James Harden ‘100%’ wants to be back in Cleveland

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against the New York Knicks during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t trade for a one-year rental. All indicators point towards James Harden returning to the team this summer after opting out to restructure his deal.

“Yes. 100%,” said Harden on whether he wants to be back in Cleveland. “Definitely want to be here. I think we found something. It’s tough not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”

That’s as strong a commitment as you’ll get from a player in today’s NBA. That type of clarity on someone’s future can actually be relieving. Reports suggest the Cavs are just as certain that they want Harden back for next season.

“This is not theoretical, James Harden will be back with the Cavs next year,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “It will be for multiple years guaranteed.”

This should come as no surprise. It was unlikely that Cleveland would have traded Darius Garland for half a year of Harden. This was always going to be a multi-year relationship.

Harden averaged 19.2 points and 5.5 assists in 18 playoff games this year. Everything he did was on the fly after joining the Cavs midseason. In some ways, that makes their run to the Eastern Conference Finals impressive. But I don’t think anyone is handing out brownie points at this time.

“We showed a lot, we could have folded a few times, especially in the second round,” said Donovan Mitchell after the season ended. “Game 6 [loss to Detroit] was tough. That’s an organizational altering series, and for us to rally around each other and execute on the road, that tells you everything you need to know.”

The Cavs have work to do; New York made that painfully obvious. They don’t have the continuity or cohesion that’s required of winning at the highest level. Another year with Harden could help them achieve that. That’s what you have to tell yourself, at least.

Harden carries with him all the baggage of a legendary player who has never made it to the top of the mountain. This was understood before trading for him. Harden tied Karl Malone for the most playoff wins without a championship this postseason. That’s a narrative that’s come to define him for many fans.

“We ignore leadership, we ignore the human character of who he is, we ignore the empowerment he gives people, and we ignore his greatness in a major way,” said Mitchell. “It’s really unfair, now more than ever, now that I see it on a regular basis, we have a ‘ring culture’ society, and that’s just who we are.”

There’s merit to Harden’s on-court resume. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer, no matter how hard you criticize him. Still, there’s always only been one way to shut people up. He has to win.

“I’m still here, right? Still alive, still going. That’s all I can do,” said Harden of his shortcomings in the playoffs. “As much as we want to feel sorry or doubt our journey, whether it’s you guys or me, you just gotta keep pushing.”

Cavaliers face huge dilemma after Knicks sweep: Blow it up or go for broke?

The end for the Cleveland Cavaliers was cruel, with Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner celebrating on their court dressed in New York Knicks gear and embracing Knicks' players like they were part of the win. The Knicks' blowout put them in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and sent the Cavaliers into an uncomfortable offseason.

Though Cleveland advanced to the Eastern Conference finals without LeBron James for the first time in almost 35 years, its unceremonious exit – and how arduous this whole postseason run seemed – has clouded what path the team should take in the weeks and months ahead.

The Cavaliers took perhaps the biggest swing of any team this year at the NBA trade deadline, flipping oft-injured 26-year-old Darius Garland for durable 36-year-old James Harden to pair with Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt. Cleveland had the most expensive roster in the league. Whether it worked – or can work – is up for debate. The final impression this season was a dud.

After blowing a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against the Knicks, the Cavaliers lost the last three games of the Eastern Conference finals by an average of 22 points.

Harden said in the aftermath he is committed to remaining with the Cavaliers. Mitchell told reporters he has "no doubt this group can get there." They each expressed faith in coach Kenny Atkinson and the organization. They preached patience after only a few months with Harden in the fold.

But the modern NBA doesn't usually wait around for long. Team owner Dan Gilbert said as much in a postgame tweet declaring, "we took a step ahead this spring, but we are nowhere near where we need to be."

How that statement manifests itself could change the landscape of the entire NBA offseason, with the Cavaliers possessing perhaps the largest range of outcomes of any team in the league. They could stay the course, blow it up, or go for broke. These are the pressing questions facing the franchise:

Will Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers sign new extension?

Mitchell just made his first trip to the conference finals in his ninth NBA season, and fourth with the Cavaliers. But there's a fork-in-the-road for the two sides, despite Mitchell's statements in the wake of Monday's loss that he remains committed to Cleveland.

The 29-year-old is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth as much as $272 million this offseason. He could also wait until next year and be eligible to sign a five-year deal worth as much as $350 million. If he chooses the latter path, he'd essentially play next season as a looming free agent because of the $54-million player option for 2027-28 in his current contract.

Are the Cavaliers comfortable devoting that much to a player who might not be a No. 1 option for a championship contender right now? The uncertainty shouldn't immediately invite trade rumors, especially given Mitchell's positive tone after being swept out of the playoffs. But there's a forthcoming negotiation that will determine how much Cleveland wants to spend to hitch its wagon to Mitchell for the foreseeable future.

What's next for James Harden, Cavaliers?

Harden has a $42.3-million team option on his contract for the 2026-27 season, but multiple reports at the trade deadline suggested Harden would not have agreed to be dealt to the Cavaliers without an understanding that he would be retained beyond this season.

