Category: NBA

Through two games, the Western Conference Finals could not be any more evenly matched. The Thunder have outscored the Spurs by a mere two points, with both contests coming down to the wire. OKC made smart adjustments in Game 2, and now the onus is on Mitch Johnson and the Spurs to counter.

Ultimately, this series will be determined in two areas: the number of turnovers the Thunder force, and the matchup between the bigs down low. It’s a battle of strengths between the two teams, and whoever can impose their will should emerge victorious.

Let’s start with the turnovers.

The ball is lava!

So far, OKC has forced 44 turnovers to just 25 for San Antonio, and the Thunder have outscored the Spurs 55-27 off those opportunities.

Stephon Castle has become the whipping boy for San Antonio’s turnover issues, and for good reason: he has thrown the ball away 20 times in the first two games, which accounts for over 45% of their total turnovers and is the most by any player in a two-game span in NBA history. It’s quite evident that his issues have been exacerbated by the Spurs’ depleted backcourt depth, as the sophomore guard has been overburdened by having to be the primary ballhandler with Fox injured and Harper missing at least half of Game 2. If one or both of them are out for Game 3 and beyond, San Antonio will need to put the ball in the hands of Jordan McLaughlin and their wings more often, while being very selective with the types of plays they’ll run in the halfcourt.

One option is to set high screens and attack with speed. This would force the Thunder’s point of attack defender to worry more about getting over screens or switching than going for steals, while also giving the ballhandler an open runway to the paint. Using Wemby as one of the screeners could force OKC’s bigs out of the paint, and even if one of Chet/Hartenstein is still roaming down low, they’ll be forced to rotate and make it easier to throw the Alien a lob.

The following drive from Harper is a perfect example. San Antonio needs to create advantages using simple plays that get the defense scrambling, thus minimizing the potential opportunities for a turnover to occur.

pic.twitter.com/NagjHyqk79

— Bill Huan (@bill_huan) May 21, 2026

The Spurs also need to get their wings more involved. Even with Julian Champagnie’s shooting prowess, OKC has been comfortable having Chet Holmgren roam off of him because they know he’s the least involved in San Antonio’s offense. They’ve been right so far, and the Spurs need to counter by using him as a screener who can flare out for threes, which could cause confusion for OKC’s defense and create open driving lanes, or force Chet to guard out in space.

San Antonio could put the ball in Devin Vassell’s hands more too, but only in specific spots. He’s not a great playmaker and shouldn’t be relied on to bring the ball up, but he’s one of the Spurs’ best players at attacking advantages. For example, San Antonio needs to hunt Jared McCain and any of OKC’s “bad” defenders whenever the opportunity arises, like what Vassell did below. Involving the Thunder’s bigs should be prioritized since they always play a drop, and any daylight for an open shot is a win for the Spurs offense.

pic.twitter.com/FOBJytqDYs

— Bill Huan (@bill_huan) May 21, 2026

Goliath vs. … goliath?

San Antonio has shot 43-68 at the rim to just 28-47 for OKC — a similar percentage, but the discrepancy in attempts is the bigger story. As usual, Wemby’s presence alone has made the Thunder hesitant to shoot, while his gravity on offense creates easy rim attempts for his teammates. However, his own offensive game has been made harder, especially in Game 2.

Playing Wemby using a traditional big like Hartenstein made it difficult for the Alien to get to his spots in the paint, which wasn’t an issue in Game 1 since he was defended by smaller guards. Even so, San Antonio took advantage by utilizing Wemby on the perimeter to open up the paint. Mitch Johnson used the Alien as a decoy on multiple possessions, with the play below being the best example of some innovative play calling from the Spurs coach.

pic.twitter.com/OUDfiGz5bj

— Bill Huan (@bill_huan) May 21, 2026

However, this also resulted in tougher shots for Wemby, as he attempted seven threes and only two free throws as opposed to two threes and 13 free throws in Game 1. There were fewer lob attempts because Isaiah Hartenstein pushed him out of his usual spots, plus being on the perimeter made it easier for The Extender Tony Brothers and company to swallow their whistles. OKC has shown that their game plan to defend pick-and-rolls involving Wemby is to have their bigs show and recover, which gives the Spurs a fraction of a second to throw a bounce pass or lob.

You can see this in the play below, where both Lu Dort and Hartenstein briefly flashed at Castle before the big man recovered back to Wemby.

pic.twitter.com/3GIOERMGRh

— Bill Huan (@bill_huan) May 22, 2026

The Spurs could counter by running double drags, or using off-ball actions that start in the corner. They did just that to open game three in the Wolves series, by utilizing Vassell’s threat as a shooter to get Rudy Gobert to commit, putting Wemby in position for a lob. On the very next possession, San Antonio then used Wemby as the screener and immediately threw the lob, and the defense couldn’t help since they needed to be glued to shooters in both corners.

pic.twitter.com/8Szou8Hcpn

— Bill Huan (@bill_huan) May 22, 2026

It’s easier said than done given that this Thunder team is elite at picking off passes, but the Spurs should have enough tape to know exactly when and how they can thread the needle to get Wemby on the roll.

Defensively, OKC used some big-big action to get easier looks at the rim. Chet and Hartenstein connected on multiple lobs, and the Thunder used ball movement and screens to get one going downhill, putting Wemby in no man’s land.

pic.twitter.com/2mpqxxNkqS

— Bill Huan (@bill_huan) May 21, 2026

More importantly, playing Hartenstein diminished the Spurs’ dominance on the glass. San Antonio outrebounded the Thunder 61-40 in game 1, and the difference was cut down to just 45-41 in game 2. Hartenstein grabbed eight offensive boards alone, almost singlehandedly raising OKC’s offensive rebounding percentage from 19.7% in game one to 36.7% in game two. Given the Spurs’ injury concerns and their lack of frontcourt size besides Wemby, Harrison Barnes and Carter Bryant should get more minutes to mitigate some of San Antonio’s rebounding issues, and they would likely be matched up with one of the Thunder’s bigs if they decide to go with a twin towers lineup.

Another adjustment the Spurs could make is to have Wemby roam off of Chet in the corners as opposed to Alex Caruso or one of OKC’s guards on the perimeter. This would keep Wemby closer to the rim, and although Chet is shooting 37.8% on almost four attempts a game, he’s a much more hesitant outside shooter than any of the Thunder’s guards and has a slower release too. The other Spurs should sag off Chet and dare him to shoot so they’re not caught flat-footed if OKC makes him a driver like in the play above.

Lastly, the health of San Antonio’s guards and Jalen Williams plays a huge role in the X’s and O’s. Having Dylan Harper would help the Spurs’ point of attack defense and prevent easy drives for the Thunder, which would allow Wemby to stay in the paint more often. JDub would give OKC another body to throw at the Alien, and Fox’s speed on offense would create more room for San Antonio and relieve some playmaking burden from everyone else.

Let’s pray that they all return from injuries soon, as it will only add to the intrigue.

Lakers superstar LeBron James had over a week to reflect on his team’s 2025-26 season ending with a four-game sweep to the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. 

It was just the fourth time in James’ career – and the earliest in the playoffs – a team that had him on the roster was swept in James’ 19 appearances in the postseason. 

How James saw it, the Lakers didn’t lose the series to the defending NBA champions because they didn’t match the Thunder’s physicality. Or weren’t prepared.

They simply didn’t match the Thunder in talent. 

“I have the passion and the [aspiration] to host the Larry O’Brien Trophy up every single year, but also have a realization of what particular team I have been a part of in that particular year,” James said during the latest episode of his “Mind The Game” podcast, which he co-hosts with NBA legend Steve Nash. “And understanding this year, we fought and we played to the maximum ability of our team. But ultimately, if we’re being completely honest, we were out-talented.”

The Thunder were without 2025 All-Star and All-NBA third team honoree Jalen Williams during the second round matchup.

