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Celtics Draft Fits: Nique Clifford has big-time potential as 3-and-D wing

Celtics Draft Fits: Nique Clifford has big-time potential as 3-and-D wing originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If you can shoot 3-pointers and defend at a high level, you’ll likely have a long and productive career in the NBA.

Those two skills have never been more in demand. Every single team in the league shot more than 30 3-pointers per game this past season. Only one team did that 10 years ago in the 2014-15 season. Shooting the 3-pointer and defending it are critical to success in 2025.

The Boston Celtics have used this formula to great success in the three seasons that Joe Mazzulla has been head coach, including a 2024 NBA championship. The C’s led the league in 3-point shots made per game and finished top five in defensive rating each of the last two seasons.

One player in the 2025 NBA Draft class who embodies these qualities and would be a good fit for the Celtics is Colorado State guard Nique Clifford.

The Celtics own the No. 28 overall pick in the first round and the second pick (No. 32 overall) in the second round of the upcoming draft. Clifford might be gone by the time the C’s are on the clock. But if he’ available at No. 28, he should be a top target for Boston.

More Celtics Draft Fits:

Learn more about Clifford and his potential fit with the C’s below:

Nique Clifford’s bio

  • Position: Guard
  • Height: 6-foot-6
  • Weight: 200
  • Birthdate: Feb. 9, 2002
  • Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • College: Colorado State

Nique Clifford’s collegiate stats

  • 2024-25 (w/Colorado State): 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 49.6 field goal percentage (36 games)
  • 2023-24 (w/Colorado State): 12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 52.2 field goal percentage (36 games)
  • 2022-23 (w/Colorado): 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 37.4 field goal percentage (35 games)
  • 2021-22 (w/Colorado): 6.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 45.3 field goal percentage (33 games)
  • 2020-21 (w/Colorado): 1.0 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 14.3 field goal percentage (14 games)

Nique Clifford’s collegiate accolades

  • 2025 All-Mountain West First Team
  • 2025 All-Mountain West Defensive Team
  • 2025 Mountain West Tournament MVP
  • 2024 All-Mountain West Third Team

Nique Clifford’s highlights

Why Nique Clifford fits with Celtics

Clifford was a bit of a late bloomer in college. After not making much of an impact for Colorado, he transferred to Colorado State for his last two years of eligibility and played fantastic.

In addition to his very good perimeter defensive skills, Clifford took his offensive game to another level last season by averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game and shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range. He’s also an excellent rebounder for a 6-foot-6 guard. His 9.6 rebounds per game in 2024-25 were the 13th-most in the nation. He was the only guard in Division 1 to rank top 20 in rebounds per game.

Our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg views Clifford as a great for Boston in the first round of the draft. The real question is whether he’ll be available at No. 28.

“The Colorado State senior will be 24 as a rookie, which leads to questions about just how much room he can blossom at the pro level,” Forsberg said, as seen in the video player above. “Now for the good stuff. He shot 38 percent from 3-point range as a senior and has a high basketball IQ. He’s been compared to Jalen Williams and Josh Hart.

“Despite playing in an unheralded conference, Clifford’s progress late in his college career could intrigue some teams. If he slides, he might be available close to Boston’s first pick at No. 28.”

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Knicks reportedly set to interview Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown to become next head coach

The Knicks are done flirting with other teams' coaches (well... probably) and have settled into focusing on coaches currently available.

The Knicks are set next week to interview Taylor Jenkins (the recently-fired Memphis Grizzlies coach) and Mike Brown (a veteran NBA coach, most recently of Sacramento, where he helped them break their playoff drought), reports James Edwards III at The Athletic. However, they may not be alone, and the Knicks may not be done with coaches currently employed by other teams.

The Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd and the Chicago Bulls' Billy Donovan are two the New York might circle back to in the coming weeks, according to league sources. The belief around the league is that Kidd and Donovan are looking for contract extensions from their current franchises, and if those don't materialize, they might be open to joining the Knicks.

In addition to Jenkins and Brown interviewing next week, New York is also expected to start contacting organizations to speak with assistant head coaches about the opening, per a league source.

