Irish basketball fans will have at least one reason to watch summer action.
As expected, nobody from Notre Dame was selected in Thursday’s NBA draft. In fact, only five ACC players were picked. But that doesn’t opportunities don’t exist for undrafted free agents to land two-way contracts and NBA Summer League opportunities. For former Notre Dame guard [autotag]Dane Goodwin[/autotag], it’s the latter:
Former Notre Dame guard Dane Goodwin will play summer league with the Kings, a source told @RookieWire.
Goodwin just completed his fifth and final season with the Irish. Over his collegiate career, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. In 2022, he made the All-ACC Third Team. Now, he’ll see how well he translates at a higher level of basketball.
If a certain trade hadn’t been made, Goodwin would have had a Notre Dame connection for a teammate. The Kings drafted Marquette’s Olivier-Maxence Prosper, the brother of Irish women’s basketball player [autotag]Cassandre Prosper[/autotag], with the 24th overall pick. They then traded the rights Prosper to the Dallas Mavericks in an effort to gain cap space ahead of free agency. Oh well.
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Stop me if you’ve heard this about this draft before, but there’s not really a consensus No. 1 prospect out there like we’ve had in years past. No Victor Wembanyama or Zion Williamson stands alone as the unquestioned best player in this draft.
That makes things more interesting for Atlanta at the top of the draft. The Hawks have plenty of options in who they could take, but the pendulum hasn’t swung one way or another at this point.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five best options Atlanta has at the top of this draft class.
1. Alex Sarr
(Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
Sarr is probably the closest thing you’ll get to a lock in this draft class. He’s a multi-faceted talent as a frontcourt player who looks like he could transition to playing the wing in some jumbo-sized lineups with how well he handles the ball at center.
He’d regularly be a no-brainer for Atlanta here at No. 1, but Sarr has reportedly been avoiding working out for the Hawks, according to the latest from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
If I’m the Hawks, though, I call his bluff and take him anyway. He’s that talented.
2. Zaccharie Risacher
(Photo by IAN LANGSDON/AFP via Getty Images)
Zaccharie Risacher looks like he’ll be the pick for Atlanta in the most likely scenario.
Don’t get it twisted — he wouldn’t be a consolation prize. Risacher is a good player. At 6-foot-10, he boasts incredible shooting ability which is unique at his size. He’s also a skilled defender who should, at the very least, profile as a solid 3-and-D threat for Atlanta.
3. Donovan Clingan
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Donovan Clingan would be an interesting move at No. 1 for the Hawks.
This is a team that is going to be looking for frontcourt depth with Atlanta reportedly focused on finding a new home for Clint Capela this offseason. When that happens, Clingan could easily slide into that starting center role and be a boon defensively for Atlanta.
Maybe he wouldn’t traditionally be a No. 1 overall pick in any other draft. Maybe Atlanta might do better to trade down if it’s going to take Clingan. But, regardless, he’d be a solid fit moving forward for Atlanta.
4. Reed Sheppard
Andy Lyons – Getty Images
Okay, this one might be a bit controversial. I get it — Atlanta taking another guard feels pretty ridiculous when you’ve already got Trae Young on your roster and you still have Dejounte Murray next to him.
But Atlanta needs all the help it can get defensively. Sheppard might legitimately be the best defender in this class.
He’s not built like it — being a 6-foot-1 guard with a 6-foot-3 wingspan is not what you’d typically think of as an elite defender. But every metric tracking Sheppard’s defense is through the roof. He’s also an elite shooter who scorches the net both off the bounce and in spot-up situations.
I’m not sure Sheppard would be anyone’s first pick, but he might be the right one.
5. Ron Holland
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ron Holland is being slept on in this draft. He started the season as the consensus No. 1 overall pick before everything fell apart with the NBA’s G-League Ignite program.
The numbers don’t look great — Holland was an awful shooter, shooting 23 percent from deep on the season. He also had more turnovers per game (3.5) than assists (2.8).
But Holland’s talent is there. He might have the best motor out of anyone in this draft class. He can handle the ball, has length and has showcased solid scoring ability on a team that didn’t work well together. He wouldn’t be Atlanta’s primary creator and could settle into a secondary playmaking role as a connector rather than a main star.
I think Atlanta would be a fantastic fit for Holland. The team desperately needs help on the wing.
