Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Milwaukee.
The Bucks’ on-again, off-again relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo has entered a new chapter.
As was the case in February, when the Bucks ultimately decided to hold on to the Greek Freak, Milwaukee’s front office will reportedly be looking for a “young blue-chip talent” and/or a sizable package of draft picks.
The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly “open for business” on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade calls once again AP
Antetokounmpo, 31, has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee and helped lead them to a championship in the 2020-21 season.
Talks between the two sides never materialized, as ESPN reported, while contenders like the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Celtics and Lakers are all said to have made calls on Antetokounmpo at this year’s deadline.
Antetokounmpo has just one more guaranteed year on his contract before a player option kicks in the following season.
Novak Djokovic (l.) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (r.) attend a EuroLeague game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Monaco in Athens, Greece on April 30, 2026. Euroleague Basketball via Getty
After Antetokounmpo reportedly expressed an openness to leaving Milwaukee last May, the team decided to hand a $108.7 million deal to Myles Turner in the summer to try to build a contender around their star player.
However, the Bucks never got going this season and looked to be heading for the exit with Antetokounmpo this winter.
That didn’t come to fruition, though, setting up for an awkward last few months of the season as the Bucks finished 32-50 and ultimately parted ways with coach Doc Rivers.
The Bucks will be juggling Antetokounmpo’s future with their plans for the NBA draft, after landing the No. 10 pick in Sunday’s lottery.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to complete a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in their Western Conference semifinals series. The defending NBA champion Thunder won the first three games by an average of just under 20 points. Oklahoma City will advance to the West finals with one more win. Oklahoma City is favored by 10.5 points with an over/under set at 214.5.
How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers
Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers +406 (18.9%) / Oklahoma City Thunder -552 (81.1%)
Over/Under: 214.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Thunder 108, Lakers 90 Game 2:Thunder 125, Lakers 107 Game 3:Thunder 131, Lakers 108 Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)* Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Detroit Pistons in Game 4. The Cavs won Game 3 after the Pistons took the first two games in Detroit. Cleveland is favored by 3.5 points. The over/under is set at 213.5.
How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers -167 (60.0%) / Detroit Pistons +140 (40.0%)
Over/Under: 213.5Series schedule, results
Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101 Game 2:Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97 Game 3:Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109 Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13) Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)* Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*
The Los Angeles Lakers' season ending at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in a disappointing — albeit expected — four-game sweep has most in the basketball world asking: Will LeBron James retire?
King James enters the summer as a free agent after completing his contract with the Lakers. Set to turn 42 years old in mid-December, LeBron averaged 20-plus points for a 23rd straight season, to go with 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game across 60 regular-season games. He elevated his game once again in the playoffs to average 23.2/6.7/7.3 over 10 games.
Will he return to the Lakers (or another team) to chase a fifth championship ring? We make our NBA picks for the offseason's hot-button topic below.
Will LeBron James retire?
Traders at Kalshi, one of our best prediction market apps, are giving LeBron James a 25.6% chance of announcing his retirement before the 2026-27 season following the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The market has drawn $429,529 since it opened on June 14. James was initially given an 11% chance of retiring before the 2026-27 campaign. It peaked at a high of 46% in mid-January but has dipped again.
The Lakers failed to make the third round of the playoffs for a third straight year. But James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves can keep this team competitive for several more seasons.
Percentages courtesy of Kalshi.
Kalshi is a regulated financial exchange where you trade on real-world event outcomes. Instead of traditional odds, prices are listed as percentages (0–100%), representing the market’s estimated probability of an event occurring.
Start trading with Kalshi today!
Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including this game!
Sign Up Now at img src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/336/kalshi.svg" alt="Kalshi" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
*Eligible U.S. locations only
LeBron James' contract
LeBron James completed the final year of a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers that carried a $59.5-million cap hit this season, according to Spotrac. The 23-year NBA veteran has reportedly not yet made any decisions on his playing future.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” the 41-year-old James said, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press. “I’ve got a lot of time now.
“I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
LeBron's son Bronny James averaged 2.9 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 rebounds per game over 42 games in the regular season, and averaged 5.3 minutes per game in the playoffs — he didn't play in Game 4 against the Thunder. Bryce James took a redshirt year as a freshman at Arizona, and will need to wait until at least the 2027 NBA Draft.
How old is LeBron James?
LeBron James, now done his 23rd NBA season, is 41 years old, and will turn 42 in December. The first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft played at least 45 regular-season games each year of his career. He played 60 games this season and didn't miss a playoff game.
Prediction
Despite several NBA teams likely to have interest in pursuing James as a free agent this offseason — including the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and potentially the Los Angeles Clippers — I firmly expect James to call it quits before next season.
A $100 investment on James to retire at a Yes price of 22 cents at Kalshi would return a profit of $355.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. 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.
Do you know the craziest part of the Lakers’ second-round playoff series against the Thunder?
There’s such a wide chasm between the two teams that it has all-but-nullified what would’ve been a burning question in every other series involving LA.
Would things have been different had Luka Doncic played?
Without knowing it then, the Grade 2 hamstring strain Luka Doncic suffered on April 2 was the last time he took the court this season. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic, who has been sidelined since April 2 because of a strained hamstring, was a top-five MVP contender. He led the league in scoring (33.5 points), was third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). He became the second player in NBA history to score 600-plus points in March alongside Michael Jordan.
Would a generational talent like that have swayed things?
Nope. And it’s very obvious.
So obvious that pundits have hardly postulated about the question on talk shows. Journalists haven’t really mulled over it in columns.
The Thunder are that good.
Even without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City looks like a juggernaut and the favorites to win the NBA title again. AP
Sure, the Lakers would’ve had an easier time scoring if Doncic had been on the court.
But it still wouldn’t have been enough.
The Thunder’s top-rated defense would’ve collapsed on him and they still would’ve had ample depth to swarm everyone else.
It’s really incredible.
Players one through five on the court for Oklahoma City at all times are gnats, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell.
The Lakers’ offense simply wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.
Wallace has discombobulated Austin Reaves. Dort has frustrated LeBron James. Luke Kennard has only made a dent in one game this series. Really, Rui Hachimura has been the only Laker who has consistently shot well.
As for the other end of the court?
