demin, who the Nets selected with the No. 8 pick, remains to be seen, as both big guards struggle to shoot from deep, as does Nolan Traore, whom the Nets took with the 19th pick.
The Nets, who kept all five of their picks in the 2025 draft, clearly prioritized an intersection of size and skill when it came to their drafting strategy. It’s not clear if Saraf will be stashed overseas, but Jonathan Givony said on ESPN’s broadcast that the Nets are considering signing him immediately.
Nets Draft Drake Powell With No. 22 Overall Pick
The Nets have used the No. 22 overall pick to select North Carolina wing Drake Powell.
While the Hawks officially made the pick, the selection is being sent to Brooklyn as part of the three-team Kristaps Porzingis deal.
Powell averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for UNC last season on .483/.379/.648 shooting. At 6’6″ with a 7’0″ wingspan and elite athleticism, Powell brings a hard-nosed defensive mindset that the Nets could use in their rotation. He averaged 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks for the Tar Heels and should be able to defend multiple positions at the next level.
Despite the solid shooting numbers, Powell’s offense is expected to be a bit of a project, but after taking Egor Demin and Nolan Traore with earlier picks, he should be able to find ways to contribute as a cutter and open-court athlete early on.
The Nets are remaking their roster on the fly during the 2025 draft, and with Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Maxwell Lewis, and Tyrese Martin all on non-guaranteed deals or team options, Powell has a chance to carve out a rotation spot for himself, depending on what the Brooklyn decides to do with its other players.
Heat Draft Kasparas Jakucionis 20th Overall
The Heat have selected Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Jakucionis, a 6’6″ combo guard, spent time as a teenager with BC Rytas-2 in his home country of Lithuania and then with FC Barcelona in Spain before coming stateside a year ago to play for Illinois.
In his lone college season, Jakucionis started all 33 games he played for the Fighting Illini and was the team’s leading scorer with 15.0 points per game on .440/.318/.845 shooting. He also led the team with 4.7 assists and grabbed 5.7 rebounds per contest. He has good size for a ball-handling guard and has been lauded by draft experts for his effectiveness in the pick-and-roll.
While Jakucionas struggled to finish at the rim at times, he did a great job drawing fouls, averaging 5.1 free throws per game, which ranked 11th in the Big Ten conference. He also knocked down his free throws at a high clip.
One worry for Jakucionas is his ball security, as his 123 turnovers ranked 5th in the entire NCAA last season, but he brings a clear, well-rounded ball-screen skill set and good passing instincts.
Jakucionas joins a Heat team that needs point guard play, regardless of whether or not they retain restricted free agent Davion Mitchell. With his size, Jakucionas should be able to play next to Mitchell or Tyler Herro.
While he didn’t shoot the cover off the ball at Illinois, he displayed some off-ball ability that will fit nicely next to Herro’s improved play-making. If he can improve as a shooter and defender, Jakucionas has the potential to be a major upside swing for Miami.
Spurs Pick Carter Bryant At No. 14
The Spurs have selected Arizona’s Carter Bryant using the 14th overall pick.
A 6’7″ combo forward, Bryant averaged 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 37 appearances for Arizona in 2024/25 (19.3 minutes per game). Although he didn’t play a starring role for the Wildcats as a freshman, Bryant was a reliable outside shooter (.371 3PT%) and showed off intriguing defensive versatility.
Considered a potential late first-round pick earlier in the spring, Bryant had a strong pre-draft process, with The Athletic reporting in May that he had a “ton of juice when you talk to front offices.”
Boasting a 6’11.75″ wingspan and a 39.5″ vertical leap, Bryant will go to the Spurs hoping to fit in as a high-level role player. His ability to space the floor should complement the guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, as well as Jeremy Sochan, all of whom struggle to knock down threes to varying degrees.
The 19-year-old also offers a different look defensively than San Antonio’s other wings, namely Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, who are both slightly undersized for their positions. As Bryant fills out his frame, he will offer the potential to slide between small and power forward, and should be able to guard three positions.
Bryant’s size and skill set should allow the Spurs to unlock a level of flexibility in rotations, and could make for an intriguing bench running mate with Harper to start their shared rookie seasons.
Suns Select Khaman Maluach With No. 10 Pick
The Suns have drafted Khaman Maluach with the 10th overall pick.
Maluach was considered by many draft experts to be the top center among 2025’s draft-eligible prospects after starting 39 games as a freshman for a Duke team that made it to the Final Four. He averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.2 minutes per contest for the Blue Devils.
While Maluach’s box-score numbers don’t jump off the page, he has an impressive frame – a height of 7’1″ and a wingspan of 7’7″ – and could excel in the NBA as a defensive anchor and a rim-runner and lob threat on offense. The South Sudanese big man, who won’t turn 19 until September, has also shown some shooting potential and is one of the youngest players in the draft, notes ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
The Suns acquired the 10th pick as part of the Kevin Durant trade with Houston. Phoenix also acquired Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and several second-rounders as part of that blockbuster deal.
Just before Maluach was selected, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported (via Twitter) that the Suns have traded the 29th pick in this draft as well as a 2029 first-round pick for Hornets center Mark Williams. The ’29 pick, Shams tweets, is top-five protected and is the least favorable of the Timberwolves’, Jazz’s, and Cavaliers’ picks.
By trading for Williams and selecting Malauch, the Suns have revamped their frontcourt depth in one fell swoop, and now have multiple young big men to grow with guards Devin Booker and Green.
Maluach will likely come off the bench to start, but represents a major swing for a team that is looking to rebuild its identity on the fly. A college head coach who spoke to The Athletic earlier this month stated that Maluach has “the biggest upside of anybody” in this year’s draft class.
Mavs’ Dwight Powell Picks Up Player Option
June 21: Powell has officially exercised his option, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
June 20: Mavericks center Dwight Powell is exercising his player option for the 2025/26 season, reports Mark Stein of The Stein Line (via Twitter). Powell had until Tuesday to make a decision on the option, which will pay him $4MM next season.
Powell, Dallas’ longest-tenured player, appeared in 55 games for head coach Jason Kidd last season, averaging 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game in 10.0 minutes per night.
Powell has been with the Mavericks since the 2014/15 season, when he was traded from Boston to Dallas in a mid-season deal. He was a regular starter for the club as recently as the 2022/23 season, but has seen his playing time decline within the last couple years.
The Mavericks have Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford all currently under contract at the center position and are on track to draft Cooper Flagg, who is expected to play minutes at power forward.
Powell’s return will give the Mavericks some depth in case of injury, as well as a veteran who can help instill Kidd’s schemes, assuming he remains on the roster. The big man, who will turn 34 next month, could also end up becoming a trade candidate if the team faces a cap or roster crunch this summer.
If he plays out his contract, Powell will be extension-eligible during the 2025/26 season and would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Powell is one of two Mavs who holds a player option for ’25/26. Teammate Kyrie Irving also has a decision due by Tuesday.