Donald Trump took questions from reporters during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday that he plans to attend this year’s NBA finals after the New York Knicks clinched their place in the championship series earlier this week.
Trump, a New York native, has counted James Dolan, who owns the Knicks, the NHL’s Rangers and Madison Square Garden, as a friend and a campaign donor in recent years. The president said he had been invited to the finals by Dolan and “numerous” others.
“Jim Dolan’s [a] great guy, [he], as you know owns … Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year. Boy, what a team. They won all their games. They really have some great players,” the president told reporters during a cabinet meeting. “I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people and Jim – and I think I’ll be going. Great to see. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years. They’re doing right now very well.”
The New York Times on Tuesday reported that, had the Eastern Conference finals series between the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers continued, Trump planned to attend Game 5 on Wednesday in New York. The series instead finished in a sweep with the Knicks’ 130-93 win in Game 4 on Monday night.
The Knicks will play either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the best-of-seven-games finals. The Knicks are scheduled to play at home in Games 3, 4 and 6 of the series. Those games are pencilled in for 8, 10 and 16 June.
Trump has made several appearances at sporting events since his reelection. Last year, he attended the Super Bowl, soccer’s Club World Cup final, tennis’s US Open, the Daytona 500 and golf’s Ryder Cup. This year, he has attended several golf events and college football’s national championship game. The White House lawn will stage a UFC fight card next month.
A sitting president has never attended the NBA finals.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he and fiancée Taylor Swift tried to hit up Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden during the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and his hometown Cavaliers, but his schedule didn't allow it.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he and fiancée Taylor Swift tried to hit up Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden during the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and his hometown Cavaliers, but his schedule didn’t allow it.
During Wednesday’s installment of the “New Heights” podcast, Kelce explained Swift’s “New York ties” and gushed over the couple’s date night at Game 3 in Cleveland on Saturday.
“This wasn’t me trying to persuade Taylor into being a Cleveland sports fan with me,” Travis told his brother Jason Kelce. “This was me just having a fun date night knowing that I love going to basketball games.
“We actually tried to go to a game in New York, but I was stuck in Kansas City. I love bringing her into the sports world that I appreciate. That’s why you’ve seen us at the U.S. Open tennis matches, other baseball games, and the (Guardians) vs. the (Yankees) two years ago. I just enjoy bringing her to experience a lot of the fun that I’ve always known to have.”
Travis brought up the now viral photo from 2014 of Swift rocking a Knicks jersey with former New York stars, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, on the court at Madison Square Garden.
Carmelo Anthony, Taylor Swift and Amar’e Stoudemire on the court at Madison Square Garden in 2014. X
“Not a lot of teams have been able to get Taylor to wear a jersey, and the Knicks did,” Travis said, as the podcast showed the image.
“… Tay’s got a lot of New York ties. When it came down to going to the Cavs game, she was like, ‘Oh nice, they’re playing the Knicks, sweet! I’ve seen them play before.’ It was fun.”
Swift lives part time in New York, where she has an apartment.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend the Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference finals Game 3 against the New York Knicks in Cleveland, Ohio Saturday May 23, 2026. Aaron Josefczyk/Shutterstock
The 36-year-old tight end — who will return to the Chiefs for a 14th season after contemplating retirement — emphasized his love for introducing Swift to the world of sports, especially in his hometown of Cleveland Heights.
“Getting Tay back to Cleveland and showing her my roots is always something I love doing,” Travis said, adding that the pair didn’t have much time to explore.
“Not this time. We came in strictly for the game this time.”
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend the Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference finals Game 3 against the New York Knicks in Cleveland, Ohio Saturday May 23, 2026. Aaron Josefczyk/Shutterstock
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: AWS Draft Combine signage during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While the Sixers continue to search for a new president of basketball operations, the 2026 NBA Draft quickly approaches. Bob Myers said he hopes to have the next hire in place before the draft. Even if he’s able to do so, that new president will have less than a month to prepare for the selection the Sixers have to make with the 22nd pick of the first round, courtesy of the Houston Rockets.
This blog is cooking up its own thoughts on what the Sixers should do with that pick. Now that the draft combine is in the rearview mirror, here’s a roundup of what some of the other experts think the Sixers will do.
Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
As is often the case with picks this late in the draft, there isn’t a consensus for who goes at No. 22. Graves is currently the closest thing to that, being mocked to the Sixers by both Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation and Jeremy Woo of ESPN.
At 6-foot-7, Graves profiles as a high-feel, low athleticism forward who was a 40% three-point shooter this past season for Santa Clara. Those reasons were easy for the experts to point to as reasons he’d slot right in to this Sixers team. O’Donnell pointed out that Graves’ proclivity to try to force turnovers can be valuable, though he struggles to stay out of foul trouble.
Either way, that seems like a player Nick Nurse would be very interested in. This blog will certainly have more thoughts on Graves as the draft nears.
Karim Lopez, SF, New Zealand Breakers
This international prospect has showed up all over the place across mocks, most recently going to the Sixers at 22 in Derek Parker’s latest mock for Sports Illustrated. Lopez, a 6-foot-9 forward, appears to be a bigger swing at the wing position.
