Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott are the finalists in the Phoenix Sun...

<p>Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott are the finalists in the Phoenix Suns' head coaching search, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45435950/sources-cavaliers-bryant-ott-finalists-suns-coaching-job">ESPN's Shams Charania</a>.</p><p>The two will reportedly meet with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein, and new general manager Brian Gregory sometime this week. A final decision is expected soon after, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/Gambo987/status/1929575500822822966">John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM</a>.</p><p>Bryant and Ott both joined the Cavaliers in September as Kenny Atkinson filled out his staff ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Bryant was named associate head coach after four seasons in the same role with the New York Knicks. Ott was an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers for two years after six with the Brooklyn Nets, four of which were under Atkinson.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>With both supporting Atkinson on the Cavaliers' bench, Cleveland topped the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record - the second-best regular-season finish in franchise history. The Cavs also boasted the league's best offensive rating at 121 points per 100 possessions, and their 111.8 defensive rating ranked eighth in the NBA. Atkinson was named Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season.</p><p>Ott was a video coordinator from 2008-2013 under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, Ishbia's alma mater. Gregory, who was promoted to Suns GM in May, also spent time with the Spartans, working as an assistant to Izzo in two separate four-year stints. Bryant played three seasons at Utah from 2005-08 before joining the Jazz as a player development assistant in 2012.</p><p>Suns star Devin Booker, who was born in Michigan, has contributed to the team's search within the last 10 days, Charania reports.</p><p>Phoenix reportedly cast a wide net as it searched for a successor to Mike Budenholzer, whom they fired after just one season in which they went 36-46. Current Suns assistant David Fizdale and New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego were <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3287790" href="https://thescore.com/news/3287790">reportedly</a> among several other candidates for the opening.</p>

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 9: Head Coach Johnnie Bryant and Assistant Coach Jordan Ott looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 2 Game 3 on May 9, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Report: Suns coaching search down to Cavs assistants Bryant, Ott

The Utah Jazz hired Austin Ainge to be their president of basketball operations, the team announc...

<p>The Utah Jazz hired Austin Ainge to be their president of basketball operations, the team announced Monday.</p><p>Ainge was previously the assistant general manager for the Boston Celtics. He's the son of the Jazz's CEO, Danny Ainge, who retired from his top-level role in Boston's front office in June 2021 and joined Utah six months later.</p><p>The younger Ainge's first role in the Celtics' front office was in 2011 when he was named director of player personnel following stints as a scout and a G League head coach. He was Boston's assistant GM for the last six seasons, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45434542/jazz-hire-celtics-austin-ainge-president-basketball-ops">ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Shams Charania</a>. The franchise won its 18th championship in 2024 after an unsuccessful Finals appearance in 2021.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Jazz governor Ryan Smith said the new hire will have final say on team decisions, according to <a href="https://x.com/NBASarah/status/1929652717531914541">Sarah Todd of the Deseret News</a>. He added that it was his call to pry Austin from the Celtics.</p><p>"It's go time for us: Will (Hardy) is locked in long term, and I've known Austin for a really long time, and he's the next, young executive stud," Smith told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45434542/jazz-hire-celtics-austin-ainge-president-basketball-ops">Bontemps and Charania</a>. "He wasn't going to be available much longer. It's good timing on all parts.</p><p>"As I look out into the future, there's no one I would rather have run this organization than Austin. His pedigree, his knowledge and his talent evaluation shined through, working with DA for so long and having the trust of Brad (Stevens) all of these years. Austin has the full capabilities to run our operations - he's methodical, diligent and just brilliant."</p><p>Like his dad, the younger Ainge played four college seasons at BYU from 2003 to 2007. He started in 53 of 101 total games for the Cougars, averaging 6.6 points, 3.5 assists, and shooting 40.2% from three while helping the school make the NCAA Tournament as a senior.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Danny Ainge CEO of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz and Austin Ainge Director of Player Personnel for the Boston Celtics smile and look on during the 2022 NBA Summer League on July 9, 2022 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE

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Jazz hire former Celtics executive Austin Ainge as team president

The Toronto Raptors may be a preferred destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Buc...

<p>The Toronto Raptors may be a preferred destination for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30611" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30611">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> if the Milwaukee Bucks star requests a trade this summer.</p><p>There's a mutual interest shared between the Raptors and the nine-time All-Star, according to the <a href="https://www.thestar.com/sports/doug-smiths-sports-blog/raptors-mailbag-shai-gilgeous-alexander-vs-steve-nash-and-the-case-to-trade-for-giannis/article_9d14661b-c351-443e-ad2e-c8e22723ecea.html#:~:text=I%20don%E2%80%99t%20know%20if%20it%20will%20happen%20but%20I%20do%20know%20there%20is%20mutual%20interest%20between%20Antetokounmpo%20and%20the%20Raptors.%20The%20wild%20card%20is%20the%20cost.">Toronto Star's Doug Smith</a>, who posits that Toronto could entice Milwaukee with a trade package featuring some of its young players, as well as considerable draft compensation.</p><p>Antetokounmpo has yet to make any decisions about his long-term future following Milwaukee's five-game, first-round series loss to the Indiana Pacers in late April. The Greek Freak is expected to sit down with Bucks ownership this offseason, but that meeting <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3292254" href="https://thescore.com/news/3292254">reportedly</a> had yet to happen as of Tuesday.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Toronto, meanwhile, is supposedly hunting for a blockbuster acquisition. Teams around the league are under the belief that the Raptors are gearing up to try to trade for a "big fish" this summer, <a href="https://youtu.be/O0pe4YsI8qY?t=1314">ESPN's Brian Windhorst</a> said Sunday on "The Hoop Collective" podcast. However, it's unclear if Antetokounmpo is a priority for the Raptors' front office.</p><p>Antetokounmpo is under contract through 2027-28, a season in which he'll hold an estimated $62.3-million player option. However, he <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3284641" href="https://thescore.com/news/3284641">reportedly</a> signaled in May that he's now open to considering his best fits outside Milwaukee with the Bucks in a difficult situation. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/5343" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/5343">Damian Lillard</a> will likely miss a substantial portion of next season after tearing his Achilles in the Pacers series, potentially hamstringing Milwaukee's ability to be competitive in 2025-26.</p><p>Further complicating matters is that a host of key Bucks rotation players could leave this summer. Veteran center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/300" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/300">Brook Lopez</a> and shooting guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60234" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60234">Gary Trent Jr.</a> are impending free agents, while <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30845" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30845">Bobby Portis</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/11120" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/11120">Pat Connaughton</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/70216" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/70216">Kevin Porter Jr.</a> all have player options.</p>

