LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: LeBron James #23 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers smile during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 27, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The LeBron James era of the Los Angeles Lakers has featured lots of turnover. Lots and lots of turnover.
For years, the constant was LeBron James and Anthony Davis. One player who worked himself into that mix and, eventually, became the new constant was Austin Reaves.
No player on the roster has more experience alongside LeBron. Reaves’ entire career has played out alongside LeBron, from undrafted rookie to his superstar ascent this season.
Throughout it all, LeBron has been a mentor for Reaves, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the latter. Following LA’s loss to the Thunder to end their season, Reaves was asked about possibly playing one more season with LeBron and what he’s meant to his career.
“It would mean the world to me,” Reaves said. “My rookie year, I had no idea what the hell was going on and he took me under his wing and has given me every opportunity that I could ever ask for, trusted me. But, further than the court, building real friendship…He’s taught me a lot.
“I owe him a lot for my career, like I said. He’s given me confidence every single day.”
Austin Reaves is 13 games away from being the most common teammate of LeBron James through his Lakers tenure. He currently ranks second behind Anthony Davis.
Reaves (284) and Davis (296) and the only players during LeBron's Lakers years to play more than 250 games alongside him
Reaves also used the example of LeBron coming up to him after his game-tying three in Game 4 came up short and offered him words of encouragement, saying that “speaks to the character that he has.” The bond between the two has been strong for years with the signs of it showing even very early in Reaves’ career.
Against the Grizzlies in just his second season, Reaves was handed the ball down the stretch in a memorable Game 1 win as he led the Lakers to a pivotal win with big shot after big shot. In the years since, Reaves has talked about that moment shifting the dynamic between him and LeBron as well.
Ironically, at this point in both of their careers, it’s not Austin who controls the Lakers offense with LeBron riding in the passenger seat — or even back seat when Luka Dončić is also healthy — to him. Reaves’ career path may have played out just the same regardless of LeBron’s involvement, but it’s certainly helped him become someone the Lakers are set to both make a centerpiece of the franchise and give a big payday to.
Maybe Reaves can pay for a couple rounds of golf this summer.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
It all comes down to this, as the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are set to collide in Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena tonight.
Looking to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2008, my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions are relying on Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham to do the heavy lifting for the home team.
SGP leg #1: Jalen Duren Over 21.5 points + rebounds + assists
The Cleveland Cavaliers' interior defense has been exploitable on the road in these playoffs, sporting the second-lowest defensive rebound percentage (63.5).
Among players with at least 30 minutes per game this postseason, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren ranks fourth in offensive rebounds (3.7) and second in offensive rebound percentage (12.4).
SGP leg #2: Cade Cunningham Over 8.5 assists
Cade Cunningham has dished 9+ dimes in four of seven home games, and the Pistons are 3-1 in those contests.
Cunningham ranks third in potential assists overall (15) this postseason. His team has also shot more efficiently at home, which should lead to a bump in helpers.
SGP leg #3: Pistons moneyline
The Pistons nearly won Game 5 before dominating in Game 6, and they’ve got momentum on their side.
Detroit is 5-2 straight up at home this postseason with an 8.1 Net Rating, and Cleveland is just 1-5 on the road with a -8.2 Net Rating.
After coming back from a 3–1 deficit in the first round against Orlando and blowing out the Magic in Game 7, I expect the Pistons to stand tall once again on home court.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Pistons predictions for Game 7.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons have played a back-and-forth series, but it all comes down to Game 7 with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.
Cade Cunningham and James Harden delivered for their respective teams last time out, and my Cavaliers vs. Pistons props highlight both stars once again.
Game 7 Prop #1: Cade Cunningham Over 2.5 threes made
+130 at bet365
Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to victory in Game 6 with just 21 points, but the former No. 1 pick was on fire from long range yet again.
Cunningham shot 5-for-10 from beyond the arc in Game 6, and he’s now dropped 11 three pointers over the last two contests.
The Pistons as a whole have been hot from three-point range in this series, sinking nearly 41% of their attempts. Cunningham has been even better, averaging 3.3 threes per game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on nearly 48% shooting.
It’ll be the same game plan for Cade in Game 7.
Game 7 Prop #2: James Harden Over 18.5 points
-105 at bet365
James Harden’s line was set at 19.5 points in Game 6 and he hit the Over with a team-high 23 points, so it’s surprising he opened at a lower point total with better odds for Game 7.
The Cavs guard has dropped Over 18.5 points in four straight games and five of six contests this series.
The Pistons have managed to lock up Donovan Mitchell late in the series, with the Cavaliers star averaging just 19.5 ppg over his last two outings.
That means pressure is on Harden, and he’s been up to the challenge.
Game 7 Prop #3: Duncan Robinson Over 1.5 threes made
-190 at bet365
Duncan Robinson has been a secret weapon for the Pistons this series, scoring nearly 14 ppg in 30 minutes per night.
The Pistons forward has been virtually untouchable from beyond the arc, averaging 3.8 treys while shooting almost 58% from three-point range vs. the Cavaliers.
Robinson is shooting an incredible 87.5% on “wide open” threes this round, and 50% on “open” shots from long range.
He’s dropped Over 1.5 threes in 10 of 12 appearances this postseason, and he’ll hit that number easily if he keeps knocking down his open looks.
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From the moment of my fist keystroke here, there are 10 days, 10 hours and 34 minutes until the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline for college underclassman, those wishing to continue their undergraduate eduction at an institution of higher learning.
Flory Bidunga, you are on the clock.
And now the Louisville Cardinal fanbase, after enduring a week of quiet burgeoning anxiety, which followed a furious couple months of anticipation and good news, sits and waits.
Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
Like the opening of “60 Minutes,” only a whole lot longer.
