Miami Dolphins 2026 Mock Draft

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The Miami Dolphins are under new management for their 2026/2027 campaign. They will be under the guidance of Jon-Eric Sullivan (General Manager) and Jeff Hafley (Head Coach). The change comes after the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second year in a row under Mike McDaniel and under new jurisdiction the Dolphins have already made multiple moves.

  • Tyreek Hill was released.
  • Tua Tagovailoa was released.
  • Bradley Chubb was released.
  • Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded to the Jets
  • Jaylen Waddle was traded to Denver for a first round pick.
  • Malik Willis was signed with the hopes of being the team’s future quarterback.

Beyond many other moves and small free agent signings and have 7 picks in the top 100 of this year’s NFL Draft which takes place in just a few days.

So, with that said, I did my one and only mock addressing the Dolphins needs with an explanation for each.

11. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Spencer Fano is one of the most athletic offensive tackles in the 2026 class. At 6’5½”, 311 pounds, he brings elite movement skills, loose hips, quick feet, and outstanding balance/recovery ability that allow him to mirror speed rushers and climb to the second level in the run game. He started extensively on both left and right tackle at Utah (including a standout 2025 season with zero sacks allowed and minimal pressures), showing the versatility to play either side immediately. His explosiveness in space, rangy pass protection, and ability to sustain blocks make him a natural fit for zone-heavy or movement schemes.

For the Dolphins, Fano is a premium early pick that could anchor the offensive line for years. He projects as a high-floor, high-ceiling Day 1 starter with first-round pedigree, excellent value at No. 11 to address a key area of need with immediate impact potential.

Fano could be an Austin Jackson replacement, and it could also be a way for Jackson to slide back to guard.

30. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Colton Hood is a physical, confident corner with ideal press-man traits and the toughness of a box safety. He plays with aggression, strong hands to jam and suffocate releases, and excellent positioning in the catch point while showing discipline in zone coverage. His athleticism and frame allow him to match up against bigger receivers, and he brings plus run support and tackling ability. Hood has shut down top college wideouts and produced interceptions/PBUs while playing with tenacity and football IQ.

Landing Hood in the second round gives Miami a tough, scheme-versatile corner who can contribute right away in man or zone looks. He bolsters the secondary with competitive physicality and starter upside, outstanding value at No. 30 for a player who profiles as a potential long-term boundary or slot option.

43. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon

Emmanuel Pregnon is a prototypical power guard at 6’4¼”, 314 pounds with long arms, massive hands, and elite lower-body strength. A multi-year, ultra-durable starter, he excels as a downhill mauler who resets the line of scrimmage in the run game, generates displacement on angle blocks, and anchors effectively against bull rushes in pass protection. He picks up stunts well and plays with violent hands and a finishing mentality, though he is an older prospect (turning 25 as a rookie).

This pick strengthens the Dolphins’ interior offensive line with a reliable, plug-and-play run blocker who fits both power and zone concepts. At No. 43, Pregnon offers strong mid-round value as a potential immediate starter or high-level rotational piece with plus physical tools.

Pregnon would ensure that last year’s second round pick Jonah Savaiinea has adequate competition.

75. Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

Bryce Lance (brother of former NFL QB Trey Lance) is an explosive, big-play wide receiver with outstanding size (around 6’3″, 204 pounds), elite athletic testing, and dynamic vertical ability. He tracks the ball exceptionally well downfield, wins contested catches, and creates separation with speed and route savvy. Despite coming from the FCS level, his production, ball skills, and after-the-catch potential translate well, giving him X-receiver traits and red-zone threat upside.

For Miami, Lance adds much-needed vertical speed and big-play ability to the receiving corps at a great spot in the third round. He would immediately be the first big body downfield threat receiver the Dolphins have had since DeVante Parker and poses great upside. He averaged over 20 yards per catch this past season and ran a 4.34, while showcasing good hands, and elite athleticism.

87. Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina

Jalon Kilgore is a versatile, big-bodied defensive back (6’1″, 210 pounds) with long arms, explosive athleticism, and experience playing outside corner, nickel/slot, and safety. He brings strong ball production (8 interceptions), physical tackling in run support, and the ability to match tight ends or bigger slots in man coverage. His size, range, and football intelligence make him a plug-and-play option in multiple defensive schemes.

