On the first night of the draft, the Memphis Grizzlies made a sensational trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 11 overall pick, a first-round pick in 2028 (via Orlando), and two second-round picks.
Cedric Coward, a guard for Washington State, was draughted with it.
A shoulder injury limited Coward’s season to six games, resulting in 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Prior to the injury, he impressed scouts with his smooth jumper, 7-foot-2 wingspan, and fierce motor.
Despite his commitment to Duke, he remained in the draft due to his outstanding performance.
Houston took Duke freshman centre Khaman Maluach with the tenth overall pick; in the Kevin Durant trade, his rights will go to Phoenix on July 6.
Suns centre Mark Williams was previously acquired by Charlotte in a trade for UConn’s Liam McNeeley (the No. 29 overall pick) and a protected first-round pick in 2029 from Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah. Williams had a solid season with an average of 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
New Orleans traded its No. 23 pick (Georgia’s Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta for No. 13, using it on Maryland’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, center Derik Queen (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds).
Utah then moved up to No. 18 – sending Nos. 21 and 43 plus 2031 and 2032 seconds to Washington – to draft Final Four MOP guard Walter Clayton Jr.
Nique Clifford, a guard for Colorado State, was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Sacramento’s 2027 first round pick.
To bolster their late-round selection at No. 54 and add depth to their roster following Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear, Indiana acquired No. 38 from San Antonio in exchange for a 2030 second-rounder and cash.
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