The Knicks were 0-4 against the Boston Celtics in the regular season but went 4-2 when it mattered. Their lop-sided 119-81 win in Game 6 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden propelled them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, and sent the reigning champs home after an emphatic end to the series.
"To me, it's not about our guys -- they did everything they could," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "You've got to tip your hat off to the Knicks. They played a great series. They've been great all year. [Tom Thibodeau] is a great coach, so you've got to tip your hat off to them."
The Celtics lost leading scorer Jayson Tatum to a torn right Achilles in Game 4, leaving Jaylen Brown and Derrick White to shoulder the load. White scored a game-high 34 points in Boston's 127-102 Game 5 win, but finished Game 6 with only eight on 3-of-11 shooting.
"Losing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught that there's life after death," said Brown, who dropped a team-high 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting in Game 6 before fouling out in the third quarter. "We'll get ready for whatever's next -- whatever's next in the journey, I'll be ready for."
After a battle-tested Eastern Conference semifinals, the Knicks now turn the page to hosting Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, scheduled for next Wednesday at 8 p.m.
"We knew we would have to play 48 minutes against them," Thibodeau said. "They're terrific on both sides of the ball. They play their style no matter what. They're not going to hand you anything. You have to earn it. I thought we did that."
The Knicks dominated the defending champion Boston Celtics en route to a 119-81 win in Game 6 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
New York hasn't seen their Knicks clinch a playoff series at home since 1999, which is coincidentally the last time they went to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks slayed both marks on Friday night and did so in convincing fashion. They allowed just 37 first-half points and proceeded to give the Celtics the most lopsided loss in an elimination game by a defending champion in NBA history (38 points).
After the Game 6 win, Knicks fans, celebrities and the basketball world shared their reactions online:
The scenes outside Madison Square Garden as the Knicks advance to the Eastern Conference Finals pic.twitter.com/h4d3N4QdVQ
The Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday, left, defends the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson during the first half of Fridayâs game.Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP
It didnât take long for the New York Knicks to turn their biggest game in a quarter-century into a complete laugher on Friday night.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby scored 23 points apiece as the Knicks eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics with a 119-81 beatdown in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semi-final series, propelling New York into the last four of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2000.
The Knicks advance to meet the Indiana Pacers, the same team they faced in each of their previous three trips to the East finals in 1994, 1999 and 2000. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Manhattan.
New York overcame a sloppy opening quarter to lead by as many as 41 points during a non-competitive second half in front of a rollicking, celebrity-flecked crowd that included TimothĂŠe Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Bad Bunny and Lenny Kravitz. It marked the first time New York closed out a playoff series on their home floor since the strike-shortened season of 1999, when they reached the NBA finals as a No 8 seed.
âI thought from start to finish we were terrific,â Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said afterwards. â[The Celtics] are a terrific team on both sides of the ball. They play their style no matter what, and so theyâre not going to hand you anything. You have to earn it. And I felt we did that.
âBut we canât get carried away. Obviously itâs a great win and we advance. But you also understand that you have to get ready for the next series. We know that Indiana is a terrific team and weâre going to have to be ready.â
Bostonâs doomed title defense ended with a whimper uncharacteristic of their team in the Brad Stevens era. The Celtics, who had staved off elimination in the best-of-seven-games series with a convincing Game 5 win, were blown off the floor in a display that lacked the grit, execution and fighting spirit that defined last seasonâs championship run. Missing Jayson Tatum after his season-ending achilles injury in Game 4, Bostonâs depleted supporting cast of Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser struggled to make an impact, failing to score either before or during the Knicksâ decisive 17-4 run that opened up a 33-20 advantage, New Yorkâs biggest lead of the series to that point.
âIn Game 5 they got the best of us and we responded tonight,â Brunson said. âWe just found a way to keep making plays on the defensive side, the offense was just rolling.â
That surge, sparked by Mikal Bridgesâ perimeter shooting and Karl-Anthony Townsâ inside presence, ballooned into a 64-37 half-time advantage. Bridges drained four three-pointers on his way to 22 points, while Towns added 21, dominating Bostonâs thin frontline. Josh Hart chipped in with a triple-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, marking New Yorkâs first postseason triple-double since Walt Frazier in 1972.