Drafted late in Day 2, Kilgore adds valuable depth and positional flexibility to the Dolphins’ secondary. He has the traits to become a plus starter or do-it-all contributor in sub packages, a smart selection at No. 87 for a player with high athletic upside and scheme versatility.

90. Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee

Another Tennessee kid, Joshua Josephs brings rare length and athleticism to the edge at 6’3″, 242 pounds with an impressive wingspan. He uses his arms to disrupt runs, create pressure with burst and closing speed, and shows effort in pursuit. While his pass-rush plan can be refined and he needs to add functional strength against the run, he has produced TFLs and sacks with developmental tools that point to rotational upside.

At No. 90, this pick gives the Dolphins athletic edge depth and pass-rush potential to rotate with their front. Josephs fits as a high-motor contributor who can play on all three downs. With Chop Robinson needing to prove himself this year, Josephs can come in right away to help a weakened Dolphins pass rush.

94. Justin Joly, TE, NC State

Justin Joly is a reliable, well-rounded tight end (6’3½”, 241 pounds) with strong hands, a solid catch radius, and route-running awareness. A productive player who posted career-best numbers in recent seasons, he excels as a security blanket in the short-to-intermediate game and adds value as a blocker and after-catch mover. His workmanlike approach and versatility (including H-back alignments) make him a dependable piece.

While Miami resigned Greg Dulchich (a great move) drafting a young, second tight end who can develop as Miami starts this new era, will be huge in their future success. Joly’s QB’s posted a 102.5 passer rating when targeting him.

Joly also had a top-30 visit with Miami.

130. Charlie Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin

Charlie Demmings is a lengthy, athletic corner from the FCS ranks (6’1″, 193 pounds) with strong production, including all-conference honors, interceptions, and pass breakups. He offers ideal frame and movement skills for boundary work and tested well pre-draft, giving him developmental upside as a small-school prospect with special-teams potential.

At No. 130, Demmings is a classic Day 3 flier who brings lottery-ticket athleticism and depth to Miami’s secondary. He could carve out a roster spot through coverage ability and Miami’s overall lack of talent at the position.

Longer, more physical corners are liked by new head coach Jeff Hafley.

Demmings was ranked fifth at the combine in Athleticism Score at 81.

151. Matt Gulbin, OC, Michigan State

Matt Gulbin is a tough, experienced interior offensive lineman/center (around 6’3⅝”, 305 pounds) with starting reps at guard and center. He wins with power, leg drive in the run game, combo blocking to the second level, and solid anchoring in pass protection. While his length and lateral quickness are average, his strength, football IQ, and reliability make him a dependable depth option.

This pick bolsters the Dolphins’ offensive line depth at center/guard with a gritty, scheme-versatile veteran presence.

Gulbin is an old school offensive linemen who would provide great depth and leadership, he was the team captain at Michigan State, even though he was only there for one year.

He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and was graded by PFF as the No. 2 center in the FBS, with the top run-blocking grade at the position nationally.

227. Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisiana

Jaden Dugger is an oversized, athletic linebacker (nearly 6’5″, 242–250 pounds) with exceptional arm length and testing numbers from the Ragin’ Cajuns. A productive tackler with sideline-to-sideline range and untapped pass-rush potential, he brings rare physical tools and high developmental upside as a late-round sleeper who can also help on special teams.

In the seventh round, Dugger is a high-upside flier for Miami’s linebacker group. His size and athleticism give him the chance to grow into a contributor, intriguing value at No. 227 for a raw but physically gifted prospect.

Dugger was voted the top player at the East vs West Shrin Bowl and recorded 125 tackles last season. A player who has great instincts for tackling would get to learn from Jordyn Brooks, a great tackler in himself.

2025: First-team All-Sun Belt Conference. Led team with 125 tackles. Started all 13 games (13 TFLs with 4 sacks, INT, 3 PBUs, FF).

238. CJ Daniels, WR, Miami (FL)

CJ Daniels is a steady 6’2″, 202-pound outside receiver who transferred to Miami after stops at Liberty and LSU. He wins with good size, reliable ball skills in contested situations, and a willing blocking mentality. While not the most explosive, he serves as a dependable chain-mover and adds special-teams versatility.

As the final pick at No. 238, Daniels brings local familiarity and competition to the Dolphins’ wide receiver room. He profiles as a depth piece with roster potential, solid late-round value to round out the class.

I chose not to go with a quarterback as the Dolphins will likely be busy in the UDFA market, the options at each pick also weren’t the best.

