Before the final four begins! On Azzi Fudd and Gianna Kneepkens as points of comparison, primarily with notes on why I like both the Oklahoma prospects, Rori Harmon, Kyla Oldacre and perhaps my favorite sleeper, Amelia Hassett:

very excited for the UCLA-Texas rematch. Rori Harmon was awesome in the first game -- 26/3/5, played all 40. Yes, she's a small guard with a worrisome jumper, but it's tough to see her have a bunch of two-way sequences like this and rule out a WNBA future:

this is why I harp on Nolan's "ball-control in a tight space" 0 dunks this szn, 3 last year -- doesn't have the explosion to finish a drive like this, where he picks the ball up at the FT line. gotta dribble through this dig just 43 or 44% at the rim, depending on your source:

Josh Minott provided Nets fans the quote of the season last week. Why was it so meaningful to us? Because Minott showed there is room for both honesty and pride in Brooklyn: www.netsdaily.com/nets-feature...

No matter where you land on her, Janiah Barker is one of the 2026 WNBA Draft's most interesting prospects. She played three very different roles for three very different teams, and she begs us to separate athleticism from athletic impact? lucaskaplan.substack.com/p/a-thorough...

these plays articulate much of how I feel about Drake + Nolan's defense this season Drake's just been a step slow in help/awareness (reflected in his subpar stock/deflection/rebounding numbers) whereas Nolan's had quite a strong defensive season for a rookie guard:

Nolan has made a ton of impressive plays at the rim this season but this is near the top. Fantastic anticipation/hands:

It's another loss. But maybe *maybe* it melts a bit of collective cynicism away. Maybe it was a real promise that brighter days are ahead, whether we realize that in a few months or a few years. I mean, probably not. But Josh Minott could convince me of anything: www.netsdaily.com/nets-scores-...

shoutout Josh Minott

damn OG where you going?

I truly don't think I've ever seen a play like this before. Cason Wallace *caught* his opponent's crossover. Picking a pocket without the ball hitting the floor:

For episode 75 of Pull Up, we’re joined by our good friend, @lucaskaplan.bsky.social. Ahead of the tourney, we talk through major WNBA draft prospects from several of this year’s biggest teams: UCLA, South Carolina, and UConn. In this clip, Lucas discusses Azzi Fudd’s elite shooting. 🔗⬇️

Career night for Nets' two-way Chaney Johnson moonlighting as a back-up 5 17 points, five o-boards, four dunk attempts, 6 FTs:

Clingan vs Clax size/strength difference was jarring in person probably through the screen too

Nets pulled off an unprecedented (for them!) tanking maneuver tn www.netsdaily.com/nets-scores-...

Josh Minott put up 24/3/1/3/3 today, a career-high in points while bringing defensive activity and general force/athleticism, the performance Nets fans have been waiting for:

What makes Lauren Betts a great prospect, in my eyes? Where will her impact show up on the stat-sheet, and what is the one question we should be asking ourselves in every player evaluation? All that below: lucaskaplan.substack.com/p/its-quite-...

Nets were down by 23 in Detroit, and then it got NUTS and somehow, this is how it ended. Both teams deserved to lose, but probably more so the team that blew the 23-point lead.

if I know one thing it's this team

My pal @klaytheist.bsky.social ‘s girlfriend has cancer, and they are raising funds to cover her medical bills. Please share and contribute if you can. Thank you! gofund.me/b0f968ef8

can't handle this many sports

CHAMP WEEK IS HERE! So is The Ringer’s inaugural Championship Week Bingo Contest. Read the description below to play and listen to today’s podcast for more details and a tournament preview: www.bingocardcreator.com/game/375023/

think Betts processes/finish well enough to be a real problem on empty-side actions in the W

The Nets are almost ready to turn the page. Jordi Fernández wants you to know that too: www.netsdaily.com/nets-feature...

Nelson: "I've always thought I moved well for my size, and that was a big point of emphasis when I came to Brooklyn, was to be able to guard 1-5. When I was here in the summer, that was the main thing, being able to stay in front ... of quicker ball-handlers, but I still got a lot to work on."

That was a *seriously* impressive first half from Grant Nelson, the defensive activity more than anything. Sinking down form the wing to block a cutter on the other side of the basket (last play) is something else:

Quite interested by -- but not sold on -- Janiah Barker's WNBA prospects. Assist:turnover on the Y, stock:foul on the X, sample includes about 40 players that could conceivably be described as wings. Any guesses as to the 4x All-Star and other '26 prospect?

Recall Jordi Fernández in January: "I need him to use his superpowers and touch the paint. It felt like he got caught shooting the unders ... I’m okay with a pull-up three; I don’t love it because he hasn’t shown that he can make it consistently.”

Nolan rejects, then uses the screen, then uses the re-screen and engages the big. Nolan is 3-of-8 from two tonight, but three of his misses have been tipped in, in this exact manner vs. drop. More positive plays:

mostly comes in rigid PnR structure, but Drake consistently flashes more playmaking/processing ability than his box-scores would indicate:

putting some stock into Serah Williams, no longer seeing her mocked near the round 1/2 turn. but definitely size/athleticism/feel blend low usage/mins at UCONN has killed her box-scores, but career-high boards/blocks/efficiency/A:TO, as you'd hope

red alert:

Drake Powell really getting busy:

Drake Powell rejects, live-dribble lefty kick

Rookie Report no. 8 -- do I feel any better about the Brookyn Nets' draft class now two-thirds of the way through their rookie season? Can Danny Wolf fix his biggest issue? Is Nolan Traore good now? Is Egor the new baby-faced assassin? www.netsdaily.com/nets-analysi...

to nobody's surprise, it took Jordi 20 seconds in postgame to bring up Nolan Traore's vertical contests. It helps that Chicago is the smallest team in the league, but in addition to his 13-and-13...Nolan had a fantastic defensive game:

It’s a dark, confusing world out there. But at least it’s funny. Few sporting events capture this like a true NBA Tank-Off, so shameless and so absurd, with its participants forbidden from acknowledging it as such. Sadly, the Nets didn't partake today: www.netsdaily.com/nets-scores-...

Te-Hina Paopao was a one-of-a-kind prospect, but that doesn't mean she didn't teach us a lot of lessons along the way. How can we find the next batch of off-ball WNBA guards?

re: Nets I just don't get how you fade athleticism in this league, to this extent

that's a good trade for all parties involved

I wouldn't click on this

my guess is MPJ makes the All-Star game as a Giannis replacement

nothing like watching Sinner in peak form at 4 AM everybody is asleep, all is dark except for this gangly demon on my dimly lit screen striking the ball like nobody ever has

www.netsdaily.com/nets-scores-... recap of a hilarious and crazy game

Day'Ron!

Trying to project a WNBA future for Audi Crooks is fun, not easy. Will be posting a lot of WBB writing here from now on: lucaskaplan.substack.com/p/so-is-audi...

www.netsdaily.com/nets-scores-... The NBA has not yet announced the date of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery