Latest news with #JonathanGivony
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Oregon Basketball Forward Kwame Evans listed as second-rounder for 2026 NBA Draft
Following the 2025 NBA Draft, ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo revealed their 2026 mock draft featuring 60 draft-eligible players. Among them was Oregon Ducks men's basketball forward Kwame Evans Jr., nabbed as the 57th-best prospect on their big board. A four-star recruit, Evans joined the Ducks ahead of the 2023-24 season and excelled immediately as a true freshman. He started 29 of 36 games, scoring 7.3 points and grabbing 4.9 rebounds per game and playing a pivotal role as the team made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Though Oregon made it to the second round of March Madness once again during the 2024-25 campaign, Evans took a slight step back. In his sophomore season, he started just three of 36 games and saw his playtime drop from 22.5 minutes to 16.3 minutes per game. His counting stats also fell, as he averaged 6.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 26.9% from three-point range. Despite that, Evans' listed frame of 6-foot-9, 220 pounds is typical of an athletic power forward in the NBA. With his length and versatile ability to guard positions 3-5, he has the potential to grow into a defensive stalwart -- clearly catching the eye of draft experts as they project the Ducks forward a year from now. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ace Bailey, No. 5 overall pick in 2025 NBA draft, set to report to Jazz on Saturday, team says
Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey is expected to report to the team on Saturday after an unusual draft process, in which Bailey declined to workout with individual teams ahead of the draft. A Jazz representative told ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Friday afternoon that Bailey will join his new team over the weekend with a Sunday press conference. "We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives. We feel good about everything. Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow. We'll have a press conference Sunday, and a practice Monday." "This has always been the plan, including for our other rookies, Walter Clayton and John Tonje — to let them go home and collect their belongings, and then fly right to summer league from Salt Lake City." Advertisement Prior to the draft, it was reported that Bailey wanted to land with one of three teams. The Jazz were not one of the team's on Bailey's reported list. Despite that, the team took him with the No. 5 overall pick. After the draft, it was reported that one of Bailey's reps told a team in the top five that it should not select Bailey in the draft. It's unclear which team was told to stay away from the Rutgers guard. Bailey was asked about the situation after the Jazz selected him with the No. 5 overall pick on Wednesday. He didn't seem openly angry about it, instead giving a neutral answer and saying, "I can control what I control. How they feel [is] how they feel." The situation has only gotten murkier from there. Following Day 2 of the 2025 NBA Draft, Bailey's manager, Omar Cooper, declined to comment when asked about the former Rutgers' star's future in Utah. On Friday morning, however, Andrew Witlieb, the president of GSE Worldwide, which represents Bailey, appeared on a Front Office Sports podcast and said Bailey was excited about going to Utah. Advertisement "He's thrilled to be going to Utah," Witlieb said. "Obviously, it's an honor to be selected in the top five of the NBA Draft. We think he can do a lot of great things out there." The fact that Bailey had yet to report to the Jazz as of Friday morning isn't necessarily a big deal. Dallas Mavericks No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg waited until Friday to join his new team. The Jazz's other pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Walter Clayton Jr., has reportedly already joined the team. What happens if Bailey doesn't end up reporting to Utah? It's his option, though it would come with some ramifications. Advertisement If Bailey opts not to report to Utah, he is ineligible to play in the NBA this season. He also cannot return to play college basketball. He could play overseas, but doing so would mean Utah would retain his draft rights. If he doesn't report to Utah and doesn't play professionally elsewhere, he could re-enter the 2026 NBA Draft, where he still wouldn't have control of where he goes and runs the risk of being selected lower in the draft order. Who is Omar Cooper? Until Friday, Bailey's relationship with Cooper and GSE Worldwide was also unclear. Some outlets referred to Cooper as Bailey's agent despite reports Cooper is not a certified agent. Witlieb shed some light on that situation during his podcast appearance, referring to Cooper as Bailey's manager. Advertisement Witlieb said Cooper was focused on finding the best fit for Bailey, and was not necessarily concerned about how high Bailey was picked in the 2025 NBA Draft. "This was led by Bailey's long-time manager, Omar Cooper, who we are partnering on with this. And Omar really focused more on fit rather than going third in the draft kind of thing. He wanted some place where Ace could have the best possible basketball fit for his game. And we think Utah is one of the best places he could have gone." Cooper is listed as the "C.E.O and Founder of LifeStyle Sports Agency" on his Instagram page. A link to the agency's website leads to essentially a "coming soon" page. Despite GSE Worldwide officially representing Bailey, Cooper appears to have served as the main point person for a lot of comments and interviews regarding Bailey leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft. If Bailey truly doesn't want to play for the Jazz, he doesn't have many choices. The team reportedly has no interest in trading Bailey, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Forbes
