Category: NBA

Josh Hart said it perfectly while talking to reporters after the Knicks’ practice on Tuesday, “We knew they weren’t just gonna lay down and let us win four straight.”

Hart, of course, was referring to the San Antonio Spurs who recovered from losing the first two games at home in the NBA Finals by beating New York in Game 3 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden and putting the pressure on the Knicks who are up 2-1 heading into Wednesday’s Game 4.

“We knew this was gonna be a battle,” Hart said. “They played very well and you gotta give them credit for that.”

Still, in the loss, the team’s first since April 23, New York made some uncharacteristic mistakes that it wasn’t making during its 13-game winning streak. 

Perhaps the most obvious was the amount of turnovers – the Knicks had 13 to the Spurs’ eight which led to San Antonio scoring 21 points. Jalen Brunson had five turnovers by himself and emphasized not turning the ball over as a way to improve the team’s flow offensively.

“Our attention to detail needs to be better,” he said.

“We were making turnovers that were uncharacteristic of us, just being sloppy with the ball, not being on the same page,” OG Anunoby added. “Throughout the course of a game stuff like that happens so we’re just gonna try and clean it up.”

Turnovers are a part of the game and there’s no escaping them entirely. However, the goal is to cough up the ball fewer times than the opponent which New York had been doing an excellent job of during the playoffs.

Another thing the Knicks had done so well until Monday’s loss was moving the ball around and not being stagnant on offense. Yes, Brunson is capable of playing hero ball late in the game when his team needs a clutch bucket, but New York was running teams out of the gym in previous rounds thanks to its game speed and constant movement around the court.

But in Game 3 the Knicks had just 18 assists, their lowest total in the postseason and the first time they’d gone under 20 assists since their last playoff loss against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.

“We gotta pick up the ball movement for sure,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “… We have 13 games in a row, 50 days of film to show what it looks like when we’re at our best so we got good film. We’ll get back to our fundamentals which makes us great and get back to work tomorrow.”

“We didn’t play to the best of our capabilities and I think that’s the frustrating part because we knew we didn’t play our best basketball,” Hart added. “We learned from film today and we’ll be better tomorrow.”

Hart dove into the benefits of watching film, not just from the loss to the Spurs, but in general as it can help players and a team quickly identify and correct mistakes or how to plan to counteract an opponent’s strengths.

“You wanna watch kind of as much film as you can or get as much information as you can to then go out there and play to that,” he said. “Obviously you want to play with your instincts as a basketball player that you’ve been playing the game for such a long time, but certain situations you want to have that information so certain plays you can try to deter them from getting to their spots.”

Despite losing Game 3, New York still leads the series and head coach Mike Brown mentioned that “nobody is panicking” in his “veteran group”. In fact, whether the Knicks won or lost on Monday night, nothing would’ve changed with their preparation on Tuesday for Game 4, a mentality they’ve been running with for a while now.

If anything, a loss, especially after such a long time without one, can bring out new ways to improve.

“Obviously I'm a firm believer that you can grow and learn a lot in wins, but you can do the same in losses, too,” Brown said. “... Everybody is disappointed that we didn't go out and execute and play to what we feel our standard is. 

“That's not taking anything away from San Antonio, but we feel like we can play a lot better than what we did. We're looking forward to going out on the floor and showing it.”

“Each game, no matter what the situation is, we're growing as a team,” Brunson added. “I think we're learning and we're getting better… No matter what the situation is, we're going to stick together. We're going to execute, we're going to be better. That's just how our mindset has to be going forward.”

As the New York Knicks chase glory in the 2026 NBA Finals, their fan base's passion has been on full display, manifesting itself in inventive and sometimes downright quirky gestures that capture the essence of New York fandom.

Ahead of Game 3, one superfan named Jake Epstein took team spirit to a new level, vowing to repeat Jalen Brunson's name 100,000 times before tip-off. He set up outside the 34th Street subway entrance just steps from Madison Square Garden. Despite his unsuccessful attempts to score a ticket, Epstein’s energy was undeterred, chanting “Jalen Brunson” for hours on end.

Seated comfortably in a folding lawn chair, Epstein held a handmade sign reading, "Saying Jalen Brunson 100,000 times." Beside him, a laptop kept an official tally, its screen clearly visible to passersby who stopped to witness the spectacle.

