The Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night.
The Knights swept away the Colorado Avalanche, who have former New York Islanders Brock Nelson and Devon Toews.
The Avalanche's elimination confirmed the Islanders traded the 29th overall pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Brayden Schenn, as part of the bigger trade itself.
With Vegas advancing to the final, it's time to look back at how the Islanders fared against the Western Conference Champions.
The Islanders played Vegas twice, per the usual NHL schedule of facing every team from the west twice.
The Islanders went 2-0-0 against the Knights, with one overtime win and one shootout victory.
The first meeting of the season came back on November 13, 2025. That night, the Islanders came into Vegas looking to a win a third-straight game to kick off a season-long seven-game road trip.
The first period went exceedingly well, with Emil Heineman and Matthew Schaefer scoring to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead after one period. Vegas scored the next three goals over the next two periods, putting the Islanders backs to the wall.
Mathew Barzal tied the game with under three minutes to go with Ilya Sorokin pulled, a thundering one-timer.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau then won it in overtime with a shorthanded goal, a massive win for the Islanders at the time:
The second meeting came just under a month later, on December 9 in UBS Arena.
The opposite of the first game occurred, with the Islanders falling behind 2-0 to start the game.
The Islanders fought back and scored three straight goals, with Bo Horvat, Marc Gatcomb, and Simon Holmstrom all tallying.
Vegas fought back, and tied the game at 3 early in the third period.
Then with under 10 minutes to play, Horvat scored his second of the game, giving the Islanders a late lead.
Ultimately, Pavel Dorofeyev tied the game at 4 with 12 seconds left in regulation.
Emil Heineman ultimately won the thrilling game in a shootout.
New York Knicks fans had gone through droughts before. But none quite like the one Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and company ended when they secured the Knicks spot in the 2026 NBA Finals earlier this week with a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
This will be the Knicks' first Finals appearance since 1999 and those 27 years represent the longest gap in time New York has gone without making the sport's championship series. They've reached this stage eight times before, with two titles in franchise history. But those came in 1970 (when Willis Reed famously played through injury in Game 7 against the Lakers) and 1973 (when Reed was named Finals MVP).
More recently, the franchise had mostly been a non-factor in the postseason since the heyday of Pat Riley, Patrick Ewing and the 1990s Knicks that made two NBA Finals appearances and could never get past Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. But Brunson helped spur a resurgence upon signing with New York in 2022, leading the team to four-straight playoff appearances that culminated with its thrashing of the Cavaliers.
Here's a breakdown of all the NBA playoff appearances made by the New York Knicks since the league's inception, including how they did in every series:
Note: The Knicks were members of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) before the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949.
1947: Beat Cleveland Rebels in first round (2-1); lost to Philadelphia Warriors in semifinals (2-0)
1948: Lost to Baltimore Bullets in first round (2-1)
1949: Beat Baltimore Bullets in first round (2-1); Lost to Washington Capitols in East finals (2-1)
1950: Beat Washington Capitols in East semifinals (2-0); Lost to Syracuse Nationals in East finals (2-1)
1951: Beat Boston Celtics in East semifinals (2-0); beat Syracuse Nationals in East finals (3-2); lost to Rochester Royals in NBA Finals (4-3)
1952: Beat Boston Celtics in East semifinals (2-1); beat Syracuse Nationals in East finals (3-1); lost to Minneapolis Lakers in NBA Finals (4-3)
1953: Beat Baltimore Bullets in East semifinals (2-0); beat Boston Celtics in East finals (3-1); lost to Minneapolis Lakers in NBA Finals (4-1)
1955: Lost to Boston Celtics in East semifinals (2-1)
1956: Lost to Syracuse Nationals in East tiebreaker (1-0)
1959: Lost to Syracuse Nationals in East semifinals (2-0)
1967: Lost to Boston Celtics in East semifinals (3-1)
1969: Beat Baltimore Bullets in East semifinals (4-0); lost to Boston Celtics in East finals (4-2)
1970: Beat Baltimore Bullets in East semifinals (4-3); beat Milwaukee Bucks in East finals (4-1); beat Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals (4-3)
1971: Beat Atlanta Hawks in East semifinals (4-1); lost to Baltimore Bullets in East finals (4-3)
1972: Beat Baltimore Bullets in East semifinals (4-2); beat Boston Celtics in East finals (4-1); lost to Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals (4-1)
1973: Beat Baltimore Bullets in East semifinals (4-1); beat Boston Celtics in East finals (4-3); beat Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals (4-1)
1974: Beat Capitol Bullets in East semifinals (4-3); lost to Boston Celtics in East finals (4-1)
1975: Lost to Houston Rockets in East first round (2-1)
1978: Beat Cleveland Cavaliers in East first round (2-0); lost to Philadelphia 76ers in East semifinals (4-0)
1981: Lost to Chicago Bulls in East first round (2-0)
1983: Beat New Jersey Nets in East first round (2-0); lost to Philadelphia 76ers in East semifinals (4-0)
1984: Beat Detroit Pistons in East first round (3-2); lost to Boston Celtics in East semifinals (4-3)
1988: Lost to Boston Celtics in East first round (3-1)
1989: Beat Philadelphia 76ers in East first round (3-0); lost to Chicago Bulls in East semifinals (4-2)
1990: Beat Boston Celtics in East first round (3-2); lost to Detroit Pistons in East semifinals (4-1)