He had another bumpy postseason, with a few notable performances in the first two rounds that got overshadowed when Knicks star Jalen Brunson feasted on him in the Eastern Conference Finals. Taking on Harden at his team option price tag would likely hamper what else the Cavaliers can do this offseason. A more team-friendly salary point, likely in exchange for an extra year or two on a new Harden contract, is expected to be the outcome.

That will tie Cleveland to Mitchell and Harden as a tandem. Harden sounded confident it can work.

"Definitely want to be here," Harden told reporters after Game 4. "I think we found something. It's tough. It's not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something."

Will Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson be back?

Atkinson is just one year removed from winning NBA coach of the year, but his viral analytics moment before Game 4 reinforced his underwhelming performance on the sideline during the playoffs.

Telling reporters that Cleveland "analytically" won two of the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals will go down in infamy among the more inopportune quotes uttered by a coach during a postseason series. It happened less than a week after Atkinson's timeout usage, or lack thereof, was questioned after the Cavaliers blew their 22-point lead in Game 1.

Cleveland was also taken to Game 7 in both the first round and conference semifinals after having a chance to end both series in Game 6. The accumulation of wear and tear, according to Atkinson, took its toll on the roster in the Eastern Conference Finals. Given Gilbert's postgame edict and expectations, Atkinson's leash appears to be short whether he keeps his job going into next season or not.

Can Cavaliers land LeBron James or Giannis?

These are the ultimate wild cards for this Cleveland offseason, and the most unlikely scenarios. One relies on James being generous. The other would be a huge bet on the present, potentially at the expense of the franchise's long-term fortunes. But James is a free agent and Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly on the trade market. One

In Evan Mobley, Cleveland has a young star the Milwaukee Bucks might be interested in taking back as a centerpiece in exchange for Antetokounmpo. The Cavaliers previously showed no interest in doing that. Did the Knicks sweep change their thinking?

James, meanwhile, has the option to add a closing chapter to his career by returning to Cleveland one more time. It would almost certainly have to come on a significant hometown discount given how much money the Cavaliers have committed. But if James is searching for another title and wants to leave the Lakers, he'd have an easier path in the Eastern Conference.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cavaliers NBA offseason, free agency outlook includes LeBron, Giannis

This Cavaliers team was never serious

May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) huddles around teammates during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Game 1 was a confirmation of a cultural problem. The Cleveland Cavaliers surrendered a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter, not gradually, not begrudgingly, but as if they had simply decided to stop. The New York Knicks didn’t steal the game so much as Cleveland left it unlocked, engine running, keys in the ignition.

What followed wasn’t a series. It was a confirmation.

The unbothered problem

All season, the word that kept surfacing around this team was resilient. They won back-to-back Game 7s, against Toronto, against Detroit, and the narratives wrote themselves. Mentally tough. Unbreakable. Built different.

But resilience and indifference are separated by a razor’s edge, and against New York, Cleveland spent four games on the wrong side of it. The same equanimity that helped them claw back from deficits became a kind of emotional flatness; an inability to register the weight of the moment when the moment demanded urgency. They twice held 3–2 series leads in earlier rounds and failed to close. No one seemed particularly alarmed. That should have been the warning sign.

Game 7 victories hid problems in plain sight. If you want to view both those series objectively, the Cavaliers struggled to close out teams that were much more flawed than a New York team that wasn’t going to succumb to anything but Cleveland’s best punch.

Roster construction and coaching will get their due; there is plenty to excavate there. But before any of that: the Cavaliers, for long stretches of this series, did not appear to be trying as hard as the other team. The Knicks ran. They dove. They celebrated. New York played like a city starving for something; Cleveland played like a team that had already made peace with however things turned out.

After every loss, the message was almost chalked up to an unlucky coin flip. The Cavaliers would convey all the lip service to make one think they took the loss to heart. Sure of the fact that this game would be put behind them, not far enough to not draw conclusions and improvements from, only to play identically both in scheme and effort, resulting in the same narrative for four straight games.

Game 4 was probably the most telling for me of where this Cavaliers team was, mentally and physically drained. All you want as a fan is to see your team fight for pride on its home court. Especially when your opponent can celebrate and lift hardware in front of your fans. It seemed the Cavaliers gave their “best” in the first eight minutes. When the Knicks continued to pile on the points and run in transition, that was the kiss of death for the Cavaliers’ season.

Hustle metrics, second-chance points, deflections by nearly every measure of effort that can be quantified, the Cavaliers came up short. That is not a coaching problem or a roster problem first. That is a pride problem.

James Harden absorbs a disproportionate share of the blame in these moments; always has, likely always will. Some of it is fair. Some of it is lazy. But pinning this collapse on any single player lets the other fourteen off a hook they should not be allowed to wriggle from. This was a collective failure. The Cavaliers were a soulless corpse long before anyone’s shot selection or defensive positioning became the story.

The question facing Cleveland this offseason isn’t whether to tweak the roster at the margins. It’s whether this team, in its current form, has the capacity for genuine desperation; for the kind of hunger that makes a Game 3 and 4 blowouts feel like a wound rather than a footnote. Until they can answer that honestly, the Game 1 collapses will keep coming.