The Knicks kept their foot on the gas after the break, stretching their lead to as many as 41 points as Boston coach Joe Mazzulla began pulling his starters midway through the third quarter. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 20 points before fouling out before the final period, but his efforts came in isolation as New Yorkâs defense forced Boston into rushed shots and clumsy turnovers. âAt the end of the day, we set a goal out, and we didnât achieve that goal,â Mazzulla said. âBut you have to take your hats off to the Knicks. They played a great series and theyâve been great all year, and Thibs is a great coach.
New York shot 46.2% from the field, including 16 of 46 (34.8%) from three-point range following a frigid start. The Knicks also dominated the glass, outrebounding Boston 55-36, while holding the Celtics to just 36% shooting and 29.3% from beyond the arc.
After the final buzzer sounded, fans poured out of Madison Square Garden into the humid Manhattan night to join the awaiting masses along Seventh Avenue, chanting âKnicks in six!â and âFuck you Boston!â as police barricades struggled to keep the crowds from spilling into traffic. Fire engine horns blared while fans scaled light poles and subway canopies.
New Yorkâs Game 6 demolition was a statement of intent, solidifying their return to the NBAâs elite after decades of mediocrity. It will also rekindle memories of those classic Knicks-Pacers showdowns, with Madison Square Garden now set to host Indiana in a throwback to their bruising battles of the 90s. For the first time in a generation, the Knicks will play a conference final series with genuine aspirations of returning to the NBA summit for the first time since 1973.
âThis is great. I mean, the fact that we havenât been here since my dad was on the team â heâs not gonna like that â but it means a lot to this organization and this city,â Brunson said.
The New York Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years and ended the one-year NBA title reign of the Boston Celtics with astonishing ease, rolling to a 119-81 victory in Game 6 on Friday night.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 23 points for the Knicks, who will face the Indiana Pacers, the same team they met in their last conference finals appearance in 2000. Game 1 is Wednesday night in New York.
The Knicks hadnât won a playoff series on their home floor since the 1999 East finals. So the celebrating started late in the one-sided first half inside Madison Square Garden and was sure to carry on deep into the night around the arena.
Mikal Bridges scored 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 for the Knicks, whose 38-point margin of victory was their largest in a postseason game.
Jaylen Brown scored 20 points for the Celtics, who lost leading scorer Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 4 but believed they still had enough to get it back to Boston for Game 7 and keep their title defense alive.
It was quickly clear that wasnât happening.
The Celtics led by at least 14 in each of the first five games, but this time the Knicks started fast and kept pouring it on until Boston coach Joe Mazzulla begin pulling his starters in the third quarter after the deficit reached 41 points.
The Knicks scored the first seven points of the second quarter to make it 33-20. New York blew it open with a 13-3 run that made it 49-27, a surge highlighted by 6-foot-1 guard Deuce McBrideâs chasedown block of Derrick Whiteâs shot that led to Josh Hartâs second straight basket while being fouled.
Ben Stiller and Lenny Kravitz shared a handshake and hug afterward along celebrity row, where the A-listers were standing and cheering much of the night, the same as the fans sitting near the top of the arena.
The Knicks led 64-37 at halftime, a 27-point lead that matched their biggest in a playoff game in the shot-clock era. They led the Lakers 69-42 in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, when Willis Reedâs return from injury sparked the Knicks to their first NBA title.
There was another three years later, but the Knicks have been shut out since and it didnât appear this would be the year that could end after the Knicks were a combined 0-8 against Cleveland and Boston, the two teams that finished above them in the East.
But they wonât have to worry about the Cavaliers and completely turned things around against the Celtics, overcoming 20-point deficits in the second halves of both games in Boston to open the series.
Hart finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns' aggressive first half set the tone for the Knicks and a 21-point advantage in the second quarter buried the Celtics as New York closed out the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 119-81 Game 6 win Friday at MSG.
