NBA Draft Special 2025 with Kevin Walsh, Tom Vecchio, Ben Stevens and Coach Young 6/25/25 10p-1130p

NBA Draft Special 2025 with Kevin Walsh, Tom Vecchio, Ben Stevens and Coach Young 6/25/25 10p-1130p

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On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet. All night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th, only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all. It’s too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Why? Because of parody? I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Road management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Danny, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goldy will finish top seven in fantasy first basemen. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll fall off all the player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten, but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy it top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here, but not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s in the back. Three 4350 all year long fantasy sports today only on sports every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitches and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches. There’s no way to do it because you can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers would tell you, you know, the books have adjusted. Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. Our sports grid draft special here for the 2025 NBA draft rolls on after the NBA draft lottery. With the final half of night number one, 16th overall, the Blazers traded earlier in the night. Memphis Grizzlies move up to get Cedric Howard with the 11th overall pick. Portland now drafting at 16th overall in a rather surprising move. Perhaps that will break down for you in just a matter of moments. Again, two sets, two crews, the entirety of night. Number one, we are not done just yet. The coach, G James Young. I am Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh and Tom Vecchio along for the ride the entirety of the night as well, providing great analysis throughout the entirety of this opening round. So when the Blazers traded with the Grizzlies swapping draft rights, Cedric Howard of course, headed to the Grind City Portland earlier in the week, making a blockbuster deal, sending Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics and Jrue Holiday maybe unloading some cash for the C’s, headed out to the Rose city. What do we expect Portland to do here at 16th overall? Well, Portland may take a swing. Whether it’s a swing and a miss or he’s swinging a base hit or a home run, it’s about to be seen. But Portland obviously you know moving on from Anthony Simmons has he has a obviously a floor general. And Jrue Holiday maybe only to play another year or two. Shaedon Sharpe is still there. Donovan Clingan is there. Scoot Henderson is there. So to me you’re probably looking at frontcourt help because I think you’re probably still set at the guard spot because you basically had a logjam of guards. You traded one for another. So look for frontcourt help. As we get deeper here into the opening round. One thing we haven’t really hit on much. Only 106 entrants into this 2025 NBA draft are fewest in a decade, dating back to 2015, and only 27 of them young international prospects. Declaring early. We’ve only seen one true international guy that did not play collegiately, and Noah Snag make his way at 12th overall to Chicago. And here’s another one the Blazers, with the 16th overall pick with a little bit of a shocker. Not sure how high you had this prospect on your draft board G. But Yang and Son, the seven two center from China, is who the Blazers select at 16th overall. How stunned are you by this move that Portland just made? I’m very stunned by this move. I thought this is someone that you can get later. This is a guy at 20 years old, seven foot two. I mean, he is big and he is a low post presence. Think of him can move a little bit more. So I don’t want you to think he’s like a like a Yao Ming. He’s a little bit more adaptable to move around. But if you kind of look at it like if you want to take a center, you’re Portland number one. You just got Donovan Clingan at seven foot two. So if you take a center, why not the kid from Stanford? Why not Ryan Kalkbrenner? Two guys I had ahead of Hansen in the in regards to where I had my bigs. Now he’s still slotted to me as a second round guy, but to me, getting him at 16 could have been somewhere that you probably could have traded back then. Got some more draft capital and still got him still. And they already did trade back to 16th overall and they select Yang Han’s son Kev. Tom, you’ve been following the odds through the entirety of the pre-draft process here. Of course, tonight on night number one, was there a price, a number, a wager you could make on Yang Han’s son in the opening round? He actually was someone who I believe was seeing a plus price to actually be a first round selection. A couple of notable mock drafts, actually. Each had him going 36th overall to the Brooklyn Nets, I think to Jay’s point, you could trade back and get him later. They did do that. Now this is a team that if they were willing to take him 16, I’d imagine if this team couldn’t find a deal, they would have likely selected him 11th. And I know that would have been a stunner. I’m not saying it wouldn’t have been, but when you draft a seven foot two productive in his league big, you probably really like the guy. He was one of the real showcase pieces of the draft combine, perhaps where Portland fell in love with the player. Tom. It’s very possible. And again, there’s elements of the pre-draft process that we’re just not privy to. And obviously some of that is tough to judge when it comes to the betting market. And then how do we evaluate that or how do we derive value from it. So Portland’s high on this guy. That’s fine. I think he can not step into minutes immediately. But from everything that I’ve taken from him is that he moves the ball well. The light comp that I’ve seen from him is Alperen Sengun on the rockets, but they said he needs to be a little more physical and learn and learn how to take contact better. And that is obviously a huge part of a down low game in an NBA offense. So there are blocks in front of him in the Portland depth chart. So I see this as a prospect piece for them right now. So I’m glad you mentioned the Portland depth chart though I know I’m sure some out there are a little disappointed in the lack of trades we’ve seen during this, but there are trades t will still come and Portland obviously locked in on Donovan Clingan, but Robert Williams and DeAndre Ayton are two names that we have seen that could potentially be on the block. Ben perhaps this selection makes that even more likely. No doubt about it. Kevin Portland has already been active as we shared earlier in the week trading for Drew Holiday. So it’s 16th overall. The Blazers take the seven foot two big out of China. More international players off the board here with the 17th overall pick. The team that has reached the Western Conference finals each of the previous two seasons. The pick is in for the Minnesota Timberwolves at number 17. Johan Berenguer, the French national, now will make his way to the Twin Cities. Kevin. Tom, right back to you. Baron J was a guy that you both mentioned. Had some lottery consideration from the odds perspective. He ends up at 17 to the Timberwolves. What do you make of this election? Yeah, I think that Minnesota got a guy. We saw a lot of buzz that was being created for a lottery level player. They get it at 17. You’re going to fall right into Rudy Gobert comps due to the French piece of it due to both being on the Minnesota Timberwolves. I think it does serve as a legitimate reminder how willing Minnesota was to trade Rudy Gobert. Just a couple days ago. Gobert was firmly on the block in the Kevin Durant trade discussions. Tom, and the only reason Rudy Gobert isn’t a part of the Phoenix Suns center situation is because Kevin Durant didn’t want to be a Minnesota Timberwolves. Yeah, so when we talk when we bring this all together and when we talk about the Rudy Gobert moves that I still believe will happen at some point, it may not be this summer may happen during the season. I see this as like we are we’re getting ready for the future because everything about him is he’s got shot blocking lob threat. He can guard the four, the five. He averaged over two blocks per 36 minutes. If you look at his stats from earlier this season, the offensive skill set is very limited right now in the low post game is just not there for him. So this is like we will trade Rudy Gobert. We will free ourselves from this contract. We will bring in another scorer alongside ant, which is what the Timberwolves need. And we will have a placeholder to take over for Rudy Gobert. It’s a Minnesota team that enters with more question marks into free agency than I think they’re 2526 title odds would suggest everyone knows oh not a real, you know, exciting free agency class. Who are some of the top names? Timberwolf. Timberwolf. Timberwolf Randall may opt out. Naz Reid will opt out. Nickeil Alexander-walker is a straight up free agent. Three important pieces for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who of course, have been to the Conference finals in consecutive seasons out West, Ben and Kev. Of course, that would be the outlook once again for the Timberwolves to get to a stage they have never been. That being the NBA finals tied for the third best price G. That’s what Minnesota has at an 8 to 1 number to win the Western Conference alongside the LA Lakers, behind both the Thunder and Rockets sports grid strap. Special news next. Enter into the magical world of Mcluckie. Com where even the smallest of spins can win real cash prizes. Adventure into over a thousand of the best Vegas style slot games. So what are you waiting for? Unlock your free welcome offer today. Join the fun where winners play and players win. The two guys that can do it all. It’s too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Why? Because of parody? I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Road management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donny, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. The game is on. The stakes are high, but the action isn’t just on the field. Rearranging that