JP Balladier

Freelance Producer @Sportsnet. Former video editor @GameTVCanada, sports editor @YahooCASports. NBA fiend. Draft aficionado. CSM '14. Views are my own.

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

One day Wemby will record a quadruple-double

[CANMNT @CANMNT_Official]

Our World Cup journey comes to a close.

Canada’s football journey is only just beginning.

#CANMNT

[Keerthika Uthayakumar @keerthikau]

Quick offseason summary:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo now plays for the Heat
- Kawhi Leonard is a Raptor again
- Jaylen Brown to the Sixers
- Ja Morant to the Blazers
- La Melo Ball & Anthony Edwards are teammates in Minnesota

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

No question Kawhi keeps them in that top 5 defensive rating. Does he play enough to help that offensive rating jump into the top 10? Maybe top 5?

[Keerthika Uthayakumar @keerthikau]

Kawhi Leonard is joining:
- the 5th-best defence in the NBA, 2nd-best clutch defence
- the 2nd-youngest rotation in the 2026 playoffs (weighed by minutes, top-8)
- a top-10 halfcourt offence (99.4)
- a team that went from 26th to 15th in offensive rating with Ingram

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Big W for the Raps that they're keeping Shead

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Holyyyy

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing deal sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2 first-round picks, 1 pick swap and 2 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. A return to Canada for the Raptors champion and two-time Finals MVP.

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Surely Jrue or Scoot are on their way out with this. Will the Ja and Dame tandem work?

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, sources tell ESPN.

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Not a big, but the Raps go Jaden Bradley. Again, Raptors have a type when it comes to drafting guards.

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Fwiw my player comp for Allen Graves is a mix of Kyle Anderson and Robert Covington

[Basketball University @UofBasketball]

Allen Graves...

The analytics darling of the 2026 NBA Draft. 6'9, 7'0 wing. Crazy STL% and BLK%. Soft touch. Elite offensive rebounder. Can shoot it. Never turns it over. Plays a hyper-efficient brand of basketball.

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

I'm guessing Rafael Castro is high, high up on the Raptors board. Not sure he lasts till 50 though...

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

What's better than one Tyrese Maxey? Two Tyrese Maxeys!

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Really like Graves, just don't see the fit for him on Toronto. Philon was right there, man...

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Raptors have a type...

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Scratch that, Okorie to DET. Not as exciting a fit but still a nice piece for the Pistons. He'll 100% contribute for them this season.

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Oh man, love this spot for Okorie, gets to grow alongside Boozer, Grizz nailed this pairing

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Oh man, love this spot for Okorie, gets to grow alongside Boozer, Grizz nailed this pairing

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Ok wow, looks like this could actually happen now. I had Okorie and Philon going WAY ahead of this let alone 19....

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

I would be SHOCKED if Okorie is available at 19, more of a late lottery player for me

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

Whoever gets Flemings from this point on is getting a steal

[JP Balladier @JPBalladier]

I would be SHOCKED if Okorie is available at 19, more of a late lottery player for me

[Omer Osman @OmerOsman200]

ICYMI.

From ESPN/Jeremy Woo:

“There have been rumblings in recent days that Okorie has worked his way up the board and is drawing consideration from a few teams picking in the top 20, including Memphis, Charlotte, and Toronto.”

“Allen Graves is in consideration if they don’t pick a backcourt player.”

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

The Heat are sending to Milwaukee unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033 along with No. 13, a pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-rounder, according to sources. 

The trade does not include any additional teams -- it is a one-to-one move, sources said -- but both the Heat and Bucks will execute the deal on July 6, which leaves the framework open to see if there are opportunities to expand.

[Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun]

Hearing that the Florida Panthers are getting close to acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.
I believe Ottawa will get three first-round picks and a second-round pick in the deal if finalized. More to come.

[#1 niko fan @DidNikoWinMajor]

Yes