And we wonder, what if the “#1 Player in the Portal,” opts to stay and roll the dice. As The Professor, may he Rest in Peace, would opine, “Perhaps the kid simply doesn’t want to endure the ‘Theoretical Thereminology 368’ class he’d need for graduation.”
If rational thinking doesn’t prevail and he leaves his talent in the 2d round pool, what are the Cardinals to do?
It would leave them with enough largesse to make a necessarily absurd offer to Milan Momcilovic. Which would certainly help the Cards’ chance for real marksmanship. But leave them for the second season in a row bereft of depth underneath.
Oh the pluses and minuses of this obsession.
When word from whatever spot of gestation started to circulate last week that Bidunga was ” perhaps leaning” toward staying in the Draft, I began to cull the nooks and crannies of the www. for other unsigned possibilities.
The name David Fuchs popped up. A 6-9, 245 lb. bruiser who is not leaving his heart in San Francisco.
Apparently ACC mate Clemson is making the biggest push. But . . . that was several days ago, and a quick check does not reveal any commitment on the kid’s part.
Understand, I have not the foggiest idea whether this baller’s even on the U of L staff’s radar. Just me trolling for some nugget that will sate my craving for the day.
Or, is there some fire breathing, vodka guzzling firebrand from Hackcomputevenia we’ve never heard of that might add to the global nature of the team?
Flory, the Cardinal Nation awaits.
* * * * *
I finally remembered the name of the player whom Isaac Ellis reminds me of.
Tyler Kolek at Marquette from a few years back.
Late bloomer who became the heart and soul of Shaka Smart’s Warriors a/k/a Golden Eagles.
Not projecting anything about Ellis, other than in my obsessive brain, Kolek came to mind after watching Ellis’s tapes.
* * * * *
Speaking of that university that Al McGuire made famous on the hardwood, I am looking forward to observing how Sananda Fru fares in MIlwaukee?
Was he mishandled in Louisville?
Were our observations of his “softness” correct?
Can Smart instill some boom shaka laka in the center?
* * * * *
Because it’s the only hoops being played by the male of the species, I watch the NBA playoffs.
A Motowner by birth, I have a rooting interest.
Am glad the Pistons bench finally showed up in Game 6, a beat down. In which former Cardinal Donovan Mitchell did not do his thing.
Which Detroit performance helped ameliorate my disgust over how Detroit lost Game 5. James Hardin missed a FT in OT. But no Piston blocked him off and the Beard captured his miss.
“Basketball 101,” I screamed at the screen. You learn it in the 6th grade. Cut off the shooter at the line. Geesh.
If the Cavs prevail tonight in Game 7, I’ll be fine. Donovan will give me a rooting interest against the Knickerbockers. But I’ll be wearing my lone piece Pistons merch during the game.
* * * * *
The other once upon a time Cardinal I’ll be paying attention to next campaign: Luke Murray. Now head guy at BC.
Former assistant in the Yum!, stupidly fired by Chris Mack, two time natty winner at UConn since, has apparently harvested some money in Beantown. Using it wisely.
He only had one player returning. And now has what appears to be a more competitive roster than the Eagles have had in decades.
* * * * *
10 days, 9 hours, 48 minutes.
Yo, Flory, ya know you don’t have to wait for the last moment to withdraw.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 02: Mat Ishbia and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during 2023-24 NBA Media Day on October 2, 2023, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
How much postseason basketball have you been watching?
I know once the Phoenix Suns season ends, plenty of fans pack away the jerseys, toss the hats in the closet, and decide they’ve had enough basketball for a while. The season didn’t end in a championship, so they check out until next October. Others become casual viewers. They’ll catch a game here and there because they enjoy basketball in general. Maybe they tune back in once the Finals arrive. After an entire season of emotionally investing in the Suns, the postseason almost becomes a mental vacation.
Then there are the maniacs. The people watching every game like it’s a scouting report. I fall into that category. And after obsessively watching this postseason, one conclusion keeps smacking me in the face. Damn, the Suns are far away from a championship.
I know Mat Ishbia said during his postseason press conference that Phoenix will win a championship with Devin Booker. For some reason, people are taking that statement as the end-all, be-all beacon of the Suns’ direction, as if Ishbia saying it automatically means the organization is about to abandon every ounce of responsibility in pursuit of forcing that outcome immediately.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia: “I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker, and I’ll do it proudly… Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player. We’re going to win a championship here with Devin Booker. I’m excited to do it and be next to him when we do that.” pic.twitter.com/CtyNXnLehp
I love what Mat Ishbia has done with the Phoenix Suns organization lately. He’s made the team accessible. He values the fan experience. He’s actively trying to correct the mistakes that often come with new owner syndrome. That said, simply because Ishbia says the Suns will win a championship with Devin Booker doesn’t automatically make it a reality. There are too many variables involved, and some of the biggest variables are sitting at the top of the Western Conference right now. Their talent. Their youth. Their continuity. Their cohesiveness.
If you’ve been watching the postseason, you know the Oklahoma City Thunder are an absolute buzz saw. They shredded Phoenix like a wood chipper and turned around and did the same thing to the Los Angeles Lakers. They’re 8-0 heading into the Western Conference Finals.
Their opponent in the Western Conference Finals? The San Antonio Spurs, who just dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. Sure, San Antonio is young and going through its first real postseason experience together. Even with all of that inexperience, they still found themselves with a shot at an NBA Finals appearance.
That’s the part that hits you when watching these playoffs. You realize how far away Phoenix still is from legitimately competing for a title. Both Oklahoma City and San Antonio are positioned to remain elite for years because they combine high-end talent with youth, depth, and asset flexibility.
The Suns, as competitive as they showed they could be last season, are still trying to exceed expectations while carrying $23.2 million in dead cap. The reality is the path to an NBA Finals appearance over the next five years feels incredibly narrow.
