Headlines

Jaylin Sellers

Bulls Notes: Swain, Wilson, Essengue, Sellers

By | at July 19, 2026 3:59 pm

Of the players selected in the first round, Bulls guard/forward Dailyn Swain had one of the more disappointing showings in Summer League, writes Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.

Chicago selected Swain with the 15th pick in June’s draft and asked him to be the primary offensive initiator in Las Vegas. The 21-year-old struggled with his confidence though, averaging 4.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.0 minutes per game while shooting just 4-of-31 from the field (12.9%), including missing all seven of his three-point attempts.

Swain admitted he had “definitely been overthinking” in his four Summer League games, according to Lorenzi.

“I think it’s really easy to notice when I’m in my own head and kind of putting pressure on myself. I just try to stick with what I know that works,” Swain told The Athletic. “
Obviously having a routine is not gonna save you every game; you’re gonna have bad games. But I just try to stick to what I know and not get too discouraged and not feed into what people are saying in the media and stuff like that. All my teammates have been nothing but encouraging.

“All the older guys are like, ‘Listen, you can’t have the weight of the world on your shoulders.’ They’ve made it so much easier to keep my head up.”

We have more on the Bulls:

  • Despite his struggles in Las Vegas, Swain said he was thankful for the opportunity he was given, Lorenzi adds. “Whenever a coach gives a young guy an opportunity, draft position, first round or not, you gotta be grateful for that,” Swain said. “You got to go into it and embrace it, embrace the journey. Those dips, they make you grow up. They develop you, they prepare you for the worst.”
  • Aside from his poor free throw shooting (4-of-12) and turnovers (5.2 per game), No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson flashed star-level upside in his four games in Vegas, per Jeff Agrest and Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. The former North Carolina forward averaged 23.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.5 BPG and 1.2 SPG in 27.7 MPG and converted 41.9% of his threes on high volume (7.8 attempts). “I enjoy basketball,” he said. “I love this [expletive]. I’m going to play as much as I can, as much as my team will let me. I’m not the type to go away from a game because I don’t feel good because I know in the NBA, I’m not going to feel good some games. As long as I don’t have an injury or something that’s wrong with me, I’m gonna play every time. People come from all over the world to see me play, so I don’t want to let them down.”
  • While 2025 lottery pick Noa Essengue was impressive defensively at times in Summer League, he failed to make an impact on the offensive end, according to Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. Two-way guard Jaylin Sellers, meanwhile, showed he isn’t shy about getting shots up, but he’ll have to learn how to play in a lower-usage role if he wants to earn NBA minutes, Poe notes.
13 comments Chicago Bulls

Jaylin Sellers Signs Two-Way Contract With Bulls

By | at July 3, 2026 8:42 pm

The Bulls have completed their their two-way contract with former Providence guard Jaylin Sellers, confirming the news in a press release (Twitter link).

After Sellers went undrafted last week, Dushawn London of 247Sports reported that the Georgia native was signing a two-way deal with Chicago. Now it’s official.

Sellers, who was given a medical redshirt in 2024/25 with UCF due to a severe back injury, averaged 18.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on .473/.429/.859 shooting splits as a senior with the Friars last season. He’s regarded as a talented scorer, but struggled at times to make an impact in other areas.

The 6’4″ guard led the Big East in both points per game and free throw percentage in 2025/26 and was named second-team all-conference. He played his first two college seasons at Ball State before transferring to UCF and then Providence.

Sellers was ranked 97th on Jeremy Woo of ESPN’s big board and 79th on Sam Vecenie of The Athletic‘s draft guide leading up to the draft.

1 comment Chicago Bulls Transactions

Bulls To Sign Tobe Awaka, Jaylin Sellers To Two-Way Deals

By | at June 24, 2026 11:51 pm

After going undrafted in 2026, Arizona forward Tobe Awaka will sign a two-way deal with the Bulls, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter). The Bulls are also signing guard Jaylin Sellers out of Providence to a two-way deal, per Dushawn London of 247Sports (Twitter link).

Awaka spent his final two collegiate seasons at Arizona after starting his career in Tennessee. He moved into a reserve role for the Wildcats this season, averaging 9.3 points and 9.1 rebounds, including 3.5 offensive boards, in 20.8 minutes per game off the bench. He ranked third in the NCAA in total offensive rebounds and eighth in total rebounds. For his efforts, he was named the Big 12’s Sixth Man of the Year.

