Sunday may have been Father’s Day, but this weekend was all about the Suns. Welcome to extension season!
Today’s Lineup
☀️ Phoenix Rising
The latest Free Agency developments, including two for the Suns.
👀 Meet AJ Dybantsa
The story behind the draft’s potential #1 pick.
🚨 Trade Roundup
OKC deals Aaron Wiggins, plus the latest Giannis buzz.
🎉 Happy birthday Clyde Drexler, Pete Maravich, Gui Santos, and Omri Casspi! 🎉
Extension Season
Gillespie, McCollum, Goodwin lead early wave of extensions and opt-ins
Free agency doesn’t tip off until June 30, but a few teams got active over the weekend to make sure their guys don’t hit the open market.
Phoenix and Atlanta made key deals to bring back veteran contributors, while a few players made decisions on their upcoming player options. Let’s break down each deal.
Collin Gillespie — Phoenix Suns, four years, $48 million
After going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022, Gillespie spent the first three seasons of his career on two-way deals before signing a full-time NBA contract for 2025-26. He rewarded the Suns for that faith, averaging 12.7 PPG and shooting 40% from three (including 46% on catch-and-shoot looks). Now, the former Wildcat gets long-term security, and Phoenix gets a stable, tough, sharpshooting mainstay at the guard spot on a relatively team-friendly deal.
Jordan Goodwin — Suns, three years, $19 million
Another vital piece of the Suns’ return to the playoffs, the 6-foot-3, 27-year-old Goodwin fills gaps all over the floor. He’s a plus defender as well as a tenacious offensive rebounder, ranking 15th in the league in offensive rebounding rate, first among guards and forwards. After playing for four teams during his first four campaigns, it seems he’s found a home.
CJ McCollum — Atlanta Hawks, one year, $21 million
Atlanta’s former MIP helped the Hawks accomplish something no other team could this postseason: beating the Knicks multiple times. McCollum scored 32 and 23 PTS, respectively, in Atlanta’s G2 and 3 wins over New York, including six straight Hawks points in clutch time of the former and the go-ahead fadeaway in the latter. McCollum played a critical role in Atlanta’s second-half surge, and now he’ll stick around to help them take another step forward.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — Memphis Grizzlies, $21.6 million opt-in
One of just a few active players with multiple championship rings, KCP exercised the final year of his current contract to remain in Memphis. The 33-year-old veteran missed the final 31 games of the regular season with a pinkie injury, but also struggled to find his shooting rhythm for much of the year, connecting on 31.6% of his looks from beyond. Another year with the Grizz will give him the chance to get healthy and bounce back to his typical form.
D’Angelo Russell — Washington Wizards, $6 million opt-in
DLo has yet to play a game for the Wiz after being sent to the capital in the Anthony Davis trade, but the 29-year-old still has gas left in the tank — he averaged 10.2 PPG in 26 games for Dallas last year, though his efficiency (40.5 FG%, 29.5%) dipped below his career average. Washington could still buy out or trade Russell this offseason, but for now, he’s set to play for a Wizards squad that hopes to make a leap next season.
Trae Young — Wizards, opt-out
Speaking of Washington, they’ll now be forced to compete with opposing bidders as they seek to retain one of their major midseason acquisitions. Young will decline his $48.97 million player option and test the Free Agent pool, making him arguably the highest-profile UFA available. Washington remains the favorite, but other teams are expected to pursue the four-time All-Star.
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🧠 Daily Trivia 🧠
Meet AJ Dybantsa
The first night of the NBA Draft is just one day away, and we’ve got you covered with all the latest on the league’s next generation of stars, from big boards to mock drafts to key debates.
But behind each player set to be drafted this week is a story, a lifetime’s worth of hard work and sacrifice to reach the precipice of their dream. So, before he hears his name called, let’s break down the journey of potential #1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
AJ (whose legal first name is Anicet) learned the value of a hard work ethic from a young age. Born to immigrant parents in Brockton, Massachusetts, AJ followed a strict training regimen as early as middle school thanks in large part to his father, Ace. In addition to skill and conditioning work, AJ and his sisters were tasked with completing a set amount of push-ups each day, and Ace installed a camera system in their home to keep them accountable while he was away.
That approach paid dividends for Dybantsa, who, in his own words, has been #1 “[his] whole life.” ESPN ranked him as the top player in the nation following his freshman season, and he continued as he moved across the country to hoop, first to Prolific Prep in Napa, Florida, then to Utah Prep in Hurricane, Utah. Utah Prep, a startup prep school at the time, reportedly promised Dybantsa a $600k NIL deal.
