Best of Tuesday at the NBA combine: Day 1 standouts, what we're hearing, draft buzz

The NBA's predraft season is in full swing as the league held its draft lottery Monday, with the Dallas Mavericks winning the No. 1 pick, and the chance to select projected top pick Cooper Flagg -- an opportunity a source told ESPN Tuesday that the Mavericks intend to see through during the draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York.

Now all eyes are on Chicago, where more than 100 prospects are participating in the draft combine and agency pro days.

All invited players are required to attend and participate in the combine, according to the league's collective bargaining agreement. The NBA might excuse an invited player's attendance or participation at the combine and require the player to complete combine activities at a later date.

ESPN basketball insiders Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo, Zach Kram, Jeff Borzello and Bobby Marks recap the biggest takeaways from the combine, assess the prospects who are rising (or potentially falling) and address league reaction and news around the draft.

MORE: Post-lottery mock draft | NBA draft



Wednesday's recap | Scrimmage stars
Injuries | What we're hearing
What's next? | Tuesday's recap

Givony: NBA teams sounded very satisfied by the level of competition and play put forth by the 40 players who participated in the 5-on-5 scrimmages. All four teams looked well-coached and played with impressive intensity and unselfishness, allowing a number of players to stand out and show scouts different facets of their games.

These types of camps are not usually aesthetically pleasing to watch, with players often trying too hard to impress scouts by operating outside their comfort zone. We saw very little of that Wednesday, with the ball typically moving crisply and accurately, and players generally trying to make teammates look good while helping their own cases by demonstrating their role-playing potential.

Woo: I write some version of this argument nearly every year, but it bears repeating that more players should participate in scrimmages at the combine. Plenty of prospects stood out in a pair of well-played games on Wednesday. There were no true surprises that would truly undercut anyone's individual draft stock, and year after year, players help themselves and their standing in the draft's hierarchy in a tangible way.

Agents are often conservative in how they advise their clients this time of year, with the common argument being that players have shown enough on the court during the season and in other settings that they have little else to prove. In certain cases, that's true -- players who are firmly in the first round have little to gain. But NBA front offices always appreciate participation and have historically rewarded it.

There are a handful of players on the cusp of the first round -- some of whom are weighing decisions to return to college -- who opted out of a real chance to impact their fate. It's nothing new this time of year, but it will be fascinating to again see how these decisions bear out on draft night.

Borzello: While the NCAA deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft and return to college isn't until May 28, several headline players made it clear that they have no intention of returning to school.

Arizona forward Carter Bryant, who rose to No. 14 in ESPN's most recent mock draft, told me he is "completely in" on the NBA draft and closed the door on a return to Tucson. Georgetown's Thomas Sorber (No. 23 in ESPN's NBA draft rankings) reiterated that he's staying in the draft.

North Carolina's Drake Powell, who is a borderline first-round pick, told me the "door's closed" on a return to the Tar Heels, while Alabama guard Labaron Philon (No. 43 at ESPN) said he is already informed Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats that he doesn't plan on returning to Tuscaloosa.

"I'm all-in on the draft," Philon said.

Kram: The NBA combine doesn't come with anything close to the spectacle or fanfare of its NFL counterpart -- none of the best prospects participate in scrimmages, and while more than 30,000 fans and 1,000-plus media members attended the NFL's showcase event in Indianapolis earlier this year, the NBA combine is closed to fans and garners a relatively sparse media contingent.



Nevertheless, during the media interview portions of Wednesday's schedule, prospective draftees explained they still view the NBA combine as valuable for their own development. They get to train in a focused setting, learn from NBA personnel and meet hordes of team employees, while basking in their first taste of NBA limelight. This week in Chicago offers a transitional step toward the professional ranks -- and if the league likes the combine and the players like the combine, it can only grow from here.

Maxime Raynaud, F, Stanford: The most impactful performance of the day from a draft stock perspective undoubtedly belonged to Raynaud, who posted 20 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in 25 minutes. The French big man measured well at taller than 7-foot barefoot, 237 pounds with a 9-2 standing reach, similar dimensions to Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl.