If the Cavaliers are to get where they want to go, they need to realize the culture they built is one where contentment comes too easily. A culture where counter punches aren’t expected and where, once a lead is built, a loss can never follow. I think the poison from this mentality trickled from the top down, including coaching, stars like Donovan Mitchell and Harden down to the role players.

It’s an organizational issue, and if the Cavaliers want to become serious, they need to show it on the floor and not at the podium.

Thunder or Spurs: Who do Knicks match up best with in NBA Finals?

For the first time in 26 long years, the Knicks have advanced to the NBA Finals, and are now just four wins from heights unseen in half a century. 

Their eventual foe has yet to be determined, as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder battle for the Western Conference in a 2-2 draw entering Game 5 on Tuesday night.

The way the Knicks have played since Game 3 of the first round, no fan would be out of line for outsized confidence in either potential matchup. However, the reality is the Spurs and Thunder are leagues ahead of any competition New York has faced thus far in the postseason, and each present unique challenges in a league where styles make fights.

With that in mind, which team would be the better matchup for the Knicks?

Spurs

The Spurs offer some nice narrative arcs for the Knicks, with Mike Brown getting revenge for the 2007 Finals and the franchise for 1999. Fans also like this idea because the Knicks went 2-1 against them during the regular season and in their NBA Cup Championship game.

You normally can't bank on regular season results, but they can be indicative of certain advantages, much like San Antonio’s dominance over OKC this season. This won’t be some walk in the park, but the Knicks have real leverage in this matchup.

First, they have the best one-man answers to Victor Wembanyama in the league -- with OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson. Both already showed how they can stymie him without pulling too much of the remaining defense's attention.

Second, they have the perimeter defenders to bother Spurs guards in De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. Mikal Bridges has locked up every All-Star caliber guard thrown at him this postseason, and Josh Hart and Miles McBride are coming up huge as well.

Finally, there’s the five-out option the Knicks can lean on to circumvent the Spurs’ suffocating defense. Wembanyama won’t be allowed to easily roam or protect the paint if he has to stretch out to Karl-Anthony Towns or Anunoby.

San Antonio is also a younger, less-tested team, although they’ve answered the call through two rounds and aren’t making it easy for the reigning champions. They definitely have their own edges in the series.

The Spurs will have many defensive guards and big wings to throw at Jalen Brunson, and have proven themselves much more versatile and flexible schematically than some of the other foes the Knicks have faced. They’re also comfortable playing at New York’s pace.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Oklahoma City Thunder

New York dropped two competitive games to Oklahoma City during the regular season, and will definitely come armed with fewer strategic edges should they meet. Still, the way the Knicks have jelled, it’s anybody’s game.

The Knicks will need to tap into all of their offensive creation -- Towns in the pinch post, Brunson ball, transition -- to test the Thunder's defense. They boast enough scrappy defensive guards to wear Brunson down, so the more he can get off the ball and still find success is key.

Towns will have to be especially patient and choosy with his approach. Scoring on the tandem of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren won’t be easy if the offense isn’t flowing, and his creation will be tested against a lot of reaching arms.

They’ll likely start Bridges, who has the poise and ability, on MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and see how aggressively they’ll need to help. Beyond Bridges there aren’t a ton of clean one-on-one matchups to try, and over-extending the defense will lead to lots of open threes, so much of this series would ride on him.

One thing working heavily in New York’s favor would be the injury list. Jalen Williams has been battling a hamstring issue, while Ajay Mitchell is out.

Knicks fans might be on top of the world now, but in eight short days they’ll begin the team’s toughest series to date. Whoever they play, it’ll be a grueling, emotional, and unmissable final hurdle to the championship.

Spurs vs Thunder Expert Picks & Game 5 Best Bets

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The seesaw battle in the Western Conference Finals shifts back to the Paycom Center tonight for a pivotal Game 5, as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder enter tied at 2-2.

With tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, our Covers experts have you set with their best NBA picks for Tuesday, May 26.

Spurs vs. Thunder Expert Picks Tonight

PickOdds
Jon Metler Jon Metler: SpursSpurs +4.5-110
Jason Logan Jason Logan: SpursDe'Aaron Fox o14.5 points-112
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: ThunderThunder TT o110.5-115

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Jon Metler's expert pick: Spurs +4.5

Price: -110 at bet365

This is a classic NBA Playoff situation where regular-season power ratings haven’t fully caught up to what’s happening in the series. Matchups matter more in the postseason, and right now, the San Antonio Spurs look like the better team, especially with Jalen Williams dealing with a hamstring injury.

I make San Antonio closer to a 3-point underdog, and that number already assumes Williams plays on a minutes restriction. If he’s ruled out entirely, the value on the Spurs only increases. Defensively, San Antonio has the perfect combination to disrupt the Oklahoma City Thunder's offense.

Victor Wembanyama protects the rim at an elite level, while Stephon Castle can pressure Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the point of attack and force him into tougher shots. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City is relying a bit too heavily on role players offensively for my liking.

