NBA News and Rumor Roundup 6/18/2025

The official start to trade season, more NBA Finals action, and MORE draft news

Aaaaand we’re back!

Is this not the most exciting 10-14 day stretch of the NBA calendar? Not only do we have the Finals beginning to come to a head, but we also have some final draft tidbits before the actual thing goes down, a wild start to NBA trade season, and old heads fighting in a BIG3 game (more on that later)!

It really has been a crazy time for the past 7 days, and it’s likely to get even crazier over the next week, too. Regardless, we’ve got a lot to talk about — but first, a quick little announcement…

After literal years of not promoting this newsletter on social media, I’m finally coming around to the idea of getting the word out and expanding, though trying to do it in a bit of a less annoying manner. I just launched my @jsutthoops Instagram (and TikTok, out of necessity) account, where I’m going to be posting various forms of video content! Right now, I’m really having a fun time creating less-than-perfect and borderline absurdist edits for players who never get edits — take Johnny Juzang, for example:

jsutthoops

A post shared by @jsutthoops

Do you see anyone making Jazz Johnny Juzang edits with N’s Final Battle music behind it? I think not!!!

I’m planning on just having some fun with it, but I do want to turn a few of my previous articles into some video content (my Draymond Green Rage Theorem piece from 2023 is one I’m actively planning). Regardless, I want it to be fun, only semi-serious, and less market-y than asking people to subscribe 24/7. I’d love if you’d go give me a follow, though!

Now, back to our regularly-scheduled content…

This Week’s Kings of The Court

If you’re new around here (welcome!), this is a segment where I talk about three players and/or teams who I deem worthy of the King of the Court moniker. Crucially, this does not mean that the player/team was the absolute best out of everyone over the past week (or averaged the best stats), but was instead one that impressed me the most.

First up, the #1 #2 option in the league right now:

👑Jalen Williams, On His Scottie Pippen Beat👑

Key Stats From the Past Week

• 31 PPG

• 6.3 REB

• 40% from three-point range

Bonus Stat: Only 5 players have ever recorded a 40 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST game in the Finals before 25 years of age: Rick Barry, Russell Westbrook, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and, now, Jalen Williams.

There have been a lot of opinions thrown around these playoffs of Jalen Williams being the second coming of Scottie Pippen — and, honestly, they’re not too far off right now.

Williams has been absolutely incredible during this Finals series, often overshadowing SGA in terms of sheer efficiency and effectiveness. He’s turned up the “tuff” meter on his shotmaking, and I’ve loved every second of it (okay, maybe not every second because this OKC team loves to draw fouls, but that’s a separate matter). Just look how tuff this turnaround jumper is:

Though he’s taken control of the Thunder offense at times, he’s still largely ensuring that everything flows through SGA and crew, with all but 4 of Williams’ makes coming off of assists. It’s unselfish and is refreshing to see in a league where most really good #2 options tend to play my-turn-your-turn basketball or, alternatively, strictly focus on playing off the ball. Williams can do both, and it’s been glorious to see — given the chance, it’s worth wondering what he could do when he’s the #1 option, though I suppose it may be unnecessary for us to know.

👑T.J. McConnell, Almost The Hero👑

Key Stats From the Past Week

• 12 PPG (in 18 minutes)

• 2.3 STL

• 3.7 AST

Bonus Stat: Only one player in NBA history has ever recorded a Finals game of 18+ PTS, 4+ AST, 4+ REB, and 2+ STL in under 25 minutes. That man is T.J. McConnell.

Due to Tyrese Haliburton’s injury woes and various other issues during the past two games of this series, it feels as though the Pacers are done. Don’t let that distract you from the fact that T.J. McConnell has been so good.

With Haliburton’s calf injury, McConnell did everything he could in Game 5 to will the Pacers to compete. In just 22 minutes of play, he was able to rack up 18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals, and he did so on 57% shooting (and did it despite being partially defended by Alex Caruso and Lu Dort). McConnell is your veteran’s veteran, always making the right reads and taking control of the offense when you need him most, even if he can’t fully will you to a victory or 100% replace Tyrese Haliburton. To beat (and fake out) Alex Caruso in the below clip is way more impressive than it first seems, and McConnell was able to do this on way more possessions than you’d expect:

There’s really not much else to say about McConnell here. Because this is the first year of a potentially four-year deal (team option in the fourth year), they have him for the long haul, and being 33 years of age doesn’t seem to be slowing him down.

