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Come Fan with UsMonday, August 17, 2026

Good morning, it’s springtime for NBA draft rumors

That and much more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.

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Good morning. Let’s basketball.

OH HEY: It’s the annual SB Nation NBA Blogger Mock Draft! Always a grand time. Lots of trades from the armchair GMs this time around. Dig in.

PLUS: Tyler Lashbrook and Ricky O’Donnell have a new post-Embiid mock. Here’s the video breakdown.

MELODRAMA II: ESPN reports six teams plus the Knicks expect to have a chance to sit down with Carmelo Anthony as he makes his free agent decision. Even the Hawks!

DRIBBLING BEN FRANKLIN LOGO HITS PHILLY. FINALLY.

NO BIDS: Tim Duncan opted into his $10 million contract instead of becoming a free agent. He’ll assess his future a year from now.

KEEPING RUDY: I wrote about the impact of Rudy Gay’s decision on the Kings.

EQUIPPED: Isaiah Austin is equipped to handle the devastating blow to his NBA dream, writes Ricky O’Donnell. Bonus: two essays on Austin at The Sports Fan Journal.

UH HUH: The Warriors and Wolves have reached an impasse on Kevin Love. Golden State is choosing to die on Mt. Klay. Tim Kawakami with the necessary perspective.

WRITE FLIGHT: Interesting piece on how white basketball writers talk about white basketball players.

ON DANTE: Wonderful Danny Chau piece on Dante Exum.

ON ELFRID: Nice Woj piece on Elfrid Payton.

ON JOEL: More on the winning personality of Joel Embiid.

WORLD CUP II: A reminder that the FIBA World Championship is now called the FIBA World Cup and that it’s going to be awesome later this summer. John Schuhmann previews and notes that Manu is in.

LIL’ ZEKE: Isaiah Thomas on his pending free agency. Kings fans: avert your eyes at the Lakers stuff.

DEANDRE: What’s DeAndre Jordan’s extension worth?

YO: Sam Sifton, the New York Times’ brilliant food writer, on the perfect burger.

50 YEARS LATER: A great piece by David D. on the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer and the beauty of borrowed time from the Smoking Section.

Happy Tuesday. See you next time.

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