1991: Lost to Chicago Bulls in East first round (3-0)
1992: Beat Detroit Pistons in East first round (3-2); lost to Chicago Bulls in East semifinals (4-3)
1993: Beat Indiana Pacers in East first round (3-1); beat Charlotte Hornets in East semifinals (4-1); lost to Chicago Bulls in East finals (4-2)
1994: Beat New Jersey Nets in East first round (3-1); beat Chicago Bulls in East semifinals (4-3); beat Indiana Pacers in East finals (4-3); lost to Houston Rockets in NBA Finals (4-3)
1995: Beat Cleveland Cavaliers in East first round (3-1); lost to Indiana Pacers in East semifinals (4-3)
1996: Beat Cleveland Cavaliers in East first round (3-0); lost to Chicago Bulls in East semifinals (4-1)
1997: Beat Charlotte Hornets in East first round (3-0); lost to Miami Heat in East semifinals (4-3)
1998: Beat Miami Heat in East first round (3-2); lost to Indiana Pacers in East semifinals (4-1)
1999: Beat Miami Heat in East first round (3-2); beat Atlanta Hawks in East semifinals (4-0); beat Indiana Pacers in East finals (4-2); lost to San Antonio Spurs in NBA Finals (4-1)
2000: Beat Toronto Raptors in East first round (3-0); beat Miami Heat in East semifinals (4-3); lost to Indiana Pacers in East finals (4-2)
2001: Lost to Toronto Raptors in East first round (3-2)
2004: Lost to New Jersey Nets in East first round (4-0)
2011: Lost to Boston Celtics in East first round (4-0)
2012: Lost to Miami Heat in East first round (4-1)
2013: Beat Boston Celtics in East first round (4-2); lost to Indiana Pacers in East semifinals (4-2)
2021: Lost to Atlanta Hawks in East first round (4-1)
2023: Beat Cleveland Cavaliers in East first round (4-1); lost to Miami Heat in East semifinals (4-2)
2024: Beat Philadelphia 76ers in East first round (4-2); lost to Indiana Pacers in East semifinals (4-3)
2025: Beat Detroit Pistons in East first round (4-2); beat Boston Celtics in East semifinals (4-2); lost to Indiana Pacers in East finals (4-2)
2026: Beat Atlanta Hawks in East first round (4-2); beat Philadelphia 76ers in East semifinals (4-0); beat Cleveland Cavaliers in East finals (4-0)
The 2025-26 season came to an end for the Anaheim Ducks less than two weeks ago, on May 14, and the opponent who ousted them, the Vegas Golden Knights, are off to the Stanley Cup final for the third time in the nine-year history of their franchise.
The Ducks were a surprise team to make the playoffs and an even bigger surprise as they advanced to the second round, defeating the back-to-back Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in six games.
The Knights and Ducks split the first four games of their second-round series, and one wouldn’t have been blamed for thinking Anaheim was the better team through the early stages of the series.
Vegas went on to win Game 5 in overtime and handily closed out the series in Game 6, at Honda Center on May 14. On Tuesday, they closed out their four-game sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in dominant fashion, earning themselves the Campbell Trophy.
The Ducks’ first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs in eight seasons included the first appearances for their entire young core. While their playoff run naturally offered a wide array of lessons and experiences for the Ducks, from the players on the ice to the organization as a whole, there are several aspects of their second-round opponent and now Western Conference champion Golden Knights that they could study, adopt, and implement into their own group as they continue to build toward becoming a perennial contender.
The quick, zoomed-out, potentially snarky responses will be to “get better players” or “defend better,” but there are more granular concepts to pull from.
Roster Construction
A glance at Vegas’ depth chart will reveal two key facets to how general manager Kelly McCrimmon has constructed his roster: star two-way forwards and long, sturdy, mobile defensemen.
Vegas has contributors up and down their entire lineup. However, the core pieces of their forward group that truly dictate how they operate on the ice can be identified as franchise center Jack Eichel, captain Mark Stone, offseason acquisition Mitch Marner, and William Karlsson, one of the best 200-foot centers of his generation.
Those four forwards are not only staples on the penalty kill, but are also academic, influential, and disruptive on the defensive side of the puck, in every situation and in every zone. They’re not only able to manufacture mistakes and turnovers from their opponents, but can turn those sequences into dangerous opportunities the other way.
The Ducks’ present and future core forwards can be identified as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke, with the potential of including one, two, or all three of Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, and Roger McQueen to that mix, depending on circumstance.
Carlsson (21), Gauthier (22), and Sennecke (20) each have the physical tools and tenacity to evolve into quality defensive players as their young careers progress. They each possess the necessary foot speed, length, and motor, having displayed flashes of disruptive, hounding tendencies.
If Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek were to lean into adding more defensively impactful players to surround his young core via trade or free agency this summer, the Ducks could instill that standard within their young core and replicate some of that key element to Vegas’ current success.
Seize Opportunities to Add
Another close examination of the Golden Knights’ depth chart will reveal a unique way to build a consistent Cup contender. They simply target every impact name that hits a given trade market or free agency class.
Aside from Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and William Karlsson, who were acquired within the context of the 2017 expansion draft, the vast majority of the Knights’ core and/or impact players were cleverly acquired via trade or free agency.
Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Tomas Hertl, Ivan Barbashev, Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson, and Carter Hart were all added externally, and the majority of the acquisitions could now be seen as “steals,” as the acquisition cost was likely less than full value due to various circumstances (no-trade clauses, depreciated assets, etc.). The lone impact player to have been drafted and developed by Vegas is late-blooming breakout forward Pavel Dorofeyev (79th overall in 2019).
The Ducks are coming off the heels of a long, traditional rebuild, where they acquired and/or developed most of their core and most talented players via the NHL Entry Draft. However, now that the core is in place and Anaheim has established itself as a potential destination for star players on the move, as soon as the salary cap landscape of the roster becomes clearer, it may benefit Verbeek to become more aggressive in his pursuit of complementary star players as they hit the NHL’s various markets.
Though they parted with their 2026 first round pick to acquire John Carlson at this past trade deadline, Anaheim still has a treasure trove of draft picks in the next four drafts, including 12 picks in the first three rounds, and one of the best prospect pipelines in the NHL with varying degrees of NHL readiness.
Headlined by prospects like Roger McQueen, Tristan Luneau, and Damian Clara, along with young, talented players who’ve yet to establish themselves in the NHL like Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger, the Ducks have the pieces to construct some of the most enticing trade packages should a star player become available.
It shouldn’t go without saying that not all Vegas’ “go for it” moves were successful. They parted with now-Montreal Canadien’s captain Nick Suzuki in a package to acquire forward Max Pacioretty (who had a good run with Vegas, but never lifted the cup). Part of the package Vegas sent to Montreal for Pacioretty included forward Tomas Tatar, whom they acquired just six months and 20 games prior in exchange for a first, second, and third-round pick.
Though some of their dealings have been considered “ruthless,” Vegas continues to aggressively make the moves they feel will help them win Stanley Cups immediately. It’s unorthodox and risky, but Verbeek has the stockpile to deploy a similar strategy in Anaheim.
On-Ice Tactics
Though ample credit has been given to Vegas head coach John Tortorella and the on-ice play of goaltender Carter Hart for the Knights’ playoff success to this point, and much of it is deserved, Vegas’ systems and on-ice play style instituted by former bench boss Bruce Cassidy and reinforced by the 18 skaters in front of the crease remains one of the most influential aspects of their run.
Vegas’ contained zone defensive structure has thwarted two young, fast, “run-and-gun” clubs in the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks, and an aggressive, flowing, talented Colorado Avalanche team. The Knights prioritize protecting the inner slot, allowing perimeter possession until a mistake is forced, on which they can capitalize. They have been the NHL’s best team when it comes to boxing out the net front, clearing rebounds, and eliminating high-danger lanes. Their five-man defensive structure makes Hart’s job significantly easier.
Offensively, they aren’t the fleetest, and they don’t boast the NHL’s best forecheck, but with their IQ and length, they are one of the league’s top cycle teams. They wear opponents down, identify breakdowns, and win wall battles at an impressive clip, leading to accomplishing their offensive goals.
The Ducks were one of the NHL’s top rush teams, relying on their speed and youth to drive their output. However, when they ran up against a polished defensive team like Vegas, who values puck management and plays a contained system, Anaheim’s flaws were exposed.
Anaheim’s rush chances were minimized against the Knights, leaving them to attempt to manufacture offense off the cycle and forecheck. Vegas’ defensemen were able to absorb the Ducks’ forecheck with ease, and Anaheim’s physical and mental youth couldn’t penetrate the Knights’ interior zone, leaving them forced to settle for low-to-high passes and perimeter shots with minimal traffic.
Much of their wrinkles will likely be ironed out with time and experience, but focusing on becoming a reliable team in front of the crease in the defensive zone and rounding out their offensive diversity will be necessary to achieve the Ducks’ ultimate goal.
Vegas will head to the Stanley Cup final as the likely favorite to defeat whoever comes out of the Eastern Conference between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes. The Ducks still have some distance to make up to get to where Vegas is in their organization, but adopting some of the aspects that have made the Knights such a successful young franchise will be needed in the years to come for Anaheim.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh poses for a portrait during media day at PC&E Atlanta on September 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlanta’s front office of late has brought a level of present success and future potential the fans haven’t seen since the end of the 2020-21 season.
The Hawks finished the season 46-36, gave the Knicks their toughest test of the Eastern Conference playoffs, and own the eighth, 23rd, 57th overall picks in the upcoming draft.
Just a year ago, the organization was in flux, having dismissed Landry Fields and kicking off a search for a president of basketball operations.
Now, that seat has been filled by the current general manager and second place finisher in the 2025-26 Executive of the Year voting, Onsi Saleh. The report per Shams Charania of ESPN:
The Atlanta Hawks are signing general manager Onsi Saleh to a long-term contract extension and promoting him to President of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Saleh – runner up for 2026 league executive of the year – took over as Hawks GM last offseason after joining… pic.twitter.com/9DrBUDxTnF
This is the second big piece of news this offseason regarding the front office following senior vice president Bryson Graham recently taking a job a top executive in the Chicago Bulls organization.