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 6: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks holds Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena on January 6, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

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Report: Raptors, Giannis share mutual interest

Myles Turner believes the superteam era may be over.  After helping his Indiana Pacers defeat the...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37711" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37711">Myles Turner</a> believes the superteam era may be over.</p><p>After helping his Indiana Pacers defeat the New York Knicks on Saturday to win the Eastern Conference finals, the center cited similarities in roster construction and play style between the Pacers and their NBA Finals opponents, the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p><p>"It's a new blueprint for the league," Turner said, according to <a href="https://x.com/curlyfro/status/1929023439127404760">The Athletic's Shakeia Taylor</a>. "I think the years of the super teams ... it's not as effective as it once was.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"The new trend now is just kind of what we're doing. OKC does the same thing. Young guys who get out and run and use the power of friendship."</p><p>Oklahoma City and Indiana were among the top turnover punishers during the regular season, with the Thunder averaging a league-best 21.8 points per game off turnovers and the Pacers' 18.3 ranking 12th. Indiana was slightly more effective in transition, registering 17.5 fast-break points per contest (fifth in the NBA) to the Thunder's 16.1.</p><p>However, both sides were adept at limiting those opportunities for opponents; the Thunder and Pacers held teams to just 12.3 and 13.2 fast-break points per game, respectively - the two best marks in the league.</p><p>One of the multiple roster construction parallels between the sides involves franchise stars <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60411" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60411">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/93893" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/93893">Tyrese Haliburton</a>.</p><p>The two point guards were acquired via trade after brief stints with their first NBA teams. Gilgeous-Alexander played his rookie year with the Los Angeles Clippers before being sent to Oklahoma City in 2019. Haliburton, meanwhile, arrived in Indiana midway through his 2021-22 sophomore campaign after he'd played just 109 games in one-and-a-half seasons with the Sacramento Kings.</p><p>Philadelphia 76ers wing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/1889" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/1889">Paul George</a> had a significant role in the construction of both Finals contestants. After seven seasons in Indiana, George was traded to Oklahoma City for guard Victor Oladipo and center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/38429" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/38429">Domantas Sabonis</a>. Two years later, the Clippers acquired George in the deal that sent Gilgeous-Alexander to Oklahoma City, while the Pacers flipped Sabonis to the Kings in the six-player swap that landed them Haliburton.</p><p>Both franchises also took a leap with defensively skilled trade acquisitions in 2024. The Thunder pried <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/25024" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/25024">Alex Caruso</a> from the Chicago Bulls last June, while Indiana landed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/39061" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/39061">Pascal Siakam</a> from the Toronto Raptors six months earlier in a three-team deal. Both Siakam and Caruso led their respective squads in defensive rating this regular season among players with at least 600 minutes.</p>

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 29: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder Paycom Center on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Turner: Thunder-Pacers Finals represents 'new blueprint' for NBA

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to be among the trade suitors for Boston Celtics guard Jrue...

<p>The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to be among the trade suitors for Boston Celtics guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/383" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/383">Jrue Holiday</a> this summer, a source told <a href="https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2025/05/familiar-suitor-expected-to-show-interest-in-jrue-holiday-trade-with-celtics.html">MassLive's Brian Robb</a>.</p><p>Holiday, 34, is reportedly expected to be targeted by several teams this offseason. The Celtics guard started 62 games in 2024-25, averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game with shooting splits of 44.3/35.3/90.9. However, his impact is arguably greatest on defense; the Celtics' defensive rating was at its worst when Holiday was off the court (110.5 points per 100 possessions), and his 107.7 on-court mark was the second-best on Boston among players with at least 500 minutes.</p><p>Boston is likely to seriously consider dealing Holiday as the franchise stares down one of the highest tax bills for any team in NBA history. Due to changes introduced by the most recent CBA, the Celtics are on course to pay over $280 million in luxury taxes next season, a figure that doesn't include the $227 million already penciled in for player salaries.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Holiday is slated to earn $32.4 million in 2025-26, and Celtics star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/52651" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/52651">Jayson Tatum</a> will miss a considerable portion of the season due to tearing his Achilles in these playoffs. Holiday is under contract through 2026-27 and holds a $37.2-million player option for 2027-28, making him an enticing option for contenders trying to supplement their rosters - and a simple solution for a Celtics front office that was <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3287345" href="https://thescore.com/news/3287345">reportedly</a> considering significant changes even before Tatum's long-term injury.</p><p>For the Clippers, Holiday would add another experienced ball-handler and distributor to a club whose 25.2 assists per game last season ranked 23rd in the NBA. While he could start alongside <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/351" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/351">James Harden</a> in a similar role to that of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/24864" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/24864">Kris Dunn</a> this year, Holiday could also offer the Clippers some insurance for Harden. The 35-year-old could elect to hit free agency if he turns down his $36.4-million player option for next season by the end of June.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 23: Jrue Holiday #4 of the Boston Celtics talks to James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers before the game on December 23, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

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Report: Clippers interested in trading for Celtics' Holiday

The Big Dance could soon become The Bigger Dance.  NCAA president Charlie Baker said Thursday tha...

