The Athletic

Just when you feel like you have a break from the nonstop NBA cycle, it draws you right back in. The draft is upon us with free agency right around the corner. And you love it. A week from today, the league will learn where 58 talented, bright-eyed prospects will call their new homes. For most — in Victor Wembanyama’s case, we already know where his immediate future lies — it’s anything but an exact science. Charlotte and Portland, who own the No. 2 and 3 pick, respectively, are still deliberating on the next best steps for their respective franchises, decisions that could have a domino effect on teams such as Houston, Detroit and others picking inside the top 10.