Doncic would’ve been a defensive liability. He would’ve been yet another target for the Thunder to attack with their dribble-drives, alongside Austin Reaves and Luke Kennard, who have basically been rendered unplayable together this series.
Doncic has missed the entire postseason after leading the NBA in scoring during the regular season. NBAE via Getty Images
Get past them?
Deandre Ayton has been largely ineffective patrolling the paint.
Chet Holmgren has had his way down low. Mitchell has had his way everywhere.
The Lakers one bright spot on the defensive end is they’ve stunningly held Gilgeous-Alexander to 21 points a game this series, a marked dip from the postseason-leading 33.8 points he averaged in the team’s first-round sweep against the Suns, but that hasn’t even made a dent.
The Thunder are simply too deep, They have no holes.
Meanwhile, they took a floodlight to the Lakers’ roster, exposing their many deficiencies.
This was no surprise. The Lakers lost their four regular season games to the Thunder by an average of 29 points. When Doncic was on the court, nothing changed for them. And nothing would’ve changed now.
With Doncic on the sidelines, the Lakers trail the Thunder 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals heading into Monday’s Game 4. Getty Images
As for Lakers coach JJ Redick, when asked if he has thought about how differently things could’ve looked if Doncic had been on the court, he didn’t hesitate.
“Never,” he said.
He likely didn’t want to waste his time on hypotheticals. He had too much on his plate. But we all know this wasn’t a burning “what if” question anyway.
Even an MVP-contender couldn’t have plugged the Lakers’ problems.
They need to remake their roster. They need to have a huge offseason. It’s obvious they can’t compete against the reigning champions. They can for a quarter. Maybe two. Three on a good day. But they simply aren’t deep enough to sustain that effort for an entire game.
If they had Doncic, they likely would’ve won one game.
But the outcome of this series wouldn’t have changed.
Even though he wasn’t available for the end of the season, the Lakers are expected to build around Doncic in the offseason. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Just eight days earlier, the potential of these Philadelphia 76ers was on full display — they had vanquished their heated rivals from Boston in seven games, sending the Eastern Conference betting favorites home for the summer. The young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe had been fantastic, Paul George was healthy and making big contributions, and a dominant Joel Embiid in the paint made the difference. The vibes could not have been better.
Sunday, the vibes around the 76ers could not have been much worse after they were dominated by the Knicks and swept out of the playoffs. Philadelphia lost the four games in the series by an average of 22.5 points per game (including an ugly 30-point blowout in Game 4 that felt over after the first quarter). Joel Embiid missed a game due to injury and could not push around the Knicks frontcourt like he did the Celtics, and when the Maxey/Edgecombe backcourt was off, as it was in Game 4, things fell apart fast.
The jobs of Morey and head coach Nick Nurse are expected to be evaluated entering the offseason, multiple league sources told The Athletic. As of Sunday's elimination, team sources said ownership has not made final decisions on either and is likely to take a few days to assess before making any major calls...
"Internally, the volatility of this year cannot be ignored heading into the offseason. From a tumultuous trade deadline to late-season frustrations between players and coaches that nearly derailed a shootaround, tension simmered throughout the year. On many nights, the team barely knew who would be available."
The report details tensions between Embiid and the front office, and the frustration that the only move made at the trade deadline was to send away Jared McCain to get under the salary cap (Philly did get the No. 17 pick in this upcoming draft as well, but that's not helping Embiid on the court this season). McCain has thrived in Oklahoma City, including scoring 18 off the bench in a playoff game against the Lakers.
Then there was the tension around whether Embiid would play on April 1 on the road in Washington — Embiid expected to play, the team listed him as out, and the following meeting almost derailed the entire shootaround that day, Jones reports. (Embiid did not play that night.)
All of this was just part of the drama in Philadelphia this season. As Joel Embiid put it:
"So, we just gotta get better from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better."
That has to start with Embiid — he played in 38 games this season and, while he rushed back from an appendectomy to be on the court for the playoffs, still missed a game against the Knicks. Embiid hasn't played in six straight games since December of 2023.
Philadelphia has to decide what to do with a very expensive player who is still elite when he is on the court but can't be counted on to play consistently, even in the playoffs. While the logical step may be to pivot and get younger, building around Maxey (the team's clear best player now) and Edgecombe, it's not that simple — Embiid is almost untradable. He is guaranteed $188.3 million over the next three seasons (the last one is technically a player option, but he's going to pick that up or want to be extended off of it). Paul George is guaranteed $54.1 million next season and has a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28. Because of the health concerns around both of them, the only way to trade the 76ers veterans is to add first-round draft picks or young players as sweeteners in any deal — and it would take more than one pick.
All of that means this core is likely the 76ers core again next season, and likely at least one more after that. If Embiid can't play consistently, how good can the 76ers really be?
That question may fall to a new coach and head of basketball operations, because owner Josh Harris is stepping back and looking at everything.
The Milwaukee Bucks are listening to deals for Giannis Antetokounmpo again.
The continuing saga between the franchise and its long-standing superstar reached its latest potential breaking point on Monday, May 11 when ESPN reported the Bucks are seeking trade offers for Antetokounmpo in the aftermath of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery.
Numerous teams are expected to make offers for the two-time MVP, who will enter next season essentially on an expiring contract with one year left on his current agreement and a player option for the 2027-28 season. He'll likely need to be signed to a new max contract extension, which gives Antetokounmpo some control over his destination. Some teams will be the same as at the NBA trade deadline in February, when the Bucks also reportedly fielded interest in Antetokounmpo without making a deal.
Since then, the relationship between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks has become increasingly acrimonious. The team and its star were at odds over his availability at the end of the season when Antetokounmpo was shut down for a knee injury. The dispute, with Antetokounmpo wanting to play, led to a league investigation related to the NBA's player participation policy.
"Sometime over the next six or seven weeks we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us or he's going to play somewhere else," Haslam told reporters on May 6. "And [general manager] Jon [Horst] and Taylor, along with [co-owner] Wes [Edens] and myself, will make that call, and we understand the gravity of that call."
Here's a breakdown of some potential landing spots for Antetokounmpo should the Bucks decide to trade him in the coming weeks:
The Celtics' first-round loss to the 76ers, combined with some confusing postseason comments from Jaylen Brown, have sparked speculation that the Celtics could look to make a big move this offseason for Antetokounmpo involving Brown.