<p>The Big Dance could soon become The Bigger Dance.</p><p>NCAA president Charlie Baker said Thursday that he's aiming to expand the men's national basketball tournament from its current 68-team format for the upcoming 2026 edition.</p><p>"That would be the goal, to try and do this for next year. ... We've been talking about 72 and 76," he said during the Big 12 spring meetings, according to <a href="https://x.com/_DavidRumsey/status/1928092629868368256">David Rumsey of Front Office Sports</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The NCAA increased the number of teams competing in March Madness from 65 to 68 in 2011 with the introduction of the First Four. Prior to then, the overall field was set at 65, with the two lowest-ranked auto-bid schools squaring off in a single, opening-round game to determine who would advance to the main bracket as the 64th team. The implementation of the First Four was announced as part of a $10.8-million broadcasting rights deal signed with CBS and Turner Sports in 2010. That contract was initially set to expire in 2024 but all parties agreed in 2016 to extend it through 2032.</p><p>Kansas head coach Bill Self is among the Division I coaches most familiar with March Madness. A two-time NCAA Tournament champion, he's also made the event every year it's been held since taking over the Jayhawks in 2003. Self suggested Wednesday that his fellow Big 12 coaches are receptive to the idea of tournament expansion but still need to agree on the details.</p><p>"There was a little bit that was brought forth, and the consensus among the coaches was - even though it was very little - was (that) we would be in favor of it," he told <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/big-12-mens-coaches-in-favor-of-expanding-march-madness/">Rumsey</a>.</p><p>"I don’t know the number we'd go to. But I do know that there's discussions about that."</p>

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 29: A general view of Chase Center before a game between the Florida Gators and the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Elite Eight round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Chase Center on March 29, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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NCAA president Baker targeting March Madness expansion for 2026

The New York Knicks needed a historic effort to avoid going down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference fi...

<p>The New York Knicks needed a historic effort to avoid going down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. They got one.</p><p>Tom Thibodeau's side erased a 20-point Indiana Pacers lead to win 106-100 in Game 3 on Sunday, cementing this year's Knicks as the only team to win three games in which it trailed by 20 or more points in a single postseason.</p><p>"In playoff basketball - I know you guys roll your eyes when I say 'No lead is safe,' but no lead is safe," Thibodeau <a href="https://www.x.com/NBATV/status/1926837843244069197">said</a> of his team's second-half turnaround. "Because I think with the 3-point shot, people make up ground quickly. The pace of the game. ... You see comebacks all the time. And if you let up just a little bit, that's what happens. So, you got to win games different ways.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Obviously, you prefer to play from a lead, but whatever it is that you have to do, that's what you have to do to get the win in the end. Going into the game, we talked about, 'You don't play the series, you play the games. Just focus in on what it takes to win tonight's game.' That's all we're thinking about."</p><p>New York's other such comebacks this postseason both came against the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals. After stunning Boston in overtime on its own floor in Game 1, the Knicks pulled off a second consecutive 20-point recovery to silence TD Garden again and return home with a 2-0 series lead.</p><p>Center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37817" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37817">Karl-Anthony Towns</a>, who only played five-and-a-half minutes in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' Game 2 loss, spearheaded their rally Sunday by scoring 20 of his 24 points and shooting 6-of-9, including 3-of-4 from deep, in the final frame.</p><p>"KAT, when he gets in that zone like that, it's gonna be tough to stop him," forward Mikal Bridges told media postgame, including <a href="https://x.com/sny_knicks/status/1926842998085534102">SNY</a>. "We needed every single point that he gave us in that fourth quarter."</p><p>Game 4 tips off Tuesday in Indianapolis at 8 p.m. ET.</p>

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 25: Head Coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Thibodeau stresses no playoff lead safe after Knicks' 20-point comeback

Karl-Anthony Towns played just under five-and-a-half minutes in the fourth quarter Friday as the ...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37817" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37817">Karl-Anthony Towns</a> played just under five-and-a-half minutes in the fourth quarter Friday as the New York Knicks lost again at home to fall behind 2-0 to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.</p><p>Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said his belief in the team's lineup at the time was behind his decision to hold the starting center out longer than usual.</p><p>"We got in a hole, and then the group that was in there gave us a chance, so we were just riding that," Thibodeau said postgame, per <a href="https://x.com/sny_knicks/status/1926110670803628441">SNY</a>. "We were just searching for a way to win."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Towns, who finished a team-worst minus-20 in Game 2, started the fourth but checked out alongside reserve guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/31408" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/31408">Cameron Payne</a> after three minutes for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45223" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45223">Jalen Brunson</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/46480" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/46480">OG Anunoby</a> with Indiana up 94-85. The Knicks immediately responded with a 9-3 run and kept the Pacers within five points for multiple possessions until <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37711" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37711">Myles Turner</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/93893" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/93893">Tyrese Haliburton</a> hit back-to-back threes as Indiana pulled away with four minutes to play.</p><p>Towns eventually re-entered at the 2:25 mark with New York trailing by nine. The Knicks made it interesting late, but Towns went without a field goal in the final frame.</p><p>The Knicks have dropped Games 1 and 2 at home for the first time in franchise history. They went down 2-0 in their last Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2000 - also against the Pacers - but responded with two wins in New York City before losing the series in six games.</p><p>Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Denver Nuggets in the second round last season despite losing three straight after taking a 2-0 series lead. He said Saturday he hopes to draw from his playoff experience to help lift the Knicks out of their current hole.</p><p>"If I've learned anything, especially last year, as quick as you win two games is as quick as you can lose two games," he <a href="https://x.com/sny_knicks/status/1926120359633289333">said</a>.</p><p> </p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2025 in New York City.

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Thibs explains KAT's sparse minutes in 4th: On-court group 'gave us a chance'

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received some unexpected support Tuesday for h...

<p>Oklahoma City Thunder star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60411" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60411">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> received some unexpected support Tuesday for his MVP case.</p><p>"He showed why he's the MVP," Malone, who joined ESPN as an analyst for the conference finals, said on the broadcast after the Thunder's 114-88 Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. "He took over in the second half."</p><p>Malone's comments will likely sting for Nuggets fans who hope to see star center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37604" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37604">Nikola Jokic</a> win a fourth MVP honor. The Serbian center is again a finalist this season, along with Gilgeous-Alexander and Milwaukee Bucks forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30611" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30611">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> - though the race is expected to come down to Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Nuggets fired Malone April 8 with just three games remaining in their regular season. The dismissal is tied for the latest in-season coaching change in NBA history. He was replaced by his top assistant, David Adelman, who took Denver to the second round where it lost to the Thunder in seven games.</p><p>Malone first joined the Nuggets in 2015-16 in what was also Jokic's rookie campaign. The two spent 10 years together and were pivotal in Denver's 2023 championship, the only title in franchise history.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 18: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder talk during NBA All-Star Practice presented by AT&T as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

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Ex-Nuggets coach Malone: SGA 'showed why' he's MVP vs. T-Wolves

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the NCAA, arguing he should be perm...