👑Chet Holmgren, On The Boards👑

Key Stats From the Past Week

• 14.3 PPG

• 12.0 REB

• 1.3 BLK

Bonus Stat: Only 11 players since 2000 have recorded three straight Finals games of 10 REB and 1 STL. Those players are: Giannis Antetokoumpo, Chris Bosh, Jimmy Butler, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Draymond Green, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Ben Wallace, and, now, Chet Holmgren.

Because we have so few players to choose from (given that it’s the Finals and every other team is eliminated), we have to be a bit generous here. Holmgren hasn’t shot particularly well, but what he has done well is be on the boards and stay defensively staunch, and I think that is definitely worth something.

Remember, this is a guy who people were concerned about not having the strength to rebound at the NBA level like he did in college. His physicality (or lack thereof) was seen as a stumbling block to his development. And guess what? He’s been great on the Finals stage! He’s pulling down boards like no other, is blocking shots, is holding his own, and is the perfect third option for this Thunder team.

This is why, sometimes, so-called “frame” and “strength” issues don’t actually matter at the next level, unless there is evidence of those issues actively limiting the player’s ability to do their job. In college, Holmgren was a solid rebounder and was a shot-blocking machine, and the college game can sometimes be more physical (bully-ball wise) than the NBA, even if it’s far less athletic.

Regardless, it’s a good showing from Holmgren, who is very close to winning his first ring at just 23 years of age.

The NBA Trade Hammer Winds Up

This past week, we were graced with a shocker of a deal that officially kicks off trade season and, surprisingly, it did not involve Kevin Durant. On a Sunday morning, with no expectation, Shams announces that the Orlando Magic had traded for Desmond Bane, in what appears to be a hand-in-glove fit from a team standpoint. What did it cost? As Thanos once said: Everything. Okay, maybe not everything, but it is a lot:

That’s a wild amount of picks, the specific ones of which are:

• No. 16 pick in 2025 NBA Draft

• 2026 first-round pick (via Phoenix)

• 2028 first-round pick

• 2029 first-round pick swap

• 2030 first-round pick

I have thoughts, and many of them, but I’ll try to condense it here.

As I mentioned, the fit in for Bane in Orlando is way better than the Grimace-style draft night suit that Paolo Banchero had on a few years back. Bane is one of the league’s best three-point shooters and secondary ball-handlers, and he’s immediately being slotted into a Magic team that was abysmal on both fronts last season. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to score but can do so at any time, allowing Orlando to give Banchero and Wagner a break when need be. For those saying that Orlando traded for a role player, it’s worth noting that Bane had a “down” year this year and still averaged nearly 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists on 39% three-point shooting. Those aren’t role player numbers, but I digress.

The amount of picks may seem absurd, and rightfully so. I’m curious to see how the market values picks in the upcoming Durant trade and whoever else gets dealt, though, because this could be a side effect of the market simply being inflated (remember, Mikal Bridges went for an even more expensive price). That 2026 first-rounder is actually a really complicated swap that (I think) comes out to being the worst of Wizards/Suns. Therefore, if the Suns get a halfway decent return for KD, there’s a chance that’s a backend lottery pick instead of a high one. They’re also betting on being really good through 2030, which is always dangerous, while losing Cole Anthony and KCP is a blow to depth.

I do think a core of Bane, Banchero, and Wagner can compete for a championship in the next few years, though, and they’ll have to if the team wants to justify the high price tag.

For Memphis, this feels like an offer that was too good to refuse. The team now has the picks to either go for a bigger star (KD is on the market) or slowly add pieces around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., and keeping the ball in Morant’s hands feels like a necessity. Losing Bane is a big blow to their chances this upcoming season, but could end up being a smart move in the long term.

This trade is the first shot in what will likely be a very active offseason, so it’s fun to see something like this happen during the Finals.

And, uh, speaking of trades happening during the Finals, the Pacers have essentially make a one-for-one swap (sorry, Mojave King) with the Pelicans to regain control of their 2026 first-rounder:

This is somewhat wild to see, for multiple reasons:

1. Teams don’t normally trade during the Finals when they’re in the Finals

2. This implies the Pacers expect to be worse in 2026 than they were this year (?)

3. The Pelicans now have both #7 and #23

I’m trying to comprehend with the logic here, and I’m coming back to the fact that Indiana probably doesn’t want another contract on the roster that they have to pay, as they already are trying to lock up Myles Turner. That’s the only logical justification I can see here, because it just looks weird otherwise.