More: Will Trump return for NBA Finals Game 4? What we know after buzzy Game 3 appearance

Epstein told USA TODAY Sports that the inspiration for his quirky marathon chant came after watching viral video stunts by internet personalities such as Mr. Beast. Motivated by a desire to channel that same spirit of fun and community, he recruited two close friends to join him, scouted a prime spot outside MSG and set up a livestream that kicked off at 8:40 a.m.

The journey wasn’t without challenges. Intermittent rain and spotty internet connections threatened to derail the attempt. Yet, as the hours passed, Epstein said his determination drew a growing crowd of supporters. Strangers offered high-fives and words of encouragement. The scene reached a new level of excitement when actor and comedian Ben Stiller stopped by, snapping photos of Epstein and later sharing them on social media.

With the Kentucky Basketball roster essentially finalized following Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic’s withdrawal from the NBA Draft and commitment to the Wildcats, attention now shifts to where forward Jayden Quaintance and guard Otega Oweh will be selected in the NBA Draft.

Kentucky’s roster currently includes Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, Malachi Moreno, Jerone Morton, Braydon Hawthorne, Kam Williams, Justin McBride, Franck Kepnang, Mason Williams, Trent Noah, Reece Potter, and Zyon Hawthorne, with one roster spot still open heading into the final stretch of the offseason.

Now, let’s take a look at where Quaintance and Oweh could hear their names called during this month’s NBA Draft.

Jayden Quaintance Mock Draft Projections

Ricky O’Donnell (SB Nation)
No. 16 – Memphis Grizzlies
O’Donnell writes that, “Last time he was right physically, JQ looked like an elite paint protecting prospect as a 17-year-old at Arizona State. The Grizzlies feel like the type of franchise that would take a chance on him.”

Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints)
No. 20 – San Antonio Spurs
Siegel notes the Spurs would be using a “luxury” pick while pairing a long-term frontcourt piece next to Victor Wembanyama.

Jeremy Woo (ESPN)
No. 20 – San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta)
Woo describes Quaintance as a “wild-card prospect” with major defensive upside, but one whose draft stock depends heavily on medical evaluations after knee issues limited him to four games at Kentucky.

David Cobb (CBS Sports)
No. 17 – Oklahoma City Thunder
Cobb highlights Oklahoma City’s ability to take a calculated risk on a player with elite defensive traits and long-term potential.

Sam Vecenie (The Athletic)
No. 19 – Toronto Raptors
Vecenie emphasizes that Quaintance’s projection remains volatile until full medical clarity is available, calling him a potential top-10 talent if fully healthy.

Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report)
No. 23 – Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers)
Wasserman points to Quaintance’s 7-foot-5 wingspan and defensive instincts while noting uncertainty tied to his injury recovery and development.

Otega Oweh Mock Draft Projections

Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints)
No. 57 – Atlanta Hawks
Siegel notes Oweh’s slashing ability and transition scoring but projects him as a developmental wing.

Kevin O’Connor (Yahoo Sports)
No. 53 – Houston Rockets
O’Connor highlights Oweh’s breakout scoring moments, including a 35-point NCAA Tournament performance, while noting limitations as a primary creator.

Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report)
No. 43 – Brooklyn Nets
Wasserman praises Oweh’s athleticism, cutting, and defensive versatility, projecting him as a role-player fit in a spacing-heavy system.

Jeremy Woo (ESPN)
Undrafted
Woo lists Oweh outside the draft board, citing questions about offensive creation and consistency.

It will be interesting to see if Oweh is drafted, but Kentucky will at least have one player selected in Quaintance, which is always a strong recruiting point, even though he only played in four games. The schedule for the two-night event breaks down as follows:

First Round: Tuesday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ABC, ESPN)
Second Round: Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ESPN)

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One of the biggest players in the NBA Finals shrank like a cheap t-shirt under the bright lights of Broadway with the championship series swinging to the Big Apple.

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, who has played out of his mind in the postseason, just didn’t have it in the loss to the San Antonio Spurs last time out.

My Spurs vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks for Game 4 of the NBA Finals are counting on the KAT to come back on June 10.

Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 prediction

Spurs vs Knicks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t get going in Game 3.

The San Antonio Spurs mixed up their defense, sending guard Stephon Castle at the 7-footer. While that threw off Towns, he was also passive cutting, posting, and attacking (when he wasn’t passed up in pick-and-pop spots).