Miami Dolphins Top 30 visits:

  • Denzel Boston
  • Makai Lemon
  • Mansoor DeLane
  • Ty Simpson
  • AJ Haulcy
  • Kaelon Black
  • Christen Miller
  • R Mason Thomas
  • Justin Joly
  • Zion Young
  • Kayden McDonald
  • KC Concepcion
  • Jordan Hudson
  • Hezekiah Masses
  • Treydan Stukes
  • Ted Hurst
  • Taylen Green
  • Le’Veon Moss
  • Charles Demmings
  • Travis Burke
  • Several Canes and former SoFlo HS prospects counted as Local Visits

Other Notes and Opinions

  • Miami should consider trading down with either first round pick, especially if they receive an offer they can’t pass up.
  • I am really high on Ted Hurst
  • Is there any chance Bain or Styles fall to 11?
  • Will they stay true to “building from the inside-out”

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Magic took first blood in round one of the playoffs

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Extra days of rest can be a blessing or a curse, and it was no help for the first-seeded Detroit Pistons in Game 1. They started sloppily, and the Orlando Magic, who had wiped out the Charlotte Hornets to advance to round one on Friday, opened with more vigor and mental focus, upsetting them.

 

It took most of the first quarter for the Pistons to wake up, and then they started making the Magic pay for turnovers and bad shots, plus had forced Desmond Bane into multiple contested, fallaway jumpers. The hosts were even in the bonus with nine minutes left in the first half, but the Magic were carried by Paolo Banchero’s mid and long-range scoring, and the team had shut off easy access into the lane.

 

The Magic subsequently survived a flurry, and their defense took further advantage of their opponents lacking a second high-level shot creator. Wendell Carter Jr. also contained Jalen Duren, and the Magic took a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter. 

 

Franz Wagner emerged as the go-to guy, ripping up schemes on the dribble and was immaculate on five attempts. Carter didn’t miss on three rim attacks, either.

 

The Magic won 112-101, and it was coach Jamahl Mosley’s first road playoff victory, too.

 

Observations:

 

  •  It never turned into a blowout, but it was an embarrassing performance by the Pistons, which the Magic deserve credit for. Still, when a team gets shown up like that, they are usually a powerhouse in the next one. The Magic will need to match their mental sharpness and avoid being satisfied with a split because they can make this series ugly. They have two potent shot creators in Banchero and Wagner when they play like this, and their defenses’ size and physicality is comparable to Detroit’s. 

 

  • The Magic struggled to make 3-point shots consistently and had poor ball security, so they got killed on the break as a result. Their defense was dominant, holding the Pistons to 102 points per 100 possessions, good enough for the 13th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass. Yet the only downside was that they fouled too often, allowing the Pistons to take 38 freebies, making 29.

 

  • The Magic’s two best games of the season have been in highly pressurized situations, which included the elimination game they thumped the Charlotte Hornets into the lottery. Could they have turned a corner overnight? The picture will be clearer by the time the series shifts back to Orlando.

 

  • Some stars will do what they want, either turning into a scorer or passer against whatever scheme, and Cade Cunningham was no different, totaling 39 points on 48.1 percent shooting, with five rebounds, four assists and three turnovers. He’s a big, strong point guard with a quick first step, and 14 of his points came in the lane.



  • The starters scored between 16 and 23 points, but the X factor was Carter, who made 88.9 percent of his attempts and had five assists against zero turnovers. On top of that, Jalen Suggs was a pest on defense, racking up three steals and a block. He later fouled out with 93 seconds left in the game while the Pistons were on life support.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Nuggets shook off their sloppy start and took Game 1 against the Timberwolves

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There was no love lost between two rivals who eliminated each other in consecutive years (2023, 2024), and Game 1 was another archetypal affair that had the nastier defense take first blood. 

 

The Nuggets came out sluggish at home after five days of rest, and spent most of the first half digging themselves out of a hole caused by turnovers and the Timberwolves’ paint pressure. It didn’t help them that Aaron Gordon picked up his third foul late in the first quarter, and Jonas Valančiūnas was lit up in drop coverage, but they tied going into intermission.

 

They got back on track because Jamal Murray caused the first cracks in Minnesota’s lead by getting to the line, and Nikola Jokić’s playmaking and screening activated the troops like a quick whiff of smelling salts.

