ESPN insider Shams Charania found himself in hot water Tuesday night after a misleading report about a draft-day trade nearly sent NBA fans into a frenzy. During the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Charania initially tweeted that the Memphis Grizzlies had agreed to send the No. 16 pick, Bennett Stirtz, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for two second-round selections. The news immediately raised eyebrows across social media.
Fans were baffled by the lopsided nature of the deal. One user wrote, "That's very questionable, does that mean OKC have traded pick 17?? I like the fit though for Stirtz." Another chimed in, "Who is Memphis gm? 2 2nds was all it took for you to let go of a 1st in a loaded draft? Wow." A third commenter simply noted, "You might have left out some key details."
As it turns out, Charania did indeed leave out a crucial detail. In a follow-up post, he corrected the report, revealing that the Thunder had also sent the No. 17 pick to the Grizzlies as part of the deal. "Memphis will draft No. 17 now via OKC," Charania clarified. "So the Grizzlies get two second-round picks and swap the No. 16 pick for No. 17."
The correction came after a wave of criticism, with many pointing out that the initial report made the Grizzlies look foolish. The incident added to the drama of an already eventful draft night, which also saw Jaylen Brown trade rumors swirling around the Celtics. The mix-up also sparked broader conversations about the accuracy of breaking news in the fast-paced world of sports media.
Stirtz's potential impact on the Thunder
Bennett Stirtz, a standout guard from Drake and Iowa, is now headed to Oklahoma City. The Hawkeyes guard was a key factor in Iowa's run to the Elite Eight this past season, averaging 19.8 points per game. His playmaking and shooting ability make him a valuable addition to the Thunder's young core.
ESPN's Jeremy Woo commented on the trade, saying, "Stirtz was likely to come off the board in this range and turned out to be a target for the Thunder, who were presumably worried about Memphis picking him and willing to pay to ensure they got him. He is a rotation-ready playmaker who gives OKC additional shooting and playmaking off the bench."
The Thunder, known for their deep roster of young talent, will now look to integrate Stirtz into their system. Whether he cracks the rotation for the 2026-27 season remains to be seen, but his college pedigree suggests he could make an immediate impact.
The draft night gaffe is not the first time Charania has faced scrutiny. The incident echoes Richard Jefferson's controversial comments about Jay Williams during the same draft broadcast, highlighting a night of missteps for some of ESPN's top personalities. Fans were also vocal about ESPN's overall draft coverage being boring and a snooze fest, adding to the network's rough evening.
As the dust settles, the Thunder have added a promising guard, while the Grizzlies picked up an extra second-rounder and moved down one spot. For Charania, the lesson is clear: double-check the details before hitting send.