Even so I recall a couple of possessions where the veer-back switch was either nonexistent or late, windows the Knicks missed on KAT PnPs. Part of why KAT wasnt in rhythm tonight is because the team didn't particularly focus on getting him into a rhythm.

Would expect this to be… https://t.co/Rr5BVJOVTh

— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) June 9, 2026

Coach Mike Brown singled out his lack of activity, and I expect the Knicks to get KAT early touches in Game 4. 

He’s thrived as a passer against smaller defenders, and my projections call for 19+ points, 12+ rebounds, and 3+ assists, with a higher ceiling on dimes. That should have Over 32.5 PAR priced around -130.

COVERS INTEL: Towns’ usage sunk to 14% in Game 3 — a dip from his 19.9% rate in the opening two games of the finals and his 20.3% usage in the playoffs. The last time his usage dropped this low, KAT came back the following contest with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists over just 26 minutes in Game 4 of the ECF.

Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 same-game parlay

The Knicks may not get to use the brooms in the NBA Finals, but they can get out the mops and clean up their messy play after a turnover-plagued Game 3 loss.

New York will settle down after an emotionally charged night in MSG, not throwing gas on the Spurs’ transition fires with giveaways and long misses.

I also see the officials trying to balance out some of the foul shooting discrepancies from Game 3 (a squeaky coach gets the grease), which can mean more trips to the stripe for New York or the refs swallowing their whistles.

Unders have been the right side of most NBA Finals games in recent years, cashing in at better than 60% since 2005-06. Game 3 finished Over the total, thanks in part to San Antonio scoring 25 points from the foul line with the clock stopped.

New York cleans up the turnovers and brings this series back to the half-court style we saw in the opening two games, keeping this final score short of the 216.5 O/U.

Karl-Anthony Towns seemed to have left his groove in Texas. He was flat in Game 3, lacking aggression in the offense — with or without the basketball.

The Spurs are sending 6-foot-6 Stephon Castle at the big man, and we saw KAT exploit smaller defenders throughout the playoffs, especially with his passing from the top of the key. My projections call for 35 PRA for Game 4, with some models calling for as many as 41+ combined stats.

Spurs vs Knicks SGP

• Knicks moneyline
• Under 216.5
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 PRA

Spurs vs Knicks odds for Game 4

• Spread: Spurs +1.5 | Knicks -1.5
• Moneyline: Spurs +105 | Knicks -125
• Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5

Spurs vs Knicks betting trend to know

Karl-Anthony Towns has averaged 20.14 points when failing to score 15 or more points in the previous game this season, including the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Knicks.

How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 4

Spurs vs Knicks latest injuries

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The San Antonio Spurs made up substantial ground in NBA Finals prediction markets after the team clawed its first win of the series Monday and cut the deficit to 2-1.

The New York Knicks are still favored to win the series, although they’re down to 63% from as high as 79% at Kalshi.

Key Takeaways

• The Spurs gained 16% probability of winning the Finals by stealing Game 3.
  
  
• Prediction market users like the Knicks to win Game 4.
  
  
• Jalen Brunson has stayed fairly consistent in Finals MVP markets; Victor Wembanyama and Karl-Anthony Towns have been volatile.

No team in NBA history has lost the first two games of the NBA Finals at home and gone on to win the championship. The Spurs still have a long way to go to rewrite the history books, but they took a crucial step with Monday’s 115-111 win at Madison Square Garden.

Kalshi users gave the Spurs a 64% chance to win the Finals before the series began. They still had a 53% chance even after they lost Game 1, but they plummeted to as low as 21% after going down 0-2. 

Support flipped in favor of the Knicks for Game 3, where they were 2.5-point favorites. The apple cart was upset once again, as Victor Wembanyama’s 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists powered the visitors over the line. 

The latest prediction market data from Kalshi suggests the Knicks have a 63% chance of winning the Finals, while the Spurs have a 37%. Nearly $290 million has been traded since the market opened after the conclusion of last year’s Finals. 

A win for the Spurs in Game 4 could make them the favorites to win the Finals, seeing as they’d host two of the final three matchups. The Knicks are still favored in Game 4, but only just, at -1.5.

Kalshi’s Game 4 prediction market has the Knicks at a 53% chance of winning the crucial fourth encounter, with very little movement since the final buzzer sounded in last night’s thriller. The Spurs have a 47% chance, which has also virtually not changed during that period..

Finals MVP markets

NBA Finals MVP prediction markets have proved to be fairly volatile through three games.

