NBA Notebook: What's next after the NBA Draft for the Celtics?

Kristaps Porziņģis and Jordan Walsh, the 38th overall pick, will arrive in Boston next week for a late-week introduction and community event as the newest Celtics after welcomed after arguably the wildest week in team history since Boston landed Kyrie Irving in a surprise August 2017 trade. 

More fireworks could follow as the new collective bargaining agreement sets up one of the biggest salary cap resets imaginable. Free agency begins in July, when extension negotiations loom larger for the Celtics with their core established. Brad Stevens spoke about Malcolm Brogdon and Jaylen Brown this week as part of the team going forward, and expressed interest in retaining Porziņģis beyond his one-year deal. Boston is expected to offer the five-year, $295 million super-max extension for 35% of the salary cap that'll make Brown trade-ineligible from one date to the year he signs the extension, which would earn him over $50 million beginning next season. Porziņģis, after opting into his player option, can sign for two years, $77 million.

It's worth wondering if the Celtics will wait on Porziņģis given his history of injuries and the likelihood a contract season would draw the best out of the big man after his career 2023 season. The problem with penciling in over $38 million into the Celtics' salary sheet in 2025-26 is the likelihood Jayson Tatum returns at roughly $57.6 million when his super-max extension would begin (he's eligible to sign it next summer). Brown would make $54.1 million in year two of his contract, setting up at least $150 million between three players, with Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon potentially leaving as free agents. Only Robert Williams III and inevitably Walsh will enter 2026 under contract. Would Boston need to pick between Brown and Porziņģis then? 

Not necessarily. The risk in not signing Porziņģis is needing to sign him to an even longer, costlier contract when he hits free agency next summer. The Celtics can exceed the second apron for either a second or third consecutive year in 2026, though their 2033 pick freezes and moves to the end of the first round in that case, the mid-level exception ceases as an outlet to add to the roster and trades only work as close to even salary swaps. Adding salary became as intriguing as moving on from Marcus Smart, who made roughly $18 million per year through that crucial 2026 season. 

Stevens emphasized the shorter term for the Celtics by consolidating the roster around three stars for now, especially considering the CBA will make breaking up the star's salaries into several players more difficult later. It also appears that Stevens could further add to the team's salary base by creating an exception larger than the $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception currently available, which would hard-cap Boston at the second apron. The Porziņģis trade pulled the Celtics within $7.3 million of the second apron, trading back into the second round saving them $2.6 million in cap space and netting four future second-round picks. The new CBA projects to allow for a second-round pick exception Boston can use to sign Walsh for 3-4 years without using salary cap space or other exceptions as teams previously needed to do. It's more than likely the Celtics ignore the mid-level exception to spend more. 

That'll begin with the Grant Williams decision. The Boston Globe reported the Porziņģis trade effectively ended Williams' time with the Celtics and it's not hard to imagine why. No matter what offer Williams receives in free agency, it'll exceed $7 million (the non-taxpayer MLE is $12.4M) and Boston probably won't find it useful to forgo other opportunities in-season by incurring the second apron penalties to sign him, not to mention the long-term impact. Add to that the Celtics' addition of four future second-round picks and it's easy to imagine Boston signing and trading Williams into another team's cap space to acquire a trade exception worth the salary Williams signs for. Houston, Utah, San Antonio, Indiana and Orlando could all facilitate such a move, but would likely charge the Celtics one or more second-rounders since they could sign Williams outright without incurring a S&T hard cap at the first, lower apron.

A TPE, for let's say $13-15 million, would last for one year, not push the Celtics above the tax line and allow Boston to acquire a player more impactful than a $5-million free agent. Doing so may cost draft capital, if the player arrives with positive value, or bring some back if he's moved at negative value. Stevens emphasized adding second-round picks, a booming commodity given the exception teams can use to sign them and the need to incentivize moving money as trade rules tighten. The Celtics had traded all of its own future second-rounders through 2029 for Evan Fournier, Mike Muscala, Juancho Hernángomez, the Gordon Hayward TPE from Charlotte and dumping Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier to Orlando. Now, they've acquired four. 

"When offers came in, to continue to build up our assets and restock some of those that we lost over the years. That made some sense. We're excited that we're able to get out tonight with more picks to be used in any variety of ways and a good player in Jordan," Stevens said. "I think the value of second-round picks, you not only have a tool you can use in trades, but you also have the ability, with the second-round exception in the new CBA to do some things. (Walsh is) a good prospect. He's young. We don't expect him to take the world on fire in the first couple of months, Summer League, first year. He has a special ability, laterally, with his wing span, to swallow people up defensively. He really creates havoc with his arms, with his energy and with his ability to move his feet." 