Jason Logan's expert pick: De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points

Price: -112 at bet365

De’Aaron Fox is more than 10 days removed from an ankle injury that forced him to miss the first two games of the WCF. He’s played 31 minutes in each of the past two outings, scoring 12 and 15 points on a collective 12-for-27 shooting in those games, but seeing limited action in the fourth quarter of those blowouts (just nine total 4Q minutes).

A tighter finish will have a healthier Fox logging his normal workload, seeing closer to 40 minutes tonight. The Thunder have injury issues in their backcourt, leaving bigger guards Lu Dort and Alex Caruso to try to keep up with Fox.

Game 5 projections all sit north of his 14.5 O/U scoring prop, ranging from 15.1 to a ceiling of 18.7, with most projections at 17+ points tonight.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Thunder team total Over 110.5 

Price: -115 at bet365

I’m expecting a strong offensive bounce-back from OKC after that ugly 82-point showing in Game 4. This is still a team that entered that game leading all playoff teams in both scoring and offensive rating, and championship-level offenses usually respond well at home.

Game 4 was also misleading in some ways — despite being the lowest-scoring game of the series, it was played at the fastest pace yet, and the tempo has increased in every matchup in this series so far.

The Thunder are averaging 118.3 points per game at home this postseason and have cleared 110.5 points in 10 of 12 playoff games.


More Spurs vs. Thunder Game 4 picks


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Spurs vs Thunder Props & NBA Playoffs Game 5 Best Bets

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Whether the Western Conference Finals should be considered our real NBA Finals is a moot point. The New York Knicks await regardless. 

In the meantime, enjoy every edition of this already-classic series between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Tied at 2-2, this series may tilt tonight. These Spurs vs. Thunder props and NBA picks trust the superstars to lead the way, but both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama will need help in Game 5 on Tuesday, May 26.

Best Spurs vs Thunder props for Game 5

PlayerPickbet365
Thunder Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOver 7.5 assists-130
Spurs Victor WembanyamaOver 3.5 assists+100
Thunder Jared McCainOver 11.5 points-115

Game 5 Prop #1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 7.5 assists

The San Antonio Spurs have kept Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guessing.

Changing defensive looks have left the Oklahoma City Thunder star unsure when to look for his own shot. Of course, Victor Wembanyama’s paint presence doesn't help SGA’s cause.

After taking 23 and 24 shots in the first two games of this series, respectively, Gilgeous-Alexander attempted only 17 and 15 in Games 3 and 4.

That wasn't a result of playing on the road. That was a result of San Antonio’s defense.

To his credit, Shai has kept the ball moving. He has fallen short of this prop in just one game this series, missing by only the hook in Game 4 while averaging 10 assists per game across the four contests.

A basketball intellect should enjoy watching SGA and the Thunder navigate a series where his ball-dominance can't be counted on. A basketball bettor should profit on that reality.

Game 5 Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 assists

Full disclosure: This bet was not on the radar until finalizing that Gilgeous-Alexander assists prop. Seeing Victor Wembanyama’s assists prop not only still at 3.5 but also priced at even money made this an immediate bet.

Wembanyama is not known for his playmaking, yet he has dished out at least three assists in each game of this series while clearing this prop twice. That sentence alone reveals the value in this sitting at +100.

The Thunder should throw big bodies at Wembanyama as this series reaches its peak in an attempt to wear him down. Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and even Jaylin Williams can have their cumulative effect.

But in that process, Oklahoma City risks Wembanyama’s underrated vision.

Game 5 Prop #3: Jared McCain Over 11.5 points

Role players shoot better at home. This is a known and tried axiom in the postseason, one that consistently provides betting value.

Consulting Jared McCain’s home/road splits from this season gets murky, given he was traded halfway through it, and one may wonder when he felt comfortable in Oklahoma City.

However, simply look at his postseason. McCain has shot 46.5% from the field at home this postseason compared to 39.2% from the field on the road. He has hit 13-of-25 (52.0%) from beyond the arc at home compared to 6-of-26 (23.1%) on the road.

McCain caught attention in Game 3 with his 24 points, but his four points in Game 4 seem to have quickly diminished expectations.

With Jalen Williams unlikely to play, McCain will both need to play and need to handle the ball. Given his better shooting in familiar confines, those necessities should work out for the Thunder.

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Jalen Williams injury update: Will Thunder star play in Game 5 vs. Spurs?

The 2026 Western Conference Finals return to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, May 26 for a pivotal Game 5, with the series now tied 2-2 after San Antonio seized momentum with a commanding Game 4 win. The Thunder also still face the possibility of being without star forward Jalen Williams for Tuesday's game.

Williams remains questionable for the critical matchup against the Spurs due to a lingering left hamstring strain, which has already kept him out of the last two games. His absence looms large for Oklahoma City, as Williams averaged a little over 28 minutes and 17 points per game during the regular season.

The Thunder, who will already be missing key reserve Ajay Mitchell tonight, are hoping to rebound from a tough 102-82 defeat to the Spurs on Sunday, May 24. Oklahoma City's offense struggled to find rhythm, resulting in a postseason-low point total. San Antonio sensation Victor Wembanyama was a dominant force, posting an impressive 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the decisive victory.

