Digital Adel with his assessments of overdrafted and underdrafted players:

 

Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) (Just right)

6’8 221lbs from Duke was taken right where he should be. He is a borderline generational talent who dominated all area’s of the game in college. He averaged 19.2 points per game, 7.5 rebs 4.2 assists and 1.4blks. Standing at 6’9 and 221 lbs his defensive versatility is off the charts.  Flagg is switchable on the perimeter and with his unreal 8’10 standing reach coupled with a 7’ wingspan he can size up or down as needed. Flagg shot 38.5% from three-point land in college. That was the big question mark coming into the season and he answered it resoundingly. If you are an analytics guy, he dominates those also. Aneye popping 30.4 per, 126.3 ORTG, 89.5 DRTG and a unbelievable 16.3 BPM. 

 

Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) (Just Right)

Dylan out of Rutgers who had a disappointing season as a team went 15 wins and 17 losses. It was baffling considering they had 2 top 10 picks on the team from the 2025 NBA Draft. He did it all for that team. The 6’6 213lbs PG averaged 19.4 pts , 4.6 rebs and 4.0 asts per game. He is an elite ball handler and downhill rim pressure guy. He had a DFG% of 54.6. Once he got into the paint it was over. His passing numbers are misleading because outside of Ace Bailey his fellow lottery pick the team lacked ability to finish inside or outside. Harper possesses elite POA defense and unique ability to get out in passing lanes for easy steals. He averaged 1.4 steals per game. Harpers biggest weakness is his jump shot. He drifts at times and his release is very low. He shot 33.3 from deep and only 75% from the foul line. If he can clean up his release point and stay on balance the sky is truly the limit for this kid. 

 

VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers) (over-drafted)

VJ 6’5 193lbs out of Baylor may be the most explosive athlete in the class. He struggled early in the season to control his ability. He really started to come into his own as the season went on. He averaged 15pts, 5.6 rebs, and 3.2asts per game. His jumper needs work but it also got better as the season went on. He shot 34% from deep and 78% from the foul line. His biggest separator in this draft is his defensive ability making him a legit 2 way threat. He boasts some of the best advanced metrics in the class. He has a OBPM of 7.1, DBPM 4.3 and BPM 11.4. Tre Johnson could end up being special, which is why I would have taken him ahead of VJ although that is no slight to his talent

 

Kon Knueppel (Charolette Hornets) (over-drafted)

The 6’6 219lbs guard out of Duke is one of my favorite prospects in the draft. He does a little bit of everything and a lot of it at an elite level. He shot 40.6% from deep, 91.4% from the foul line and an impressive EFG of 59%. He isn’t just good at offense he’s elite. He rebounds 4.7 per game and dishes 3.2 asts while only turning it over 1.6 times per game. When you couple that with his advanced metrics defensively DBPM 3.9 his overall BPM is 10.8. The biggest concern at the next level is his foot speed but he beat the close out every time in college and more than held his own POA. When switched on to bigger players he was a brick wall in the post. You aren’t moving him off his spot.  The only reason he is over drafted is Tre Johnson

 

Ace Bailey ( Utah Jazz) (over-drafted) 

The 6’10 200lbs forward out of Rutgers is extremely talented. He averaged 17.6ppg, 7.2 rebs and 1.3 asts in his freshman season. He is one of the best tough shot makers in the class. He has real shot blocking potential 1.3blks per game. Why is he under-drafted? “I ain’t got not weaknesses, and I got more than two strengths, big dog,” Bailey replied on the ESPN combine broadcast. This is a stunning lack of maturity from a kid who’s team went 13-17 while having two top 10 picks on the roster. Tre Johnson is the reason for Ace being over-drafted

 

Tre Johnson ( Washington Wizards) (under-drafted) 

6’5 190lbs guard out of Texas may end up being one of the best players in the entire class. What separates him from the rest of the competition is his work ethic and leadership. The freshman led every huddle and according to his coaches had to be held back from working out 2 hours before and after games. Johnson is one of the best shooters in the class averaging 19.9 points per game, 3.1rebs and 2.7asts  in college. He can handle, rebound and facilitate better than people think. He is more athletic than he was able to show in college due to the tremendous workload on him as the number 1 option.  He is my pick to win rookie of the year in an upset over Dylan and Coop. 

