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The decision leaves a handful of players who were drafted in the second round of June’s NBA draft with the potential option to return to school. Vanderbilt wing Tyler Nickel (No. 47 overall to the Knicks), Purdue guard Braden Smith (No. 38 by the Bulls), St. John’s guard Dillion Mitchell (No. 40 to the Celtics) and Florida State’s Lajae Jones (No. 54 to the Warriors) are all apparently eligible to play college basketball next year.
Alejandro Zuñiga: Michigan men’s basketball is hiring Dylan Murphy, most recently the head coach of the Osceola Magic NBA G League Team, as an assistant coach, I’ve learned. Murphy is a promising offensive mind who has led the Orlando Magic affiliate to two first-place conference finishes in his three seasons. His accolades there include NBA G League Coach of the Month honors in March 2025.
You played with Zach Edey at Purdue, and now you’re playing with Ivica Zubac in Indiana. They’re both traditional back-to-the-basket, post-up guys, which is rare in today’s league. What aspects of your game do you feel translate well from when you played with Edey to now, hopefully with Zubac? Braden Smith: Obviously, two big dudes and being able to play with those guys and learn how to play with them. I think it was important for me, especially early on in my first two years of college, to be with Zach. So I think it just sets you up because if you are trying to go play in the league and do those things, that’s who you’re going to get. Those are the type of guys you’re going to have to play with and learn to play with, so for me, I think it’s just a head start to that. Obviously, having Zubac on the team and being able to play with another guy very similar to that. I think it only benefits me even more because I already know how to play with a caliber player like that, and it really just makes it that much better.
Indiana Basketball: Boston bound. ☘️ @Tucker_DeVries has signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the @celtics !
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Michigan coach Dusty May is finalizing a deal to take the Dallas Mavericks head coaching job, sources told ESPN, an axis-shifting move that significantly alters the college and NBA landscape. May, 49, led Michigan basketball to the national title in 2026. He'll coach a franchise with Cooper Flagg as a linchpin piece. The Mavericks fired Jason Kidd after a 26-56 season last year.
The Lakers spent time in Spain looking at 20-year-old guard Sergio de Larrea, but many NBA scouts see him going later in the first round or even in the second. According to people not authorized to speak publicly, the Lakers were impressed by their workout with Purdue point guard Braden Smith. But he’s on the smaller side (6 feet) and played four years in college, leading scouts to believe his upside is not that high and that he’ll be drafted in the second round.
Cody Taylor: Sources: The Lakers hosted a workout on Monday with the following prospects: 🏀 Oscar Cluff, Purdue 🏀 Josh Dix, Creighton 🏀 Roddy Gayle Jr., Michigan 🏀 Nate Johnson, Kansas State 🏀 Tarris Reed Jr., UConn 🏀 Kowacie Reeves Jr., Georgia Tech
Michigan big men Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. are among the prospects who have had individual pre-draft workouts with the Thunder, according to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman
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Jake Weingarten: Michigan’s Nimari Burnett has garnered high NBA interest and has several NBA workouts, including the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets next week, a source told @stockrisers. He will have several NBA workouts following that at the end of May and into June.
Jeff Goodman: Michigan big man Aday Mara is expected to declare for the NBA Draft, sources told @TheFieldOf68. The 7-2 native of Spain was terrific this past season, with a breakout season after two years at UCLA. Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 boards and 2.6 blocks and is considered a potential lottery pick by NBA executives.
