AJ Dybantsa announced his commitment to BYU on ESPN, picking the Cougars over Alabama, Kansas and North Carolina. Dybantsa is the No. 1 recruit in the incoming 2025 college class and expected to be one of the top selections in the 2026 NBA draft.
Dybantsa plays at Utah Prep and will join Kevin Young’s program next season. Young left his role as assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns to become head coach of BYU last year.
Dybantsa is a 6’9 shot creator on the wing with a game that draws comparisons to Jayson Tatum. Some consider Dybantsa to be an even better prospect than expected 2025 top overall pick Cooper Flagg because he has more star potential.
Brandon Ingram’s previous agents were seeking a contract worth $50 million per season with the New Orleans Pelicans as part of his extension. The annual average is near his maximum and the two sides were unable to get a deal done.
Ingram recently left Jeff Schwartz and signed with Shy Saee, Mike George and CEO Rich Paul of Klutch Sports as his representation.
The Pelicans have luxury tax concerns and are already at $157 million without accounting for Ingram’s contract next season.
While the Pelicans highly value Ingram and would like to keep him, they are unlikely to reach Ingram’s current salary annually on an extension, making the trade route much more likely than a long-term deal, sources tell ESPN.
The Miami Heat are open to listening to trade offers for star wing Jimmy Butler. The Heat have been stuck in Play-In Tournament range and have been unable to find common ground with Butler on an extension.
Butler has let it be known that he’d prefer to be traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets or Golden State. The first two teams play in his home state of Texas, and all three are contenders. That’s crucial for Butler, who prefers to play for a win-now team.
The veteran wing makes $48.8 million this season. Butler holds a player option for $52.4 million for the 2025-26 season. The 35-year-old could opt out of his contract and sign an extension with a new team following a trade. Butler could also opt in and extend this summer, as well as opting out and going to free agency in July.