It’s interesting because we hear what we want to hear, right? Mat Ishbia said the Phoenix Suns will win a championship with Devin Booker, and some people immediately took that as gospel. In the same press conference, he also talked about continuity, development, and progression. That’s the part I’m taking as gospel because I truly believe that’s the direction Phoenix is headed. And realistically, it is the more probable outcome based on the statements provided.
I think winning a championship with Booker is going to be extremely difficult given the current roster construction and the limitations attached to it. I also think developing what you currently have and leaning into progression is the correct path forward. More importantly, it’s the realistic one because there simply aren’t a ton of options available.
I know there are still people who want to blow the whole thing up, trade Booker for draft capital, and fully reset the organization. Honestly, they might not even be wrong long term. I still don’t think now is the time to do it. This organization is still in the process of building a foundation. Year two of this retool becomes about seeing how the roster responds to the direction Phoenix is trying to establish, Booker included. Brian Gregory said everyone on this roster has to improve, and that absolutely includes Devin Booker.
That’s why next season becomes a massive evaluation year for him. Can he handle the expectations? Can he elevate with this version of the roster and culture around him? If the answer is no, then next summer becomes the time for a very serious conversation about potentially moving on from Booker.
Because right now, the timelines don’t fully align. The top of the Western Conference is loaded with juggernauts, and the Suns simply don’t have enough to realistically compete at that level. What they do have is direction. What they do have is a desire to stabilize the franchise, and they’re actively in the process of doing that. You don’t stabilize an organization by detonating everything, bottoming out, and losing games when you don’t even control your own draft picks to properly execute the rebuild.
Take some time. Watch the postseason. Really watch it. Realize how far the Phoenix Suns still are from their destination. The path to eventually getting there is going to take time, care, and a commitment to the direction the organization is trying to build toward. Stabilizing the franchise has been paramount, and if you want to create a winning culture like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have built, it requires patience.
It also takes some luck. Both organizations absolutely hit on transformational players in Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. At the end of the day though, you still make your own luck.
And maybe that’s the hardest reality for people to accept, because patience feels boring when you’ve spent the last few years chasing shortcuts. Watching these playoffs, you can clearly see the difference between teams that were constructed and teams that were cultivated. Oklahoma City and San Antonio didn’t arrive here overnight. They built identities, developed talent internally, and allowed continuity to harden into culture.
The Suns are finally trying to move back in that direction after years of operating in fast forward. It might not produce immediate gratification, and it might never end in a championship. Although for the first time in a while, it at least feels like Phoenix is trying to build something sustainable instead of simply trying to survive its own expectations.
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 11: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #22 of the Kentucky Wildcats walks off of the court after the 77-72 victory against the Tennessee Volunteers during the Championship game of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 11, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Kentucky star and current Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had Big Blue Nation celebrating across social media after it was reported that he won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Following ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania’s report, Kentucky fans quickly took to Twitter/X to praise Gilgeous-Alexander’s. Many fans reflected on his breakout 2017-18 season at Kentucky, where he transformed into a lottery pick by the end of the year under former head coach John Calipari.
Fans across social media congratulated Gilgeous-Alexander on the achievement and praised how well the former Kentucky star has performed on the NBA stage. Many Kentucky fans celebrated his rise from Lexington to becoming one of the league’s biggest superstars while continuing to represent the program at the highest level.
With the help of Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder posted the best record in the NBA with a 64-win season, and Gilgeous-Alexander also posted historic numbers to show that he deserved the award. The superstar guard averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game while helping lead the Thunder into championship contention.
For Kentucky fans, the moment served as another reminder of the program’s long history of producing NBA stars at the highest level.
Here’s how Twitter celebrated the big news!
Congratulations to former Kentucky guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on winning back-to-back MVPs! 🏆🏆
🚨BREAKING: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins back-to-back MVP awards, per @ShamsCharania
Former Kentucky Wildcat continues an unbelievable run in his career, dominating winning basketball while also establishing himself as arguably the best player in the world.
🔵 2x NBA MVP 🔵 1x NBA Champion 🔵 1x Finals MVP 🔵 1x WCF MVP 🔵 1x Clutch Player of the Year 🔵 1x NBA Scoring Champion 🔵 4x All-Star 🔵 4x All-NBA First Team
– No. 1 seed, NBA-high 64 wins, despite third-most team games missed due to injuries
– First player to win consecutive MVPs since Nikola Jokic in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and the first guard to win consecutive MVPs since Stephen Curry… https://t.co/hCrO31hswe
The San Antonio Spurs wrapped up the Western Conference semifinals with a Game 6 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they’ll face a stiffer task when they face the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
My Spurs vs. Thunder predictions call for a low-scoring matchup between two defensively gifted teams looking for a key opening victory.
Here are my best free NBA picks for Game 1 from Paycom Center on Monday, May 18.
The Spurs have surrendered just 102.5 points per game, while the Thunder have given up 104.6. Opponents are shooting just 40.5% against the Spurs, the lowest mark in the NBA.
Oklahoma City ranks second in opponent turnovers and third in steals, and they can disrupt San Antonio’s rhythm and potent scoring attack.
I’ll take the Under as these powerhouses trade blows and make life difficult for one another on offense.
COVERS INTEL: At home in the playoffs, the Thunder have allowed just 97 points per game and forced 20 turnovers, both Top 2 marks in the Association.
Spurs vs Thunder Game 1 same-game parlay
The Spurs have won and covered seven of their last 10 games, and all three of their losses came by five points or fewer. The Thunder are 5-3 ATS in the postseason, but they haven’t yet faced a team that is this familiar with them. The Spurs can keep things close on the road.