But the Lakers had an even more significant absence: superstar guard Luka Doncic missed the Lakers’ entire postseason run because of a left hamstring strain he suffered April 2 in Oklahoma City. 

Doncic was the NBA’s scoring champion for the second time and three seasons, averaging 33.5 points during the regular season. 

He finished fourth in the voting for league MVP, which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won for the second consecutive season, and will likely be an All-NBA first team honoree for the sixth time in his eight-season NBA career. 

“We were not outworked,” James said. “They didn’t out-physical us. They didn’t outsmart us. I feel like we were just out-talent[ed] by OKC. At the end of the day, we failed in talent. OKC just possessed so much more talent than us. You could tip your cap to them in understanding that.”

With Doncic sidelined and star guard Austin Reaves out for the Lakers’ first four games of the playoffs because of a strained oblique, James led the Lakers to a six-game first round playoff series victory over the Rockets.

The Rockets were without their leading scorer, Kevin Durant, for five of the six games in the series.

James averaged 23.2 points, 8.3 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in the first round against the Rockets. 

“For our team to win a playoff series, that was a huge accomplishment,” James said. “Obviously my aspirations [are] much bigger than just one playoff series. I’ve won a lot of playoff series and one is never enough. But under the circumstances of what our team went through and what we were going through at that time: AR did come back and was able to play some good basketball like the last few games, but he was still trying to find his rhythm. Obviously, we never got Luka back.

“But for our ball club, under the circumstances that it was in, to win a playoff series in the Western Conference, I give a lot of respect and a lot of kudos to our guys and to our coaching staff of mentally, physically preparing us for that matchup. It was a pretty good season.”

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Some problems have multiple solutions. Other problems have no solution, and that’s why competing hypothetical solutions seem viable to different people.

It’s hard to say which of those two types of problems the Houston Rockets have right now.

The two 2025-26 NBA Western Conference Finalists are lightyears ahead of Houston. Some fans are waving the white flag. Others are annoyed by the white flag that’s blocking their view. Everybody thinks they know what the team ought to do.

It all comes back to “the window”. It’s the ubiquitous metaphor used to describe a team’s title odds in terms of both probability and duration. As it stands, the Rockets have an extremely narrow title window that stands to be open for a long time. The two prevailing solutions to the problem (the problem being that this team has no chance to beat the Thunder or Spurs short of major injuries) are to either widen the window at the expense of length or lengthen the window’s openness at the expense of width.

Let’s simplify. Forget the window. The Rockets are not in the same league as the Thunder or the Spurs. They can either acquire a superstar that might put them in that league, or acquire assets that might keep them just outside of that league for a long enough time to capitalize on some luck (re: major injuries).

What is the solution?

Rockets’ superstar pursuits could be in vain

Firstly, we need to look at the available options. The Rockets cannot manifest a superstar player. Is the right guy even available?

Donovan Mitchell? Pass. Small guard. It would be more prudent from an asset management perspective to see how Sheppard develops. Mitchell and Fred VanVleet in the same backcourt should be a non-starter. Mitchell doesn’t even get the Rockets in the same zip code as the Thunder or Spurs.

Jaylen Brown? A bit more tempting. There are still reservations. Running Amen Thompson as the nominal two guard (while he functions as a wing) allows the Rockets to lean into size. If you bump him to the three to put Brown at the two, now you’re 6’6″ at the two and 6’7″ at the three. Now, you’re not especially large with 6’10″ish Alperen Sengun in the middle.

Is being big the be-all, end-all? Not in general, but for the Rockets, it might be. Ime Udoka wants them to bash and bruise their way to the top. Whether you think he’s an inmate running an asylum or…a warden?… There’s some logic in that approach. The Rockets are extremely unlikely to build the most talented team in the NBA by virtue of the fact that Victor Wembanyama is one of one, and so are the Thunder. Realistically, that’s the entire premise of this article.

Now, if Thompson can continue to develop as a point guard, there’s some appeal here. A Thompson/Brown backcourt is the biggest in the league. That said, based on what we saw in 2025-26, the safe money isn’t necessarily on Thompson as a long-term point guard.

It should also be noted that Brown doesn’t solve many of Houston’s pressing problems. Ball-handling is his biggest weakness. There’s a world where acquiring Brown improves the Rockets’ championship equity while building on their identity. There are likely more worlds where that move gets Houston into the Conference Finals once, only to get stomped by whichever of the aforementioned powerhouses didn’t suffer a major injury.

Take every word written about Brown, apply it to Kawhi Leonard, and then add that he’s old and will probably get hurt. Pass.

Then, there’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Entire manifestos have been written on the issue. Let’s keep this brief. Antetokounmpo is comfortably the best player the Rockets could acquire this summer. His inability to shoot makes him a tough sell alongside Thompson (or Sengun, but he’d presumably be in the Antetokounmpo deal).

You could acquire him and then also flip Thompson. For argument’s sake, let’s say you turn Thompson into Trey Murphy III. Let’s say you sign Brook Lopez (yes, I know he’s very old) so that Antetokounmpo has his stretch five.

Fred VanVleet / Trey Murphy III / Kevin Durant / Giannis Antetokounmpo / Brook Lopez. That team can compete with anyone. That’s a real title window.

Yet, it’s probably, shockingly, still not enough to beat the Thunder or Spurs. It could be. It’s feasible. But it won’t make the Rockets the 2026-27 presumptive title favorites. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. It’s defensible.

It’s the second-best (possible) solution to this (possibly unsolvable) problem.

The Rockets should prioritize the future

I think the smarter move is to continue to build towards the future while fielding competitive teams. The Rockets have the luxury to do that with so many of their future first-round picks coming from other teams.

That doesn’t mean complacency. The Rockets could give the current iteration one more year to see what they can accomplish with VanVleet and Steven Adams back in the fold, or not. Let’s say they do. It seems like they want to.

If the fit issues between Sengun, Thompson, and Sheppard persist, you don’t need to go all in on a sub-top-ten superstar. You trade one of these guys (hint: It’s Sengun, because he’s the one that presents fit issues with both) for a lesser, better-fitting veteran and assets. You keep drafting.

At a minimum, you can build a team that’s a playoff fixture for a decade. That’s not the fantasy most of us lived in before now. The Rockets are picking in the lottery for time immemorial. It’s a foolproof way to build a dynasty!

No, it’s not. Such a method does not exist. As it turns out, even being a playoff fixture for a long stretch is something. There are NBA teams that have not been in that position for a long time.

Here’s the secret: Sometimes, those teams do actually win NBA championships! The ’04 Pistons. The ’11 Mavericks. The ’19 Raptors (who did make a major trade, but spent much longer than the Rockets have with a sub-championship core).

The calculus is basically this: Instead of buying one lottery ticket with a $10 million payout and a 0.000000342% chance of winning, buy ten tickets with a $1 million payout and a 0.05% chance of winning. No, you’re probably not winning either way, but giving yourself a larger number of chances maximizes the odds.

Of course, we can’t quantify NBA title odds as precisely. If you’re reading this and thinking the hypothetical Giannis and Trey Murphy III lineup has better odds than I’m suggesting, fair enough. Ultimately, there’s no singular, clear-cut solution to the problem:

If there’s even a solution at all.

Could a Robert Williams reunion help Celtics address their biggest need? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens made Boston’s offseason priority very clear in his end-of-season press conference earlier this month.

“One of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that,” Stevens said.

Translation: The Celtics will be in the market for big men this summer.

What form that frontcourt pursuit takes is unclear. If Boston wants the most talented big man on the market, it could pursue Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom Milwaukee has made available via trade. But a deal for the two-time NBA MVP almost certainly would require the Celtics to part with superstar Jaylen Brown.

On a new episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix made the case for Boston keeping the Brown-Jayson Tatum duo intact in its pursuit of a big man.

“I don’t think there’s a need to reinvent the wheel here,” Mannix told host Chris Forsberg. “We’re two years removed from winning a championship in Boston, and we’re coming off the most improbable season that I can remember, where your second star (Brown) played like a first-level star.