rhythm. Get it? Inside sports grids in game live, your ultimate second screen experience. Ten and a half point lifeline. Every prop, every play, every day. Anything can happen. It’s complete chaos. Ha ha. It’s smarter to be on sports grid. We’re going to go through every single thing, and I’ve got a great team behind me that’s going to help me get the job done. I want this to be the place that people come to. There is going to be an energy to game time decision that you will feel night in and night out. We are going to hit every single one of those markets that you need to know about. We will have everything at our disposal and we will use that to our advantage. There is not going to be a better place, I promise you, than game time decisions. I’m Kevin Walsh. Tune into game time decisions weekdays on Sports Grid. Did you know sportsbooks tend to draw a tighter bet lines for events that get even more bettors, like championship games or major matchups? My tip? Try betting on less popular sports. You might have a better shot at beating those odds. Now go get lucky. See you in Las Vegas. Let’s get lucky. We’re back live right here on Sports Grid draft special. And boy, are we live. The 2025 NBA draft continues tonight over across the river inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. And we have yet another trade that we just were unveiled. And that is at the 18th overall pick where the Wizards were on the clock for their second selection of night number one. The Wizards are trading Walter Clayton Jr who was selecting eight, who was selected 18th overall to the Utah Jazz. So again, the pick is in 18th overall. The Wizards pick Walter Clayton Jr. But they are immediately trading him to the Utah Jazz. Of course G Walter Clayton Jr is a name that any basketball fan or sports fan knows. Know became a household name during the month of March and early April, propelling his Florida Gators to a national championship, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament Final Four. So Washington selects Walter Clayton Junior 18th overall, but sends him to Utah. The jazz now have Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr tonight. What do you make of the move to Danny? Danny Ainge has just made when you talk about point guards, you know I had the kid out of France. Nolan Traylor and I had Jace Richardson rated above Walter Clayton Jr. So to me, this is a little bit of a reach of a guy that you could have got later in the first round. But obviously, you know, there’s something that Danny Ainge must love about them. It also makes you come to the question about, number one, what are your thoughts on Keyonte George? So he just drafted a couple of years ago at the point out of Baylor. And then like, if you are Utah and you’re not in a position to win, wouldn’t you make sense to go take a guy like Richardson or Trey or the kid out of France who has more upside and give him time to develop? And then it takes someone like Walter Clayton Jr not knocking Walter Creighton Junior at all. Love the game. Love who he is. And you know, obviously he’s the pride of the Iona Gaels I’m sure would love that. But to me at that spot for who you are and where you are as a franchise, I would have took a chance on a kid that had way more upside. Two rather surprising moves by that front office in Salt Lake. Quickly, before we throw it over to Kev and Tom. From the odds perspective around this selection of Walter Clayton Jr, despite him being a certified bucket all year long at Florida and throughout the NCAA tournament, ending in a national championship, there were some that said, hey, he’s a great college player, a superstar on this level, but not really going to amount to much on in the NBA. So do you believe the game that Walter Clayton Jr has translates to the association? I’m not saying he’s going to be a star, but here’s here’s what we’ve had now in the NBA. And I’m going to call it the Brunson effect. A guy that was great in college scored a ton and can’t do it too small and not quick enough. And then they find a way because of their work ethic. I think Walter Clayton has that. Do I think he’s going to ascend to be on Jalen Brunson level? I’m sure Utah will love that. That happens man. But to me, I think he could be a rotational piece, give you 15 or so minutes a game and won’t hurt you on either side of the floor. Kev, not exactly an upset in terms of notoriety nor name for Walter Clayton Jr, nor price -190 earlier in the week for Clayton Junior to be a top 20 pick tonight on round number one. So the move now made by the Utah Jazz. What grade do you give it. Well easy A+ best pick in the draft. Best player in the draft. Shout out Iona College I don’t know why they keep showing Florida highlights. Clearly their draft package is outdated over there. I’d like to clean up what’s behind Ben and Coach as well. Surely you guys got all the Iona emails I sent everyone of Walter Clayton. In all seriousness, one of the most fascinating players in this draft through the odds. As of 930 this morning, the players who had the fifth best odds at at a specific position Cooper Flagg. First, Dylan Harper, second, V.J. Edgecombe, third. Nipple fourth Walter Clayton Jr 20th. He was even money to go 20th overall just because he said he wanted to have dinner with Erik Spoelstra to coach his buddy John Fanta. Well, either Walter Clayton Jr was having a laugh or it’s his own fault he’s not going to have dinner with Spoelstra again. Let Utah know they needed a jump. Miami and get up to 18 to select him. He’s not going 20th time. He’s off the board, not going 20. And the fact that he had even odds to go at remarkable. And that’s what that’s what’s interesting about the draft. Like we hear these draft stories. We see these reports and things change dramatically. I remember obviously we talked about pre show two years ago with the Paolo Banchero the betting markets versus Adrian Wojnarowski at the time. So things change rapidly. I don’t see a real path forward to him playing a ton of time to start. As coach was saying, you know, a handful of minutes low teens per game. But it’s really is he effective in those minutes and how does his offensive game develop at the NBA level. And that will be the path to him actually seeing production. Yeah. Again it from the odds. Truly one of the funniest things in this draft. It will always be to me, Walter Clayton saying he’d like to have dinner with Erik Spoelstra and catching this much movement in the market. And again, the fact that he wasn’t just picked 18th, but a trade up happened from the team right behind Miami. Ben, you kind of can do the math on maybe what played out here. Yeah, Kev. And when we look at the details of this trade for Walter Clayton Jr, Utah is sending pick number 21 and second round picks to the Wizards in return for Walter Clayton Jr. Again he goes 18th overall. And that will make his home in Salt Lake City with the Utah Jazz. So look at it and listen you got Danny Ainge taking two guys. First in Ace Bailey now in Walter Clayton Jr DUI Utah had the worst record in the NBA despite having the fifth pick tonight 17 and 65 a season ago. What are they building toward right now in Salt Lake? AJ Benza and next year? But here’s the thing. Danny Ainge will probably try to do it again. And tank trade Lauri Markkanen trade. John Collins probably could jump by like I don’t know some other team that almost made the NBA playoffs last year. I think they’re just trying to make okay. Dubs a Utah Jazz fan. When LeBron officially retires they know I’ll be on the market. I like what I’m seeing from Utah. We got the jazz. We got the jazz. I thought you were about to say when LeBron James heads to the Utah Jazz to finish out his career. That’s not ruling out not happening. Hey, you never know. Kev would be all behind it. We continue on the sports grid draft special on the other side of the break. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet. All night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th, only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all. It’s too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Why? Because of parody? I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Road management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donnie, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goalie will finish top seven in fantasy first baseman. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll fall off all the player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten, but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy a top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here. Not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s at about 340, 350 all year long. Fantasy sports today only on sports every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitches and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches. There’s no way to do it because you can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers would tell you, you know, the books have adjusted Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. Sports grid strap special roles on throughout the entirety of the opening round of the 2025 NBA draft, which of course, is in Brooklyn inside the Barclays Center. And that’s where we find front office sports. Renee Washington, who has been there taking in the scene and the crowd. Renee, what was the fan base like tonight in Brooklyn as they were reacting early on to the first 4 or 5 picks that we saw in BC? Thanks, guys. And I want to take you back to the start of tonight’s NBA draft, because when the Dallas Mavericks were announced to be on the clock, the crowd poured down in boos, plenty of fans clearly upset they won that number one pick despite the 1.8% chance in the draft lottery. But once Cooper Flags name was announced, the crowd went wild as expected, and Cooper Flag actually spoke to the fans here at Barclays Center, saying how he’s just so excited for this surreal moment. It’s a dream that he’s always had since he was a kid, and now he’s ready to keep his head down, grind and stay humble and get to work. And then when we had number two pick go in, Dylan Harper, the new Jersey native, clearly had a lot of Rutgers fans in attendance. A whole section stood up with a standing ovation. Plenty of red was there as he became the highest drafted player out of Rutgers at that number two spot, and also for the son of five time NBA champion Ron Harper. Dylan Harper actually had the