Wembanyama, who had a 63% chance of winning the award a week ago, is down to 36%. He had fallen as low as 18% when his team was down 0-2. 

Jalen Brunson has seen the least movement, settling at 47%, after entering the series at 32%. His probability essentially hasn’t changed since the Knicks won Game 1.

Karl-Anthony Towns has already seen huge peaks and valleys. He surged from 6% to 38% entering Game 3, only to fall back to 14% after the loss.

The only other player with a likelihood of winning the Finals MVP greater than 1% is OG Anunoby, who scored 28 points in Game 3 and has averaged 20.7 points and 4.0 rebounds for the series. 

Kalshi users have traded nearly $12.6 million in the Finals MVP prediction market.

Who will win MVP?

As things stand, the Finals MVP is unclear. All three players mentioned above have their selling points and shortcomings.

Wembanyama only shot 28.6% from the floor in Game 1 despite posting a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double. He followed that up by committing the pivotal turnover that led to Brunson’s game-winning free throw with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and then missed the game-winning jump shot. 

However, Wemby was back to his best in Game 3, with the aforementioned 32-point, eight-rebound, six-assist stat line. He has averaged 29 points, 9.7 boards, 3.3 dimes, and 3.3 blocks for the series.

Brunson has been instrumental in his team’s attack. Much of the Knicks’ offensive success has come from him blowing by his primary defender and getting two feet in the paint, which has triggered a series of rotations by the Spurs’ defenders that has often created open looks for teammates. He also showed up with big buckets in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and the game-winning free throw in Game 2.

That said, the Knicks guard was extremely inefficient and careless with the basketball. His 37% field-goal and 31.8% 3-point shooting are well below his standard, and he logged just as many turnovers as he did assists. 

Towns was the Knicks’ best player in Games 1 and 2, although his scoring average (19.5 points) was still 5.5 points behind Brunson’s. He was also a relative no-show for Game 3, putting up 11 points, eight rebounds, and one assist, and only taking 10 shots.

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The atmosphere surrounding the New York Knicks' first home game in the NBA Finals since 1999 was always going to be crazy.

Throw in an appearance by President Donald Trump and the usual celebrities who've publicly supported the Knicks for years and you have a recipe for complete chaos.

Not surprisingly, a planned public watch party outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the Finals was abruptly canceled for security reasons, depriving fans who couldn't afford the sky-high ticket prices of a chance to get as close as possible to the action.

But with Trump unlikely to attend Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10, will the watch parties return in full force?

More: Did Trump fall asleep at NBA Finals? Clips spark online debate

The San Antonio Spurs spoiled the New York Knicks’ homecoming in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, seizing a 115-111 victory in front of a star-studded crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Among the high-profile attendees was President Donald Trump, whose presence sparked a mix of reactions in the arena. Ahead of tip-off, the Jumbotron displayed President Trump during the national anthem. The crowd reacted with boos as Trump offered a military salute.

Trump watched the action from Knicks owner James Dolan’s private suite, accompanied by his granddaughter Kai, personal advisor Boris Epshteyn, and Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum. Trump's attendance made history as the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

We are in the homestretch and news keeps breaking. Just before noon, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports tweeted out the latest: a Brooklyn workout today pitting two prospects among those most mentioned as Nets possibilities, whether at No. 6 or later.

It’s Karim Lopez of Mexico and the New Zealand Breakers vs. Nate Ament of Tennessee behind closed doors at HSS Training Center, as Lopez revealed to O’Connor…

“I’m going to Brooklyn,” he told O’Connor. “Going up against Nate Ament. I think that’s who’s going to be in that workout. I’m super excited about that. I feel like it’s going to be a good one. I’m excited.”

Tje matchup shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. Teams will often pair similar prospects in one-on-one workouts. The two are both 19, both in the 6’10” range, both probably still growing and both prospective NBA wings. Ament may be the better offensive player, Lopez the better defender.

Also, no surprise that the Nets are now working out the top lottery picks. The 2026 NBA draft is two weeks away from Tuesday, and buzz surrounding the Brooklyn Nets is heating up as fans eagerly await June 23-24 in Brooklyn. At the moment, the Nets have the No. 6 pick in the first round — their highest pick since the New Jersey Nets took Derrick Favors at No. 3 in 2010, as well as two seconds at No. 33 and 43. So it’s a big deal.

