NBA Daily Digest: Joe to Detroit, Dybantsa arrives, Bucks reset

There were no NBA games scheduled for June 26 on the checked ESPN and NBA.com boards, so this digest shifts to the offseason board: Detroit's shooting trade, Phoenix keeping its center, Washington's No. 1 pick introduction, Milwaukee's post-Giannis rookie plan and Portland's new coach. 1 2

Detroit added a clean fit next to Cade Cunningham, guard, by reportedly acquiring Isaiah Joe, guard, from Oklahoma City for two future second-round picks. NBA.com framed it as a shooting add for a 60-win Pistons team; Joe averaged 11.1 points in 21.2 minutes last season and shot 42.3% from three on six attempts per game. 4

That trade also clarifies Oklahoma City's offseason direction. The Thunder have now moved both Joe and Aaron Wiggins, guard, in separate deals for second-round capital, after ESPN's offseason preview had already flagged OKC's need to trim tax pressure and make roster room for rookies Aday Mara, center, and Bennett Stirtz, guard. 5

Phoenix's priority was continuity. Mark Williams, center, intends to return to the Suns on a three-year, $38 million fully guaranteed deal, according to NBA.com's report citing ESPN's Shams Charania. Williams averaged 11.7 points and 8.0 rebounds last season, played a career-high 60 games and joins Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin as retained Suns free agents. 6

AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards forward, used his first D.C. appearance to make two things clear: he will wear No. 4, and he wants to be part of the Wizards' rebuild. The former BYU star was the No. 1 pick, is Washington's first top overall selection since John Wall in 2010, and averaged 25.5 points per game in college. 7

Milwaukee's rebuild is now more concrete. Brayden Burries, guard, went No. 10; Nate Ament, forward, went No. 13; and the Bucks are counting on both lottery picks after the reported Giannis Antetokounmpo, forward, trade package to Miami. NBA.com's AP report notes the Ament pick came from the Heat package, which also includes Tyler Herro, guard, Jaime Jaquez Jr., forward, Kel'el Ware, center, Kasparas Jakucionis, guard, a 2030 pick swap and future first-round picks. 8

ESPN's draft recap adds the broader lesson: teams held their lottery picks, with no lottery trades, and the league leaned back toward size. Jeremy Woo singled out Aday Mara to Oklahoma City at No. 12, Jayden Quaintance, center, to San Antonio at No. 20, and Atlanta's Kingston Flemings/Zuby Ejiofor class as notable outcomes from a deep draft. 9

The clearest new availability flag is in San Antonio's frontcourt. Quaintance confirmed he needs another surgery on his injured right knee after tearing his ACL in February 2025, and ESPN reported multiple teams believed during the predraft process that he could miss all of next season. 9

Portland's availability story is different: Damian Lillard, guard, sat out last season because of a left Achilles injury, and new Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori specifically pointed to Lillard's return while discussing ways to improve turnovers and three-point shooting. 10

Minnesota's offseason planning still has a medical angle as well. ESPN noted Donte DiVincenzo, guard, is expected to miss most or all of 2026-27 with an Achilles injury, which raises the priority of keeping Ayo Dosunmu, guard, after the Timberwolves' LaMelo Ball trade. 5

Boston remains the biggest trade-talk watch. ESPN reported the Celtics are still actively engaged in talks to move Jaylen Brown, forward, with multiple teams interested, after Boston tried to use Brown in a Giannis Antetokounmpo offer. Brown has three years left on his five-year, $285.4 million extension and is eligible for a two-year, $141.9 million extension on July 26. 11

Portland's coaching change is also worth keeping on the board. Nori, formerly a Minnesota assistant, opened his Trail Blazers tenure by promising a team that will play hard, smart and together for 48-plus minutes; Portland is coming off a 42-40 season and a first-round loss to San Antonio. 10

Bottom line: with no games on the board, today is about roster shape. Detroit added shooting, Phoenix kept its starting center, Washington introduced its No. 1 pick, Milwaukee began its post-Giannis build and the next leaguewide checkpoint is the opening of free-agent negotiations.