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Lamar Wilkerson, Nate Johnson Joining Thunder On Exhibit 10 Deals

By | at June 24, 2026 11:52 pm

A pair of undrafted free agents are joining the Thunder on non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contracts, sources tell Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress and Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (Twitter links).

Chepkevich reports that Indiana’s Lamar Wilkerson will sign with the Thunder, while Martinez hears Oklahoma City will add Kansas State’s Nate Johnson to its training camp roster.

Wilkerson came in at No. 80 on ESPN’s big board, while Johnson was unranked.

A 6’4″ guard, Wilkerson played one season of junior college basketball, then four years of NCAA ball, the first three of which were spent with Sam Houston. He finished out his college career with the Hoosiers, averaging 20.9 points per game on .463/.378/.888 shooting splits in 34.0 minutes per contest across 32 outings. He’s a high-volume shooter from long range, attempting 8.6 threes per game.

Johnson, a 6’3″ guard, played three years at Akron, winning MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024/25, prior to transferring to Kansas State for his senior year. He averaged 12.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.6 APG and 2.2 SPG on .447/.408/.850 shooting in 32 games (32.7 MPG) for the Wildcats.

Exhibit 10 contracts are typically designed to ensure a player can earn a bonus (projected to be worth $91K) for suiting up for a team’s G League affiliate, assuming said player is waived before the season begins and spends at least 60 days with his club’s G League affiliate — in this case the Oklahoma City Blue. Exhibit 10s can also be converted to two-way contracts.

1 comment Oklahoma City Thunder Transactions

Lakers Rumors: Quaintance, Reed, De Larrea, Smith, Prospects

By | at June 21, 2026 2:32 pm

Rival teams expect the Lakers to draft a center with the 25th overall pick, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, who reports in his latest Substack story that the team has been connected to Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance and UConn’s Tarris Reed.

Quaintance is ranked 22nd on ESPN’s big board, while Reed comes in at No. 33.

Quaintance was once a projected lottery pick, but some NBA teams are concerned with the status of his knee after he tore his ACL as a freshman with Arizona State in 2024/25, Fischer writes. The 6’9″ big man, who doesn’t turn 19 until next month, was limited to just four appearances with Kentucky in ’25/26.

It’s possible neither player will be on the board at No. 25. Fischer hears Reed has been linked to teams in the late teens, and a rival club could take a gamble on Quaintance’s upside if he falls into the 20s.

Here’s more draft-related chatter on the Lakers:

  • Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times, who has also heard the chatter about the Lakers and Quaintance, points to Dailyn Swain and Isaiah Evans as a couple of “best available” possibilities if they fall to No. 25. Texas wing Swain is ranked 23rd on ESPN’s board, while Duke shooting guard Evans is at No. 25. In general, the team is looking for rim-running centers and three-and-D wings to complement Luka Doncic, Turner writes.
  • According to Turner, the Lakers spent time in Spain scouting Sergio De Larrea, the 6’6″ guard who’s No. 30 on ESPN’s list. People familiar with the matter tell tell Turner that L.A. was impressed by Purdue’s Braden Smith when the team hosted him for a pre-draft workout. However, the diminutive point guard is considered a likely second-round pick (he’s 39th on ESPN’s board), so he may not be under serious consideration for the Lakers unless they trade back or acquire a second-rounder.
  • The following prospects have worked out for the Lakers in recent weeks, league sources tell Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link): Skyy Clark (UCLA), Oscar Cluff (Purdue), Josh Dix (Creighton), Roddy Gayle (Michigan), Nate Johnson (Kansas State), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa St), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford), Reed of UConn, Kowacie Reeves (Georgia Tech), and Peter Suder (Miami OH). Okorie is the only projected first-rounder in that group, coming in at No. 24 on ESPN’s board.
3 comments Los Angeles Lakers

Draft Notes: Bulls, Cenac, Spurs, Mavericks, Hall

By | at June 8, 2026 7:01 pm

Houston big man Chris Cenac worked out for the Bulls on Monday, a source tells Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 6’11” big man, who spent his freshman season with the Cougars before declaring for the 2026 draft as an early entrant, is ranked 21st on ESPN’s big board.

Donovan Atwell (Texas Tech), Tobe Awaka (Arizona), Josh Dix (Creighton), Nate Johnson (Kansas State) and Xaivian Lee (Florida) also participated in Monday’s workout with the Bulls, Lorenzi reports. Awaka (No. 49) is considered a potential second-round pick, while the other four players are projected to go undrafted. 

Chicago controls the fourth, 15th, 38th and 56th picks.