While only a career 64.7% free throw shooter, Awaka experimented with expanding his range in 2025/26, shooting 5-of-12 on three-pointers after only attempting five during his first three college seasons. The 6’8″ big man ranked 47th on Jeremy Woo’s big board for ESPN and 72nd in Sam Vecenie’s draft guide for The Athletic, despite Vecenie calling him the best rebounder in the draft class.

Sellers is a fifth-year senior who played for Providence after spending his previous two seasons with Central Florida, though he only played three games in 2024/25 due to a severe back injury suffered in the preseason.

Sellers averaged 18.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on .473/.429/.859 shooting splits this season and is a career 39.2% shooter from deep. He’s known as a talented scorer, but has struggled at times to make an impact in other areas.

Sellers is ranked 97th on Woo’s board and 79th on Vecenie’s draft guide.

0 comments Chicago Bulls Transactions

Pacific Notes: James, Hayes, Warriors, Kings

By | at June 16, 2026 6:02 pm

Much of the Lakers‘ offseason outlook will revolve around LeBron James‘s decision about his future. One of the crucial questions facing both parties is how much James is looking to earn on his next contract, Dan Woike writes for The Athletic. James showed he could be a very impactful third option playing off of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves this season, and he stepped up as the team’s leader in the playoffs with Doncic hurt.

It’s unclear how much he’d command around the league though, according to Woike. With the Lakers looking to move from the James era into the Doncic era, they will have to be careful with how they allocate their money, especially given that James, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart make up some of the top names in this year’s free agency class.

It may be best for the Lakers to be aggressive between now and the start of free agency on June 30, which would allow them to use James’ Bird rights to re-sign him to a deal that pays him commensurate value to his worth while also making some much-needed additions, Woike writes.

We have more from around the Pacific Division:

  • Jaxson Hayes has officially been granted Slovenian citizenship and a passport as he prepares to join his Lakers teammate, Doncic, on the Slovenian national team, Marc Stein notes (via Twitter). This plan has been in the works since last October and will set Doncic up to throw lobs to a familiar big man in international play.
  • The Warriors hosted six players for pre-draft workouts on Monday, the team announced (Twitter link): Nick Martinelli (Northwestern), Jaylin Sellers (Providence), Devin Askew (Villanova), Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan), Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston), and Chaze Harris (South Alabama). Golden State owns picks No. 11 and 54 in this year’s draft. Johnson is the top-rated prospect among the group, landing 14th on Jeremy Woo’s ESPN big board, and he was happy with how the workout went, Monte Poole writes for NBC Sports Bay Area. A versatile and physical defender with some shooting ability, Johnson could fit well into the Warriors’ identity. “I think that I bring some physicality, versatility on the defensive end and a connector offensively,” Johnson said. “Just trying to help everybody get to their spots, not try to force anything, being a great teammate.” Cenac is an intriguing young forward, though he still has plenty of growth to do to unlock his potential. He’s unlikely to be in the mix at No. 11, but it’s possible the Warriors could try to find a way to trade back into the first round, Dalton Johnson writes for NBC Sports Bay Area.
  • The Kings will host a six-player workout on Wednesday, Jason Anderson reports for the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). The players invited are Milos Uzan (Houston), Tre Donaldson (Miami), Corey Camper (Nevada), Aaron Nkrumah (Tennessee State), Micah Handlogten (Florida), and Graham Ike (Gonzaga). Among those six players, Uzan is the highest-rated prospect on Woo’s big board at No. 58.
13 comments 2026 NBA Draft Golden State Warriors International Los Angeles Lakers Sacramento Kings

Draft Workouts: Lendeborg, Warriors, Brown, Kings, Wolves

By | at June 11, 2026 9:37 am

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.
24 comments 2026 NBA Draft Atlanta Hawks Brooklyn Nets Dallas Mavericks Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota Timberwolves Sacramento Kings

44 Prospects Invited To 2026 G League Combine

By | at May 1, 2026 3:26 pm

Earlier today, the NBA revealed the 73 prospects that have been invited to the draft combine in Chicago later this month. That group of players will be joined by a small group of standouts from the G League combine, which takes place from May 8-10 in the days leading up to the main event.