Parker said of Lopez:
“Breakers’ forward Karim Lopez is a bet on a positionally malleable player able to spread production across several areas.
Lopez has a wide range as a player that produced at a high level in a pro league, but doesn’t offer the neon light flashiness that others do. He scored 11.9 points per game in the NBL, upping his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and efficiency across the board.“
The New Zealand Breakers actually played the Sixers in the preseason last year back in October 2024, but Lopez, just 17 at the time, was a DNP-CD.
Bleacher Report offers pro comparisons on their mocks. Cenac’s, per Wasserman, was Bobby Portis, so take that for what it’s worth. Wasserman also had this to say:
“Despite flaws in Chris Cenac’s statistical profile, there will be teams willing to bet on a 19-year-old with his 6’10” (barefoot) size, 7’5″ wingspan, 240-pound frame, shooting confidence and motor. He’ll be a popular reach candidate for teams looking to fill gaps and aren’t concerned with finding high-upside scorers.“
Luigi Suigo, C, KK Megabasket
This is definitely an out there selection. Suigo shows up in the early second round of most mock drafts, but this is who Kevin O’Conner of Yahoo has the Sixers picking at 22. O’Connor has been big on the Sixers acquiring a center to eat more innings for Joel Embiid — he was big on the Sixers selecting Khaman Maluach early in last year’s draft.
With Michigan center Aday Mara and Washington’s Hannes Steinbach shooting up the boards post-combine, Suigo would be the only option at 22 if the Sixers wanted to take a center there. Sugio has played three years of pro ball in Europe, but only really saw playing time last year for Serbia’s KK Megabasket. In 16 minutes a night he averaged 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
There may not be many others beating this drum, but O’Connor sees a lofty upside for Suigo.
“As for this choice, finding a center to play behind Joel Embiid needs to be prioritized. Embiid simply cannot be trusted to stay on the floor. Suigo has said he wants to be the Italian Wemby and, at 7-foot-3 with passing feel and shooting touch, you can see why a teenager might put that out into the universe. Suigo lacks the handle and self-creation chops to ever be the best player on a team, but his dynamic skills as a passer, shooter and lob threat layer cleanly on top of baseline center duties as a screener, finisher and rim protector. Becoming the Italian Marc Gasol is a more realistic goal and would be a dream fit alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for many years to come.”
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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
Everyone is wondering what LeBron James’ decision will be this summer. As an unrestricted free agent, LeBron has all career options available to him. He can return to the Lakers, join another team, or retire from the game.
While we don’t yet know which way he’s leaning on any of those pathways, one thing being said is that LeBron taking a massive pay cut to return home is unlikely.
On an ESPN Cleveland radio segment, Brian Windhorst said that, to his knowledge, LeBron isn’t prepared to join the Cavs if all they can offer him in this exact moment is a little over $3 million.
LeBron has taken pay cuts before. He did it back when he joined the Heat and also took less than the max with the Lakers back in 2024, so LA could avoid the second apron.
Still, it’s one thing to take a bit less and another to decrease your salary by approximately 94.7%. LeBron might not be the player he once was, but he’s still an All-Star who led a team to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
A pay cut like that to join a team that was just swept in the Eastern Conference Finals wouldn’t make much sense, unless all that mattered to LeBron was returning home.
And based on his words during the “Mind The Game” podcast, part of his decision will be about where he can compete for a title.
Free agency season is loading for @KingJames, but not until after Memorial Day.
At this point, it’s hard to argue the Cavaliers are much closer to a championship than the Lakers, and it’s even tougher to make that an enticing proposition when the amount you can pay is only $3 million.
A lot can happen between now and free agency. Perhaps the Cavs can make deals that open up cap space so they can offer LeBron something closer to his market value.
However, as things currently stand, the Lakers seem to be in a good spot if they want LeBron back.
They have plenty of cap space, and depending on the moves they make to strengthen their roster, LA might have everything LeBron wants, which includes a decent salary, a place he loves to live and his best chance at winning his fifth ring.
President Trump indicated Wednesday he plans to attend a NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden after his hometown Knicks made the championship series for the first time since 1999.
“I was invited to. I was going to go on Wednesday [Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals], but they closed it out very quickly. They’re great, and Jim Dolan’s a great guy — he’s, as you know, owns and in charge of Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year,” Trump told The Post during a cabinet meeting.
“Boy, what a team! They win all their games,” the president added. “They really have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people, and Jim, and I think it’s great. Great to see it. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years and they’re doing right now very well.”
Trump and Melania at the Knicks Vs Miami Heat game in 2005. Anthony J Causi for NY PostPresident Trump speaks to reporters on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. REUTERS
As Trump spoke, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — a Long Island native and major Knicks fan — pumped his first repeatedly as the rest of the cabinet chuckled at his enthusiasm.
The Knicks last won the NBA title in 1973, one month before Trump, now 79, turned 27 years old.
New York swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four straight games to make the Finals, precluding Trump’s attendance at the World’s Most Famous Arena Wednesday night.