That could open the door for New York to interview former Knicks assistant coach Johnnie Bryant, who is currently an assistant in Cleveland, was a finalist for the Phoenix Suns' job, and is a favorite with a segment of the Knicks fan base.

New York fired Tom Thibodeau — who had just led the team to its first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years — without an upgrade at coach lined up, or even a clear plan of succession in place. They reached out to five teams (that we are aware of) to inquire about their currently employed coaches, however, all five did not give New York permission to talk to those coaches.

Jenkins is the winningest coach in Grizzlies history, but was fired with three weeks to go in the season. He has a good reputation around the league, which remained intact after the firing, as the team went 4-9 without him (including the playoffs). There were reports he had lost the locker room, and in particular star Ja Morant, in large part because of a change in offensive philosophy this season — one pushed by team management.

Brown coached the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals during the LeBron James era — where he developed ties with current Knicks power broker William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley — as well as coaching the Lakers and Kings. He also interviewed for the Knicks job in 2020, when it went to Thibodeau.

Whoever the Knicks hire as coach, they are not rushing into a deal. They will interview Jenkins and Brown, then possibly others (former Denver coach Michael Malone is out there, but league sources tell NBC Sports it's a long shot that he gets his foot in the door, he is seen as too similar to Thibodeau). They will wait to see if the situation in Dallas or Chicago changes. With no other coaching vacancies, New York is not going to lose a candidate it likes to another team.

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Fulton invited to second pre-draft NBA workout

CJ Fulton in action for Charleston Cougars
CJ Fulton has been playing college basketball for Charleston Cougars [Getty Images]

Belfast basketball player CJ Fulton has been invited to a second pre-draft NBA workout camp, this time with the Denver Nuggets.

The 22-year-old guard, who had previously been invited to workout with the Minnesota Timberwolves, is seeking to become the third Irish-born player to earn the chance to compete at the highest level in the United States after Pat Burke and Susan Moran.

Burke played for Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns in the NBA between 2002 and 2007 while Moran was part of the New York Liberty squad during the 2002 WNBA season.

Fulton will now have the opportunity to impress a second set of coaches before this year's NBA draft on 25-26 June.

The son of former Ireland international Adrian Fulton, CJ formerly played for St Malachy's College and Belfast Star, helping the latter win the Basketball Ireland Super League title for the first time in 21 years in 2020.

He moved to the Winchendon School in Boston before securing a collegiate scholarship with Pennsylvania-based Lafayette University.

Following a move to Charleston Cougars, he made his debut in college basketball's 'March Madness' tournament in 2024 after helping his side win the CAA Conference Tournament.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached the NBA's Western Conference finals in each of the past two seasons, losing the best-of-seven series to the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Timberwolves roster includes three-time All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, the NBA's number one draft pick in 2020.

Led by three-time NBA most valuable player Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets were NBA champions in 2023 but have lost in the Western Conference semi-finals in each of the past two seasons.

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How Thunder broke wild Warriors record in Game 4 win vs. Pacers

How Thunder broke wild Warriors record in Game 4 win vs. Pacers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Oklahoma City Thunder tied their NBA Finals series against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night and broke a longstanding Warriors record in the process.

With their 111-104 win in Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Thunder set a new NBA single-season scoring record with 12,205 points between the 2024-25 regular season and postseason. The 2028-19 Warriors previously held the record with 12,161 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did plenty of the Thunder’s scoring on Friday with 35 points on 12-of-24 shooting with 10 made free throws on 10 attempts. The 2024-25 NBA MVP led Oklahoma City in regular-season scoring with 32.7 points per game and is averaging 30.4 points per game this postseason.

Gilgeous-Alexander also became the latest player to record a 15-point fourth quarter in the Finals, joining Steph Curry and LeBron James as the last three players to do so.

The Thunder also have another high-octane scorer in Jalen Williams, who certainly helped them reach the record, and Gilgeous-Alexander ranks No. 2 in the NBA with 669 total free-throw attempts in the regular season.

The 2018-19 Warriors lost that season’s Finals to the Toronto Raptors, but the prolific scoring team’s path to the championship series was one to remember, with countless other records set by the Splash Bros.

