Category: Basketball

The Cleveland Cavaliers had a tough time getting anything going offensively against the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their second-round series. That task was made more difficult with the loss of sharpshooter Sam Merrill, who was limited to just seven minutes in Game 1 with a hamstring injury.

Cleveland could be without Merrill for all of Game 2. He’s officially listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with a left hamstring strain.

Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!

Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the Donovan Mitchell NBA Jam shirt is HERE.

Merrill has been playing through various injuries this season. A hand injury he suffered near the beginning of the season has required him to ice his hand after games and practices. He’s also been dealing with left hamstring issues off and on, which caused him to miss regular-season games in March and April.

Merrill is one of the toughest players on the team. If there’s any possibility that he could play through the injury, he’ll likely try to.

At the same time, this could be a long series. There’s no point in rushing Merrill back now if there’s a chance that this injury could be in a better place in a week.

Merrill’s shooting has been indispensable for an offense that has been stuck in neutral for much of the postseason. Cleveland’s offense has been 16.8 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the floor compared to when he’s not. That’s due to his shooting and the gravity he has as an off-ball mover.

The Cavs don’t have an easy way to replicate Merrill’s shooting if he can’t go. Max Strus has been good at times this postseason, but this team needs both Strus and Merrill, not one or the other.

This season, Merrill averaged 12.8 points on 42.1% shooting from deep. In eight playoff games, he’s averaged 6.6 points on 37.9% shooting from deep.

Ric Flair, the legendary professional wrestler, might have captured the frustration of some Los Angeles Lakers fans over Luka Doncic having been sidelined for the past five weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring injury.

Flair also hit a nerve.

Famous for his signature "woo,'' Flair sounded off on X, writing “Luka, Please Get In The Game! Take A Shot Of Cortisone And Deal With The Pain! They Are Paying You 50 Million A Year, And You’re Not There! WTF! I Hope @JeanieBuss Trades You Next Year. Nobody Wants A Lame Duck On Their Team!’’

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic said Wednesday he was given platelet-rich plasma injections in Spain in an effort to speed up his eight-week timeline for return from the hamstring injury that has had him sidelined since April 2.

“I went to Spain to do PRP,” Doncic told reporters. “Everybody knows that its one of the best countries to do that. Obviously, you know, we talked with the Lakers doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there.”

Each injection required four days of rest in-between, calling for an extended stay in Spain, he said.

“I know and trust lots of people in Spain that I used to work with before," he said. "I needed four days in between every shot. I did it four times, so that’s why I stayed longer.”

Doncic said he's been running, but he's yet to reintroduce any contact.

The Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinals series 108-90 on Tuesday.

Doncic said it has been hard to watch while knowing he can't yet participate.

“It's very frustrating. I don't think people understand how frustrating it is," Doncic said. "All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It's the best time to play basketball. It's very frustrating to see what my team is doing, I'm very proud of them, but it's been very tough to watch.”

At the same time, the six-time NBA All-Star is aware that coming back too soon would put him at risk.

“It's a tough one for me. I've come back from injuries too soon before, and it wasn't the best result," he said. ”This is the first time I have a hamstring injury. It's not the same like other injuries. You have to be very careful. I'm doing everything to come back."

The Thunder host the Lakers in Game 2 on Thursday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

In theory, this should be the competitive series in the Eastern Conference. By favoring the Detroit Pistons by just a bucket at home, oddsmakers have effectively said the Cleveland Cavaliers should have a legitimate chance at winning this series.

But my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and these NBA picks firmly believe Cleveland has roster problems that should show up again in Game 2 on Thursday, May 7.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2 prediction

Cavaliers vs Pistons best bet: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds (-135)

This same bet was priced at +100 in Game 1, but it still holds value as long as the number remains at 7.5.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ center Jarrett Allen might be borderline unplayable in this series. Detroit Pistons’ center Jalen Duren is too active on the offensive glass for the Cavaliers to play Allen as he struggles finding boards.