This is TBD with the Cavaliers still in the playoffs. But an unceremonious loss to the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland's former coach (J.B. Bickerstaff) might prompt personnel changes. Evan Mobley fits the mold for the type of player the Bucks will want in return for Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors need a pivot for the closing chapter of Steph Curry's legendary career with Golden State and Antetokounmpo would be the ultimate partner for his final years. It's unclear, however, if they have the assets to get it done since Milwaukee reportedly wants a young foundational piece in return.
The Rockets made a big move last offseason to acquire Kevin Durant and it didn't work as well as the franchise hoped for after this year's first-round playoff exit. If they choose to make another splashy trade for Antetokounmpo, Houston has promising players like Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson who should be appealing to Milwaukee.
The Lakers have historically been known for poaching superstars from other teams and Antetokounmpo would fit the bill, particularly if LeBron James and the franchise part ways in some form this offseason. Would a deal with Austin Reaves and draft picks as the centerpiece be enough, though?
If the Timberwolves can't pull out their Western Conference semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs, might they make another run at Antetokounmpo after reportedly being suitors at the trade deadline? An Antetokounmpo-Anthony Edwards pairing would be dynamic and the Timberwolves have some interesting contracts to deal (Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert).
The Knicks have been linked as a potential destination for Antetokounmpo for years. If they fall short of an NBA title this year, there will be pressure again to make a move for the Bucks star. But a trade package centered around Karl-Anthony Towns or OG Anunoby might not be appealing to Milwaukee.
The Magic could reset their core after a disappointing regular season by trading Paolo Banchero for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Banchero, despite his inconsistencies, has already made the NBA All-Star Game once and would give the Bucks a young piece to build around after a possible Antetokounmpo trade.
The Trail Blazers could be looking to make a splash under new owner Tom Dundon, and they have some intriguing young assets to trade as well as former Antetokounmpo teammates Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo's desire to play for a title contender could complicate this potential option.
The franchise that once traded for the expiring contract of Kawhi Leonard could offer up Scottie Barnes in a potential deal for Antetokounmpo after he took another step forward during the Raptors' first-round exit against the Cavaliers.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Vince Carter represents the Brooklyn Nets during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier 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
Well, that was tough. From disappointed to deflated to defeated to downright embarrassing, at least in terms of immediate fan reaction, the 2026 Draft Lottery is right up there with some of the worst days in recent Nets history … and there’s been some doozies. The effect remains to be seen, but whoosh, that was ug-ly.
As devastating as last year’s drop from No. 6 to No. 8, this year’s slide from No. 3 to No. 6 was worse, not just in terms of the number of slots, but in projected star power. No more speculation about a “franchise-changer” like A.J. Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson or maybe Caleb Wilson embracing Adam Silver adorned with a Nets cap. Things could change by June 23 and beyond. The litany of “franchise-changers” taken after No. 4 in this year’s playoffs starts with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taken at No. 11 and continues on down the line to Jalen Brunson taken at 33rd. But of course, the odds are in favor of a top pick.
More than that: fans thought they “deserved” a high pick because of what they have gone through over the last two-plus years of tanking, starting sometime after the 2024 trade deadline when the Nets decided it was time to go full-on tank. All those losses, all those fan arguments about losing to win, all of it seem to have been for naught. But the aerodynamics of ping pong balls are cruel and unforgiving. Deserved or not, it happened.
How close did they come? Heart-breakingly close, as Brett Siegel tweeted Monday. One ping pong ball away from No. 1…
I was watching the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery again and I discovered that the No. 1 pick was almost in the hands of the Brooklyn Nets.
The 4-2 first two digit combination for the No. 1 pick essentially made it a 50-50 chance for BKN and WAS.
Of course, the Nets may not even pick at No. 6 (or No. 33 or 43 in the second round.) Sean Marks, predictably considering how soon he was asked following the Lottery, was non-committal about a lot of things, but his key takeaway is that “rash decisions” should be avoided … not that that’s his style. It isn’t. In fact, Marks suggested in post-Lottery comments that whatever the Nets do will be driven not just by lottery results, but by the team’s overall youth and their development. Think bigger, he seemed to say! Longer, too?
“Hard to tell,” Marks told reporters after the Lottery when asked about ramifications. “I think it’s all about how these guys develop, right? I don’t think you want to make rash decisions before you’ve seen how they look,”
He also showed optimism that whoever they pick will be a prize addition.
“I think we all know there’s a group in this draft that could be game-changers, but I said could be because you never know,” Marks added. “Every draft there’s a guy who people didn’t quite expect to be [that high] if you do the re-draft. So for us, it’ll still be about having patience. But at the end of the day, we’ve got optionality, we’ve maintained flexibility, we’ve got the cap space and assets. So I think the word would be opportunistic.”
As Marks said, the Nets still have plenty of flexibility with seven players on rookie deals — Noah Clowney, the Flatbush Five and whoever they take in the first round — that off-cited grand total of 33 picks composed of those 13 firsts and 22 seconds plus a couple of swaps. They will also have a lot of cap space. Keith Smith estimates that the total as of now at $47.7 million (up as he notes from $44.6 million because of the lower guarantee for the No. 6 pick compared to the No. 3.)
In fact, on Monday, Siegel also reported the Nets and Jazz, who hold the No. 2 pick, will meet soon to talk trade. Seems unlikely, but no one would be surprised to see the Nets try to move up. They do have 13 firsts, 10 of them tradeable. As one league decision maker not associated with the Nets told ND recently, the only reason that a GM gathers all those firsts is to be “opportunistic” using the same word Marks did. The source added that while he thought that while difficult, moving up is certainly possible.
All that’s good. So is their scouting department, their performance and medical staffs, their development staff, per league sources. Agents and players understand, as one agent, told ND, that their player amenities are among the best in the NBA. And they have Jordi Fernandez and his staff, all of whom just got extensions and raises. Oh yeah, don’t forget New York. Players like to play in the Big Apple, too.
However, does the Nets poor performance on the court, the lack of anyone approaching a star let alone a superstar and oh, yes, bad luck, hurt them? Is this place cursed, is Barclays Center a haunted house? some fans were asking just before 4:00 p.m. ET Sunday. And that was before news that the Nets came within a ping pong ball of winning it all!