<p>Tennessee guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/95843" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/95843">Zakai Zeigler</a> filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the NCAA, arguing he should be permitted to play a fifth season, according to <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2025/05/20/zakai-zeigler-lawsuit-ncaa-eligibility-tennessee-basketball-roster/83721786007/">Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel</a>.</p><p>The suit claims that Zeigler, who's played 138 games over four seasons with the Volunteers, should be eligible to play in the 2025-26 campaign because of an NCAA rule that permits players who redshirted a season to return for a fifth year. Zeigler's lawyers argue that, because student athletes are now eligible for compensation under NIL legislation, it's "unlawful" for the NCAA to restrict that fifth-year exception to players who sat out a previous campaign.</p><p>With 2025-26 roster decisions already taking place, Zeigler is seeking a preliminary injunction that would immediately make the third-team All-American eligible to suit up next season while his case is reviewed.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"(The fifth season is) the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes," Zeigler's suit claims, according to Wilson. A study by Spyre Sports Group, a sports marketing agency, estimated Zeigler could earn up to $4 million in NIL compensation in 2025-26.</p><p>Zeigler averaged 13.6 points and a team-high 7.4 assists as a senior, helping Tennessee get to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight for a second consecutive year. The 5-foot-9 guard led the SEC in assists per game every season after his freshman year, and his 747 career assists rank third in conference history behind former Ole Miss guard Sean Tuohy and Arkansas alumnus Kareem Reid.</p><p>The NCAA provided all players impacted by the pandemic's disruption of the 2019-20 season with a blanket waiver for a fifth year. However, Zeigler didn't begin college play until 2021-22.</p>

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 28: Zakai Zeigler #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 28, 2025 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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Tennessee's Zeigler sues NCAA for 5th year of eligibility

Nikola Jokic believes the Denver Nuggets' lack of bench options was a factor in their playoff pus...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37604" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37604">Nikola Jokic</a> believes the Denver Nuggets' lack of bench options was a factor in their playoff push falling short.</p><p>"Yes, we definitely need (more depth)," the Nuggets star <a href="https://x.com/ohnohedidnt24/status/1924253352411406411">said</a> after Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. "I think we've played so long in such a way it's hard for the guys to step up, especially in the playoffs, especially against two really good teams, the (Los Angeles) Clippers and OKC.</p><p>"We cannot ask somebody who didn't play maybe 20, 30 games to jump in and expect them to be good. ... But it definitely seems like the teams that have longer rotations, a longer bench, are the ones who are winning: Indiana, OKC, Minnesota."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Denver had one of the most seldom used reserve units in the postseason, with the bench averaging just 11 minutes per game through two rounds. The New York Knicks (10.1 minutes) are the only playoff team to deploy their reserves less frequently. The Thunder, meanwhile, rank third in the postseason with 17.6 bench minutes per game and the Pacers are sixth at 16.6.</p><p>Oklahoma City also boasts the postseason's most impactful bench with a 13.5 net rating. The Nuggets bench's minus-5.5 net rating ranks 11th of the 16 teams that made the playoffs this season. None of the four conference finalists' benches have a negative net rating.</p><p>Denver's thinner depth was also evident throughout the regular season. For a second consecutive year, the Nuggets ranked 22nd in the league in bench net rating, but their minus-2.2 mark was a drop from the minus-1.5 posted in 2023-24.</p><p>The coming offseason could provide the Nuggets with an opportunity to overhaul their secondary unit. Both <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/347" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/347">Russell Westbrook</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37598" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37598">Dario Saric</a> will have to decide on relatively inexpensive player options for 2025-26. Center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/200" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/200">DeAndre Jordan</a> and forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60052" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60052">Vlatko Cancar</a>, the team's least used players in the postseason, will be unrestricted free agents.</p>

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Nikola Jokic #15 and the Denver Nuggets starters look on from the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Jokic: Nuggets 'definitely need' deeper bench 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points while Jalen Williams added 24 points, seven assists, and...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60411" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60411">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> scored 35 points while <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102799" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102799">Jalen Williams</a> added 24<strong> </strong>points, seven assists, and five rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a dominant 125-93 win over the Denver Nuggets in Sunday's Game 7.</p><p>The Thunder will square off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first Western Conference finals since 2016, with Game 1 <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3286099" href="https://thescore.com/news/3286099">tipping off</a> Tuesday in Oklahoma City.</p><p>Mark Daigneault's team entered the fourth quarter Sunday with a 25-point lead and only increased it in the final frame, pushing the advantage to 43 points over the 2023 champions.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Oklahoma City fueled its second-half surge with a 16-3 run in the final three minutes of the second quarter. The Thunder scored nine unanswered points after the restart, fueled partly by a flagrant-1 foul assessed to Nuggets forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30810" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30810">Aaron Gordon</a>, who was noticeably limited Sunday while reportedly playing with a partially torn hamstring.</p><p>Reigning MVP and 2025 finalist <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37604" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37604">Nikola Jokic</a> led Denver with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists but posted a minus-23 in the loss. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102793" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102793">Christian Braun</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/44995" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/44995">Jamal Murray</a> scored 19 and 13 points, respectively, though no other Nuggets player reached double digits. Gordon, who played 25 minutes despite his injury, finished with eight points and 11 rebounds.</p><p>"Off the top, I want to acknowledge Denver, they displayed the mettle of a champion," Daigneault <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1924234549749260321">said</a> to begin his postgame press conference. "Obviously, they've won championships, the core guys, and they displayed that this series. The run to this point and the run they gave us was impressive. They're a bunch of zombies.</p><p>"We have the ultimate respect for their team, and we're better now than we were at the beginning of the series, and it's because of them. They pushed us to the limit. We just have such respect for all the guys in that locker room and their staff and their organization, and I just wanted to hit that off the top."</p><p>The Thunder's win guarantees the NBA will crown a seventh different champion in as many seasons. It also ensures one of the four remaining teams will snap a significant championship drought.</p><p>The Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers are still searching for their first NBA title, while the two-time champion New York Knicks last won in 1973. The Thunder technically have the most recent title of the four, though the franchise's only championship was captured in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics.</p>

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after slam dunking during the second quarter in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Thunder blow out Nuggets in Game 7, set up West finals vs. Wolves

New York is partying like it's 2000 again.  Karl-Anthony Towns posted 21 points and 12 rebounds, ...