 

Jokić then changed the pace, turning into a scorer on a binge of paint strikes, and Murray’s flurry continued, yet Gordon’s hustle changed the tide in favor of the Nuggets. 

 

At one point, Jaden McDaniels tried to be an enforcer against Jokić, of all people, while Denver was on a 14-2 run by pushing him in the back and got penalized with an unsportsmanlike technical foul. It brought into question his temperament again, and keep in mind how he has cost himself playoff time by punching a wall, and breaking his hand, causing a season-ending fracture in 2023. His underhanded tactic only motivated the Nuggets to finish the period strong.

 

The Timberwolves subsequently found an opening back within reaching distance when Jokić took his final rest, which stagnated Denver’s ball movement. Coach David Adelman waited a few minutes into the fourth before subbing him back in, despite relying mainly on two reserves, and the Wolves successfully went at Jokić, too.

 

Yet Jokić laid some of the finishing touches by setting up his teammates, and the crew kept thriving at the charity line because of Minnesota’s inability to defend without fouling.

 

The Nuggets won 116-105 after six ties and eight lead changes. They held Minnesota’s offense to 104 points per 100 possessions, good enough for the 17th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass.

Observations:

 

  • Edwards scored 22 points on 36.8 percent shooting. He was previously questionable for the game with a right knee injury, which caused him to only suit up twice in the last 10 days of the regular season. He may be occasionally dealing with discomfort, which will affect his potency but still has plenty of explosion. 

 

  • The Nuggets shot poorly from deep (27.8 percent) and were sloppy at times with the ball, but made up for it with strong rebounding, as five of them logged between five and 13 boards, and they made seven mid-range baskets, plus were efficient in the lane. Jokić led the team with nine paint shots, of their 21.

 

  • Murray set a new career high for free throw attempts (16) and makes (16). His previous high in the playoffs was 11 for both, set in 2019. He totaled 30 points on 31.8 percent shooting, with seven assists and five rebounds. Adelman said Murray has “got lot of responsibilities with a lot of different people guarding him that are high-level defenders that had a hold of his jersey throughout the night…”

 

  • Despite Jokić having five turnovers, he still had a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is excellent, and had a triple-double (25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists), making 57.9 percent of attempts on a team high of 40 minutes.



Miami Marlins Seeing Encouraging Signs From Janson Junk

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MIAMI – In his second season with the Miami Marlins, Janson Junk is pitching to his role, as the fifth starter.

Junk came onto the scene in 2025 as a minor league free agent and finished with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 110 innings pitched through 21 appearances (16 starts). Junk has posted similar numbers through four starts entering this season. 

Junk has a 4.50 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in four starts this season. Before the Marlins’ 7-5 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, McCullough said it’s “been very encouraging to see the velocity that he’s shown in the early goings.”

“We’ve seen his fastball at times in the mid-90s and just how that helps the breaking stuff then to be firmer and it helps the changeup play off of that,” McCullough said. 

The Marlins are counting on Junk to give them at least five innings each start, which is what he has done in the previous two outings. His second start of the season was the deepest of his career, when he went 7.1 innings with only two runs allowed. 

“Every time he takes the ball, we expect he’s not going to beat himself,” McCullough said. 

So far, even if Junk isn’t mainly to blame, the Marlins aren’t winning with him on the mound. The only time Miami was victorious with Junk starting was his first start against the Chicago White Sox, where he didn’t get the win because he was taken out before completing the fifth inning. 

Junk is projected to finish out the six-game homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, at 12:10 p.m.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Magic advanced to the playoffs after demolishing the Charlotte Hornets

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Coach Jamahl Mosley’s job was on the line, and the players made sure to keep him around for a little longer. 

 

The Orlando Magic put the squeeze on the Charlotte Hornets early with prison ball defense that blew up actions, plus they ravaged the lane like a band of marauders sacking a castle. Paolo Banchero atoned for Wednesday’s dreadful performance against the Philadelphia 76ers by turning into a raging bull, and Wendell Carter Jr. played a big part in breaking open the game. 

 

Perhaps it was the Magic playing like world beaters at home because they had no choice. Or maybe it was cosmic forces putting a stop to the Hornets after LaMelo Ball wiped Bam Adebayo out of Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament game, and the Miami Heat lost a close one without their captain. 