Victor Wembanyama has recorded 14+ rebounds in five of his last six games with at least 20 minutes played. Game 1 against the Thunder should be close, and Wemby’s rebounding will be needed against the Thunder’s two-headed monster of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Spurs vs Thunder SGP
Under 219
Spurs +6.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 13.5 rebounds
Spurs vs Thunder odds for Game 1
Spread: Spurs +6.5 (-110) | Thunder -6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Spurs +210 | Thunder -260
Over/Under: Over 219.5 (-110) | Under 219.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Spurs and Thunder hit the Game Total Under in all three head-to-head matchups at Paycom Center this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Thunder.
How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 1
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Monday, May 18, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Spurs vs Thunder latest injuries
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BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #22 of the Kentucky Wildcats gestures during the first half against the Buffalo Bulls in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA’s official MVP announcement is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET, where Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama were named finalists for the 2025-26 Kia NBA MVP award.
Gilgeous-Alexander delivered one of the most dominant seasons in recent NBA history, leading the Thunder to an NBA-best 64 wins despite Oklahoma City dealing with the third-most games missed due to injuries across the league. The former University of Kentucky standout averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game while continuing to establish himself as one of basketball’s elite superstars.
The accomplishment places Gilgeous-Alexander in rare company. He became the first player to win consecutive MVP awards since Nikola Jokic won in 2021 and 2022 and the first guard to accomplish the feat since Stephen Curry did so in 2015 and 2016. He also became the first guard in NBA history to average 30 points per game while shooting at least 55% from the field in a single season.
Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to average at least 30 points, five assists, and 50% shooting over four consecutive seasons. Even more impressive, he did not score below 20 points in a single game this season, joining only Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor in accomplishing that milestone.
Before becoming an NBA MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander starred for Kentucky during the 2017-18 season under John Calipari. He earned All-SEC Second Team honors and helped lead the Wildcats to an SEC Tournament championship while averaging 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. His breakout postseason performances quickly elevated him into lottery-pick status before eventually being selected 11th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, becoming the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs, multiple sources tell ESPN.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: A detailed view of an NBA New Era hat 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Things are bad, objectively bad. The Nets have lost 118 games in two years, having missed the post-season three straight seasons. There’s not an All-Star, past or current, on the roster. No matter what you believe, their decision to draft five rookies in the first round continues to be excoriated. Going back further, they haven’t won more than 45 games in any of the last ten seasons. They’ve won a single playoff series in that stretch.
Then, there’s this non-fun fact from Nets Insider if you want to go wayway back…
Since joining the @nba after the ABA merger in 1976, the Nets have accrued the most losses and trail only the T-Wolves by a single % point for worst winning %.
Well, something didn’t give on Lottery night so going into the 2026-season, a couple of Nets losses and Timberwolves wins and Brooklyn moves to the top of that list. Ugh.
While the plan to get into the top three of lottery odds succeeded, the tank ultimately failed Sunday when the Nets fell to No. 6 in the Draft, three spots lower than what they had hoped for. The effect on everyone from the owner to lowest fan was devastating.
Read what Bucks beat writer Mike Owczarski, the Bucks beat writer who was in the Draft Room, wrote about Joe Tsai’s reaction when, by just one ping pong ball, the Nets’ season-long hopes were dashed.
The most expressive reaction, however, came Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai who slumped in his chair and stared dejectedly at the board.
Fans, of course, did more than slump in their chairs. They threw them.
Of course, the palpable fan anger is about more than Lottery luck. The drop has become the most recent manifestation of the team’s history of not just bad luck, but bad losses, bad trades, bad picks and now a growing reputation as a cursed franchise. It is the cumulative effect. (When NBA writers see your team as cursed and pitiable, that’s pretty bad.)
Plans for the coming season may have to be adjusted, too. After all, the Nets had hoped that getting a top three or four pick would improve their ability to snag free agents or players unhappy with their current situations.
And so, fans want the GM fired and/or the owner to sell, a new start! This week we saw this being marketed…
Not very flattering. The reality is there’s no indication that Sean Marks is in trouble. Tsai has been telling people he is patient as an owner and just two days ago, the Nets hired a third assistant GM, Makar Gevorkian, after going with two for well over a decade. That’s a commitment to the current front office.
Falling from a top three or four pick to the sixth isn’t necessarily devasting, as history shows. Hell, it looks like the NBA Finals may feature lead guards who were picked 11th (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and 33rd (Jalen Brunson.) Plus the drop was bad luck. You can recover from that. The next five picks or so are seen as solid prospects if not franchise-changers. And it will be years before we know just how lucky or unlucky the Nets were in Chicago.
They could still succeed. They have plenty of money and play in New York. Also, the Nets could wind up with a terrific player at No. 6 or move up or down or add a second first round pick, get a steal in the second round.
But all the positives that the Nets enjoy — money, picks, location, etc,, respected performance and medical teams, .— are not likely to assuage anyone at the moment. Fans are neither naive nor stupid. They want wins and considering their loyalty, they (aka we) deserve them.
Performance now
So, our next chance to gauge success in this Draft and the rebuild will be the two, count ’em, two Summer Leagues, which start July 4 with a back-to-back-to back holiday weekend at the California Classic in Sacramento. Then, after a three-day respite, they’ll move to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League which will run from July 9 through 19. The Nets will play a minimum of five games there.
So at the least, the front office, pundits and fans will have eight games to measure all the Nets youngsters which will likely include whoever they take in the Draft plus the Flatbush 5 and some but not all of the various two ways and 10-days who played for them last season, players like Chaney Johnson, E.J. Liddell, Malachi Smith, Tyson Etienne, maybe Grant Nelson. Of the group, all but Etienne are 25 or younger. He turns 27 in September.
Yes, Egor Demin has suggested that his situation is uncertain, but we’d be surprised if he doesn’t play. After all in their March medical update on his plantar fascia issue, the Nets stated they expected him to be “a full participant in the summer development program.”
Don’t expect Josh Minott or Ochai Agbaji to play. They are approaching their fifth career years. Also, Minott has a player option and Agbaji will be restricted free agent.