<p>New York is partying like it's 2000 again.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37817" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37817">Karl-Anthony Towns</a> posted 21 points and 12 rebounds, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30695" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30695">Josh Hart</a> notched a triple-double, and the New York Knicks eviscerated the Boston Celtics, 119-81, in Game 6 on Friday at Madison Square Garden to win their second-round series.</p><p>New York will next compete against the Indiana Pacers for a spot in the NBA Finals. It's the Knicks' first trip to the Eastern Conference finals since 2000 when they were thwarted by Reggie Miller and the Pacers in six games.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"The goal is always to win a championship," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said postgame, according to <a href="https://x.com/IanBegley/status/1923572251225436412">Ian Begley of SNY</a>, after dispatching their Atlantic Division rivals. "We have eight wins, we need 16."</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45455" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45455">Jaylen Brown</a> led the Celtics with 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists but fouled out with 2:50 remaining in the third. Joe Mazzulla's squad, playing without the injured <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/52651" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/52651">Jayson Tatum</a> for a second straight game, mustered little other offense, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/93845" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/93845">Payton Pritchard</a> (11) and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/12" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/12">Al Horford</a> (10) the only other Celtics to score in double digits.</p><p>The Knicks took a 27-point lead into the break after more than doubling up Boston 38-17 in the second quarter. It tied the franchise record for the largest halftime advantage in the playoffs, equaling a 69-42 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals.</p><p>Hart's triple-double is the first in the postseason by a Knicks player since Walt Frazier in 1972. Hart is also just the third player to register one in franchise history, joining Frazier (four times), and Dick McGuire.</p><p>"Josh, what he is is a basketball player," Thibodeau <a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/1923580292381519935">said</a> of Hart. "It's transition, it's the pace, it's playing out of the pocket, it's making corner threes, it's doing all those dribble-handoff hustle plays, offensive rebounds. And then, defensively, just being everywhere and coming up with big rebounds. I think when you play with that kind of effort, it's inspiring to the team."</p><p>Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals tips off Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 16, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Knicks bounce Celtics in 6 games, return to East finals after 25 years

Don't expect a draft-night surprise from the Dallas Mavericks.  The Mavs will not trade the No. 1...

<p>Don't expect a draft-night surprise from the Dallas Mavericks.</p><p>The Mavs will not trade the No. 1 pick and are instead set on selecting former Duke star Cooper Flagg, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45130020/sources-mavericks-plan-draft-cooper-flagg-trade-no-1-pick">ESPN's Dave McMenamin</a>.</p><p>Dallas won the right to draft first overall this year despite entering Monday's lottery with a 1.8% chance at the top selection - the fourth-worst odds of all 14 teams involved. It was the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3256726" href="https://thescore.com/news/3256726">biggest jump</a> of any team in the history of the NBA draft lottery.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Flagg is thrilled by the idea of joining the Mavs, as they have a veteran, playoff-level roster that has a void at small forward, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45104149/2025-nba-draft-combine-chicago-prospects-workout-highlights-measurements-stats-cooper-flagg-dallas-mavericks">ESPN's Jonathan Givony</a>.</p><p>The Mavericks would have been ineligible for the lottery had they beaten the Memphis Grizzlies in the second game of the Western Conference play-in tournament to make the playoffs.</p><p>The 6-foot-9 Flagg, long-presumed the No. 1 pick in this year's pool, offers Dallas a lifeline after a contentious second half of the regular season.</p><p>General manager Nico Harrison drew the ire of the fan base in February when he sent 25-year-old franchise superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/68198" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/68198">Luka Doncic</a> to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/11373" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/11373">Anthony Davis</a>. Davis then aggravated a lower body injury in his Mavericks debut, which sidelined the 10-time All-Star for six weeks. During his absence, the Mavericks also lost nine-time All-Star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/6154" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/6154">Kyrie Irving</a> to a torn ACL, which will likely keep the 33-year-old out for a significant portion of 2025-26.</p><p>It will be just the second time in franchise history that the Mavericks make the first choice in the draft. The team selected forward Mark Aguirre out of DePaul with the top pick in 1981.</p>

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Report: Mavs won't trade No. 1 pick, plan to draft Flagg

The Portland Trail Blazers are officially on the market.  The team announced Tuesday that a forma...

<p>The Portland Trail Blazers are officially on the market.</p><p>The team <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1922336398276759574">announced</a> Tuesday that a formal process to sell the franchise is now underway. The move is in accordance with the wishes of late owner Paul Allen, whose estate is overseeing the proceedings.</p><p>The process is expected to continue into the 2025-26 season, the team said, with the eventual proceeds going towards philanthropic causes.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft, paid $70 million to purchase the Trail Blazers in 1988 at the age of 35, becoming the youngest owner of any professional North American sports franchise at the time. He owned the team until his death in October 2018, after which his estate, helmed by his sister Jody Allen, took over.</p><p>Portland is estimated to be worth $3.6 billion, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/novy_williams/status/1922339134418440286">Sportico</a>. The most recently sold NBA franchise was the Boston Celtics, who were purchased by an investor group led by billionaire William Chisholm in March for a minimum of $6.1 billion - the record for any team in North American sports.</p><p>Allen's estate also maintained his ownership of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and his 25% stake in the MLS' Seattle Sounders. Those teams will be unaffected by the sale of the Blazers.</p>

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 16: A general view of the Portland Trail Blazers logo at Moda Center on January 16, 2021 in Portland, Oregon.

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Blazers open formal process to sell franchise

Draymond Green tipped his cap to Anthony Edwards after his third-quarter flurry helped the Minnes...