Duren snagged seven offensive rebounds in Game 1, directly part of why Allen played only 18 minutes.

Cleveland has plenty of work ahead of it in this series, but that work doubles when giving up offensive rebounds as often as Allen did.

COVERS INTEL: Allen’s struggle against Duren is a known problem for the Cavaliers. Allen was not in any foul trouble in their meeting on March 3, yet he played just 21 minutes while Duren snagged six offensive rebounds.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2 same-game parlay

If Jarrett Allen is going to play less, someone needs to play more. Evan Mobley cannot play two positions at once, though Cleveland would be better off if he could.

Dean Wade saw nearly 28 minutes of action in Game 1, nearly 10 minutes more than Allen did. Wade managed only five points and three rebounds, but his plus/minus was only -4 in those 28 minutes, a palatable thought in a game the Cavaliers lost by 10 points.

Wade might join Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden by handling a workload in the mid-30s minutes. And that should lend many rebound opportunities.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

• Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
• Jarrett Allen Under 10.5 points
• Dean Wade Over 3.5 rebounds

Cavaliers vs Pistons odds for Game 2

• Spread: Cavaliers +3 | Pistons -3
• Moneyline: Cavaliers +135 | Pistons -160
• Over/Under: Over 216 | Under 216

Cavaliers vs Pistons betting trend to know

Four of the five matchups between these two this season, including Game 1, have gone Under their totals. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pistons.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2

Cavaliers vs Pistons latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

DETROIT (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers reserve guard Sam Merrill had an MRI on his left hamstring after injuring it in a Game 1 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

The Cavs held him out of practice Wednesday, a day before they will shoot to even the second-round series in Detroit.

Merrill had one assist and one turnover in six-plus minutes of the opener on Tuesday night.

The 29-year-old Merrill averaged 12.8 points during the regular season and scored in double digits twice in the seven-game, first-round series against the Toronto Raptors.

___

NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Though Jarred Vanderbilt suffered a gruesome dislocated right pinky injury during the Lakers’ loss in Game 1 against the Thunder on Tuesday, coach JJ Redick said his forward has been listed as day-to-day for the second-round series.

Vanderbilt, who is left-handed, was injured in the second quarter trying to block a dunk by Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, but his hand hit the backboard. Vanderbilt immediately doubled over in pain, as the bone broke through the skin and had to be put back in place.

“They were able to put his finger back together and it’s splinted and he’s day-to-day,” Redick said Wednesday.

The Lakers and Thunder play Game 2 here Thursday night at Paycom Center.

Redick said it was a “reduction” for Vanderbilt, meaning it was a procedure to restore his dislocated finger.

Vanderbilt had his finger taped and had a splint on the finger after the game.

Read more:Frustrated Luka Doncic breaks his silence; doctors forecasted he'd miss Thunder series

“Yeah. I mean, he's obviously a tough-minded player and person,” Redick said. “It just, he had a full dislocation. So they just put the stuff back together. You know, he'll be day-to-day.”

Redick was asked if it’ll be a pain tolerance issue for his defensive-minded forward.

“Certainly the pain is involved,” Redick said. “From my understanding, it's basically making sure basically the tissue is healed enough. We're obviously going to splint him, but making sure the tissue is healed enough to protect his skin barrier.”

Jaxson Hayes called Vanderbilt’s finger injury “disgusting” because the “whole bone was out of his skin.”

“Obviously, you never want to see one of your teammates go down,” Hayes said. “But, I mean, that was gross. That was really gross.”

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

With the 2026 NBA draft lottery on the horizon, 14 teams will gather in Chicago to hear if they will get the No. 1 overall pick in this class.

Pick Nos. 15-60 are already finalized but the lottery order is yet to be determined. With such a top-heavy class, there are plenty of reasons for fans to get excited even if their favorite team is not called at No. 1 overall.

This year has notable prospects including AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson. So even a top-four pick could change a franchise.