“So, I think the focus should be on adding to where this team has the most glaring weaknesses, and that is the frontcourt.”

With Nikola Vucevic set to hit unrestricted free agency, the Celtics’ frontcourt currently includes Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and 2025 draft pick Amari Williams. Boston could look to upgrade that group via trade, where it can use a $27.7 million traded player exception created by the Vucevic-Anfernee Simons deal to acquire a big man without having to match salaries. (We explored a few potential TPE options here.)

If the Celtics prefer the free-agent route, they could utilize the taxpayer midlevel exception, which is valued around $15 million. And while this year’s free agent class is relatively thin on big men, there’s one intriguing name in that group: ex-Celtic Robert Williams III.

“You know who’s the one free agent outside of LeBron (James) who was talked about the most when I was in Chicago last week (for the 2026 NBA Scouting Combine and Draft Lottery)? You know who that player is? It was (Robert Williams),” ESPN’s Bobby Marks told Forsberg on Celtics Talk.

“Is he a guy who’s going to play 70 games and give you 30 minutes a night? No. He played 59 games in Portland, 22 minutes (per game). He basically is a specialist as far as what he can do for you, whether that’s protect(ing) the rim, points in the paint.”

The biggest red flag with Williams is his health. He appeared in just 26 games total for the Trail Blazers between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons before appearing in 59 games this past season. He’s never played more than 61 games in a season (2021-22 with the Celtics) and will turn 29 years old in October.

Williams can be a difference-maker when he’s on the court, though: He averaged 6.7 points, a career-high 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game for Portland this season and tallied double-digit points in four of the Blazers’ five first-round playoff games against the San Antonio Spurs while holding his own against Victor Wembanyama on the defensive end.

Time. Lord. Takeover. pic.twitter.com/1jqYUYEdxP

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 21, 2026

Williams should draw interest from a handful of teams that need big men. But if his next contract is below $15 million per year, the Celtics may want to at least explore reuniting with Time Lord as a frontcourt depth piece while maintaining their ability to make other moves elsewhere.

“He’s in a perfect world for a lot of teams out there: Atlanta, the Lakers, some of those other teams,” Marks added. “But I think that’s a priority for you as somebody from a free agent standpoint — if you can do that, it would be in a perfect world, you get another year of development from some of your younger players.

“You’re going to have two picks (in the 2026 NBA Draft), 27 and 40. Is there an opportunity to move up in the draft? Are you content staying there? So, I do think there’s some optionality as far as some of the trimming around the edges without making a bold type move.”

Williams obviously would come with risk, and his addition alone wouldn’t constitute a successful offseason. But for a team that clearly needs frontcourt help, Time Lord is a known quantity who is worth considering as the Celtics look ahead to the summer.

Darius Acuff Jr. of the Arkansas Razorbacks is perhaps the favorite small-ish point guard on the 2026 NBA Draftboard. Acuff’s offensive case speaks loudly enough to justify high-end lottery interest, but the questions surrounding his defensive effort and shot profile are real enough to split many evaluators. He was Arkansas’ engine as a freshman, scoring efficiently, passing at high volume and delivering some of the biggest late-season performances in the country. The question surrounding Acuff is not whether he can score. It is whether a 6-foot-2 guard can pressure the rim enough, and whether he has the defensive buy-in and decision balance to be more than a regular-season shot-maker.

The basics

Acuff bolstered his standing in draft circles as the 2025-26 season progressed, becoming more of a riser during the SEC Tournament and the Razorbacks’ three NCAA Tournament games. He averaged 23.5 points, leading the conference, in 35.1 minutes per game in his only college season. He shot the lights out from 3-point range, at 44% on the year. That shooting puts him firmly above every point guard on the board save for Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and perhaps Illinois’ Keaton Wagler.

He is a pure scorer more than anything else at this point.

Acuff measured 6-foot-2 without shoes and about 186 pounds with a 6-foot-6.5 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine, which gives him better length than the average small guard but still places him below the size threshold many teams now prefer for primary ball handlers. His athletic profile is more compact power, pace manipulation, and change-of-speed craft than overwhelming vertical pop. He can get a shoulder past defenders, stop quickly into pull-ups, and play through some contact because of his strength and low center of gravity, but he is not the type of guard who consistently erases mistakes with elite downhill burst.

That distinction matters. Acuff’s combine agility and sprint numbers support a functional mover, not a nuclear athlete, so his NBA separation has to come from handle, footwork, screen craft, and shooting gravity. The long arms give teams a reason to believe the defensive outcome is not hopeless, but the tape concerns are less about tools than engagement, screen navigation, and possession-to-possession awareness.

Strengths

Acuff’s hallmark, the thing that has brought him near the top of draft boards everywhere, is his shot creation with shooting touch. He can make pull-ups from deep, punish defenders who go under screens and shoot off balance without looking rushed. The free-throw and 3-point indicators both back up the touch, and his production suggests the jumper is not just a workout skill.

His second strength is advantage passing out of scoring pressure. He averaged 6.4 assists per game at Arkansas. He is not merely a microwave scorer — his assist volume, low turnover rate for his usage and comfort throwing lobs or hit-ahead passes give him a path to lead-guard status as a pro. When he gets two defenders involved, he can find the release valve quickly enough to punish help.

He also has competitive shot-making confidence. Acuff does not shrink from big moments, and for a smaller guard that matters because his offensive value has to be high-end. The pitch is that he can become the kind of guard who bends defensive coverages with range, tempo, and touch even when the initial action is contained.

Weaknesses

Acuff’s defensive presence is the headline risk associated with drafting him. Multiple scouting reports frame him as a targetable NBA defender because of size, inconsistent effort, poor screen navigation and shaky off-ball awareness. He doesn’t need to become a bona fide stopper, but he does need to compete hard enough to avoid being hunted off the floor. The current concern is that the defensive problems are not only physical; they include attention, assignment discipline and recovery effort.

The offensive translation also has a narrower runway than the raw numbers suggest. Acuff’s size means he must be exceptionally efficient as a creator, and several evaluators question whether he creates enough deep paint touches against length. If he settles for too many floaters and pull-ups, NBA teams may live with the highlights and win the possession math. His passing is good, but because he is scorer-first, teams will want to know whether he can organize an offense when the first scoring read is removed.

There is also a roster-building question. A team drafting Acuff is probably committing to building around his on-ball value while protecting him defensively. That is doable if the offense is special; it is dangerous if he is merely good.

Fit with the Mavericks

First of all, if the Mavericks stay at the No. 9 pick, Acuff will likely be gone, rendering the fit with the team moot, but anything can happen. The Mavs are already desperately small at the guard position. In an ideal world, they would have a chance at a bigger guard, but beggars can’t be choosers, of course.

He would immediately jump every point guard on the roster in terms of gravity, scoring punch and creation, save Kyrie Irving. Getting a hold of Acuff would make an interesting case for seeing what the Mavericks may be able to get in exchange for Irving, but of course, if they were going to trade Irving, 2026 draft picks would be the team’s primary target.

It’s fascinating and a little sad to say that, as desperately as the Mavericks need help at guard, Acuff and smaller point guards like him may not ultimately represent the best fit.

NBA Comparison

Some are saying Acuff reminds them of Stephon Marbury. Neither player is big or explosive, but they’re shifty and physical when attacking the rim. Both Acuff and Marbury initiate and take contact on drives. They step into 3-pointers and mid-range jumpers with similar mechanics behind their shots.

Others have said Acuff is similar to current Utah Jazz point guard Keyonte George, who broke out at the start of his third NBA season before injuries/unethical tanking saw his minutes decline later in the year. I’ve also heard comparisons to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, who more than doubled his scoring from his rookie year (6.5 points) to his second year (13.6) in the NBA.

After an unceremonious end to the 2025-2026 season, it seems as though the Minnesota Timberwolves are heading towards an offseason where every indication is that big changes will be made, with the main focus on the roster.