MSG CEO James Dolan, who owns both the Knicks and the arena’s other primary tenant, the NHL’s New York Rangers, is a longtime friend of Trump — even getting married at Mar-a-Lago in January 2002.
“I support him as a friend,” Dolan told ESPN.com of Trump in a December 2018 interview. “And you don’t have to agree with everything that he’s doing in order to support him. And he’s, by the way, our president, and I don’t understand people who wish our president to do badly. Why would you wish your president to do badly? It’s like wishing that your milkman will bring you sour milk.”
The Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals.
NBAE via Getty Images NBAE via Getty Images
Trump would be the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game after he became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl in February 2025.
Due to security considerations, the president is unlikely to be seated courtside on “Celebrity Row,” where the regulars include actors Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller, comedian Tracy Morgan, film director Spike Lee, and “Law & Order” star Mariska Hargitay.
The Knicks will host the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs for Games 3 and 4 of the Finals on Monday, June 8, and Wednesday, June 10. Game 6, if necessary, will take place at MSG Tuesday, June 16, when Trump is due to be in France for the G7 summit.
The day before Trump is due to depart for Europe, he is expected to take in a special UFC card on the White House South Lawn to mark America’s 250th birthday.
"We jumped a barrier that we were stuck on, second round, stuck on that," Atkinson said, referencing exits in the previous two playoffs in the second round. "We made the jump again with a roster we're trying to figure out in two-and-a-half months to get ready for the playoffs. So, with not great preparation time to put it together on the fly, it says a lot about the guys in the room, so I consider it a success."
It didn't feel like a success watching the Eastern Conference Finals. There was a clear gap between Cleveland and New York — and the Knicks aren't going anywhere in the East. They will be back next season with the same core. Plus, there will be an improving Detroit team that could see additions to its core, a healthy and improved Boston team that has won a ring before, and a healthy and dangerous Indiana squad that gets Tyrese Haliburton back and an upgrade at center with Ivica Zubac (even if the pick price was steep).
What does Cleveland do to vault past those teams? Do they even need to do much?
It sounds more like Cleveland is running its core back.
Atkinson to return as coach
That running it back starts with the head coach: Kenny Atkinson will return for a third season in the big chair, according to multiple reports including The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and ESPN’s Shams Charania. There are not going to be front office changes, either, and there is significant support for Atkinson in the front office, according to reports.
Atkinson also has the backing of franchise star Donovan Mitchell, who called the idea of replacing the coach "ridiculous" in his exit interview.
Donovan Mitchell with a really good answer on the hot seat talk around Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson
Called it "hilarious." Says "People are gonna be people. People probably criticize me just as much, and James. But I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny. And ultimately that's… pic.twitter.com/xx88mABymG
Atkinson led the team to 64 wins last season and the conference finals this season — they have been good under him. It's fair to ask who the Cavs could get to replace him that's better? Either way, that question appears to be moot.
Mitchell, Harden extensions
Cleveland had the highest payroll in the NBA this season, and now its two biggest stars — Mitchell and James Harden — are extension eligible.
Both also said they want to stay in Cleveland.
Mitchell has one year at $50.1 million left on his contract (plus a player option after that at $53.8 million, which he likely does not pick up). Because he's reached 10 years in the league, he is eligible for a 35% of the cap extension this summer: Four years, $272 million. Mitchell is in his prime and would be age 34 when that contract ends.
In his exit interview, Mitchell talked about his love for the city of Cleveland and feeling like there was "unfinished business." While there was hope in some corners of the league that a frustrated Mitchell would try to force his way out this offseason, that does not appear to be the case, and he is expected to get an extension and sign it.
Harden wanted out of Los Angeles after the Clippers front office was hesitant to give him the extension he wanted. There is no way he and his representatives worked out a trade to Cleveland without a handshake agreement on an extension. It's a done deal.
Haden has a $42.3 million player option for next season, the expectation is he will decline that for two years (maybe two and an option) for more money total. Two years, $60 million? That lowers the Cavaliers' short-term bill and gives Harden some security at age 36.
Harden made it clear he wants to stay.
"[I'm] coming into my 18th year. I don't have no pride, I just want to win," Harden said at his exit interview.
Bold move for Antetokounmpo? Bring back LeBron?
What was clear from the Western Conference Finals was that Cleveland has to do something to take a step forward with the roster.
There has been speculation linking Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Cavaliers, but that trade would only happen if Cleveland is willing to include 24-year-old, recent Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley in the deal. Is Cleveland's front office willing to get that much older (Antetokounmpo turns 32 before next season) to upgrade for a run the next couple of years? Antetokounmpo is going to demand a max extension from whatever team trades for him, a deal that could well be an anchor by the end of it. Expect to hear rumors, and the Cavaliers have to consider them, but it would take multiple teams to pull this off, given the Cavaliers' cap situation. Is that the move they want to make?
For a lower-level move, there has been a lot of talk about LeBron James returning for one year to finish his career where it started. It has a nice poetic ring to it, and LeBron showed this season he is still an All-Star-level player who can help a team. He could slot in as a third option.