We try to steer clear of conspiracy theories and those who promote them (mostly an aggrieved, disagreeable lot) but there has been a litany of events like Sunday’s. In fact, there was, among the NBA media Sunday afternoon and evening, a generalized concern for the Nets and their fans, suggesting that the “basketball gods” abandoned them, etc.
Said Jake Fischer on The Stein Line:
Sunday’s foremost lottery loser, on this scorecard, was my home-borough Brooklyn Nets.
Tsai was the only owner in the drawing room and visibly disappointed when the Nets fell from No. 3 to No. 6. They are now firmly out of the top tier of this draft and just as visibly lacking a young Face of the Franchise type to be, say, their answer to Detroit’s Cade Cunningham.
The Athletic’s John Hollinger:
As for Brooklyn … yikes. In the wake of what looks like a fairly disastrous 2025 draft (the Nets used five first-round picks, but only two look anything like a rotation player so far), they needed help from the lottery gods ahead of a 2027 season where they owe an unprotected first-round pick swap to a likely playoff team in Houston.
Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor:
The most talent-starved team in the league was let down by the basketball gods. While they will still get a quality player at No. 6 — likely a star guard like Darius Acuff Jr. or Keaton Wagler — but it’s not the guy or the lottery luck they were hoping for.
Brooklyn is on track to struggle again next year, and with the coming new “3-2-1″ lottery system, their chances of adding that elite talent just got longer.
Sam Quinn, in response to former ND writer Billy Reinhardt, went even further back…
It's sad how true this is. Like they lost a championship favorite over a pandemic. https://t.co/aDg3yNCM8l
Fans of course went a LOT further than Quinn, O’Connor, Hollinger or Fischer! Throughout social media, there were discussions that boiled down to “why can’t we have good things?” But mostly, the sentiment was harsher, more, worrisome. It centered on the question, “why do I put myself through this?” Exorcists and free lance wiccan could have done a nice business at Barclays Center if it had been open.
Whether you agree or disagree with pundit assessments, no one wants to feel cursed. That’s worse than unlucky or even incompetent. It means you’ve forsaken logic as well as hope. And no we don’t want to get too philosophical here. It is after all basketball. But the depth of fan pain was very real (and it should be noted is a concern at the team’s highest levels.) We’re less worried about prospective free agents. Money matters more than any real or imagined hex.
So how do Joe Tsai, who as Fischer reported was among the deflated, and Sean Marks, who was as ever forward looking in his post-Lottery comments — at least publicly, turn things around and not just with picks and signings but with some encouragement of the fan base? We’re sure there will be meetings.
Winning, of course, cures everything in sports (unless you’re from Philly where, despite reports, it is never sunny … ask their fans.) Can the Brooklyn Nets win enough games next season to counter said curse? You’d have to be an optimist to think that at the moment. But things change fast in sports and particularly in basketball. The coach is very good and he knows after two years of tanking, he has no other priorities but winning. Players develop and surprise and while next year’s team may not be the youngest NBA team in 20 years, it will be young and presumably hungry.
It would also be helpful if someone on the Nets roster had just a little touch of star quality, you know, someone whose name and face you could splatter all over Brooklyn and online, on TV. Face of the Franchise! We don’t know if there is a “star” box for scouts to check but maybe there should be, at least this year. (Hello, Darius Acuff?)
We also believe that the removal of the tanking ethos will help. Tanking in our opinion makes for an insular locker room, particularly with so many fans cheering for losses and excoriating fellow fans to do the same. It becomes “us vs. them,” with the “them” an expanded universe. The locker room by all accounts was positive despite everything, a credit to Jordi.
Maybe Mr. Whammy has a “reverse the curse” in his hex toolbox.
But in the end, we got nothin’ to guarantee success at ending real or presumed curses. Fandom is irrational exuberance, former Nets executive Irina Pavlova used to say (paraphrasing a former Federal Reserve chairman about the stock market.) You have to decide whether you want to be a fan and how far to go how brave you want to be. And of course, fandom isn’t just about the team’s performance. It’s about the collegiality, friends, family, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters.
Indeed, a FOX Sports study, backed now by Harvard researchers, reported Monday, suggested that collegiality is underrated, that whether you’re high on a winning streak or low on a lottery selection, you’re part of a community from which you draw support. From Sportico.
“What we find is that regardless of the fan base in question, whether they’re perennial losers or in the middle of a dynastic run, there really is no measurable effect on the wellness outcomes that we see,” Ben Valenta of FOX told Sportico. “Effectively what fandom is, is you’re going on an emotional ride with other people, and whether you’re celebrating or commiserating, it doesn’t really actually matter. What matters is the connectivity that results from the engagement.”
“Emotional?” Oh yeah! So, ALL of that said, we hope to see you next October in Brooklyn to root for the home team. Screw the curse!! What else we got? We got each other.
Draft Sleeper of the Week
We could profile one of the guards in that No. 5 to No. 8 range or beyond to Nate Ament, the 6’10” Tennessee forward/wing or Karim Lopez, the 6’9” Mexican power forward who played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian League. (Among some fans, Lopez is this year’s avatar for failed lottery luck, just like last year’s was Kon Knueppel. How’d that work out?)
Nah, Lucas Kaplan has already done some of that Monday and there will be plenty of time as the spring turns to summer and all of them find their way to the HSS Training Center.
Instead, we’re going with a projected second round pick. Luigi Suigo (pronounced SWEE-go) is a 7’3” Italian center who plays for Serbian powerhouse and NBA feeder Mega Basket. We’ve noticed him getting attention at the two spots where the Nets pick in the second round, again Nos. 33 and 43. He’s 19 so at big raw but as his highlights for this season show, there’s some talent lurking there.
He is huge. At the 2025 Basketball Without Borders, he measured 7’3″ barefoot with a 9’6″ standing reach and a 7’4” wingspan. He has a 19.25″ standing vertical and a 27″ max vertical.
Suigo is all about big man fundamentals: pick and roll, put backs, passing, shot blocking and some shot making.