May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the third quarter in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images | Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
Coming off a blowout win this past Sunday that tied up the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs traveled to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder in a Game 5 showdown. After a back-and-forth first quarter (highlighted by Julian Champagnie’s hot shooting), the Spurs started to play sloppily. They were playing undisciplined defense and fell behind by 11 at halftime. In the third, the Spurs fell behind by as much as 20. Victor Wembanyama gave an impassioned speech in the huddle that sparked a 13-2 run. As the Spurs were within single digits and gathering momentum, the referees missed several calls that killed the Spurs’ remaining momentum in the quarter. First, they missed a blatant goaltend from Cason Wallace. Second, they incorrectly ruled an out-of-bounds call in favor of OKC even though the ball was off of Chet Holmgren’s foot. Then, Mitch Johnson signaled for a challenge in front of a ref and was simply ignored. Johnson was then assessed a technical foul for arguing. Despite all of that, the Spurs’ fourth quarter was a disaster. The Spurs shot poorly, defended poorly, and could not find a way to close the gap late. They ultimately lost 127-114.
Stephon Castle led the way with 24 points (7-11 FG, 3-5 3PT, 7-8 FT), six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Steph had a very efficient game on offense (despite a couple of turnovers) and was super aggressive on defense. However, his aggressiveness resulted in multiple fouls that would later keep him limited defensively in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, Steph’s performance will only fuel him for another chance to play in front of the Frost Bank Center crowd.
On the board! Steph gets the Spurs on the scoreboard with a hesitation pull-up three!
Julian Champagnie dropped 22 points (8-15 FG, 4-8 3PT), eight rebounds, three steals, and an assist. After struggling mightily from the field this series, Julian finally broke out of his slump. He started the game hot by draining all four of his three-point attempts in the first quarter. Julian also continues to be a solid off-ball defender by getting his hands in the passing lanes for steals and deflections. It is unlucky that Julian’s first solid shooting game comes with an off shooting game from Vassell. Hopefully, both will find the stroke in Game 6.
CHAMPAGNI3! Off the dribble handoff, Julian knocks down the open triple!
Victor Wembanyama dropped 20 points (12-12 FT), six rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and an assist. Despite getting five stocks, Wemby looked gassed throughout the game. He shot 27% from the field and went 0-5 from three. OKC challenged him defensively, trying their best to keep him outside the paint. Most of his field goals came from lob finishes, and he simply did not look like himself. Wemby also declined to speak to the media after the game, which is a rarity. As mature as the 22-year-old can be, he will need to figure out how to play with control and ferocity. Game 6 is looming, and without a big Wemby performance, the chances are slim.
Alley-oop! Keldon Johnson drives into the paint and lobs it up to Wemby for the first alley-oop of the game!
Keldon Johnson dropped 15 points (7-13 FG), four rebounds, and two assists. KJ has struggled in this series from the field and on defense. However, he was the only Spurs player who finished with a positive plus/minus (not counting garbage time minutes). His willingness and determination to get the cup by any means necessary proved to be a spark plug for the silver and black. Just like Julian, the Spurs need him to carry his solid production into Game 6.
Pump and drive! KJ tiptoes the baseline, drives past Holmgren, and finishes over Jared McCain off the glass for two!
All in all, this was a sloppy game for this young Spurs team. Despite how questionable officiating can be, they still had chances in the fourth and could not execute on offense. Given how excellently they executed their game plan in Game 4, it was tough to see them be undisciplined on the defensive end during key stretches. Most of all, they need their generational talent to step up and not shoot 4-for-15 from the field. Spurs fans will be on pins and needles watching this team go through their first do-or-die game since 2019.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs face a do-or-die Game 6 this Thursday back home at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock.
United States President Donald Trump indicated he's planning to attend the 2026 NBA Finals as an invited guest of New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan and others.
Trump made the comments while speaking with reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, May 27 and confirmed he had plans to be in attendance at Madison Square Garden for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals until the Knicks closed out the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4.
"I think I'll be going to one of the games," Trump said when asked if he would be going to the NBA Finals. "I was invited by numerous people and Jim and I think I'll be going."
Trump would be the first sitting United States President to attend an NBA Finals game. The Knicks are making their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 this year. They are slated to host Game 3 on June 8 and Game 4 on June 10 at Madison Square Garden.
Trump has frequented major sporting events during his second term as President, with appearances at the Super Bowl, college football national championship game, Ryder Cup, Daytona 500 and numerous UFC events. Last year, he also attended the U.S. Open men's tennis final in New York.
Donald Trump took questions from reporters during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday that he plans to attend this year’s NBA finals after the New York Knicks clinched their place in the championship series earlier this week.
Trump, a New York native, has counted James Dolan, who owns the Knicks, the NHL’s Rangers and Madison Square Garden, as a friend and a campaign donor in recent years. The president said he had been invited to the finals by Dolan and “numerous” others.
“Jim Dolan’s [a] great guy, [he], as you know owns … Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year. Boy, what a team. They won all their games. They really have some great players,” the president told reporters during a cabinet meeting. “I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people and Jim – and I think I’ll be going. Great to see. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years. They’re doing right now very well.”
The New York Times on Tuesday reported that, had the Eastern Conference finals series between the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers continued, Trump planned to attend Game 5 on Wednesday in New York. The series instead finished in a sweep with the Knicks’ 130-93 win in Game 4 on Monday night.
The Knicks will play either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the best-of-seven-games finals. The Knicks are scheduled to play at home in Games 3, 4 and 6 of the series. Those games are pencilled in for 8, 10 and 16 June.
Trump has made several appearances at sporting events since his reelection. Last year, he attended the Super Bowl, soccer’s Club World Cup final, tennis’s US Open, the Daytona 500 and golf’s Ryder Cup. This year, he has attended several golf events and college football’s national championship game. The White House lawn will stage a UFC fight card next month.