While the league typically doesn’t formally announce which prospect receive invites to the G League combine, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link) has the details, reporting that the following 44 players make up the list of invitees:

  1. Michael Ajayi, F, Butler (senior)
  2. Alijah Arenas, G, USC (freshman)
  3. Donovan Atwell, G/F, Texas Tech (senior)
  4. Nathan Bittle, C, Oregon (senior)
  5. Elliot Cadeau, G, Michigan (junior)
  6. Rafael Castro, F/C, George Washington (senior)
  7. Zach Cleveland, F, Liberty (senior)
  8. Jacob Cofie, F, USC (sophomore)
  9. MJ Collins, G, Utah State (senior)
  10. Quadir Copeland, G, North Carolina State (senior)
  11. Melvin Council, G, Kansas (senior)
  12. Tucker DeVries, G/F, Indiana (senior)
  13. Tre Donaldson, G, Miami (senior)
  14. Reynan Dos Santos, G, Mexico City Capitanes (born 2004)
  15. Malique Ewin, F/C, Arkansas (senior)
  16. Jamal Fuller, G/F, Long Island (senior)
  17. Isiah Harwell, G, Houston (freshman)
  18. Jaden Henley, G/F, Grand Canyon (senior)
  19. Bryce Hopkins, G/F, St. John’s (senior)
  20. Graham Ike, F, Gonzaga (senior)
  21. Kasen Jennings, G, Appalachian State (senior)
  22. Trey Kaufman-Renn, F, Purdue (senior)
  23. Keba Keita, C, BYU (senior)
  24. Kobe Knox, G/F, South Carolina (senior)
  25. Xaivian Lee, G, Florida (senior)
  26. Malique Lewis, F, Australia (born 2004)
  27. Tamin Lipsey, G, Iowa State (senior)
  28. Fletcher Loyer, G, Purdue (senior)
  29. Aidan Mahaney, G, Santa Barbara (senior)
  30. Robert McCray, G, Florida State (senior)
  31. Kevin (Boopie) Miller, G, SMU (senior)
  32. Mark Mitchell, F, Missouri (senior)
  33. Paulius Murauskas, F, Saint Mary’s (junior)
  34. Jaron Pierre, G, SMU (senior)
  35. Kowacie Reeves, G/F, Georgia Tech (senior)
  36. Jaylin Sellers, G, Providence (senior)
  37. Markhi Strickland, G, North Dakota State (senior)
  38. Aiden Tobiason, G, Temple (sophomore)
  39. Seth Trimble, G, North Carolina (senior)
  40. Cade Tyson, F, Minnesota (senior)
  41. Ernest Udeh, C, Miami (senior)
  42. Lamar Wilkerson, G, Indiana (senior)
  43. Darrion Williams, F, North Carolina State (senior)
  44. Noam Yaacov, G, Belgium (born 2004)

While the players invited to the G League combine generally aren’t regarded as highly as NBA prospects as those selected for the primary combine, there are always at least a handful who end up in the league on two-way or standard contracts. Last year, for instance, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Dylan Cardwell, Ryan Nembhard, Amari Williams, Will Richard, and Jahmai Mashack were among the invitees.

The G League combine will give some players who declared for the draft as early entrants an opportunity to see where they stand ahead of the draft withdrawal deadline on May 27. Not all of the players who participate in this event will remain in the draft pool.

Arenas, for instance, is the highest-rated prospect on ESPN’s board among the G League combine invitees, coming in at No. 52, but Ryan Kartje of The Los Angeles Times reported this week that he’s expected to withdraw and return to USC. As Givony notes (Twitter link), the list above is subject to change — if Arenas or other players end up declining invitations because they don’t plan to stay in the draft, they could be replaced before the event begins next Friday.

1 comment Uncategorized

Portsmouth Invitational Tournament Announces 2026 Rosters

By | at April 13, 2026 11:47 pm

The 2026 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament will take place this week from April 15-18 in Portsmouth, VA. The event features college seniors working to boost their stock ahead of the NBA draft, with invitations to the combine a possibility for some standouts.

Several P.I.T. alumni have gone on to become solid NBA players in recent years, including Toumani Camara, Craig Porter Jr., Daniss Jenkins and Kobe Sanders, among others. Camara (2023) and Sanders (2025) were both second-round picks.

This year’s tournament features eight different teams with eight players apiece, for a total of 64 participants. Here’s the full list, per the P.I.T.:

Champaign native Boswell, who helped lead the Illini to the Final Four, appears to be one of the top prospects among the group. The 6’2″ guard came in at No. 66 on ESPN’s latest big board, with Volunteers center Okpara (No. 86) and Boilermakers big man Kaufman-Renn (No. 88) among the other prospects on the top-100 list.

5 comments 2026 NBA Draft