Draft Withdrawals, Rumors, and More

While there will inevitably be some draft updates all the way up until (and on) draft night, which will be exactly a week from today, we have quite a bit to talk about right now!

With June 15th having come and gone, we now know which international prospects will be (and won’t be) in this year’s class. The final list is as follows, per Jonathan Givony:

Most of the names were obvious stay-in decisions, barring a few guys who could have further increased their stock, like Rocco Zikarsky. Instead of focusing on who stayed in, I’m more interested in who took themselves out.

As some of you may know from reading previous editions of this roundup, I love watching Greek prospect Neoklis Avdalas play. He’s a 6’7” point forward, has the classic European basketball IQ, is a beautiful pick-and-roll orchestrator, and, on my personal boards, was a top-25 prospect, though that’s not the popular consensus.

With him not being on the above list, it’s worth noting that he committed to Virginia Tech this week, which will give scouts a chance to get a much better look at him for the 2026 class, in which he’ll still be just 20 years of age. It’s likely the best decision for Avdalas, who could have a great season, and as a result, could find himself in the lottery in 2026.

Another interesting international prospect, Ben Henshall, opted to withdraw as well. Henshall is a wing out of Australia and is reportedly going to Texas Tech after his solid Combine showing a few weeks ago, in which he showed off some great off-the-dribble shooting and measured quite well. I didn’t have him in my top-45 yet (mostly due to a lack of watching his film), but from what I’m seeing now, he could be in the conversation for a second-round selection next year.

In some more traditional draft news, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reports that the Spurs are expected to use the #2 pick instead of trading it, and will most definitely (barring a shocker) use it on Dylan Harper, as expected. The Spurs have reportedly been getting a lot of interest from teams like the 76ers, who pick 3rd, but it makes sense that they would want to maximize their value here. Their #14 pick is up for grabs, though, so don’t count them out on the trade market, especially if Kevin Durant is on the table.

Speaking of the Sixers, by the way, Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor has reported that the Pelicans are aggressively trying to get into the top-4 via trade, and are targeting Ace Bailey in the process, which likely puts the Sixers in their crosshairs.

This is a weird rumor in my mind and could be a smokescreen, because the Pelicans already have some great wings in Herb Jones, Tre Murphy, Jordan Hawkins, and a few of their other bench players. To trade for Bailey would likely involve trading one of those guys, which feels weird to me, especially since they should be looking for a lead guard (Jeremiah Fears, please!). Regardless, it’s a report that’s out there, so I’m just telling y’all.

More draft rumors to follow below…

Other News, Rumors, and Fun Facts

• As many have said over the past few days and will simply reiterate here, Kevin Durant has three preferred destinations in a trade: the Heat, Rockets, and Spurs. As Sam Quinn of CBS Sports notes, though, Matt Ishbia and the Suns franchise do not have to give Durant what he wants, especially since there are likely other destinations that Durant would be willing to play for if he could compete for a title. Him on the Spurs would be wildly fun (as would the Rockets), and the Heat are indeed in a position to do something, but other teams are in similar positions as well.

• Bouncing off the above point, the Timberwolves have been the “most aggressive” in trying to get KD, per Brian Windhorst. However, Shams has reported that the Timberwolves have no interest, so take the reports for what you will.

• Last KD report, I swear — the Rockets have reportedly made a “firm offer,” per Kelly Iko, but the Suns are underwhelmed (probably because KD is, you know, about to be 37 years of age).

• According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Bulls and Heat have been linked to the Warriors in a theoretical Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade. The latter would likely only occur if a KD trade didn’t go down in Miami, while the former is probably better for the Warriors side of the equation. Nikola Vucevic would be a great get for the Warriors from a competition standpoint, and Kuminga feels like he’s destined to leave The Bay anyway. Do I like the idea of a highly-paid Bulls version of Kuminga? Not really, but it would be the most Bulls thing ever.

• In addition to the aforementioned Bane trade, Keith Smith of Sportrac notes that Cole Anthony could be moved in another trade before he ever plays for the Grizzlies, primarily due to his fit (or lack thereof) with Scotty Pippen Jr. Anthony, in my opinion, is a perfectly fine backup guard, so a contending team in need of that depth could be in line for him (the Nuggets would be a fun destination!)