Curry and Klay Thompson set or tied seven regular-season NBA scoring records: Most 3-pointers made in game (Thompson, 14); most games with 10-plus 3-pointers in a season (Curry, six); most 3-pointers made in a half (Thompson, 10); most 3-pointers made without missing (Thompson, 10); most consecutive games with at least five 3-pointers (Curry, seven); most games with 11-plus 3-pointers (Curry, 13); and most two-pointers made in the first four games of the season (Curry, 22).

Curry also set the record that postseason for most 3-pointers made in the NBA playoffs with 470, and the Warriors set eight other playoff scoring records and tied another that year (Kevin Durant tied Charles Barkley for the most points scored in a first half in a playoff game with 38).

The Thunder now reign supreme in perhaps the most consequential scoring record of all, but none of that really matters unless they hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the second time in franchise history.

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Thunder rally to beat Pacers and level NBA Finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder attempts a lay-up against the Indiana Pacers in game four of the NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) has averaged 32.8 points per game in the NBA Finals [Getty Images]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder came from behind late on to beat the Indiana Pacers and level the NBA Finals.

The Thunder won 111-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

They trailed by seven points entering the fourth quarter but outscored Indiana 31-17 in the last period, closing with a 12-1 run in the last three minutes.

"I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight," said Gilgeous-Alexander. "I didn't want to go down not swinging."

Thunder coach Mark Daigneaul gave Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's Most Valuable Player, a break late in the third quarter rather than his usual rest early in the fourth.

The Pacers led 101-97 with less than four minutes remaining, but Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of the Thunder's final 16 points and ended the game with 10 free-throws from 10 attempts.

Jalen Williams scored 27 points and made seven rebounds for the Thunder, while Alex Caruso added 20 points off the bench.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton 18.

"We just didn't execute at the end of the game," said Siakam. "We didn't get easy shots. The easy shots that we got, we missed them. And they made them."

The Thunder host game five at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City at 19:30 local time on Monday (01:30 BST, Tuesday).

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With its season in balance, Thunder prove more clutch than Pacers to take Game 4 111-104, even series 2-2

INDIANAPOLIS — Oklahoma City did to Indiana what the Pacers have done to everyone else all playoffs and season long.

Indiana led by seven entering the fourth quarter in a game where it had largely been in control but it could never quite pull away. Then, with its season hanging in the balance, Oklahoma City played at its peak. The Thunder defense held the Pacers to one bucket from the floor in the final five minutes of the game, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over and scored 15 points in the fourth quarter.

“We got stagnant, their second shots were a big problem,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said postgame, referencing the four offensive rebounds the Thunder had in the fourth quarter.

The result was only the second clutch game the Pacers lost this postseason, a 111-104 Thunder win that ties the series up at 2-2.

What has been a highly entertaining, well-played Finals will see Game 5 Monday night in Oklahoma City. It also feels like a series that is going to go seven games.

The Pacers have focused their defense this series on denying Gilgeous-Alexander the ball, then when he does get the rock and drives they make it hard to get his teammates involved and get their offense flowing. They did that in Game 4. The problem was that SGA took on the challenge and scored 35 on the night.

This is the loss Indiana will regret if it does not win the series, on the night the Thunder were just 3-of-17 from beyond the arc (Indiana was 11-of-36, just 30.6%, but they still outscored OKC by 24 from beyond the arc). While Pacers fans in the building (and online) want to complain about foul calls the Thunder shot just five more free throws than the Pacers, and that was bolstered by some intentional fouling at the end.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault made the first big adjustment of the series, returning to the double-big starting lineup of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, which had been effective throughout the Western Conference postseason.

It didn’t work — for the first time this series it was Indiana getting off to the fast start leading 20-12 behind fast starts from Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner (the Thunder starting five was -2 for the night).

Indiana had the ball moving a step ahead of Oklahoma City’s rotations and it was getting great looks. Indiana was also knocking down its jumpers (only six of their first 24 points came in the paint).