Raynaud has very different skills than Poeltl, though, hitting on-the-move 3-pointers with ease in the scrimmage while showing impressive skill handling the ball on the perimeter, finding teammates on the move and scoring in the post with strong footwork and touch. But we knew he was capable of all that from his time at Stanford. What we saw in Chicago was the level of intensity and physicality he was willing to bring on the interior -- barking out instructions, defensively anchoring the paint, going right through smaller defenders inside, and bringing terrific energy on the glass.

Raynaud's defense was considered a major concern in college, and while it is still far from perfect, the sheer size and reach he brings coupled with his much-improved physicality allowed him to make a major impact in the 5-on-5 scrimmages, changing shots around the rim and even hedging ball-screens well out beyond the 3-point line to generate turnovers.

Every team in the NBA is looking for 7-footers who can stretch the floor, pass and hold their own defensively and on the glass, so Raynaud did very well for himself not sitting out the scrimmages like several of his peers projected as early second-round picks did. Teams in the first round told us they are monitoring his strong play and will surely have even more interest in him moving forward. -- Givony

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, UAB/Michigan: We wrote about Lendeborg's excellent measurements and strong play in Tuesday's live-action drills, and he continued his strong week with an excellent performance in the opening game of the 5-on-5 scrimmages.

Lendeborg's dimensions at 6-foot-10 in shoes with a 7-4 wingspan and 9-½ standing reach will allow him to see quite a bit of time at center in the NBA, like he mostly played in Chicago -- especially once he adds bulk to his 235-pound frame.

His skill set is definitively that of a power forward, though, as he showed several times creating his own shot or taking rebounds off the defensive glass and pushing the ball up the court skillfully, either to drive and dish creatively with intelligent passes or finish at the rim with excellent footwork and touch. While he didn't convert any 3-pointers like he did in Tuesday's drills, he hit two difficult midrange pullup jumpers to demonstrate his shotmaking prowess. And he made good decisions with the ball in his hands throwing touch passes, skip passes and playing with excellent pace, looking much further ahead with his understanding of the game and overall feel than one might expect for someone who possesses such little high-level game experience.

While far from perfect defensively, he competed effectively, all over the glass on both ends of the court while generating several turnovers and misses off his sheer hustle.

It will be interesting to see how aggressive teams with first-round picks will be in trying to keep Lenderborg in the draft as a result of this week, as he has told suitors that he requires a firm guarantee in order to not withdraw his name from consideration at the May 28 deadline. -- Givony

Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn: Pettiford finished as the scrimmages' top scorer with 23 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3 while adding 8 assists, 1 turnover and 2 steals in 26 minutes.

He got where he wanted all game with terrific pace, stopping or starting and driving left or right with excellent footwork, finishing skillfully with either hand in the paint. He even had a thunderous finish highlighting his 42-inch vertical leap, the second-best mark at the combine.

His diverse shot-making was on full display, with difficult pull-up 3s from all over the floor -- not a surprise considering he made big shots all season long for an Auburn team that was ranked No. 1 for nearly two months. But while his scoring prowess was a well-known commodity going into the combine, Pettiford helped his standing with scouts by demonstrating better defense and playmaking than he had gotten credit for to this point. He was pesky getting after opponents in the backcourt, generating turnovers while moving the ball creatively and finding teammates unselfishly.

Measuring at 6-foot-¼ barefoot and 169 pounds, albeit with a solid 6-5½ wingspan, Pettiford's size will always been a hindrance. But there are NBA players with similar profiles who have carved out strong careers -- Devonte Graham, Tyus Jones and Darren Collison -- and none of those players demonstrated the level of sheer explosiveness that Pettiford does at 19. -- Givony

Miles Byrd, SG/SF, San Diego State: Byrd showed exactly what he needed to in five-on-five with 11 points, chipping in a trio of 3-pointers, flashing good passing instincts and turning in several good moments on the defensive end, including a steal and a block.

Tasked with more on-ball responsibility in college than he is likely to see in the pros, Byrd displayed positive habits and good instincts in both spacing and defending away from the ball. He reinforced the idea of himself as a future 3-and-D role player with enough length to impact the passing lanes and a perimeter game that has room to improve. He shot 30.1% from 3 last season but looked comfortable letting it fly from distance on Wednesday.