After getting taken out by the two teams battling in the Western Conference Finals this season in the past two playoff runs, plenty of evaluation will take place this summer on the roster and how to ascend to the level required to take down two teams that look poised to be leaders in the clubhouse for years to come. Nothing is ever set in stone in the NBA, and any number of things could change as time marches on, but it is clear that the Timberwolves need more brains and firepower if they hope to build a true contender around Anthony Edwards.

As the dust settles on another Timberwolves season, our staff picked their most important questions for the team that will be answered before opening night in the fall.

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Benny Hughes: What Is Julius Randle’s Value?

I got lucky and was able to have first pick for this, so I opted for the most obvious question that most Timberwolves fans are asking.

After a red-hot start to this year, Julius Randle’s production came crashing down. He had a few rough stretches where his attention to detail waxed and waned, with a promise of consistency once the postseason began. This was not the case as he averaged 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 39% from the floor and 24% from three. While it would be disingenuous for Randle to shoulder all of the blame, it is tough to sustain long playoff runs with your second option playing like Randle was this postseason.

You couple this performance with Naz Reid’s playoff emergence and Minnesota most likely looking to retool their front court with Joan Beringer waiting in the wings, and it is not hard to come to the conclusion that it is unlikely for Randle to be on the roster next season.

The bigger question becomes, after much setup on my part, what is his value? The good news is that he is still on a reasonable contract and has shown an ability to produce in the regular season; the bad news is that his value is extremely low after the playoffs. This leads to the larger issue of whether you will have to attach an asset to Randle to get off of this contract, or whether you will be able to get value to re-balance a roster in need of point guard play. I think that as the freshness of the playoffs wears off and the offseason progresses, there will be teams that see the value of a Julius Randle, especially with the new lottery rules punishing the worst three teams in the league with a lower chance of obtaining the number one pick.

I think that a team that is in the 4-10 range (or is in the bottom three and wants to get in the 4-10 range) will see the value of a player like Julius Randle to help them not bottom out. He is still a skilled scorer who can fill it up on any given night. While this isn’t the place you would like to be operating from as a GM, it is still something to consider with any Timberwolves move that is made this offseason.

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Leo Sun: What Is “The Core” and Is It Time to Break It Up?

After the Wolves were unceremoniously eliminated in game six, Head Coach Chris Finch took to the podium for his post-game media availability.

“We still have a young core around Anthony, Jaden, and Naz. We’re not planning on going anywhere, but we know we need to keep building this thing out.”

That was his response when asked about some of the younger talent on the team, such as TJ Shannon, Jaylen Clark, and Joan Beringer, in comparison to the San Antonio Spurs youth. Finch made certain to zoom out and mention that though he believes in those young guys, he pivoted to the aforementioned three. That would fall in line with most fans’ beliefs that Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid are “the core.”

But what if you zoomed out even further?

Though Rudy Gobert is roughly eight years older than that group, has he not been an integral part of the recent Wolves “Golden Era”? It’s easy to imagine a world where, without Rudy on the team, the Wolves hardly make it past the first round in the last three years, let alone as a top six seed. So, when I pose the question “What is the core?” how would President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly answer that?

He was the man who acquired Gobert in the first place.

The Wolves are at an important inflection point in their franchise direction. Do they continue to move forward with whatever they deem the core to be, hoping that the trajectory will incline back up in the next couple of years? Perhaps a few peripheral roster adjustments are enough to push them forward towards a championship.

Or was this year a foreshadowing of an incoming decline in the coming seasons? Perhaps the franchise will have to make the painful, but necessary decision to remove one (or more) of the pillars of their core in hopes of building a team that can raise a championship banner.

The Timberwolves aren’t facing a cliff at the moment, but whether or not they will face one sooner than later depends on the conversations the front office is having about “the core.”

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Thilo Widder: Is the Front Office Okay Taking a Step Back?

This may be a little too similar to Leo’s and Benny’s, but I think it’s a separate thing entirely.

Do you guys remember the 2018-19 season, when Jimmy Butler blew up the first Wolves team in 20 years to make the playoffs? Do you guys remember the offers that reportedly came in for him?

I do. The Rockets offered four first-round picks and an expiring. The Heat offered the man who would go on to score 83 in Bam Adebayo, alongside some salary filler, and the pick that would become Tyler Herro. Instead, the Wolves took home veteran forward Robert Covington, the 24-year-old Dario Šarić, Jerryd Bayless, and a second-round pick.

It feels like we’re at a similar point today, albeit with somehow more depressed assets in Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.

Karl-Anthony Towns was 23 when Jimmy Butler was moved, as was Andrew Wiggins. The Wolves could’ve found players to fit the timeline of those two, dip back into the lottery, and then re-emerge like a butterfly from its chrysalis.

Instead, Tom Thibodeau chose job security and took the worst long-term offer that he hoped would guarantee his career as the Wolves’ President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach. It did not.

Tim Connelly and Chris Finch certainly have a far longer leash to work with, but something feels similar. Connelly is in the last year of his deal, and one could argue that while the Towns trade was cap-forced, it was a similar level of prioritizing the now over the future.

Jrue Holiday and Kyrie Irving are popular targets, but both are some of the most overpaid players in basketball. Jrue in particular has an awful deal. Would targeting one of them in a Randle swap make sense? Sure, but it’d be another band-aid to stay afloat in the demonic Western Conference. How do the Wolves get to the tier of the two teams in the conference finals right now? They change. Significantly.

This offseason is, realistically, the last opportunity to reshuffle the deck and still have enough time to convince Anthony Edwards to stick around for the next iteration of Wolves basketball. I hope they take that opportunity, and the lumps that come with it, instead of finding another band-aid.

Either go all in or get off the pot.

*That* is the biggest question I have for this offseason.

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Andrew Carlson: What Does Chris Finch’s Style of Basketball Actually Look Like?

For the entirety of coach Chris Finch’s tenure, it has felt like a “first comes the roster, then comes the philosophy” mentality.

While there are through lines, it feels as though there are major themes that arise every season that sometimes come to fruition and sometimes do not.

The Wolves have always been bottom 10 in pick and roll frequency under Finch, and just this past season and in the playoffs, top five in iso frequency. Off-ball movement off of isolations and high screens seems to be bankable.

But “playing with pace” was something that never quite made its way to the full team, namely the star player. “Your turn, my turn” basketball, or the ball getting “sticky,” also continues to be a theme. A lot of that was Anthony Edwards being the scorer that he is, but much of it was due to a weird and off-kilter roster construction.

Anthony Edwards never trusted Rudy Gobert as a roller. Julius Randle had a reckless disregard for the “flow” that Finch talks so much about, paramount to his offense.

Ahead of an offseason that might see those two leaving, with the ability to reshape the roster, I ask:

What philosophy will be laid down heading into the season, with perhaps Finch’s last major chance to really shape personnel around it?

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Ryan Eichten: How Many Frontcourt Players Will Get Traded?

The one thing that the Timberwolves’ series loss to the Spurs made clear is that they are just plain not good enough. That is true of the team writ large, but also true for the front-court pairing of Randle and Gobert, who were both ineffective against Victor Wembanyama and the rest of his San Antonio team.

While both are very talented players, especially Gobert, who is on track to make the Hall of Fame, the Wolves have never fully maximized the pairing since trading for Randle and Donte DiVincenzo almost two years ago.

The question for Minnesota heading into this offseason doesn’t seem to be whether or not they will trade one of their starting frontcourt players, but if they will trade both.

While Ranlde’s poor play and attitude against the Spurs stand out, the pairing of Gobert and Edwards has never found the offensive ceiling needed to break through in the Western Conference. Almost regardless of Randle’s status with the team, it may make sense to move on from Gobert, given the Wolves would likely receive a large package in return.