A sitting president has never attended the NBA finals.
He wins his first Grand Tour stage after sweltering effort
Jonas Vingegaard holds four-minute lead over Felix Gall
Denmark’s Michael Valgren chose his moment perfectly to power towards victory on the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia, leaving himself enough room before the line to be able to pull a lucky Pokémon chip out of his pocket and show it off to the cameras. Further back, his compatriot Jonas Vingegaard continued his march to a first overall win on the Grand Tour.
Valgren took the honours in Andalo after attacking from a small group with a kilometre remaining of the undulating 202km ride from Cassano d’Adda with riders suffering from the punishing heat and also sudden downpours.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: AWS Draft Combine signage during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While the Sixers continue to search for a new president of basketball operations, the 2026 NBA Draft quickly approaches. Bob Myers said he hopes to have the next hire in place before the draft. Even if he’s able to do so, that new president will have less than a month to prepare for the selection the Sixers have to make with the 22nd pick of the first round, courtesy of the Houston Rockets.
This blog is cooking up its own thoughts on what the Sixers should do with that pick. Now that the draft combine is in the rearview mirror, here’s a roundup of what some of the other experts think the Sixers will do.
Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
As is often the case with picks this late in the draft, there isn’t a consensus for who goes at No. 22. Graves is currently the closest thing to that, being mocked to the Sixers by both Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation and Jeremy Woo of ESPN.
At 6-foot-7, Graves profiles as a high-feel, low athleticism forward who was a 40% three-point shooter this past season for Santa Clara. Those reasons were easy for the experts to point to as reasons he’d slot right in to this Sixers team. O’Donnell pointed out that Graves’ proclivity to try to force turnovers can be valuable, though he struggles to stay out of foul trouble.
Either way, that seems like a player Nick Nurse would be very interested in. This blog will certainly have more thoughts on Graves as the draft nears.
Karim Lopez, SF, New Zealand Breakers
This international prospect has showed up all over the place across mocks, most recently going to the Sixers at 22 in Derek Parker’s latest mock for Sports Illustrated. Lopez, a 6-foot-9 forward, appears to be a bigger swing at the wing position.
Parker said of Lopez:
“Breakers’ forward Karim Lopez is a bet on a positionally malleable player able to spread production across several areas.
Lopez has a wide range as a player that produced at a high level in a pro league, but doesn’t offer the neon light flashiness that others do. He scored 11.9 points per game in the NBL, upping his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and efficiency across the board.“
The New Zealand Breakers actually played the Sixers in the preseason last year back in October 2024, but Lopez, just 17 at the time, was a DNP-CD.
Bleacher Report offers pro comparisons on their mocks. Cenac’s, per Wasserman, was Bobby Portis, so take that for what it’s worth. Wasserman also had this to say:
“Despite flaws in Chris Cenac’s statistical profile, there will be teams willing to bet on a 19-year-old with his 6’10” (barefoot) size, 7’5″ wingspan, 240-pound frame, shooting confidence and motor. He’ll be a popular reach candidate for teams looking to fill gaps and aren’t concerned with finding high-upside scorers.“
Luigi Suigo, C, KK Megabasket
This is definitely an out there selection. Suigo shows up in the early second round of most mock drafts, but this is who Kevin O’Conner of Yahoo has the Sixers picking at 22. O’Connor has been big on the Sixers acquiring a center to eat more innings for Joel Embiid — he was big on the Sixers selecting Khaman Maluach early in last year’s draft.
With Michigan center Aday Mara and Washington’s Hannes Steinbach shooting up the boards post-combine, Suigo would be the only option at 22 if the Sixers wanted to take a center there. Sugio has played three years of pro ball in Europe, but only really saw playing time last year for Serbia’s KK Megabasket. In 16 minutes a night he averaged 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
There may not be many others beating this drum, but O’Connor sees a lofty upside for Suigo.
“As for this choice, finding a center to play behind Joel Embiid needs to be prioritized. Embiid simply cannot be trusted to stay on the floor. Suigo has said he wants to be the Italian Wemby and, at 7-foot-3 with passing feel and shooting touch, you can see why a teenager might put that out into the universe. Suigo lacks the handle and self-creation chops to ever be the best player on a team, but his dynamic skills as a passer, shooter and lob threat layer cleanly on top of baseline center duties as a screener, finisher and rim protector. Becoming the Italian Marc Gasol is a more realistic goal and would be a dream fit alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for many years to come.”
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Everyone is wondering what LeBron James’ decision will be this summer. As an unrestricted free agent, LeBron has all career options available to him. He can return to the Lakers, join another team, or retire from the game.
While we don’t yet know which way he’s leaning on any of those pathways, one thing being said is that LeBron taking a massive pay cut to return home is unlikely.
On an ESPN Cleveland radio segment, Brian Windhorst said that, to his knowledge, LeBron isn’t prepared to join the Cavs if all they can offer him in this exact moment is a little over $3 million.
LeBron has taken pay cuts before. He did it back when he joined the Heat and also took less than the max with the Lakers back in 2024, so LA could avoid the second apron.
Still, it’s one thing to take a bit less and another to decrease your salary by approximately 94.7%. LeBron might not be the player he once was, but he’s still an All-Star who led a team to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
A pay cut like that to join a team that was just swept in the Eastern Conference Finals wouldn’t make much sense, unless all that mattered to LeBron was returning home.