The question is money — all the Cavaliers could offer LeBron is the veteran minimum of $3.9 million, and it seems unlikely he'd take that kind of pay cut (he made $52 million this past season). Cleveland could work out a sign-and-trade for a more reasonable sum, but that means the Cavaliers are sending a player of some value out West (Max Strus at $16.6 million)?
A lot of people around the league see Cleveland as the most likely landing spot for LeBron outside of Los Angeles, but how badly he wants that to happen remains the big question.
Maybe the Cavaliers pivot another direction, trying to trade Jarrett Allen for a desperately needed two-way wing. Maybe it's something else, but it's clear the Cavaliers need to do something this offseason, because just running it back sounds like a recipe for disaster.
After ducking the media following a tough Game 5 loss to the Thunder, Victor Wembanyama is likely saving his response for tonight's high-stakes Game 6.
With his teammates publicly calling for him to take over the offense, the pressure is squarely on the 7-foot Frenchman to keep San Antonio's season alive.
As 3.5-point home favorites with their backs against the wall, our Thunder vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks look for Wembanyama to rise to the occasion and clear his scoring prop on Thursday, May 28.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +825 SGP.
Thunder vs Spurs Game 6 prediction
Who will win Thunder vs Spurs Game 6?
Spurs: For the sake of basketball fans everywhere, can we please get a Game 7 in the Western Conference finals? San Antonio is a 3.5-point favorite on its own floor in this do-or-die contests.
The Spurs continued to stymie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (at least from the field) and OKC’s role players haven’t performed well on the road in this series.
As for San Antonio, getting back home should help warm up its chilly shooters – providing a better all-around effort on offense - and cut down on turnovers that upended them in Game 5.
Thunder vs Spurs best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points (-125)
Victor Wembanyama didn’t take his first shot of Game 5 until 3:15 of the first quarter.
That passiveness trickled down into a 5-for-15 night. Wembanyama didn’t run the floor, wasn’t attacking mismatches, and, like everyone’s car with these gas prices, was running on fumes.
“He has to take more than 15 shots,” stated coach Mitch Johnson.
“We need him to be aggressive,” pleaded guard Stephon Castle.
San Antonio will get Wemby going early and often in Game 6, because it simply no longer has a choice. Projections call for 27 points with 18 field-goal attempts. I forecast at least 22 shots.
COVERS INTEL: Looking back at the last 21 times Wembanyama took 15 or fewer FGAs (without injury impact), he’s followed those quiet efforts by averaging 28 points in the next game. He’s topped 30 points in nine of those outings.
Thunder vs Spurs Game 6 same-game parlay
San Antonio continues to contain SGA, hoping the Oklahoma City Thunder’s role players take a step back on the road. The Spurs benefit from some home cooking after a disjointed Game 5 offensive effort.
San Antonio is excellent at returning serve, with a 20-6 straight up record when coming off a loss this season, including 5-1 SU in those scenarios in the playoffs.
The Game 5 final score blew the closing total of 216.5 out of the water. San Antonio wants to get out and run in transition, and with OKC’s other scorers waking up (hello Chet Holmgren), this series is trending into the shootout category.
Before the WCF, the Thunder and Spurs produced regular-season totals above 230 points. I like another higher-scoring finish on Thursday.
Thunder vs Spurs SGP
Spurs moneyline
Over 218.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Walk Tall
After skipping out on the Game 5 press conference, Wembanyama needs to have the game of his life and force a Game 7. And that has to happen on both ends of the floor.
Wemby can top his scoring total and send several shots back, especially with this series leaning toward high-scoring finishes. Tempo and shot volume leads to another Over in Game 6.
Thunder vs Spurs SGP
Spurs -3.5
Over 218.5
Victor Wembanyama 27.5 points
Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
Thunder vs Spurs odds for Game 6
Spread: Thunder +3.5 | Spurs -3.5
Moneyline: Thunder +130 | Spurs -155
Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Thunder vs Spurs betting trend to know
The Spurs are 20-6 SU and 18-8 ATS when coming off a loss on the season. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Spurs.
How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 6
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Thunder vs Spurs latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Four seasons, two rebrands, two top-five picks and one worst record in the league have transpired, and now, the Utah Jazz have come through the other side of the rebuild with a team that looks ready to compete in 2026-27.
But the fruits of this rebuild have not stopped blooming. Not even close. In 2028 and 2029, the Jazz could add multiple top draft picks to their roster, and it’s all thanks to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jazz fans should keep their eyes on the Cavaliers for the next two seasons. It could be well worth their while.
What picks do Cleveland owe Utah?
In 2028, the Utah Jazz own the most favorable of their’s and Cleveland’s draft picks (a pick swap in other words). Essentially, if the Cavs are worse than the Jazz, the pick will go to Utah. This comes from the blockbuster Donovan Mitchell trade that happened in the 2022 offseason.
The Jazz also own the most favorable and the second most favorable picks between Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah in 2029.
In the last week, these potential picks have gotten incredibly interesting for Utah. It seems things have plateaued for Donovan Mitchell and Cleveland. On Monday, the Cavs lost by 37 points to the Knicks, losing the series in only four games. The previous two games were also blowouts, and game one saw the Cavs blow a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter in one of the worst choke jobs in NBA playoff history.