Last week, much of the attention centered on Nate Ament and his rapid rise as the potential favorite for the Nets. Things have changed since the weekend though with the focus returning to the four lead guards, in alphabetical order: Darius Acuff, of Arkansas, Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville, Kingston Flemings of Louisville and Keaton Wagler of Illinois.

The big news was that two of the four have been worked out by the Nets brass in the past week: Acuff at HSS Training Center and Brown in Orlando where they also met with his family, as James Barlowe tweeted…

The news as described is significant for a number of reasons: the Nets traveled to see Brown and that he will be in Brooklyn at some point over the next two weeks. Teams can only workout and/or visit with prospects twice.

Then, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points wrote in his latest mock draft that Flemings will soon be in as well.

Flemings will do workouts for the Nets and Clippers, and he has worked out for both the Hawks and Bulls, sources said. He is the greatest unknown in terms of where he could end up in the lottery, especially with the Bulls and Grizzlies mentioned as frequent trade-up teams for him.

There was a lot of information in Siegel’s update including this about Brown:

The rumor around the NBA in recent days is that Mikel Brown Jr. and his camp have shut down workout invites outside of those already accepted, which likely signals that a team has promised him following individual meetings and workouts.

Just as likely however is that Brown’s agents also want to limit his workouts to a narrow range of teams, as Krysten Peek noted.

Beyond that news, NetsDaily has been making our own calls to sources about where the Nets stand. It’s no easy task. Sean Marks & co.

Who is the favorite at No. 6?

As I noted above, Ament was the story of last week in NetsWorld, which seemingly threw a large portion of the fanbase into a frenzy. And Siegel reported that at the moment, he, Brown and Acuff are the three names he’s heard most often associated with the Nets.

Last Monday, I reported that the Nets’ interest in Ament “appears to be gaining legitimate traction.” I also added that a few weeks ago, a source described him as a “dark horse” to be selected by Brooklyn at No. 6, while touting his potential fit alongside Egor Dëmin, who the organization selected at No. 8 last year.

The source also added, though, that the Tennessee product is viewed as a “polarizing player” around the league.

At the very least, the Nets are intrigued, I’m told. However, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he is the current favorite at No. 6 based on my conversations with league sources. I am under the belief that Louisville’s Brown is the current favorite. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that we are still two weeks out from the draft and a lot can change.

Additionally, as one source told me, the Nets are one of the hardest teams to predict. Last year, they went against the consensus with each of their five first-round picks, making it quite difficult to get a pulse on who they will select at No. 6 this year.

At Louisville last season, Brown Jr. averaged 18.2 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals on 41.0% shooting from the field and posting a 34.4% clip from beyond the arc. As multiple sources have expressed, he is a Jordi Fernández-type player.

While he was limited to just 21 games (19 starts) last season due to a back injury, it isn’t considered a long-term concern and rather something that can be addressed by an NBA medical team, I’ve been told. He stands at 6’5” and 190 pounds entering the pros.

Other names I’ve been told are in consideration at No. 6 include Michigan’s 7’3” center Aday Mara as well as the usual suspects: Wagler, Flemings, and Acuff.

Based on my conversations with scouts across the league, Acuff’s comparisons to Jalen Brunson and Stephon Marbury are legitimate.

Are the Nets more likely to trade up or down?

There are multiple teams within the top 10 of this year’s draft who are interested in trading up into the top four, according to sources. If any teams are going to move out of the first four selections — and admittedly that’s unlikely, the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3 and the Chicago Bulls at No. 4 are the favorites to do so.

Brooklyn is expected to explore every option, including a move up or down the board, along with sticking and picking at No. 6 overall.

If the Nets do in fact decide to make a trade on draft night, keep an eye on the Bulls as an interesting partner. Owning picks No. 4 and 15, they have reported interest in moving down from No. 4 if they can get some immediate help, along with a potential slide up from No. 15.

As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out, the Nets have the most draft assets through 2033, highlighted by a whopping 14 first-round picks over that span. Obviously, it is highly unlikely that the organization will make even close to all of those picks, meaning they could be better used as trade chips.

Overall, I suspect the Nets are more likely to trade down on draft night than to trade up if they don’t stay at No. 6.

Who are sleeper targets for Brooklyn?

Currently, two of the Nets’ three picks in this year’s draft come in the second round at Nos. 33 and 43 overall.

Each year, a few players fall to the second round and ultimately outplay their draft stock. For the most part, though, they are guys on two-way contracts right away or never truly get an opportunity to showcase their skill set.