Here are few more notes on June’s draft:

  • The Spurs (20th, 35th, 42nd, 44th) also control four draft picks. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints hears Cenac is a “real possibility” for San Antonio at No. 20, assuming he’s still available (Twitter link).
  • The Mavericks conducted a pre-draft workout on Monday featuring Sam Alexis (Indiana), DJ Armstrong (UMBC), Quincy Ballard (Mississippi State), Kylan Boswell (Illinois), David Dixon (Duquesne) and Mark Mitchell (Missouri), reports Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). Dallas currently has two first-round picks (ninth and 30th) and one second-rounder (48th). Boswell (55th on ESPN’s board) is considered the most likely player to be selected later this month.
  • Former Virginia point guard Dallin Hall worked out for the Wizards last week and had a workout with the Magic on Sunday, agent Jake Cohen tells Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Hall, a senior this past season, spent three years at BYU prior to transferring to Virginia.
4 comments 2026 NBA Draft Chicago Bulls Dallas Mavericks Orlando Magic San Antonio Spurs Washington Wizards

Pre-Draft Workouts: Grizzlies, Warriors, Pistons, Keita

By | at June 1, 2026 7:52 pm

Arizona forward Koa Peat was among the prospects who worked out for the Grizzlies on Monday, league sources tell Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link).

Peat is a projected first-round pick, coming in at No. 25 on the latest big board from Jeremy Woo of ESPN and No. 18 on the big board of Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, though his stock has reportedly been falling due to concerns about his shooting.

The 19-year-old helped the Wildcats go 36-3 in 2025/26, winning the Big 12 tournament and advancing to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual champion Michigan.

Malik Dia (Ole Miss), Jestin Porter (Clemson) and Latrell Wrightsell (Alabama) were also part of Monday’s workout, according to Cole. Memphis controls the third, 16th and 32nd picks in the 2026 draft.

Here are details on a few more pre-draft workouts from around the NBA:

  • The Warriors are hosting six prospects — Obi Agbim of Baylor, Tucker DeVries of Indiana, Tamin Lipsey of Iowa State, AK Okereke of Vanderbilt, Peter Suder of Miami (Ohio) and Lamar Wilkerson of Indiana — for a workout on Monday, the team announced (via Twitter). Lipsey (No. 69) is the highest-ranked player of the six on ESPN’s board. Golden State holds the 11th and 54th picks in June’s draft.
  • The Pistons held a pre-draft workout on Monday that included Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd, George Washington’s Rafael Castro, Kansas State’s Nate Johnson and Florida’s Xaivian Lee, reports Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). Of the four, Castro is narrowly considered the best prospect (No. 73) by ESPN, with Boyd ranking just behind at 77th. Detroit has one pick — 21st overall — in the upcoming draft.
  • Former BYU big man Keba Keita isn’t among ESPN’s top 100 prospects or Bleacher Report’s top 75, but he’s drawing a good deal of interest in the pre-draft process. Keita recently auditioned for the Jazz and has roughly 12 other workouts on tap, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link), who says NBA clubs are “intrigued” by the Malian center’s “length and athleticism.” Utah only controls the second overall pick, but Keita could be a two-way or Exhibit 10 candidate if he goes undrafted.
8 comments 2026 NBA Draft Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors Memphis Grizzlies Utah Jazz

Central Notes: Harden, Pacers, Giddey, Pistons

By | at May 28, 2026 12:12 pm

Speaking to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Cavaliers guard James Harden admitted he’s “starting to think about” life after basketball but believes he’s still a little ways away from retirement, noting that he “definitely” wants to play 20 seasons. The former MVP will be entering his 18th year in the NBA in 2026/27.

Harden, who said in his post-game media session after the Cavaliers’ season came to an end on Monday that he wants to stay in Cleveland, expressed the same sentiment to Spears. The veteran guard is confident that the Cavs can be even better next season after he has a full offseason and training camp with the club.

“I told the guys I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” Harden said to Spears. “So, if I got to play off the ball, less shots, I’m willing to do it. I have no problem with that. You can come talk to me about anything and I’m willing to do it. That was the mindset. … I think having a full year will definitely help coming off this push. … Coming into my 18th year, I don’t have no pride. I just want to win.”

We have more from around the Central:

  • The Pacers are holding a pair of pre-draft workouts this week, with Nimari Burnett (Michigan), Tucker DeVries (Indiana), Sam Hoiberg (Nebraska), Emanuel Sharp (Houston), Peter Suder (Miami), and Seth Trimble (UNC) visiting the team on Thursday and MJ Collins (Utah State), Barry Dunning (Pitt), Nate Johnson (Kansas State), Jaxon Kohler (Michigan State), Kowacie Reeves (Georgia Tech), and Ernest Udeh (Miami) participating in Friday’s session, the team announced in a press release. Indiana doesn’t currently own a 2026 draft pick, but the team is doing its due diligence since it could trade back into the draft and will likely add a few undrafted free agents to its training camp roster.
  • Josh Giddey signed a four-year, $100MM contract with the Bulls last summer and is owed more long-term guaranteed money than anyone else on the roster. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the 23-year-old is viewed as a franchise cornerstone, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, who suggests we need more time to get a better sense of how highly new head of basketball operations Bryson Graham values Chicago’s point guard.
  • Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link) evaluates the Pistons‘ upcoming offseason, considering whether or not it would make sense for the team to operate under the cap to try to pursue an impact free agent, given the trade-offs that would accompany that approach. Gozlan also explores how the team could add more offensive help with two non-shooters – Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson – about to get more expensive.
12 comments 2026 NBA Draft Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers

Draft Notes: Grizzlies, Tanner, Withdrawals, Warriors, Hornets

By | at May 27, 2026 2:48 pm

The Grizzlies are working out Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner on Wednesday, along with Chase Ross (Marquette), Sam Alexis (Indiana), and J’Vonne Hadley (Louisville), reports Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link).