MORE: AI predicts the 2026 NBA Draft; Who are the top picks?

While the future of how the NBA draft lottery will work is currently undetermined based on concerns about tanking, the odds for this year are set in stone. Here is what you need to know, including trade details, for each team picking in the lottery.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is something that Philly would love to forget and they have a chance to get it right as our NBA player prop projections are ready for Game 2 between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.

By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.

These 76ers vs. Knicks predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Wednesday, May 6.

76ers vs Knicks computer picks for Game 2

76ers	Knicks
George o17.5 points -120	Brunson o26.5 points -105
Maxey o2.5 3-pointers -120	Towns o11.5 rebounds +105
Oubre Jr. u5.5 rebounds  -115	Anunoby o17.5 points -110

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

76ers Game 2 computer picks

Paul George Over 17.5 points (-120)

Projection: 20.65 points

Paul George has consistently hovered around his points prop line throughout the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff run, either clearing it or coming close on multiple occasions.

With Joel Embiid ruled out for Game 2, Philadelphia will need more scoring punch from its supporting cast, putting added pressure on George to step up. Facing the risk of going down 0-2, the Sixers will be counting on Playoff P to deliver the offensive lift they need.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet george Now at bet365!/span

Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 3-pointers (-120)

Projection: 3.35 3-pointers

Tyrese Maxey struggled from deep in Game 1, going 0-for-3 from beyond the arc, but he’ll look to quickly rediscover his range in Game 2.

The 76ers guard has been a key spark throughout the postseason, often carrying the offensive load when Joel Embiid has been limited or unavailable.

With that responsibility likely back on his shoulders, Maxey will be counted on once again to provide scoring punch and perimeter production in Game 2.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet maxey Now at bet365!/span

Kelly Oubre Jr. Under 5.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 4.93 rebounds

Everything still circles back to Embiid, and with him ruled out for Game 2, additional rebounding opportunities are likely to open up across the board.

Kelly Oubre Jr. grabbed five rebounds on eight chances in just 27 minutes during Game 1, and while he should see enough volume to stay active on the glass again, there’s still some risk he lands just shy of this line.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet oubre jr. Now at bet365!/span

---

Knicks Game 2 computer picks

Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-105)

Projection: 28.75 points

Jalen Brunson torched the 76ers for 35 points in Game 1, and he’ll look to keep that momentum rolling back home at Madison Square Garden — a stage where he’s consistently thrived under the spotlight and delivered on this scoring line.

Having cleared the Over in six of his last 10 games, Brunson is well-positioned to replicate that performance in Game 2 as he looks to do whatever it takes to defend home court.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet brunson Now at bet365!/span

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 13.06 rebounds

Karl-Anthony Towns has been a force on the glass throughout the New York Knicks playoff run, but his rebounding output in Game 1 against the Sixers was relatively quiet by his standards.

With the Knicks ranking fourth in the league at home in offensive rebounding (13.1 per game), expect Towns to elevate his presence on the boards in Game 2 with the home crowd behind him.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet towns Now at bet365!/span

OG Anunoby Over 17.5 points (-110)

Projection: 18.83 points

OG Anunoby has had a steady impact for the Knicks throughout this postseason, providing efficient scoring and clearing the Over on this points prop in five of his last seven playoff games.

With the series set to shift to Philadelphia after tonight, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Anunoby deliver another strong outing before the Knicks hit the road.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet anunoby Now at bet365!/span

How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 2

Location	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date	Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

MORE NBA PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

No team won more games than the Thunder this season. A well-oiled machine with back-to-back 60-win regular seasons flexed its basketball muscle Tuesday night.

While the final score is not entirely indicative of a back-and-forth affair, a dominant team performance nonetheless forced LA back to the drawing board.

​Facing the clear-cut deepest team in the league — playing an unconventional 11 guys in the first half — the Lakers’ top item is still the head of this venomous snake in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A game plan of multiple bodies held up for a while before the reigning MVP took out a scalpel and dissected LA’s defense.