Takeaways
After a down Game 5, the Knicks needed more from Towns. He answered the call with his dominant first half, which included 12 first-quarter points. Fueled by Towns and Mikal Bridges, who added 10 first-quarter points, New York jumped out to a 26-20 lead and commanded the game despite Jalen Brunson's slow start. Towns, who finished with 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting while adding 12 rebounds in 35 minutes, was the key catalyst.
Following a blown closeout game in the 127-102 loss Wednesday at Boston, the Knicks did not let the Celtics hang around. New York's 38-17 second quarter, which started on an 8-0 run through the first four-plus minutes, buried Boston. The Knicks' 27-point, 64-37 halftime lead sent a message as the Celtics struggled to generate anything beyond Jaylen Brown's 18 points through the first 24 minutes. Brown finished with a team-high 20 points in 32 minutes and fouled out.
Miles McBride, whose triple at the second quarter's 11:42 mark started the decisive period, picked up the slack off the bench. His 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a 2-for-5 clip from deep, especially sparked the offense while New York went through the opening 1.5 quarters with only two Brunson points. McBride, who added two rebounds and one block in 32 minutes, made plays on both ends of the floor that put the Knicks over the top during a pivotal stretch.
The Knicks return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, when they lost their best-of-seven series with the Indiana Pacers in six games. Twenty-five years later, New York gets a rematch with the Pacers. The Knicks were 2-1 against Indiana in the regular season, including a 123-98 win Oct. 25 and 128-115 victory Feb. 11. New York's loss was a 132-121 result Nov. 11. After respectively beating the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons and second-seeded Boston in six games, the third-seeded Knicks' NBA Finals path runs through Indiana, which beat the fifth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games apiece.
Who's the MVP?
Towns asserted his presence against the Celtics from the jump. He was the difference for the Knicks throughout the separating first half before Brunson got going.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Pacers is set for Wednesday at 8 p.m. from MSG. The series is a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference semifinals, which New York lost in seven games.
Aaron Gordon, who has been clutch for the Nuggets throughout these playoffs and is a key reason there is a Game 7 for Denver on Sunday in Oklahoma City, will very likely miss that game with a strained hamstring.
The strain diagnosis was first reported by ESPNâs Shams Charania and has since been confirmed by multiple reports.
Gordon appeared to strain his hamstring in the final minutes of the Nuggetsâ Game 6 win on Thursday, rubbing it and moving slowly on the court, then he checked himself out of the game in the final minute. After the game Gordon said he would be okay, however, coach David Adelman was concerned about his status. As has been discussed with Stephen Curry and his hamstring strain, that is an injury that usually takes around 10 days to heal.
Gordon has averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game while playing clutch defense in these playoffs. More than that, he hit this clutch shot against the Clippers.
AARON GORDON DUNK AT THE BUZZER FOR THE NUGGETS WIN!!!
"Thereâs certain people in our league I would define as championship pieces, I think we say that too much, he is one those people, he is a definition of that and he always has been since he got to us," Adelman said of Gordon earlier this postseason.
That's the kind of player the Nuggets need to step up on Sunday, but Denver will have to go without him.
A frustrating postseason for Kristaps Porzingis came to an end Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Boston Celtics big man tallied just four points on 1 for 4 shooting in his teamâs Game 6 blowout loss to the New York Knicks, providing a brief spark with a 3-pointer and a blocked shot but logging just 11 minutes and 30 seconds of court time.
Porzingis only played 20-plus minutes in one of Bostonâs last six games while battling the lingering effects of an upper respiratory illness that caused him to miss eight straight games in late February and early March.
After torching the Knicks during the regular season, Porzingis was a shell of himself in this series, finishing with 25 total points over six games (4.2 per game) while shooting 6 for 25 (24 percent) from the floor and 2 for 9 (22.2 percent) from 3-point range.
Following Bostonâs season-ending loss at Madison Square Garden, Porzingis spoke at length about the health issues heâs battled for several weeks.