Sounds like a lot and certainly it could be … but that’s why you play in two leagues. With two leagues comes the possibility of slightly different rosters and rotations, as well as minutes.
Bottom line: we’ll be able to gauge the readiness of who they picked in the Draft and what improvements last year’s players had made. It’s a lot of basketball. Hopefully good basketball.
We may see different coach or coaches, too. Steve Hetzel who handled Summer League last season, is a serious candidate for the head coaching job in New Orleans. We should know more about that this week.
Draft Sleeper of the Week
Despite the fall, Tankathon still ranks the Nets current draft picks at Nos. 6, 33 and 43 the fifth best in the NBA, behind the Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder. We could speculate that there’s no better partner for the Nets in various scenarios than OKC with the 12th, 17th and 37th picks and apron issues, but that’s a discussion for a different day and one unlikely to have much relevance for a month or so.
We’ve written this week about both Darius Acuff and Mikel Brown Jr. who sit at around No. 6 in most mock drafts. So what about Keaton Wagler, the 6’6” Illinois combo guard. In our latest survey of mock drafts, written two days after the Lottery, he finished second to Acuff with three out of 10 sites liking him as a future Net. NBADraft.net wrote this:
Brooklyn continues its long-term rebuild by adding one of the premier upside swings in the class in Wagler, a dynamic scoring guard with outstanding pace, shot-making ability, and offensive creativity. At No. 6, the Nets can afford to prioritize talent and star upside, and Wagler offers the type of offensive centerpiece potential the franchise has lacked in recent years. His ability to operate both on and off the ball gives Brooklyn lineup flexibility moving forward, while his advanced feel and shot-making instincts allow him to impact games.
Of course, there are others who warn that despite his height, his smarts and his maturity, Wagler has issues with his athleticism particularly if you pair him with Egor Demin who while 6’9.5” in shoes and a great volume shooter for his age, is not known for his atheticism.
Troubling to some was this stat…
Keaton Wagler infamously had zero dunks last college season. Here's his best standing vertical leap (second out of three jumps) pic.twitter.com/RZBWKN20L1
He hit 36.0” in that vertical leap. Overall, his combine numbers were only okay but as our Collin Helwig noted in his excellent break down among the five lead guard prospects, he was fifth and last in the shuttle run, the three-quarter court sprint and max vertical leap. Among the 70 Combine participants, his worst performance was in the shuttle run, he finished 50th. Surprisingly, he finished last in spot-up shooting (44%) but first among the five in shooting off the dribble (83%) which was the second best overall at the Combine.
Compared to historical numbers, that’s not awful, as Billy Reinhardt pointed out…
Russell Westbrook had a 36.5’’ max vertical.
Over the past two years the following key NBA draft prospects had a 36’’ vertical or less: Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Collin Murray-Boyles, and even Dylan Harper was only 36.5’’ vert.
But like any prospect, his game is not about his numbers. He is a smart, poised, mature player who has overcome whatever physical deficits he may have. Take this breakdown from Sam Vecenie’s Game Theory.
I believe Keaton Wagler could be a future MVP candidate. I think he’s going to make multiple All-Star teams and All-NBA teams if all breaks right.
His excitement about Wagler is based on his basketball history so far:
The quick synopsis is that he went to public school in Kansas, played AAU for a non-shoe-sponsored program, and wasn’t even a Top 100-ranked prospect coming out of high school. Kansas and Kansas State didn’t even recruit him, even though he played in-state. He committed to Illinois, had a ridiculous freshman season that led the Fighting Illini to the Final Four, and was named a consensus All-American and won the Jerry West Award, just to name a few of his accolades.
Ghim even compares Wagler favorably to Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton.
Sounds ever so Sean Marks-ey. He met with the Nets in Chicago on Thursday.
Another set of numbers
Stefania Rizzo was a veteran member of the Nets performance staff for years, in charge of rehabilitation therapy among other things. She was also a founder of the NBPTA, the National Basketball Physical Therapists Association, which tries to point up the value of their craft. This week, they looked at what physical theorists look for at the Combine…
While the scouts have their stopwatches out at the NBA Combine, we’re looking at a different set of numbers.
Beyond the vertical jump and the lane agility times, a Physical Therapist’s eye is tuned to the subtle durability markers that often fly under the radar. We aren’t just watching how high an athlete jumps: we’re watching how they land, how they decelerate, and how they manage asymmetrical loads.
Scouting for movement means identifying the biomechanical patterns that translate to a long, healthy career versus those that might signal future risk. It’s about bridging the gap between elite performance and sustainable health.
Whether it’s ankle dorsiflexion during a squat or pelvic control during a change of direction, these details are the foundation of professional success.
The point being that the draft process is more detailed and complex than most fans understand. It all feeds into the team database and their discussions.
Final Note
Jordi Fernandez is still head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons meet in a winner-take-all Game 7. The winning team will advance to the Eastern Conference finals to face the New York Knicks. The Pistons are favored by 4.5 points. Detroit forced the decisive final game with a 115-94 victory in Game 6.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) gets a high-five from Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) after he scored and was fouled during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The career Austin Reaves has had so far has been special. Not only has he gone from being a kid from Oklahoma to a superstar in Los Angeles, but the progression of his career has been a dream.
Every year, Reaves’ role has increased, and his production has continued to grow alongside it. His minutes played, points and rebounds per game have gone up every single season. Reaves has gone from being an undrafted player back in 2021 to one who is set to earn a huge payday this summer.
One person who has been along for every step of Reaves’ Lakers journey has been LeBron James. Having played more basketball than anyone ever, LeBron has seen the start and end of many careers and is well aware of how special Reaves’ journey has been.
“Just seeing AR grow over these five years, it’s been nothing short of amazing,” LeBron said in his exit interview. “I mean, he’s just a hard worker. He loves the game. He wants to get better and he’s not afraid of constructive criticism, and, and I kind of knew that. I saw the talent, but I also saw that he was willing to put the work in and he wasn’t afraid of the moment.
“To see where he is today’s, it’s awesome. I knew he could be a big-time player for our ball club. I knew if he just got the opportunity and also he gained the confidence in himself that he knows he belongs in this league that he could do some special things in this league. He’s, obviously, showed that.”
It’s got to feel great for Reaves to get such a glowing endorsement from not only a teammate, but a player who’s in the argument for the greatest of all time. LeBron has seen all of Redick’s great moments, like his “I’m Him” game to his game-winner against the Warriors on Christmas.
What’s even more important than those moments, though, is the work LeBron is talking about that we don’t see. Reaves is willing to get coached hard and he puts in the work in the gym to get better.
LeBron is notorious for his physical regimen, and even his podcast “Mind The Game” focuses on the details of the sport. If he appreciates the time you’re putting into your craft, that says a lot about you as a player.
While Reaves is already a leader, LeBron has remained a guide for him. After Reaves missed his game-tying shot against the Thunder in Game 4, LeBron was the first to encourage him.
"'Helluva shot. Keep your head up.'" Austin Reaves said LeBron James found him after missed the game-tying shot and encouraged him. "…He's meant a lot to my career."
The LeBron-Reaves journey has been an incredible one. Over five years, LeBron has seen every moment of Reaves’ career, and hopefully, there are more seasons together to come.
But, even if they never step on the court together again, it’s been an amazing journey.
Reaves has more years left in his career, and LeBron will most certainly be rooting for him, whether he’s playing with him or not.
As we move closer and closer to the NBA Draft next month, the free agency and trade rumor mill is heating up — and there's more than just Giannis Antetokounmpo talk (although there’s plenty of that, too). Here's the latest on some other fronts.
Cavaliers to extend Harden
Whatever happens in Game 7 on Sunday night between Cleveland and Detroit, however James Harden performs in that game, expect the Cavaliers to reach a contract extension with Harden this offseason.
Harden wanted contract certainty after this season, and the Clippers made it clear at midseason that they hadn't decided whether to pick up his $42 million team option — $13 million guaranteed — for next season. When both sides showed their cards, Harden's representation got permission to find a team willing to commit to him.
The Cavs were willing. Though a formal agreement is not allowed to be completed before the offseason, there is an understanding that the Cavs plan to work out a new deal to retain Harden, sources said.
There is zero chance Harden and his team okay that trade unless a handshake deal is in place for his next contract (and teams don't go back on those kinds of deals, it's bad for their reputation and getting other free agents to come). Cleveland will re-sign Harden this summer, and next summer will give Donovan Mitchell a new max — essentially locking the team into this core. (While Mitchell is extension eligible this summer, if he waits a year, he gets to 10 years of service and becomes eligible for a 35% of the cap max, as opposed to the 30% now, plus he can get a no-trade clause. It's in his interest to wait.)
That means if Cleveland wants to shake things up (especially if they fall in Game 7 on Sunday and again don't get out of the second round), the focus will shift to Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen potentially being put into the trade market.
If you think that all of this makes the Cavaliers sound expensive, you're right — and they are already the only team over the second apron right now. Which ties into our next note...
Also, around the league, the general consensus is that he will play one more season, and very possibly not for the Lakers (who are prioritizing rebuilding the roster around Luka Doncic). Marc Stein at the Stein Line listed four possible new teams: Golden State, Cleveland, New York or the LA Clippers.
However, then Stein gets to the real point (which we have written about at NBC Sports): What matters most is how big a pay cut is LeBron willing to take off of the $52 million he made last season because most of the teams Stein mentioned can offer a veteran minimum contract or maybe the taxpayer mid-level exception ($6.1 million).
The Golden State Warriors, who league sources say have maintained a longstanding interest in bringing James to Northern California, will be severely limited in what they can offer. James' hometown Cleveland Cavaliers have even less financial flexibility than the Warriors and are so far away from all the Tinseltown ties that LeBron and his family have established during this run as a Laker...
James' deep fondness for Madison Square Garden has been known for years, but the Knicks — suddenly favorites to win the East and go to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 — could certainly opt to stay on their current path. The only other team you could credibly add to the shortlist is the Clippers, who employ James' former Cavaliers coach (Tyronn Lue) and do play in Los Angeles.
I'll start with the Clippers — it's not happening. Never say never in the NBA, and yes, this move would allow LeBron to stay in his adopted hometown. However, it would not play well. First, the Clippers are not going to be contenders next season (barring landing Giannis Antetokounmpo, which is unlikely at best) and they have a massive cloud hanging over them with the Aspiration investigation; the Lakers are better positioned to win in the short term with LeBron as a third option. More importantly, in Los Angeles, this would be seen as a betrayal by the league's largest, most vocal fan base. The backlash would be tremendous. All for what?
LeBron is going to have to let the Antetokounmpo saga play out before he makes his call, in part because the Warriors and Cavaliers are two teams that could get in the running for the Bucks' two-time MVP. Would LeBron go to the Knicks on a cheap contract and be a third option behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns (and does that really help New York's defense)? Right now, the future for LeBron is foggy, he's going to be patient and wait for the fog to lift, then he can make his call.
Wizards trade No. 1 pick to Utah?
There is a desire among the Utah Jazz fan base to keep AJ Dybantsa in the state — he went to prep school there and then BYU. With that, Utah has reached out to Washington about potentially trading for the No. 1 pick in June's NBA Draft, reports Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
Don't bet on this happening. Washington is going to ask for a lot to swap picks — they really liked Ace Bailey in last year's draft, the Jazz selected him at No. 5, so the Wizards likely ask for him and another first-round pick. Even if Bailey isn't on the table, the price is going to be a good young player and an extra first-rounder.