​SGA scored a modest 18 points with six assists and seven uncharacteristic turnovers. LA used a similar scheme they’ve done with many stars this season, sending help instantly with multiple help defenders and forcing the opponent to play out of rotation.

​Marcus Smart was given the on-ball assignment to chase and stick on SGA. Any ball screen was played with aggressive coverages as shown in the clip below. Watch as Lu Dort comes to the screen for his guard, with Jaxson Hayes as the opposite defender.

​SGA comes off the screen with downhill intentions. Hayes never leaves him with Smart trailing and four Lakers with a foot in the paint. It forces SGA to throw an errant pass out of bounds.

A few possessions later, watch as he comes to get a screen from Jaylin Williams and Deandre Ayton meets him at the level. SGA leaves his feet to find his open teammate, with LeBron James perfectly anticipating the pass for a transition basket.

While he hit five of them, the purple and gold’s defense held SGA to just seven shot attempts in the first half and more turnovers (four) than assists (three).

OKC, being the problem solver team they are, came up with some answers at halftime to counter. One was having the screen set much higher for SGA, making it harder to send help and creating more space for their superstar guard to operate.

Watch below as Isaiah Hartenstein comes to the screen for SGA almost at the midcourt mark, which sends him downhill into a patented step-back in the mid-range.

​Later in the fourth quarter, the Lakers decide to “fire” him on the catch — send two defenders to take the ball out of his hands — and make the Thunder play out of rotation. OKC made crisp passes out of it all night, as shown below, as the ball swung around the court and ends up in the corner for a three from Jared McCain, who connected on 4-7 on the night from long distance.

LA overall held the leading 3-point attempting team in the playoffs to just 13 makes on 30 shots. It was an eight-point game with just under a minute left in the third before the Thunder put the game on ice in the fourth.

There’s no answer for SGA, as he’s shown an ability to break any defense thrown his way and is the heavy favorite to lead his team back-to-back championships.

​You have to pick your poison, and sometimes you die either way.

“Tonight was very simple,” SGA said postgame.  “Multiple bodies, that means multiple people are open and just trust my teammates from there.”

Even as simple as it was, the game plan and execution were good, but it just wasn’t perfect. Even then, the odds are stacked against you against a team playing with all the answers.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is just days away, and fans, executives, and players alike are speculating about which franchise will secure the coveted No. 1 overall pick, a selection that could dramatically reshape the future of a team.

The NBA Draft lottery employs a randomized drawing system to determine the selection order for the first 14 picks. These lottery selections are critical, often serving as the lifeline for franchises seeking to rebuild around standout talent. The top four picks are determined by the lottery itself, while the remaining teams in the lottery draw select in positions five through 14, according to the reverse order of their 2025-26 regular-season records.

The rest of the first round (picks 15 to 30) and the entire second round follow the same reverse order format. Every team is guaranteed one pick per round, ensuring that talent is distributed as equitably as possible across the league.

Heading into the NBA Draft Lottery, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each hold a 14% chance of winning the top pick due to their regular-season records. However, the lottery’s element of chance means that even teams with the worst records aren’t guaranteed the No. 1 selection.

Upsets and surprises are common with the NBA Draft Lottery. Here is how to watch and what to know about the event.

More: Who are top picks in new AI NBA mock draft ahead of 2026 lottery?

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t blow anyone away with their performance in the series opener with the Los Angeles Lakers. But when the smoke settled, OKC beat L.A. by 18 points despite star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having a quiet night.

My same-game parlay for Thursday’s Game 2 isn’t getting in the way of Oklahoma City, even with LeBron James doing the lion’s share of the scoring for Los Angeles.

Here are my NBA picks, SGP, and Lakers vs. Thunder predictions for May 6.

Our best Lakers vs Thunder SGP for Game 2

SGP leg #1: Thunder -15.5

It was like “death by 1,000 papercuts” for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1. They were able to hang around for a while, but the Oklahoma City Thunder kept cashing in on the Lakers’ miscues, and when it all added up over 48 minutes, the Thunder had an 18-point win. 