Despite the hot start by the Pacers and some cold shooting from 3 by the OKC, the Thunder were hanging around, and at the end of a high-scoring first quarter, the Pacers were only up one, 35-34.

Midway through the second quarter, Obi Toppin was hit with a flagrant foul on Alex Caruso for what was a non-basketball play (but might have been just a hard playoff foul in another era). Hartenstein had a few words for Toppin after that, but nothing came of it.

Toppin drew a flagrant himself on Lu Dort later in the quarter.

Indiana led 60-57 at the half and the difference was 3-point shooting: The Pacers were 7-of-19 from 3, while the Thunder were 1-of-10. The Thunder were 6-of-21 on shots outside the paint in the first half.

In the third quarter, the Pacers played like sharks smelling blood in the water — the crowd could sense it, their defensive pressure seemed to ramp up and the shots kept falling. Indiana led by 7 after three and Pacers fans were ready to celebrate being closer to an NBA title than the franchise had ever been.

Then came the Thunder’s fourth quarter and everything is even again.

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Gilgeous-Alexander blows up late as Thunder see off Indy to level NBA finals

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leaves the court after Game 4 of the NBA finals.Photograph: Michael Conroy/AP

The Oklahoma City Thunder stormed back from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 111–104 on Friday night, evening the best-of-seven-games NBA finals at two games apiece.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, including nine straight during a crucial stretch as the Thunder pulled ahead for good.

Oklahoma City shot just 3-for-16 from beyond the arc, a season low, and Gilgeous-Alexander finished without an assist for the first time all season. But Jalen Williams added 27 points, Alex Caruso had 20 and Chet Holmgren posted 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points. Tyrese Haliburton added 18 and Obi Toppin scored 17, including a highlight-reel dunk that gave Indiana their first double-digit lead of the series late in the third quarter.

The Pacers started fast and led most of the night, but couldn’t hold off the Thunder, who tied the game three times in the fourth before Gilgeous-Alexander’s step-back jumper with 2:23 left put them in front for good.

Game 5 is Monday in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will try to protect their reclaimed home-court advantage in what is now a best-of-three series.

Full report to follow.

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Stephen A. Smith responds after seen playing solitaire at NBA Finals Game 4

Stephen A. Smith responds after seen playing solitaire at NBA Finals Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ESPN NBA Insider Stephen A. Smith is known for his strong opinions on the league, but now he’s facing some doubts.

During Game 4 of the Indiana Pacers-Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Finals, Smith was pictured by a fan playing solitaire on his phone as the game played out.

There was also a video a spectator recorded, which showed play going on in the background as Smith had solitaire open. The fan who took the photo said it occurred during the third quarter.

After the game, Smith responded to the moment with a few posts on X as it became a viral topic.

Smith claimed he was playing during a timeout and was multitasking.

“Yep! That’s me. Who would’ve thought….I can multi-task. Especially during TIMEOUTS! Hope y’all are enjoying the NBA Finals. This is going 7 games now, peeps!” Smith posted.

He then posted what appeared to be a screenshot of his solitaire app open with the game playing underneath.

Kevin Durant even posted the photo of Smith on his Instagram story, which had “Cmon Steve” written in small font on the bottom right.

Many NBA fans criticized Smith for not being fully engaged during one of sports’ biggest moments, especially with the platform at his disposal.

“This dude thinks he is so above the sport of basketball it is frustrating I would die to have a career that allowed me to go to the nba finals to cover it what a joke,” one account wrote in response to a viral post on X.

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Thunder take Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Pacers 111-104 to tie series

Thunder take Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Pacers 111-104 to tie series originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Oklahoma City has avoided a 3-1 deficit.

The Thunder took down the Indiana Pacers 111-104 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday to tie the series at 2-2 going back to Oklahoma City.

Both teams stayed neck-and-neck for most of the first three quarters, though Indiana built a 10-point lead at one stage. However, Oklahoma City used a 31-17 point differential in the fourth quarter to pull away, mainly due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shotmaking in clutch time.

The league MVP ended the game with 35 points on 12 of 24 shooting and 10 of 10 free throws to go with three rebounds, three steals and a block. But he did not record a single assist. Jalen Williams supported Gilgeous-Alexander with 27 points on 8 of 18 shooting and 11 of 11 free throws.

