NBA Player News

The Lakers selected De Larrea with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded his rights to the Knicks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

The Knicks traded down one spot with the Lakers to secure De Larrea at No. 25, adding an incredibly polished and crafty international playmaker to their backcourt. The 20-year-old Spanish point guard is coming off an excellent development cycle with Valencia Basket, where he earned Liga Endesa Best Young Player honors while averaging 9.7 points per game and displaying an advanced feel for the game. Standing at 6-foot-6 barefoot with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, De Larrea boasts elite positional size that allows him to survey the floor, pick apart defenses in the pick-and-roll and comfortably see over opposing guards. He was lethal from deep against professional competition this past season, draining 40.7 percent of his three-pointers on respectable volume. While there are legitimate concerns about his lack of elite vertical explosion and foot speed translating to the NBA defensive spacing, his high basketball IQ and patient pacing make him a very stable prospect. Because the newly crowned champion Knicks boast a locked-in backcourt anchored by Jalen Brunson, New York has the luxury of playing the long game with De Larrea. He represents an ideal draft-and-stash candidate or a low-pressure backup floor general who can refine his physical tools before stepping into a multi-positional secondary playmaking role at the next level.

Ejiofor was selected by the Hawks with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Ejiofor dominated the interior during his senior season at St. John's, posting averages of 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. He's an elite defender and solid passer, but he still needs to develop a three-point shot. Ejiofor could have a tough time finding minutes in the rotation during his rookie season, as he seems likely to battle for reserve big-man minutes. However, the Hawks may not be done adding to their frontcourt behind Onyeka Okongwu this offseason.

Philon was selected by the 76ers with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Philon spurned the 2025 NBA Draft in favor of returning to Alabama for his sophomore season and subsequently broke out offensively. In 33 games with the Crimson Tide during the 2025-26 campaign, the 20-year-old averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from beyond the arc in 30.9 minutes per contest. The guard's stellar season earned him All-SEC First Team honors. The 76ers boast a star point guard in Tyrese Maxey, allowing Philon to learn behind him and provide instant offense in a reserve role.

The Pistons selected Lopez with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded his rights to the Grizzlies, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.

The Grizzlies traded down from pick No. 16 to No. 17 before moving further back to No. 21, acquiring five second-round picks in the process. Lopez will now join third overall pick Cameron Boozer in Memphis. Lopez spent the last two years playing overseas for the New Zealand Breakers, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in 25.6 minutes per showing last season. The 19-year-old became the first Mexican-born player selected in the first round and should have an opportunity to carve out a meaningful role in the Memphis rotation during his rookie season. He's a physical forward who brings solid size, athleticism and upside.

Graves was selected by the Raptors with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Graves averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks and 1.9 steals while shooting 41.3 percent from deep across 22.6 minutes in 35 regular-season contests with Santa Clara in 2025-26. He started four games in his only year at the collegiate level. Still, Graves did enough to be named the WCC Freshman of the Year and WCC Sixth Man of the Year. With that in mind, the 19-year-old will presumably come off the bench for a Toronto team that will be looking to contend in 2026-27, though he should hold a stable role at both forward positions.

Quaintance (knee) was selected by the Spurs with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Quaintance represents the definition of a high-risk, high-reward gamble for San Antonio, slipping to the 20th pick due to significant medical red flags. The 6-foot-10 big man put himself firmly on the NBA radar during an impressive freshman season at Arizona State, where he showcased dynamic rim-protecting upside by averaging 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. However, his trajectory shifted dramatically after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in February 2025. After transferring to Kentucky for his sophomore year, Quaintance rushed back to make his debut in December but faced severe complications and persistent knee swelling. He managed just four games for the Wildcats, looking hampered while averaging 5.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks on 57.1 percent shooting before being shut down for the remainder of the season. The primary concern for Quaintance at the next level is durability and medical stability, as his reliance on raw, explosive athleticism makes his knee issues a major talking point for front offices. He skipped the athletic portion of the pre-draft combine, adding to the narrative that he's still a ways away from full strength. San Antonio is uniquely positioned to take this swing, as they can afford to be patient and treat his rookie year as a medical redshirt and developmental season if needed. If the Spurs' training staff can fully rehab his knee, Quaintance's immense defensive upside and vertical spacing could eventually give San Antonio an incredibly intimidating frontcourt partner alongside Victor Wembanyama.

The Thunder selected Okorie with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded his rights to the Grizzlies, who then traded his rights to the Pistons, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Detroit moved up from No. 21 and packaged three second-round picks to acquire Okorie, who powered Stanford's offense during his lone collegiate campaign. The guard averaged 23.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 35.0 minutes per contest across 31 starts during the 2025-26 season. He earned All-ACC First Team honors and showcased his scoring prowess by reaching the 30-point mark eight times. The Pistons are set at point guard with superstar Cade Cunningham, but Okorie figures to provide a spark off the bench during his rookie campaign.

Anderson was selected by the Hornets with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

While Anderson is a bit undersized at the guard position at 6-foot-2, he's a tremendous three-point shooter and has a polished offensive game. Anderson averaged 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 3.3 triples and 1.5 steals on 47/42/81 shooting splits during his sophomore season at Texas Tech, but he'll join a crowded backcourt in Charlotte, where he'll be competing for minutes with the likes of LaMelo Ball, Coby White and Kon Knueppel.

The Grizzlies selected Stirtz with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded his rights to the Thunder, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

The Grizzlies will receive two second-round picks while trading down to the 17th overall pick in this year's draft. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City will bolster its backcourt depth. Stirtz began his career at Division II Northwest Missouri State before following head coach Ben McCollum to Drake and then Iowa. In his lone season with the Hawkeyes in 2025-26, the ball-dominant guard averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc in 37.8 minutes per contest across 37 games. Stirtz's standout campaign landed him All-Big Ten Second Team honors. He isn't guaranteed a meaningful role with the Thunder immediately, and he'll likely compete for playing time off the bench with the likes of Nikola Topic (back) and Jared McCain.

Swain was selected by the Bulls with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Swain lands in Chicago after putting together a dominant junior season at Texas. The athletic forward was the engine of the Longhorns' offense, putting up a stellar line of 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while displaying tremendous efficiency inside the arc with a 54.2 percent shooting mark from the field. Swain possesses a versatile, modern skill set, offering the size to impact the game on the glass alongside the playmaking chops to generate looks for others out of the frontcourt. A significant driver behind that high field-goal percentage is Swain's elite ability as a finisher at the rim. He excels at using his length and explosive athleticism to play through contact in the paint, frequently converting tough, contested looks and generating second-chance opportunities. While his perimeter shooting consistency remains a development point as he transitions to the NBA, his interior scoring prowess, defensive motor and elite athletic traits give him dynamic upside. He joins a Bulls squad looking to inject youthful length and playmaking into its core, positioning Swain to compete for immediate minutes during his rookie campaign.