 

Jeremiah Fears ( New Orleans Pelicans) ( Just right)

6’3 180lbs guard out of Oklahoma is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Pelicans. He averaged 17.1 ppg, 4.1 rebs and 4.1 asts. He is quick as a hiccup and get to any spot on the floor he wants. The departer of more veteran ball handlers and creators should get Fears on the floor sooner rather than later. If Zion can get healthy, Trey Murphy’s emergence and Missi continue to ascend the Pelicans could have a core moving forward. He has a lot to prove defensively, his passing accuracy needs work, and his shooting is a big area of improvement that will be needed.

 

Egor Demin (Brooklyn Nets) (Over-drafted)

6’8 199lbs guard out of BYU averaged 10.6ppg, 3.9rebs and 5.5asts in college. I was summarily unimpressed with Egor his freshman year. He showed a lack of lateral agility. He struggled finishing at the rim and through contact. His three-point shooting really left a lot to be desired. He shot a poultry 41.2% from the field and 27.3% from deep. When you have a team like Brooklyn who needs everything. They passed on scoring talent like Cedric Coward, defensive talent like Carter Bryant and in my opinion a better all-around PG in Kasparas Jakucionis. 

 

Collin Murray Boyles (Toronto Raptors) (Over-drafted) 

6’7 240lbs forward out of South Carolina is undersized for the position. His defensive versatility is going to be the key to his career. He doesn’t shoot the rock very well and that is what makes him over drafted to me. A large portion of the college season. He wasn’t very noticeable. He really came on strong later. He can handle the ball a little, but it isn’t a great handle. I have a lot of concerns about his fit and what role he will play. He is a very raptors type pick, so I am not surprised. I would have selected Khaman Maluach, Thomas Sorber and Joan Beringer over Boyles. 

 

Khaman Maluach (Pheonix Suns) (Under-drafted)

7’1 253lbs center out of Duke has a monster wingspan, great hands and a nonstop motor. The freshman averaged only 8.6 ppg, 6.6rebs and 1.3blks per game. These numbers are a little misleading since he played on a team with 4 other NBA caliber players. He was mainly a lob threat offensively. He showed he could play more than drop but didn’t need to with that group. He was a presence in the middle but needs to get stronger.

 

Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies) (Over-drafted)

6’5 213lbs forward from Washington State is an outstanding scoring talent.  He can score from the low block as well as spot up from deep. He averaged 17.7 ppg, 7rebs, and 3.7 asts. You must be wondering how he is over drafted. The issue lies in his career arc. He has only played in 17 division I basketball games due to injury. He started out in division III and worked his way up. This limited sample size gives me plenty of hesitation. His lack of a handle and defensive chops make this a big swing. He can defend but it is unproven. His wingspan is a major plus at 7’2. Carter Bryant would have been my pick.

 

Noa Essengue (Chicago Bulls) (Over-drafted)

6’9 194lbs forward who played in Germany is a conundrum to me. I have heard people laud his athleticism. Watching the film, I came away unimpressed. He is athletic but not top tier. His lack of strength is noticeable where he gets overpowered often. He doesn’t handle the ball well enough to make up for it. His three-point shooting is wildly inconsistent shooting a poultry 29.4% from deep. Drik Queen, Sorber, Beringer all still on the board makes this a major overdraft.

 

Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans) (over-drafted) 

6’9 248lbs center out of Marland was picked too high considering the fit with Yves Missi is very poor. Queen’s lack of shooting ability will make the two playing together nearly impossible. Queen can handle the rock but not well enough to create at the next level off the bounce. He is very strong but isn’t a great rebounder either. If he can’t space the floor, I don’t see a path to ever starting. He shot the ball extremely poorly in college from deep 20% on very low volume. Danny Wolf would have been the perfect complement to Missi.

