Jake Fischer

Stephen Mervis, who’s joining Bryson Graham as a top lieutenant in Chicago, is one of the more regarded cap minds in the NBA… and been a backbone of the annual Tulane Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition we covered back in February here: tinyurl.com/4nnwshpw

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who in March threatened potential civil action against the NFL over the Rooney Rule, said Wednesday that he has issued an investigative subpoena to the league. Story via @krisrhim1: espn.com/nfl/story/_/id…

I’m going to keep asking NBA personnel in Chicago today about one key side effect to the league’s impending lottery reform… Right now, front office executives are preparing for less future draft picks to be traded for star players under the proposed “3, 2, 1” system. More here: tinyurl.com/2dr69dat

There’s a lot to unpack about the Sixers, from context around Daryl Morey’s departure, to Bob Myers’ next steps in Philadelphia. One item: Among the already-rumored names to lead the Sixers’ front office moving forward, I’m being told NBPA executive director and former Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala is not a candidate for the position. More here: tinyurl.com/2dr69dat

After last night’s Draft Lottery, there’s an early sense around the NBA that BYU phenom AJ Dybantsa will hear his named called in the first two selections, either to Washington or Utah. Dybantsa even told reporters here on the ground that was the case regardless of any ping pong ball results: “I wasn't really worried about [picks] 14 [to] 3.” Full story from Chicago: tinyurl.com/4t5fsebd

How Jerry West’s spirit helped the Wizards and Clippers, plenty of early trade rumbles, and a lottery reform tidbit all highlight our @TheSteinLine dispatch from the back drawing room: tinyurl.com/4t5fsebd

Emerging from the sequestered lottery room to report Utah actually won the No. 3 pick after popping up second as well. So, the league had to toss out that outcome and draw again… which led to the Grizzlies claiming the third pick.

@SleeperWizards @Faazzla @MattModderno @TheSteinLine We appreciate you, Faisal.

@Faazzla @MattModderno @JakeLFischer @TheSteinLine 🫡🫡🫡

Sat down with my guy @JakeLFischer to talk all things Wizards, including: • Wiz season (tank) recap • Jake’s take on the Anthony Davis saga • Draft lottery hopes & needs • Perception across the league on Washington’s coaching staff & young core • Predictions for next season

If the Cavaliers can’t fight their way out of an 0-2 hole against Detroit, the NBA’s offseason spotlight is going to shift onto Donovan Mitchell’s looming extension talks with Cleveland… as much as Giannis’ extension eligibility is set to prompt trade chatter in Milwaukee. More @TheSteinLine: tinyurl.com/2pzu7d8v

👀

@EYIndy I’m a degenerate who’s enjoying basketball, sir.

@JakeLFischer You're a deranged degenerate.

I want even more proliferation of three point celebrations. Jamal Murray’s arrow was sick. The Pistons dudes making a long distance phone call, Jared McCain’s motion… Give me a three point monocle, blow a three-point dart, clean your ear with a three-point q-tip… I don’t care. It’s awesome.

@TyBuckets29 Cold, indeed.

@JakeLFischer Big fan of the “freeze” celebration

@CyroAsseo Yea, someone needs to eat a three. Why not?

@StephNoh Holy shit I don’t remember that. Glorious!

@JakeLFischer Miss the golden days of Robin Lopez making a cup of tea

@zholli14 I mean, I’m doing the celebration on my couch…

@JakeLFischer You're right. I can't think of a single celebration I wouldn't nod my head in agreement to...

@Highcalibre That’s the good stuff right there.

@Azericic @JakeLFischer He wants more dope three point Celis

We've got the latest details on... Portland, Chicago, Orlando and, yes, another batch of Giannis Antetokounmpo reporting: tinyurl.com/2pzu7d8v

New column on the Mavericks' hiring of Masai Ujiri to run basketball operations and bonus bits on the Bulls' hiring of Bryson Graham on a Monday when the NBA went from two front office openings to zero: tinyurl.com/3t6rx3u2