Bronny James wants to make it in the NBA more than anything else. His desire is admirable. Will the plan lead to success?
In this special 300th episode of the series, Bronny James went Sneaker Shopping with Complex’s Joe La Puma at SoleStage in Los Angeles. He talked about Nike LeBrons, playing in Kobes, and the viral pic of him wearing Travis Scott sneakers on the eve of the NBA draft.
Bronny James, a former McDonald’s All-American, played in 24 games as a true freshman, averaging 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game.
It can’t be ignored that while getting to the NBA is rightly a central point of focus for Bronny James, his desire to get to the league quickly — rather than in a year, when his game might be more fully cultivated — is a main reason so many people are skeptical about his NBA readiness. Wanting to get to the NBA and choosing the right time to enter the NBA are two different things.
Bronny’s game might not be fully developed, but he is certainly working hard to improve all the time.
Yahoo Sports NBA draft analyst Krysten Peek is joined by Swish Cultures CEO Jordan Richard to dive into Bronny James’ work ethic. Some analysts are fiercely critical of Bronny, but other analysts see the potential in LeBron James’ son and are reasonable enough to acknowledge that Bronny hasn’t had enough time to fully develop all the areas of his game.
Bronny, if taught and cultivated properly, and given enough time in the weight room and on the practice court, could blossom into a quality NBA player. However, in the present moment — June of 2024 — he does not appear to be an NBA-ready player. He is a project more than an instant producer, a player an NBA team will need to be patient with. In many ways, the discussion surrounding Bronny James has less to do with his potential, and more to do with how quickly he can improve his game. Most players in his situation would have stayed in college basketball for a second year.
Bronny James, of course, is not most players. His situation is not typical in any way, shape or form.
Will Bronny James be meeting with more teams or desiring a two-way contract in the NBA? The answer is no. The NBA draft is here, and everyone is waiting to see where Bronny James lands. Agent Rich Paul is being asked about Bronny’s situation.
James has only worked out for two teams, his father’s Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, despite reported attempts by “a half-dozen NBA teams” to schedule time with him. His agent, Rich Paul said that the limited contact is by design, part of an effort to steer his client to the right spot. He is not willing to let Bronny sign a two-way contract, which would allow a team to move Bronny between the NBA and the developmental G League. Paul says he is doing everything in Bronny’s best interest, as he would for any client.
“This is nothing new,” Paul said in an interview with ESPN. “The goal is to find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy with many of my clients throughout the years, especially those in need of development like Bronny. My stuff is by design.”
James, a former four-star recruit, played in 24 games as a true freshman, averaging 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19.3 minutes per contest. He shot 37.4% from the floor and 27.3% from 3-point range any USC last season.
2024 NBA Draft:
Barclays Center (first round); ESPN Seaport District Studios (second round)
June 26 at 8 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN and ABC, June 27 at 4 Eastern on ESPN
The Brooklyn Nets have made a deal with the Houston Rockets to reacquire their 2026 first round pick.
The Brooklyn Nets are currently wheeling and dealing as they head into the offseason. After sending away Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in a blockbuster deal, the Nets called up the Houston Rockets to reacquire their first round pick.
The Nets made a deal with the Rockets to reacquire their 2026 first round pick that they sent away in the James Harden trade back in 2021. Brooklyn is in the middle of rebuilding its draft stockpile as they look ahead to the future.
The Nets will send Houston a 2027 first round pick via the Phoenix Suns and Houston also acquires a 2025 right to swap Houston/OKC first for the 2025 Suns first-round pick.
Most importantly in the deal, per sources: Houston relinquishes the right to swap a Houston/OKC first-round pick for Brooklyn's 2025 first-round pick. The Nets control their own pick as they go into a full rebuild — especially important in talented 2025 draft. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
It’s obvious that the Nets have understood that this current roster needs to be retooled as they move forward. After sending Bridges to New York for Bojan Bogdanovic and five first round picks, the Nets will bring back another pick that they sent away in the Harden deal. Brooklyn is in a great position for the talented 2025 draft.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been gathering information on where each of the top draft prospects has been working out. Keep in mind there have surely been many more workouts than the ones we’ve listed, but below you can find the known ones via …
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been gathering information on where each of the top draft prospects has been working out. Keep in mind there have surely been many more workouts than the ones we’ve listed, but below you can find the known ones via media reports or our own intel for each player.