Los Angeles doesn’t have the offensive firepower or the defense to trade blows with the reigning champs. With OKC waking up from a long slumber between series, it rolls over L.A. in Game 2.

SGP leg #2: LeBron James Over 21.5 Points

LeBron James scored 27 points in an extremely efficient effort in Game 1, hitting 12 of 17 shots. James got whatever he wanted, and OKC seemed fine with that, passing on pressures or double teams on the Lakers' star.

The Thunder were more focused on shutting down L.A.’s supporting staff. James will continue to score in Game 2, with projections north of 23 points, and I expect his field-goal total to jump back up to 20+ as long as the other Lakers are struggling.

SGP leg #3: Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 Points

Chet Holmgren is a big problem for the Los Angeles defense. The Thunder’s 7-footer led the way with 24 points in Game 1, and a lot of those were easy buckets and dunks.

His size, quickness, and energy expose L.A.’s soft interior protection, and his ability to step outside and knock down triples is almost undefendable. He’s forecasted for another 20+ point performance in Game 2.

Covers NBA betting tools

• NBA odds
• NBA picks
• NBA player props
• Best NBA betting sites
• Today’s NBA matchups

See our full Lakers vs Thunder Game 2 preview

Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Lakers vs Thunder predictions for Game 2.

More Covers NBA Playoff content

NBA Championship odds

Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

NBA Finals MVP odds

See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

Live NBA Playoff bracket

Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The 2026 NBA Draft is set to be held from June 23-24 in Brooklyn, New York. The Michigan Wolverines are set to be well represented in this year’s draft, as a trio of prospects are currently being projected to go in the first round. While Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara could still withdraw from the draft and return to Ann Arbor, both are increasingly unlikely as time goes by.

Despite the NBA playoffs still going on, mock draft season is off and running. Here’s where Yaxel Lendeborg, Mara and Morez Johnson are being projected to go in some of the latest mock drafts. Keep in mind the NBA Draft Lottery has not yet occurred, so which team will be in which draft spot is still in flux.

F Yaxel Lendeborg

Bleacher Report (Jonathan Wasserman): No. 13 to the Oklahoma City Thunder

Wasserman compares Lendeborg to Aaron Gordon thanks to his positional versatility and size. He also views his competitiveness and determination displayed during the Final Four as endearing qualities.

His offensive versatility has been on NBA radars for years; after starring at UAB, he transferred to Michigan and helped the Wolverines win a national title, validating his production against the highest level of competition.

An improved shooter and defender who passes and rebounds, Lendeborg should look highly adaptable and easy to fit for most NBA teams.

USA Today (Bryan Kalbrosky): No. 6 to the Memphis Grizzlies

By far the highest we’ve seen him on a mock draft, Kalbrosky of USA Today sees Lendeborg as easily a Top 10 pick. He cites how prone Memphis is to not be worried about the age of their draft picks, with a recent example being Purdue’s Zach Edey.

Keep an eye on the Grizzlies as a potential suitor for Yaxel Lendeborg, who showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan.

ESPN (Jeremy Woo): No. 12 to the Oklahoma City Thunder

Woo points out that Lendeborg would fit perfectly on a team like the Thunder, who in a normal year wouldn’t be in the lottery at all. The Thunder are clearly in their championship window, so taking a player who is NBA ready and on the older side is right up their alley.

The Clippers falling out of the play-in means the 64-win Thunder, who own this pick, have a long-shot opportunity on lottery night. The Thunder also own the 17th pick and will have an incentive to try and consolidate some of their assets, with minimal roster-spot wiggle room in the offseason. Lendeborg would be a ready-made addition to their frontcourt, and his size and versatility would be valuable immediately on a contender.