Game 3 saw Bennedict Mathurin come off the bench for Indiana and light it up with 27 points on 9 of 12 shooting. But he came back to earth in this one, logging just eight points in 14 minutes with five foul-line makes. However, his three misses proved costly late on.

Oklahoma City needed someone to produce a Mathurin-esque game off the bench and got it through Alex Caruso. The star defender posted 20 points in 30 minutes on 7 of 9 shooting to go with five steals, three rebounds and a block. No other bench player had more than five points.

Indiana’s two main stars weren’t at their best from a scoring standpoint. Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting with seven assists while Pascal Siakam led the team with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals on a 6 of 15 field-goal clip.

Though Mathurin didn’t produce like he did last time out, Obi Toppin did step up off the bench and record 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting and seven rebounds, but it didn’t move the needle enough.

Oklahoma City somehow won the game making just three 3-pointers to Indiana’s 11. The Thunder attempted 17 to Indiana’s 36, but capitalized on nine more foul-line makes and a 50-36 points-in-the-paint advantage.

Whoever takes the next game will be a win away from their franchise’s first ever championship. If Oklahoma City wins, Indiana will need to defend home court to force the two best words in sports. But if Indiana upsets the Thunder, it can win the title in front of its fans.

Game 5 in Oklahoma City is set for Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT.

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Thunder take Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Pacers 111-104 to tie series

Thunder take Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Pacers 111-104 to tie series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Oklahoma City has avoided a 3-1 deficit.

The Thunder took down the Indiana Pacers 111-104 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday to tie the series at 2-2 going back to Oklahoma City.

Both teams stayed neck-and-neck for most of the first three quarters, though Indiana built a 10-point lead at one stage. However, Oklahoma City used a 31-17 point differential in the fourth quarter to pull away, mainly due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shotmaking in clutch time.

The league MVP ended the game with 35 points on 12 of 24 shooting and 10 of 10 free throws to go with three rebounds, three steals and a block. But he did not record a single assist. Jalen Williams supported Gilgeous-Alexander with 27 points on 8 of 18 shooting and 11 of 11 free throws.

Game 3 saw Bennedict Mathurin come off the bench for Indiana and light it up with 27 points on 9 of 12 shooting. But he came back to earth in this one, logging just eight points in 14 minutes with five foul-line makes. However, his three misses proved costly late on.

Oklahoma City needed someone to produce a Mathurin-esque game off the bench and got it through Alex Caruso. The star defender posted 20 points in 30 minutes on 7 of 9 shooting to go with five steals, three rebounds and a block. No other bench player had more than five points.

Indiana’s two main stars weren’t at their best from a scoring standpoint. Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting with seven assists while Pascal Siakam led the team with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals on a 6 of 15 field-goal clip.

Though Mathurin didn’t produce like he did last time out, Obi Toppin did step up off the bench and record 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting and seven rebounds, but it didn’t move the needle enough.

Oklahoma City somehow won the game making just three 3-pointers to Indiana’s 11. The Thunder attempted 17 to Indiana’s 36, but capitalized on nine more foul-line makes and a 50-36 points-in-the-paint advantage.

Whoever takes the next game will be a win away from their franchise’s first ever championship. If Oklahoma City wins, Indiana will need to defend home court to force the two best words in sports. But if Indiana upsets the Thunder, it can win the title in front of its fans.

Game 5 in Oklahoma City is set for Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT.

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Thunder take Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Pacers 111-104 to tie series

Thunder take Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Pacers 111-104 to tie series originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Oklahoma City has avoided a 3-1 deficit.

The Thunder took down the Indiana Pacers 111-104 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday to tie the series at 2-2 going back to Oklahoma City.

Both teams stayed neck-and-neck for most of the first three quarters, though Indiana built a 10-point lead at one stage. However, Oklahoma City used a 31-17 point differential in the fourth quarter to pull away, mainly due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shotmaking in clutch time.