That only makes sense for Utah if it grades Dybantsa out as dramatically better than Kansas' Darryn Peterson (or even Duke's Cameron Boozer) — and I don't know any scouts or front office people who see it that way. Most have Dybantsa on top of their boards because he is a combination of a very high ceiling with a pretty high floor — what a GM really fears with a high pick is missing altogether. Peterson, with his cramping and health issues last season, is seen as having a similar (or, often, higher) ceiling than Dybantsa but also a considerably lower floor. That's not worth the risk. (Boozer has the highest floor of the group but is not seen as having as high a ceiling as the other two.)
Expect the draft order to stay the way it is — and Jazz fans are going to love Peterson next to Keyonte George in the backcourt.
Over the course of the regular season, it became clear Stephon Castle was not going to suffer a sophomore slump following up his Rookie of the Year season. Castle, at only 21 years old, improved in every nearly counting stat he could. From points (14.7 per game to 16.7), rebounds (3.7 to 5.3), assists (4.1 to 7.4), and effective field goal percentage (47.6 to 52.1), Castle improved his marks. And of course, his trademark trait, his defense, only continued to strike fear into the hearts of the rest of the league.
The combo-guard appeared to have only one flaw to his game: shooting. From his first to second year, he rose from 28.5 to 33.2 percent from three; however, it remained at several ticks below league average.
And then the playoffs happened. Through two rounds, Castle is now shooting at an outstanding 44.0 percent on 4.5 attempts per game. If he can continue to make teams pay from deep, there is no telling the limit on the offensive capabilities of this Spurs team. The only question is if he can keep it up.
Over the recent history of the league, there have been several players who have developed their perimeter shot, turning from complete non-shooters to deadly if left unguarded. Remaining consistent with it, though, that’s another story altogether.
For a recent example, look to the Spurs’ previous opponent. Anthony Edwards in Minnesota entered the league as a promising young two-guard, but his three-point shooting was slightly below average. Over time, he built on that. In the 2024-2025 season, he came out of the gate launching from deep, attempting over 10 per game and sinking them at a 41.4 percent clip pre-All-Star break. Time would tell if he could remain consistent. He did. Over his last two seasons, he remained at 39.6 percent at 9.5 attempts per game.
Edwards is a case of a player finding his shot and keeping it, but there are examples of a player finding a shot for even a full season, only to then regress towards the mean. Keldon Johnson has had an interesting relationship with his shot in this regard.
In Johnson’s third year, it was looking like he might be on the verge of turning into one of the league’s best shooters. He finished the season averaging 39.8 percent from three and 49.5 percent from the corners. But that wouldn’t stick, averaging 33.8 percent over the last four seasons. Still an efficient player, but now in more ways than just shooting.
The point is, players’ shooting abilities are malleable. Plenty have developed into real threats: Edwards, Al Horford, and Kawhi Leonard, to name a few. While others have a more fluctuant relationship with their shooting from year to year: Johnson, Jrue Holiday, and even LeBron James have had seasons and post-seasons drifting below and above average shooting.
Right now, for Castle, he has the hot hand. And by its nature, the playoffs are a very small sample size. The only thing that will tell if he can keep it up is time. So far, he’s gotten great looks, and he’s picking his spots well. All of his post-season threes are with a defender, at minimum, four feet away, and a good majority are from catch-and-shoot attempts.
If he continues to make teams pay for leaving him open, the next level will be how he adjusts to defenses guarding him closer and closing out harder on him. All he needs to do is make them pay for leaving him open. Because even if his percentage goes down due to defenses responding, that just means more levers to pull for Coach Mitch Johnson and the Spurs.
Castle has already shown that he has the athleticism to attack closeouts and the basketball IQ to find the right play. Even if his being more closely guarded leads to the ball not ending up in his hands on the perimeter, that only means more space for De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper to slash and one less defender to bang and hang on Victor Wembanyama down low.
For now, the Spurs and Castle can only take it one game at a time, but they show no signs of slowing down entering the conference finals. Oklahoma City’s defense is fast and twitchy; it will be their toughest playoff challenge yet.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James takes questions from reporters after a 110-106 loss to the Sacramento Kings on April 30, 2021 at the STAPLES Center.
(Screenshot via Los Angeles Lakers)
OK, picture this: It’s Opening Night in October, and the Boston Celtics are lined up on the bench for pregame introductions. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown sit waiting for their turn to rise, strut onto the floor, and go through their usual handshakes and routines. Sitting right beside them, suited up in green… LeBron James?
Longtime basketball analyst Jeff Goodman proposed that the Celtics pursue James this offseason. Granted, in Goodman’s version of the next grand Brad Stevens masterplan, Boston also trades Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“What about this: You get Giannis for Jaylen Brown, and then you get LeBron,” Goodman said on CLNS Media’s “Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman.”
But for this exercise, we’re going to focus solely on the LeBron-to-Boston portion of the hypothetical.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 8: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics before the game on March 8, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
James — a 22-time All-Star, four-time MVP, and four-time NBA champion — will enter his age-42 season in December. He remains an athletic anomaly in the mold of Tom Brady, avoiding Father Time in a way few athletes ever have. That reality means his market value, while no longer what it was during 2010’s “The Decision,” still carries significant weight.
Last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists across 60 games last season, playing alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. He ranked second in the Western Conference in assists, shot 51.5 percent from the field, and logged 33.2 minutes per game.
That production is more than serviceable by NBA standards — let alone a player in his 40s.
So to begin, there are a few things to consider:
James would need to signal interest in joining the Celtics to get the wheels in motion first and foremost.
Boston does have a traded player exception (TPE) worth roughly $27.7 million, but any realistic path would likely require a complex trade framework — potentially involving a sign-and-trade with Los Angeles.
Historically, James has not spoken fondly of Boston, though he has publicly praised both Tatum and Brown.
