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Deadspin | Blues bid to continue recent road success in clash vs. Jets

Deadspin | Blues bid to continue recent road success in clash vs. Jets

Mar 13, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) reacts after scoring the game winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers during overtime at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Some stellar play away from home has the St. Louis Blues enjoying their most successful stretch of the season.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets have been solid at home, of late.

A pair of teams looking to remain relevant in the playoff race meet Sunday when the Blues try to win a sixth straight road contest.

Like Winnipeg, St. Louis sits on 64 points, and both have three teams to hurdle in the Western Conference standings just to reach playoff position. However, the Blues remain in the playoff hunt thanks to a 6-0-1 mark in March.

The Blues have allowed just 12 goals this month, won all five road games in March and rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the third period against Edmonton on Friday to post a 3-2 home victory in overtime.

“We’re obviously feeling good,” said St. Louis forward Robert Thomas, who scored Friday’s winner with 9 seconds remaining in overtime.

“We’re playing confident, and we’re really using our strengths. … We’re just clicking right now and really confident (in) coming in and winning every game.”

Thomas has six goals with eight assists during a nine-game point streak. All but two of those contests have come on the road.

Defenseman Cam Fowler has seven points in the last six games for the Blues, who have posted three one-goal victories this month.

St. Louis’ Joel Hofer has stopped 82 of 87 shots faced in his last two starts and is 5-0-1 with a 1.64 goals-against average and .948 save percentage since the Olympic break. Meanwhile, teammate Jordan Bennington has stopped 54 of 57 shots he’s seen in winning his last two starts after losing eight in a row.

Hofer saved 37-of-39 while St. Louis split the first two season meetings with the Jets. The Blues yielded just 16 shots on goal at Winnipeg on Jan. 20, but the Jets won 3-1.

Thomas did not play in the contest while amid a 13-game absence due to a leg injury, but he has two goals and seven assists during an eight-game point streak against the Jets.

Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele had two goals with an assist in that January win over St. Louis. He notched a pair of assists on Saturday, while Kyle Connor collected a goal and an assist during the Jets’ 3-1 victory over Colorado to improve to 4-2-0 on their eight-game homestand.

Since Jan. 9, Winnipeg is 8-4-2 at home.

“If we play like (Saturday), we’ve got a shot (to make the playoffs),” Winnipeg’s star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck told The Athletic.

“Now, we’ve just got to bring consistency and put that same effort on the ice every night and see what happens.”

Hellebuyck, who stopped 28 shots versus Colorado, has made eight straight starts, and owns a 2.35 goals-against average on this homestand. It’s possible Hellebuyck could again be in net Sunday despite this back-to-back scenario and that backup Eric Comrie has stopped 93 of 98 shots during his four-start winning streak.

Scheifele has five goals with 15 assists in the last 14 games. Connor has recorded 16 points over the same span.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Blues #bid #continue #road #success #clash #Jets

The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.

The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age

1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman
2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman
3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman
4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman
5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman
6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman
7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman
8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman
9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior
10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman
11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior
12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman
13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 2007
14Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore
15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore
16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior
17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman
18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior
19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore
20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman
21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior
22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman
23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior
24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore
25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior
26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman
27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore
28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman
29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore
30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

#NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds">NBA mock draft 2026: Update after college basketball entry deadline with final lottery odds  The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.PickTeamPlayerPositionSchoolAge1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 200714Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomoreLet’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pickIt feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higherCaleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lotteryThe Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.I spent March Madness following Michigan and reporting out a feature on how Yaxel Lendeborg grew up into a potential lottery pick. He told me about the NBA’s feedback at the combine last year, how he views his pro translation, and what this year at Michigan meant to him. I think you’ll like what he had to say:I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streamingHere’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:  #NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds

thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age

1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman
2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman
3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman
4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman
5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman
6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman
7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman
8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman
9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior
10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman
11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior
12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman
13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 2007
14Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore
15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore
16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior
17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman
18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior
19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore
20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman
21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior
22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman
23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior
24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore
25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior
26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman
27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore
28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman
29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore
30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

#NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds">NBA mock draft 2026: Update after college basketball entry deadline with final lottery odds

The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.