Jordan Walsh

The Celtics used their 2023 selection on Walsh, an Arkansas freshman who surprised some evaluators by leaving after an uneven freshman year where he played alongside two first-round talents in Anthony Black and Nick Smith Jr. He struggled offensively, but emerged as one of the draft's best defensive prospects with a 7-2 wingspan (11th at the combine), lockdown performances on NCAA Tournament stars and 8-11 standing reach (11th). He couldn't shoot, but Stevens mentioned a pair of workouts where that skill flashed. It's likely Boston missed on Olivier-Maxence Prosper, the Marquette stopper with a similar profile to Walsh, who Dallas moved in front of the Celtics at 24 to select before Boston traded back three times to grab Walsh, knowing they could land him later.

Like many players in the 2023 class, the 2020 layoff massively impacted his outlook. Walsh played for Faith and Family Academy in Dallas as a sophomore when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the Texas state tournament early. He returned, averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists per game as a junior, vaulting him to Link Academy in Missouri as a senior and then an Arkansas offer alongside Kansas and Texas. Link's high school national championship run in 2022 allowed Walsh to emerge from top-100 status in that class to 20th overall, according to 24/7 Sports' rankings. 

That summer, playing on the Nike EYBL circuit, he improved his finishing, netted three double-doubles playing power forward and measured a 41-inch vertical. His year at Arkansas saw him struggle inside trying out the same role on offense, missing threes and fouling in his trademark aggressive style on defense. He moved to the bench for the postseason while still logging nearly 30 minutes per game. Walsh averaged 7.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.0 TOV, 0.5 BPG and 1.1 SPG while shooting 43.3% from the field, 27.8% from three and 71.2% at the free throw line while in college for one year. 

Doctors diagnosed Walsh with alopecia in 2015, an autoimmune condition where the body attacks cells that produce hair growth on the body and left him bald, like former NBA forward Charlie Villanueva, who befriended Walsh and hosted his draft party on Thursday when the Celtics selected him. Villanueva, who worked on a documentary to spread alopecia awareness, helped inspire Walsh's advocacy work, speaking to children, talking about his condition openly in interviews and supporting Arkansas fellow basketball player Rylee Langerman, who also lives with alopecia.

"My brother (Joshua), he wanted me to be a great basketball player and I wanted him to be a great student, a great artist," Walsh said in a TikTok interview. "Once I found that (support) in him, it helped my confidence on the court, it helped my confidence in myself to perform these things that I saw other people doing better than me ... (Villanueva) was a big mentor of mine ... we were talking and he told me about his journey and how (alopecia) hit him and how he got comfortable with himself, and he would never change anything about himself, that he loves the way that he is and that was real inspiring to me, because I wanted to love myself like him, and I feel like I got to that. I appreciate everything I have, I love the way I am, I love the way I look, I love everything about me. To hear that coming from him inspired me, somebody who did it at the top level and was successful." 

Here's what else happened around the NBA at the draft this week...

Atlanta: Drafted Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin in the first round, then added Mouhamed Gueye, a center prospect, from the Celtics in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick before taking Seth Lundy from Penn State late in the second round. Acquiring another guard in Bufkin alongside Trae Young and Dejounte Murray sets the table for a difficult offseason where the Hawks reportedly face a mandate from ownership to dive below the luxury tax. A Hawks deal with the Pacers fell apart, according to Jake Fischer, that would've sent De'Andre Hunter to Indiana for the No. 7 overall pick. John Collins, Clint Capela and Murray could all become available in trade talks as well, with Murray and young center Onyeka Okongwu due new deals next summer. Fischer also noted Atlanta's desire to acquire Raptors star Pascal Siakam. 

Boston: Acquired Wizards star big man Kristaps Porziņģis, who opted-in to his one-year, $36 million player option to allow the trade to the Celtics, which almost failed before his midnight deadline to enter free agency. Original construction of the deal involving Malcolm Brogdon going to the Clippers, who'd send Marcus Morris and a first-round pick to Washington fell apart around 10:30. Boston found a new facilitator in Memphis, who sent Tyus Jones to the Wizards, and two first-rounders to Boston, while the Celtics traded Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies, ending a nine-year tenure with the Celtics highlighted by an NBA Finals run, five trips to the conference finals in seven years and a defensive player of the year award in 2022. 