 

Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs) (Under-drafted)

6’7 215lbs wing from Arizona is an outstanding get for the Spurs this late in the draft. His defensive ability to go with a group that already includes Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Dearon Fox is an absolute steal. His switchable defensive ability will allow him to fill a role while his offensive game catches up. He is electric in the open floor and attacks the rack. His biggest challenge will be to bring his shooting consistency up. He averaged only 6.5 ppg but shot 46% from the field, 37% from deep even if on low volume. He will be a plug and play 3& D guy. 

 

Thomas Sorber (Oklahoma City Thunder) (Under-Drafted)

6-9 263lbs one of the largest wingspans in the entire class at 7’6 Sorber is a man child. He was really coming into his own in college dominating the paint offensively and defensively. He averaged 14.5ppg, 8.5rebs, 2.4asts, 2blks and 1.5 steals per game. His season unfortunately was cut short due to a foot injury. This is likely what caused him to slide in the draft. Beware big men with bad feet. The freshman big to me was the second best in the class. This makes him under drafted to me. You take a chance on a guy like that. There is no situation I select Boyles, Essengue, Queen ahead of this guy. Unless the medical evaluations came back horrendous. He landed in the perfect spot where he could heal and not be forced back into action too soon. 

 

Yang Hansen (Portland Trailblazers) (Over-drafted)

7’1 249lbs out of China is an amazing passer at his size and position. He is extremely skilled on the low block and can stretch the floor a little as well. My concerns with Yang are defensively he isn’t very good; athleticism and strength are all below average at the next level. He is an intriguing player for sure but with Danny Wolf and Beringer on the board. There were better options to play alongside Donvan Clingan. 

 

Joan Beringer (Minnesota Timberwolves) (Over-drafted)

6’11 230lbs French center played basketball in Slovenia is a defensive monster in the making. He is much stronger than his 230lbs frame would suggest. I believe he can put on even more muscle at the next level. The only reason I say he is over drafted is because his offensive game is so far behind. Danny Wolf is a better all-around player that has such a unique skill set. I see it hard to pass up on when looking for a big, especially at this point in the draft. Expect his offensive contributions to be primarily lobs. He has a nice touch on his jump hook but not much in the low block bag and nothing on the outside. 

 

Walter Clayton Jr (Utah Jazz) (Over-drafted)

6’2 199lbs played for the National Champion Florida Gators in college. He is a dynamic self-creating shooting Point Guard. The first thing that stood out on tape was his flawless balance every time he got into a shot. When he took people off the bounce, off screens, step backs, side steps and any other type of shot. His form is flawless. The issue lies in his size, lack of lateral burst, facilitating ability and defensive lapses. I had Jakucionis, Jase Richardson, and Ben Saraf all above Clayton on my big board. 

 

Nolan Traore’ (Brooklyn Nets) (Under-drafted)

6’5 175lbs Point guard out of France is an elite facilitator and has run a pro-offense. He gives more height than Clayton but about the same lack of defensive ability. He is extremely quick and excels in the open floor. His shooting improved as the year went on, but the percentage overall was not good at 30.4% from deep. He also struggled finishing at the rim but got better as the year went on. This is close but I still believe he is the better overall prospect. 

 

Kasparas Jakucionis (Miami Heat) (Under-drafted)

6’5 205lbs guard played for the university of Illinois last season. Few players were tasked with more responsibilities throughout the season to carry their team. He was a threat every night and was 8th on my big board. He averaged 15ppg, 5.7 rebs, and 4.7asts. He played through injuries and began to wear down later in the season. One of the biggest things in his film was his lack of creativity off the bounce. His PNR reads went where drills told them the ball should go instead of reading it organically. This caused a lot of his turnovers. However, he is much better defensively than people give him credit and his foot work playing off two feet is special. He has a few things to clean up with is jumper shooting only 32% from deep but I believe he can shoot it at a high level. 

 

Will Riley (Washington Wizards) (Over-drafted)

6’8 186lbs wing out of Illinois is as skinny as they come. He really will need to develop his body to be successful at the next level. He can handle the ball for his size but lacks elite burst to get by defenders on the outside. He struggled shooting the rock from deep at 32.6% in college. I would have selected Nique Clifford over Riley. The Wizards are all in on youth but a little experience to round out the roster of young talent wouldn’t have been a bad thing. 