a day ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Milwaukee Bucks Swing For The Fences In 2025 NBA Draft
Belgrade, Serbia - November 24: Bogoljub Markovic of Serbia during the FIBA Eurobasket 2025 ... More Qualifier match between Serbia and Denmark at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on November 24, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by David Damnjanovic/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) With just one shot to make something happen in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to swing for the fences. At pick No. 47, they rolled the dice on Serbian big man Bogoljub Markovic, a 19-year-old with loads of potential and a long runway ahead. Markovic was the most productive draft-eligible player from Europe, playing last season for Mega in the ABA. He put up some solid numbers: 13.9 points, 6.9 boards, and 2.6 dimes while shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor. He's got game, but he's not NBA-ready just yet—and that's fine, 'cause the Bucks knew what they were getting into. According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Markovic is gonna stay overseas another year to keep sharpening his tools. Honestly, that's probably for the best. At 6-foot-11 and 213 pounds, he's caught in no man's land—too skinny to bang in the paint like a true center, and not quite quick enough to hang with athletic fours just yet. But what the kid does have is a silky-smooth jumper. He splashed nearly 39 percent from deep last year and has legit stretch big potential. He's a sniper on catch-and-shoot threes and knows how to find his spots. Toss in a 76.5 percent free throw clip and a nice little floater game, and you can see why the Bucks took a flyer. He's also got soft hands and a good feel around the rim. Dude can clean up a rebound and get it right back up before the defense even blinks. He can also catch passes in traffic while around the rim and finish on the move. That said, he's still raw. His handle's loose, he dribbles too tall, and he coughed it up 2.7 times per game—more turnovers than assists, which ain't ideal. On D, he's serviceable but not exactly a rim protector. He's got decent mobility, but not enough bounce or length (he has a 9-foot-2 standing reach) to scare anyone away from driving right at him. That's why stashing him in Serbia for another year makes perfect sense. He needs to live in the weight room, pack on some muscle, strengthen his core, and tighten up his handle if he wants to hold his own in the league. This pick is all about upside. It's not a slam dunk, but it's got real 'diamond in the rough' vibes. If everything clicks, Markovic could grow into a solid rotation piece—or maybe even a starter—down the road. It'll take a minute, but for the Bucks, this was the kind of low-risk, high-reward swing you take when you're trying to hit on long-term value at the back end of the draft.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA draft: Tracking the top undrafted free agent signings
The 2025 NBA draft is completed following the conclusion of the second round on Thursday, with an additional 29 players hearing their names called at the Barclays Center. The draft featured a two-night format for the second consecutive year in Brooklyn, New York. The league opted to make the change to afford teams additional time to adjust plans and strategies with draft picks and potential undrafted free agents. The festivities featured numerous trades and some surprising selections throughout the second round. The final results are expected to generate numerous reactions and conversations over the remainder of the week and the months to come. Related: 2025 NBA draft: First-round grades and analysis for every pick In all, 59 players realized their dreams and heard their names called on stage across the two nights. They will now look ahead to joining their respective teams and preparing for the California Classic and the Salt Lake City Summer League, beginning on July 5. While those players established themselves as draft picks, dozens of prospects who weren't selected will be looking to sign with teams as free agents. Players will sign two-way contracts or reach summer-league deals with teams over the next several days. Here is a tracker of where the top undrafted prospects will play: Izan Almansa, Perth (NBL) Team: Philadelphia 76ers Contract: Exhibit 10 Source: Adam Aaronson, The Philly Voice Obinna