Due to NIL, though, the pool of second-round players has become less and less enticing year after year. As one source described it, picking at No. 34 in the NIL era is equivalent to picking at No. 60 overall in the pre-NIL days.

That is how stark the contrast is in the pool of second-round talent since NIL has been introduced.

Two players who have the chance to be steals in the second round this year, though, include international point guards, Germany’s Jack Kayil and Spain’s Sergio De Larrea, according to evaluators.

Standing at 6’3” and 175 pounds, Kayil spent 2025 playing for Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga. De Larrea, 6’6” and 175 pounds, played with  Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.

One scout went so far as to say that De Larrea would have been a lottery pick if he had been playing in the NCAA rather than in Spain.

Is Karim Lopez really in play at No. 6?

Similar to the Ament talk, the possibility of the Nets drafting Karim López at No. 6 overall infuriates a large portion of the team’s fanbase … but as ’s workout schedule shows, the Nets have serious interest in both.

The Nets have done extreme due diligence on the 19-year-old. Sean Marks has flown to Australia twice, once in November 2024 and again in November of this year to watch him play in person.

At 6’10” and 225 pounds, Lopez played in 31 NBL games for the New Zealand Beakers last season, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 assists, while shooting 50.2% from the field and 32.6% from beyond the arc.

League sources tell me they’d be stunned if the Nets selected López at No. 6. Taking him a trade-down scenario would make much more sense.

However, nothing can be ruled out. As I noted above, the Nets are an extremely hard team for even those around the league to predict what they will do because of their lengthy track record of going against the consensus.

How strong is this class?

Overall, this is an encouraging draft class.

While the second round lacks the depth seen in recent years, the strength of the 2026 class lies in its middle tier.

According to league sources, the talent pool in the No. 8 to No. 20 range is viewed as one of the strongest in decades, with some evaluators comparing it favorably to classes dating back to 2000.

Still, any true evaluation of this draft will take time. A prospect’s success depends on far more than talent alone, as development, fit, and roster infrastructure often play significant roles in determining long-term outcomes.

For now, though, there is legitimate reason for optimism surrounding this year’s group.

The NBA Draft is right around the corner and the Dallas Mavericks will have at least two picks later this month. If you’ve read our first installment of Trade Talk, you know what it is we’re doing, but if not, the approach is simple. I curate a few trades from the variety of options we consider as a staff at Mavs Moneyball, then we bring them to our readers to join us in the debate.

Our current scenario is a big swing that MMB’s Bryan Porter put forth, where the Mavs take on a great player along with his massive contract and injury history, but replenish the cupboard in one fell swoop.

The trade proposal

The Mavericks send out P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford in return for Joel Embiid, the 76ers 2026 first round pick (#22), 2028 first round pick (by way of the Los Angeles Clippers) and 2029 first round pick (top eight protected).

The discussion

Mike: Hoo-weee! You might give readers Anthony Davis PTSD with this trade proposal, given Embiid’s injury history. Amazingly, Ebiid is averages 32 games played per season over the past three years, which is about as many games as Davis accumulated in a Mavs’ uniform, so there is that.
While the notion of Embiid might initially be a head-turner, there’s actually quite a lot of value in this proposal. This is a single-shot move that replenishes the absolute dearth of Mavs’ picks over the next few years. Is that the crux of this proposal to you, or do you see Embiid as a value-add to the team?

Bryan: If the Davis trade came with this many picks, there might not have been caskets in front of the AAC. The picks are the point and restocking our barren asset chest is the crux of the deal as you said. However, over his last 25 games this season (including the seven playoff games he played against Boston and New York combined) Embiid averaged 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game on 53% shooting inside the arc, 37% from deep and 85% at the line with a 49.4% FTr. He averaged 33 minutes per game in that span too, so once he’s ramped up for a season, as long as you can keep him upright he can still give you dominant stretches of play depending on when you need them. Given we wouldn’t need him for more then 28 minutes per game if that, I’d like our chances of keeping him upright for 40 games and a playoff run.

