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The NBA’s two-day draft ended on Thursday, which means it’s time to look ahead to the 2025 edition of the draft. West Virginia forward Tucker DeVries was featured in SB Nation’s mock draft, going No. 30 in the first round.
SB Nation is very high on DeVries, with the Iowa native being the only senior listed in the first-round mock draft.
ESPN, CBS Sports and others released their mock drafts, some with two-round projections but DeVries did not make those lists.
DeVries (6-foot-7) averaged 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Bulldogs this past season. DeVries shot 44% from the field, 36% from three and 81% from the free throw line. DeVries is the reigning back-to-back Missouri Valley Player of the Year. DeVries was regarded as a top transfer in the portal this offseason by many outlets, including analyst Andy Katz.
DeVries has one year of eligibility remaining and decided to join his dad at West Virginia.
“[My dad] certainly felt like this is a place he can be successful and excited to be a part of. And we were all in full support of that. For me to be able to come here my senior year, I’m really looking forward to it,” Tucker said in March.
DeVries did have shoulder surgery back in March.
More must-reads:
- Why as many as 100 NFL players are facing fines and potential suspension
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- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Aaron Boone Makes Feelings Clear After Yankees’ Big Trade
The New York Yankees didn't come into the season with the strongest third base situation, and it only got worse over time. They converted traditional second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the hot corner after getting him at the Trade Deadline last season and installed a timeshare with him, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera there in 2025. However, the latter player broke his ankle on May 12, and the Yankees released the now 37-year-old LeMahieu on July 10. Chisholm was primarily back at second at that point, so this left Peraza and Jorbit Vivas as their only true remaining third basemen. With Peraza hitting .147 and Vivas hitting .164, it was clear what the team's biggest need was. That's why it acquired veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. New York manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts about the 30-year-old before Friday's bout with the Philadelphia Phillies, via SNY. "I know there's real offensive potential there. I know he's had real offensive success, as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year or two," he said. "It seems like over the last month he's really started swinging the bat like he's capable of. He can impact the ball, he can control the strike zone, he's had some swing-and-misses that have probably hurt him a little bit." "But then he can really defend over there," he continued. "The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there.' He moves really well and has that prototypical good third base thing." McMahon is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 homers and 35 RBI over 100 games this season. He also has a .978 fielding percentage and six errors. Right-handed pitcher Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) will start for the Yankees against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) on Friday.
Five potential landing spots for Christian Wilkins after stunning Raiders release
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
Why as many as 100 NFL players are facing fines and potential suspension
There is not a bigger sporting event in North America than the Super Bowl, and tickets are only getting more expensive every year. There is also a ridiculous secondary market for tickets where seats sell for well above the original face value. It is usually fans or ticket resellers going for a quick profit. But as was reported on Friday, sometimes it can be players in the NFL looking to make a profit. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press and ESPN, more than 100 players are facing fines and potential suspensions for selling their allotment of tickets to this year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for above face value. Players are reportedly facing fines of one-and-a-half times the face value they originally paid for the tickets, while they are also prevented from purchasing tickets to the Super Bowl for the next seasons. The Associated Press obtained a memo from the NFL detailing the violation and investigation. That memo was as follows: “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.” If players are not willing to pay the fine, they could be facing suspension from the league. It seems unlikely that any of the players — none of whom have been named, or their teams — would refuse to pay such a fine. It's also one of those moments where you can say, professional athletes — they're still normal people trying to make a quick buck. The most logical answer here is perhaps some of the players caught up in this are younger players who have not yet struck it rich on a big contract or perhaps even practice squad players who are not making top dollar.
Suns reportedly giving Jalen Green a gigantic responsibility
The Phoenix Suns might be making one of the most drastic backcourt shifts of the offseason. According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, the plan is for Jalen Green to become the team’s starting point guard, with Devin Booker sliding over to his more natural role at shooting guard. It sounds good in theory — Booker is a better scorer than primary creator — but it’s a massive role for Green, who has never really been a full-time floor general in the NBA. Booker is clearly more dangerous when he can focus on scoring. Back when he played next to Chris Paul, his numbers reflected that comfort. In 2020-21, their first year together, he averaged 25.6 points per game on nearly 49% shooting from the field. In 2021-22, his scoring number jumped to 26.8. By 2022-23, Booker was at 27.8 points per game with CP3 still around. His efficiency was elite, and the Suns’ offense had flow because Paul took care of the table-setting while Booker focused on punishing defenses. That’s the blueprint they’re trying to replicate again — but now with Green instead of a Hall of Famer. Green is super talented. He just averaged 21 points per game for the Rockets last season, playing all 82 games. He’s electric in transition, has the athleticism to beat defenders off the dribble and can heat up fast. But he’s never been a consistent decision-maker. His career average of 3.4 assists per game doesn’t exactly scream “primary ball handler.” And even with his usage in Houston, Green hasn’t shown elite feel as a pick-and-roll passer or off-ball connector. In fact, per Synergy data, Green ranked only around the 68th percentile as a scorer in pick-and-rolls last season — not bad, but not elite. His shot creation can be dynamic, but the playmaking reads still lag behind. That’s fine if you’re a two-guard, but this new role means he’ll be initiating the offense, setting up Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and others and making sure the ball moves. That’s a steep jump in responsibility. The Suns are clearly banking on upside. At 23, Green still has room to grow. And placing him next to Booker, Allen, Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Ryan Dunn gives him a setting with veteran stability and growing young pieces. He won’t be expected to carry the scoring load — that still falls on Booker — but he will be asked to push the pace, make smart reads, limit turnovers and develop as a true facilitator and efficient scorer. Still, it’s a gamble. Green hasn’t proven he can be that guy yet. And Booker’s not the type of player you want to waste in a stagnant offense with poor ball movement. With the Suns hoping to contend in the West, they can’t afford to have a question mark at point guard every night. There’s also the issue of expectations. Green is playing next to a superstar who’s been deep in the playoffs multiple times. There’s pressure to deliver. And with the Suns’ injury history, Green’s importance could grow even more if the team leans on him for more stability than originally planned. At the end of the day, this move is all about unlocking Booker. Let him go back to his natural game — attacking off the catch, pulling up from midrange and torching switches. That’s the best version of the Suns. Whether or not Green can help bring that out consistently will be one of the biggest storylines of the season in Phoenix.
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