Following Game 5 in Oklahoma City, the series will shift back to San Antonio for Game 6 on Thursday, May 28.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 5

Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs will start at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday. It will be broadcast on NBC and available for streaming on Peacock.

  • Date: Tuesday, May 26
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: NBC
  • Stream: Peacock
  • Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Jalen Williams play Game 5? Injury status leaves him uncertain

Editor-in-chief: POBO candidates, Knicks in the Finals, NBA Draft looming

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: Bob Myers looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft - Round Two on June 26, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It’s been a minute, friends.

After some time to digest things, I’m back with a mailbag. We’ll make this a weekly thing again now that the Sixers’ offseason is in full swing — with a lot of business to attend to.

The most important first step for the Sixers is finding a new president of basketball operations. It appears Bob Myers has narrowed it down to four reported candidates — Mike Gansey (GM, Cleveland Cavaliers), Matt Lloyd (GM, Minnesota Timberwolves), Nick U’Ren (GM, Phoenix Mercury (WNBA)) and Jameer Nelson, the only internal candidate.

The positive, in my humble opinion, is there are no retreads on this list. Myers appears to be targeting people behind the curtain who are due for a turn running their own team. Nelson feels least likely, but all indications suggest he will have a large role in the organization, no matter who gets the POBO role. The three external candidates seem to have good track records as far as scouting, something the Sixers desperately need either for their current roster or their eventual rebuild.

As far as the current playoffs, the New York Knicks have already emphatically punched their ticket to the Finals while the WCF return to Oklahoma tied at 2-2. Anything you’re gleaning from the playoffs? Feeling better or worse about the current Sixers?

The NBA Draft is also less than a month away. The Sixers have the 22nd overall pick and need as much depth as possible. We’re going to start our prospect previews in earnest next week, but I’ve been cramming, so hit me with any of your draft questions!

Anything else on your mind? Hit up the comments.

Why AJ Dybantsa might be the perfect franchise player for Washington

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives against Texas Longhorns forward Nic Codie (10) in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

The 2026 NBA Draft is coming up in less than a month. And with the Washington Wizards holding the No. 1 pick, they have a chance to get a true franchise player for the rest of the 2020s into the 2030s. The consensus No. 1 pick is former Brigham Young star AJ Dybantsa. And here, let’s be DMV Dybantsa-stans for a second and say why he is the perfect franchise player for Washington.

Dybantsa fits the prototype of a future superstar scoring wing

The league has increasingly revolved around big perimeter creators. Teams spend years tanking and rebuilding, hoping to find a player like this. Dybantsa projects as a 6’8″-6’9″ wing who can create offense, defend multiple positions, and eventually carry an offense late in games. Washington has not had perimeter talent of that caliber in …. a long time.

Yes, John Wall was an elite floor general. Yes, Gilbert Arenas was elite offensively in the 2000s. But the Wizards need someone who has the potential to be a future Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic or even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Dybantsa is the prospect closest to reaching that level of potential.

If Dybantsa reaches even 80 percent of his ceiling, the Wizards suddenly have the most important asset in the NBA right now: a true franchise wing.

The Wizards desperately need star power and marketability

As you know, the NBA brought back John Tesh to play “Roundball Rock,” not to show Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen dominate with the Chicago Bulls. Now, it’s to show LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama dominate with their teams.

How many times did you hear “Roundball Rock” every two minutes on WRC-TV, our local NBC station show Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly? None.

It’s not just that the Wizards were bad in 2025-26. The Wizards have been systemically bad or irrelevant. Remember 2013-14 when the Wizards made the playoffs? Sure the playoff games were on national TV, but during the regular season? They had NO games on ESPN or TNT. So it shouldn’t be surprising that the Wizards are left out of a lot of national TV games when they have:

  • 0 conference finals appearances since 1979
  • 0 50-win seasons since 1979
  • Poor attendance and weak national TV relevance compared to similar large NBA markets

A true superstar changes revenue, ticket sales, jersey sales, sponsorships, and national relevance. If Dybantsa becomes a 25-points-per-game caliber scorer, that changes the entire trajectory of the franchise for the next decade. And we’ll get to see John Tesh play his song at Capital One Arena too.

The Wizards are probably drafting Dybantsa anyway

Well, let’s look at the betting market with our partners at FanDuel. Remember to play responsibly.

Anyway, when we are looking at who could win the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs and the Eastern Conference Champion New York Knicks, the Thunder, Spurs and Knicks all have a wing player in Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, respectively, who Dybantsa could be like in the future.

Hopefully, Dybantsa isn’t a late bloomer like Brunson. And yeah, the Thunder are the favorites per FanDuel’s odds. We should be seeing odds on the Wizards’ selection at No. 1 as we get closer to the NBA Draft itself. And if those odds were out there, they’d still say that if the draft was right now, Dybantsa is playing for Washington this fall given what most NBA draft gurus are thinking.