And based on his words during the “Mind The Game” podcast, part of his decision will be about where he can compete for a title.
Free agency season is loading for @KingJames, but not until after Memorial Day.
At this point, it’s hard to argue the Cavaliers are much closer to a championship than the Lakers, and it’s even tougher to make that an enticing proposition when the amount you can pay is only $3 million.
A lot can happen between now and free agency. Perhaps the Cavs can make deals that open up cap space so they can offer LeBron something closer to his market value.
However, as things currently stand, the Lakers seem to be in a good spot if they want LeBron back.
They have plenty of cap space, and depending on the moves they make to strengthen their roster, LA might have everything LeBron wants, which includes a decent salary, a place he loves to live and his best chance at winning his fifth ring.
"We jumped a barrier that we were stuck on, second round, stuck on that," Atkinson said, referencing exits in the previous two playoffs in the second round. "We made the jump again with a roster we're trying to figure out in two-and-a-half months to get ready for the playoffs. So, with not great preparation time to put it together on the fly, it says a lot about the guys in the room, so I consider it a success."
It didn't feel like a success watching the Eastern Conference Finals. There was a clear gap between Cleveland and New York — and the Knicks aren't going anywhere in the East. They will be back next season with the same core. Plus, there will be an improving Detroit team that could see additions to its core, a healthy and improved Boston team that has won a ring before, and a healthy and dangerous Indiana squad that gets Tyrese Haliburton back and an upgrade at center with Ivica Zubac (even if the pick price was steep).
What does Cleveland do to vault past those teams? Do they even need to do much?
It sounds more like Cleveland is running its core back.
Atkinson to return as coach
That running it back starts with the head coach: Kenny Atkinson will return for a third season in the big chair, according to multiple reports including The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and ESPN’s Shams Charania. There are not going to be front office changes, either, and there is significant support for Atkinson in the front office, according to reports.
Atkinson also has the backing of franchise star Donovan Mitchell, who called the idea of replacing the coach "ridiculous" in his exit interview.
Donovan Mitchell with a really good answer on the hot seat talk around Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson
Called it "hilarious." Says "People are gonna be people. People probably criticize me just as much, and James. But I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny. And ultimately that's… pic.twitter.com/xx88mABymG
Atkinson led the team to 64 wins last season and the conference finals this season — they have been good under him. It's fair to ask who the Cavs could get to replace him that's better? Either way, that question appears to be moot.
Mitchell, Harden extensions
Cleveland had the highest payroll in the NBA this season, and now its two biggest stars — Mitchell and James Harden — are extension eligible.
Both also said they want to stay in Cleveland.
Mitchell has one year at $50.1 million left on his contract (plus a player option after that at $53.8 million, which he likely does not pick up). Because he's reached 10 years in the league, he is eligible for a 35% of the cap extension this summer: Four years, $272 million. Mitchell is in his prime and would be age 34 when that contract ends.
In his exit interview, Mitchell talked about his love for the city of Cleveland and feeling like there was "unfinished business." While there was hope in some corners of the league that a frustrated Mitchell would try to force his way out this offseason, that does not appear to be the case, and he is expected to get an extension and sign it.
Harden wanted out of Los Angeles after the Clippers front office was hesitant to give him the extension he wanted. There is no way he and his representatives worked out a trade to Cleveland without a handshake agreement on an extension. It's a done deal.
Haden has a $42.3 million player option for next season, the expectation is he will decline that for two years (maybe two and an option) for more money total. Two years, $60 million? That lowers the Cavaliers' short-term bill and gives Harden some security at age 36.
Harden made it clear he wants to stay.
"[I'm] coming into my 18th year. I don't have no pride, I just want to win," Harden said at his exit interview.
Bold move for Antetokounmpo? Bring back LeBron?
What was clear from the Western Conference Finals was that Cleveland has to do something to take a step forward with the roster.
There has been speculation linking Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Cavaliers, but that trade would only happen if Cleveland is willing to include 24-year-old, recent Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley in the deal. Is Cleveland's front office willing to get that much older (Antetokounmpo turns 32 before next season) to upgrade for a run the next couple of years? Antetokounmpo is going to demand a max extension from whatever team trades for him, a deal that could well be an anchor by the end of it. Expect to hear rumors, and the Cavaliers have to consider them, but it would take multiple teams to pull this off, given the Cavaliers' cap situation. Is that the move they want to make?
For a lower-level move, there has been a lot of talk about LeBron James returning for one year to finish his career where it started. It has a nice poetic ring to it, and LeBron showed this season he is still an All-Star-level player who can help a team. He could slot in as a third option.
The question is money — all the Cavaliers could offer LeBron is the veteran minimum of $3.9 million, and it seems unlikely he'd take that kind of pay cut (he made $52 million this past season). Cleveland could work out a sign-and-trade for a more reasonable sum, but that means the Cavaliers are sending a player of some value out West (Max Strus at $16.6 million)?
A lot of people around the league see Cleveland as the most likely landing spot for LeBron outside of Los Angeles, but how badly he wants that to happen remains the big question.
Maybe the Cavaliers pivot another direction, trying to trade Jarrett Allen for a desperately needed two-way wing. Maybe it's something else, but it's clear the Cavaliers need to do something this offseason, because just running it back sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Victor Wembanyama dodged the NBA media like he owed them money following the San Antonio Spurs’ most recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder — likely opting to answer those pending questions with actions in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.