âI always try to downplay it in my own mind, like, âIâm good, Iâm good, Iâm good,'â Porzingis said about managing his illness. âBut I donât know, my system is not perfect right now, not working the way it should be. Many, many weird things. Might be the best thing I need right now is just to rest, just get somewhere in the sun and just let my system kind of even itself out.
âBut itâs definitely a very, very frustrating time for me.â
While it was clear how the illness impacted Porzingis â he struggled with his breathing throughout the series and tired very easily â the big man said he still doesnât know what type of illness he has.
âIâm not sure,â Porzingis said. âThe doctors are trying to help as much as possible, but it was just some lingering fatigue, some effects. And even right now â I played 11 minutes, but Iâm gassed right now. Like, I could just lay down over here and just take a little nap, easy, which is extremely weird, and many symptoms that were super weird.
âSo, I think nobody has a clear answer. Iâll see how I go from here; maybe I do some extra testing, some extra stuff and see if we find something, but if not, maybe just a reset to my whole system, and hopefully that will get my energy levels back up.â
While the mystery surrounding Porzingisâ illness is obviously concerning, the big man confirmed he got approval from team doctors to play in each game of this series, and that he wasnât risking further complications by taking the court.
âI got the approval from the doctors that they donât believe anything serious can happen,â Porzingis said. âThey tested my heart and everything, then it was just a matter of, how much can I give? I tried to give what I had, but it wasnât much, as you could see.â
âBut, yeah thereâs no bigger risk, so I was able to play.â
Porzingisâ future with the Celtics is murky; heâll enter the final year of his contract in 2025-26 at a $30.7 million salary. The 7-foot-3 big man is a two-way spark plug and matchup nightmare for opponents when healthy, but if Boston is looking for ways to get under the luxury tax to avoid repeater penalties, itâs possible the team could explore trading Porzingis and end his two-year tenure in Boston.
The Knicks winning the series in six games was a stunning outcome. The Câs entered as heavy favorites, but New York jumped out to a 2-0 series lead and eventually finished the job in front of its home crowd.
Brown didnât sugarcoat how he felt about an archrival ending his season, but he offered a refreshing perspective on the Celticsâ future.
âLosing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught there is life after death,â he said. âSo weâll get ready for whateverâs next. Whateverâs next in the journey, Iâll be ready for.â
While Brown understands the general feeling of unease surrounding the team, he is entering the offseason with a positive mindset.
âThis journeyâs not the end. Itâs not the end for me,â Brown said. âYou just take this with a chin up⌠I know Boston, it looks gloomy right now with JT being outâŚbut thereâs a lot to look forward to, and I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end.â
Brown logged a team-high 20 points with six rebounds and six assists before fouling out in the third quarter of Game 6. Although he was Bostonâs only consistent scorer, he accounted for seven of the teamâs 15 turnovers.
A nagging knee injury hampered Brown for a chunk of the second half of the season and the playoffs. He wasnât listed on the injury report in recent games, but the 28-year-old acknowledged that he wasnât 100 percent. He is uncertain about whether he will have to have a procedure to fix the issue.
Thatâs one of many question marks surrounding the Celtics as their season comes to a close. As Bostonâs offseason begins, the Knicks will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the Indiana Pacers.
Watch Brownâs full postgame press conference below:
Apr 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Everyone's first reaction to Shams Charania breaking the news that Luka Doncic had been traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis was the same: "He's been hacked." Followed by stages of disbelief, shock, and (in some quarters) anger. Nobody could believe it.
That includes Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors players, who were at a charity poker event. We can now watch their reactions in a video posted to Alan Keatingâs YouTube channel (hat tip CBS Sports).
warriors' full reaction to luka getting traded to the lakers. steph was screaming pic.twitter.com/VXFtRMJdAL
The best reaction was Kyle Anderson, who basically went Edvard Munch's "The Scream." Stephen Curry was more literal on that front and screamed into his phone, which was crazy, too. And you can see Kirk Lacob and other members of the Warriors front office trying to figure out how this happened without anyone knowing.