Mike: Yeah, hard to argue that he’s not immediately the best center in Mavericks history (with all due respect to past centers, particularly Tyson Chandler). Just an absolutely dominant force even when he’s at 85% health. Had he played more to this point in his career, he’d be talked about as one of the most dominant big men in history. Unfortunately, in 12 seasons, he has yet to log 500 regular season games! Let that sink in for a minute. Maybe in some weird way that is just what the team needs? If Dallas is all-in for the future, his inconsistent availability may help future draft standing with those newly acquired picks. When he does play, he surely helps take pressure off Cooper Flagg.
Pivoting to the outbound players, Gafford is replaced by Embiid (and hopefully Dereck Lively!), Thompson clearly just doesn’t fit here anymore, and Washington is therefore the biggest loss I would argue. If we keep Naji Marshall, the sting of losing Washington is lessened, and this trade looks better and better. Really, it’s Dallas eating a massive (massive!) contract, but getting picks back in this year’s deep draft as well as future years. My biggest fear is that Embiid’s salary really hampers the team for a couple years though.

Bryan: I agree, that’s why the Sixers would have to shower the Mavericks with picks to entice them to take that salary on. No matter what Embiid has been in the past, giiving up three rotation players for one who likely won’t play 50 games in a season is a difficult ask. Pick #22 in this upcoming draft is fine, not great value but certainly useful. The lightly protected future pick could be something given the wacky, new three-year lottery structure, but the crown jewel would be the unprotected Clippers pick. That’s worth moving Washington for. Gafford isn’t someone to raise a fuss about, especially as his salary gets a bump when his extension kicks in. Klay should want to be on a team closer to contention. Washington will be tough to lose, but the point of the picks is to eventually add cost-controlled replacements for all of these guys and some vets still on the roster (Kyrie, Naji, etc).

Mike: You make a great point about the new wonky draft rules for the next couple of years. I think that’s going to have a major impact on how teams value picks for the next few years and it’s going to be real interesting to see what trades look like. If the protection on the 2029 pick was removed, this deal would be very hard to not at least consider heavily, if not jump at. I think my only hesitation is how much he straps the team’s financial flexibility, but getting draft flexibility in exchange is enticing – picking young cost-controlled guys or trading those picks for a proven player allows Dallas to do a lot more than they can now in terms of draft capital. My jury is still out on this one, but I’m certainly thinking a lot about it. Final word goes to you.

Bryan: The final word is simple: insurance. Before I’d seriously consider this deal, I’m looking through the contract language for any possible games played threshold out I can find and the moment I land on one that shortens this contract by even a year, I’m calling this into the league and letting Embiid know face-to-face that he isn’t finishing in Dallas, but we’ll be happy to have him while he’s here. He’s an all-time player who has given a lot to the game and the growth of it via social media, so I understand the weight of a player like that moving teams for the first time in his career. The least I’d want to do is be honest with him about what this is.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The New York Knicks are mortal, and the 2026 NBA Finals will not end in a sweep.

The San Antonio Spurs beat the Knicks, 115-111, in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks had won 13 straight playoff games with most of them coming in a rout, but the vibes were cursed by Donald Trump’s decision to attend the game and inconvenience everyone else in the arena. The Spurs came out hot in the first quarter, the Knicks roared back with a 42-point second quarter to take the lead going into halftime, and San Antonio held on in a tight second half to move the series to a 2-1 Knicks lead heading into a pivotal Game 4 on Wednesday.

This was a winnable game for New York, and in some ways it feels like the Knicks blew a golden opportunity to take a 3-0 death grip on the series. There’s still so much basketball left to be played. Let’s dive into why San Antonio was able to score its first win, and why the Knicks should still win Game 4.

Victor Wembanyama’s lobs killed New York

Wembanyama was fantastic in the win, finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five stocks. The Spurs got their superstar big man going by finally getting him to the basket. Of Wemby’s 11 made field goals, eight of them came in the restricted area, and many of those were on lobs from San Antonio’s guards.

Wembanyama did a better job setting real screens in this game, and that set up opportunities to slip the screen later in the game that consistently caught New York off guard.

When in doubt, just throw it up where only Wemby can get it.

Wembanyama took 38 percent of his shots at the rim this year, which only ranked in the 33rd percentile of all big men. In the playoffs, that’s moved up to 44 percent. Wembanyama had a four-point play in this game, and the outside shot will always be part of his game. That’s just who he is as a player. Still, the opposing defense wants to make Wemby a jump shooter, and when he’s actually determined to get to the rim is when he’s at his best. Game 1 showed the limitations of Wembanyama’s handle in trying to create his own looks off the bounce. The Spurs wised up and used him as more of a play-finisher in Game 3, and it worked out to great effect.