Dybantsa’s switch to Utah Prep proved a “stroke of good luck” for then-new BYU head coach Kevin Young and his staff. During an early visit to Utah Prep, the Dybantsa family made a last-minute stop by the Cougars campus, and Young made the most of the opportunity, selling his pro experience as a means for AJ to develop into an NBA-ready player. Ace, who also acts as his son’s manager, asked that AJ give BYU a chance. And in the end, the nation’s #1 player pledged to Provo.
As a freshman, Dybantsa didn’t miss a beat, leading all of Division I in scoring with 25.5 PPG, including a 35-point, 10-rebound gem in the Cougars’ first round March Madness matchup with Texas. He finished the campaign as a consensus first team All-American. He’s spent most of the last year vying with Kansas’s Darryn Peterson as the favorite to become the #1 pick, and on Tuesday, we’ll find out who wins the race. But thus far, greatness has followed AJ everywhere he goes (including LinkedIn), and we have no doubt that trend will continue at the highest level. 💪🎉
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Trade Roundup
With the draft just around the corner, trade season is beginning to heat up. Let’s break down a key swap between OKC and Atlanta, then run through the latest buzz in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
Thunder deal Wiggins to Atlanta for cap relief
ATL receives: Two second-round picks (2030, 2032)
OKC receives: Aaron Wiggins
Why Atlanta said yes: The Hawks, as mentioned above, leaned heavily on CJ McCollum this playoffs, and while Jalen Johnson has made strides as a primary ball-handler, beefing up the guard position was still a top priority for Atlanta this offseason. Enter Wiggins, a career 38% three-point shooter with strong positional size (6-foot-6, 6-foot-11 wingspan) and excellent athleticism. He’s also a capable wing, giving Atlanta plenty of ways to deploy him in the lineup.
Why OKC said yes: This summer will be a frugal one for the Thunder, who are attempting to skirt the second apron while retaining as much of their 2025 title team as possible. This move lowers their projected luxury tax bill from $213M to $152M and clears up a roster spot for their upcoming draft picks (#12 and #17). Wiggins, a former 55th overall pick, played a pivotal role in that championship chase, and he’ll be missed in OKC, but winning comes at a cost. Plus, this speech will never be forgotten.
Giannis’s next home?
As the draft approaches, the yearslong Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga could be coming to a conclusion.
Last month, owner Jimmy Haslam said he wanted to have the two-time MVP’s future resolved by the draft, and while the situation could continue to unfold further into the offseason, many around the league expect major movement on a deal in the coming days. Let’s break down the three teams most firmly in the mix:
The Boston Celtics are one of the two frontrunners for Giannis’s services, and can offer the best single-player return of any contender: Jaylen Brown. While there’s a solid chance Milwaukee would seek to reroute JB to a third team (perhaps the Blazers or Clippers), his involvement in the deal could help the Bucks recoup draft capital and supercharge their rebuild. On the other side of the deal, Jayson Tatum and Antetokounmpo would immediately form arguably the league’s most formidable duo, giving Boston the chance to regain its 2024 title form.
The Miami Heat have been the team with “the most consistent interest” in Giannis and have a strong nexus of talent — including Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. that they could offer in a potential deal. There’s also a chance Milwaukee would reroute Herro (the Pistons have been mentioned as a potential destination). Giannis’s interest in South Beach has been well-documented, but is now the time it finally comes to pass?
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a wild card in the Giannis race as they seek a second superstar to pair alongside Anthony Edwards. The Wolves have reportedly made Jaden McDaniels “nearly untouchable” in all trade talks, but a deal centered around Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and draft capital could still materialize. Stay tuned…
Three in the Key
🤣 Lonzo x Father’s Day
“That big day when…”
🗣️ Crowd Sourced
The best arena reactions of the 2026 playoffs!
🏆 Can You Go 82-0?
Our guys give the internet’s hottest game a go.
What We’re Enjoying
We’re officially in offseason mode, which means it’s time for fans across the league to put on their GM hats and evaluate each team’s moves. Our guys over at Numbers on the Board got a head start, choosing to accept or decline 25 hypothetical trades. Give it a watch!
Signing Off
And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, let your support system give you the confidence to do great things. There will be people there to catch you if you fall, so you may as well attempt to soar! See you soon.
Walker Carnathan