There are merits to trading one or both of Randle and Gobert, and if a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade materializes, McDaniels and Reid may also be on the table. It feels like this offseason will see more change for the Timberwolves than just breaking up the frontcourt and hoping that does the trick.

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: There’s a lot of fan talk about trading Devin Booker. What’s your opinion on what the Suns could likely expect to get back for Book if traded?

GuarGuar: I am very, very against trading Book. Let me start with that. However, if we did, I’m sure we could get some first round picks and a couple of young players. I don’t think we’d get this unbelievable, enormous haul. He’s gonna be 30 and probably has already reached his peak as a player. Trading him would set us back for a while.

Diamondhacks: This asks for my opinion…about other people’s opinions. My opinion is that Booker’s elite at drawing fouls and converting FT’s. He’s very solid at a couple of other things and therefore a formidable offensive asset.

My opinion about other people’s opinions is that some FOs similarly value Book’s skill set, to return the favor. Along the lines of a D’Aaron Fox or Austin Reaves equivalent…contingent, of course, on the NBA’s byzantine transaction rules, which only 37 people in the world seem to fully understand.

Ashton: Ah, the dreaded Trade Booker question. Way to kick it off, Rod.

Salary cap relief maybe? It will still be bits and pieces in return. And this question rolls so perfectly into Q2 as the real prize is if the Suns can get high-value picks in return.

But let’s be honest here. Book isn’t going anywhere. Booker is Arizona to the core that is last extension should have included a no-trade clause, because that is basically the power he has. His colorways shoes feature green from his off-season home in Flagstaff and his next upcoming Sedona debut featuring turquoise in partnership with McDonalds. It features a “M” and for those that do not know Sedona, they have a city ordinance requiring businesses to put their logos into turquoise. That includes the billion-dollar chain that features overpriced menu items that makes you run for the bathroom. It is quite iconic. I have been to Sedona many times over 30 plus years and seeing a McDonalds with turquoise branding over that time span is just so weird. Enough of Sedona, Brandon Duenas has an article detailing the shoes and I am no “sneakerhead”. I am only pointing out that Book knows Arizona through his colorways, from Flagstaff to U of A.

Which play-off team would absorb his contract? Would the Thunder really have won Game 1 if Booker was on the squad? Pistons may be in the ECF finals if they had him. Both teams could meet the bar with asset ready players and picks. Maybe the Spurs win game 2?

But in the end, the question is moot. Booker is quintessential Arizona. Next topic.

OldAz: I have given this zero thought because it is so impossible to consider for many reasons. If it was something they were looking into, they would need to get back a lot, but who is trading for Booker who also has a collection of assets the Suns would want?

If I were to remove Book’s history and place him in the Suns franchise and make this move, it would be because I was going all in on a core of Green, Brooks, and some of the young talent the Suns have in Fleming, KM, Williams, and even Gillespie. From a pure basketball perspective, this would work, but the Suns would be wise in this scenario to target draft picks and young players, but those are not going to offset Booker’s massive salary. On the other hand, if someone is adding Book, it is probably to pair with their existing star player(s).

The only way I see this working is if a team has an overpriced older star to balance salaries along with more attractive but less expensive assets to send in a deal. I just can’t think of any good examples that would start to move this needle for me and also be attractive to the other team.

Rod: Well, the short answer is that, whatever the return is, it’s not likely going to be enough to make the Suns better in the short term. With the new CBA in place, teams are learning the value of having young players on cheaper contracts on the roster so I doubt that anyone is going to give up many unprotected draft picks or really good younger players still on relatively cheap contracts. Other teams have learned from the Suns’ own mistakes (their trades for Durant and Beal) how badly that can turn out.

Yes, getting rid on his max contract would help the team by adding some financial flexibility. However, with over $20+ mil in dead money on the cap sheet for years to come, and possible hefty extensions due to Brooks and Green coming in the next two years, it might not really have as much of an impact on the cap situation as some think.

Basically, the idea of trading Book just to get off of his current contract isn’t a wise one. That doesn’t mean that trading him shouldn’t be considered though. If a team calls with a really good offer, you have to at least consider it…but only if it’s a really good offer.

Q2: One constant in most trade proposals is getting back draft picks. Without control of their own draft picks over the next few years, how valuable do you believe gaining someone else’s draft picks would actually be?

GuarGuar: It’s hard to get a lottery pick unless it’s your own so trading for somebody else’s first would most likely mean it’s a late first round pick which isn’t nearly as valuable. We’re kinda screwed when it comes to gaining a top pick in the draft for the next 5 years, but having someone else’s pick is better than nothing. I don’t know what we have to offer other than Booker that could net us a first round pick though.

Diamondhacks: The average developed player in today’s NBA is very good and only ten or a dozen picks in each draft seem to rise much above that, to add incremental value. And it’s never the top ten picks either. It’s always more distributed out, to 2nd rounders like Kalkbrenner, Ajay Mitchell, and, we hope, Fleming. So I wouldn’t think the immediate impact to the Suns (of no high picks) is likely to be large.

But in the long term, having no first-rounders is a problem. You’re not only missing out on multiple pools of rising talent, hence more likely to land a franchise piece, but it also hurts negotiating leverage in trades, because you’ve publicly shut off an alternative means to improve your team.

Ashton: Almost a continuation of Q1.

Every NBA team and fans are looking at the OKC and Spurs model that hoarded draft picks and developed young players organically over time or lucked into Wemby. Those first round picks over the next few years are going to be extremely valuable because there is no realistic path for trading Booker for picks and scrubs. The days of receiving five first round picks or over.

And yes, the all-wise national pundits are already declaring 2027 draft weak. I will go on the record to say that it is not. NIL is bringing back quality-level NBA-ready players to college, players whose ultimate goal is to play in the NBA. They will be back in 2027 and beat me for the 2028 draft cycles.

Also, it is likely that anti-tanking rules will come into effect that basically punish the bottom three teams with decreased percentage odds for the first pick while increasing percentages for the remaining 16 teams. It is way too much to go into here.

In the end, sure, first round picks are valuable if they fall into the lottery range. A salary cap hindrance if they do not. Sure, two-ways could be used for the second round and non-guaranteed contracts, but this question is loaded because the value is in 1-16 unprotected picks.

OldAz: This one is tough because the new regime seems committed to player development, which is always more important to me than where they draft, so having more picks is a good thing. However, trading picks has become so convoluted with swap rights that you almost have no idea where a future pick might end up. It seems everyone values picks more for their trade value than for actually picking and developing new players. In either case, having more picks for either use (future trades or young players) is something the Suns lack and could benefit from.

Rod: Depending on protections, they could turn out to be very valuable. Their most likely value would be as additional trade chips, though. I occasionally see fans saying that the Suns should try to get their own picks back, but that’s extremely unlikely as long as those teams believe that the Suns are going to be a bad team when the time to use those picks comes around. With anyone else’s picks, it’s a real gamble as to just how valuable they’ll actually be when draft time rolls around. Unless you’ve got control of your own picks, going into a full-blown rebuild is a recipe for failure.

I certainly want the Suns to add a few more picks to their asset war chest but, in all honesty, that should only be their number one concern if they’re making trades to shed salary.

Q3: Which Suns player (or players) do you believe is most likely to show significant/meaningful improvement next season?

GuarGuar: I think Rasheer is most likely to show the biggest improvement. You could see the difference in his game from the beginning of the season to now. I think the organization knows that if we have a chance to become a top team, we will need him to develop into a very good player. He has a lot of raw talent, and he’s got the best defensive prowess on the team. I’m expecting big things from him next year and for him to be a starter by at least midway through the season.

Diamondhacks: Maluach. He and Fleming improved their skillsets, but Maluach is our youngest player (by more than two years) and therefore earlier on in his projected development arc. In his first NBA nibble, Maluach shot 71% FTs and, after Jan 1, 31% from three. He’s already our best shot blocker. I think that’s all quite encouraging for a 7-foot teenager.

