June 26, 2026 · 12:25 AM
NBA Daily Digest: LaMelo to Wolves, Round 2 closes, Horford stays
No NBA games were scheduled on June 25, so today’s digest focuses on the completed 2026 Draft, Minnesota’s reported LaMelo Ball deal, Al Horford’s Warriors return and the next offseason dates.
The June 25 NBA board stayed empty, but the league did not. The 2026 Draft is now complete, Minnesota reportedly made the first post-draft star trade by adding LaMelo Ball, and Golden State is lining up another Al Horford season before free agency opens.
Scoreboard and series status
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| June 25 NBA games | ESPN's June 25 scoreboard listed no games on this date. 1 |
| NBA.com game board | NBA.com also showed no games scheduled for June 25. 2 |
| Series movement | No playoff series changed because the Finals are over and the league is in draft/free-agency mode. The day’s news came from transactions and draft rights rather than box scores. 2 |
With no games attached to the date, there was also no new game-day injury report to drive lineup decisions. The one availability item that mattered came from Golden State Warriors center-forward Al Horford, who told ESPN he will skip Dominican national-team play this summer while preparing for his 20th NBA season. 3
Draft wrap: Round 2 got busy fast
The NBA's live draft recap logged the second round from the Knicks/Rockets pick at No. 31 through Milwaukee's Malique Lewis at No. 60. It also recorded Washington taking BYU wing AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 and Utah taking Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 2. 4
The second round had several useful signal picks rather than just stash-and-forget selections. Memphis Grizzlies guard Richie Saunders went No. 32, Minnesota Timberwolves wing Isaiah Evans went No. 33 via Brooklyn, Cleveland Cavaliers guard-forward Meleek Thomas landed at No. 34, and New York acquired German guard Jack Kayil at No. 39 after trading down. 5
The active teams had clear purposes:
| Team | Round 2 action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Knicks | Acquired No. 39 Jack Kayil, a 2029 second-round pick and cash after moving No. 31 Bruce Thornton to Houston. 6 | New York keeps feeding its second-round and cash toolbox after winning the title, which matters with apron pressure. |
| Rockets | Received No. 31 Bruce Thornton and cash considerations in the same multi-team deal. 6 | Houston paid to start the second round with a college scoring guard rather than wait for the board. |
| Wizards | Moved up for No. 46 Felix Okpara in a three-team Magic-Wizards-Bucks trade. 7 | Washington added another frontcourt prospect next to the new Dybantsa era. |
| Hawks | Traded up to No. 52 for North Carolina center Henri Veesaar. 8 | Atlanta used a modest pick jump to chase a rotation-size big after its Trae Young reset. |
Player movement: LaMelo becomes Minnesota’s next swing
Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball is reportedly headed to Minnesota with Charlotte Hornets guard-forward Josh Green for Minnesota Timberwolves forward-center Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, first-round swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033. Yahoo Sports reported the structure on June 25. 9
That would give Minnesota a starting backcourt built around Ball and Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 and No. 3 picks from the 2020 Draft. Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds last season, while Reid gives Charlotte a frontcourt scorer after the Hornets reached the Play-In Tournament. 9
The trade also clarifies Minnesota’s week. The Wolves had already moved Julius Randle to Brooklyn and reached a long-term agreement with Ayo Dosunmu, so Ball is not a one-off addition. It is the next step in a broader reset around Edwards, shooting, and cap shape. 9
Warriors note: Horford plans a 20th season
Horford told ESPN he plans to return to Golden State, decline his $6 million player option and sign a two-year, $14 million contract when free agency begins next month. He would become the 13th player in league history to reach a 20th NBA season. 3
This is also an availability story for Golden State. Horford played 45 games last season while dealing with sciatica and a calf strain. ESPN reported he will remain in the San Francisco area for strength and conditioning work and will not play for the Dominican national team this summer. 3
For a Warriors group that missed the playoffs after Jimmy Butler tore his ACL and Stephen Curry dealt with knee pain, Horford’s plan is less about headline splash and more about getting one trusted veteran big through the summer cleanly. 3
What’s next on the NBA calendar
| Date/time | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 6:00 a.m. UTC+8 | Teams may begin negotiating with outside free agents. 5 | This is the next major transaction checkpoint. |
| July 3, 5-6 | California Classic at Chase Center in San Francisco. 5 | Warriors, Lakers, Heat and Spurs are listed; exact game times were not in the cited article. |
| July 4-6 | California Classic at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. 5 | Nets, Warriors, Bucks and Kings are listed; exact game times were not in the cited article. |
| July 7, 12:01 a.m. UTC+8 | Teams may begin signing free agents to contracts. 5 | Reported deals can become official after this point. |
| July 9-19 | NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. 5 | The new draft class gets its first league-wide stage. |
From here, the league moves from draft rights toward confirmed free-agent terms, team medical updates, and the first Summer League rosters.
References
- 1NBA Scores - June 25, 2026
- 2NBA Games - All NBA matchups
- 3Al Horford says he's returning to Warriors to play 20th season
- 4Recap: The picks, reactions and best moments from the 2026 NBA Draft
- 54 takeaways: Second round shaping up differently in wake of Knicks title, NIL, Draft Lottery reform
- 6Knicks open second round of 2026 Draft with swap of No. 31 overall
- 7Magic, Wizards, Bucks shuffle second-round picks at 2026 NBA Draft
- 8Hawks, Clippers exchange second-round picks at 2026 NBA Draft
- 9Hornets reportedly trading LaMelo Ball, Josh Green to Timberwolves for Naz Reid, draft picks
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