crowd going wild every time his name was mentioned tonight throughout the Barclays Center. But the surprise for me was V.J. Edgecombe going third, because he actually took time to go around and shake the hands and greet every other prospect that was sitting around him. He met with pretty much everybody before he even took the stage. Such a grateful, just appreciative moment for V.J. Edgecombe. And then when you look at number four, some surprises here, because we were wondering where Ace Bailey was going to fall after not being picked third. And when Conn Nepple went fourth, the crowd also went wild. There were a lot of Duke fans here in attendance, clearly, because there were plenty of chants for him, much like chants for Dylan Harper. And then the ultimate surprise when you heard the roaring of the crowd was when Ace Bailey’s name was announced, fifth overall. It’s been quite a crazy first five picks here at the draft, but interestingly enough, plenty of fans are actually leaving currently, leaving out of the Barclays Center feeling like maybe they’ve seen enough of the draft. They can actually see around me people getting their last pictures, last snacks and headed for the exit. So a lot of excitement around the top picks, but maybe not as much excitement as we even get to the later parts of the first round. So it will be interesting to see what does round two look like tomorrow. With the second year of this two round format for the NBA draft, so plenty of excitement for the top five picks, and lots of interesting things to keep an eye on throughout the rest of this draft. Guys, back to you. Renee. Thank you very much. We appreciate your time. Live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. We hope some fans are sticking around because the hometown team now on the clock, the Brooklyn Nets with the 19th overall pick, their second so far on night number one, their second of a scheduled five. The pick is now in with the 19th overall selection in the 2020 NBA draft. The nets select Nolan Traore, the French guard who now will play in Brooklyn. G will get your thoughts on the prospect in just a moment. But the second pick for Brooklyn tonight, and it’s safe to say that our Kevin Walsh was not a huge fan of what Sean Marks decided to do with their first one at eighth overall in the guard out of BYU and Yeager 19th overall. Kev the Frenchman in Nolan Traore. How do you feel about this decision by Brooklyn? I don’t think nets fans are deserving of me ruining their night, so I definitely won’t bring up how much better of a pick Jason Richardson would have been at 19. Obviously I think the same at eight. I will say this is much closer to the projected Nolan Traore range and over under draft position. Tom of 21.5 cashes to the under. Yeah, cash to under. I would have liked to see them go from Illinois I think have been a good a good spot as well. International flair to the nets pick so far. The speed that he has I think is good. The ball handling is something that they can use. And again, it’s more about where does he fit in the offense alongside now Damon and Cam Thomas and Cam Johnson. But how long will the Cam’s be staying there before they enter a full on rebuild and look towards next year’s draft? Yeah, I mean, Brooklyn is one of the more bizarre teams in the league in that there, again, is not really a pillar piece within their roster, yet they find themselves connected to star players in potential trade situations like Giannis Antetokounmpo, though the thing that they have most often going for them is a ton of draft capital. The thought tonight would be five picks. They’ll trade a few to move up in this draft. So far, Ben, they’ve just stood where they were and picked at both selections. Yeah Kev, we thought they might try to package all of those 5 or 3 of 5 or 4 of five to make a big splash, or Damon Nolan. Trey, we’re into the 20 of the first round next. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet. All night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage start at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all to much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take catching. Why? Because of parody? I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Road management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donnie, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goldie will finish top seven in fantasy first basemen. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll fall off. Older player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten, but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy a top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here. Not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s in the back. Three 4350 all year long fantasy sports today only on. Every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitches and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches. There’s no way to do it because you can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers would tell you, you know, the books have adjusted Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. Welcome back to Sports Grid Draft special live right here throughout the entirety of night. Number one in round number one of the 2025 NBA draft. He is G James Young I am Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh and Tom Vecchio here as well. We are now into the 20s in fact 20th overall where the Miami Heat are now on the clock in the pick is now officially in with the 20th overall selection of the 2025 NBA draft. The slide has stopped for the Illinois guard conspiracy, who now will play his basketball in South Beach, 20th overall. The heat pick, k j, as he is affectionately known in champagne. So j y this was a guy in that throughout his year playing for Brad Underwood and the Illini certainly seemed to be a lottery pick. Heck, even top ten consideration he falls all the way to 20th overall, but ends up in a situation in Miami. How good news of this is this for Jaco Jones and conversely, also for the Miami Heat? I think it’s great news for both. I mean, listen, you don’t want to slide. He’s going to cost some money, but he’s stepped into a situation where Miami needs a playmaker, a floor general, someone that can get them in the offense. And I think that is what he brings to the table. He could go ahead and get banged the ball. He can get clear water on lobs. He can get Tyler Herro shots. And then when he’s open he’s going to be able to knock down shots. So to me you this is a is a good pickup for Miami. Great value anytime Miami picks. You see they seem to get it right. So for them they are the beneficiaries of the slide. And the slide in which he probably looked at some of the other guards were taken, particularly Brooklyn. They could have gotten Jonas at either one of their picks and better than what they got. And them, Denman and Trey and Kev, from the betting market perspective, is still being available at the 20th overall pick. How surprising was that biggest faller in the draft so far, I think would be. I’ll just quick aside. The fact that people call him CJ is infuriating. Everyone knows I’m usually awful with names. Me learning not just for CJ to be sat right in front of me. That’s that’s a tough night for me. Not as tough as the Brooklyn Nets, who have drafted two point guards in this draft. Neither as good as out of Illinois. Yeah. So his over under was 11.5. And obviously with the way the what was it eight through kind of 14 transpired transpired. There was no way he was getting there. And it’s just it’s kind of it just speaks to this draft overall where it started off super chalky. And then we’re like, yeah, let’s let’s throw a wrench into things and get really weird with what’s going on. So I think it’s a great fit for Miami. I would like to see them move off of the Wiggins and Terry Rozier contracts and then really open up playing time for him. I think there is a path forward if they are not in contention. Trade Wiggins trade Terry Rozier and it will be bam hero. And moving forward. I will say too though, when we do an NFL draft show and you see a player fall even to this caliber, we start to wonder what’s wrong. Medicals. So we saw an over under of 11.5 picks. Nine through 17 were forwards and centers. Right. Then you have a bit of a guard run with Clayton Junior and Nolan Traore going in front. But positional need occasionally can dictate how the board is going to be shaped. Now, I think we could also have seen an argument for any one of those teams. Arguably, or at least a handful. Memphis could have selected a guard, Minnesota could have selected A66 guard, but those teams went a different position. Ben. And probably the biggest reason Jakob Jonas slipped in this draft, more so than the actual talent and perception of the player. Yeah, no doubt about it, Kev, but it is a good time to be a fan of the Illinois Fighting Illini because we saw the trade from 18 to 21. Of course, the Utah Jazz trading up to 18th, or with the Wizards for that 18th pick to grab Walter Clayton Jr. So now the waves with their second selection on night number one at 21st overall, have made their pick. The selection is in. It’s an Illini in Champaign party. Will Riley is headed to the nation’s capital after his only year in Illinois. Will Riley now heads to DC. So it took a little bit of time to see the orange off the board tonight, but 20th overall. Casparus Jacob Jones and his teammate a season ago with the Illini 21st overall Will Riley. What are the wings getting in? Will Riley, the outstandingly talented freshman from Canada. Extremely talented, but kind of an up and down freshman year playing for Brad Underwood. So Brad Underwood, you’re going to get the defense right. But to me what you like about him is his pull up game, his feel for the game. He’s a smart, cerebral player. Six foot seven, six foot eight long, wingspan can get his shot off. Good guy moving off the ball. So to me you know a good pickup here where he is. It was interesting. I felt like early before the season he was slotted higher and because of his uneven freshman year he kind of came down. But still good value at 21 for Washington to go get a guy like Riley. And then you think about what’s going on with them, right? With McCollum, with Middleton. You know, they have $100 million coming off the cap after this year. So let this kid come in, be a backup. Learn hopefully hits goes to the starting lineup at 26. Trey Johnson of course was