“I’m a center. I play also as a 4,” he said. “The main thing I can do, for me, is shooting threes. I can play in post-up, catch lobs. On defense, I can switch with everyone, and I block and rebound…
“[Victor] Wembanyama. I want to be like him one day. I want to play like him,” Suigo said. “I watch Wemby, [Kristaps] Porzingis, [Karl-Anthony Towns], also [Nikola] Jokic, but he’s too slow for me, he’s not my type of player, but I like to watch him.”
Always like a little ambition. And while we’ve seen him projected to the Nets at No. 33 and 43, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports has him going in the first round as high as No. 24 to the Knicks.
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 still be an excellent outcome. Sounds like a perfect fit for the Celtics system.
There’s some suggestion that if he isn’t projected in the first round, he is likely to go the collegiate route. He has heavy interest from Villanova and North Carolina, among others.
Another draft analyst, Ersen Demir wrote in a lengthy analysis of his positives and negatives that Suigo would be best served getting picked “high in the 30s.”
It’s better for Suigo to bet on himself and declare for the draft now and likely be selected high in the 30s in the second round. That’ll help him to stick around at a program for two years, develop and fight for a second deal shortly after that. The long term potential is tremendous. But he’s still young and can make a move to play college ball.
Final Note
For all the gnashing of teeth going on Sunday, the Nets did not have the worst of it … by a long stretch. No one can touch the Indiana Pacers in that category, well other than the Pelicans and Bucks.
The Pacers lost their selection to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the trade sending center Ivica Zubac to Indiana, as Kevin O’Connor noted. The Pacers, who finished with the second worst regular season and had the second best odds, would have kept their pick had it been among the top four selections — and they had a 52% chance of getting there. But the Clippers kept the pick if it fell within the No. 5 through No. 9 selections…. and it did dropping to No. 5. Worse, that was Indiana’s only pick in either round. So they want from having the second best chances at the overall No. 1 to one of two teams without a pick, joining Portland in that distinction.
The GM even apologized…
I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember – this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient.
And in a related move, the Pelicans oft-criticized move to trade for Derek Queen in last year’s Draft was ultimately disastrous.
The Pels moved up 10 spots last June so they could take Derek Queen at No. 13. It took some doing as O’Connor noted. During last year’s Finals, the Pelicans traded an unprotected 2026 Pacers first back to Indiana for the 23rd pick in last year’s draft. Then on Draft Night, a few days later, they packaged the Pacers pick along with their own 2026 first (with a Bucks swap attached) to move up.
The Pacers pick they gave up? That landed at fifth as noted, and it’s now the Clippers’ pick. The Pelicans’ own pick landed at eighth, and is now property of the Hawks.
When you tally it all up, New Orleans surrendered the fifth and eighth picks this year to draft Queen with the 13th pick last year. Five plus eight equals 13, so it couldn’t have happened any other way.
Finally, there was the Milwaukee Bucks whose woes were different. On the same day his daughter once again sat on the lottery dias, the New York Post broke a story about how the Bucks principal owner Wes Edens, had been the subject of a blackmail attempt by a “Chinese divorcee’” with whom he had had an affair.
So it can always be worse … and no one is talking about curses in those cities.
The combination of the NBA Draft Lottery setting the order for the NBA Draft (and the value of the picks), along with executives from every team gathering in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine, is always the spark that lights the NBA offseason trade and free agency markets on fire.
That is happening this week in Chicago, and the biggest rumor out of the Windy City is the least surprising.
Bucks listening to Antetokounmpo offers
This was expected, but ESPN’s Shams Charania made it official. Milwaukee listened to trade offers back at the February trade deadline, but sources from other teams told NBC Sports then that it felt more like Bucks GM Jon Horst was gauging the trade market, not seriously looking for a deal. He and ownership wanted to wait until the offseason, when more teams and better offers would (theoretically) be on the table.
While the Bucks are still open to the idea of trading for another star, which inspires Antetokounmpo to sign an extension and stay in Milwaukee, most teams around the league expect the two-time MVP and NBA champion to be traded — and a deal to be done before the NBA Draft, which is what co-owner Jimmy Haslam expects. From Charania:
There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo's services, and ownership and front office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said.
One of the reasons to hold out until the summer to trade Antetokounmpo was to get teams that had a disappointing playoff run — Houston, Orlando, Boston — to seriously consider jumping the mix, as well as a couple of teams still playing but with questions, including the Lakers and Cavaliers.
Waiting into the summer also gave Antetokounmpo more leverage in where he might be traded — he has just one guaranteed season left on his contract (followed by a player option), and he can tell a team he does not want to play for that he will not re-sign with them. While Antetokounmpo's camp is tight-lipped, the feeling in league circles is that he wants to stay in the East and play for a team he can elevate to contender status.
"The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved, and where will he sign long term?" one source with direct involvement in the situation told ESPN.
Expect a flood of Antetokounmpo rumors over the next month, but the Bucks will be wise to be patient and wait until closer to the draft — when that deadline forces teams to put their best offers on the table — before making a call.
"I can just say the lottery results will have no impact on the approach moving forward with Ja Morant. They're going to try to find a home for Ja Morant regardless of where they ended up in the lottery."
The challenge in finding a trade for Morant is the combination of his salary — two years and $87 million guaranteed — and limited availability due to injuries and suspensions. Morant is coming off a season in which he played in just 20 games, largely due to an elbow injury, and hasn't played in 65 games since his rookie season. That said, he is a dynamic talent who is just 26 years old. One rumor laid out by Jake Fischer at The Stein Line is that the Grizzlies package Morant with the No. 3 pick in this draft to bring back a superstar.
There are teams interested in Morant, but the Grizzlies are not going to get the draft-pick hauls they received when trading Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr.
Will Kawhi Leonard hit market?
The basketball gods smiled on the Clippers and gave them the No. 5 pick in the draft (via the Indiana Pacers, part of the Ivica Zubac trade. That high pick, plus the trade that brought them Darius Garland at the trade deadline (for James Harden), gives the Clippers a foothold in a retooling.
However, the potential fallout from the Aspiration scandal — a league investigation into whether the Clippers used former team sponsor Aspiration to circumvent the salary cap and get more money to Kawhi Leonard — has everything feeling on hold for LA. That includes Leonard's future with the Clippers, another point ESPN’s MacMahon explained well on the Hoop Collective podcast.