In game four, Mitchell could be seen yelling at his teammates in the huddle, trying to get them to lock in, even though viewers around the world could tell that Cleveland had already given up.
In a season where Boston and Indiana were not at full strength, Cleveland still was not remotely close to winning the Eastern Conference title. Even though it made the conference finals, it’s record in the playoffs was statistically the worst possible record a team could have after three playoff series, going 8-10 across three rounds. Cleveland’s season easily could have ended against Toronto or Detroit.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up,” that James Harden was “going to be a Cav next year.”
“He’s going to sign a new contract, in all likelihood. He’s going to opt out of his contract and sign a new deal, and that new deal will probably be structured in a way that will allow the Cavs to dip below the second apron. And once they’ve done that, it can bring in the availability of them to make a major trade.” -Brian Windhorst on James Harden signing a new deal to stay in Cleveland
Donovan Mitchell has also expressed interest in returning to Cleveland, saying he had “unfinished business” after Monday’s loss.
Not only do their backcourt duo of Harden and Mitchell plan on returning, but sources told ESPN that Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson will be back next year too.
So the Cavs will bring their core players and coach back, but with the potential of making a big-time trade.
Obviously, anytime there is a big trade possibility, the first name that gets thrown around is Giannis Antetokounmpo. To make a trade like that work, Harden’s contract would have to be restructured in a way that is much lower than what the star guard is used to, or — and this seems the most likely scenario — Evan Mobley would have to be involved in the trade. However, The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reported the Cavs have “shown no interest” in trading Mobley for Antetokounmpo.
All signs point to Cleveland going all in yet again next season, but what going “all in” looks like varies. The Cavs could bring everybody back, make a franchise-altering trade for Antetokounmpo, or possibly even make a trade to reunite with LeBron James — there’s been whispers of this. Faint whispers, but whispers nonetheless.
But let’s say Cleveland has another disappointing, heartbreaking, reality check of a playoff defeat in 2027. What if that is the final straw that breaks the camel’s back and sends the Cavaliers into a new rebuild era. That 2028 pick could be much higher than anticipated, and the Jazz could find themselves with another lottery pick on their roster. Even if it doesn’t happen by 2028, who’s to say it won’t happen in 2029?
Cleveland’s next few seasons have now become that much more intriguing for fans in Utah.
With the first three legs already completed, the user is only two Spurs wins away from their $1.7-million prize. Unfortunately, the likelihood of obtaining that is now much smaller than it was just 24 hours ago.
The Spurs' 127-114 loss Tuesday means they need to win each of the next two games, one at home and one on the road, to advance to the NBA Finals. They are 1-1 at home and 1-2 on the road in the series.
After DraftKings saw their $502,583.66 cashout turned down before Game 5, the offer dropped 41.6% to $293,273.26 for the customer to hand in their wager.
A DraftKings employee told Covers the bettor said they will not accept the offer.
Will the offer improve?
The Thunder have been the NBA championship odds favorites since they won last year’s championship. They’re -450 to beat the Spurs and get their shot at defending their title against the New York Knicks, although they’re expected to lose Game 6 on Thursday.
DraftKings installed the Thunder as +3.5 underdogs with +136 moneyline odds on the road for the elimination game. The Spurs’ -162 moneyline odds suggest they have a 61.8% chance of winning the contest.
Parlay cashout values can fluctuate greatly game to game, as seen by the near $210,000 change between Games 5 and 6. Holding on to the ticket until Game 7, assuming the Spurs win the all-important Game 6, would likely place the parlay’s cashout close to what was offered earlier in the week.
The Spurs have shown they can beat the Thunder, winning at home and on the road in the series after taking four of five regular-season meetings.
However, history is strongly on the side of the series favorite. Teams that win Game 5 in an NBA playoff series tied 2-2 have gone on to win the series more than 82% of the time.
Betting splits posted on DraftKings Network show that 74% of bets and 79% of the handle in the spread market are on Spurs -3.5 ahead of the matchup. Despite that, 54% of bets and 50% of money are on the Thunder moneyline.
Finals odds
The Thunder sat around +110 in odds to win the NBA Finals before Game 5. The win shortened them to -140, while the Spurs lengthened to +550.
The Knicks - who are riding an 11-game winning streak and the most dominant stretch of play in NBA playoff history - are +205.
Hypothetical Finals odds posted on DraftKings have the Spurs as -235 favorites and the Knicks as +190 underdogs. The Thunder would be -280 favorites, and the Knicks would be +225 underdogs in a series between them.
The NBA’s owners are expected to meet Thursday to approve new “anti-tanking draft reform” via a “3-2-1 lottery.” I just know they’re the type of people who love a good board game — one with rules that take a half-hour to explain, by which time their guests’ eyes have glazed over.
Think they’ll get the hint if someone asks, “Y’all got any Clue instead?”
Actually, I’d prefer to turn on the basketball game, that nuanced, ever-evolving sport that’s beautiful for its simplicity: make or miss.