 

Drake Powell (Brooklyn Nets) (Over-drafted)

6’6 195lbs guard from North Carolina makes you think but this is not that guy. Powell is a defensive specialist who can shoot it a little bit. He has long arms but no handles, shot creation ability or facilitation chops. He is aggressive and will make his mark offensively in the open floor. The rest will have to come with development. His stats were meager at 7.4 ppg, 3.4rebs, and 1.1asts per game. Powell on limited volume shot 48.3% from the field and 37.9% from deep. In the GM seat I am taking Jase Richardson, Hugo Gonzalez or Nique Clifford over Powell every time. 

 

Asa Newell (Atlanta Hawks) (Under-drafted)

6’9 224lbs center out of Georgia is a sudden athlete. When he decides to raise up for a dunk he gets off the floor in a hurry and with force. This is something you cannot teach. He averaged 15.4 ppg, 6.9rebs, 1blks on 54% shooting from the field. He has worked hard on his outside shot. He ended up only 29% from deep but became much better as the year went on. As much as I like Yang on offense or Beringer on defense. Newell seems to be slept on compared to his peers. Teams may end up regretting passing on him.

 

Nique Clifford (Sacramento Kings) (Under-drafted) 

6’5 202lbs explosive wing out of Colorado state was taken lower in the draft in my opinion due to his age not a lack of NBA translatable skills. Will Riley, Drake Powell and others are far behind his offensive skills inside and outside the paint. He is a slasher, creator, and defender that any team could use. The other teams bet on potential rather than what was right in front of them. Clifford as a 5th year senior averaged 18.9ppg, 9.6rebs and 4.4asts per game. He has electric straight-line speed in the open court and excellent athleticism to match. He shot 38% from deep in college but that will not be the bulk of his offensive impact. 

 

Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic) (Under-drafted)

6’1 178lbs guard out of Michigan State may be undersized but plays much bigger than his frame. He is an excellent off ball slasher, spots up from deep and has more on ball ability than he was able to consistently show under Tom Izzo’s 1990’s style offense. Jase averaged 16.1 ppg, 4.6 rebs and 1.7asts per game. His point of attack defense was above the line night in and night out. I truly believe if he was 2inches taller he would have been a top 13 pick.

 

Ben Saraf (Brookyln Nets) (Under-drafted)

6’6 201lbs point guard played in Germany where he lead his team to the finals. The nets in one of the most bizarre drafts in recent memory keep stashing point guards. Saraf has excellent positional size that is sure to draw fouls at the NBA level. He his extremely quick and fast off the bounce. He gets wherever he wants usually that is going left. He rebounds well and facilitates well. His jump shot needs a lot of work. The bulk of his issues lie in his footwork. His balance and placement of his feet prior to getting into his shot cause tons of balance issues. There are flashes of next level court awareness. Things to clean up sure, needs to work to be a consistent POA defender, absolutely. That said, he was 14th on my big board. The nets got a steal.

 

Danny Wolf (Brooklyn Nets) (Under-drafted)

6’11 252lbs center from Michigan is more point guard than center. His ability to handle the basketball and facilitate his size is extremely rare. How other NBA teams passed on him this far is astounding. He averaged 13.2 ppg, 9.7 rebs, and 3.6 asts per game. His unique ability to take people off the bounce truly didn’t peak until later in the season. He confidently was taking guards to the rack from the top of the key. He was making high level reads. His 3point shooting needs work but he has a soft touch. His footwork is clean. The shooting mechanics from the waist up is the issue. 