• Here’s an extremely interesting tidbit from Givony and Woo’s latest mock for ESPN: Ace Bailey seems to hate all of the top teams. That may be an exaggeration, but Woo and Givony both note that Bailey has not been to a team workout yet due to a lack of a developmental pathway (read: I want the ball). He is scheduled to work out with the Sixers later this week, but I’m unsure whether he’d get the role he wants in Philly, too. I’ve been lower on Bailey than consensus (not crazy low, but, like, #5-7), and the now weird-ish character concerns are throwing me off even more. Could he try to pseudo-force his way to a team that can give him some volume shooting looks (Wizards, Nets, Jazz), or, as Woo notes, has he gotten a promise from a team that is looking to trade up?

• According to Lakers’ insider/beat writer Dave McMenamin in an ESPN 700 radio interview, Los Angeles remains interested in Jazz big man Walker Kessler, who would be a pretty dreamy fit alongside Luka Doncic. However, since Kessler is on the Jazz, run by Danny Ainge, it is likely Utah would try to squeeze every asset out of LA, so I’m not exactly expecting a deal to go down (though I’ve been wrong before!)

• Per reports, the Cavs have put both Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade on the trade block. If that means nothing to you, it should, and not because of Okoro (though he’s a perfectly good player). Dean Wade, in some circles, is an analytical darling, with metrics like xRAPM ranking him in the 94th percentile in overall effectiveness and most other metrics putting him above the 80th percentile for defense, mostly due to a combination of deflections, stops, and more. Not everyone agrees with the assessment, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to trade Dean Wade (at face value) for a player who fits better and is more impactful on a per-minute basis.

• According to Sam Amick and Kelly Iko of The Athletic (the latter is also a reputable Rockets insider), any Houston trade for Kevin Durant would likely include Jabari Smith Jr., who plays the same position and has a lot of overlap with Durant in many respects. As an H-Town fan, it’d be sad to see Jabari go, but it’s not unreasonable, and he could turn out to be a great player in Phoenix when given a higher usage role with the ball.

• Speaking of Houston, I had a smile on my face on Saturday when it was announced that big man Steven Adams would be extending with the Rockets for 3 years, $39 million. That’s below the mid-level exception and is great value for the team, as Adams played great in his role as a backup big and, at times, played alongside Alperen Sengun. Great to have the big New Zealander back.

• More reports about who’s getting invited to the NBA Draft green room keep trickling out. Most of them are who you would expect (Flagg, Harper, Bailey, etc.), but others may give hints to a few intriguing top-20 selections. Namely, Nolan Traore, Liam McNeely, Thomas Sorber, and Will Riley all got invites, despite mocks being undecided on where they should fall. Per HoopsHype’s aggregate mock, these are the highest and lowest mocks for each prospect:

  • Liam McNeely: Highest of #11, Lowest of #30

  • Nolan Traore: Highest of #6, Lowest of #29

  • Thomas Sorber: Highest of #15, Lowest of #24

  • Will Riley: Highest of #20, Lowest of Not Ranked

• Part 2 of the above: While not a surefire thing, the fact that all four got invites to the green room implies to me that they’re likely to go in the first 20-ish selections. The league only sends out these invites after polling teams on their top 25 prospects, so that’s a reasonable assumption. Riley, in particular, may be gaining fans at #18-20, where the Wizards, Nets, and Heat could all take high-upside swings at the wing position.

• On this day in NBA history (in 2013!), Ray Allen hits the Heatles version of The Shot. Need I explain more?

My Favorite Reads This Week

• Phenomenal write-up over at

  bang!
  this week about the absolutely ridiculous return of Caitlin Clark, one that saw her make 3 threes in under 45 seconds and score 32 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal — absurd!! You can go read the write-up right here.

• Short and sweet piece yesterday from

  Mike Shearer
  about the Thunder finally looking like what we expected them to. It’s a good preview for Game 6, and you can go read it all right here.

• Outside of the Nets, the Jazz feel like the biggest wildcard in this year’s draft (when you don’t include trade partners), as they own both the #5 and #21 picks and both second-rounders.

  Rowan Kent
  and
  Albert Ghim
  had a great conversation about what they could/should do, which you can go give a read right here.

• Nik Oza
  put together a great look at Dylan Harper and why the consensus (rather than Draft Twitter) is right on him, in an example of why, sometimes, groupthink (or you can call it the Wisdom of Crowds) is actually a good thing. You can go read that piece right here.

That’s it for this week! As always, more writings are on the way for this weekend! Until then, go and give the fine folks above a read (and go give me a follow on my new social media account!)