His productivity in college, particularly as a defensive playmaker, held intrigue for teams all season. Stepping in and showing he belongs in this setting will help. Still just 20 years old, Byrd has the option to return to school if he doesn't feel good about his chances of landing a guaranteed contract. -- Woo

Lachlan Olbrich, C, llawarra Hawks (Australia): Olbrich has had a strong week, earning a callup from G League Elite camp and turning in one of Wednesday's better performances with 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field in addition to 10 rebounds. Coming off a productive year with the NBL champion Hawks, the 21-year-old showcased his competitiveness and physicality on the defensive end, worked hard on the glass and has been one of the most vocal players in the gym all week.

While not the most skilled offensively, Olbrich showed touch around the rim with both hands and converted the opportunities that came his way. He has proven reliable, if not flashy, like many Australian bigs who have come before him.

Although he is undersized to play center by NBA standards and isn't a threat to shoot from long range, there's plenty to like about Olbrich's intangibles, feel and understanding of his own strengths as an energy big. As an auto-eligible international player, Olbrich has certainly helped his chances of hearing his name called in June, and could be a candidate for a two-way contract with the momentum he's built in Chicago. -- Woo

Alex Toohey, SF, Sydney Kings (Australia): Toohey has had a positive week thus far, giving him a much stronger case for first-round consideration than he had coming in. He measured better than expected, 6-foot-9 in shoes with a near 6-11 wingspan, giving him ample size to slide to the power forward position long-term as his 223-pound frame fills out.

He has also shot the ball pretty well, especially considering he came in with relatively low expectations as a career 28% 3-point shooter through two seasons in the Australian NBL. He hit 61% of his aggregate jumpers in the drills -- toward the middle of the pack of all players -- and surprised by converting 3-of-5 3-point attempts, stepping into open looks with confidence and solid mechanics that leave plenty of room for optimism.

Toohey also did all the other things he usually does, showing his feel for the game being in the right spots defensively and forcing misses guarding wings and forwards alike while moving the ball unselfishly with his team-oriented style. He was the second-best scorer in his scrimmage's win, but showed he can contribute in other areas as well.

Overall, Toohey has helped his standing and has much to gain with another strong showing on Thursday. -- Givony

Hansen Yang, C, Qingdao (China): Yang, 19, was a curiosity for teams entering the week, with the majority of scouts seeing him play live for the first time at the combine. There had been intrigue around his youth, productivity in the Chinese league and flashes of skills as a passer and post scorer on tape coming into this week.

He acquitted himself well in the scrimmage setting, making an impact on the offensive end, inviting contact and showing nice instincts finding teammates to go with impressive footwork with his back to the basket. He finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, but grabbed just one rebound in 19 minutes.

Overall, Yang looked like he belonged at the combine and held his own against an experienced, physical opponent in Michigan's Vlad Goldin, exceeding expectations for many who were unfamiliar with him coming in. He measured at 7-foot-1 barefoot with enormous hands, offering a legit physical presence. And while his heavy feet defensively will temper expectations, Yang certainly raised his profile as someone teams will want to see more of on Thursday. -- Woo

Hunter Sallis, SG, Wake Forest: Sallis was a game-high +23 in the first scrimmage, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and no turnovers. He showcased his ability to create his own shot, but also made a difference on the glass, where he grabbed 10 rebounds. He had a couple nice moments defensively, too, taking a charge at midcourt and making an all-around impact.

Sallis is a confident and consistent pull-up shooter in the midrange, but will need to continue reinforcing that he will do more than just score in the NBA, where teams will want him to add value in other areas to earn minutes. He shot just 27% from 3-point range last season after making 40% of his baskets from deep as a junior, another important swing skill (he made his lone attempt here on Wednesday). He also shot 66% on jumpers across multiple shooting drills on Tuesday, which didn't hurt his case.

Coming in with a 6-10 wingspan and measuring similarly to NBA players such as Caleb Martin and Malaki Branham, Sallis can help his draft stock on Thursday with a similar effort. -- Woo

Micah Peavy, SG/SF, Georgetown: Peavy demonstrated his glue-guy credentials with one of the most impressive performances of the day, finishing +20 in a game his team lost by three points. He was simply everywhere in his 23 minutes on the court, flying around for chasedown blocks, fighting over screens, busting up handoffs to generate steals, closing out aggressively on shooters, locking up guards on the perimeter one-on-one and hauling in eight rebounds.