Smart became one of the most polarizing in franchise history, adored for his hustle and personality, while derided by others for his aggressive play style and flashes of hubris. Boston traded back three times to select defensive wing Jordan Walsh in the draft, receiving four future second-round picks for their draft night trades. They also acquired Golden State's top-four protected first-round pick in the Smart trade. 

“It was your best chance to share your gratitude to (Smart), and I think that because of these things and the sensitivity and how many people talk about him and the wild speculation when something happens, it’s hard to digest and it’s hard to process," Brad Stevens said. "He actually came in this morning, so I got a chance to see him this morning. You’re not going to be around a guy that you really like every day, but you’ll always have the relationship that these teammates have, these coaches have, that everybody in the organization has that’ll be forever. Then, when you go to a new place, then you build a new one and your network doubles. That’s just sort of the way it works.”

Brooklyn: A quiet winner on draft night, acquiring a likely top-20 prospect in Noah Clowney from Alabama before using the Suns' selection from the Kevin Durant trade on pick later to add Duke forward Dariq Whitehead, a likely lottery talent if not for foot procedures. Nets team doctor Martin O'Malley performed the follow-up procedure and will now oversee his acclimation to the Nets, which will not include participating in Summer League. Keep an eye on this team if Damian Lillard asks out, due to his relationship with star Makil Bridges, Ben Simmons' salary allowing them to match Lillard's easily and their massive array of future Phoenix and Dallas draft picks. Brooklyn also added Kansas star Jalen Wilson in the second round, No. 51 overall. 

Charlotte: Drafted Alabama wing Brandon Miller No. 2 overall after reports indicated Scoot Henderson gained momentum to move back into his second-overall status in this class. Miller's size, shooting and performance in workouts and interviews, of which the team hosted a final pair for the two finalists, before making a difficult decision that'll go down as Michael Jordan's last as majority owner of the Hornets. Charlotte's drafting track record under Jordan's tenure won't lend optimism toward the decision, particularly if it stemmed from a desire to not overlap Henderson and LaMelo Ball. Miller could become a star as a self-creator and shooter at the wing spot, but his lack of gravity at the rim and playmaking could limit that upside. The Hornets also acquired Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr., Barcelona big man prospect James Nnaji in a trade with the Celtics and Amari Bailey from UCLA.

Chicago: Officially announced Lonzo Ball (knee) will miss a second consecutive season after a cartilage transplant to save his NBA career. Meniscus surgery in January 2022 sidelined him since, and derailed a Bulls plan that lands them stuck squarely in the middle of the league's hierarchy. The Nikola Vučević left them without a second lottery pick, sent to Orlando at No. 11 and becoming Jett Howard from Michigan, as Chicago left the draft with defender Julian Phillips from LSU in the second round and a later second-rounder surrendered as a tampering penalty -- from the Ball signing. 

Cleveland: Emoni Bates once drew comparisons to Kevin Durant as a high school prospect once destined for the top of his draft class, and the ensuing years couldn't have panned out worse. After decommitting from Michigan State to play for Penny Hardaway at Memphis, struggling at the point position, suffering multiple injuries and transferring to lower-level Eastern Michigan, closer to home, before the school suspended him for a gun-related arrest, a charge against him later dropped. Bates' name didn't register at all entering the 2023 draft season despite his 19.2 points per game last season. He struggled with efficiency, scored in bunches, but didn't often connect with teammates as projections sent him spiraling toward later in the second round. The Cavaliers took a flier at No. 49 overall on Thursday, having traded their first-round pick to the Pacers for Caris LeVert. 

Dallas: Traded back from No. 10 overall, sending Davis Bertans to the Thunder, before selecting Duke forward Dereck Lively II at No. 12 and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, another forward from Marquette. Both players bring size and potential shooting to the table, but more importantly, perimeter defense alongside Luka Dončić lost when the team traded away Dorian Finney-Smith for Kyrie Irving. Moving off Bertans' two-year, $33-million contract originally acquired in the Kristaps Porziņģis trade with Washington points toward the team retaining Irving while maintaining flexibility. Trading Bertans earned Dallas a $17-million trade exception they can use to go over the second apron, more impactful than Bertans, the No. 10 pick or a mid-level add.