The league MVP ended the game with 35 points on 12 of 24 shooting and 10 of 10 free throws to go with three rebounds, three steals and a block. But he did not record a single assist. Jalen Williams supported Gilgeous-Alexander with 27 points on 8 of 18 shooting and 11 of 11 free throws.

Game 3 saw Bennedict Mathurin come off the bench for Indiana and light it up with 27 points on 9 of 12 shooting. But he came back to earth in this one, logging just eight points in 14 minutes with five foul-line makes. However, his three misses proved costly late on.

Oklahoma City needed someone to produce a Mathurin-esque game off the bench and got it through Alex Caruso. The star defender posted 20 points in 30 minutes on 7 of 9 shooting to go with five steals, three rebounds and a block. No other bench player had more than five points.

Indiana’s two main stars weren’t at their best from a scoring standpoint. Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting with seven assists while Pascal Siakam led the team with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals on a 6 of 15 field-goal clip.

Though Mathurin didn’t produce like he did last time out, Obi Toppin did step up off the bench and record 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting and seven rebounds, but it didn’t move the needle enough.

Oklahoma City somehow won the game making just three 3-pointers to Indiana’s 11. The Thunder attempted 17 to Indiana’s 36, but capitalized on nine more foul-line makes and a 50-36 points-in-the-paint advantage.

Whoever takes the next game will be a win away from their franchise’s first ever championship. If Oklahoma City wins, Indiana will need to defend home court to force the two best words in sports. But if Indiana upsets the Thunder, it can win the title in front of its fans.

Game 5 in Oklahoma City is set for Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT.

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Knicks planning to meet with Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown next week for head coaching job

The Knicks' search for a head coach looks like it will start with two names that the team is planning to interview next week.

SNY's NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms that New York will meet with former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown as the first two formal interviews for the vacant position.

It’s still early in the process for the Knicks, though, and they will continue to cast a wide net and are expected to interview several other candidates, per Begley.

With regard to the Knicks getting denied permission to speak with current head coaches, at least one of those coaches was able to benefit financially from New York’s interest, per Begley.

Begley has previously reported that the Knicks are in no rush with their search.

Jenkins, 40, was fired by Memphis after nearly six seasons with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season despite having a 44-29 record at the time. It was a move that shocked the basketball world, as he was the fifth-longest tenured NBA coach at the time of his firing.

Jenkins owns a career coaching record of 250-214 (.539) with his best season coming in 2021-22 when he led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the West. That team lost in the conference semifinals, falling to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

Brown, 55, is another coach fired mid-season by his most recent team. After making the postseason in his first season (2022-23) with the Kings with a 48-34 record, Brown was relieved of his duties during his third year with the club. He missed the postseason in 2023-24 after a 46-36 record and was off to a 13-18 start this past season before he was fired.

Brown had assisted in the NBA from 1997 to 2005 before he got his first head coaching gig, leading LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In six seasons, he accumulated a 305-187 record to go along with a 42-29 record in the postseason. He also made the NBA Finals in 2007 but fell to the San Antonio Spurs in four games.

After being fired by the Cavaliers, Brown coached the Los Angeles Lakers for parts of two seasons. He led the team to the playoffs with a 41-25 record but was relieved of his duties after just five games into the 2012-13 season.

Brown became an assistant coach for six seasons with Golden State before landing with the Kings.

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NBA Trade Rumors Roundup: Kevin Durant trade could happen soon, Clippers in the mix

With the NBA Draft less than two weeks away, the trade rumor mill is in full swing, with Kevin Durant at the heart of it. Here are some of the latest rumors.

Durant trade coming in “days?” Don’t be so sure.

Things are moving quickly on the Kevin Durant trade front, with a real sense in league circles that it will get done before — or at — the NBA draft on June 25. Friday, ESPN's Shams Charania took that a step further on the Pat McAfee Show and said it could happen in the next few days

You know what really pisses off Adam Silver and the NBA league office? When a team makes a big trade that upstages the NBA Finals. The league has made a concerted effort in recent years to refocus games on the court, rather than on the rumor mill and trade speculation. If a Kevin Durant trade were to happen in the coming days, it would completely upstage the Oklahoma City vs. Indiana NBA Finals.

