The orange and blue confetti of the New York Knicks’ parade, celebrating their first NBA championship in 53 years, was barely being swept off the streets, like the late, great DJ Kay Slay, when the NBA Draft blew it all away.
But what about what came before in the odyssey of Giannis Antetokounmpo?
A summer blockbuster fitting for Christopher Nolan, the director of the Miami Heat’s future, Pat Riley, has done it again (Shaq, LeBron, Jimmy Butler) with a bar of genius even Apple couldn’t pass. Acquiring Giannis and picking up former Milwaukee Buck X-factor and fan favourite Bobby Portis. Trading the talents of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis in the process and more picks than teeth.
Milwaukee, one of those outside storied franchises like the recent finalist Knicks and Spurs, will be alright. Especially with a Herro’s homecoming in Wisconsin native Tyler.
As for Miami, the Heat is now well and truly on with the former Buck that stops here. The Greek Freak paired with big Bam Adebayo, who scored 83 points in a game last season, has no excuses now. A champion already, this is for his legacy. Reigniting their fiery rivalry with the champ Knicks as Riles wouldn’t have it any other way.
That wasn’t the only incredible trade that went down. We’ll get to the monster ones in Minnesota in a minute.
Yet the most Shams wonderful time of the year shouldn’t distract from the new crop of talent entering the NBA in the draft class of 2026. Taking Adam Silver’s hand and lining their bank accounts with more trimmings than their suits.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1985 rivalling, 1996 draft class, featuring Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and that iconic SLAM cover, this one was worthy, like James. Big news for a game that could be theirs once LeBron leaves the league in their capable court vision passing hands.
Former Laker and Maverick Anthony Davis really wanted to see something in his new Washington Wizards with former Atlanta peach Trae Young. Now he will find that in the paint with fellow frontcourt force, and the first pick in the draft, AJ Dybantsa, set to dominate. What a suit and what a fit with the BYU product.
After Cooper Flagg in Dallas last season, if you want a first pick, forget the lottery, just trade for AD.
Out of Kansas, Darryn Peterson is set to make music with the Jazz and an Ace in their hole. Second place is far from the first loser in this class.
Back in 2002, former NBA veteran Carlos Boozer was drafted late in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, a year before the King. Booz turned out to be a steal. Forming a Malone and Stockton like partnership with pure point Deron Williams in Utah, before significant stints with the Bulls and Lakers. Far from a meme joking about playing in China, where he completed his career, Carlos was one of the greats of his generation.
Now he gets to see his son and fellow Duke star, Cameron Boozer, put on a draft cap for the Memphis Grizzlies. A Grizz team that get some of their Grit-n-Grind back after trading for bloody Piston powerhouse Isaiah Stewart.
North Carolina freshman forward Caleb Wilson will head to a team who like picks from NC, in the Chicago Bulls. Whilst Illinois star Keaton Ragler concludes the top five with the LA Clippers giving him a draft cap and his name on the back of their jersey.
The rest of the draft features sleepers that will wake us all up like open windows in the fall, as they crack the contention of their collective franchise’s futures. But what about the rest of the major moves in a prelude to a free agency that will see more big names change clothes than a Jay-Z classic?
Go to Sham’s Instagram feed for more of your fill.
To continue competing for a championship, they last won two seasons back, the Boston Celtics need to make changes. They were shopping Jaylen Brown to the Milwaukee hard for Antetokounmpo, all until the Bucks replied like that handshake offer Giannis once gave Jaylen (the kind that runs through your hair), who in turn called the freak “a child”.
Brown may be on his way out of Beantown, but across the coasts of storied franchises in Lakerland, LA look a step closer to tying their rival for the most championships in league history.
Luka’s Lakers have no idea what’s going on with LeBron (none of us do, but would Love to see a reunion with Kevin), but they did just give the bromance of Austin Reaves the bag. A contract worth $185 over four-years makes number 15 the highest paid undrafted player in NBA history.
And when it comes to the draft, the Lakers apparently have the steal of it in Baylor guard Cameron Carr, traded from the your new, New York champion. Selected at a fitting place on the draft board for the Lake Show. Number 24.
Minnesota are making some serious moves, mind you, like when Kevin Garnett finally gave up the ghost of haunting playoff losses to head to Boston, like Giannis almost did.
First, maybe still licking their wounds from that old KAT trade, Minny sent Julius Randle back to New York and the very Barclays Center that plays host to the NBA Draft. Now a Net, Randle enters the locker room as Nic Claxton leaves for Chicago. But what ‘Sota have done now has whetted the appetite of fantasy fans across the NBA jamming globe.
Pairing the one of the kind electric talent Anthony Edwards with the epic dime time of former Charlotte Hornet LaMelo Ball, the pine trees really have some sting in that sap now. The Timberwolves traded do everything, gives his all, fan favourite Naz Reid to the hive to get their Ball, but it’s going to be something to see on the break.
Meanwhile in the honeycombs of Charlotte, Reid, paired with Brandon Miller and scorching sophomore Kon Knueppel, is for the future, buzzing as we speak. No wonder Coby White just re-upped for three-years at $74 mill. It’s his backcourt now.
By the time you read this more trades will have gone down as rumours will have been thrown up like a ball that won’t actually tip-off until late October. Yet even without NBA basketball (we see you, W), this might be one of the most exciting times in a league that feels as alive as Knicks in five.