Four days later, Golden State would make its own bold move, trading for Jimmy Butler. In the end, Curry's Warriors and Doncic's Lakers both were eliminated by the same team in the playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves. That doesn't make the Doncic trade any less shocking more than three months after it happened. And this video is classic.
As was the case with the previous five NBA champions, the Boston Celtics were unable to defend their title after falling to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday.
The Celtics have a very expensive roster as a team in the second apron. It would behoove the Celtics to get under the second apron and give themselves some more financial and roster flexibility. Achieving that would require shedding some salary.
Itâs too early to tell which players could be moved, but it seems unlikely that the Celtics bring back nearly their entire roster for the second straight summer.
âThe Celtics are already committed to $228 million in contracts next season. They are nearly $20 million over the second apron, and thatâs before addressing a pair of free-agents-to-be in Al Horford and Luke Kornet. The team is currently projected to have a $238 million luxury tax bill, which would push the team closer to a half billion total spend if the roster was maintained.â
Hereâs a full breakdown of the Celticsâ contract situations and free agents heading into the offseason:
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Under contract in 2025-26
Jayson Tatum: $54.1 million (contract expires after 2028-29, includes player option for 2029-30)
Jaylen Brown: $53.3 million (expires after 2028-29)
Jrue Holiday: $32.4 million (expires after 2026-27, player option for 2027-28)
Kristaps Porzingis: $30.7 million (expires after 2025-26)
Derrick White: $28.1 million (expires after 2027-28, player option for 2028-29)
Sam Hauser: $10 million (expires after 2028-29)
Payton Pritchard: $7.2 million (expires after 2027-28)
Baylor Scheierman: $2.6 million (expires after 2025-26, team options for 2026-27 and 2027-28)
Xavier Tillman: $2.5 million (expires 2025-26)
Neemias Queta: $2.3 million (expires after 2026-27)
Jordan Walsh: $2.2 million (expires after 2025-26, team option for 2026-27)
The Celtics spent huge money to sign Jayson Tatum and Derrick White to multi-year extensions last offseason. Tatumâs supermax contract was the richest in league history at the time.
This offseason should be a little quieter in regards to large extensions, and thatâs because the teamâs best players are all under contract for at least two more seasons, with the exception of Porzingis. The veteran center is entering the final year of his deal.
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard could shoulder a bigger offensive load next season while Tatum is out.
Team option for 2025-26
JD Davison: $2.3 million
Davison, Bostonâs second-round pick in 2022, won the 2024-25 G League MVP award this past season for the Maine Celtics. He also played in 16 NBA games this season. If the Celtics make some changes in the offseason, that could open up a larger role for Davison in 2025-26.
Restricted free agents
Drew Peterson
Peterson played in 25 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 7.4 minutes per game. He excelled in the G League, averaging 20 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists over 15 games for Maine.
Unrestricted free agents
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Will Al Horford stay in Boston for his 19th NBA season?
Al Horford
Luke Kornet
Torrey Craig
Al Horford is 37 years old but remains a valuable player for Boston as a good outside shooter, a strong defender and the teamâs best leader. Bringing him back on a team-friendly deal would be a great outcome for the Celtics.
Kornet has emerged as an essential big man off the bench who plays his role very well. Heâs also highly effective in the pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum, who has praised Kornet on several occasions. Kornet is great for team morale, too. Re-signing him should be a priority.
Craig was acquired at the trade deadline back in February. He didnât have much of a role for Boston, but he could provide some depth, outside shooting and perimeter defense if brought back. Tatumâs injury could give Craig a slightly larger role.
The Warriors forward was one of several Golden State players sitting courtside at the Valkyriesâ 2025 WNBA season opener at Chase Center, but he was the only one next to team CEO Joe Lacob â and both appeared to be in good spirits when they were shown on the jumbotron during the game.
Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent in June, and thereâs sure to be plenty of interest in the 22-year-old from other NBA teams after his strong Western Conference semifinals showing. While Kuminga can sign with another team this summer, the Warriors have the option to match any offer to keep him.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters Friday that Golden State wants Kuminga to return, but acknowledged itâs a âtwo-way streetâ â AKA, if the price is right.