CBS Sports (Adam Finkelstein): No. 16 to the Memphis Grizzlies

Like USA Today, Finkelstein has Lendeborg falling to the Grizzlies. He has Lendeborg falling behind a handful of younger power forwards who are being drafted more on potential than immediate production like Tennessee’s Nate Ament and Arizona’s Koa Peat.

CBS Sports (Cameron Salerno): No. 9 to the Chicago Bulls

Salerno disagrees with his CBS counterpart, as he has Lendeborg going well before the developmental bigs. In fact, Salerno has Lendeborg as the first non-underclassmen to be drafted. The Bulls could certainly use his plug and play potential from day one.

C Aday Mara

Bleacher Report: No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets

Wasserman has Mara going just one pick after Lendeborg. He compares Mara to Andrew Bogut as situational-type center.

Michigan’s NCAA tournament run shone a light on Aday Mara’s defensive impact, advantageous finishing tools and unique skill level. Aside from the constant shot-contesting around the paint and rim, he provided the lineup significant offense as a lob target, low-post player and passer.

Turnovers, limited switchability and dreadful free-throw shooting will turn teams off, but he’s established himself as too rare of a player, even if he winds up being more of a situational center.

USA Today: No. 12 to the Oklahoma City Thunder

While Lendeborg is the more popular pick to go to the Thunder, USA Today has Mara joining the juggernaut. Oklahoma City certainly enjoys having monstrous centers, as Chet Holmgren and Mara both possess excellent court vision and passing ability for big men.

Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim.

ESPN: No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets have developed rapidly in recent years with the emergence of Lamelo Ball and Kon Knueppel. However, they lack true size, as former Wolverine Moussa Diabate is their starting center. While Diabate himself is a great story, he stands just 6-foot-10. Adding five inches in Mara would help anchor the Hornets defensively for years to come.

CBS Sports (Finkelstein): No. 23 to the Denver Nuggets

Finkelstein has Mara the lowest of any of the mocks, but the Nuggets may just be the ideal fit. With Jonas Valanciunas set to be a free agent, Denver could use a center to backup Nikola Jokic. While Mara is obviously more slender than Jokic, they both play with size and excellent passing.

CBS Sports (Salerno): No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets

Like ESPN, Salerno has Mara going to the Hornets at 14. He credits Mara with one of the largest rises in draft projections during the NCAA Tournament.

F Morez Johnson Jr.

Bleacher Report: No. 23 to the Atlanta Hawks

Wasserman comps Johnson to Montrezl Harrell, which seems spot on in my opinion. He harps on the role that Johnson will have in the NBA and how his skillset is already exactly that of a rim-running, defensive-minded power forward.

At 6’9″, 250 pounds, his combination of strength, leaping and coordination should continue to work well finishing rim runs, lobs, putbacks and low-post opportunities.

There should be equal expected value (or more) tied to his defensive projection, given his toughness inside and foot speed away from the basket.

USA Today: No. 25 to the Los Angeles Lakers

Kalbrosky credits Johnson as being the key piece to Michigan’s identity during the title run. I can’t say I disagree.

Johnson’s shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. 

ESPN: No. 20 to the San Antonio Spurs

Like the Thunder, the Spurs are blessed with a higher draft pick this offseason thanks to a trade with Atlanta. The Spurs are loaded with guard talent and obviously have Victor Wembanyama playing center. An athletic power forward like Johnson would pair perfectly in the San Antonio front court with Wemby.

CBS Sports (Finkelstein): No. 21 to the Philadelphia 76ers

Johnson had been a center at Illinois before transferring to Michigan. In Ann Arbor, Dusty May had him predominantly play the 4 with Mara at the 5. Finkelstein loves Johnson’s versatility next to Joel Embiid. He projects Johnson to be Embiid’s backup center and a jumbo 4 when Philadelphia wants to play big. The fit is extremely neat with the 76ers.

