Mark Cuban Buys Stake in CEBL’s Brampton Honey Badgers; Players Debate Tanking, 2026 Draft Buzz Builds
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Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban has joined the ownership group of the Brampton Honey Badgers, the club announced Thursday. The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) franchise said Cuban’s involvement formalizes support he had already been providing, including connecting the team with current chief executive Al Whitley, a former Dallas executive.
“No one brings more basketball knowledge and winning culture than Mark,” team owner Leonard Asper said in a statement, adding that the organization is “honored to have him join.”
The CEBL launched in 2019 and now fields 10 teams across six Canadian provinces. The league has attracted numerous former NBA players; during the 2025 season, four of its five leading scorers—Javonte Smart, Mitch Creek, Donovan Williams and Terquavion Smith—had logged NBA minutes.
Players Split on Tanking Issue
A player survey by The Athletic found that only about 28 percent of respondents believe tanking is not a problem for the NBA, while 72 percent see it as either a major or minor concern. “I’m salty on this one; I think the league needs to do something about it,” one player told the publication.
The poll also showed 75 percent of players do not think the NBA’s integrity is in serious jeopardy. Asked what changes they would implement if they ran the league, players most frequently suggested shortening the regular season, eliminating back-to-backs, adjusting rules to aid defenses, and expanding beyond 30 teams.
2026 Draft Talk Heats Up
With the draft lottery set for Sunday, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman released an updated 2026 mock draft. The new projection contains few surprises at the top, but Arizona guard Brayden Burries has climbed into the top 10 after UConn’s Braylon Mullins chose to stay in school.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo previewed the lottery by outlining each team’s odds for the No. 1 pick—from the Washington Wizards down to the Charlotte Hornets—and highlighting prospects who could fit each roster.
Source: Hoops Rumors
