{"id":2009147,"date":"2026-06-24T18:56:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T15:56:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2009147"},"modified":"2026-06-24T18:56:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T15:56:30","slug":"the-bounce-who-won-the-nba-draft-plus-the-new-blazers-coachs-contract-yikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2009147","title":{"rendered":"The Bounce: Who won the NBA Draft? Plus: The new Blazers coach\u2019s contract, yikes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Bounce Newslette<\/b>r<\/strong>\u00a0\":basketball:\"<\/span>\u00a0| This is The Athletic\u2019s<\/em> daily NBA newsletter.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>\u00a0to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.<\/p>\n

With the second round of the NBA Draft tonight, this is the perfect time to remind you that three-time MVP Nikola Joki\u0107 was drafted\u00a0with the 41st pick during a Taco Bell commercial<\/a>\u00a0back in 2014.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

NBA Draft<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Toast \u2019em or roast \u2019em! Round 1 reactions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft went off without a hitch last night, and 30 dreams came true. The Wizards took AJ Dybantsa with the top pick, as most of us expected. The Jazz followed that up with Darryn Peterson at No. 2. The Grizzlies brought in Cameron Boozer with the third pick, and the Bulls took Caleb Wilson with the fourth. After that, we weren\u2019t sure what would happen.<\/p>\n

Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger\u00a0graded every pick<\/a>\u00a0from last night. And I\u2019ll leave it to Sam for\u00a0the winners and losers of the night<\/a>. For Bounce purposes, let\u2019s instead go with a game of \u201cToast \u2018em or roast \u2018em\u201d for our breakdown of the big picks:<\/p>\n

Toast \u2018em: Spurs take Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. \ud83e\udd42<\/strong><\/p>\n

San Antonio really struggled in the non-Victor Wembanyama minutes this past postseason. Luke Kornet is fine in the regular season, but the Spurs couldn\u2019t score or stop anybody when he was in a playoff game. Quaintance, at pick No. 20, addresses the defensive portion of that, although he needs another knee operation. So they also traded back into the first round to get Tarris Reed Jr. with the 26th pick to be a backup big man. He can really score around the rim.<\/p>\n

Roast \u2018em: Bulls take Dailyn Swain with the 15th pick \ud83e\uddef<\/strong><\/p>\n

Love the Bulls taking Wilson at No. 4. That was the right call, and he could end up as a star in this league. However, following that up with Swain at 15 was a head-scratcher. He can create and he can get into the paint. That matters. His shot is not convincing, and they could have taken a guard like Christian Anderson to help with that in the backcourt. Speaking of \u2026<\/p>\n

Toast \u2018em: Hornets take Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson \ud83e\udd42<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brilliant first round for Charlotte. Steinbach has incredible hands, is great in the pick-and-roll and might be the best rebounder in the draft. Charlotte needed more presence inside. Anderson is probably the best shooter in the draft. He\u2019ll be big off the bench behind LaMelo Ball.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Roast \u2018em: Memphis trading down to get Karim L\u00f3pez \ud83e\uddef<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Grizzlies still got an incredible player at 3 with Boozer going to them. So why follow that up by trading down from 16 to 17 to 21 just to grab a project like Karim L\u00f3pez, who plays the same position as Boozer? L\u00f3pez might be good, but he doesn\u2019t fit what they did the previous hour.<\/p>\n

Toast \u2018em: Bucks ending up with Brayden Burries and Nate Ament \ud83e\udd42<\/strong><\/p>\n

Milwaukee went with a safe pick in Burries at 10 to bring in a high-quality guard who can do a little bit of everything. He\u2019s going to contribute right away. Then with the 13th pick, which they got in the Giannis trade, the Bucks took a big swing with Ament. He\u2019s definitely a risk, but they have to trust Taylor Jenkins and their future development with Ament. Good gamble.<\/p>\n

Value picks I loved<\/strong><\/p>\n