The message coming out of the San Antonio locker room is clear: Wembanyama needs to be more aggressive on offense. Our Thunder vs. Spurs predictions believe that if anyone is up to that tall task, it’s the 7-foot Frenchman.
With San Antonio set as a 3.5-point favorite and its season on the line at home, our NBA picks like Wembanyama to top his scoring prop on May 28.
Thunder vs Spurs Game 6 prediction
Thunder vs Spurs best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points (-125)
Victor Wembanyama didn’t take his first shot of Game 5 until 3:15 of the first quarter.
That passiveness trickled down into a 5-for-15 night. Wembanyama didn’t run the floor, wasn’t attacking mismatches, and, like everyone’s car with these gas prices, was running on fumes.
“He has to take more than 15 shots,” stated coach Mitch Johnson.
“We need him to be aggressive,” pleaded guard Stephon Castle.
San Antonio will get Wemby going early and often in Game 6, because it simply no longer has a choice. Projections call for 27 points with 18 field-goal attempts. I forecast at least 22 shots.
COVERS INTEL: Looking back at the last 21 times Wembanyama took 15 or fewer FGAs (without injury impact), he’s followed those quiet efforts by averaging 28 points in the next game. He’s topped 30 points in nine of those outings.
Thunder vs Spurs Game 6 same-game parlay
San Antonio continues to contain SGA, hoping the Oklahoma City Thunder’s role players take a step back on the road. The Spurs benefit from some home cooking after a disjointed Game 5 offensive effort.
San Antonio is excellent at returning serve, with a 20-6 straight up record when coming off a loss this season, including 5-1 SU in those scenarios in the playoffs.
The Game 5 final score blew the closing total of 216.5 out of the water. San Antonio wants to get out and run in transition, and with OKC’s other scorers waking up (hello Chet Holmgren), this series is trending into the shootout category.
Before the WCF, the Thunder and Spurs produced regular-season totals above 230 points. I like another higher-scoring finish on Thursday.
Thunder vs Spurs SGP
Spurs moneyline
Over 218.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points
Thunder vs Spurs odds for Game 6
Spread: Thunder +3.5 | Spurs -3.5
Moneyline: Thunder +130 | Spurs -155
Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Thunder vs Spurs betting trend to know
The Spurs are 20-6 SU and 18-8 ATS when coming off a loss on the season. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Spurs.
How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 6
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Thunder vs Spurs latest injuries
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Four seasons, two rebrands, two top-five picks and one worst record in the league have transpired, and now, the Utah Jazz have come through the other side of the rebuild with a team that looks ready to compete in 2026-27.
But the fruits of this rebuild have not stopped blooming. Not even close. In 2028 and 2029, the Jazz could add multiple top draft picks to their roster, and it’s all thanks to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jazz fans should keep their eyes on the Cavaliers for the next two seasons. It could be well worth their while.
What picks do Cleveland owe Utah?
In 2028, the Utah Jazz own the most favorable of their’s and Cleveland’s draft picks (a pick swap in other words). Essentially, if the Cavs are worse than the Jazz, the pick will go to Utah. This comes from the blockbuster Donovan Mitchell trade that happened in the 2022 offseason.
The Jazz also own the most favorable and the second most favorable picks between Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah in 2029.
In the last week, these potential picks have gotten incredibly interesting for Utah. It seems things have plateaued for Donovan Mitchell and Cleveland. On Monday, the Cavs lost by 37 points to the Knicks, losing the series in only four games. The previous two games were also blowouts, and game one saw the Cavs blow a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter in one of the worst choke jobs in NBA playoff history.
In game four, Mitchell could be seen yelling at his teammates in the huddle, trying to get them to lock in, even though viewers around the world could tell that Cleveland had already given up.
In a season where Boston and Indiana were not at full strength, Cleveland still was not remotely close to winning the Eastern Conference title. Even though it made the conference finals, it’s record in the playoffs was statistically the worst possible record a team could have after three playoff series, going 8-10 across three rounds. Cleveland’s season easily could have ended against Toronto or Detroit.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up,” that James Harden was “going to be a Cav next year.”
“He’s going to sign a new contract, in all likelihood. He’s going to opt out of his contract and sign a new deal, and that new deal will probably be structured in a way that will allow the Cavs to dip below the second apron. And once they’ve done that, it can bring in the availability of them to make a major trade.” -Brian Windhorst on James Harden signing a new deal to stay in Cleveland
Donovan Mitchell has also expressed interest in returning to Cleveland, saying he had “unfinished business” after Monday’s loss.
Not only do their backcourt duo of Harden and Mitchell plan on returning, but sources told ESPN that Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson will be back next year too.
So the Cavs will bring their core players and coach back, but with the potential of making a big-time trade.
Obviously, anytime there is a big trade possibility, the first name that gets thrown around is Giannis Antetokounmpo. To make a trade like that work, Harden’s contract would have to be restructured in a way that is much lower than what the star guard is used to, or — and this seems the most likely scenario — Evan Mobley would have to be involved in the trade. However, The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reported the Cavs have “shown no interest” in trading Mobley for Antetokounmpo.
All signs point to Cleveland going all in yet again next season, but what going “all in” looks like varies. The Cavs could bring everybody back, make a franchise-altering trade for Antetokounmpo, or possibly even make a trade to reunite with LeBron James — there’s been whispers of this. Faint whispers, but whispers nonetheless.