Ashton: This is almost a softball question. Khaman Maluach. He is not being traded anytime soon and will see the NBA game come to him.

Sure, some would say Fleming to step up into the power forward role, but I see it differently.

We (fans) have no idea if Mark Williams will leave, be extended, or be injured and that puts the onus on Oso. The trickle-down effect is to KM (I still dislike the moniker Man Man – he has to prove it).

And my prediction market states KM for Suns MIP.

OldAz: I think Fleming is the most likely because his path to getting that opportunity seems the most clear at the moment. However, if Williams is not resigned or moves elsewhere, then KM also has a clear path and oodles of talent to grow into. At the moment, I say Fleming because I am just so enamored about having his physical abilities on the floor as a Suns fan, but Maluach having an early breakout year would not shock me at all.

Are there really any other candidates here? Dunn could magically figure it out, but his ceiling seems to be a really good rotational piece and Oso is already exceeding expectations and until he can develop a jumpshot (not holding my breath).

Rod: As much as I hope it’s either Fleming or Maluach, I’m going with Collin Gillespie here. As frustrating as it was for fans to watch Collin fade toward the end of last season, I doubt that anyone was more frustrated by that than Collin himself…and I think that’s going to drive him even harder this offseason to improve himself and be better prepared for the NBA’s 82-game grind.

I don’t know just how much better he can get, but I see him as someone determined to keep improving himself, keep adding to his game as long as he’s in uniform. I don’t see him making a huge leap in any single aspect of his game, but I do feel as though he could make enough small improvements in different areas that would add up to a significant improvement overall.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

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Suns Trivia/History

On May 23, 1976, the Suns played in their first-ever NBA Finals game against the Celtics in Boston. The Suns put up 22 more field goal attempts than the Celtics (99-77), but an uncharacteristically poor shooting night for the Suns (.384 vs .472 season average), plus being outscored 20-11 at the free throw line, led to a 98-87 loss to the Celtics. It was also the only game of the series in which Paul Westphal (8 points on 4 of 17 shooting) failed to score in double digits.

On May 23, 1984, the Suns defeated the LA Lakers 126-121 in LA in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, cutting the Lakers’ series lead to 3-2. All five of the Suns’ starters — Kyle Macy, Walter Davis, Maurice Lucas, Larry Nance, and James Edwards — scored 20+ points in this game, with Macy, Davis, and Lucas all playing 40+ minutes (and Nance was close with 39 mins). Sadly, their series comeback attempt would be cut short when they lost the following game in Phoenix 99-97 on May 25.

On May 23, 2021, the Suns returned to the playoffs after an 11-year absence and defeated the LA Lakers 99-90 in their first playoff game in over a decade. Devin Booker led the Suns with 34 points while Deandre Ayton added a double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds to take a 1-0 series lead in their first round matchup.

On May 25, 1993, newly acquired Sun Charles Barkley won the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player. Barkley helped lead the Phoenix Suns to a then-franchise and NBA-best 62-20 record during the 1992-93 season and averaged 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 76 games. Barkley was the first of only two Suns to win the award, the second being Steve Nash, who later collected back-to-back MVP trophies in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

On May 28, 1974, the Phoenix Suns drafted future 9-time NBA All-Star and eventual Basketball Hall of Fame member George Gervin with the 40th pick in the 3rd round of the NBA Draft. Gervin was, however, already playing in the old ABA and elected to stay there with the San Antonio Spurs instead of jumping to the NBA to play for the Suns. Gervin was originally signed to play in the ABA for the Virginia Squires in 1973 by Johnny “Red” Kerr, formerly the first head coach of the Phoenix Suns in 1968-69 and 1969-70.

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Important Future Dates

Mid-June (date TBD) – Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents (following the Finals)
June 23 – NBA Draft First Round, 8 ET (ABC/ESPN)
June 24 – NBA Draft Second Round, 8 ET (ESPN)
June 30 – Teams can begin negotiations with all free agents
July 1 – Official start of the 2026-27 league year and moratorium period
July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin
July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas
Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open

I am obsessed with the historical occurrence of the fad.

Fad is a word that sounds contemporary but is actually much older, having been coined back in the 1830s as a probable variation of the French word ‘fadaise’ (meaning a trifle and/or nonsense), which was ultimately derived from the Latin ‘fatuus’, which is basically another word for stupid.

And there have been a lot of stupid fads. Some have become lovable and enduring forms of nostalgic lore, like The Macarena, the Hacky Sack, andthe Hula Hoop. Others serve as an external testament to human gullibility and the power of marketing, like the Pet Rock, the Sauna Suit, and vibrating exercise belts.

No longer confined to the “fashion-craze” 1880’s definition of the word, the fad lives on as a societal organism, even in the age of the algorithm. It existed long before the word that we now use for it, and has endured through every phase of recorded history and technological advancement.

We’ve even cycled through a few in the NBA.

‘Positionless’ basketball. The proliferation of small-ball centers. The theoretical softness of European players. The idea that ‘tweeners’ (players who didn’t slot into a traditional 1-5) should be avoided in spite of skill.

There’s even one that’s become an integral part of the modern game: the ABA three-point line.

My favorite fad was introduced to the world in the early 90’s, an epoch rife with Pogs, and Slap Bracelets, with the immortal and quotidian Furby to come, perched upon the sculptured bust above my chamber door.

Magic Eye pictures, also known as autostereograms, were all the rage when I was child.

First published in books in 1991, autostereograms are two-dimensional images that can create the optical illusion of a three-dimensional picture within the 2D image when vision is manipulated in a specific way by the viewer.

One must look past the image in order to see this, to engage Stereopsis (a trick of depth perception caused by the different perspective each eye has of a three-dimensional scene), which is a difficult thing to explain to a 4-year-old.

I wanted to see the pictures so badly. My father did his best to help. He told me to focus on the two dots above the picture, and then relax my eyes until they turned into three, and then look down. No dice.

He told me to touch my nose to the picture, stare into space, and then slowly pull back. No luck there either.

Tantalized by the knowledge of pictures just beyond my sight, I stared at them for hours, patiently (and impatiently) waiting for something, anything, to pop out of the frame in the way that so many had described.

Staring at my television in Game 2, I found myself doing the same thing; trying to will myself into some vision beyond what I was seeing play out on the screen.

The officiating was jarring. Wemby was being manhandled both inside the paint and outside it by an unleashed and unchecked Isaiah Hartenstein. De’Aaron Fox was out recovering from a re-aggravated injury from the series before. Harper made his way up the tunnel, made a bid to escape Spurs staffers, and then vanished into the locker room yet again, with no one certain of the cause.

Stephon Castle was yanked about by the hair and fired errant passes with an air of increasing desperation and chagrin. And the physicality all but barred Keldon from his usual forays into the paint, as he went 4-12 and found himself being targeted by the swan-diving Thunder.

And it wasn’t that I couldn’t get the picture. I more or less had it by the end of the 3rd quarter. This was a loss.

It was one-sided, and ugly, and exactly the kind of defeat that could send even the most composed Spurs fans into a spiral, and that included me.

I was straining to see what the picture within the picture was.

What were all of these repeating frames and violations composing out of their shape and redundancy? I restarted the game after it was over and continued to stare at it, just as I had the Magic Eye books of my youth.

Everything seemed bad. It just did. There were a lot of things that I could tell myself to feel better, but the more I thought about it, the worse things seemed. The Spurs were down to one of their three all-star caliber guards. Both Game 1 and Game 2 had been called fairly unevenly, even though Game 2 had now glaringly overshadowed it.

Even if one (or both) of said guards returned, there was no guarantee that they wouldn’t be ushered right back off of the court if the same degree of physicality was going to be allowed. And even if it wasn’t, that was no guarantee of effectiveness from players with potentially nagging injuries.

An hour so later, I went back to bed, no clearer on the matter than before.

And it wasn’t until the following afternoon, sitting in my truck, locked out of my home and waiting on a locksmith, that it clicked for me. I was crossing my eyes.