CBS Sports (Salerno): No. 21 to the Detroit Pistons

Like Finkelstein, Salerno has Johnson going 21st overall. However, he projects the Pistons to have that spot. While Detroit doesn’t need a backup center, the power forward spot has been a revolving door after Tobias Harris. With Harris aging, it would behoove Detroit to take a young, long-term option in this draft.

With the offseason underway for the Phoenix Suns, there are numerous pending roster decisions to be made. The fan base has already voiced their opinions, clamoring on social media and expressing who they would like to see this team add. Even if Mat Ishbia promised continuity and the core of this team will remain, some changes will follow. The Suns do need more size, as that was a clear issue against most of their Western Conference foes.

Yet the question of who should be that piece to bring some size here remains unknown. Speculation has been rampant across the Suns’ land, and in recent news, another name has popped up as a possible trade candidate.

That is right, ladies and gentlemen, it is Anthony Davis! The big man who was traded in arguably the worst deal of all time is reportedly gaining some traction from Suns fans to target after the latest intel. It is stated that AD may want a trade-out of Washington, as it was not his desired destination. This would then leave the star forward on his third team in three years, as he looks for an extension.

Does this make sense for the Suns, and if so, how could they get it done?

How could it get done?

Unlike the other two renditions of this series (which, if you missed, check them out), AD makes significantly more than either Aaron Gordon or Jrue Holiday. Davis has 2 years and $121 million remaining on his deal, with a near-$63 million player option next year that he will certainly pick up. With him also wanting a long-term extension, if the Suns were to acquire him, this would be something they would have to consider alongside the Dillon Brooks extension that is expected to happen, too.

To get this deal done, the Suns would have to send either Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks or Green with Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to get close to a salary match, as Davis is owed $58.5 million in 2026-27.

Which would make the most sense?

Since the Suns are expected to extend Brooks and keep him on the team, his inclusion in trade rumors makes little to no sense. It would be the deal with Allen, Green, and O’Neale that is over $60 million in salary. The Suns would then save some money on this deal to re-sign key free agents, but would have no more ammo for other moves. This would be the big kahuna, adding AD to bolster the front court.

For Washington, they would be taking a flyer on Green, hoping he can transform into the guard he could be there while also getting two veteran deals to help their depth. They could eventually move those pieces if they look a bit worse than expected, but having O’Neale as a mentor to Kyshawn George could be very beneficial for their development.

Why does it not get done?

It seems both teams are reluctant to do this one. For starters, Phoenix is basically flushing all its value out in this one deal. The only other way they could make a move is if Mark Williams were signed and then traded in restricted free agency, which would handicap a team that wants financial freedom.

Not to mention that AD wants an extension, like I keep mentioning. One that is a max contract worth at least $50 million for the next few seasons. For a 33-year-old big man who has had injuries throughout his career, this would scare me if I were the Suns’ front office. If we are already invested in Booker long-term and want to be in this core, we cannot pay another max contract, especially given all the dead money on this roster from Bradley Beal’s stretch and Nassir Little’s waivers in the previous offseasons ($23.2 million).

The Suns won’t be able to escape the aprons long-term if they pursue this move, and with an aging AD, that is not a good look. I mentioned in my last piece in this series that even if you are healthy and come to Phoenix, you may still get injured. Well, for AD and the Suns, that would not be pleasant, as they would have invested so much in someone who might not play. Davis has played above 60 games twice in the last 5 years. A complaint fans had about Mark Williams this year would certainly stick for AD during his time here.

Now, there are positives to the big man that the Suns could definitely value, as he’d be a great mentor for Khaman Malauch and Oso Ighodaro. With age, Davis has gotten a bit slower on the offensive end, forcing him to play center more than power forward, which is also what the Suns need him for. His three-point has regressed, and the spacing he used to provide has not been as impactful in past years. After shooting above 30% from three for 5 straight years, he has yet to hit that mark since the 2019-20 season.