 

The game, which determined the eighth seed, was out of reach before intermission, mentally extinguishing the Hornets who were slower to react to loose balls and get back in transition. Ball was lucky the refs weren’t enforcing carrying violations, and he still followed up his go-ahead shot against the Heat by showing up when it was too late, instead of entering his first playoffs, in his sixth season. 

 

The snowball effect had Miles Bridges so frustrated he even pressed on Desmond Bane’s neck when trying to get up after going for a loose ball. This time, the officials were not blind like Tuesday’s crew and didn’t make the colossal mistake of missing something below the belt.  

 

How ugly did it get for the Hornets? Well, let’s just say a fresh carcass puts up a better fight against a shoal of piranhas. The Hornets had their seat warmers on in the charter before the third quarter was up, too.

 

Repeated trips to the line, and Goga Bitadze’s four blocks were some of the little things that kept the Magic’s motor running while they had a large lead. 

  

It should have never gotten to this point, but now the Magic will play the first-seeded Detroit Pistons — the team they were expected to be. They played with controlled rage against Charlotte, but maintaining that over a seven-game series against a team as rugged, feisty and athletic as the Pistons could be like trying to beat the feds in a RICO case.

 

With Orlando’s frontline of Banchero, Carter, and Franz Wagner, against Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart, round one will have heavyweight action in the trenches that fans cannot miss. 

 

The Magic will need Banchero to avoid turnovers and be unrestrainable when he puts his head down on the move. Additionally, Bane, Wagner and key reserves will need to do a lot of the heavy lifting as well. Getting all of that at the same time is practically asking for an arm and a leg because the Magic have been the opposite of a contender. 

 

They’ll have a day off before taking on the Pistons in Game 1 on Sunday. The hosts will have rested their bodies, minds and souls for six nights. Keep in mind that only six eighth seeds in NBA history have upset the favorite.



Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Angel Reese gets a fresh start and more WNBA notes

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The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream for consecutive first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 which probably won’t be any good. Luckily for them, they’ve made moves and have assembled a respectable roster since, bringing in Azurá Stevens (who was with their 2021 title team), DiJonai Carrington, Skylar Diggins and Jacy Sheldon.

 

Imagine if they had been a competent organization in the previous two years, but better late than never, even if it comes after losing a star like Reese.

 

Landing with Dream means that she is going to a contending team, and she could be the piece to put them over the top. She’s the most prolific rebounder in WNBA history and is a big factor on defense. Reese’s efficiency numbers don’t jump off the page for last season (45.8), but her numbers are skewed by her poor start to the year before her massive turnaround. Consider how she had the highest assist average (3.7) on the team after Courtney Vandersloot’s right ACL tear, and the next best playmakers on the team were Ariel Atkins, who is decent, and Rachel Banham, who wouldn’t get many minutes on a contender.

 

Now Reese, who expanded her game last season by playing more on-ball, should see even more improvement in her playmaking next to the options like Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Breonna Jones after almost doubling her average in her second year. The other area she could see enhanced is scoring as a roller. 

 

—

The rich get richer

 

The New York Liberty have made fine use of the new CBA money being spent in WNBA free agency by keeping the powerhouse that is Jonquel Jones next to Sabrina Ionescu (intends to re-sign) and two-time MVP Breanna Stewart, while signing Satou Sabally to be the fourth star.

 

Teams around the W are already scrambling to scheme up a way to deal with that much talent when they start playing heavy minutes in the playoffs. On top of that, strength is one of the biggest advantages a player could have, and the Liberty were not lacking it in Jones and Stewart, who can power down hill or finesse their way to the cup. Sabally adds another athletic, big and strong scorer.

 

The team’s complimentary shooters, and Ionescu will be in heaven because defenses primarily overload the lane at the expense of the arc.

 

Quick hits:

 

  • UConn’s Azzi Fudd went first in the Monday’s WNBA draft, and three members of UCLA’s championship team were taken in the top nine (Lauren Betts 4th to the Washington Mystics, Gabriela Jaquez 5th to the Chicago Sky and Angela Dugalić 9th also to the Mystics).

 

  • Dominique Malonga should be on everyone’s radar for the Most Improved Player award, even if she was last season’s second overall pick. Noelle Quinn, who was canned as coach after last season’s disappointment, and didn’t play Malonga nearly enough when she was an impactful defender against most matchups. Meanwhile, lesser talented rookies played more minutes on other teams. Things will be different under coach Sonia Raman.


Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Heat’s frustrating season came to an end in the Play-In Tournament

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The Heat were iced in overtime by the Hornets in Charlotte and sent to the draft lottery. They went most of the game without their captain, Bam Adebayo, thanks to LaMelo Ball cheaply and flagrantly taking him out by swiping his foot while he was off balance, causing him to fall hard on his tailbone. Yet they held on until the last seconds. 

 

Kel’el Ware and Davion Mitchell stepped up being inside and outside threats, and Andrew Wiggins did all the little things in the trenches while giving them a big-time scoring punch. They even had Wiggins at center, next to Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson to maintain their speed, and they defended well without fouling plus didn’t get killed on 3-pointers. 

 

Jaquez started the second half for Adebayo, setting the mood with aggression. Additionally, Ware turned into Bill Russell for a spurt, rejecting shots into transition, and Mitchell was the source of offense in the fourth quarter. 

 

Their problems were containing second-chance scoring and dribble penetration from Ball, plus Coby White’s 3-point eruption. On top of that, they made a critical mistake late in the fourth quarter while up six points by doubling Ball, allowing Brandon Miller to nail a trifecta before White made a fallway shot in the corner to tie. 

 

The Hornets controlled the pace in overtime, exposed the corner and baseline and didn’t miss a shot in the lane late. But it was all drama: Herro made a fallaway corner triple and then caused Ball to foul him in the corner immediately on the next possession when the Heat got a steal. They took the lead by one, but Ball reclaimed it for Charlotte on a curling catch-and-go move, and then Mitchell got denied on a last second fastbreak attempt by Miles Bridges.

 

The Heat lost 127-126 after 17 ties and 16 lead changes. One would’ve presumed that it was going to turn into a blowout without Adebayo’s presence, but they went down with class. Their worst stretch of the game was getting outscored by eight in the third quarter.

 

The Hornets will now play the loser of Wednesday’s seven and eight game, and the Heat are left pondering their future. If this season proved anything, it’s that they need to get better on defense by being bigger, stronger and faster. 

 

Ware can be a top-level big man with more seasoning. The next step for him is sharper pick-and-roll defense, so he and Adebayo can be a potent duo. 

 

Mitchell resembled vintage Kyle Lowry in the loss, and he has always been a keeper, who should remain the starting point guard. The prerequisites for taking that spot are superior scoring without help and on-ball disruption. 

 

Some will depart, and the right youngsters will continue to develop; the team should continue to ride it out with them instead of trading for an All-Star who will have to do more with less. They’ll now also have their highest pick since either 2019 (13th) or 2017 (14th), at least, in what is expected to be a deep draft.

 

They need to realize that there is no quick fix into getting back into contention, unless Shaquille O’Neal, the Big Three or Jimmy Butler walk through the door.



Xander Zayas versus Jaron “Boots” Ennis is summer 2026’s biggest fight

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The wheels for Xander Zayas versus Jaron “Boots” Ennis are set in motion, and the two are doing a fine job of hyping up the fight. Zayas’ WBA and WBO super welterweight titles are on the line in this legacy fight and it could be a bloodbath.

 

It’ll be at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on June 27th, which means that half the crowd will be Puerto Rican and the other side will see a good turnout of Philadelphia supporters. 

 

The champion is the younger man at age 23, and Ennis will turn 29 the day before the fight. Naturally, this has caused speculation from fans and media that Ennis needs the fight more, and that it’s too much too early for Zayas. Yet, legendary champion Roy Jones Jr. doesn’t believe it for Zayas “ because he’s a two-time world champion.” Jones also added that losing to another opponent before this matchup would mess up his payday against Ennis.

 

Both of them have slick skills yet they take risks that leave themselves open like all exciting fighters, and neither has seen this level of quality, athletic opponent. Zayas has improved significantly after each contest, but eating a vicious overhand right like he did in round four against Slawa Sloper three fights ago would put him in grave danger. And if Ennis is defensively sloppy like he was in the second Karen Chukhadzhian clash he won fairly easily, then he’ll be in Davy Jones‘ locker.

 

Keep in mind that Zayas doesn’t have shotgun-blast power, but he breaks down opponents with volume, and the challenger is a violent finishing southpaw with rare switch-hitting ability.  

 

Ennis denies looking past Zayas, but it’s hard to feel differently as he said to Bryan Fonseca of The Mandatory that is just another fight for him and that every one that people speculate will be his toughest is his easiest. On another occasion, he said that Zayas took the fight for the money and that he has a large head he can’t miss.