Now, this is just one piece singing praises to Dybantsa. There are three players whom the Wizards COULD pick at No. 1. So, let me ask you all. Do you think Dybantsa fits the perfect franchise player profile for Washington? Let us know in the comments below.

Donovan Mitchell confirms injury status after Cavs playoff elimination

May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots in the first quarter against the New York Knicks during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

CLEVELAND — There were stretches throughout the postseason when Donovan Mitchell didn’t quite look himself. The burst and explosiveness to the basket weren’t there like we’ve become accustomed to in the past. So much so that it led to commentators speculating that maybe he was injured.

Mitchell has been asked repeatedly throughout the postseason about whether he was injured. He’d shrug the questions off every time. He was asked again after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season-ending Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks, and his answer was mostly the same.

“Everybody’s beat up,” Mitchell said after scoring 31 points. “Everybody’s got something. It is what it is. I looked fine today, right? So if you’re out there between those lines, it doesn’t really matter. I’m fine.”

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With the season over, there’s no reason to try to cover up a possible injury. It’s worth taking Mitchell at his word when he says this.

Mitchell has pointed to himself and the team being worn down after the previous two losses. That’s something that they could’ve avoided.

“The two series before having to go seven, that’s our fault, we did that to ourselves,” Mitchell said. “That puts you in a tough position against a team that’s not only been to the conference finals, knows what that takes, but also has the rest, mental preparation, and then on top of that, having Game 1 happen, and we didn’t execute, that’s on us, and we couldn’t control that, that’s what happened.”

Mitchell also noted that there’s a “mental toughness” that’s needed to play their best this late in the playoffs. “Physically, we’re all beat up, everybody’s beat up.” The issue was the “mental focus” not being there at times, which led to costly turnovers.

Mitchell and this Cavs group achieved more playoff success than they have at any point in the past eight years. However, that success also showed how much farther this group needs to go if they want to be the ones lifting a trophy on their home floor.

With everything meshing at right time New York can win NBA title, but cakewalk sweeps are over

"The Western Conference Finals are the real NBA Finals."

We all read that or heard it on a podcast just a week ago, before the two conference finals rounds tipped off. Versions of it have popped up again in the past handful of days to push back because exuberant Knicks fans, who are feeling themselves after watching their team destroy Cleveland and everyone else in their path and returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since "Livin' La Vida Loca" was the No. 1 song in the nation.

The argument that the Knicks were a doormat for the West winner is not that the Knicks were a bad team, it's that they were playing in the JV circuit. Meanwhile, the 64-win defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, going up against the 62-win San Antonio Spurs with Victor Wembanyama was the varsity.

That argument would have merit if we were talking about the regular season Knicks, a 53-win team with a +6.5 net rating — a quality team, a contender, but a step below the Spurs and Thunder.

These Knicks are different

These playoff Knicks are different. This team can compete with the best — they have won their 12 games so far by 273 points and lost two games by one point each (on CJ McCollum shots). This is a team that has shown the grit and resilience needed in the postseason. Think about what The Kincks have going for them.

• Jalen Brunson is being Jalen Brunson, an All-NBA player, an elite shot creator and scorer.
• Karl-Anthony Towns has thrived as the hub of the offense, but more importantly, even when the Cavaliers did a good job of forcing the Knicks away from that offense, Towns impacted games, hit the boards hard (12 rebounds a game against the Cavaliers) and continued to play the best defense of his career. He's not been a target as he has been in the past and has shown real range on defense.
• Mikal Bridges has become the two-way force the Knicks envisioned when they gave up a Brinks Truck full of picks to land him — 18.5 points a game on 54.7% shooting against Cleveland.
• OG Anunoby has been a two-way force and shot 36.8% from 3 against Cleveland.
• Landry Shamet can't miss off the bench — he hit 11-of-12 3-pointers against the Cavaliers.
• Mitchell Robinson has been healthy and a force on the glass and defensively throughout the playoffs.
• The Knicks are a legit eight deep in guys Mike Brown can trust in the Finals (sorry Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado, it might be a rough next round for you).
• Brown can coach. Casual fans may try to slander him with the "journeyman" tag, but this guy coached the Cavaliers to the Finals (2007), has won rings as an assistant with the Warriors (who was occasionally forced into the big chair because of Steve Kerr's back), and whose best coaching job may have been getting the Kings to the playoffs for the only time in two decades.
• The Knicks offense clicked with KAT as a high-post hub, and when the Cavaliers — with two quality big-men defenders — took that away, the Knicks comfortably adjusted to going back to the trusted "have Jalen Brunson hunt weak defenders" offense of years past, and the Cavaliers provided James Harden and other targets.

Over the past couple of years, we have seen flashes of this peak version of the Knicks, but they could never sustain it. That’s changed — they have won 11 straight games, and there is confidence around this team, a swagger we see from champions. Playing like this on both ends, they can hang with anyone. Now the Knicks get a week to rest and recover before the NBA Finals start June 3, while the two teams in the West continue to beat each other up.

These New York Knicks absolutely can win the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973.