<p>Draymond Green tipped his cap to Anthony Edwards after his third-quarter flurry helped the Minnesota Timberwolves take a 3-1 series lead and push the Golden State Warriors to the brink of elimination.</p><p>"There is no one. He is one of one," Green said after the Warriors' 117-110 Game 4 loss Monday. "With the increased volume ability that he's worked his tail off for, to be able to shoot the ball like that makes him a tough cover, for sure.</p><p>"But I think we also got to do a better job - his first ones can't be off an offensive rebound, kick-out threes. I think he's using some of them to get going the last couple games, so we got to do a better job there at taking those away. And if we don't get the rebound, you got to go into a scramble and not give up them open threes."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Edwards scored 16 of his 30 points in the third quarter. As Green referenced, the guard's first field goal of the second half was made possible by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30615" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30615">Rudy Gobert</a> collecting an offensive board. Gobert tipped <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/227" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/227">Mike Conley</a>'s missed floater back to him, then Conley dished it to an open Edwards at the 3-point line.</p><p>Edwards made 6-of-8 shots in the frame, including 3-of-5 from distance, giving Minnesota a 20-point lead entering the fourth after it trailed 60-58 at half.</p><p>The 23-year-old looked to lead by example after calling out his team's effort at halftime. The Timberwolves shot well in the first half but conceded 25 rebounds to Golden State while grabbing just 15 themselves.</p><p>"I told them, 'We only got two wins,'" Edwards said of his message, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45122908/timberwolves-anthony-edwards-delivers-half-words-game-4-win-vs-warriors-3-1-lead">ESPN's Dave McMenamin</a>. "I've never seen a series end 2-1.</p><p>"I told them we have to get two more wins and right now we're playing like we already got four wins. ... We had to figure it out because if we would have kept playing like that, we would have lost tonight."</p><p>Edwards is averaging 27.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the series on 46.4/41.2/70.8 shooting splits. He put up similar numbers against the Los Angeles Lakers in Round 1 - 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.2 steals - but shot just 42% from the floor and 33% from deep.</p><p>With Game 5 in Minnesota on Wednesday, the three-time All-Star has the chance to lead the Timberwolves to back-to-back conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Prior to last season's five-game series loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the only other time the Timberwolves competed for a spot in the Finals was 2004, when they fell to the Lakers in six games.</p>

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 12: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors speaks with Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two, Game Four of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Draymond salutes 'one of one' Edwards for sparking Wolves' rally

Giannis Antetokounmpo might have played his final game with the Milwaukee Bucks.  The two-time MV...

<p>Giannis Antetokounmpo might have played his final game with the Milwaukee Bucks.</p><p>The two-time MVP has <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3284641" href="https://thescore.com/news/3284641">reportedly</a> become receptive to the possibility that his ideal long-term fit may no longer be in Milwaukee. If Antetokounmpo determines the best opportunities for the remainder of his career lay elsewhere, here are five franchises that could swing deals to bring the Greek Freak aboard.</p><h3>Oklahoma City Thunder</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785224/cropped_GettyImages-2191006683.jpg?ts=1747055497" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785224/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191006683.jpg?ts=1747055497 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785224/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191006683.jpg?ts=1747055497 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785224/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191006683.jpg?ts=1747055497 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785224/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191006683.jpg?ts=1747055497 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785224/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191006683.jpg?ts=1747055497 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jim Poorten / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Giannis to OKC" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-soumj" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/soumj/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="204" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Arguably, no team is better equipped at this moment to trade for Antetokounmpo than the Thunder. General manager Sam Presti has built a Western Conference juggernaut and simultaneously accrued a trove of first-round picks over the next several years. While the draft compensation would tantalize the Bucks, who don't control their own selection until 2031, the Thunder's unique assembly of rising stars and up-and-coming role players could convince Milwaukee to remain competitive while getting much younger.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The headline piece going the Bucks' way is 2025 All-Star wing Jalen Williams, a proven ball-handler and facilitator who can help mitigate the expected long-term absence of Damian Lillard next season. Isaiah Hartenstein works out as a serendipitous successor to 36-year-old Brook Lopez, who will be a free agent this summer. But for the Thunder, the hefty package is a small price to pay; by pairing Antetokounmpo with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City could create one of the most unstoppable squads on both sides of the ball for years to come.</p><h3>Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785281/cropped_GettyImages-2182570763.jpg?ts=1747073015" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785281/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182570763.jpg?ts=1747073015 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785281/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182570763.jpg?ts=1747073015 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785281/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182570763.jpg?ts=1747073015 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785281/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182570763.jpg?ts=1747073015 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785281/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182570763.jpg?ts=1747073015 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="GIANNIS TO CAVS" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-Xk4hF" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Xk4hF/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="204" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Cleveland should only break up its dominant two-big pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for very special cases - and Antetokounmpo is one of them. The Bucks forward is one of very few stars around the league who could replace Allen in the Cavaliers' starting lineup and not only maintain their interior defense as one of the NBA's best, but simultaneously improve an offense that was already ranked No. 1 in the regular season.</p><p>Without control of its first-rounders for the next half-decade, an outright tank is futile for Milwaukee. Garland, whose contract is secured through 2027-28, gives them a young and more-than-capable long-term successor to 35-year-old Lillard, who could miss all of 2025-26 with a torn Achilles. Kyle Kuzma and Andre Jackson Jr. are the only other members of Milwaukee's rotation under contract beyond next season, after which the Bucks can reassess their outlook with Garland and Allen and get a clearer picture of how valuable those incoming picks might be.</p><h3>San Antonio Spurs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785282/cropped_GettyImages-2201562228.jpg?ts=1747073095" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785282/w220xh124_GettyImages-2201562228.jpg?ts=1747073095 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785282/w320xh180_GettyImages-2201562228.jpg?ts=1747073095 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785282/w640xh360_GettyImages-2201562228.jpg?ts=1747073095 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785282/w768xh432_GettyImages-2201562228.jpg?ts=1747073095 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785282/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2201562228.jpg?ts=1747073095 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Gonzales / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="GIANNIS TO SPURS" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-k7RmL" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/k7RmL/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="204" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>With Victor Wembanyama fully acclimated after two seasons and De'Aaron Fox now in the fold, the Spurs might not get a better opportunity to take that massive next step than to acquire Antetokounmpo. As longtime members of the Spurs' pre-Wembanyama core, trading Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan is a tough pill to swallow, but they're also far from untouchable in offers for a two-time MVP.</p><p>For the Bucks, not only do they secure four talents no older than 25, the draft compensation haul that includes the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft provides a golden opportunity to replenish their stock of first-rounders, which they depleted in trades for Jrue Holiday and Lillard.</p><h3>Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785221/cropped_GettyImages-2185150748.jpg?ts=1747083669" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785221/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185150748.jpg?ts=1747083669 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785221/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185150748.jpg?ts=1747083669 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785221/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185150748.jpg?ts=1747083669 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785221/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185150748.jpg?ts=1747083669 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785221/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185150748.jpg?ts=1747083669 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Gary Dineen / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="GIANNIS TO ROCKETS" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-PCFtV" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/PCFtV/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="204" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>The Rockets were reportedly sniffing around when it looked like the Phoenix Suns might offload Kevin Durant, but cashing in their treasure chest of assets for the younger Antetokounmpo may be a better option. Houston has the ascendant personnel to interest Milwaukee but will likely need a third team to make the money work in accordance with the new CBA. Enter the Pistons, who swap Isaiah Stewart for veteran Dillon Brooks, receiving a lottery-protected first-rounder for their trouble and providing Milwaukee a contracted center next season.</p><p>Parting with the 22-year-old Green and 21-year-old Smith is a risky move, though it increases Houston's chances of contention within the next few seasons. Following a breakout campaign from the presumably untouchable Amen Thompson, adding Antetokounmpo would give the Rockets two of the league's toughest defenders at their position. However, spacing concerns would likely need to be addressed in the longer term, especially with starting center Alperen Sengun signed through 2028-29.</p><h3>Toronto Raptors</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785228/cropped_GettyImages-1456622045.jpg?ts=1747055801" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785228/w220xh124_GettyImages-1456622045.jpg?ts=1747055801 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785228/w320xh180_GettyImages-1456622045.jpg?ts=1747055801 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785228/w640xh360_GettyImages-1456622045.jpg?ts=1747055801 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785228/w768xh432_GettyImages-1456622045.jpg?ts=1747055801 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785228/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1456622045.jpg?ts=1747055801 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Cole Burston / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="GIANNIS TO RAPTORS" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-yyxTW" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/yyxTW/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="204" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Raptors president Masai Ujiri has long been linked with Antetokounmpo, but the forward's extensions in Milwaukee put to bed any chance of him heading north. If Ujiri remains interested, the Raptors might have no better opportunity to bring the Greek star to Toronto.</p><p>RJ Barrett, who's improved as a creator since joining the Raptors midway through 2023-24, is still only 24 but, with Jakob Poeltl, gives the Bucks experienced plug-and-play pieces who can keep them competitive. Sharpshooter Gradey Dick looked much more comfortable in Year 2 after a lukewarm debut season. Ja'Kobe Walter, 20, showed promise as a rookie and gives the Bucks a young guard to develop after making just two first-round picks over their past four drafts (AJ Johnson and MarJon Beauchamp) - neither of which are still with the club.</p><p>Toronto, meanwhile, moves forward with a compelling core of Immanuel Quickley, former Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, the yet-to-debut Brandon Ingram, and Antetokounmpo, giving head coach Darko Rajakovic significant positional flexibility among his starters. It also cements Jamal Shead as the de facto play-caller on a second unit likely to feature Ochai Agbaji, A.J. Lawson, and Shead's fellow second-year teammates Jamison Battle and Jonathan Mogbo.</p>