But even as that fact and reports of the Warriors exploring sign-and-trade options for Kuminga were prevalent, the Golden State star and the team owner were all smiles Friday despite the Valkyriesâ 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Other players in attendance included Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, as well as coach Steve Kerr who certainly received the loudest ovation of the night.
With the Warriorsâ season officially over after they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, contract negotiations and talks can hold off for the time being. Friday night was for celebrating the Bayâs new WNBA team, and itâs Valkyries season now.
The Warriors forward was one of several Golden State players sitting courtside at the Valkyriesâ 2025 WNBA season opener at Chase Center, but he was the only one next to team CEO Joe Lacob â and both appeared to be in good spirits when they were shown on the jumbotron during the game.
Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent in June, and thereâs sure to be plenty of interest in the 22-year-old from other NBA teams after his strong Western Conference semifinals showing. While Kuminga can sign with another team this summer, the Warriors have the option to match any offer to keep him.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters Friday that Golden State wants Kuminga to return, but acknowledged itâs a âtwo-way streetâ â AKA, if the price is right.
But even as that fact and reports of the Warriors exploring sign-and-trade options for Kuminga were prevalent, the Golden State star and the team owner were all smiles Friday despite the Valkyriesâ 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Other players in attendance included Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, as well as coach Steve Kerr, who certainly received the loudest ovation of the night.
With the Warriorsâ season officially over after they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, contract negotiations and talks can hold off for the time being.
Friday night was about celebrating the Bayâs new WNBA team. Itâs Valkyries season now.
This week saw the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, the unofficial start of draft season around the NBA (even if that is almost as year-round as the league itself). Here are the latest news, notes and rumors around the 2025 NBA Draft, taking place June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Spurs likely keep No. 2 pick
The minute the Spurs landed with the No. 2 pick â well, a few minutes after, once everyone got over the shock of the Mavericks getting the top pick â people started drawing a line between Giannis Antetokounmpo and San Antonio. The logic is simple: The Spurs already have De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle at guards so they don't need projected No. 2 pick Dylan Harper out of Rutgers, Antetokounmpo next to Victor Wembanyama make the Spurs instant title contenders, and San Antonio has the additional picks and players to match salary to make a trade that Milwaukee would like.
Just a couple of problems with that. First, Antetokounmpo has yet to ask for a trade out of Milwaukee and may not. His choosing to stay may be the best bet.
Most of the sources I talk to around the league think the most likely outcome is that the Spurs do just that: Stand pat and pick at No. 2.
If the Spurs keep the pick, they should draft the best player on the board regardless of position. Meaning, take Harper. It's better to have too much talent at one position (a player can always be traded) rather than saying you don't need to draft Michael Jordan because you already have Clyde Drexler. Harper is the clear No. 2 in this class, make him a Spur.
76ers will listen to offers for No. 3
Daryl Morey is open to a trade. Shocking.
That said, Vecenie reports Philadelphia will listen to offers for the No. 3 pick and the right to draft V.J. Edgecombe or Ace Bailey, most likely. This is the smart move by Morey. For Philly, Edgecombe is another smaller guard who would become part of an already small backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, a good fit but not a need. Ace Bailey has upside but is a little more of a project and the Sixers are as win-now as it gets â and considering the Jayson Tatum injury, the 76ers should be aggressive about going for it next season.
It's unclear who it might be, but keep an eye on the No. 3 spot as a potential trade.
Standouts at NBA Draft Combine
From people in Chicago, here are a handful of players who helped their cause.
⢠VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor. Edgecombe didn't need much help, he was already projected as a top-four pick on most boards, but his athleticism and two-way potential stood out, and he may have put himself solidly above Ace Bailey for the No. 3 spot on a lot of boards.
⢠Tahaad Pettiford, guard, Auburn. He turned heads with a 42-inch vertical leap and then put up big numbers in the first scrimmage. That caught many people's eyes, but then he struggled in his next scrimmage, tempering the excitement. Still, strong Combine for him.