"We'll see what happens with Aspiration. Assuming they are allowed to attempt to negotiate an extension, I believe the intention is to try to negotiate an extension with Kawhi Leonard. But 'negotiate' is a key word there. It's not just like, 'Hey, can you take just a little slight haircut from maxes?' And so, depending on how that goes, there's a world where Kawhi could be on the block this summer, too."
League sources that have spoken to NBC Sports expect the league to bring a hammer down on the Clippers — the loss of draft picks, an eight-figure fine, and very possibly a suspension for owner Steve Ballmer. However, a voiding of Leonard's contract is not on that list because it's not really a punishment — the Clippers would be happy to have his $50.3 million off their books as they retool, and it would make Leonard a free agent who would then sign a massive contract with another team, so he doesn't lose that much either.
Leonard is coming off a season where he almost certainly makes an All-NBA team after playing in 65 games, averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 assists per game, plus playing elite defense. Leonard is also entering the final year of his contract and the Clippers would love to re-sign him, but at a lower price than he's making right now (and on a far more tradable contract). The Warriors are reportedly among the teams interested if Leonard hits the market. But that remains an "if."
Wizards open to trading No. 1 pick
Maybe the fastest track to a GM getting fired is blowing the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Enter the Washington Wizards, who were the lottery's big winner and have that No. 1 pick. They will at least listen to offers for the top pick and the rights to e AJ Dybantsa, something both Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line report (with Fischer talking to Wizards president Michael Winger.
This is considered an exceptionally deep draft, so if there is a player the Wizards might like a few slots down the draft board, and the package to give up No. 1 was big enough, they would consider it, according to reports. Mannix suggests Utah, which has the No. 2 pick and would love to keep BYU's AJ Dybantsa in state, might be open to a deal swapping picks. Winger told Fischer the Wizards are not entering this draft looking for their "savior" but rather a player to add to Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and the rest of what should already be an improved roster.
Washington may listen to offers, but if they make a deal they are not dropping out of the top three or four slots in this draft, they are not about to just trade the No. 1 pick and get out entirely. That's how a GM gets fired.
The 2026 NBA Draft lottery has come and gone, so that means now comes the fun part: mock drafts.
The Kings, who finished the 2025-26 NBA season with a 22-60 record, lost a tie-breaking coin flip that would have given them the No. 4 slot in the lottery — which ultimately turned into the No. 2 pick for the Utah Jazz — and dropped two spots to the No. 7 selection.
As for the Warriors, they were projected to get the No. 11 pick and that’s exactly what the team received after a 37-45 campaign. With Steve Kerr returning to lead the charge, it’ll be interesting to see what the team whether the team uses the pick as trade-bait or not, but for now, here are some of the projected picks if the team keeps the selection.
“Flemings’ explosive speed and winning intangibles swayed NBA executives this season, and he projects as a lead playmaker who puts downhill pressure on defenses and should also add value as a defender. The continued progression of his jump shot is key for him and something he’ll need to demonstrate effectively in team workouts, but he got positive results at Houston (38.7% from 3, 84.5% from the line) and has shown growth already in that area.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“The top player in a thin international prospect class, Lopez has a chance to help himself in pre-draft workouts, where teams will gain a better sense of his physical traits and skill level coming off a positive year in the NBL. Showing progress as a perimeter shooter in those settings would help his case to sneak into the top 10.”
“Flemings is an elite athlete who can get a piece of the paint on demand, rise up explosively at the rim, get to his pull-up at virtually any time, and be solid on the defensive end. His swing skill is his shooting, and if it holds up, then he too has legit star-type outcomes. In Sacramento, Flemings will have an opportunity to earn the starting point guard job from day one.”
Warriors (No. 11): Aday Mara, C, Michigan
“Mara kept getting better as the college season went on and ultimately led Michigan to a national championship. At 7-foot-3, he’s a giant, even by NBA standards, and a tremendous rim protector. He’s also got sneaky mobility, good hands, real passing ability, and provides vertical spacing. With Steve Kerr returning next season, the Warriors’ style of play will be staying largely the same, and Mara’s facilitating ability fits that.”
“The Kings need a potential star like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. in this class. …He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“Lopez had a low usage rate and played few minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas.”
“Flemings has potential to use his speed and athleticism on offense and defense to make an impact — which is how Fox was described as a young player. The Kings need to find a young player with All-Star potential, and Flemings might be that player as he joins some young players who showed potential to be rotational pieces in the NBA.”
— Jason Jones
Warriors (No. 11):Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
“The big man fills a lot of gaps for the Warriors. He can shoot from the outside, he has length and he comes from a Michigan team that just won a national title. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. He should be able to play well off the space Stephen Curry creates (shouldn’t everybody?) while providing a stabilizing presence on both ends.”
“Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. He is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who’s been in the league for a decade. He emerged as a freshman as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker. The question that follows every undersized guard into the draft is whether the brilliance survives contact with bigger, longer, faster defenders.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“Lopez is the best basketball prospect Mexico has ever produced. He left Hermosillo at 14 to play professionally in Barcelona, then at 17 moved to Auckland, New Zealand, where he shined for two years in the NBL Next Stars program. He checks a lot of boxes with his excellent physical tools, a hardnosed approach, and a well-rounded ability to defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and a blossoming shot.”
“Acuff was a revelation for the Razorbacks this season, thriving despite his being smaller with 23.5 points and 6.4 assists on 48% shooting. The league is seemingly moving away from small-ish guards, but Acuff might just have the poise and pace to blow away expectations anyways.”
“Flemings is the quintessential Houston guard and was consistent throughout conference play in the Big 12. In the month of January he averaged 19.8 points, and 6.3 assists and had a 42-point game against Texas Tech. He’s a tough two-way player who gets to his spots and shoots well off the dribble.”
Warriors (No. 11):Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
“Lendeborg was a buzzy name coming out of last year’s draft combine and his decision to return to school paid off in a big way while helping Michigan win a national title. He has great size as an interior player and moves well for his size.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The sneakers worn by Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are set to square off in a pivotal Game 4 tonight, and we have a plethora of NBA player prop projections to go over — includingfour five-star plays.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Pistons Game 4 computer picks
Jalen Duren Over 13.5 points (-112)
Projection: 16.25 points
Our model shows a 24.55% EV edge for this play!
