​  If we’re talking winners and losers of the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, we have to start with New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, the league’s reigning Finals MVP.Not only will Brunson be forever remembered in New York, the 33rd overall selection in 2018 will be mentioned every time the second round is aired — alongside Nikola Jokić, Manu Ginóbili and Draymond Green — as one of the greatest selections in draft history.There were plenty more winners and losers on Wednesday. Let’s run them down:Casually dropped into the end of ESPN’s broadcast, courtesy of Shams Charania: “Multiple teams are strongly pursuing LaMelo Ball right now. The Hornets are engaged, I’m told.”The news comes months after Ball was “open to a trade away from the franchise,” according to Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko. In between, though, the Hornets were one of the league’s hottest teams, showing promise as a future contender — with Ball at the helm of a team that includes Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and a ton of talent.Ball had perhaps grown comfortable with the idea of building off the momentum in Charlotte, but the Hornets apparently have other ideas. According to insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of Substack, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors “have emerged as two of the teams with trade interest” in Ball. Let the sweepstakes begin!ESPN began its broadcast of the second round with a different report from Charania:”The Boston Celtics are actively engaged in trade talks surrounding Jaylen Brown, with multiple interested teams, and I’m told there’s a sense of purpose — from teams around the league — that they feel from the Celtics in these conversations,” reported Charania.This much was clear: Even after Boston’s failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brown’s name remains involved in trade discussions. Whether Boston is making the calls or on the receiving end of them does not much matter. Brown has reason to be upset.The Celtics reportedly offered him and two first-round draft picks for Antetokounmpo. Boston executive Brad Stevens had an opportunity to dispel further trade speculation on Tuesday night and did not take it, telling reporters, “I’m never going to predict the future.”The sharks smell blood in the water, and they are circling these Celtics, who have been perennial contenders with Brown and Jayson Tatum at the helm of several iterations of a talented roster. The odds of getting equal value now for Brown — a member of the All-NBA Second Team and a top-six MVP candidate this past season — are getting longer.While Charania noted, “That does not mean though that a deal is guaranteed, because Jaylen Brown does have three years left on his contract,” the relationship is not going to get any better now that rumors are persisting. Who would blame Brown for ask      ​Read More