The intrigue connected to USC at the 2024 NBA draft is primarily found in the Bronny James story. The consensus is that Bronny will be picked at No. 55 by the Los Angeles Lakers, just before the end of the 58-player draft. Isaiah Collier is also a source of intrigue. He is almost certain to be a first-round pick, but he might fall out of the top 20 after being seen as a top-15 pick a few weeks ago and a lottery pick last December. Yet, we can’t forget about Boogie Ellis, the veteran who is an established scorer and will try to find a good professional home.
Will Boogie get picked ahead of Bronny’s No. 55 spot? If not, that means Boogie might not get picked at all, since only three teams — Nos. 56 through 58 — would have a chance to draft him.
Falling outside the top 20, if it happens, isn’t a bad thing if it leads to a better team fit for Isaiah Collier.
The NBA draft is Wednesday, June 26. We’re getting close. Where does USC’s Isaiah Collier stand just before the main event gets underway? If anything, he’s falling and not rising. College Sports Wire projects Collier to fall to No. 21 and land with the New Orleans Pelicans:
“Collier is a big faller after an up-and-down season at USC that saw him look at times like an elite passing point guard, one capable of starting in the NBA unquestionably, while other times his erratic passing, lack of outside shooting, and disinterest in playing defense caused a lot of concern.
“The Pelicans would be wise to gamble on the upside if he falls to them at No. 21, as the passing could really help the core of CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson.”
While a fall outside the top 20 wouldn’t feel great for Collier, landing on the Pelicans would be a better-than-expected roster situation for him. With proven shooters and scorers around him, Collier could focus on playmaking, dribble penetration and defense, which would enhance his strengths and not overload him with responsibilities. Team fit? Yes.
Every year, there are players expected to hear his name called early in the draft but who fall lower than initially anticipated. One of the players in the 2024 NBA Draft who could deal with such a slide is Kyle Filipowski.
Filipowski, who was ACC Rookie of the Year and MVP of his conference tournament as a freshman, opted to return to the Duke Blue Devils for his sophomore season. After his first collegiate campaign, he elected to have hip surgery.
Filipowski, who recently had a fantastic interview with For The Win, is widely considered as one of the top players at his position in this class. After averaging 16.4 points with 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last year as a sophomore, he was named as a consensus second-team All-American.
So why do many feel that his draft stock is sliding? Here are some of the latest reports.
Athleticism
Jonathan Wasserman (via Bleacher Report): “Measurements and athletic testing results from the NBA combine won’t do Kyle Filipowski any favors. With shoes on, (6’10.75″ in socks), he’ll wind up with a negative wingspan (6’10.5″). And he finished in the bottom half of the foot speed and leaping tests. His draft stock has mostly remained unchanged for the past few months, though pre-draft risers could push him down boards.”
Other measurements
Kevin Pelton (via ESPN): “Filipowski’s wingspan (6-10½) measured shorter than his barefoot height (6-10¾) at the combine, a rarity for any NBA player but particularly a big man. In the NBA’s database, there have been three first-round picks as tall as Filipowski with a so-called negative wingspan: Frank Kaminsky, Kelly Olynyk and Mason Plumlee.”
Defense
College head coach No. 1, to David Aldridge (via The Athletic): “I think he’s a good player. My big thing for him, for that league, is: What position? Where he struggled this year was when he played against bigger guys – not necessarily height, but guys who had the physicality to stand up to him. He didn’t have Lively this year so he wound up playing the five. Offensively, he can shoot it, he can put it on the floor, and I was really impressed with his passing this year. He showed that. But the defensive part is the part that would concern me. One of them dudes is gonna knock the s— out of him, and what is he gonna do then?”
Other players are rising
Krysten Peek (via Yahoo): “Filipowski falling in the first round doesn’t necessarily reflect his body of work, but that other players have higher ceilings and are rising after workouts and team meetings.”
Filipowski could wait a bit longer than he would like to actually hear his name called in the 2024 NBA Draft. But perhaps that leads to him ending up in a winning situation on more of a contending team picking later in the first round.
At BetMGM, Filipowski entered the draft with +550 odds to hear his name called in the top 20 picks with a draft position over/under set at 23.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