Jalen Duren has had a quiet series, but he's too good to be held quiet for long. He'll get plenty of run as the Detroit Pistons try to keep up with the size of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet duren Now at bet365!/span
Duncan Robinson Over 11.5 points (-112)
Projection: 13.81 points
Our model shows a 23.93% EV edge for this play!
Duncan Robinson has been spectacular for the Pistons this series, going Over this total in all three matchups. His sharpshooting will help him clear it again.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet robinson Now at bet365!/span
Tobias Harris Over 1.5 threes (+115)
Projection: 1.80 threes
Tobias Harris has stepped up big for Detroit in this playoff run, and his shooting is a big part why. He's banged two threes in back-to-back outings, and our projections predict he'll do it again.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet harris Now at bet365!/span
Cavaliers Game 4 computer picks
James Harden Over 18.5 points (-125)
Projection: 22.63 points
This play has a 26.01% EV edge according to our model!
James Harden isn't known for his playoff heroics, but 18.5 points is a very obtainable goal. He's cleared this line in two of three against the Pistons, and he's projected for 20+ tonight.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet harden Now at bet365!/span
Dean Wade Over 3.5 points (-112)
Projection: 5.44 points
This is the fourth and final five-star play, showing a 25.63% EV edge.
Dean Wade provides Cleveland with key minutes off the bench, and he normally takes two to four shots per game. He's consistent enough to hit this number with similar volume.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet wade Now at bet365!/span
Jarrett Allen Over 1.5 assists (+135)
Projection: 1.82 assists
Jarrett Allen had three assists in Game 2 and finished with one in the two other games of this series. If he starts to feel the pressure from Duren, he has plenty of capable shooters to pass to.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet allen Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 4
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Monday, May 11, 2026
Tip-off
8 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
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.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Five on April 29, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The one thing you can’t question about Austin Reaves is his desire to play.
He played in all 82 games during the 2023-24 NBA season, and last year, he was still competing against the Wolves in the playoffs despite a big toe sprain.
On Monday morning, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN published an article revealing that the Lakers didn’t expect Reaves to return so quickly, and that it was only possible because of his around-the-clock efforts.
The Lakers initially assumed he would be out until the conference finals, team sources told ESPN, but Reaves was determined to get back for at least some of the Lakers’ playoff run.
“I left my house every day around 7:30 in the morning to get treatment and didn’t come home until about 8 at night,” Reaves told ESPN. “I was going crazy trying to get back. … I was in that hyperbaric chamber all the time.”
Kudos to Reaves for doing everything possible to play in the postseason. Given the severity of his injury, no one was ever going to question how long he took to return, so his putting in 12-hour days to get back is impressive and admirable.
Thanks to his efforts, he started in Game 5 against the Rockets and helped the Lakers advance to the second round, a feat that not many experts thought possible.
Against the Thunder, he’s continued playing a high number of minutes and has done everything possible to help the Lakers win. In Game 2, he scored a playoff career-high 31 points.
Even the Lakers didn’t think Reaves would return so quickly, but that’s the thing about Austin: just when you think he can’t impress you more, he finds a way to exceed your expectations.
Reaves is a franchise player for the Lakers, and his recovery work is another example of why. He does everything possible to be a top performer and will set a standard of effort that the rest of the team will have to try to match.
Mikal Bridges and Joel Embiid wrestle for a loose ball during the Knicks’ sweep of the 76ers.Photograph: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
“You guys wanna see a dead body?”
Old heads remember that scene in Stand By Me, four boys hike through the Oregon wilderness to find the body of a dead boy. They walk for miles for the morbid prize of seeing something that can’t be unseen. When they finally arrive and stand over the body, nobody says a word. There’s nothing left to say.
That is what it feels like to be a Philadelphia 76ers fan.
You guys wanna see a dead body?
Here it is. Right here on the hardwood of the Xfinity Mobile Arena, swept in four games by the New York Knicks, getting beaten by 30 points in the finale, in an arena colonized by enemy fans. “The Process” – capital T, capital P, the grand basketball philosophy that was supposed to redeem a franchise and a generation of suffering fans – is dead. It has been dead for a while, actually. We’ve just been too stubborn and too sentimental to admit it.
When The Process’s architect, Sam Hinkie, took over as 76ers general manager in May 2013, the 76ers were in purgatory. Hinkie’s diagnosis was correct: the middle of the standings is the worst place to rot. His prescription was ruthless tanking, draft capital accumulation, asset hoarding. All analytically sound and, in a narrow sense, successful. He delivered Joel Embiid. He delivered the framework that would eventually produce Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
But broaden it out and Hinkie’s vision failed. In the 13 years since he rolled up in Philly, the team have failed to reach the Conference finals, let alone win a title. The corpse of The Process was wheeled out to face the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs, Weekend at Bernie’s style.
The modern NBA title contender needs athleticism, perimeter versatility, switchable defenders who can guard one through five, and above all, youth.
Current Sixers general manager Daryl Morey has built the opposite. He stockpiled aging, injury-prone max-contract stars and surrounded them with buyout-bin veterans, undrafted role players, and whatever Quentin Grimes is. In 2024, he signed Paul George – then 34 and with a well-documented history of struggling to stay fit – to a four-year maximum contract. He kept Embiid, another player with an injury history – on an extension that will pay him $60m a year until 2029.
This is a roster built for 2006, not 2026. Iso-heavy, big-man-centric, predicated on one dominant center, Embiid, taking over games through sheer will and free-throw volume. The league has moved past this. The Knicks – deep, switchy, young, relentless – looked like they were playing a different sport as they swept the Sixers.
And there is no way to write honestly about the 2026 76ers without confronting what Embiid has become, and it’s uncomfortable as hell.
He was, for a few seasons, one of the best basketball players alive. The footwork, the face-up game, the passing out of the post, the three-point shooting – at his peak, Embiid was a legitimate case for best offensive center since Shaquille O’Neal. His MVP season in 2022-23 was a masterpiece. His ability to carry a structurally compromised roster to the second round of the playoffs, year after year, while fighting through injuries that would have ended other careers, deserves respect.
That Embiid is gone. What remains is far inferior.