What’s wild is that a league that brings together the world’s best shooters keeps missing so badly on draft reform — unless it’s actually their feet that they’re aiming at.
Still, this reported new proposal — which would start next year and expand the lottery from 14 teams to 16 and penalize the three worst teams with poorer draft lottery odds than teams with the fourth- through 10th-worst records — might benefit the … Lakers?
You know those first-round picks they’ve been holding on to so that, come draft night, they’ll have three to offer in a deal? To use as bargaining chips for either a big name like the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo or, better yet, to acquire important foundational pieces to retrofit the roster around Luka Doncic?
Well, those three first-rounders should be much more valuable if other teams are disincentivized to trade their first-rounders, seeing how even middle-of-the-pack teams will have a shot at winning the lottery.
And not only will first-round picks be a rare commodity on the trade market going forward, but also the Lakers’ picks could prove more practically valuable than previously imagined.
Without this reform, no one would expect the Luka Lakers to be a lottery team. But under the new proposal, all it would take would be, say, their star missing 30 games and the Lakers sliding into the eighth seed, which would give the team holding that pick a 2.7% shot at the No. 1 overall selection.
And hold on, wait a minute: Will that give Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and his growing cast of front-office colleagues pause this offseason? Imagine how it would look if they dealt away a pick that turns into one of the top guys in a future draft for a 3-and-D role player on a team that, for whatever reason, slips into eighth? It wouldn’t look good! It wouldn’t feel good.
But would it stop the Lakers from doing what they need to do this offseason? It shouldn’t. But it could! But it shouldn’t! No, really, it shouldn’t: Because after draft night, the Lakers’ next two tradable first-round picks will be in 2031 and 2033 — and, per ESPN, this week’s draft reform proposal will include a sunset provision that would allow it to expire after the 2029 draft.
At that point, if they’re smart, the owners would scrap it. Of course, they’ll probably make it even more onerous so they can feel smart?
No wonder the Lakers went and hired Rohan Ramadas — the guy with an astronautical engineering degree from USC — as an assistant general manager.
But what are we doing here? All this variance and randomness, all these rules on top of regulations, none of it is exactly arbitrary, but neither is it fair. Since the draft lottery odds were flattened in 2019, the team with the worst overall record has not once lucked into the No. 1 overall pick.
The NFL would never! Oh, that plucky little league. With its antiquated worst-picks-first draft system? Seems to be going OK.
The worst thing about what the NBA is up to is how much work it has made it to follow along at home. You’ve heard of fan service? This league trades in fan disservice.
The league already ceded its regular season to the offseason, leaning into free agency drama as a driving source of year-round intrigue, letting team-building trump teamwork.
It already asked fans to bone up on contract law to be able to spell out the differences between the NTMLE (non-taxpayer mid-level salary exception) and RMLE (room mid-level salary exception).
Then the NBA introduced rules that incentivized stars to avoid free agency and to try, instead, to get traded — except then the league added a first and second apron to make it harder for teams to trade.
So the possibility of a dream sign-and-trade that has fans fired up? Odds are it won’t happen because it can’t; sign-and-trades are not permitted if the player acquired keeps a team above the first apron.
Perfectly clear? No?
Well, this won’t help: Let’s slather on another thick layer of basketball bureaucracy. To discourage tanking. (And encourage mere mediocrity! Middling is about to be the NBA’s new sweet spot.)
Let us proclaim that, oh, teams can’t land back-to-back No. 1 picks.
Unless they can. Unless it’s Team A, by virtue of selecting first using Team B’s pick the previous season, that is eligible to pick first in consecutive seasons. Team B, though, it’s out of luck the next year, no matter what goes wrong.
Don’t forget, class, that some picks won’t be able to be protected. No, not the top few picks — there will be no protections on Nos. 12, 13, 14, or 15.
Yes, that appears actually to be a caveat of the proposed new system. Which, yes, is actually designed to sell Advil.
Fans can figure this stuff out, but at some point soon, they’re not going to feel like it. At some point, everyone’s eyes are going to glaze over and it’s going to be 3-2-1, turn the TV off!
In 2023, during an NBA Today discussion on ESPN about the Knicks being stuck in purgatory, Becky Hammon shared a hot-button take about Brunson's ceiling. Hammon asserted New York didn't have "a dude" or true No. 1 superstar to win a championship. Analyst Kendrick Perkins pushed back, saying the Knicks had Brunson, but Hammon didn't agree.
The Aces coach argued the 6-foot-2 guard was "too small," citing examples such as John Stockton, Steve Nash and Allen Iverson. Hammon mentioned Stephen Curry as the lone exception to the rule. With the Knicks now in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, Hammon's comments have resurfaced. The Las Vegas coach appears to be catching some heat from fans, but remains unfazed.
"The two best teams are probably in the West, but I'm up for being proven wrong," Hammon said. "And that's the other thing. I think Jalen Brunson's a hell of a player. A hell of a player. I'm speaking historically on the NBA with what I said ... I stand by it."
In response to the recent online backlash, Hammon didn't understand why her comments had resurfaced when it's been over two years. A media member said they were giving Hammon a chance to "clear the air," but she didn't subscribe to that notion.