It was something I had figured out after enough time spent gazing at autostereograms with no result. If I crossed my eyes on purpose, instead of waiting for them to adjust, I could make the shapes appear.

Instead of popping out of the frame, they would sink into it, creating the impression of the hidden shape. I was thrilled by this development until I told my father about it.

“You won’t be able to see all of the details that way”, he said to me, frowning slightly. “That’s why I didn’t tell you about it. I wanted you to be able to see the whole picture.”

The whole picture. That’s what I was missing. And the thing is, as I had eventually learned, you kind of have to relax in order to see it. And relaxation isn’t exactly one’s first instinct after a game like that.

So, closing my eyes, I went back over the game in my mind.

I saw Julian Champagnie and Castle going a combined 2-13 from three, a trend likely to reverse itself. I saw Devin Vassell putting in savvy work against Jaylin Williams, Jared McCain, and Isaiah Joe while dropping bombs near max efficiency. I saw Jordan McLaughlin put in quality minutes with little to no preparation, boding well if he has to play more, and becoming positive by default if Harper and/or Fox are able to play.

And then I saw the shape pop right out of the background. Long. Rangy. Swatting everything in sight and reach.

The Spurs have Victor Wembanyama. That’s the big picture. That’s the trump card that they have that the Thunder don’t. Sure, they forestalled him for a game. On their home court. With foul calls going almost entirely in their favor (or largely uncalled). After he bent Game 1 to his will like a raging Kaiju let loose in Oklahoma City.

This strategy of unchecked physicality is just a fad. Teams have been trying it out one after another because that’s the fashion. That’s what coaches, and front offices, and talking heads are thinking will work. They’re clinging to anything that offers some modicum of success. They’re hoping that it’ll stop Wemby.

But it hasn’t for long. It works in fits in starts — in sometimes, and quarters and halves.

It’s not a long-term solution. It hasn’t won a series. It’s not here to stay.

In the context of economic studies, fads are mean-reverting deviations from intrinsic value caused by social or psychological forces. They succeed only as a temporary extension of misguided belief, and then return to the mean.

Like mutton-chops, and hoverboards, and chopines (platform shoes), they exist as residue of human envy and enthusiasm for that which is novel and (often) absurd, and sometimes become a part of the fabric of civilization in enduring ways. Entire eras are colored and defined by them.

It’s possible that they are the debris of humanity itself. That they’ll cease to occur in the same gap of time that we cease to exist. But so long as the Spurs have Wemby, I expect them to keep popping up.

That’s how much players and teams are grasping at straws. The fads are the sign of the times.

And this is the time of the Wemby.

Takeways

• I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t big on Stephon Castle out of his draft class, but I knew the Spurs needed guards, and I did think that (if he could improve his shooting) he had a shot at becoming a pretty decent combo-guard. I was resigned to the Spurs drafting Castle, but I was really hoping they’d draft Jared McCain with their other 1st rounder (not being able to imagine a world where they landed Dylan Harper the following year). I say this so that you understand when I say that Castle has completely won me over. After a couple of months, I pronounced him Jrue Holiday 2.0, which I meant/mean as an absolute compliment. Holiday was one of my most desired players coming out of college ever (after LaMarcus Aldridge and Gordon Hayward), and I consider him to be the best two-way guard of the last decade. The thing is, though, that Holiday has historically been at his best running the point in stints, and sharing the back-court with other guards like Derrick White, Dame Lillard, and Steph Curry, and/or heavy assist forwards like Giannis, Middleton, Avdija, and Draymond Green. The same appears to be true of Castle, who creates value in so many ways that it’s really hard to fault him, or even really consider it much of a shortcoming. With Fox and Harper both out, though, it came to the forefront in a historically ugly way, and he and the coaching staff are going to have to figure this out, even in the event of the return of one (or both) of those guards. In fact, I’d like to see them go out of their way to make a point early in the next game that appropriate adjustments have been made and ram the ball down the Thunder’s collective throats. Castle has that kind of work ethic, fire, and grit, and I’m certain that he can do it with a strategy session beforehand.
• I’m starting to think that the Spurs need to kick the tires on French Vanilla if/when the Thunder try to go back to some of their rough-and-tumble paint hijinks. As I understood it, this is exactly the sort of thing that Kornet was brought in for, so it’s odd not to see him used in that way, especially if the Spurs are content to just let Caruso fire away. If you’re gonna give that guy open threes, then who cares if you play two bigs? It just feels like a natural counter that needs to be shown when the Thunder play that hand, as I’m sure they will again.
• After some inconsistent shooting performances, Devin Vassell has improved his shooting with every round. He shot 42 and 44% in the first two rounds, and 35% from three. So far, he’s been absolutely huge in this round, upping his shooting from the field to 46% and his long-distance shooting to 43%, in addition to the largely outstanding defense he’s put on display in the postseason. I know I’ve talked a lot about how insanely good Kornet and Champagnie’s contracts are, but even at 27 million, Vassell is giving them a real run for their money in terms of value, and his salary actually *drops* next year! San Antonio’s front office has to be the envy of just about every owner in the league, be they spend-happy or thrifty beyond belief. And to think they did it without cutting every reasonable expense in the process. I’m guessing that guy in Portland thinks he can outdo them, and boy, would I like to sell him the site of Iowa’s one-and-only shark attack if he thinks he can make that work.

Playing You Out – The Theme Song of the Evening:

Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult

The Golden State Warriors are moving in the right direction this offseason.

They swiftly addressed questions looming about the future of head coach Steve Kerr and whether he'd call it quits. Kerr re-signed with the Warriors on a multi-year deal that will keep him as the highest paid coach. That was step one. Check.

Step two was finding their place in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft on June 23-24. Golden State received the No. 11 pick. Check.

Their next order of business includes scouting talent for upcoming prospects, but also planning package deals as they look to remain active during the offseason, fielding trade offers from other teams.

Not expected to be included in those trade talks is their No. 11 pick, as the Warriors are eyeing a player that they can develop, but also is NBA-ready. However, if it's a veteran player who can help them win-now, then everything – meaning that pick – is on the table.

"I think we're in a different place now. Right, there's no question. And I've talked to Mike (Dunleavy, the Warriors GM), I mean, I don't know the draft, but he feels really strongly that we're going to get a good player. It could be a 19 year old, it could be someone older," Kerr told reporters.

That means to be competitive during trade talks, the Warriors will have to be aggressive in the players they go after, and offer packages that doesn't completely deplete their team. The Warriors could use a dominant two-way wing or an elite frontcourt player.

Here's a list of players the Warriors could look to add this offseason:

Golden State Warriors trade targets

These are a handful of trade targets that would make sense to push the Warriors back into postseason contention.

Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Pairing Kawhi Leonard with Stephen Curry would give the Warriors a defensive presence that is on the level of Draymond Green, while simultaneously providing them another scorer and go-to option in late-game situations to relieve pressure from Curry. With Leonard expecting $50 million, the wonder is whether the Warriors have the cache to make it happen. One player who made the case? Green on his podcast.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Golden State has held discussions with Milwaukee in attempts to acquire GiannisAntetokounmpo around the trade deadline during the regular season, but talks fizzled out. Antetokounmpo fits the timeline and positional needs for the Warriors: A two-way player and front court force on the inside. There hasn't been any reports of an official offer for the swap. In order to make the deal happen, it might take a haul including Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, the No. 11 overall pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick.

Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets

Aaron Gordon is reportedly made available in trade talks and is being shopped. Gordon and the Warriors haven't been linked by any reports. It's just a basketball fit that would benefit both parties. Gordon could give the Warriors, and Curry, a few more years of playoff contention and championship relevance.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

The Warriors need an inside presence, especially if they don't bring back Kristaps Porzingis. Joel Embiid seems to be a name that people want to see in the Bay Area. Former NBA player Jeff Teague said on his podcast Club 520 that he believes Embiid would be effective for Curry.