Facing the West will be very different

Enjoy this moment, Knicks fans, but also know the cakewalk sweeps are over — whichever team comes out of the West is light years ahead of any team New York saw in the East (with a nod to Joe Lacob for the light years reference).

The Knicks are not going to be the favorites in the Finals, nor should they be — they are going to have to prove they did not just beat the JV teams.

There is no James Harden or Donovan Mitchell to isolate and hunt on the Spurs or Thunder. Both West teams have the size and physicality to make life difficult for Towns as the hub of the offense in the high post. Both West teams have elite rim protectors. Both West teams have elite guards who can target Brunson and force him to defend. The dramatic advantage the Knicks had on the wings against the Cavaliers will not be there against the Spurs or Thunder. No team in the East has a shot creator on the level of SGA right now, and no other team in the universe has a Victor Wembanyama. Both West teams have more versatile rosters than anything the Knicks have seen.

Most importantly, the Knicks have not had to play at near the level of intensity or physicality that we have seen in the West Finals. It's going to be a shock to the system going against that level for the first few minutes — driving lanes aren't there, and passing lanes close up fast.
The Knicks can reach that level the way they are playing. Bridges and Anunoby can match up with any of the wings in the West. The Knicks starters are finally clicking (after a couple of years of waiting), and the bench of Robinson, Shamet and Miles McBride gives them the depth that can hang with those West squads. When the Knicks beat the Spurs in the NBA Cup Finals, one thing was critical — New York cleaned up on the offensive glass. Mitchell Robinson was at the heart of that, and he is going to have to have a monster series against either West team.

It's a tall order for the Knicks — but these Knicks are capable of reaching those heights. John Hollinger of The Athletic compared them to another champion that meshed at the right time — the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki — and that feels apt.

The real NBA Finals are still ahead of us and the Knicks are relaxing at home, waiting for them to start. When it does, these Knicks are capable of winning it all.

BetMGM Ladder Bettor Scores $300K on Knicks Spreads as NY Completes Sweep

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After an uncustomary loss, BetMGM’s anonymous ladder bettor scored more than $300,000 in profit as the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals.

The bettor, who had won roughly $1.6 million since the start of the NBA playoffs, won $500,000 worth of tickets on Monday night.

Key Takeaways

  • The bettor won nearly $1.2 million from the Eastern Conference Finals alone.

  • BetMGM’s anonymous user suffered a rare loss on Sunday when the Spurs beat the Thunder.

  • The Thunder are still favored to win the NBA Finals.

The bettor – whose identity still hasn’t been revealed – has frequently wagered six figures on laddered spread lines throughout the NBA postseason. The bettor bought back in ahead of the Knicks’ Game 4 showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday, backing New York on lines ranging from +3.5 to the original line of -2.5.

It ended up being one of the user’s most sweat-free days in recent months, as the Knicks crushed the Cavaliers by 37 points to send them packing. The bettor ended up profiting $305,533, with the largest individual win being $75,000 from a $150,000 wager on the Knicks at +3.5 (-200). 

Monday’s matchup was not competitive at any point. The Knicks raced out to a 12-point lead after the first quarter and were ahead 68-49 by halftime before eventually winning 130-93. They did all of that without having a single player reach 20 points.

The Knicks must hold a soft spot in the BetMGM bettor’s heart after they secured close to $1.2 million in wins during the conference finals. That included a leading mark of $466,718 from $775,000 in wagers that were obtained after the Knicks became the second team in NBA playoff history to recover from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit.  

The BetMGM customer’s wins by game were as follows.

  • Game 1: $466,718 from $775,000
  • Game 2: $176,883 from $300,000
  • Game 3: $217,172 from $350,000
  • Game 4: $305,533 from $500,000

Rare losses and NBA Finals odds

The ladder bettor has been nearly flawless throughout the playoffs. Though, a rare loss occurred on Sunday when the user lost $350,000 backing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs tied the series at 2-2 after securing a 103-82 victory.

BetMGM reported that the user went 0-for-6 on bets that night, including a $150,000 loss on Thunder +6.5.

The Spurs were favored on their home court when they broke the bettor’s hot streak in their most dominant victory of the series. They find themselves back on the road for Game 5 as a 4.5-point underdog with +150 moneyline odds on Tuesday.

Although the Thunder are still the team in power, their odds are sliding. Ajay Mitchell was already ruled out of tonight’s action, and Jalen Williams is questionable with a hamstring strain. The 4.5-point line is the shortest of the series among games played at OKC, and the Thunder have slipped from being odds-on favorites to +105 in NBA Finals odds.

The Knicks are second in odds to win the Finals at +220, while the Spurs are third at +270.

Spurs vs. Thunder betting trends

There are very few trends to judge by entering Game 5. Both the Thunder and Spurs are 1-1 as favorites, underdogs, at home, and on the road in this series. 

The Game 5 winner of an NBA playoff series that is tied 2-2 wins the series more than 82% of the time. The outcome of tonight’s matchup will put one team on the doorstep of competing for a league championship and the other on their last leg.

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.

Can Drew Timme or Chris Mañon build off strong G League seasons?