Tanner, a potential first-round pick, is the most highly regarded prospect of that group and will face a decision in a matter of hours on whether or not to keep his name in the draft. The deadline for early entrants to withdraw and retain their NCAA eligibility is 11:59 pm Eastern on Wednesday.

Tanner is one of the more notable prospects who has yet to finalize his decision — it’s possible the feedback he gets on Wednesday from the Grizzlies, who hold this year’s third, 16th, and 32nd overall picks, will help sway him in one direction or the other.

We have a few more draft-related updates:

  • Flory Bidunga, who is transferring from Kansas to Louisville, has withdrawn from the draft, per Joe Tipton of On3 (Twitter link). So has Shane Blakeney, who is transferring from Drexel to South Carolina, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link), as well as Anton Bonke, who is transferring from Charlotte to Michigan State, agent Scott Nichols tells Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress (Twitter link). Bidunga is entering his junior season in 2026/27, while Blakeney and Bonke will be seniors and will be automatically draft-eligible next year.
  • In addition to Dillon Mitchell, Tre Donaldson, and Tyler Nickel, whose participation was previously reported, the Warriors are bringing in Nevada guard Corey Camper, South Carolina guard Kobe Knox, and San Diego State guard Reese Dixon-Waters for Wednesday’s group workout, according to the team (Twitter link).
  • Nick Boyd (Wisconsin), Wyatt Fricks (Marshall), Nate Johnson (Kansas State), and Tre White (Kansas) are among the prospects visiting the Hornets for a pre-draft workout on Wednesday, league sources tell Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). Charlotte currently only holds the 14th and 18th overall picks, while Boyd and White rank 76th and 93rd, respectively, on ESPN’s top-100 list, so the team could be eyeing potential undrafted targets for two-way offers.
  • Cincinnati forward Baba Miller had been scheduled to take part in a group workout with the Kings on Wednesday, but he was unable to participate due to an illness, tweets Sean Cunningham of KCRA News.
12 comments 2026 NBA Draft Charlotte Hornets Golden State Warriors Memphis Grizzlies Sacramento Kings

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

NBA Announces Initial Early Entrant List For 2025 Draft

By | at April 29, 2025 10:40 am

The NBA has officially released the initial list of early entrants for the 2025 NBA draft, announcing in a press release (Twitter link) that 106 players have filed as early entry candidates. Of those prospects, 73 are from colleges, 30 had been playing for teams internationally, and three were playing non-college ball stateside (in the G League).

While that early entrant total exceeds the number of players who will be selected in this year’s draft (59), it’s down significantly from the figures we’ve seen in recent years. A record 353 early entrants initially declared for the draft in 2021, but that number dropped to 283 in 2022, 242 in 2023, and 201 a year ago.

The NCAA’s NIL policy, which allows college athletes to be paid based on their name, image, and likeness, has been a major factor in that downward trend — fewer prospects feel the need to go pro as soon as possible when they’re earning big money at the college level.

The huge dip this year can also be attributed in large part to the fact that most college seniors are now automatically draft-eligible. In recent years, most fourth-year seniors faced an “early entrant” decision because they were granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility due to COVID-19 and didn’t have the 2020/21 season count toward their typical limit.

This year’s total of 106 early entrants figures to decline significantly by May 28 and again by June 15, the two deadlines for players to withdraw their names from the draft pool. The leftover early entrants will join the college seniors with no remaining eligibility and other automatically eligible players in this year’s draft pool.

Our tracker of early entrants for the 2025 draft is fully up to date and can be found right here.

Here are the changes we made to our tracker today:

Newly added players

College players:

These players either didn’t publicly announce that they were entering the draft or we simply missed it when they did.

International players:

These players weren’t previously mentioned on our list of international early entrants. The country listed here indicates where they last played, not necessarily where they were born.

Players removed

Despite reports or announcements that the players below would declare for the draft, they didn’t show up on the NBA’s official list.

That could mean a number of things — they may have decided against entering the draft; they may have entered the draft, then withdrawn; they may have had no NCAA eligibility remaining, making them automatically draft-eligible; they may have incorrectly filed their paperwork; or the NBA may have accidentally omitted some names.

Because they’re absent from the NBA’s official list, we’ve removed the following names from our own early entrant list.

Note: Some of these players may also be transferring to new schools.

According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Twitter link), two-time national champion Alex Karaban of UConn also initially filed paperwork to test the draft waters, but withdrew from the pool before the NBA put out today’s early entrant list. He’ll return to the Huskies for his senior season.

5 comments 2025 NBA Draft Newsstand