Denver: Selected Julian Strawther at No. 29 overall, a Gonzaga wing who brings scoring and defense to a team that may lose Bruce Brown. Brown opted-out of his contract after signing for two years at the mid-level exception in Denver, teammates pleading at the championship parade to run it back, but Brown stands poised to receive his first payday. The Nuggets could give him a smaller raise over a short-term contract, with a handshake agreement to retain him for more than the 175% raise his early bird rights allow for until he plays three seasons in Denver. They also added Jalen Pickett at No. 32.

Detroit: Drafted Ausar Thompson fifth overall after a difficult lottery loss, a more wing-oriented player who divided analysts regarding his high-end draft stock compared to twin brother Amen. Amen Thompson attended Ausar's introduction in Detroit, where he'll join Houston guard Marcus Sasser trying to make an immediate impact on the worst team in the NBA from last season. Cade Cunningham's healthy presence will help him. Without the ability to make plays consistently on the ball, though, Thompson may face an adjustment going to a team that already struggled to shoot and score. 

“It’s all I think about, it’s all I want to talk about is that defense mentality,” Pistons GM Troy Weaver said. “I've never seen a team shoot their way to the top. It starts with defense. I’ve been saying it since I arrived and I’ll say it until my last days here, it starts and ends with defense." 

Golden State: Traded Jordan Poole to the Wizards with a 2027 second-round pick and a protected 2030 first-round pick in exchange for Chris Paul, a move that'll save the Warriors over $30 million annually starting next year. Golden State extended Poole for four years, $128 million last summer before Draymond Green punched him in the face, splitting the pair of key Warriors role players in an incident Steve Kerr later admitted scarred the defending champions for the rest of the year. Green opted out of his $27.6-million player option and could re-sign with the only team he's known and wanted to play for, despite significant restrictions in the new CBA limiting their ability to replace Poole. Paul will need to alter his game drastically to fit that role, and even then can't replicate Poole's youth. Paul turned 38 this year and could amount to financial savings more than on-court impact. It's still hard to role out the point guard who improved every roster he's played on. Could Golden State run some pick-and-roll with Steph Curry as a spot-up shooter? 

The Warriors drafted Santa Clara playmaker Brandin Podziemski in the first round and center Trayce Jackson-Davis later in the second. 

Houston: Drafted Amen Thompson fourth overall, an explosive, playmaking wing with a real chance to become the best player in this draft at his position. He and twin brother Ausar played at Overtime Elite, a program in Atlanta aimed at transitioning high school athletes directly to the professional ranks. Some analysts gave credit to the competition in the team's league and the Thompsons' games blended well for playing off each other. Amen averaged 6.2 assists per game to 3.2 turnovers at 6-6 with a 7-0 wingspan. The Rockets might move him to an on-ball position alongside their array of guards, even considering those guards' shooting limitations. Houston later landed another scoring guard Cam Whitemore, who fell to No. 20 for medical concerns. Ime Udoka faces a much different challenge with the Rockets, who remain at the ground floor of their rebuild if James Harden doesn't come. 

Indiana: Somehow extracted future assets from the Wizards to move back from No. 7 to No. 8 overall, selecting two-way power forward Jarace Walker from Houston, who fills an enormous position of need on the roster. The Pacers pulled two future second-round picks from the Wizards, and later added shooter Ben Sheppard from Belmont at the No. 26 pick Cleveland sent them from the Caris LeVert trade. The move could impact Indiana's pursuit of Celtics forward Grant Williams, drafting a player to his position with only cap space available to sign one of WIlliams or free agent Kyle Kuzma. Williams' restricted status could also lean the team in Kuzma's direction, since Boston could threaten to match and offer to induce a sign-and-trade. 

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard underwent a clean-up procedure on the torn meniscus that ended his postseason in the Clippers' first-round loss to the Suns, facing an eight-week recovery period and feeling terrific, per team president Lawrence Frank. This year marks the fifth since Leonard and Paul George arrived in LA, marked by injuries and disappointing playoff performance. It also could represent a last chance for them and head coach Ty Lue to prove they're the leadership mix to win a championship, only reaching the conference finals so far as a trio. George and Leonard's contracts end next summer. George and Leonard can then opt-out of their $48-million player options to enter free agency. Both could receive $200 million extensions. 

“It's still the plan,” Frank said about building around George and Leonard. “What we are trying to do is how can we put together the best team around these guys and we look at the different things. What worked, what hasn't worked, the job that we have to do better, the job that we challenge our players to continue to do better. But yes, we're trying to maximize these two and figure out ways that we can get better.”