He isn't the most skilled scorer, struggling in Tuesday's shooting drills with only a 51% rate on his aggregate attempts, tied for 10th and the worst among non-big men. But he played an unselfish game on Wednesday, moving the ball ahead in transition and around for open 3s while crashing the offensive glass ferociously.

Set to turn 24 in July, with average length and just a decent skill set offensively, Peavy is likely to have to make it the hard way in the NBA. But his performance on Wednesday was a major step in the right direction. -- Givony

Ryan Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga: Nembhard has been arguably the best playmaker to scrimmage in Chicago, earning a call-up to the combine after a good showing in G League Elite camp. He made a difference again on Wednesday with 13 points, eight assists, three steals and just one turnover.

The younger brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, Ryan had a strong four-year college career at Creighton and Gonzaga. The primary knock against him is that he's undersized for his position, measuring 5-foot-11 barefoot. There's certainly precedent for players his size having solid NBA careers, though, with Patty Mills and Jose Alvarado among his closest physical comparisons.



The creativity and willingness Nembhard has always supplied as a passer makes him fun to play with in scrimmage settings, where ball handlers are often hunting their own shots. His quickness, skill level and vision makes him a tremendous ball-screen player even at that size. At this point, it's likely he winds up on a two-way contract, as there's little question about his unselfishness and instincts making teammates better. -- Woo

Kam Jones, G, Marquette: Jones checked himself out in the fourth quarter of his scrimmage while holding his hamstring. His agent told ESPN that Jones will sit out Thursday's scrimmages and receive an MRI, but it's not expected to be a serious injury. In the 19 minutes he played, he had seven points, three assists and a turnover.

Izan Almansa, F, Perth Wildcats (Spain): Almansa sat out the scrimmage due to an ankle injury he sustained in a workout with the Portland Trail Blazers last Thursday. He went through the athletic testing and shooting drills on Wednesday morning and decided he wasn't healthy enough to play.



Kobe Sanders, G, Nevada: did not participate in the scrimmage Wednesday because of an ankle injury, according to his agency. Sanders was a standout performer at the Portsmouth Invitational last month and shot 67% on jumpers across all drills on Tuesday.

-- Givony and Woo

Cedric Coward, whose continued rise as a potential first-round pick was something we wrote about on Tuesday, confirmed he has received strong feedback from NBA teams -- and perhaps enough to convince him to remain in the draft. The Washington State transfer committed to Duke in late April.

"Right now, I'm 100% on the draft. I think talking to Coach [Jon] Scheyer and the staff, they've agreed with me in terms of making sure I can focus solely on the draft," Coward said Wednesday.

"It really depends on what I hear. At the end of the day ... the decision I'm going to make is based off the information I get. And right now, the information is definitely leaning towards staying in the draft and I can say that. We got to figure out the best decision to make for myself and the best decision to make for my family as I go forward." -- Borzello

Florida forward Alex Condon has hovered on the first-round borderline for most of the past few months, and was slotted at No. 31 in ESPN's post-lottery mock draft earlier this week. On Wednesday, he said he's waiting for a guarantee from an NBA team, but didn't specify the range.

"I know I'm kind of in that 20-35 range right now," Condon said. "I've got a good situation waiting for me at Florida. I've got teammates that I just won a national championship with. It has to be a good situation for me to stay [in the draft], but the feedback I'm getting from teams right now is positive, and I'm ready to stay in if I need to." -- Borzello

Michigan commit Yaxel Lendeborg was the highest-ranked draft prospect to participate in Wednesday's scrimmages, and afterwards said he was genuinely torn on whether to remain in the draft.

"I'm pretty even," the former UAB star told me. "I love Michigan, I love the idea of going over there and developing. But the NBA is what everybody wants. I'm dead in the middle now. It's hard.

"My ultimate goal would be to try to crack the top 20. Hopefully I can get that. If not, then it will be a little easier to make my decision." -- Borzello

Milos Uzan, a potential top-40 pick, could be the difference between Houston being the preseason No. 1 team in college basketball or the Cougars suffering a dropoff following their run to the national championship game.

But the standout point guard told me he's undecided on whether to return to school.