Wembanyama is 7’5 (at least) with an 8-foot wingspan. The Spurs guards don’t need an easy angle or the ability to throw a great pass to hit him. Just toss it up there, and Wemby is likely to come down with it.

Stephon Castle shut down Karl-Anthony Towns and added timely scoring

The Spurs did more cross-matching defensively in Game 3, and it finally helped slow down the Knicks’ offense. Wembanyama might be the best defender in the world, but he was getting cooked off the dribble by Karl-Anthony Towns earlier in this series. The Spurs responded by sticking Stephon Castle on Towns, and letting Wembanyama roam off the weakest shooter on the floor so he could make more plays near the rim.

Castle is listed as a guard, but he’s built more like a linebacker. He has a lower center of gravity to help him hold his ground defensively, and his quick hands were disruptive when KAT tried to dribble. Putting Castle on Towns lets the Spurs easily switch any action involving the big man, and it also takes away a lot of KAT’s perimeter game because Castle is quick enough to press up on him but not get burned if he drives. This is potentially the biggest answer the Spurs have found in the series so far.

Castle also brought it offensively to finish with 23 points and five assists on 8-of-14 shooting. He was also able to limit himself to only two turnovers, which has been his biggest problem throughout the postseason. Castle plays with so much power going downhill, using Eurosteps and slow steps to attack the basket. It’s so hard to knock him off balance, and he has the strength to finish through contact when he gets into the paint.

There are obvious deficiencies in his skill set as a shooter and decision-maker, but Castle is a monster when it comes to attacking the rim, and the Spurs did a good job to help him play to his strengths in Game 3.

Castle’s three-point grenade with under two minutes left was the biggest shot of the game, turning a four-point San Antonio lead into a seven-point advantage.

Honestly, this one felt like a miracle, but as the old saying goes, it’s a make or miss league, and Castle hit a huge one when the Spurs really needed it.

Jalen Brunson was doing a little too much

Brunson is obviously an outstanding player and clutch god, but the Knicks can get into some bad habits when he’s pounding the air out of the ball. He’s averaging 99.7 touches per game in the Finals, which is 23 more than any other player in the series, and 42 more than the next best Knick. Brunson’s 5.57 average seconds per touch is an enormous number, with De’Aaron Fox coming in second in the series among normal rotation players at 4.53 in the same category.

Too much Brunson was a bad thing for the Knicks in prior years, and it feels like the Spurs coaxed him into trying to play the hero again in Game 3. San Antonio single-covered most of the game with Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and Castle splitting the assignment for most of the night. Brunson still had 32 points on 25 shots, which is pretty damn good efficiency in a Finals game, and he drilled a three in the final seconds to give New York one last chance. He still finished the night -9 in 35 minutes, and the Spurs attacked him defensively at every opportunity.

It just feels like less is more when it comes to Brunson. The Knicks need him in crunch-time for sure, but he shouldn’t feel the need to carry the offense all night.

The Knicks will still win Game 4 to take control of the series

The NBA Finals could easily be 2-1 Spurs right now, but Wembanyama’s costly miscommunication with Castle on a turnover at the end of Game 2 (and subsequent missed game-winner) still has San Antonio fighting for its life in Game 4. The road team has won every game in this series so far, but I think the Knicks answer back on Wednesday. Here’s why:

• Landry Shamet isn’t going to shoot as poorly as he did in Game 3, when he went 1-of-7 from three. Shamet has been red hot throughout the playoffs and finally had an off night. He’ll be better next time out.
• Mike Brown worked the refs after the game, and I would bet that helps even out the free throw disparity from Monday. The Spurs shot 10 more free throws than the Knicks, and I don’t expect that to happen again.
• The Spurs only had eight turnovers in Game 3, while the Knicks had 13. New York is better at both taking care of the ball and forcing turnovers on defense across the bigger sample, and I would expect San Antonio to fumble away more possessions in Game 4.
• De’Aaron Fox hit some big shots late, but he just hasn’t been good enough in this series or these playoffs. He went 4-of-14 from the field in the win. I feel like the Spurs need consistently good offense from Fox to win the series, but he can’t beat people off the dribble like he used to, and he’s never been a super reliable outside shooter. Credit Fox for coming through in the clutch, but he needs to be good all game, and I just don’t think he has it in him anymore.

Game 4 is going to be a barnburner. Madison Square Garden will be ready.