Lakers: Added a pair of solid prospects in addition to Max Christie, their draft pick from one year ago. Jalen Hood-Schifino from Indiana arrived at No. 17, a pick-and-roll passer and mid-range shooter. Maxwell Lewis, a movement shooter from Pepperdine, landed with LA in the second round. Both players bring narrow, albeit enticing skills which the Lakers will need to utilize around their stars, while assessing their ability to sustain the roster into the future with Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, Lonnie Walker IV, Dennis Schröder and Rui Hachimura needing new contracts as free agents. The Lakers also need to decide by June 29 whether to waive Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba's non-guaranteed salaries for savings, or move them in trades. 

Memphis: Acquired Marcus Smart to fill in for Ja Morant after Tyus Jones preferred to land in a destination with a long-term starting outlook after thriving in Morant's place again and re-signing with the Grizzlies last summer. Smart brings more flexibility to play next to Morant eventually as a bigger two guard whose shooting improved some late in his Celtics tenure. More importantly, Smart becomes a veteran voice that Steven Adams once filled before injury knocked him out of the picture for much of last season. In many ways, this feels like the team's Tony Allen addition that set off the grit n' grind era around Mike Conley and Marc Gasol one decade ago. GM Zack Kleiman reaffirmed Morant's need to take steps to return to action from the NBA's 25-game suspension, which the player's union called inappropriate and excessive last week. 

"I think the discipline from the NBA was appropriate," Kleiman said.

Miami: Drafted UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr. after a stellar workout, interviews and his own interest in the scrappy Heat, who look like a perfect fit for Jaquez's flexible skills and hard playing style. Jaquez will need to adjust from his mid-range game and on-ball role over his long career with the Bruins, which included a surprising Final Four run. That and his age might've scared other teams away until later in the draft. Miami took him with the 18th pick, betting again on their player development staff to turn an unsung player into a gem.  

Milwaukee: Khris Middleton opted out of his $40-million player option to become an unrestricted free agent, likely the biggest name on the market even if offseason knee surgery and an uneven, injury-plagued season knock him below his former max player status. The Bucks will hope to keep him at a manageable number, maybe one that pays him more long-term while knocking his cap hit this season below that option level. Other teams will likely push them on that, particularly the Rockets, if they can't land James Harden, who are reportedly a strong suitor to land Milwaukee center Brook Lopez. The Bucks drafted Connecticut slasher Andre Jackson Jr. and took a flier on Gonzaga legend Drew Timme. It's unlikely the Bucks can replace its two veteran starters in a meaningful way if they leave, perhaps a reason the race to replace Mike Budenholzer as head coach didn't become a heated one. 

New Orleans: Retained Zion Williamson and stayed at No. 14 overall, where they selected Connecticut sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins to pair alongside fellow sniper Trey Murphy III on the perimeter. The Pelicans continue to consolidate the right young talent around Williamson and Brandon Ingram as time runs out for the pair to prove they can stay healthy. Then, they need to begin leading the group on long playoff runs, another step itself. This team's young enough and signed long-term to progress with the kind of patience they did this week. Former Celtics coach Aaron Miles will join their staff. 

Oklahoma City: Another Kentucky guard slipped to the late portion of the lottery? We've heard that story before, and the Thunder caught Cason Wallace before he slid out of the top 10, trading up by taking Davis Bertans' contract from Dallas to get their guy. Wallace will pass, defend and hit threes off-ball, more of a complementary player than future teammates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey, who preceded Wallace as draft steals. The Thunder continued their strong drafting run that goes back over one decade with Jalen Williams last summer. They struck again. Later, they added Keyontae Johnson in the second round, the Kansas State forward who collapsed on the floor in 2020 playing for Florida and survived three days in a medically induced coma. He mostly sat for the following two seasons before transferring and gaining approval to play in the NBA despite his heart issue, acute myocarditis, that caused his collapse. 

Orlando: Picked Arkansas guard Anthony Black and Jett Howard, son of long-time NBA big man Juwan Howard who coached Jett at Michigan, in the lottery. The additions will inevitably push the Magic's guard trio Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony, who struggled to produce consistent offense for Orlando in recent years despite their individual strides. Could any of them become available in a trade? It'd be worth watching for teams thinning at that position, or intrigued by any of the young players in a re-draft scenario. Fultz, in particular, soared in 2023 and enters a contract year. 