⢠Khaman Maluach, center, Duke. In an NBA where more and more teams are looking for big men who can protect the rim and are a vertical threat on pick-and-rolls, Maluach helped himself. He measured at 7'1" barefoot and had a 7'7" wingspan and a 9'6" standing reach â those are the kind of big man numbers NBA teams are looking for, and Maluach fit the role with his combine tests. There are rumors he got a promise from the Raptors at No. 9.
⢠Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford. The senior big man was the only player to play in the first day of scrimmages, realize how well he played (and helped his cause) and opted out of Day 2. A bubble late-first/early second kind of talent, he showed the shooting and physicality around the rim that might get him to the first round.
As long as star Steph Curry takes the floor for the Warriors, donât expect coach Steve Kerr to change his offensive scheme.
Kerr, speaking to reporters Thursday during exit interviews, made it clear Golden Stateâs offensive strategy starts and ends with the Chef.
âWe have Steph Curry on our team, who is one of the greatest players of all time,â Kerr told reporters. âHeâs also maybe the most unique superstar of all time.
âWhat makes him special is his on-and-off-the-ball prowess. And so the best way to maximize Steph is to put him in pick and roll, and then to have him fly off screens. And I think thatâs been proven, you know, over the last decade, how powerful that can be.â
Despite his dominancy, the Warriors crashed out of the Western Conference semifinals in large part due to Curryâs unavailability after suffering a left hamstring strain.
It makes sense. The 37-year-old led the team in scoring throughout both the regular season (24.5 points) and the postseason (22.6 points).
So, the idea of Golden State shifting its offensive scheme is nothing short of humorous to the winningest head coach in Warriorsâ history.
âHeâs our sun. You know, this is a solar system,â Kerr added. âAnd heâs, youâre not going to duplicate Steph anytime soon.
âSo, any talk of, do we need to change our offensive system, to me, is kind of laughable. Like, what? What does that mean? So, letâs not run Steph off screens? Letâs not put Steph in pick and roll? Iâm not even sure how to respond to that.â
Kerr recognizes that moving the offensive scheme away from Curry would be an act of betrayal to the organization.
âHonestly, itâs like what weâve done has been incredibly powerful,â Kerr concluded. âSteph is, again, one of the all time greatest players, playing at the peak of his power. Still, I think, or very close to it.
âWeâre going to keep doing what weâre doing, and anything else would be a disservice to our team.â
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On the latest episode of "The Kevin OâConnor Show," Kevin and guest Tom Haberstroh explored the idea of Cooper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 overall pick and Maine native, somehow landing with the Boston Celtics.
As OâConnor revealed, Boston used some of its interview slots at the NBA Draft Combine to meet with Cooper Flagg, as well as Tre Johnson (a projected top-five pick), even though the Celtics hold no pick anywhere near the top of this yearâs draft. Teams are limited to 13 interviews at the combine, O'Connor said.
âAt the draft combine this week, Tre Johnson openly said the Celtics interviewed him," O'Connor said. "I have multiple sources telling me the Celtics also interviewed Cooper Flagg. Now, this does not mean theyâre going to trade up into the top 10, but I do think itâs interesting.â
The Dallas Mavericks own the No. 1 pick this year. But OâConnor and Haberstroh discussed the hypothetical: Would Boston put Jaylen Brown (a recent Finals MVP) on the table to move up for Flagg? What would Dallas say? And would Flagg himself (or his camp) try to âpull an Eli Manningâ â refusing to play for the Mavs to land in Boston?
âBoston calls [Dallas GM] Nico [Harrison] and they offer Jaylen Brown. And how many first-round picks is it gonna take? ⌠I just wonder if Dallas and their entire decision-making unit would listen.â
Realistically, big trades for the No. 1 pick, especially when a generational prospect is available, are rare. But as both hosts note, it only takes a few phone calls â and possibly a little leverage from the playerâs side â to kick-start something dramatic.
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