 

Disagreements over not having a 55-45 split were revealed at the press conference on April 8 as both fighters jawed at each other, and Zayas pointed out that he is the champion, who didn’t need to take this match, and is giving Ennis an opportunity.   

 

When they faced off at the presser, Ennis rubbed the belts and was told that’s as close as he’d get to them. If he takes them, it be a significant achievement on his résumé and would elevate him closer towards the highest echelon of the sport.

 

There’s a surplus of great Puerto Rican champions which include Wilfredo Benítez, Félix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. A win against Ennis would put Zayas on the path to becoming their next great one. 



Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat cruise to an easy victory in last game of the regular season

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Thankfully, it’s almost over.

 

The Heat’s regular season finale was a tune-up against the Atlanta Hawks’ D-Team, in which Bam Adebayo had a scoring spree on drive-bys and jumpers. The rest of the team got their licks in, and they won an inconsequential game by 26 points despite sweating a bit in the second and third quarters because of Cory Kispert, of all people.  

 

The only weight it carried was an emotional one for the organization, being PA announcer Michael Baiamonte’s last game after 35 years. 

 

This was a season that saw them get pantsed by all the good teams and they ended the last six weeks posting the 24th ranked defense. On top of that, they get hosed, receiving a second-round pick for the “unprecedented” Terry Rozier situation, in which they traded a first-round pick for him in 2024, without the important information from the Charlotte Hornets that he was under federal and league probe.

 

Coach Erik Spoelstra said it was an unusual game, but was pleased with the team’s approach. Regarding the Play-In, he said, “It’s a Game 7. I just want our guys to take on that challenge and do whatever’s necessary.”

 

Now the Hornets in Charlotte await them for the nine and 10 Play-In game which sends the loser to the lottery. The winner of this matchup will advance to play the loser of the seven and eighth seeded game for the last playoff spot, and a chance to get mowed down by the Detroit Pistons.

 

The best thing that could happen, as has been explained in this Diary previously, is for Heat to lose on Wednesday so they can get the highest pick possible in the upcoming draft. They only have a 4.8 percent chance at landing in the top four and only one percent of getting the first pick. 

 

There is one small consolation: the Heat are not the most disappointing team in Florida because the Orlando Magic are also a Play-In Tournament squad. The Magic had sky-high expectations and their regular season was a disaster, concluding in Boston with a loss versus the background players. Injuries are not all the blame as they have been a team with poor basketball character and it might cost coach Jamahl Mosley his job.



Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Heat failed to stop Brandon Ingram and got crushed in Toronto

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Part two of the miniseries in Toronto didn’t get ugly until the second quarter and then it was worse than a direct-to-video sequel. Brandon Ingram mercilessly sprayed jumpers, plus Collin Murray-Bowles, who finished with a perfect seven-for-seven from field, out-hustled every Heatle to extend plays and blow up sets. 

 

Bam Adebayo was so frustrated he uncharacteristically shoved Jakob Poeltl after getting tangled up, and the Raptors’ lead soon swelled to 26 points in the third quarter. They subsequently loosened up, and the Heat sliced the deficit to six before the hosts got serious about waxing them again. 

 

Scottie Barnes created the snowball effect with a trifecta and a fastbreak layup and the visitors soon yielded. 

 

The Heat lost 128-114, but it felt wider than that. Coach Erik Spoelstra said, “I don’t have the answers right now. We are searching…” 

 

Adebayo did all he could, totaling 14 of 24 points in the lane with 11 rebounds and eight assists. And Davion Mitchell had a double-double (15 points, 11 assists), too, but their impact was nullified by Toronto’s activity in the lane and superior outside shooting. 

 

Still, for as bad it looked, the Heat have somehow logged 22 worse defensive ratings this season. It wasn’t their game plan on most nights, but rather not being able to match the other team’s talent. 

 

There’s no way coach Erik Spoelstra can have any hope of finding “a way to overcome” when every game lately has been a struggle. Perhaps this time after the team has been finished off will it make management wise up, finally going in a different route. 

 

When looking back on this year, the biggest positives will be the development of Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakučionis. The heaviest negatives will be not enough consistency from Kel’el Ware, the Tyler Herro and Norman Powell backcourt being a failure, and wasting a season of Adebayo’s prime.