"Right now, I'm all-in on the draft," Uzan said. "That's the mindset I want to have. I want to show these teams I believe in my play and I believe I belong in this league.



"Coach [Kelvin] Sampson and those guys, they told me, 'man, if you can go get on a team and go get drafted, go do it. But if not, you know where home is.'" -- Borzello



The second day of scrimmages typically brings a chance of additional players withdrawing, typically in an attempt to protect their stock if they played particularly well on the first day. Teams will hang around afterward for agency-run pro days on Thursday night and Friday before departing Chicago. -- Woo

Givony: Flagg looked every bit the part of a franchise NBA player and surefire No. 1 pick in his 75 minutes on the court Tuesday. I was on the floor, standing face-to-face with Flagg and every other projected lottery pick and was blown away by the energy, charisma and spirit Flagg brought to everything he did. He dominates every drill with his voice, cheering on teammates, lifting up the energy in the building and pushing players to be the best version of themselves, especially himself.

Flagg measured 6-foot-7¾ and 221 pounds -- an inch taller than at the Nike Hoop Summit a year ago and 12 pounds heavier with dimensions comparable to those of former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen coming out of Central Arkansas as a 21-year-old in 1987. He shot the ball well in drills, catching fire in stretches, showing significant improvement over the past year.

Though Flagg initially looked shocked by the results of Monday's draft lottery, sources told ESPN that his camp realized how fortunate he is to land in Dallas. Flagg is said to be thrilled by the idea of joining a playoff-caliber roster with strong veterans and a team that has a void at the small forward position. The Mavericks have a need for shot creators and will need Flagg to shoulder significant offensive responsibility as a rookie (similar to what we saw at Duke), which will be great for his long-term development.

Marks: No offense to the on-court activities, but the past 24 hours is all team executives wanted to talk about Tuesday. In a two-hour window, the future of Dallas, Boston and possibly San Antonio changed significantly.

The Mavericks traded a generational player in Luka Doncic in February, only to be rewarded with another one, Cooper Flagg. In New York, there was the scene of Jayson Tatum down on the court with an Achilles injury. As one team executive told ESPN: "The Tatum injury is seismic and league changing."

The Celtics, the prohibitive favorite to repeat as champions, are now one game away from elimination and face an uncertain future. The Tatum injury and a projected $500 million-plus payroll next season probably will result in changes for Boston.

The significance of moving from No. 8 to No. 2 in the lottery puts the Spurs in the driver's seat if the 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is made available in a trade. San Antonio also has the No. 14 pick and future assets, including an unprotected 2027 first-rounder from Atlanta. They also have the right to swap with the Hawks next season.

Woo: Much of the chatter around the combine centered on the lottery fallout -- not just the breaks favoring the Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, but also what it means for the other teams. For the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards -- who shared top odds with the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 1 pick -- dropping out of the top four was a devastating result. With each team enduring losing seasons and probably staring down another lottery campaign, the results underscore the downside of a poor record.

Take for example the Detroit Pistons, who dropped out of the top four and selected fifth in the past three drafts before breaking through as a playoff team this season. Detroit still struck lottery gold in 2021, but it took Cade Cunningham time to develop before his star turn, and the front office that drafted him was replaced before it happened. Even the best-case scenarios for rebuilding teams -- particularly those in smaller markets -- are often arduous and unforgiving.

With the lottery system continuing to bear randomness and surprise annually, it's fair to ask the question whether it balances power across the league. Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia all expect to be competitive next season, while most of the teams directly behind them might have to spin their wheels for yet another year.

Borzello: From a college perspective, the biggest news Tuesday was Boogie Fland's decision to withdraw from the draft and return to college, as first reported by ESPN. Fland is ranked No. 42 in ESPN's draft rankings and was a projected second-round pick in the latest mock draft.

A former five-star prospect and McDonald's All American, Fland entered the transfer portal before the deadline last month and now becomes one of the best players still available. For Arkansas, he averaged 15.1 points and 5.7 assists over the first 18 games of his freshman season before sustaining a hand injury in mid-January that forced him to sit out most of the rest of the season.

The most recent buzz surrounding his potential destination has centered on Florida, the reigning national champion, as the Gators are in desperate need of a playmaking guard to pair with Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee.