 

Hugo Gonzalez (Boston Celtics) (Just right)

6’6 205lbs wing out of Spain was a tough evaluation. He played sparsely the entire season. When he did, he showed flashes of elite athleticism and a nice feel for the game. The playoff game he logged his most minutes of the season really gave his team a spark. You could see the traits and potential. It sold me on his game. He handles the ball well for his size. He has an NBA ready body. His shooting needs work but has a nice stroke that will come around with reps. The big question is will he spend the season in the GLeague or contribute off the bench with Tatum out with an Achillies injury in 2025

 

Liam McNeely (Charlotte Hornets) (Just right)

6’7 215lbs guard out of Connecticut really is all about his potential. In college he was labeled a shooter. He didn’t live up to that billing. He shot 38.1% from the field and 31.7% from deep. He has nice form but he was never able to put it together. He lacked burst to create separation in college, and I could see the same at the next level. However, he does so many different things, rebounding 6 per game, assists 2.3 per game and drawing fouls 4.7 per game. This will allow him to be a useful piece to develop. If the shooting comes around. The hornets could really have something. 

 

Yanic Niederhauser (Las Angeles Clippers) (Over-drafted)

6’11 243 center out of Penn State is a lob threat every time he touches the floor. However, he is a project of the highest order. His court awareness needs developing. His POA defense is nonexistent. He will be a full time drop defender. This will limit your ability to switch up coverages. Assistant Coach Jeff Van Gundy will have his work cut out for him there. The one thing Yanic can do is block shots. He can average 2.3 blocks per game to lead the big ten. This is also a downfall because he jumps at everything. This leads him to be out of position and pick up fouls quickly. He doesn’t stretch the floor at all. If I was looking for a big this late in the draft I would have considered Maxime Raynaud, Rocco Zikarsky or my personal favorite Lachlan Olbrich. 

 

Sources: Sports Reference | Sports Stats, fast, easy, and up-to-date | Sports-Reference.com

2025 NBA Draft Results: Picks 1-59 | NBA.com

u/hoopsprofile – 2025 NBA Draft Big Board Final | Fanspo

Photo credit: Sam Navarro, Imagn

The game rested in Alyssa Thomas’ hands as she stepped to the line down one with 24.6 seconds left, but she gagged both attempts. The Mercury lost 89-86 moments after blanking a poorly designed sideline out-of-bounds play.

 

Somewhere, Nick Anderson let out a sigh of relief at being replaced as a late-game choker. The blunder was the equivalent of a boxer having an opponent wounded in the corner, and then getting knocked out before finishing the job. 

 

Now one is left to wonder how much psychological damage this will inflict on Phoenix. And considering Thomas’ below-average accuracy in the regular season and playoffs at the welfare line, the Aces may want her there again late in Game 2.

 

 Kahleah Copper’s sweet-shooting first half, and Thomas’ work in that time getting to the cylinder became a footnote of history. Instead, Aj’a Wilson’s late six points, Dana Evans’ three enormous triples, and Jackie Young’s go-ahead freebies will be remembered for saving the night in Game 1 of the WNBA’s first best-of-seven Finals.

 

Copper was asked at her postgame interview if she needed to do anything to console Thomas, but she responded, “Nah. She good.”

 

But I don’t know if she was. She looked scared senseless, like an apparition had appeared with a dire warning. The first miss was so bad, it inspired zero confidence in thinking she’d make the second. Thomas did not attend the post-game press conference.

 

Of course, the series is far from over, and Phoenix is capable of winning on tour, as they did in New York and Minnesota during this postseason, yet the road to the Finals has revealed that the Aces are scarier than many imagined, including this scribe. 

 

Never forget how the Aces were dropped by Minnesota to 14-14, getting mowed down at home by 53. They were dead, then they won every game left (30-14), claimed the second seed and took out Seattle and Indiana. 

 

The Aces only made a third of their 3-point tries, and Young plus Wilson shot way below their averages. Some of that will continue because Phoenix is the bigger and more athletic team, but they can’t close another game shooting 33% in hostile territory and expect to go home with a stalemate. The Aces’ best players are too seasoned as back-to-back champions to make it anything short of a struggle until the end.

 

Satou Sabally needs to stay locked in because her outbursts, like the one that gave her a technical foul late, will make her a target.  But most importantly, Thomas owes the Mercury a game, and so does Copper for doing nada offensively in 10 fourth-quarter minutes.

Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston upstaged A’ja Wilson’s MVP coronation, seizing Game 1 in Las Vegas for the Indiana Fever. The visitors were huge underdogs for the series because the Aces had won 18 out of 19 games since Aug. 3, but none of that mattered. Odyssey Sims said both teams were 0-0 at the last practice before the opener, and if anyone wasn’t sure they mean business, pay attention now.

 

The Fever don’t need Caitlin and the injured Clarkettes to win this series. The Aces are picking poison between Mitchell and Boston, and each one is a lethal dose. Mitchell bends coverages with speed, and Boston does with unmatchable power, but the former was the offensive star of Game 1, carving schemes through the middle for layups and floaters and spraying four 3-pointers. 

 

Boston took over another way: guarding Wilson and locking her up tighter than a medieval dungeon. It was the most dominant six-point game many will probably ever see. It also exposed how ill-equipped the Aces are when Wilson isn’t on a scoring binge.

 

Holding the first four-time MVP to an off-night for a consecutive game won’t be easy, but Boston’s close-range detonation is a huge threat that wasn’t relied on in Game 1. The Aces won’t be able to contain her and Mitchell simultaneously.. 

 

Natasha Howard’s four-for-four start, plus Sims’ third-quarter outburst, were the polish on the gold bricks. Players like them tend to get loose when the defense is keying in on two potent weapons. 

 

Aces coach Becky Hammon cited a lower level of urgency for her club and said they aren’t capable “when they play like that.”

 

Fever coach Stephanie White said, “We can’t trip on anything that’s behind us. We can’t look too far forward and too far in front of us because that’s when you start to lose your focus. We try and we’ve talked about it since day one. We gotta keep the main thing the main thing…”

 

 Game 2 is on Tuesday in Las Vegas and Game 3 is on Friday in Indiana. Game 4 & 5 if necessary would be in Indiana on Sunday and in Las Vegas on Sept. 30.

The Seattle Storm were a quarter away from having their season packed up by the visiting Las Vegas Aces, but Erica Wheeler and Skylar Diggins sprayed 11 points apiece in the fourth quarter to force Game 3. 

 

After the game, Nneka Ogwumike said the Storm are not unfamiliar with tight matches or playing from behind. She also added that they “had a concerted effort to exploit the switch” from Las Vegas’ scheme. 

 

A 23-8 run handed the Aces their first loss after 16 straight wins and two nights after pistol-whipping the Storm by 25 in Las Vegas. No one was more relieved than Seattle coach Noelle Quinn, who is likely close to being ejected from her seat.  

 

The hosts fell behind by as much as 12 in the final sequence, but Diggins started the avalanche, tying the game on a screen-roll floater. 

 

Wheeler had struggled three quarters, missing all five attempts, and checked in with seven minutes left for Brittney Sykes, who was invisible. The latter was the All-Star Seattle brought in via trade on Aug. 5 from Washington, and she was scoreless on Sunday, too.

 

Everything changed as Wheeler made a pull-up trey in NaLyssa Smith’s face in transition. She also curled behind a dribble handoff and fired from the middle, splashed a trifecta from the left corner and poured in a long pull-up two-pointer over Chelsea Gray. 

 

Sykes returned after a subsequent Las Vegas timeout with 31 seconds left to defend the inbound, but Seattle got bailed out because Gray threw her pass off target to Jackie Young. Then Diggins buried another floater in the lane, giving Seattle an 86-83 lead. 

 

Quinn credited rookie Dominique Malonga for holding reigning MVP A’ja Wilson scoreless in the last seven minutes. “We knew that A’ja is a load. If we can keep her to her average, that’s a plus for us.”

 

Game 3 is on Thursday in Las Vegas. 

The dream season became a nightmare as the Pistons celebrated as Eastern Conference champions in the Heat’s house following Game 7 in 2005. The hosts exited to the locker room with their pride wounded, looking like they’d seen an apparition after blowing a 3-2 lead.

 

Two sweeps against New Jersey and Washington were inconsequential because what could have gone wrong in the fourth quarter did. The Heat got away from what worked- giving it to Shaquille O’Neal- instead Dwyane Wade took bad shots and the role players did too much, including Damon Jones, whose turnover with two minutes left resulted in a Rip Hamilton pick-6, tying the game.