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Chris Manon (30) is helped up by teammates Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9), Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero (1) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Drew Timme (17) in the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we begin with a look at the team’s two-way players, Drew Timme and Chris Mañon.

Last year, the Lakers relied heavily on their two-way signings, namely their bigs Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko, a byproduct of the team shipping out a center from an already shallow front court for a ballhandler midway through the season.

This season, a more balanced roster meant the Lakers need not rely on their two-way players in the same way. While Nick Smith Jr. stepped up in a couple of games — more coming on him this week — their other two signings, Drew Timme and Chris Mañon were able to develop behind the scenes in the G League.

Let’s take a look at their two seasons and whether they can parlay that into success with the parent Lakers.

How did they play?

The pair had strong enough seasons with South Bay to earn awards with Timme earning G League Second Team honors and Mañon being named to the G League All-Defensive First Team.

Timme averaged 23.7 points per game on 56.3% shooting. By the end of the season, he had worked his way into spot minutes in the rotation with the parent Lakers. It went well enough that there were some calls for him to get the team’s final roster spot heading into the playoffs.

For Mañon, his moment never came with the parent Lakers, largely due to his offensive limitations. He wreaked havoc defensively, averaging 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. However, he shot just 31.5% from the 3-point line and averaged 2.5 assists per game as a point guard.

There is still hope that he can develop enough of an offensive game to get on the court. But there certainly weren’t many signs this season of that being close to reality.

What are their contract situations moving forward?

Both players signed one-year two-way deals, so both are set for restricted free agency this season. Each can still sign a two-way deal as they have fewer than four years of NBA experience.

It would be a surprise if either got an actual NBA contract. It wouldn’t be a surprise if either got an opportunity elsewhere. The situation would play the biggest role.

Should they be back?

Neither player showed enough to be considered irreplaceable. While Timme showed some impressive moments during the regular season, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be found elsewhere in the league. And his play didn’t really warrant a standard contract.

It’ll come down to whether the Lakers’ revamped and bolstered front office finds someone in the draft or floating around the league worth the gamble over them. But it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if either, both, or neither were back next season.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Matt Able will play for UNC after withdrawing from the NBA Draft

Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) scores as Virginia Cavaliers forward Devin Tillis (11) defends in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Today it was announced that NC State transfer Matt Able withdrew from the NBA Draft, and he will officially play for UNC for the 2026-27 season. His decision to officially make his way to campus is the break that Michael Malone and his staff needed after Henri Veesaar decided that he was done with college.

Able faced a tough decision following his freshman campaign with the Wolfpack. When Michael Malone was hired at UNC, he decided that taking his talents to Chapel Hill would be the best move for his long-term basketball career. Despite announcing that he was transferring, Able had already built up enough of a case to get selected in the NBA Draft — he finished his lone season with the Wolfpack averaging 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while only playing 21.7 minutes per game. His abilities as a shooter attracted a lot of attention, and 247Sports ranked him as the fourth-best shooting guard in the transfer portal. Able clearly has NBA aspirations, and he is hoping that one more college season under a former NBA coach that isn’t plotting to sneak off to LSU during the final leg of the season will help him get drafted in the first round of the 2027 NBA Draft.

Now that Able has announced his return to college, UNC doesn’t have to sweat trying to find another shooter in what is a depleted transfer portal. Malone is looking for one more center to complete the roster, and it could be that we hear more about who that will be sooner rather than later. But for now, how is everyone feeling about Able suiting up for the Tar Heels this fall? Let us know in the comments below.

PFT tweet lands on Inside The NBA

I've rediscovered the NBA in recent days. Not because NBC has returned to the roster of NBA broadcast partners (which doesn't hurt), but because Victor Wembanyama is the most exciting and unique basketball talent since, in my own personal view, Michael Jordan.

As a result, I've been paying closer attention to the NBA. It was hard to miss the ridiculous remarks made by Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson after Cleveland fell behind 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. While watching the second half of Monday night's blowout loss to complete the Knicks sweep, I made a simple observation on Twitter: "When is Game 5 in the analytical Eastern Conference Finals?"

I didn't expect anything to come of it. But then, out of nowhere, they used the tweet on Inside The NBA. Complete with the Shaq seal of approval: "Good job, ProFootballTalk. That was funny right there."

The moment (which I missed live because I decided to watch the NHL game) was a big one for me. My son loves that show, and he has sent me multiple clips over the years that have brought both of us to tears. We both appreciate the humor (especially when Charles Barkley sends Shaq into a laughing-coughing fit), the authenticity, the free-wheeling, no-effs-given style. As evidenced by their recent decision to jump with both feet on a potential NFL third rail.

So I'm back on board with the NBA, after years of not really paying much (or any) attention to it. Given that I've got strong opinions about tanking and flopping, that may not be a good thing for the current stewards of the game. Regardless, I'll be watching the rest of the ongoing postseason games, even if the Spurs don't advance to the Finals.

Next season, any Wemby game will be appointment viewing. And maybe it'll spill over to other games — especially the ones on NBC.

Regardless, the horizons are re-broadening. Basketball is back on the viewing menu. Wemby buried the hook, and Inside The NBA reeled me in.