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5 potential landing spots for Giannis with Bucks future uncertain

Giannis Antetokounmpo has grown open to the possibility that his best long-term fit may not be wi...

<p>Giannis Antetokounmpo has grown open to the possibility that his best long-term fit may not be with the Milwaukee Bucks, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45109801/sources-giannis-antetokounmpo-explore-best-fits-milwaukee">ESPN's Shams Charania</a>.</p><p>Antetokounmpo hasn't made any final decisions, but his agents are expected to discuss the 30-year-old's future with Milwaukee's leadership this offseason, Charania adds.</p><p>The Bucks, who don't control their own first-round pick until 2031, are reportedly likely to draw increased interest in Antetokounmpo this week as executives gather in Chicago for the draft combine.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Questions about the franchise's direction will also revolve around the status of All-Star guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/5343" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/5343">Damian Lillard</a>, who tore his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 of Milwaukee's first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. He's expected to miss a significant portion - if not all - of the 2025-26 campaign. Lillard will be 36 heading into the 2026-27 season, while Antetokounmpo turns 32 in December of that campaign.</p><p>A two-time MVP, nine-time All-Star, and eight-time All-NBA selection, Antetokounmpo is under contract through at least the next two seasons. He's slated to earn approximately $54.1 million next campaign and $58.5 million in 2026-27 before deciding on a $62.8-million player option for 2027-28, per <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/13328/giannis-antetokounmpo">Spotrac</a>.</p><p>Antetokounmpo eclipsed 30.4 points per game for a third straight season in 2024-25, his 12th campaign since being drafted 15th overall in 2013. He also averaged 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and led the league with 11.8 made field goals per contest.</p><p>However, the Bucks placed fifth in the Eastern Conference - their worst regular-season finish since 2017-18 - before the Pacers eliminated them in the first round for the second straight year. Antetokounmpo registered 33 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game in the series, though <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60234" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60234">Gary Trent Jr</a>. was the only other Buck to average 15 points or more.</p><p>Milwaukee has reached the second round just once in four playoff trips since its 2021 championship, losing to the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series in 2022.</p>

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Report: Giannis open to considering long-term fits outside Bucks