Kram: The league is still digesting Monday's shocking lottery results, and it was felt all throughout the combine. The fact that three win-now teams -- Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia -- landed the top three picks increases intrigue around potential trades at the top of the draft, especially after Monday's report that Antetokounmpo is "open-minded" about potentially leaving Milwaukee. While the Mavericks are reportedly set on drafting Flagg rather than trading the No. 1 overall pick, but that might not hold true for the Spurs and 76ers.

The incentive is clear for a win-now team to add a two-time MVP still in his prime. And rival executives wonder if it might be easier for the Bucks to stomach a Giannis trade if they're getting back a prospective franchise cornerstone as part of the return.

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB/Michigan: The highest-ranked prospect, and lone projected first-round pick who is fully participating in all competitive action, Lendeborg did nothing to diminish his standing with an outstanding all-around day in drills and 3-on-3 play. His measurements are outstanding, a hair under 6-foot-10 in shoes, 235 pounds with a 7-4 wingspan, a 9-½ standing reach, and huge hands, comparable to the likes of Isaiah Stewart and Amare Stoudemire, per the DraftExpress historical database.

Lendeborg demonstrated legitimate skill in drills -- converting 69% of his aggregate field goal attempts (tied for 10th best at the combine) and also showed off his ballhandling and passing ability in 3-on-3, showing off in impressive plays as both as a creator and finisher. Lendeborg's defense is a work in progress, something another year in college could certainly help with, but there's little doubting his skill and talent, and he has more upside than most 22-year-olds, barely playing any organized basketball before graduating high school.

Michigan's Dusty May, Lendeborg's potential future coach, was present Tuesday to support him along with much of his coaching staff. Whether Lendeborg ever plays a game for May probably will depend on how he performs in 5-on-5 play over the next two days, as the crowd of NBA executives had greatly diminished when Lendeborg appeared in the very last session of prospects. -- Givony

Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina: Powell tested as arguably the best athlete in Chicago, with the best no-step (37½ inch) and max (running) vertical (43 inches), while also finishing fourth in the three-quarter-court sprint (3.07 seconds), seventh in the shuttle run (2.79 seconds) and seventh in the pro lane drill (10.71 seconds). He also measured a huge 7-foot wingspan and grew nearly an inch since ESPN's last measurements, with overall dimensions similar to those of New Orleans Pelicans wing-stopper Herb Jones.

Powell didn't shoot the ball particularly well in drills, converting 55% of his aggregate attempts (in the bottom third of combine participants) something at which NBA teams will want to take a closer look in private workouts in coming weeks, especially if he elects to stay in the draft as expected. -- Givony

Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee: We knew Lanier would look like one of the best shooters entering the combine, and that carried over Tuesday. He has been one of the premier perimeter shotmakers in college basketball over the past two seasons, making 44% of his 3s in 2023-24 at North Florida and 39.5% last season at Tennessee.

He finished in the top five in all three 3-point shooting drills, and his touch and agility also caught the eyes of scouts. He had the fifth-fastest time in the pro lane agility drill, the third-highest no-step vertical leap and the fourth-highest max vertical leap. -- Borzello

Mark Sears, PG, Alabama: Sears entered the week ranked No. 78 in ESPN's NBA draft rankings, but his elite shooting ability could intrigue teams late in the second round. He was clearly the best shooter during Tuesday's sessions, finishing first in three of the four drills.

Sears put on an exhibition, going 26-for-30 on off-dribble midrange pull-ups, 21-for-25 on spot-up 3s and 25-for-27 in the side-mid-side 3-point drill. His athletic testing wasn't great, but his shooting ability stood out. -- Borzello

Tre Johnson, SG, Texas: Though top prospects don't typically do a lot of on-court activities at the combine, getting to see projected top picks get up shots in this setting is additive for evaluation. Teams took notice of Johnson's shooting performance in drills (68% on all shots attempted), as he displayed quick and clean mechanics from long range and left a strong impression. Johnson also tested well athletically.

Multiple scouts I spoke with were impressed with his stroke -- and while that's not a shocker for a player who shot 39.7% from 3 on nearly seven attempts per game last season -- it does offer insight into what teams will see from him in private workouts. Based on what he showed, Johnson figures to impress in that context as he vies for a spot among the draft's top-five picks. -- Woo

Kon Knueppel, the projected No. 8 pick and shooting guard/small forward out of Duke, did not participate in the combine's athletic testing or shooting drills because of an injury, his agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN.