 

Wade said after that, “They made plays at the end, you know, that we didn’t make. That was the main thing.”

 

On the other side, Chauncey Billups buried a trifecta and coffin-closing free throws. Rasheed Wallace took the lead for good with freebies and made a vital putback with under a minute left on the next possession. 

 

The Heat’s clock management was suspect, and Wade didn’t get a clean look from deep while down four points with seven seconds left. 

 

O’Neal was the white whale that the front office acquired the previous summer, instantly elevating them to contending status. He was even better than in his last year with the Lakers after shedding around 40 pounds, too, and his presence with the remaining ingredients racked up 59 regular-season victories, the second-most in franchise history at the time. 

 

The one-two combination with O’Neal and Wade was as tough to stop as any league duo, but the latter was compromised with a rib injury suffered in Game 5 and needed an injection before tip-off of Game 7. Ron Culp, who was the Heat’s first trainer and later died in 2021 of cardiac arrest per his official obituary, applied heat to the rib area during timeouts.

 

Heat play-by-play broadcaster Eric Reid told Five Reasons Sports Network that the moment Wade got hurt was a “high point and a low point at the same point.” He tried warming up for Game 6, but never played.  

 

The Heat’s locker room was quiet after elimination because they felt they let one slip away. O’Neal’s voice usually filled every room with bass, but not this time. The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds was present for the scene. He told FRSN, “If you weren’t within six inches of him, you couldn’t hear him.”  

 

O’Neal was pissed off not just at the outcome but at coach Stan Van Gundy as well because he wanted the ball more late. He complained to anyone who would listen about Van Gundy later that offseason. 

 

Management’s first order of business was to improve when league rules allowed. Team president Pat Riley called Wade in the summer for his input on moves and received feedback from his surprised star player. Wade publicly said on Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith during the 2005-06 season that the moves confused him. The changes included: 

 

-Certified playmaker Jason Williams via five-team trade from Memphis. 

 

-Top-shelf perimeter defender and 3-point marksman James Posey via five-team trade from Memphis.

 

-Antoine Walker, a former 20-point-per-game scorer, arrived via a five-team trade.

 

-Gary Payton, whom the Heat wanted for multiple years, committed on Sept. 22. Payton’s defensive prowess was instantly going to help the Heat at guarding at pick and roll, a notorious weakness for O’Neal, who was his teammate in 2003-04 in LA. 

 

-Jason Kapono, the 10th man for the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004-05, was an extra body with outside range. He signed as a free agent on Oct. 3.

 

One of the consequences of Eddie Jones’ inclusion in the Memphis trade was that more was demanded of Wade on defense. Wade added on Quite Frankly, “My concern was defensively… as a young player, I didn’t know how to take that, but I came in and worked hard to become the best defender I can for this team to help us win and still be productive on the offensive end.” The other departures included Keyon Dooling, Rasual Butler, D. Jones, Steve Smith and Christian Laettner.

 

Additionally, one advantage the Heat had going into 2005-06 was that Alonzo Mourning was arguably the best backup big man in the NBA. He was no longer the man who was second and third in consecutive years in MVP voting while winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards because of a kidney scare years earlier, but Mourning could still guard well and was a respected member of the team. He returned to the Heat on March 1, 2005.

 

Reid said, “On paper, it looked like the greatest team that the franchise had ever put together.” For that reason, the mood around the team was all or nothing. Despite Wade only going into year three, O’Neal would turn 33 that season and with limited time before his powers declined further.

 

 “Some players didn’t love how hard that training camp was,” Reynolds said. “Stan Van Gundy was the coach in that camp, but it was a Pat Riley training camp in a lot of ways.” Multiple members of the team did not show up in Heat shape.

 

While management did its job, making bold alterations for a squad nearly there, one cloud hung in the backdrop: Before the upcoming campaign, Riley said he wanted to be more hands-on with the team, unnecessarily creating speculation about Van Gundy’s job security. 

—

-Stay tuned for more podcasts and written episodes of the ‘06 Files during the Heat’s 2025-26 season.