"I think they might get Embiid," Teague said. "I can see them getting Embiid. ...This is just me thinking out loud. They're going to trade Draymond (Green) and someone else and go for Embiid. I think so. I'm thinking you gotta make a splash. You can't get Giannis, you can't get Kawhi. You gotta get somebody that's effective for Steph. The only most-available person is Embiid."

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

Trey Murphy fits the mold of what the Warriors are looking for in a two-way wing player. The bad news is that the Pelicans have been reluctant to deal him, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson. Murphy seems like he's considered an untouchable asset, but if the Warriors could convince the Pels to change their mind, that would be a great pickup.

Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets

Michael Porter Jr. should not be wasting talent in Brooklyn. He can contribute to a contending team. It's why the Warriors make sense. Golden State needs someone who adds versatility on the wing. Porter at 6-foot-10 can defend multiple positions, but he's known mostly for providing floor-spacing offensively and being able to knock down open shots. If the Warriors trade for Porter, they would add a more realistic scoring and shooting option on the wing.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golden State Warriors trade targets during this offseason

Alabama had one of the most NBA-centric offenses in college basketball, and it’s all thanks to Nate Oats and how he schemes up his players for success. One of the players that benefited from that is Amari Allen, who could be considered a Swiss army knife for what he brings on the floor, but doesn’t have one specific thing that he excels at.

At 6’8, Allen is a player who can defend multiple positions, but is best when he’s a help defender or as the low man. That’s a plus for Allen as NBA teams value those types of defensive instincts, and with his size, he can make a real difference in those areas (6.9 rebounds per game). On the other hand, he still has to work on his point of attack defense, as he got distracted at times when he was in those situations. He also had a hard time not fouling, which could be a big problem at the next level.

The one thing to love about Allen is his feel and IQ for the game, which can make up for some of the mistakes that he may make on defense.

On offense is where his IQ comes into play, and Oats put him in pick and roll positions where he was the roller, and he knew where to go with the ball. His passing was key for Alabama (3.1 assists per game), and he showed the ability to be a reliable short roller, while also making plays for others if there was a better option. His unselfishness is what sticks out, which is important in a league where ball movement reigns king.

As far as getting his own offense (11.4 points per game), Allen’s finishing might be at the top of the list of things that Allen does well. Oats wanted him to attack closeouts, and that’s what he did whenever he got the chance. When he had a straight line drive, it was almost guaranteed that Allen was going to finish. On the downside, he did have issues getting past bigger defenders, and there were times throughout the season where he got stuck and forced up bad misses. It’s obvious that when he gets pressured, it might end up being a bad shot or a turnover.

When it comes to his shot, Allen was a solid catch-and-shoot player, and he shot 34% from the 3-point line. He could definitely find more consistency in that area, and if he does, he can become a solid rotational player in the league. He wasn’t the type of player to seek out his own shot in college, which is also something that he may have to work on, but only if a team wants him to develop that part of his game.

If the Hawks are looking for another wing that is known for making the right play, Allen would be a good option for them. He’ll most likely be there when they pick at No. 23, but it will all depend on if he’s the best player on the board at that point.

Cooper Flagg’s season came to an end a month ago, but the Dallas Mavericks young star has had a positive offseason by way of Rookie of the Year honors. On Wednesday, he followed that up by being a unanimous selection to All-Rookie First Team.

A panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from around the world all cast votes for the honor, and each and every one had Flagg on First Team. Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game across 70 games. His rookie numbers astoundingly resulted in him leading the Mavs in total points, rebounds, assists and steals, putting in him rarified air with only Michael Jordan as the only rookies to ever accomplish the feat of leading their team in those categories.

Flagg joins 11 other Maverick players who have earned either First Team or Second Team rookie honors. Familiar faces like Luka Doncic, Roy Tarpley, Sam Perkins, Jay Vincent and former head coach Jason Kidd all took First Team honors in the past, with others such as Dereck Lively, Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels taking Second Team honors.

Flagg also joins 12 other teenagers to garner the honor, and is second youngest (LeBron James) to ever do it  at 19 years and 112 days old at the time of the award. Flagg arguably outperformed high expectations coming into the league and is poised to be the focal point of the team for years to come. Masai Ujiri said as much in a press conference Wednesday morning, as the team continues to overhaul in advance of the draft in June. It is unknown what is yet to come, but we do know the Mavs will be conducting a search for a new head coach, drafting another young player to pair with Flagg, and possibly overturning their roster to meet Ujiri’s vision. One thing that is for sure, is that Dallas has their key piece to build around, in Cooper Flagg.

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

For me, writing can be a solitary thing. As I write this, it’s 10:03 p.m. Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals just ended. I am sitting on the couch.

This season, I have been fortunate to be credentialed, affording me an opportunity to not only attend the games in person, but to observe many longtime newspaper sportswriters, local TV journalists, and national periodical writers.

On Monday, I drove up to Oklahoma City for games 1 and 2. Eight hour drive and many hours hanging out at Paycom Center. I had some amazing conversations with Carolina Teague (Spurfect), Tom Petrini (Spurs on SI), Maxime Aubin (L’Equipe), and Matt Guzman (Spurs on SI). Over the course of the season, I have witnessed their press conference style and gleaned knowledge from their writing. They all hustle, writing into the wee hours of the night. Their work ethic inspires me. I slept very little in Oklahoma, to say the least.

Late night games lead to later night writing. Morning media availability, shoot arounds, practice, pre and postgame press conferences followed by yeat another high-adrenalin game. With the series set for games every forty-eight hours, there is little time to reset.

In addition to the local coverage for the Spurs, the Western Conference Finals has brought in national writers, many who I follow intently. I heard one writer from a national magazine state that he’sdwanted to see more Spurs games in person throughout the regular season, but spends most of the year traveling to multiple locations and can’t quite lock in on one team until the postseason.

This is my ninth year with Pounding the Rock. I have written more than 3,000 posts, and to be honest, I am still finding my voice. Sitting with these writers — in some cases for hours in a car, or talking through footage while rewatching Game 1, or over Chinese food while analyzing the Knicks game 1 comeback in real time — I heard in perspectives I hadn’t considered. I was privy to minds that are locked on basketball 24/7.

Personally, I am partial to Pounding The Rock. This is where I started my Spurs journey. And so, as the postseason intensifies, I am increasing my visibility and promotion of this site. If you don’t follow me on X.com (formerly Twitter) you can catch my pre and post game videos: https://x.com/JephDuarte

I also am now posting exclusive behind the scenes video content on Facebook and Instagram.

There is an abundance of Spurs info out there, but PoundingThe Rock.com is home, and has a great team of contributors. I appreciate all of you who read the Open Thread and encourage you to follow the other members of this crew.

Game 3 tips off tonight back home in the Frost Bank Center. I’ll be there to get updates on Mitch Johnson’s pregame press conference, player availability, shoot around, starting lineups, and to capture the vibes as the Western Conference Finals get a Fiesta makeover.

Go Spurs Go!

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In 1987, Detroit was building what would soon become a championship team. With a backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, Rick Mahorn, second-year player Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson, and John Salley, the core was set.

And they had Boston in a nice spot in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pistons had crushed the Celtics in Game 4, 145-119, and were poised to win in Boston in Game 5. Even better for them, Robert Parish had injured his ankle and Kevin McHale was having a subpar game and was in foul trouble to boot.

So when Larry Bird’s drive was blocked with time running out and Detroit ahead 107-106 with mere seconds left on the clock, it looked like it was over for the Celtics.

Well, not quite.

As it turned out, Bird stole the inbounds from Thomas to Laimbeer and hit Dennis Johnson for a layup with one second left. Bird didn’t make friends, but he hated Laimbeer, who he (correctly) considered a dirty player.

Boston would go on to win the series, 4-3. This video is of the entire game, which is much better than just the final :17 seconds, and well worth your time. It was a very different kind of basketball.

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