But let’s say Cleveland has another disappointing, heartbreaking, reality check of a playoff defeat in 2027. What if that is the final straw that breaks the camel’s back and sends the Cavaliers into a new rebuild era. That 2028 pick could be much higher than anticipated, and the Jazz could find themselves with another lottery pick on their roster. Even if it doesn’t happen by 2028, who’s to say it won’t happen in 2029?
Cleveland’s next few seasons have now become that much more intriguing for fans in Utah.
LAS VEGAS — The tempting comparison, given the Golden Knights’ unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final, would be to the team that shocked the NHL in 2018 by playing for the championship as a first-year franchise.
But the more apt comparison might be to three years ago when Vegas — in not nearly as much of a surprise — won the Stanley Cup.
Carolina or Montreal, who are playing in the Eastern Conference Final, will have a lot to say whether the Golden Knights complete the task and win another Cup.
But Vegas is back for the third time in its nine seasons to cement itself as potentially the greatest expansion franchise in North American sports history. The Golden Knights got there by beating Colorado 2-1 for a stunning sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.
This team, like the one in 2023, has won with depth scoring, bruising defense and a hot goalie.
“I think we’ve always built our teams with good depth at the forward position, defensive position and goaltending position,” captain Mark Stone said. “I guess the similarities are that’s just the way we build our teams.”
On the 2023 team, 18 players scored goals in the playoffs and 12 had at least 10 points over 22 games. So far through 16 games this postseason, 15 players have scored goals and six have produced 10 or more points.
The depth showed itself in the clincher against the Avalanche when both goals came from the third and fourth lines, with Cole Smith scoring the decisive goal with 5:45 left.
“The third and fourth lines, the five- and six-D, that’s how you continue to move in the playoffs,” coach John Tortorella said. “Those are very important pieces as you go through these series. I’m happy for Smitty. I was going to kill him; he’s taking so many penalties.
“But I’m happy for him and (Dylan Coghlan and Kaedan Korczak). I mean, how well did they play. Playing against that team with the amount of speed that they bring, they weren’t intimidated by a thing.”
Coghlan and Korczak form the third pairing on the Golden Knights’ defense, which shut down an Avalanche offense that averaged a league-high 3.63 goals per game during the regular season and in the first two rounds upped that to 4.11. It was 1.75 against Vegas.
Colorado went the final 14:23 of the second period in Game 4 without a shot on goal and more than 25 minutes with just one shot.
The Golden Knights spent the series blocking one Avalanche shot after another, and for the postseason, four of the top nine players in blocked shots play for Vegas, topped by Shea Theodore’s 46. Four of the top five in 2023 were Golden Knights, including leader Alec Martinez with 57.
And then there’s the goalie play.
Adin Hill shined in 2023, coming off the bench in the second round and then going 11-4 with a .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals-against average. Hill remains on the team, but has been watching from the bench as Carter Hart has taken hold of the position. Hart is 12-4 with a .924 percentage and 2.22 GAA during the postseason.
“Hartsy’s been amazing this whole series, whole playoffs really,” Mitch Marner said. “Made some massive saves throughout all these games and again tonight. Made some massive ones for us to keep the game where it was. Hell of a game by Hartsy again.”
LOS ANGELES — Kiké Hernández likely is headed to the injured list with a strained left oblique just two days into his season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 34-year-old utility man homered in his first at-bat, then doubled in his second before leaving a 15-6 win over the Colorado Rockies after his at-bat in the fourth inning.
“It’s not a season-ending thing, so that’s something to be hopeful with,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “But yeah, it’s just a bummer.”
Hernández was off to a hot start after missing the first 53 games of the season while rehabbing from left elbow surgery during the offseason. He went 4 for 4 with two doubles and the homer in his first two games.
A chastened Hernández admitted he tweaked his oblique during batting practice, shortly before telling the media that he was pain-free.
“I was embarrassed because it didn’t even happen in the game,” he said. “I thought it was just weird tightness. Never done an oblique before, so I didn’t really know what I was feeling. Compared to some of the things I’ve played through in the past, it was nothing.”
He received treatment and believed he could start and bat ninth in the lineup.
“The homer swing felt awful. The next at-bat I went out there, I swung and missed on the first pitch and didn’t feel great,” Hernández said. “After that I went into survival mode.”
Roberts talked to him in the dugout during the game, urging him to keep his head up.
“Honestly, at that point I was kind of not there, so I’m not necessarily sure everything that he said to me,” Hernández said. “I feel pretty defeated right now. Hopefully, we get somewhat good news tomorrow.”
Initially, he said he only felt pain when he was swinging.
“That’s kind of why I thought I could play,” Hernández said. “When I hit the double, it didn’t just hurt to swing, it also hurt to run, so I knew that it was time to stop.”
Teammate Mookie Betts sustained a right oblique strain in early April while running the bases. The 33-year-old shortstop missed 36 days before being activated on May 11.
“It sucks,” Betts said. “We saw as soon as he came he brought life to us, but we’ll just see how the rehab and whatnot goes. He’ll be back.”
COVERS INTEL: Looking back at the last 21 times Wembanyama took 15 or fewer FGAs (without injury impact), he’s followed those quiet efforts by averaging 28 points in the next game. He’s topped 30 points in nine of those outings.