Philadelphia: James Harden appears poised to return to the 76ers after reports pointed toward him leaving for a $200-million contract with the Rockets. His new deal with Philadelphia could net him less than that, as the Sixers might've effectively squeezed the guard again as he approaches his late-30s. Other options like Fred VanVleet never became compelling enough to move on from Harden who, despite his disastrous performances late in the Celtics series, put them in position to beat Boston up 3-2 while Joel Embiid played through a knee injury. Adrian Wojnarowski indicated the Rockets could pursue other options, with the next key step for the 76ers becoming what terms they'll agree to with Harden, a crucial decision for Embiid's future too.

Portland: Picked Scoot Henderson third overall and probably won't trade him. That could lead to the end of Dame Lillard's career with Portland, with the guard continuing to tease destinations like Miami in his Instagram Live without requesting a trade directly. Reports from Chris Haynes started veering toward a possible exit this summer too, with the Heat inevitably becoming the favorite once Lillard decides to leave. Don't rule out the Nets, who Lillard previously mentioned as a team he'd play for due to Makil Bridges' presence in Brooklyn. The Nets could trade the Blazers significant future draft capital from the Suns, Dorian Finney-Smith and an array of young players like Cam Thomas who could jump-start their rebuild. Lillard makes $45.6 million this season before his salary increases into his extension through his age-36 season, when he'll make $63.2 million.  

Sacramento: Dumped salary by trading Richaun Holmes and the No. 24 pick (Olivier Maxence Prosper) to Dallas, whose move up pointed toward the likelihood Boston would've landed the Marquette defender in the first round. Sacramento apparently didn't want to add a forward at that spot despite defensive struggles costing the first-round series against the Warriors and Harrison Barnes entering free agency this summer. They could utilize the roughly $33 million in cap space the draft night trade generated to re-sign Barnes, pursue a replacement or extend Domantas Sabonis with a salary increase for this season like the Pacers did with Myles Turner. Sabonis should recover from his fractured right thumb in time for training camp. 

San Antonio: The Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick, officially acquiring the center that evaluators considered one of the best basketball prospects in history. Wembanyama confirmed he'll participate in Las Vegas Summer League next month, tipping off in the same city where he made his American debut one year ago against Scoot Henderson's G-League Ignite for a two-week showcase. Wembanyama will open against Brandon Miller's Hornets at 9 p.m. on July 7 before facing Henderson's Blazers two days later, which will likely conclude his summer after his Metropolitans 92 lost in the French championship.

San Antonio added Sidy Cissoko in the second round, another French prospect who played for the G-League Ignite last year as a playmaking forward. 

Toronto: Kansas forward Gradey Dick and his show-stopping red suit landed with the Raptors with the 13th pick, bringing needed offensive and volume three-point shooting to one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA last year. Dick, 6-8, shot 40% on nearly six three-point attempts per game last year and made plays for the Jayhawks in a way that could make him a fringe rookie of the year contender for a Toronto team that'll play him often in a manner similar to how the Heat elevated Tyler Herro as a rookie. Height will help Dick make a larger impact and his personality may propel him to stardom. 

Utah: Danny Ainge and the Jazz landed three-and-defense prospect Taylor Hendricks (UCF) and scoring wings Keyonte George (Baylor) and Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State), as Utah tried to strengthen its wing position next to Lauri Markkanen. Will Hardy said he hopes the Jazz rebuild won't last long, but after roster-shuffling began with the Mike Conley, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt trades at the deadline. Decisions on Collin Sexton, who's reportedly available in trade talks, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kelly Olynyk await ahead of their player option and contract guarantee dates, respectively. Those veterans helped the Jazz overachieve last season and their departure would place more weight on the young core.

Washington: Their asset accumulation for trading Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porziņģis and Chris Paul: seven second-round picks and two first-round pick swaps from Phoenix, Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole with the Warriors' protected 2030 first-round pick. It's not the haul they would've hoped for, but it's a decent starting point in combination with the Wizards' likely fall to the bottom of the league in coming seasons. Jones and Poole arrive with a track record of success and long-term contracts, while contracts like Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala that arrived from Boston expire after one season. Fans will rightfully bemoan tanking after the Victor Wembanyama draft, ahead of classes that aren't projected to be as strong, but a new front office only just arrived. It's a well-regarded group with full freedom to find unsung talent, let young players play and eventually draft new cornerstone prospects. Not having the immense amount of first-round picks other rebuilding teams like Brooklyn, Utah, Houston and Oklahoma City own places D.C. behind them.