The smart money is on no trade coming together, or even being leaked, before the NBA Finals end. Which, if it goes seven games (a genuine possibility), would take us to three days before the 2025 NBA Draft.

Clippers interested in Kevin Durant

The expectation had been that the Clippers would extend James Harden this summer, re-sign Norman Powell, and essentially run it back with a 50-win team.

Instead, they may make a run at Kevin Durant, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps calling the Clippers a "team to watch" in the Durant sweepstakes. It would take a third team (or more) to make the math work, but the Clippers could send depth to Phoenix in a trade offer centered around a sign-and-trade of Norman Powell, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and more, plus a first-round pick or two. We can assume that Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac are off-limits in a trade, but everyone else would be on the table.

That may not be the haul the Suns were hoping for, but the other teams thought in the running — the Timberwolves, Rockets, Spurs and Heat — are not making overwhelming offers either. Which brings us to...

What Phoenix wants for Durant vs. reality

Days after Mat Ishbia purchased the Phoenix Suns from Robert Sarver, the team made a bold move to acquire Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets. It gave up a lot to get the future Hall of Fame:

• Mikal Bridges
• Cam Johnson
• Jay Crowder
• Four first-round picks
• 2028 pick swap

The Suns want a package something close to that in return for Durant. I want to take a break from writing this story to drive my Maserati GranTurismo around town. Reality is going to disappoint both of us. ESPN’s Windhorst and Bontemps put it this way:

Multiple league sources said they were skeptical that the price for Durant in a trade would get to a place where Phoenix would be satisfied with it.

My expectation for the Suns' return in a KD trade is a couple of rotation players to match salary (but nobody likely as good as Bridges), a young player with some potential, and one or two first-round picks (depending on how good they are perceived to be). We'll see what comes out of this, but it is very likely a trade made before the draft or on draft night.

No Antetokounmpo trade talks

The latest update on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front is that there is no update. Antetokounmpo was focused on his trip to South America, slipping and falling all over courts there, and has not requested a trade.

The expectation in league circles now is that Antetokounmpo will not request a trade, which is why the focus of teams has shifted to Durant and others. Maybe that changes after Antetokounmpo surveys the fallout from a summer of trades and free agency, but more than likely Antetokounmpo is a Buck at the start of next season.

Pelicans trade up for Ace Bailey?

The Pelicans are not going to trade Zion Williamson this offseason, primarily because the return wouldn't be nearly what they are seeking.

That doesn't mean new head of basketball operations in the Big Easy, Joe Dumars, is looking to build around Zion long-term. There are a lot of rumors that he wants to move up in the draft, specifically to target Rutgers wing Ace Bailey. Kevin O’Connor lays it out at Yahoo Sports.

League sources continue to cite the Pelicans as a team aggressively looking to move up in the draft, with most front-office executives believing Bailey is the target of new general manager Joe Dumars. That's why we're mocking a trade here for this week's mock, with Herb Jones and a low-value first in 2026 via the Pacers to move up four spots.

There is pushback from New Orleans that they would give up Herb Jones in a trade like this, which is the correct call — trading Jones could well be a Dyson Daniels kind of mistake. That said, whatever form the trade might take, the idea of Dumars trading up to get Bailey and taking a swing with the high-ceiling wing makes some sense.

Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro not available

The Miami Heat are looking to upgrade — this is not a tear-it-down-and-rebuild-it kind of franchise — but in doing so, both Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are not available, reports Ira Winderman at the Sun Sentinel. That's not a surprise to anyone, but it's nice to have it on the record.

Could Chris Paul return to the Clippers?

In a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, another future Hall of Famer, Chris Paul, talked about being away from his children and family, who live in Los Angeles, while he played in Oklahoma City, Phoenix, the Bay Area with Golden State, and then San Antonio.

"My son just turned 16. My daughter's 12. The past six seasons I have lived without them. I've been away from them for the last six years. That's the conversation. I wanna be dad."