that sixth overall selection by the way earlier on tonight in night number one Kev what was the parlay like for back to back Illini players. -155 here on night number one. Oh I don’t know if you were messing around or not but there has to be a better or two out there. Livid. We had odds for Malawach nipple back to back at around plus 190. We had odds for Harper and Bailey back to back at like plus 500, and there was a 9 to 1 Riley market, which was the Bulls to draft both of them. Not for them to go back to back, which ends up somehow a winner, somehow a winner. And again, I, I think this speaks to teams again, positional needs what they’re drafting. Because at a certain point, like you said, we went on that that forward run the Thunder and the Grizzlies were never drafting guards. Like you can say they got the Grizzlies got a guard. They got a shooter or whatever it might be. So I would love to see a ticket on that. That’s what I would love to see. But yeah I got nothing more than to say that if you have that ticket, that’s fantastic. But I think it speaks to the randomness of the draft overall and where things are only going to end up. Yeah. Also, just a quick shout out to us for having the right team graphic up. It is still insane that Will Riley, who likely will never play a second for the Utah Jazz, has to go up there and put a jazz hat on. I just feel, Ben, that’s the type of crusade that you could get behind and someone had to bring up. Yeah, no doubt about it, Kev. It is absolutely ridiculous. It also makes our jobs a little bit more difficult to break down those details. Trading of rights. Well, Riley will play or will Riley excuse me. Will play in DC for the Washington Wizards. So let’s talk about The Wiz quickly. You mentioned some changes for this team for most of the year. Gee, it was the Cooper flag tank happening in the nation’s capital. They end up with the sixth pick. They take Trey Johnson at 21 overall. Their second selection of this night. Number one they take Will Riley. What should the outlook be for a Wizards franchise. Just trying to string together a couple of successful years. Honestly you just want these young guys like Sarr, Coulibaly, Bud Carrington obviously now Riley Johnson you just want to see development. You are literally punting. This is big. Remember their pick is protected 1 to 8. If it’s more than eight it goes to New York. It’s weird. They have veterans. They may want to tank and play these young guys and wonder when they get traded. Or could they be buyout contenders for some of these veterans coming up? It is an interesting thing right? The anti tank in the NBA draft lottery since 2019. Of course, the three teams finishing with the worst record all in equal shake all at a 14% chance. Well, in that span since 2019, the team that has finished with the worst mark in the NBA the year prior has never earned the number one overall pick by winning the draft lottery. This year, our three teams that had a 14% shot, The Wiz had the second worst record. They drafted sixth. The Hornets had the third worst record. They drafted fourth in. The jazz had the worst record. They picked fifth overall. Night number one. Round one continues at the NBA draft. Up next. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet. All night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th, only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all, it’s too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Why? Because of parody. I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Load management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donny, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goldie will finish top seven in fantasy first baseman. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll fall off. Older player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten, but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy a top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here, but not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s back. Three 4350 all year long. Fantasy sports today only on sports every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitches and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches. There’s no way to do it because you can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers would tell you, you know, the books have adjusted. Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. Okay. Live right here on sports grid craft special as we continue on. And would you look at that. Who’s on the clock once again with their third of five first round picks, the Brooklyn Nets, at number 22 overall, are on the clock. Say it’s been an interesting draft so far for Brooklyn’s front office, led by GM Sean Marks. Would be a kind word to use about how this night has played out for the hometown team in front of their home crowd inside the Barclays Center. But at eighth overall, the point guard out of BYU, Yeager at 19th overall. Just a few selections ago, Jay, the guard from France in Nolan Traore. So what are we going to see if you have any idea what the nets are going to do here at 22, I have no idea what they’re going to do. I just hope it is not an international point guard because I may lose it. Maybe Ace and Noel, the power forward out of Georgia, you got to address the front court at some point here because you got two point guards. You have Cam Thomas, who I do believe will return. Maybe you move off of Cam Johnson. So to me he’s either center I wouldn’t go get Maxime Reynard or Kalkbrenner this high. I could probably get him at my next pick. So maybe Ace Nowell out of Georgia would be the pick I would look at right now. Number 22 overall Kevin Thom, third pick of the night for the hometown team in Brooklyn. What do you guys think the nets are going to do? I mean, if you’re Brooklyn Nets man, and I do feel like I might be coloring a lot of how people are reacting to this groups evening. But if you are the Brooklyn Nets, not a guard, I do feel like Jay said, that would be a good starting point here. Tom. I think the more incredible thing is it seems pretty clear they’re not going to trade this pick. Are they actually going to draft in all five slots? That would be, I believe, a round number one record. Round number one record. Last night you tweeted the nets are the team to watch I did you did. You said after because it was after the Porzingis trade. It was after Porzingis trade. And you said the nets are the team to watch. Now the team to watch. We would have liked to have thought we’re going oh three. As Ben as you were alluding to. We’re going to get three picks and they’re going to trade them to get a player. They’re a team to watch, maybe for a different reason. And we’re not sure if that’s a great reason as of now. Now, you could not like the pick, but as coach was alluding to earlier, after that, if the other picks are at least good, you could say the entire draft grade may come out as a be like the pick you could say is an F, but the entire draft grade grade may come out as a B. Where do they go from here? Hopefully it’s not another guard. I would say wing, wing shooter wing. Maybe out of the a C or something like that. Like that. I don’t know if you’ve got any details on that Brooklyn pick something like that. Right wing kind of listed on his collegiate roster as a guard at 22 overall, the Brooklyn Nets have sent that pick in to Commissioner Adam Silver with the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The nets, with their third first round selection of the night, take Drake Powell, the six six wing at a buck 95 out of North Carolina, the first first round pick for UNC here tonight. Gee, after seeing three guys go from their bitter rivals in the top ten from the Duke Blue Devils. So Drake Powell, in his only year in Chapel Hill, certainly has some upside but still averaged just a little bit better than seven points per game. So not an international guard slash wing, but one who played his college ball for a year in Chapel Hill at UNC. Is this a better pick than Sean Marks in the nets just made? I mean, it’s better than the fact that it’s not a point guard. I mean, I still would look at frontcourt help, but if you look at Powell, this is a guy who’s a catch and shoot shooter. Hustles plays solid defense. So if he plays if he plays solid defense and he hustles, that means he’s the exact opposite of Cam Thomas. So to me, yeah, you look at the fact that you got a way better defender on the wing that can help you defensively. Offensive game needs to grow. But you know I’m looking at Brooklyn and like if you’re moving on from Cam Johnson if you’re moving on from obviously you know Nic Claxton in the off season. You know it would be my thought that the next pick or picks you have coming up, you’ve got to address the frontcourt either at the power forward position as well, like Ace or Noel, or you look at someone like a Ryan Kalkbrenner as a pivot right there for Brooklyn. Rather surprisingly, perhaps, Kev, the first first round pick that North Carolina as a program has had since Walker Kessler back in 2022, who also went 22nd overall. So as okay, that was a little bit spicy. So Kevin, Tom, as you guys alluded to in breaking down what we expected the nets to do, they take Drake Powell at 22nd. They have still utilized at least at this moment, all three of their first round picks out of five in total tonight. Kev you didn’t like Yeager Dimon a little bit more I guess you could say mediocre on Nolan Traore. How do you feel about Drake Powell now in BK. The most unbiased man in the history of sports media is not going to step up and tell a lie. Easily the best pick they’ve made all night. I think Drake Powell is in the same tier of prospect as Carter Bryant. I’m sure people won’t agree. I’m fine with that. Drake Powell maybe did the best job any player did on Cooper Flag this season, which is saying a lot, and I thought he showed a lot more versatility on offense than Carter. Bryant did not have a high usage rate. I would, though, use Ben’s point about the lack of first rounders to justify that whatever Hubert Davis is doing in Chapel Hill, not good. Ask Ian Jackson, who had to go to Saint John’s. Caleb Wilson I don’t know what you’re doing, pal. I’m not sure I like that move. Hubert Davis was nearly fired and then a week later got a contract extension. I’m giving Drake Powell a pass. Ben, I really, truly believe this is by far Brooklyn’s best decision here tonight. And listen, Kev, you’re going to have a couple of more opportunities to weigh in on the draft evaluators in that nets front office, 26 and 27, at least for the moment, await Brooklyn really going to use all five first round picks on this Wednesday evening. And that would be disappointing for all that we expected in terms of flurries and trades. Well, I guess and speaking of trades, by the way, the Hawks were originally slated to draft 13th overall. They moved back to number 23 in a deal for the Pelicans, who sent a ton to the A to draft Derek Queen. But what is Atlanta going to do at number 23? The Hawks on the clock next. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet. All night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th, only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all. And too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Ka ching. Why? Because of parody. I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Road management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donnie, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goldy will finish top seven in fantasy first basemen. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll fall off. Older player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten, but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy a top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here, but not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s at about 340, 350 all year long. Fantasy sports today only on sports every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitch and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches. There’s no way to do it because you can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers would tell you, you know, the books have adjusted. Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. We are nearing the end of the opening round. On the opening night of the 2025 NBA draft. That’s the coach, G. James Young. I am Ben Stevens. Pick number 23 on the clock. In a deal earlier tonight that allowed the New Orleans Pelicans to trade back up into the back end of the lottery to select Derek Queen 13th overall. They sent a ton of assets to the Atlanta Hawks. And tonight’s 23rd overall pick by the pick is now in at number 23 overall. The Atlanta Hawks select the big man out of Georgia. He’s not going far from Athens to Atlanta. That would be a annual 611 G a towering figure for the Bulldogs during 20 2425 averaged more than 15 points in close to seven boards for Mike white and UGA a season ago. First freshman to lead Georgia in both rebounding and scoring since the late 90s. So Asa Newell now heads to Atlanta. Might be there in the frontcourt alongside Kristaps Porzingis, who was traded for earlier this week. What grade do you give the Hawks pick here of Newell at 23. I give it a solid I give it a solid B for where they got him at at 23. When you look at Newell his ability to score inside rugged defender. Hustler six nine. He’s a perfect depth piece for a team that’s trying to compete Ben this upcoming season, because he could back up. Probably too small to be a backup five unless he’s in certain lineups. In situations where it’s playing against a smaller five or what we call a stretch five, but mainly a backup four. So now we’re looking at backing up Porzingis and Jalen Johnson. I think it’s a good pick for them. If you want to look at a comparison maybe like a like a like a precious or Tua where precious is a for athletic defender inside. But you can put him as a small ball five. But based on matchups people might forget last year the first overall pick. Zaccharie reason she plays for the Atlanta Hawks. So Kev and Tom, when you look at this addition for Atlanta in a Samuel with that 23rd overall pick. And you guys look at Atlanta’s outlook for 20 2526 this upcoming NBA campaign. What does Newell add to this Hawks organization. Tom you’re a big value guy. Do you think that there could be some juice on this group? I do. I yesterday I believe the Hawks were 50 to 1 to win the East before the Porzingis trade. I don’t know what that is after today. 33 right now 33 one okay I think that’s a fine number. But I, I like the as coaches alluded to I like the depth that they have. Trey Dyson Daniels Ricochet Jalen Johnson. Now Porzingis and Okongwu like they have they have some pieces to put it together. Now there is a you know injuries last year bringing in Porzingis. Can they get it to work. But I think that this is a team like once win totals come out I think the Hawks would be an interesting win. Total team. Yeah I would say for Newell getting to play with Trae Young is a legitimate lob threat is one of the best possible things. Also I love the fact that he’s from Georgia. Played in Georgia now playing for the Hawks. That’s just fun. Yeah right. The Falcons did that a little bit when they got Jalen Walker in the NFL draft. So the Hawks kind of doing a similar thing here I think there is that community vibe. I think there is some connectedness to all of that there. And the Hawks are a team that could use some good vibes. I also just I think it’s a pick that reinforces why this team traded for Kristaps and was excited to, because Newell fits so well next to Kristaps Porzingis. And again not not that Newell will start. That’s that’s not on the board. But those minutes together I think you’ll see they’re going to have a really nice offensive rating in the minutes that those two are sharing the floor. I also think Ben, the fact that on a night like this, when the Hawks make picks or decisions, we are discussing their status in the East. Even that is just a ginormous win for a team that last year got knocked out of the play in by an eight game, under 500 Miami Heat team that then no showed the first round of the postseason. And all the Hawks have known Kev basically the last three years. Is that Play-In tournament hoping for more of course in 20 2526. You see the team behind us on this screen, not the team that was originally scheduled to draft 24th overall. That was supposed to be the second pick of night one for the reigning NBA champs in the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Thunder are trading that 24th overall pick for the Sacramento Kings, who at number 24 overall, g are taking Nick Clifford out of Colorado State. This is a prospect that I know you are very, very high on quickly. Scale of 1 to 10, what do you give the move for the Kings ten love him. Josh Hart 2.0. Position versatility. This is going to be huge. We’ll continue the breakdown in our next hour. But G tell all the people just how much you love the Kings drafting Nick Clifford. As we head to the break in the 11 p.m. Hour. Yeah, we’re still having fun. Thumbs up. See you in a minute. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, J Jams Young, and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet all night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th, only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all. It’s too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Ka ching. Why? Because of parody. I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Road management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donnie, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goldy will finish top seven in fantasy first baseman. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll fall off all the player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten, but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy it top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here, but not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s in the back. Three 4350 all year long fantasy sports today only on sports every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitches and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches. There’s no way to do it because you can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers would tell you, you know, the books have adjusted. Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. Live right here as we continue rolling on on sports grids draft special that is the coach G James Young. I am Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh and Tom Vecchio here as well. We promise the entirety of night number one round number one. And that’s what we deliver 25th overall. The Orlando Magic on the clock. The magic already busy making moves earlier this summer trading for Desmond Bane. We’ll talk about Orlando’s outlook for this upcoming season in the up in the air Eastern Conference. But with the 24th overall selection, the pick is now in Orlando at number 25 overall. Takes Jace Richardson from Michigan State. Oh, by the way, Jason’s father Jason, played two years of his lengthy NBA career with the magic. His father played in East Lansing. Jace Richardson played for Tom Izzo this past year at MSU and now heads to Orlando with that 25th overall selection. Kev, directly to you. This was the prospect perhaps, that you were highest on compared to anybody else in terms of those draft evaluators. So what do you make of the magic at 25th overall? Getting Jace Richardson a plus plus plus plus plus. You got to be kidding me. All Orlando is done. It feels like year over year. Just draft guys that are great at defense, yet it’s left them incapable of having a good offense. In comes one of the best offensive players in the class, the 41% from three never discussed enough. He is one of the best shooters in the class. His elite free throw percentage backs that up. Tom Izzo probably thought that the legacy player was going to be in East Lansing for a while, and as the season continued, he realized he was the best player on that basketball team, was playing over 30 minutes a game down the back stretch, scoring 17 a night, not turning it over, chipping in on rebounds and being a good defender for Sparty while carrying their best offensive rating of any player on the team over a 130 for Michigan State. As I watched Jace Richardson and compared him to other freshman guards like Trey Johnson, I say Jace is better at getting to the paint. When I compare him to Jeremiah Fears, I say Jace is better at shooting by a lot, and yet for some reason I am on this island for the player that led the Big Ten in box score plus minus. So all of the advanced metrics backed it up as well. Great genes. With his father being a legitimately good NBA player for over a decade. Fine. I’ll be the high man. I’ll bank on Jace Richardson all day