"Kon sprained his ankle three weeks ago and is not all the way back yet," Bartelstein said. "He's at 85% now and we want him at 100%. He's really close. Hopefully, he's back by the end of the week and can participate in our pro day Friday."

Because of the NBA's mandatory combine participation rules, Knueppel will be required to complete the athletic testing and shooting drills portion at a NBA team facility in the coming weeks. -- Givony

Reaction reverberated around the league when San Antonio's pick jumped to No. 2 in Monday's lottery, not only because of the prospect of the Spurs adding consensus No. 2 prospect Dylan Harper alongside Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but also the implications of what that specific pick could mean as a trade option.

The Spurs have had exceptional fortune, their draft pick having now jumped into the top four in three straight lotteries. While there has been speculation already about what San Antonio could do at No. 2, there's a case for standing pat and selecting Harper, who stands out as the best available talent at that spot and would be an excellent roster addition.

Though the prospect of aggressively targeting a star such as Giannis Antetokounmpo would accelerate San Antonio's playoff path, the Spurs can also afford to think big picture, thanks to the presence of 21-year-old Wembanyama as the team's centerpiece.

San Antonio has the trade assets to execute a major move: They control the Atlanta Hawks' next two drafts, own their future picks other than 2027, and hold far future swap rights to picks from Boston (2028, top-one protected), the more favorable of Dallas and Minnesota (2030, top-one protected), and Sacramento in 2031. Those assets are also far enough out that the Spurs can hold them until they're ready to upgrade or ultimately make those picks.

With Fox already in the fold and the attractive option to build around the young trio of Wembanyama, Harper and Castle in the long run, there's plenty of rationale behind letting the team develop organically. That approach led to sustainable contention two decades ago as the Spurs put players around Tim Duncan. And at the moment, San Antonio is playing with a strong enough hand to dictate its own urgency.

The coming weeks should bear out more in terms of how proactive the Spurs want to be in trade talks. The expectation around the league is Harper will come off the board at No. 2 whether it's the Spurs or another team selecting there, leaving the 76ers -- another team that will weigh trade opportunities -- with a less-clear decision selecting at No. 3. -- Woo

When Cedric Coward picked Duke over Alabama a couple of weeks ago, it looked as if Duke coach Jon Scheyer might have found the missing player to another team built for a potential Final Four run.

But the Washington State transfer might not make it to Durham.

On Monday, he measured at 6-foot-5¼ with a 7-2¼ wingspan, and then was one of the best performers in Tuesday's shooting drills (hitting 72% of his aggregate attempts, tied for sixth best). Despite the fact Coward will not be participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages because of a shoulder injury he sustained in November, there is growing talk about NBA personnel that Coward is going to play himself into the first round. -- Jeff Borzello

Other than the three Duke players projected in the lottery, none of the other top prospects in this draft were in ideal situations in college. Rutgers didn't make the NCAA tournament despite the presence of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, because so little talent surrounded those freshman phenoms. Baylor (with VJ Edgecombe), Oklahoma (Jeremiah Fears), Texas (Tre Johnson) and South Carolina (Collin Murray-Boyles) were all middling teams at best as well.

NBA executives always have to consider context when forecasting the transition from college to the pros -- but they say that step is especially crucial with this crop of prospects, because they have to determine whether the weaknesses they see on tape are actual problems or merely the result of inferior teammates.

Playing next to much better talent could mitigate some issues as prospects find their roles in the NBA. -- Kram

Wednesday brings the first day of 5-on-5 scrimmages, and while the majority of highly-ranked draft prospects won't participate, there are plenty of intriguing names to watch. Yaxel Lendeborg (former UAB big man who has committed to Michigan) is the only projected first-rounder slated to play, but a long list of players who are on the fence about staying in the draft or returning to college are on the rosters. Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford, Darrion Williams and San Diego State's Miles Byrd headline the list.

There will be plenty of eyes on Penn State's Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who tested incredibly well and was the best prospect at the G League Elite Camp recently, earning a call-up to the combine and slotting in as a top-45 pick in ESPN's mock recent mock draft. -- Borzello