Nobody can blame him for wanting to come back to Los Angeles. While there is poetic justice in him coming to the Lakers so many years after David Stern shot down his trade there for "basketball reasons," the Lakers aren't hurting for ball handlers (although LeBron James and CP3 have always been close, so...). The Clippers need a backup point guard who can run the show when James Harden is off the court. Do we have a match? Just something to watch.

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Celtics draft fits: Could Georgia's Asa Newell be a trade-up option?

Celtics draft fits: Could Georgia's Asa Newell be a trade-up option? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics don’t have many weaknesses on their roster, but they could look to improve in one specific area during the 2025 NBA Draft.

With big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet set to become unrestricted free agents, the Celtics should prioritize size. Kristaps Porzingis and Neemias Queta are the only players on the roster taller than 6-foot-9.

NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics insider Chris Forsberg has predicted the C’s will select Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner with the 28th overall pick in the draft, but what if they decide to trade up? If size and explosiveness are on president of basketball operations Brad Stevens’ wish list, Georgia forward Asa Newell could be an ideal fit.

More Celtics best draft fits:

Learn more about Newell and his fit with the C’s below:

Asa Newell’s bio

  • Position: Forward
  • Height: 6-foot-11
  • Weight: 220 pounds
  • Birthdate: Oct. 5, 2005 (age 19)
  • Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
  • College: Georgia

Asa Newell’s collegiate stats

  • 2024-25: 15.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, 1.0 blocks per game, 1.0 steals per game, 54.3 field goal percentage (33 games)

Asa Newell’s collegiate accolades

  • SEC All-Freshman Team (2025)

Asa Newell’s highlights

Why Asa Newell fits with Celtics

Newell would give Boston’s bench an intriguing blend of size and explosiveness. The former Bulldog excels at attacking the basket, and while he’s a raw prospect, he boasts compelling upside with his aggressiveness in the paint.

Our Chris Forsberg explained why Boston should consider trading up for Newell.

“Asa Newell is a high-level finisher,” Forsberg said. “If the Celtics want to attack the basket more, Newell could be an intriguing addition. Taking it to the hoop, finishing lobs, and crashing the offensive boards, it’s all in his tool belt, but Newell is a bit of a tweener and needs to work on his 3-point shot after shooting just 29 percent in his only college season at Georgia.

“Newell can be a weapon defensively with his length and his motor. If the Celtics have faith in their developmental program, Noel could be a trade-up option in Round 1.”

In his mock draft, Forsberg predicts Newell will land with the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 15 overall.

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Windhorst makes firm claim about Giannis' future amid trade rumors

Windhorst makes firm claim about Giannis' future amid trade rumors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With just a few words, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst might’ve shattered the hearts of Dub Nation.

After an underachieving 2024-25 NBA season by the Milwaukee Bucks, which resulted in a third consecutive first-round playoff exit, many began to speculate on the future of NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. And of course, the Warriors always are in the mix.

Antetokounmpo for years has been tied to several rumors of joining Steph Curry in the Bay, both from reputable reports and delusional fans. But Windhorst believes Golden State — and any other team interested in acquiring the two-time NBA MVP — will have to keep dreaming.

“There’s not going to be a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade in the short-term future,” Windhorst said Friday morning on “Get Up.” “The league has come to terms with the real realization that the Bucks are going to keep him in. Giannis is not going to ask for a trade.”

When Milwaukee was eliminated yet again by Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in the opening round of the 2025 playoffs, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, citing sources, that Antetokounmpo is exploring all his options this offseason and is open to leaving the Bucks for the first time in his career.

Charania added that Antetokounmpo hadn’t made any firm decisions about his future just yet, which still seems to be the case, but that the “Greek Freak” was open-minded to figuring out where his best long-term fit is.

Queue the league-wide trade speculation.

But even on the Warriors’ side, it’s a long shot. To make the money work in a hypothetical trade for Antetokounmpo, Golden State likely would have to include Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler in the deal. The Warriors, however, openly have stated they are committed to the core of Curry, Butler and Green.

Of course, never say never.

But Windhorst appears to be saying never, as he confidently predicts Antetokounmpo will remain in Milwaukee for the start of the 2025-26 season — and beyond.

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