long. I thought the eighth best player in this class, Tom just went 25th overall. You know, I wanted Ben to throw to me first so I could just go. A ay ay ay ay ay ay plus pick across the board. Honestly, he should be their first first guard off the bench. Suggs. Bane, Franz. Wagner, Paolo. Banchero, Wendell. Carter. Mo. Wagner coming off the bench. I don’t think it should be Anthony. Like Anthony Black is gonna be in the conversation. But if you want to slot Jace into the 1 or 2 guard off the bench, that should be his role. I think he’s a great pick. They need the scoring. They went out and got Bane like that’s what we talked about. They needed some scoring. They were dead last in the league in three point percentage threes per game etcetera, etcetera. So getting a proven scorer that can come off the bench and bring some juice. I love it. It’s a great pick. Now the odds were already out of control for the magic coming into this week. They were 1300 to win the NBA title if I remember correctly. Those odds are crazy. So we may not like the odds, but I think the move is great. Yeah, I fully agree. I will say, you know, I thought that maybe the books overreacted to the lack of green room invite. Instead, they got it 100% bang on 24.5. -135 to the over goes pick 25. And again, if you are Orlando you got to be excited. I will say, you know someone who really enjoys betting drafts and is having a not a great night in that market, but Jace is someone who I wasn’t seeing mocked in the lead up. You know, at oh, 2018, right? Hs consistently going to it felt like Orlando at 25. I just thought all of this seemingly was an overreaction to the lack of green room invite. And that turned out not to be the case. I just do not understand how this league, which usually values the NBA legacy. Not that it’s why Dylan Harper went to, but they immediately pop. You know Ron Harper up there. Jace Richardson didn’t get that same love around the league. And it’s interesting Kev because he exceeded that expectation. Following in the very large footsteps of his father in East Lansing. He was MSU’s best scorer best offensive weapon. And it wasn’t particularly close. Smooth the lefty he can get to the bucket and that shot ever improving. And G as we know this is an Orlando team that has been offensively stunted the past few years. Basically relying on only two guys Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. I beg you all to go look at the box scores of when the magic played in the postseason and how many field goal attempts both Banchero and Wagner were taking for Orlando. So the addition of Desmond Bane and now they get a great offensive piece in Jace Richardson toward the tail end of night. Number one. Let’s call it what it is. The Eastern Conference is very up in the air entering next season, whether because of significant injuries to star players or teams that should be good that don’t have a head coach. At the moment, Orlando has the third best price when the Eastern Conference crown at plus 420. Will the drafting of Jace Richardson help them do that? Yes it will. And I think what you’re going to see is if you’re Orlando, you can now play multiple different ways. So if you go with a starting backcourt of let’s say Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane, and obviously you could go with two point guards in the backcourt in the backup. You could go with Anthony Black and Jason Richardson. You can actually put Jace Richardson off the ball and put him in that second side. Kind of the way that Dallas used Luka and Brunson together. But here’s why I think it’s really interesting because now if I’m Jamal Mosley, what I’m going to do is late in the game. I’m going offense defense. If I need offensive punch, I’m sorry. I’m not going to rely on Jalen Suggs. I’m going to put Jace Richardson in there because he’s ability to shoot the ball from three, but also create along with Desmond Bane. I’m going to put him in any kind of lineup in which I want to generate points quickly, and I can quickly sub him out and go with Jalen Suggs for defense. So what this does is it allows Jamal Mosley to move his guys around and the pieces. And Jamahl Mosley, a guy that I thought until the injuries fall off the wagon, I thought that he was a candidate to be coach of the year this past year. Absolutely. So the magic have earned some playoff pedigree now trying to take that leap moving forward into this season. Kevin Walsh, basketball savant odd sharp is the price on Orlando at plus four 23rd best number in the Eastern Conference. Justified entering this next NBA season. You set me up. I got to say negative things about the team that just took Jace Richardson. No, the odds are completely unjustifiable. They they are. Who’s in charge? What are we doing here? It’s like they would have won 50 if they all stayed healthy. One, they weren’t healthy. That’s worrisome. Two teams that can’t score even if they win 50 games sometimes can’t get out of round one. Houston Rockets I’m looking at you. Are we going to now pretend Desmond Bane is better than Kevin Durant? At least heading into next season? I really hope we’re not. Orlando could have been a fun sleeper. Not even sleeper, but it could have a fun value pick like top six title odds. That’s completely ridiculous. Yeah, as we said in the last segment, we can like the moves that they’re making and we can vehemently disagree with the odds. Like I betting on four plus 425 might be is out of the question. Paolo Banchero’s led team has better odds than a team that is projected to have Luka Doncic and LeBron James on it, that that is wrong. Any way you slice it, Ben. Yeah, context. Of course. Western Conference runs through OKC, but Kev, I do hear the point. Magic has a short price to. Enter into the magical world of. Or even the smallest of spins can win real cash prizes. Adventure into over a thousand of the best Vegas style slot games. So what are you waiting for? Unlock your free welcome offer today. Join the fun where winners play and players win. The two guys that can do it all. It’s too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Ka ching. Why? Because of parody? I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Road management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donnie, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. The game is on. The stakes are high, but the action isn’t just on the field. We’re raging that river. Get it inside sports grids in game Live, your ultimate second screen experience. Couple of dots and a half point lifeline. Every prop, every play, every day. Anything can happen. It’s complete chaos. Ha ha. It’s smarter to be on sports grid. We’re going to go through every single thing, and I’ve got a great team behind me that’s going to help me get the job done. I want this to be the place that people come to. There is going to be an energy to game time decision that you will feel night in and night out. We are going to hit every single one of those markets that you need to know about. We will have everything at our disposal and we will use that to our advantage. There is not going to be a better place, I promise you, than game time decisions. I’m Kevin Walsh. Tune in to game time decisions weekdays on Sports Grid. Did you know sportsbooks tend to draw a tighter bet lines for events that get even more bettors, like championship games or major matchups? My tip? Try betting on less popular sports. You might have a better shot at beating those odds. Now go get lucky. See you in Las Vegas. Let’s get lucky. The Brooklyn Nets on the clock with their fourth pick of five in tonight’s opening round. In front of the home crowd. And as you can see behind us here in our studio, that fourth pick is in at 26th overall. It’s another international guard. Sean Marks has a type with the 26th overall selection in the 2025 NBA draft. The Brooklyn Nets select Ben Serif, the international player who plays professionally in Germany but of course is from Israel. So G. We’ve got four picks in the books for the Brooklyn Nets. Oh, by the way, they’re on the clock at number 27 overall. Three guys play a similar position, all hailing from a foreign land. First at eight overall out of BYU. It was Yegor Dimon who played one year in Provo but is of Russian nationality. Then, with their second pick of the ninth 19th overall, the French guard Nolan Traore, then at 22nd overall, the G is right, Drake Powell from North Carolina and then back overseas. Sean Marks goes James to the guy. Ben Serif, the point guard from Israel who of course plays professionally in Europe. Again, Sean Marks has a type. Will all of these pieces fit in the same puzzle with the nets? Look at it, Eric. No, it’s not going to work. I mean, listen, I one yes, two no three. What are we doing? And they’re all international and they’re all kind of different types, Ben. A little bit bigger than the others at about six foot five. Can’t shoot it worth, you know what. But that’s like you are damning but great passer. So you know interesting what Brooklyn is doing. I mean I’m kind of kind of lost at what they’re doing. But maybe maybe hey, maybe the nets on their next pick, Ben will take a big man. You want to bet? Well, how about a very versatile big man out of Michigan via Yale at the 27th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the pick now in for the Brooklyn Nets. Once again, courtesy, I believe, of the Denver Nuggets, 27th overall. It is a big man in Danny Woolf, the seven footer out of Michigan who can do a little bit of everything on the basketball floor, as we saw last year at Ann Arbor. And of course, during his time in New Haven for the Bulldogs as well two back to back members of the tribe, by the way, in Ben Sarah from Israel and Danny Wolf, of course, at 27th overall. So as of this moment, the nets have used all five of their first round picks. So what draft grade would you give this nets front office on night number one. An F. Okay, but I it’s an F because of the fact that there’s no they took three point guards. Like that’s the part I don’t get I listen personally I love Danny Wolf. I love his game. I love the fact that this kid excelled, you know, made a run, looked good. Obviously he had 13 four game versus I do believe Auburn and kind of played himself into a power four offer. Played really well at Michigan. Him and Vlad Golden as a double big combo. What it allowed it showed Danny to do is his ability to play inside and out. I think that is important for