The window to maximize LeBron’s value in Boston is narrow, given the future Hall of Famer’s impending farewell tour is scheduled to begin at any moment.
Next to every Celtics fan’s shrine honoring Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinsohn, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, there could theoretically be a framed photo of Tatum, Brown, and James.
Insane? Yes.
Potentially beneficial in more ways than meet the eye? Also yes.
Boston eliminated James twice early in his career, before he responded by ending the Pierce, Garnett, and Allen Big Three’s run in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, twice getting the better of the Isaiah Thomas-led Celtics in 2015 and 2017, and then closing out Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Game 7 of the 2018 Conference Finals.
Speaking just a few days after Boston’s colossal collapse and first-round exit from the postseason, the organization’s president of basketball operations himself made it clear that improvement would be necessary moving forward.
“Though we did a lot of good things, we lost in the first round, and we were also 3-11 against the top three seeds in the West and the other top two in the East.” Stevens told reporters during his end-of-season press conference last week, “And so, we’ve gotta get better, and that’s been the communication in here.
“Just talking to the team, obviously, these guys are really committed to growth. I thought the coaches did a really good job of helping guys all get better. But there’s another step to take, whether you’re in my shoes, or you’re in any of our support staff’s shoes, or if you’re in our coaches’ shoes, or if you’re in our players’ shoes, we gotta get better. So that’s gonna be the charge and the focus. We’ll figure out how best to do that.”
Last offseason, the Celtics were forced to plaster their yard sale signs outside TD Garden to get under the second apron of the luxury tax and drop their payroll from $512 million to $274 million.
That meant bidding farewell to many of the 2024 championship team’s primary contributors, including Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. It also meant that Stevens would have his work cut out for him down the line to upgrade the roster and return it to its previous dominant state, equipped for immediate contention.
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game on December 25, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When it comes to the great Celtics roster architects — Red Auerbach, Danny Ainge, Brad — there’s always been a common thread: putting winning ahead of everything else. Ainge, Stevens’ predecessor in Boston, was notoriously cutthroat when it came to making difficult decisions. That mentality rubbed off on Stevens three years ago, when an Eastern Conference Finals loss to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat prompted him to trade Marcus Smart for Porziņģis, then move Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon for Holiday.
Those decisions aren’t easy to make, but without them, it’s hard to imagine the Celtics are in the NBA Finals months later, clinching their 18th title at home against the Dallas Mavericks.
This time, Stevens and the organization find themselves in a similar spot. Losing to the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, after taking a 3-1 series lead, while facing a wounded Joel Embiid, weeks removed from emergency appendectomy surgery, wasn’t acceptable — not by the franchise’s historically upheld standard, and certainly not in the eyes of Stevens. So that needs to be addressed through roster improvement first and foremost.
In terms of depth, the Celtics are in a great spot. Joe Mazzulla and his staff did tremendous work developing the team’s bench unit over the course of the season. Luka Garza, Hugo González, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. each took steps forward while helping stabilize the roster during Tatum’s 62-game absence. There was also the growth of first-time starter Neemias Queta, whom Mazzulla texted during the offseason to inform him he would be replacing Porziņģis, Horford, and Luke Kornet with the biggest elevated role of his career.
That spoke volumes about Mazzulla’s ability to make the most of a bad situation. But flaming out in the first round also confirmed that reinforcements are needed.
James has not been back to the NBA Finals since 2020. He hasn’t reached the Conference Finals since 2023 and has suffered multiple early postseason exits, including two first-round eliminations and a second-round sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the past three years.
In his eighth season with Los Angeles, James accepted that he wasn’t the guy — and that was fine. The team still finished fourth in the West with a strong 53-29 record and gave itself a fighting chance.
But with the Lakers offering a good, but not great, situation — and with other options potentially on the table — a change of scenery could represent his clearest path back to the biggest stage before taking his final bow.
James earned $52.6 million this past season, and considering the current state of the Lakers, it’ll be hard to rationalize continuing to allocate that much when the team isn’t up to par with the wild, wild West. In LA, James has already done his job in delivering the organization a championship. Ultimately, there have been a few missed opportunities to make that multiple Larry O’Briens, suggesting a split could be in sight.
Los Angeles has already commemorated seven Laker legends — Magic Johnson (in 2004), Jerry West (2011), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2012), Shaquille O’Neal (2017), Elgin Baylor (2018), Kobe Bryant (2024), and Pat Riley (2026) — with statues outside of Crypto.com Arena. When asked if James could eventually join them, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss laughed and replied, “He’s still playing. We don’t talk about statues until someone retires,” in a video.
There’s a cultural difference between Los Angeles and Boston, but a shared desire between both the Celtics and James to win. Few situations across the league offer the position Boston does. Any team with Tatum and Brown is a contender by default. Mazzulla is expected to be named NBA Coach of the Year, and Stevens just secured his second Executive of the Year honor.
So while the organization underachieved and still has clear flaws that need addressing, it remains one of the most well-oiled machines in the league.
As Stevens also mentioned last Wednesday, the rest of the NBA is only getting stronger. There was a tanking epidemic that commissioner Adam Silver was forced to address, and an upcoming draft on June 23rd that could also impact the landscape entering next season. The Celtics are going to have to keep up with those changes and adapt to avoid being left in the dust, watching again from home while others battle for a trip to the Finals.
James has not only the experience but the proven disposition to shoulder the load alongside stars like Tatum and Brown. Horford previously filled that stabilizing veteran’s role before departing for Golden State. Adding a player of James’ caliber and expertise could not only fill that void, but also elevate the Celtics to another level entirely — one that might lead to another two-mile-long duckboat ride across Boston in 2027.
Opportunities alike don’t come around often, and even less frequently does an athlete like James choose to join forces with a long-time archrival.
COVERS INTEL: At home in the playoffs, the Thunder have allowed just 97 points per game and forced 20 turnovers, both 