Anochili-Killen, Marshall Team: Dallas Mavericks Contract: Summer League Source: Rookie Wire Tamar Bates, Missouri Team: Denver Nuggets Contract: Two-Way Contract Source: Bennett Durando, Denver Post Dylan Cardwell, Auburn Team: Sacramento Kings Contract: Two-Way Source: Jonathan Givony, ESPN Steven Crowl, Wisconsin Team: Utah Jazz Contract: Exhibit 10 Source: Darren Wolfson, KSTP-TV RJ Davis, North Carolina Team: Los Angeles Lakers Contract: Exhibit 10 Source: Dave McMenamin, ESPN Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Team: New Orleans Pelicans Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN Eric Dixon, Villanova Team: Los Angeles Lakers Contract: Two-Way Contract Source: Shams Charania, ESPN RJ Felton, East Carolina Team: Indiana Pacers Contract: T.B.D. Source: Jake Fischer, The Stein Line on Substack Vladislav Goldin, Michigan Team: Miami Heat Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN Caleb Grill, Missouri Team: Chicago Bulls Contract: Two-Way Source: Missouri Chucky Hepburn, Louisville Team: Toronto Raptors Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN CJ Huntley, App State Team: Phoenix Suns Contract: Two-Way Source: Jonathan Givony, ESPN Curtis Jones, Iowa State Team: Contract: Source: Miles Kelly, Auburn Team: Dallas Mavericks Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN Viktor Lakhin, Clemson Team: Contract: Source: Caleb Love, Arizona Team: Portland Trail Blazers Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN RJ Luis, St. John's Team: Utah Jazz Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN Igor Miličić Jr., Tennessee Team: Philadelphia 76ers Contract: Exhibit 10 Source: Jon Chepkevich, DraftExpress Eli John Ndiaye, Real Madrid (Spain) Team: Atlanta Hawks Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN Grant Nelson, Alabama Team: Brooklyn Nets Contract: T.B.D. Source: Michael Scotto, HoopsHype Ryan Nembhard, Creighton Team: Dallas Mavericks Contract: Two-Way Source: Michael Scotto, HoopsHype Clifford Omoruyi, Alabama Team: Toronto Raptors Contract: Exhibit 10 Source: Tony Jones, The Athletic Dink Pate, Mexico City Capitanes (G League) Team: Contract: Source: Kadary Richmond, St. John's Team: Washington Wizards Contract: T.B.D. Source: Chris Haynes, X Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky Team: Contract: Source: Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest Team: Philadelphia 76ers Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN Mark Sears, Alabama Team: Milwaukee Bucks Contract: Two-Way Source: Shams Charania, ESPN Steve Settle III, Temple Team: Miami Heat Contract: Exhibit 10 Source: Jon Chepkevich, DraftExpress Brice Williams, Nebraska Team: Contract: Source: Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Team: Detroit Pistons Contract: Summer League Source: Jonathan Givony, ESPN
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers Make Surprise Trade for 'Best Dunker' in NBA Draft
Lakers Make Surprise Trade for 'Best Dunker' in NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In a bit of a surprise, the Lakers made a move on Thursday night in the second round of the NBA draft, nabbing a young wing they will hope to develop in the coming years as they look to replenish a roster that has mostly been built on free agency and trades. The Lakers came into the draft with the 55th pick in the second round but moved up nine spots to pick 6-foot-7 wing Adou Thiero from Arkansas. Advertisement Thiero, a junior, averaged 15.1 points per game for the Razorbacks, and shot 54.5% from the field, though only 25.6% from the 3-point line. The Lakers sent cash and their pick to the Timberwolves to make the trade happen. ESPN's host for second-round coverage, Malika Andrews, pointed out that the network's draft expert, Jonathan Givony, called Thiero, "the best dunker in the draft." Arkansas Razorbacks forward Adou Thiero (3) shoots a free-throw during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images The site wrote of him, "Thiero is perhaps the most explosive player in this draft, an event creator defensively who is a significant mismatch attacking in a straight line and the open court, drawing fouls in bunches and finishing in highlight-reel fashion." Advertisement And on the broadcast, former Nets executive Bobby Marks noted that the Lakers need wing depth, especially with uncertainty around the future of Dorian Finney-Smith, who can become a free agent, looming. At The Ringer, Thiero was rated the No. 27 overall prospect, praised for his athleticism, propensity for physical play, rebounding ability and defense. The only question is whether he can acquire the polish needed for the NBA. The Ringer's J. Kyle Mann wrote: "Rounding out his game will be an uphill battle, albeit not an unrealistic one. Thiero is a sometimes shooter with a slower release that could be workable enough to get by. He has moments of connective brilliance and displays quick touch on his passing. His unselfish approach is nonnegotiable for him—it's hardwired into how he plays. Thiero seems willing to embrace an identity that best suits his strengths, and for that reason, his game is worth betting on." This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