him is something that they don’t have in Brooklyn. If you think about Day’ron Sharpe, you think about Nic Claxton. Those are back to the basket. Offensive rebounds. This is a guy who can stretch the floor, play that modern day European basketball. And you start looking around with all the international flair. Jordy Fernandez being from Spain, it seems like the nets are really going with an international flair. Again, a type to say the least. Kevin Walsh and Tom Vecchio Kevin G gave the nets an F. Do you give them anything better? Yeah. First of all, I’m challenging the F grade he gave. He sneaky liked it until I bullied him into not liking Devin. And he’s obsessed with Danny Wolf, so I’m challenging that grade immediately. I’m also challenging that they only took three point guards. The entire selling point is that he’s like a seven foot point guard. So they what are you timing out, coach? Come on, come on. Are you gonna fly? Now listen, where’s Danny Wolf? He’s not even up here. Okay? We’ll get him up here in a second. But listen, no we won’t. It’s because. Yeah, we need five monitors up here. It’s because. It’s because of the fact. Kev, you took three point guards, and that doesn’t make sense. Do it, I like Igor, not at eight in the mid-teens. Yes. So I like Danny Wolf. Where they got him. Yeah, there he is. Like Danny Wolf where he got him. Yes. But to me, Kevin, like you’re a basketball guy if you’re a coach like me and a and the gym once you said, hey, I got good news for you, I got you a point guard. But the bad news is I got you three. So I got you three point guards. None of them are ready to step in and play right away. They’re all kind of projects in their own way. If I’m Jordi Fernandez, I mean, I’m sure you’re on board with it, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense. You got to agree with that. Well go ahead. I, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense because none of them are scoring threats, really. Right? Where it’s like you look, you look at them and you’re like well he fantastic passer. But yeah you can’t really yeah. Shooting he needs to develop the shooting. So if one of them was just a pure scoring guard, you can make the argument that he would fit a piece. But when they all are kind of bigger bodied you know, six, six, six, eight, they’re not great shooters. All they do is pass. It’s like you need to have some type of scoring, because if the identity of the nets are trying to build are a tough defensive team that can score in stretches and it’s led by just a handful of players, I’m not sure if that’s going to work. I think one of the fascinating things is that this team prioritized big ball handlers. Yeah, right. In terms of certainly you see that with. You know, it’s not that Nolan is small. And again, Danny Wolf shouldn’t be left out of the conversation. Wolf is at his best actually with the ball in his hands. I just think it’s interesting for this team to select five times. You would have thought they would have taken some swings on some pedigree freshmen. The Montverde boys, right. When you think about Liam McNeeley, I’m not even going to get into eight. What about, you know, Austin Newell, a Newell could that have possibly been something that this team considered? I just think it’s and of course Chase Richardson. It’s a really surprising use of five draft picks. It really is. Kev. Using all five. Selecting all five. Could they dispatch them later on? Perhaps. But at least tonight in Brooklyn, they gave the home crowd their money’s worth. More on sports grid. Up next. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet. All night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th, only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all. It’s too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Why? Because of parody? I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen, though. Management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donnie, you gt such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goalie will finish top seven in fantasy first baseman. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll fall off. Older player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy a top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here, but not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s back. Three 4350 all year long. Fantasy sports today only on sports every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitches and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches, there’s no way to do it. Can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers would tell you, you know, the books have adjusted Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. What a difference a year can make at this stage. Last season, the reigning NBA champions putting up banner number 18 inside TD garden. That was the Boston Celtics this year, despite being the title favorites for a good majority of the season, or at least to represent the Eastern Conference and a second consecutive NBA finals, the Celtics come up short in round two against the New York Knicks and, of course, the devastating and significant injury to Jayson Tatum. And really, in the past couple of days, Brad Stevens has been making moves in the front office, dealing Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers. Kristaps Porzingis the day following to the Atlanta Hawks and with the 28th overall pick G the Celtics on the clock. And that selection is now officially in from Spain. Hugo Gonzalez will now head to Beantown to play for the Celtics. When you look at Hugo Gonzalez, the prospect plays for Real Madrid basketball club over there in his native country. Just started representing the Spanish national team on the senior level. Only 19 years old. Turned 19 just back in February. What do you make of the pick by the Celtics to draft Hugo Gonzalez? His ability to get to the basket is unprecedented. He plays hard defense. The questions you have in him is can he develop his outside shot one and number two, his decision making is a little lot to be desired. Also, one thing he looks look like more like he plays for Real Madrid. The soccer team. I’m like what the Neymar is going on Neymar played for Real Madrid or no AC in the NBA Barcelona my goodness there you go. That’s why coach talks basketball and not soccer. But. But. When you go when you go Gonzalez his ability to improve his three point shot and decision making will be the test here. But with him going to Boston this is obviously could be a stash pick maybe there for another year Ben. But also it could be someone that becomes there. He’s going to sit the bench and learn. All right mister, I know all the club teams from Spain. That being the flag. Kevin Walsh, what do you make of the pick for the Boston Celtics? I’m going to end up hosting pro soccer today, just because I know one of the most famous athletes in the world, which team he played on in between Barcelona and Madrid. My goodness, I think it’s a really interesting pick. And what he brings to the team, I don’t think he plays in the NBA this year. I think he stays overseas. Really? Yeah, I just there’s no path to him seeing consistent playing time between white, Simons and Pritchard. I don’t think there’s enough guard playing time. And to see what is he 19 right. He’s he’s 19 and just about 19.5. There’s no there’s no path to him playing. So I actually one I’m not fully convinced that you have a situation where Boston is done trading. I’m sorry I don’t fully believe that. Right. And I know obviously that would then I would also just say Hugo Gonzalez had a ton of hype as a prospect. But Real Madrid, the basketball club, is a good one and it’s not always as easy to get minutes if you’re not Luka Doncic. That’s why Igor went to BYU in order to give himself that playing time. I actually think there’s a fascinating conversation to be had about the route Hugo went and the route Damon went. Again, it’s not like, look at the numbers. They’re not good. But he got to play right. And he flashed the passing. He gets drafted eighth. Hugo, who I think had more pedigree a year ago than Damon, can’t crack the rotation as easily and ends up going 28. But this is the stuff that we talk about your Hugo Gonzalez. You end up with the Boston Celtics organization. That’s a thumbs up to me, Ben. Yeah, and it really is a good look for Hugo Gonzales to make his way to Beantown. Of course, a lot of changes happening right now for the C’s. And to your point, Kev, we’ll see how this reshape roster for Boston shapes out next year. And if Hugo Gonzales can get a couple of looks 29th overall because of the earlier deal tonight, the Charlotte Hornets trading big man Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns. In return. The Suns sending back pick number 29 this year and a 2020 first rounder Charlotte on the clock. The pick is in stand up. 20 2324 Montverde Academy because with the 29th overall pick out of UConn, Liam McNeeley now heading to Charlotte, G. Quick thoughts on this the two players the Hornets drafted on night one fourth overall Liam McNeeley at number 29. Shooter. Shooter. Shooter. Shooter. Shooter surrounds himself with shooters. Should be able to step in and get some minutes. Yeah, absolutely. So a lot to like in the Queen city for the Hornets. McNealy a lot of hype injured at times during his only year in Storrs. We’ll continue our reaction. We start to tie a bow on our sports grid. Draft special next. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young and Tom Vecchio have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet. All night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th, only on Sports Grid. The two guys that can do it all. Too much electricity this morning. This is a good time. We’re having a lot of fun. I had to do a triple take. Ka ching. Why? Because of parody. I didn’t mean to offend. Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Load management is a dirty word. Let him rip. You know what circumstances provide the results? What? How do you do this one? Oh, Donny, you got such a good show there. A network that is booming. The early line only on sports grid. Dialing it back to his old days with Saint Louis and Arizona. Buy or sell. Goldie will finish top seven in fantasy first baseman. No, I’m going to say no. I think he’ll ■fall off all te player here. He’ll fall. He’ll be top ten, but not top seven here. Top ten I would say I buy a top seven. I’m going to say no here. I think he’ll put up decent numbers here, but not as good as he was. He’s I think he’s in the back. Three 4350 all year long. Fantasy sports today only on sports every five days. It’s really exciting when Skenes pitches and it’s terrible watching him pitch because every time he pitches, they don’t score. Having him hit the lineup probably would actually help. When he pitches. There’s no way to do it because you can’t. But yeah, it’s beyond frustrating. And the numbers will tell you, you know, the books have adjusted. Farrell coast to coast only on sports grid. One final pick on the opening night of the 2025 NBA draft, 30th overall. Our 30th and final of round one. The LA Clippers are now on the clock, but quickly. Gee, what? This is the Oklahoma City pick swap right here. I believe so. If I’m not mistaken, everything revolves around Paul George. We all know that. We got your thoughts on Liam McNeeley. Quickly. Want to throw to Kev and Becchio on that pick, 29th overall, Kev G said Charlotte got the two best shooters maybe in round number one and forth. Liam McNeeley 29th. What do you think? The Hornets did well in this first round. Well I think for Charlotte you did get one of the fallers. All in all in Liam McNeeley there Tom his draft over under was more. So would this guy be a top 20 pick. They stopped him from sliding out of round number one. Stopped him from sliding in. And sometimes you just got to take the best player available. And I think that is largely what this is. But, you know, my immediate reaction is, you know, I almost want to say, like, we’re going to see the same hornets that we’ve seen a lot the last few years where they could score 130 points. They may give up 150, but they’re going to shoot right. They’re going to shoot. And you know there’s a path to them. Just we got a bunch of young guys. They’re going to score. They’re going to get up and down and we’ll we’ll see where the chips fall. We’ll pick them up and we’ll go from there next year. Yeah I don’t think Charlotte has come away where this draft will be the primary reason someone makes the case that they are in on that group to make a postseason push. It would be about the guys that were already on the roster if they were to make that case. Yeah, absolutely. So Kev still a 19 and 63 basketball team from a season ago. The Hornets had the third worst record in the Association last season, the final pick of the first round of the 2025 NBA draft, made by the Los Angeles Clippers, is now officially in from one more time from BK, the 30th pick overall. Tonight, the LA Clippers select Yannick Cohen niederhauser the big man out of Penn State. Really one of the bright spots G for this Penn State team under Mike Rhoades in 20 2425. You could argue maybe the sole bright spot this year in State College. A big that presents a ton of talent. What do we think Niederhauser is going to do as he makes the move to the next level? Now with the clips, I think it’s a good spot for him backing up at center. Zubac, who I thought should have been the most improved player this year. Rugged rebounder can play around the rim. Really got better playing with Mike Rhoades. Mike Rhoades went there, got off to a good start with Penn State, and then really fell off a cliff during Big Ten during the season. I thought at one point there was a thought that maybe Penn State was going to make the NCAA tournament, and obviously it went south really, really quick. So this was the bright spot. And this is someone, I think in the Clipper as a backup. There isn’t a ton of pressure on him. Right? 15 minutes a night. Hey blocked shots get rebounds offensive put backs and then hope that the same skill development that worked with Ivica Zubac will turn around and work for this young man as well. The LA Clippers take at 30th overall. Kevin Tom, Yannick Cohen Niederhauser the big man out of Penn State. It’s our final pick of round number one. What did you like of what the Clippers had to do? Well I think more important just through the odds is this team finalized the to be selected in the first round market. And there are a couple of surprises to not crack the top 30. Brashear Fleming most likely is the most notable and over under draft position of 26.5. Maxime Reno of Stanford and Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton were two names linked to the Boston Celtics. Kalkbrenner, by the way, and let me just pull this up quickly, was plus 150 to be the Boston Celtics pick at 2850 or so minutes before the draft got underway. Does not go to Boston, does not go in round number one. And then Noah Penda, an overseas player who had a draft over under Tom of 28.5, also misses out on round one. Honestly, when it comes to the Clippers reaction, I think there’s a there’s a real path forward to getting minutes like behind, behind. They are not deep behind behind Zubac. They need minutes. And honestly it could be a sneaky as coach said give me in the mid teens and minutes. He doesn’t have to be a prolific scorer. But you pile up some boards. There’s a path to him saying seeing legitimate playing time this year, I just will say I do find and not to jump the gun, Ben, but the sheer Fleming fall feels surprising. Yet it will not go much longer, to the point of I’m almost wondering if we see round two odds the way we do in the NFL draft occasionally, with some of just the first 2 or 3 selections. Fleming, if he does not go to either Minnesota or Boston, who I believe currently own those picks, I would be stunned, quite honestly. Round number two tomorrow night for the second consecutive year, the NBA draft, a two night event, only 29 picks in round number two this year, 59 in total. In the 2025 NBA draft, the New York Knicks lost one of those as they were found to be tampering with Jalen Brunson in the free agency acquisition back in the summer of 2022. I think it had something to do with his dad being on the team. I don’t really know. So Jay White, that is the end of round number one. All 30 picks are in the Brooklyn Nets. Use all five of their first round selection with some international flavor. First overall Cooper Flagg the prince that was promised the generational talent, second overall. Dylan Harper, a -20,000 favorite, goes to the San Antonio Spurs. V.J. Edgecombe third out of Baylor. The Philadelphia 76 ers con cannibal fourth overall to the Charlotte Hornets. All four of those guys that went 1234 in exact order as we expected all strong favorites in those specific spots. But really when Ace Bailey went fifth overall to the Utah Jazz despite being a minus money favorite to be a top five pick, we did not think Salt Lake. That’s where this draft started to get a little bit crazy. What’s your main takeaway? First and foremost from night number one? Oh, I don’t know what some teams are doing. I don’t know what Portland was doing. I don’t understand the whole getting my watch and Mark Williams within two minutes of each other. It’s almost like they didn’t know that they were going to get the pick. And they’re like, we’re still doing it. Didn’t make a lot of sense. You know, obviously coming into day two is going to be where you can find some value, right? And some players, you look at a guy like Fleming, you look like a, like a guy like Pender. You look at Renaldo Cockburn, look for threes I do or where does he go Cam Jones then you get into the seniors the Cam Jones’s, the Eric Dixon’s, the Tiger’s Procter’s, the Chase Lanier, Josh Lanier’s there’s going to be notable names. And that’s why I think the NBA Ben went to a two day event because the second day you get the seniors and more, the more notable names that people are going to know. Only 106 entrants this year in the NBA draft, the fewest we have seen in a decade since 2015. Why? Because of Nil and its proficiency now in college hoops. A ton of talent back across the country in college basketball. Kev. Tom, one final time to you. What was your biggest takeaway from round number one? Well, I think it’s appropriate, Tom, with the quick time we have the NBA rookie of the year market has come out. Yeah rookie of the year. Year odds have been posted at least on FanDuel I saw ESPN bet has them up as well. ESPN bet had a -300 on FanDuel was -170. Trey Johnson is plus 700. Bailey is 750 and then drops off to Harper at at 12 to 1. And Edgecombe is at 25 to 1. So those markets are out now. Obviously that will develop as the summer goes on. And I assume there will be a ton of Cooper Flagg specials that’ll be posted. But my takeaway is we started off real chalk and then it got really crazy. And a lot of teams reached notably the nets. I would just say from the rookie of the year market, one number to watch could be Casper, who went to the Miami Heat, and maybe their starting point guard this season. Flagg is the rightful favorite, but if you’re looking for the moment, the odds are posted a 60 to 1 number on. I could see be on the move. Potentially. Even Cedric Howard, who remember Memphis traded up to 11 to get maybe they view as a Desmond Bane replacement, an older player. Maybe they view as plug and play. Ben gets fantastic work tonight as always. It was great to share these two sets and these two studios together for the 2025 Sports Grid Draft Special. Round number two of the 2025 NBA draft is tomorrow in Brooklyn. It starts at 31st overall. The Minnesota Timberwolves will head to bed and on the clock for Kevin Walsh. Tom Vecchio, the coach G. James Young, myself, Ben Stevens and everybody that was hard at work behind the scenes to pull off this prolific production. We say a thumbs up to you. Have a great night. Thanks for watching. On June 20th. On June 25th at 7:30 p.m. Ditch the guesswork. Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, James Young, and Tom Vecchio. Have your NBA draft betting coverage. Pick by pick, bet by bet all night long. We got all the insights and expert analysis because betting blind isn’t a strategy. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. On June 25th. Only on Sports Grid. It was the first time, I think, in Dodgers history that the ballpark was full in the first inning. Everybody was there to see. Shohei Ohtani threw his first pitch as a Dodger, and I had mixed emotions about this for a few reasons. Number one, it was a reminder of, wow, this is so crazy, right? You’re watching him hit 98, 99, even 100 on the radar gun going, this guy is not human. Nobody should be able to be this good of a hitter or this good of a pitcher. Fantasy sports today