I also think the Wizards would not want to do this deal. Even if his value is at an all-time low, the package the Suns give does not really help the Wizards. Yes, it gives them proven veterans and pieces to improve their bench, but how much? Does it stunt their internal growth as well? Does Jalen Green even fit with Trae Young and Tre Johnson there? Those are real questions that have to be addressed when evaluating this, and, truly, I do not think the Wizards would want Green. Maybe it has to be a three-team deal to get done, but that makes it too complicated for a piece that I just illustrated is not worth it.

What do you think, though? Do you think the Suns should pursue Anthony Davis, and if so, what would you offer?

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2 against the New York Knicks due to multiple injuries to his hip and ankle.

ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Embiid was "unable to participate in the team's shootaround this morning." That lack of availability prompted the Sixers to remove Embiid from Game 2, Wednesday, May 6.

Embiid was unable to participate in the team’s shootaround this morning after experiencing increased soreness in both his ankle and hip, sources said. He had been receiving around-the-clock treatment in efforts to play. https://t.co/IUY2HK77KE

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 6, 2026

Embiid, 76ers on/off court splits

Joel Embiid garnered a net rating of 5.6 during the 2025-26 season, making him a very high-end talent. However, with his mobility issues, Embiid could be considered a liability right now and perhaps his absence will be beneficial in the short term.

Without Embiid on the floor, the Sixers still managed a postive, albeit low 0.2 net rating on the season, making them a slightly above average team without Embiid on the floor. That likely will not be enough to handle the New York Knicks though, who are already a game up in the series.

76ers updated NBA title odds

Prior to Embiid's injury news, the 76ers already had the lowest odds of winning the NBA title, per BetMGM. Now, with Embiid considered day-to-day and the Sixers facing a potential 2-0 series deficit, their odds have decreased even further to +8000.

Those odds rank last of all remaining teams and twice as much as the sixth and seventh-ranked teams — the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers (+4000).

What changes for Knicks with Embiid out?

Contrary to what you might think, the absence of Philly's former MVP might not be as beneficial as you might expect for the Knicks. In Game 1, Embiid put up a miserable performance. He shot just 3-of-11 from the floor and only gathered 14 points in the loss.

But it wasn't just on the offensive end where Embiid struggled. The Knicks had an obvious gameplan on Monday, which included targeting Embiid's lack of mobility.

Embiid struggled to guard anyone on the perimeter, and struggled to get around pick-and-rolls, making it very easy for New York to get the matchups they wanted. Karl-Anthony Towns shot 4-of-5 when guarded by Embiid, while Brunson went 3-of-4 in the same situation.

Without Embiid in the mix, Philadelphia will now employ a mix of Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, each of whom bring different skills, but solid defense, which could help stifle New York's offense. Although neither Bona nor Drummond is at Embiid's level offensively, the improved defense should be more than enough to give Philadelphia a better chance at evening this series.

What changes for 76ers with Embiid out?

Official starting lineups have yet to be revealed. However, the 76ers will likely start either Andre Drummond or Adem Bona in Embiid's stead. Perhaps the team would be wise to choose Bona.

Alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul George, with Drummond, the team was -1.0 points per 100 possessions. With Bona instead of Drummond, the team was +12.1.

Philadelphia had 454 non Joel Embiid possessions this postseason per Cleaning the Glass.

The 2 most used:

Maxey, VJ, George, Oubre, Drummond: -1.0 per 100

Maxey, VJ, George, Oubre, Bona: +12.1

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 6, 2026

Knicks get odds boost after Embiid news

Prior to the Embiid news, the Knicks were just 7.5-point favorites, per BetMGM. Already, the Knicks have jumped to 10.5-point favorites in wake of Embiid's absence.

Was Joel Embiid expected to play vs Knicks?

Embiid was initially listed as probable for Wednesday night's contest. ESPN also reports that Embiid had been receiving "around-the-clock treatment" in an effort to get him ready for the game.

Despite the treatment, Embiid experienced increased soreness in his hip and ankle, making him unable to work with his team Wednesday morning, and prompting the 76ers to take extra precaution with their superstar.