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.
Southeast Notes: Bane, Hornets, Brogdon, Magic
Priority number one for freshly acquired Magic shooting guard Desmond Bane is getting to work building chemistry with his new teammates, writes Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.
Orlando managed to stay afloat through a barrage of injuries last season, thanks in large part to the chemistry they built, which Beede says starts with head coach Jamahl Mosley. Mosley is known as a players’ coach, giving his roster the freedom they need to be their best selves while finding balance in also holding them accountable.
Bane specifically wants to spend time with star Paolo Banchero this summer.
“I want to get to connect with him, whether he’s in Seattle or wherever he’s at, link up with him for a weekend, and we can get in the gym but low-key, put basketball to the side and get a chance to know him as a person,” Bane said.
We have more from the Southeast division:
- The Hornets almost have to take Ace Bailey if he falls to No. 4 in the 2025 draft, contends Roderick Boone for the Charlotte Observer. In his mailbag article, Boone suggests that the Hornets could pair Bailey with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller or use him as another high-profile trade chip. Boone also writes that Mark Williams being on the roster when next season starts would be something of a surprise after last season’s failed trade with the Lakers.
- Unrestricted free agent point guard Malcolm Brogdon is not expected to return to the Wizards, reports RG’s Grant Afseth. Brogdon played 24 games for Washington last season, averaging 12.7 points and 4.1 assists in 23.5 minutes per night. Afseth writes that the Mavericks may be a suitor for Brogdon. Meanwhile, the Wizards will continue searching for a long-term answer at point guard.
- The Magic have released their preseason schedule, Beede writes. Fans will get to see their new-look team kick off on October 12 against the Heat. They will play two home preseason games, with the second coming on Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 pm against the Pelicans.
Northwest Notes: Blazers, Nuggets, Randle, Reid, Wolves
The Trail Blazers have a lot of decisions to make this summer, writes Sean Highkin for Rose Garden Report (Substack link). The ostensibly still-rebuilding team has 10 players who will either be extension-eligible or on an expiring contract for the coming season.
The amount of talent on the roster makes predicting extensions more complicated, with Anfernee Simons being a prime example. A young veteran who’s only 26 years old, Simons has reached a more consistent level as a scorer than Scoot Henderson or extension-eligible Shaedon Sharpe, making moving him less of a priority than fans around the league might think.
Deandre Ayton is another interesting case, as his presence prevents Donovan Clingan from starting, but his on-court production may be worth more to the Blazers than what he would return in a trade.
Sharpe and Toumani Camara are perhaps Portland’s most interesting extension candidates. Sharpe has the skill set to be an offensive star, but inconsistency, injuries, and a lack of attention to detail have kept his game inconsistent thus far, which could make it hard for him and the Blazers to find a middle ground number.
Camara, fresh off being named to the All-Defensive second team, could lock in a four-year extension worth up to $90MM, but as a former second-round pick with a valuable skill set, it might be worth betting on himself in the hopes of receiving a bigger payday next summer.
We have more news from the Northwest division:
- The NBA draft is five days away and free agency is hot on its heels. Given their need to make smart, cost-controlled roster moves on the margin, it’s problematic that the Nuggets still don’t have a permanent general manager, argues Sean Keeler of the Denver Post. The team currently has Ben Tenzer as its interim GM, but with the draft and free agency around the corner, there’s a need for organizational clarity — and for other teams to know who they’re dealing with if they come calling for trades. Former Nuggets president Pete Babcock spoke to Keeler on the subject. “The standard operating procedure is (to) have someone in place,” Babcock said. “If their job was to put the puzzle together and build the team, you want them to be in place before the draft, so they’d have a say as to how things are going to come down.”
- It seems unlikely that the Nuggets will move any of their starters this summer, writes Spotrac’s Keith Smith in his offseason preview. The team will largely have to rely on internal development for improvement, though if they do make a move or choose not to bring back one of Russell Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan, or Vlatko Cancar, they could have their $5.7MM taxpayer mid-level exception to add another depth piece. Guerschon Yabusele, Tyus Jones, and Larry Nance Jr. are among the names floated by Smith.
- Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch says he’s expecting both Julius Randle and Naz Reid back with the team next year, says The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski (via Twitter). Both forwards hold player options for 2025/26, which puts the decision at least partially out of the Wolves’ hands, but Minnesota is in win-now mode and would have few mechanisms to replace the contributions of the duo if they were to depart, so retaining them will likely be a high priority.
- The Timberwolves will be looking to revamp their business operations department, as CEO Ethan Casson and COO Ryan Tanke are stepping down amidst the team’s change in ownership, reports Krawczynski (via Twitter).