2025 NBA Draft Lottery When: Monday, May 12, 7 p.m. ET How to watch: ESPN (U.S.), TSN (Canada)  I...

<p>2025 NBA Draft Lottery<br><strong>When:</strong> Monday, May 12, 7 p.m. ET<br><strong>How to watch:</strong> ESPN (U.S.), TSN (Canada)</p><p>It's every bad team's favorite time of the year: the NBA draft lottery.</p><p>While the best of the best slug it out in the playoffs, the 14 franchises that didn't crack the first round, plus a couple hoping to elude traded pick protections, will be sweet-talking the basketball gods Monday in Chicago. A representative from each team will attend the event, during which the NBA draws randomized pingpong balls to determine which franchises will make the top four selections June 25.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Once those are settled, the 10 remaining teams will be arranged in reverse order of their 2024-25 regular-season records.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="NBA Draft Lottery odds" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-W0yoU" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/W0yoU/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="719" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Top prospects</h3><p>Expect Duke phenom Cooper Flagg to feature prominently at the top of everybody's draft boards. The 18-year-old lived up to his high school hype as a college freshman, leading the Blue Devils in nearly every stat and winning both Rookie and Player of the Year in the Atlantic Coast Conference.</p><p>However, Flagg isn't the only prospect capable of transforming a franchise's entire long-term outlook. Here's a look at Flagg and a handful of other talents that likely won't last long on the board <em>(For more rundowns, click <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3221439" href="https://thescore.com/news/3221439">here</a> for our latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft).</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772216/cropped_Updated_NBA_mock_draft.jpg?ts=1740493696" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772216/w220xh124_Updated_NBA_mock_draft.jpg?ts=1740493696 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772216/w320xh180_Updated_NBA_mock_draft.jpg?ts=1740493696 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772216/w640xh360_Updated_NBA_mock_draft.jpg?ts=1740493696 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772216/w768xh432_Updated_NBA_mock_draft.jpg?ts=1740493696 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772216/w1080xh607_Updated_NBA_mock_draft.jpg?ts=1740493696 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Julian Catalfo / theScore</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Cooper Flagg, F (Duke)</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778874/cropped_GettyImages-2207771143.jpg?ts=1743786869" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778874/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207771143.jpg?ts=1743786869 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778874/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207771143.jpg?ts=1743786869 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778874/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207771143.jpg?ts=1743786869 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778874/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207771143.jpg?ts=1743786869 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778874/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207771143.jpg?ts=1743786869 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Capturing Flagg means getting first dibs on a 6-foot-9 standout who can do it all. Despite a 205-pound frame, his control off the dribble allows him to not only flaunt his athleticism at the rim but also create enough separation for a shot on the perimeter, or attract a second defender to set up an open teammate. Defensively, he can match up against all five positions, but he's arguably at his best as a help defender in the paint.</p><p><strong>Dylan Harper, PG (Rutgers)</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757743/cropped_GettyImages-2186518524.jpg?ts=1746910105" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757743/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186518524.jpg?ts=1746910105 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757743/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186518524.jpg?ts=1746910105 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757743/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186518524.jpg?ts=1746910105 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757743/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186518524.jpg?ts=1746910105 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757743/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186518524.jpg?ts=1746910105 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Harper is the youngest of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper's two sons but is a virtual lock to top his dad's eighth overall selection in 1986. The 6-foot-6 Rutgers product is already a nightmare for opposing point guards, but he complements his physical gifts with a combination of poise and craftiness, especially with his changes in direction when he gets downhill.</p><p><strong>Ace Bailey, SF (Rutgers)</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755599/cropped_GettyImages-2179238131.jpg?ts=1731724312" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755599/w220xh124_GettyImages-2179238131.jpg?ts=1731724312 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755599/w320xh180_GettyImages-2179238131.jpg?ts=1731724312 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755599/w640xh360_GettyImages-2179238131.jpg?ts=1731724312 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755599/w768xh432_GettyImages-2179238131.jpg?ts=1731724312 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755599/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2179238131.jpg?ts=1731724312 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ed Mulholland / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Joining Harper in Rutgers' best-ever recruitment class in 2024 was Airious "Ace" Bailey, a slender 6-foot-10 wing who shows remarkable upside on both sides of the ball. He loves to use his height advantage to rise overtop defenders on difficult pull-up jumpers, including beyond the 3-point line. Equipped with a 7-foot wingspan and incredible mobility for his size, Bailey has the physical foundation to become a multi-positional lockdown defender but had occasional off-ball slip-ups with the Scarlet Knights.</p><p><strong>VJ Edgecombe, SG (Baylor)</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785020/cropped_GettyImages-2194435475.jpg?ts=1746910550" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785020/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194435475.jpg?ts=1746910550 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785020/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194435475.jpg?ts=1746910550 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785020/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194435475.jpg?ts=1746910550 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785020/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194435475.jpg?ts=1746910550 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785020/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194435475.jpg?ts=1746910550 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Coduto / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Edgecombe's offensive numbers as a freshman may not jump off the page, but he may just jump over a defender to put the ball in the basket. The 6-foot-5 Bahamian is one of the most explosive scoring guards in the draft, with plenty of highlights showcasing his ridiculous bounce. He combines that athleticism with innate timing, instincts, and a relentless motor, which also makes him one of the best defensive guards in the draft and a tantalizing two-way prospect overall.</p>

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Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis continues to battle side effects of the viral illness th...

<p>Boston Celtics center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/44888" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/44888">Kristaps Porzingis</a> continues to battle side effects of the viral illness that first afflicted him in March, a source told <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1921287730299822447">Shams Charania of ESPN</a>.</p><p>He suffered an energy crash just before Game 1 of his team's series against the New York Knicks on Monday, limiting him to 13 minutes of action. The sudden loss of energy is reportedly one of multiple side effects stemming from the ailment, which caused the Latvian to miss eight consecutive regular-season contests from late February to mid-March.</p><p>The 7-footer suited up for Game 2, but <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/12" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/12">Al Horford</a> replaced him in the Celtics' starting lineup. Porzingis played a team-low 14 minutes off the bench, finishing with eight points and four rebounds.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He didn't start Saturday's Game 3 either, but made his first appearance midway through the first quarter.</p><p>Porzingis has reportedly tried to alleviate the side effects by taking IV fluids and immune boosters, as well as altering his sleep patterns. The 29-year-old said in March that doctors couldn't identify the specific illness.</p><p>The Latvian felt he had turned a corner before the start of the playoffs, according to Charania. Porzingis played all five games of Boston's first-round series win over the Orlando Magic, averaging 27.4 minutes with 12 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. However, he struggled with his shot in the series, shooting just 35.2% from the floor, including 2-of-17 (11.8%) from deep.</p>

BOSTON, MA - MAY 5: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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