The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age

1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman
2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman
3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman
4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman
5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman
6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman
7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman
8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman
9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior
10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman
11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior
12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman
13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 2007
14Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore
15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore
16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior
17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman
18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior
19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore
20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman
21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior
22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman
23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior
24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore
25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior
26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman
27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore
28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman
29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore
30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

#NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds

There was a common thread that ran through the rare and precious victory for Kerala Blasters in the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi last week.

It was again an assist from Ebindas Yesudasan, his fifth this season, that drove Kerala Blasters to a win against Odisha FC. The 20-year-old came off the bench midway through the second half and in the fourth minute of stoppage time whipped in a corner which was headed in by another substitute Matias Hernandez for the winning goal. 

The win was Kerala’s Blasters’ second at home during a fraught campaign which saw sacking of a coach, boycott from home fans and a real fear of relegation. 

Amidst this chaos, Ebindas has shone like a beacon. The under-23 Indian star’s dead ball skills have put Kerala Blasters in good stead during set pieces. Ebindas also excelled as a ball snatcher and his flawless distribution also came in for praise, making him one of the standout performers for the club this season.

“I should give credit to my coaches and team-mates for having confidence in me. Well I worked a lot in improving my individual skills and as a team we have spent a considerable amount of time on set pieces. I am happy I am able to contribute for the team and it is very satisfying to see us win,” he said.

ALSO READ: Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?

A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. 

“I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence">ISL 2025-26: Ebindas’ dead-ball brilliance drives Kerala Blasters’ resurgence  There was a common thread that ran through the rare and precious victory for Kerala Blasters in the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi last week.It was again an assist from Ebindas Yesudasan, his fifth this season, that drove Kerala Blasters to a win against Odisha FC. The 20-year-old came off the bench midway through the second half and in the fourth minute of stoppage time whipped in a corner which was headed in by another substitute Matias Hernandez for the winning goal. The win was Kerala’s Blasters’ second at home during a fraught campaign which saw sacking of a coach, boycott from home fans and a real fear of relegation. Amidst this chaos, Ebindas has shone like a beacon. The under-23 Indian star’s dead ball skills have put Kerala Blasters in good stead during set pieces. Ebindas also excelled as a ball snatcher and his flawless distribution also came in for praise, making him one of the standout performers for the club this season.“I should give credit to my coaches and team-mates for having confidence in me. Well I worked a lot in improving my individual skills and as a team we have spent a considerable amount of time on set pieces. I am happy I am able to contribute for the team and it is very satisfying to see us win,” he said.ALSO READ: Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. “I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.Published on Apr 28, 2026  #ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence

Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?

A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. 

“I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence">ISL 2025-26: Ebindas’ dead-ball brilliance drives Kerala Blasters’ resurgence

There was a common thread that ran through the rare and precious victory for Kerala Blasters in the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi last week.

It was again an assist from Ebindas Yesudasan, his fifth this season, that drove Kerala Blasters to a win against Odisha FC. The 20-year-old came off the bench midway through the second half and in the fourth minute of stoppage time whipped in a corner which was headed in by another substitute Matias Hernandez for the winning goal. 

The win was Kerala’s Blasters’ second at home during a fraught campaign which saw sacking of a coach, boycott from home fans and a real fear of relegation. 

Amidst this chaos, Ebindas has shone like a beacon. The under-23 Indian star’s dead ball skills have put Kerala Blasters in good stead during set pieces. Ebindas also excelled as a ball snatcher and his flawless distribution also came in for praise, making him one of the standout performers for the club this season.

“I should give credit to my coaches and team-mates for having confidence in me. Well I worked a lot in improving my individual skills and as a team we have spent a considerable amount of time on set pieces. I am happy I am able to contribute for the team and it is very satisfying to see us win,” he said.

ALSO READ: Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?

A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. 

“I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence

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