"There's no air to be cleared. I said what I said. (If) he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong," she said. Hammon, who spent time in the NBA from 2014 to 2021 with the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach, emphasized again she believes the two best teams in the league were in the Western Conference.
"You know who I'm cheering for," Hammon said, smiling.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chuck's Global Stars brings the ball up court against Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks and Shaq's OGs during the 74th NBA All-Star Game at Chase Center on February 16, 2025 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Houston Rockets are used to this. Pretty much every name that might be available on the trade market has been linked to them. That’s been happening for a while now. Houston has historically been a pretty aggressive team when it comes to trades, and that reputation has remained through GM Rafael Stone’s tenure. The Rockets were linked just yesterday to Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics. They’ve also been linked this offseason to Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, and Giannis Antetokuonmpo.
What we want to know is, out of those five players, which one would you most like to see on the Rockets?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.
Travis Kelce attends Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on May 23. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
Travis Kelce has become the latest athlete to buy into a professional sports team, purchasing a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians, the MLB franchise he rooted for growing up in Cleveland Heights, a vibrant suburb 15 minutes from downtown.
Ballplayers buying into professional sports franchises has become almost routine. And why not? They are wealthy, love sports and often want an ownership stake of a team in a city full of fans who love them back.
Kelce is the latest to do so. The only question is, what took him so long?
“I have so much love for this city,” Kelce told ESPN. “I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream. I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland and being raised here with the values and the people and the work ethic.
“Cleveland Heights is such a diverse and dynamic place. Every friend, neighbor, teacher and teammate — they all made me the man I am today.”
And that man is very wealthy. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and burgeoning business titan has earned $111 million playing in the NFL. He and his brother Jason have a $100-million deal with Amazon Wondery for their popular New Heights podcast.
Kelce, 36, also makes an estimated $35 million a year from endorsement deals with Nike, Pfizer, State Farm and other major brands.
Oh, and let’s not forget that his fiancee, Taylor Swift, is the wealthiest female musician in the world with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion.
Although Swift has never publicly mentioned owning a sports franchise, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did comment on the possibility at a Super Bowl news conference two years ago.
Tom Brady had been approved as part owner of the Raiders, boosting season-ticket sales, leading to this question posed to Goodell.
Goodell grinned and replied, “I really don’t know the answer to that one. If she’s interested, she has the ability to do it, let’s put it that way.”
The list of athletes who own a piece of sports franchises is long. Begin with Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King, part of the group that owns the Dodgers and Sparks. Kelce’s Chiefs passing partner Patrick Mahomes has been a minority owner of the Kansas City Royals since 2020.
Tennis superstar sisters Venus and Serena Williams became the first black women to hold a stake in an NFL team when they became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins in 2009.
Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed his love for Milwaukee by purchasing a stake in the Brewers baseball team. The Lakers are rumored to possibly trade for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar this offseason. Would that make Antetokounmpo a candidate to take the Angels off the hands of Arte Moreno, who at games has been blistered by a large group of shirtless fans chanting “sell the team?”
Because he is an investor in the Fenway Sports Group, Lakers star LeBron James owns a piece of the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, the Pittsburgh Penguins and RFK Racing. The 41-year-old veteran of 23 NBA seasons makes no secret that he someday wants to own an NBA team.
“I got so much to give to the game. I know what it takes to win at this level. I know talent,” James said in 2021. “I also know how to run a business as well. And so, that is my goal. My goal is to own an NBA franchise.”
James is the first active NBA player to achieve billionaire status, and his estimated net worth of $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion puts him in Swift territory. He might not need to preface his ownership stake with the word minority.
Kelce, meanwhile, is happy for now to own just a piece of the Guardians, whose value has risen from $1 billion four years ago to $1.7 billion today. “I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to good ownership in my career, and I know the best teams prioritize culture,” Kelce said. “Everyone is there to play their role, and right now, I’m here to observe and learn and really to support the team and the city when and where I can.”
Now that the Knicks have swept the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals and won 11 straight playoff games, they must wait for a winner to be crowned in the West.
In the WCF, the Thunder lead San Antonio Spurs 3-2. In a seesaw series, Oklahoma City struck back last night, when their frontcourt (including the well-compensated OAKAAKUYOAK Isaiah Hartenstein) bottled up a visibly tiring Victor Wembanyama to secure a 127-114 win. A possible close-out game will be played on May 28 in San Antonio. Game Seven will occur on Saturday in Oklahoma, if necessary.
Covering his bases, coach Mike Brown is combing through tape on both teams as he prepares New York for the big dance. With the 2026 NBA Finals set to begin next Wednesday (ABC, tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET), the question is: which is the more favorable matchup for our heroes?
The Case for Wanting the Spurs
Don’t believe the record books: the Knicks own the season series with the Spurs. On December 16, 2025, in Las Vegas, New York beat San Antonio 124-113 to win the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA Cup title and earned tournament MVP honors—the first of his two MVP trophies this season, alongside the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Because NBA Cup games don’t count toward the regular-season series (email your complaints to Adam Silver), the official tally is split: the Spurs won the rematch on December 31 (134-132), and the Knicks rolled them at MSG on March 1 (114-89).
