NBA Combine Day 1 Shocker: Unseen Draft Surprises and NIL Drama Ignite Post-Playoff Fallout

The shifting landscape of the NBA draft has taken a fascinating turn this season, and I can’t help but be intrigued by the way playoff intensity is influencing how scouting boards are being reshuffled. Kevin O’Connor teams up with Chicago’s Rafael Barlowe—one seriously sharp NBA draft mind—to dissect this evolving scenario, taking a hard look at prospects like Cedric Coward and Jase Richardson through the lens of the league’s newfound physicality. They even toss around the idea that double-big lineups might be the next strategic frontier for teams, which, honestly, could reshape basketball as we know it. Plus, the whole NIL situation? It’s stirred the pot, making the draft pool older and deeper—and not without its fair share of last-minute surprises. If you’re a draft junkie or just love the nuanced chess that is NBA team-building, this episode’s a goldmine.

LEARN MORE

Subscribe to The Kevin O’Connor Show

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

(20:47) Evaluation of Thomas Sorber(16:04) Is Dallas certain to draft Cooper Flagg?

Cooper Flagg looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine on May 13, 2025 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)(5:23) Rafael Barlowe joins(2:46) Pacers advance to Eastern Conf Finals(11:18) Evaluation of Colin Murray-BoylesAdvertisement(8:26) Evaluation of Jase Richardson(25:50) Impact of NIL on NBA Draft(5:32) Impact of playoffs on draft evaluations(18:55) What should Spurs do with #2?(6:44) Evaluation of Cedric CowardCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports PodcastsKevin O’Connor is joined by NBA draft expert Rafael Barlowe from Chicago to break down how the NBA playoffs’ rise in physical play is shifting their 2025 draft boards and prospect evaluations. They spotlight prospects like Cedric Coward and Jase Richardson and debate whether double-big lineups could become the NBA’s next big trend. The pair also break down how NIL has reshaped the draft pool, leaving it older and deeper with late withdrawals.(0:35) OKC takes series lead vs. Denver