Embiid hasn’t played more than 40 games in a regular season since his MVP campaign. He was injured in Game 1 against the Knicks, missed a game, came back limping, and was reduced to holding his hip, his back and his ankle. There was no better encapsulation of this version of the Sixers than the sight of Embiid’s teammates attempting to pick him up from the floor and failing.
But the decline in his body isn’t even the most troubling part. It’s the decline in his conduct.
Embiid has spent recent seasons cultivating one of the dirtiest reputations in the NBA. The sweep-through moves designed to draw fouls that don’t exist. Flops so theatrical Buster Keaton would blush. The crystallizing incident came in the 2024 playoffs, when Embiid fell to the floor and grabbed the Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson by the foot, dragging him to the floor and injuring him in the process. Yes, pun intended.
The 76ers fans who spent 13 years trusting a process deserve better.
But here’s the strange, almost perverse mercy for the Sixers: despite everything, they have something most failing contenders don’t. They have two young cornerstones.
Maxey is 25 years old. He’s fast, creative, a legitimate offensive engine who was systematically double-teamed into submission by the Knicks because his supporting cast was demonstrably non-threatening. Maxey operating in an offense with shooters, athletes and a coach who actually designs plays rather than letting it free-flow into George post-ups is a 25- to 28-point scorer who can lead a team deep into May.
Edgecombe is 20. He had 34 points in his NBA debut. He had a 30-point game in the Boston series. This is a young, explosive wing with Dwyane Wade-level upside.
Those two players are a gift. Most rebuilding teams don’t get one player like that coming out of a failed era. Philadelphia have two.
The draft capital situation, while complicated by the obligations owed to Oklahoma City and Brooklyn, is far from hopeless. The Sixers own their own picks in 2027, 2029, 2030, 2031, and 2032. They hold the Clippers’ 2028 first-round pick – potentially a high one, depending on how Los Angeles continues their rebuild. They have swap rights with the Clippers in 2029. There are second-round picks scattered across multiple teams through the decade, several of them from contending or mid-tier franchises that could carry real value.
A new front office, with a mandate to rebuild fast and modern, has modern ammunition.
The path forward requires doing things the current regime has shown little appetite for: acquiring speed, athleticism, perimeter shooting, and youth. Players who can switch defensively, run in transition, and make open threes at a league-average clip. Fix the roster around the edges first. Then find your third piece. Do not – under any circumstances – sign a 34-year-old maximum contract player to anchor the next era. Focus instead on unloading the albatross contracts of George and Embiid.
But unfortunately still in the present. Philly just got swept. Left with a dead man walking for $60m a year.
It is time to end this. Blow it up. Fire the coach. Fire the general manager. Hire a developmental coach who knows how to build young players, someone who can turn Edgecombe and Maxey into the most dynamic backcourt in the league.
The body has been lying in the road long enough. It’s time to bury it, and finally, actually, start over.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 14: Aday Mara #15 and Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half during the semifinals of the 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors came into Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery hoping for a little luck, but ultimately stayed put at No. 11 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Despite entering the night with roughly a 10% chance of jumping into the top four, Golden State was unable to move up in the lottery order, keeping the franchise right outside the top 10 in what is viewed as one of the strongest draft classes in recent years.
With the draft order now officially set, several early mock drafts have already started projecting who the Warriors could target later this summer. Here’s a quick roundup of where analysts currently have Golden State going at No. 11:
The Warriors had long odds and no luck in their first draft lottery since 2021. They have an important decision to make with this pick, as they weigh the long-term health of the roster versus maximizing the team’s competitive chances with Stephen Curry still playing at a high level. Coach Steve Kerr agreed to an extension Saturday and presumably didn’t sign on for a rebuild. Selecting a younger player such as Lopez, who has the experience to potentially slot in early on his rookie deal, might help mesh the short- and long-term goals. Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) is another player who will draw strong consideration here.
Mara, by far, helped himself the most in the NCAA Tournament. I had a vote for Final Four Most Outstanding Player and chose Mara because of how he dominated the semifinal against Arizona (going off for 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks) and how he completely changed the geometry defensively against Connecticut with his ability to guard Tarris Reed Jr. on an island while also shutting down the interior for drivers.
Sticking with my Philon-to–the Bay prognostication from my first mock a month ago because it feels like a perfect combination of ready-now intangibles and long-term possibilities. His toughness and savvy would allow him to blend in with the absurd amount of experience on this team, and even though he feels like less of a star bet than some of the other highly regarded guards in the class, I don’t expect him to stagnate after getting to the league.
The Warriors could still explore trade possibilities involving the pick depending on how aggressive the front office wants to be in maximizing the final years of Stephen Curry’s championship window. Still, holding the No. 11 selection gives Golden State an important asset in a deep draft class loaded with talent.
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, May 11th:
This should also make extension conversations with Curry simpler later in the summer. The franchise icon has long expressed a desire to remain with the Warriors the entirety of his career. He can add either one or two seasons to his current deal, which has one season remaining, when he becomes extension-eligible in August. Having Kerr locked in should ease Curry’s concern of a franchise in complete transition, even if the championship ceiling is no longer there.
Yet there are reasons for the Warriors to be optimistic in advance of the June 23 draft. For one, the last time Golden State held the 11th pick, in 2011, it came away with a Washington State guard named Klay Thompson. He became a five-time NBA All-Star and an essential member of four championship teams.
Thompson was by far the best No. 11 pick in franchise history, with a career that laps previous selections Andris Biedrins (2004), Mickael Pietrus (2003), Todd Fuller (1996) and Tyrone Hill (1990).
Rival executives believe that Antetokounmpo’s desired teams will be the largest factor in his trade destination. He is essentially on an expiring contract, with next season guaranteed in his deal before a player option in 2027, providing him leverage to navigate to a specific team based on whether he would agree to stay long term given the players and picks needed to acquire him. He becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million contract extension Oct. 1 if he is not traded, or six months after being traded if he’s with a new team.
“The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved, and where will he sign long term?” one source with direct involvement in the situation told ESPN.
While reports of the deal have not been revealed, ESPN reports that Kerr will retain his title as the highest-paid coach in the NBA. Last year, Kerr made $17.5 million, while the next-highest salary was $15 million, given both to the LA Clippers’ Ty Lue and the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Pistons
Cavaliers