Everything starts with Wemby. The 22-year-old Defensive Player of the Year combines elite rim protection, perimeter shot creation, and an absurd eight-foot wingspan into the league’s most impressive two-way force.
Stephon Castle made a massive leap in his sophomore year, averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists while earning All-NBA votes. Devin Vassell remains a valuable floor spacer and secondary creator despite a slight offensive dip this season. Keldon Johnson thrived as a high-energy sixth man, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors. Rookie Dylan Harper has averaged 11.8 points and 3.9 assists, made All-Rookie First Team, and delivered a standout 24-point, 11-rebound, seven-steal performance in the Western Conference Finals. Veteran De’Aaron Fox added 18.6 points and 6.2 assists in his first full season in Texas, although a lingering ankle injury has diminished his explosiveness in the playoffs.
Why would the Knicks prefer the Spurs over the Thunder? First, they’ve already beaten San Antonio twice, record books be damned. More importantly, the Spurs are starting to look tuckered out. This is the longest run of games (83+ regular season plus deep postseason) in their young core’s careers, and the mileage is taking its toll. Wembanyama has carried a massive load, Fox is physically compromised, and fatigue tends to erode discipline. The Knicks, by contrast, have stayed fresh and healthy, thanks to making short work of the Eastern Conference, and they’re well-positioned to capitalize on the mistakes of a tired, young squad.
The Case for Wanting the Thunder
Sure, yeah, the Knicks lost both regular-season meetings with the Thunder in 2025-26. On March 4 at Madison Square Garden, New York pushed OKC to the wire before falling 103-100, with Chet Holmgren dropping 28 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adding 26 despite Karl-Anthony Towns’ 17-17 double-double. In the rematch on March 29 in Oklahoma City, the Thunder pulled away for a 111-100 win behind SGA’s 30 points, outdueling Brunson’s 32.
That was then, this is now.
In the postseason, New York blossomed into a fast-paced, quick-pass team that ran circles around the Sixers and Cavs. More than that, they’re shooting the lights out, with Landry Shamet and Mikal Bridges seemingly incapable of missing.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are getting beaten up in a demanding WCF against the Spurs. Their accumulated fatigue from a more competitive playoff path would benefit the Knicks in the Finals. The biggest concern is Jalen Williams, who left Game Two of the WCF between the first and second quarters after playing just seven minutes. Now he’s dealing with his fourth hamstring issue, and this latest one is a reaggravation to his left hammy. Then there’s Ajay Mitchell, who bowed out of the Thunder’s Game Three win over San Antonio and is listed as out with a right soleus strain.
Oklahoma City’s frequent use of smaller, switch-heavy lineups creates exploitable opportunities for Towns. When the Thunder downsize for speed and perimeter versatility, they can become vulnerable on the glass and in the interior, allowing Towns to punish mismatches, dominate offensive rebounding, and generate second-chance points. While Hartenstein and Holmgren are excellent defenders, the Bolts lack a singular rim-protecting force on the level of that French delight. Wemby’s elite shot-blocking fundamentally warp offenses by erasing shots at the rim and forcing teams to shoot from farther away. OKC’s defense might be elite, but it lacks that same suffocating interior deterrent.
Conclusion: Bring on the Spurs
The Knicks should root for San Antonio to eliminate Oklahoma City.
A tired, occasionally undersized Thunder team would give Towns and Mitchell Robinson clearer opportunities to dominate the glass and punish mismatches inside. While San Antonio presents a tougher stylistic challenge (Wemby’s defensive gravity, their impressive young talent), Oklahoma City remains the more dangerous opponent overall. Egregious flopper or not, SGA is the MVP, after all, and his team iss the defending champion.
The betting odds agree. FanDuel currently has the Thunder as heavy favorites to win the title at -155, with the Knicks sitting at +230 and the Spurs longshots at +550. Vegas clearly believes New York has a better chance against San Antonio. Who would you rather they face in the Finals? State your case in the comments below.
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
An Indiana Hoosier will be competing on the grandest stage in men’s professional basketball for the second consecutive year.
OG Anunoby has returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since winning his first championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, this time with the New York Knicks. He follows Thomas Bryant, who joined the Indiana Pacers during the 2024-25 regular season before their run through the playoffs.
Anunoby, recognized as one of the top defensive players in the NBA, currently averages 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 38.6% from 3-point range, starting in all 67 of his appearances.
Anunoby joined Indiana as a member of the high school recruiting class of 2015 under head coach Tom Crean, taking a leap as a sophomore in Crean’s final season prior to a season-ending injury in January. With Crean’s dismissal, Anunoby declared for the 2017 NBA Draft where he was selected by the Raptors with the 23rd overall pick.
(If you wanna be funny you could count Dante Exum on the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks and say it’s three years, really.)
COVERS INTEL: Looking back at the last 21 times Wembanyama took 15 or fewer FGAs (without injury impact), he’s followed those quiet efforts by averaging 28 points in the next game. He’s topped 30 points in nine of those outings.
