If the San Antonio Spurs need to draw inspiration to keep fighting in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, perhaps “El Jefe” can arrange a team field trip to the Alamo.
San Antonio is facing elimination at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday and this high-stakes showdown is the perfect setting for my Thunder vs. Spurs same-game parlay.
My NBA picks like San Antonio to force a Game 7 in a high-scoring finish, highlighted by star Victor Wembanyama.
The San Antonio Spurs have the third-highest homecourt net rating in the postseason and will warm up their cold shooting from Game 5 by getting back inside the Frost Bank Center.
The return to Texas will also help the Spurs tighten the screws on turnovers, which really hampered their offense in this series. The defense is doing a great job of slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, which is like cutting the head off the snake.
San Antonio is 5-1 straight up coming off a loss this postseason and 20-6 SU in those spots overall.
SGP leg #2: Over 218.5
The Game 5 final smashed the closing total and could be a hint of where this series is headed in terms of scoring. Chet Holmgren finally woke up, and the Oklahoma City Thunder bench doesn’t allow much of an offensive dip, meaning San Antonio will have to score in Game 6.
The Spurs are at their best playing with pace, fueled by transition offense. These teams produced totals north of 230 in the regular season and that’s where we’re trending on Thursday.
SGP leg #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points
After a 5-for-15 dud in Game 5 and bailing on the postgame presser, Victor Wembanyama is under the microscope in this do-or-die outing.
San Antonio’s coach and players are begging Wemby to be more aggressive, and while some models sit at 27 points with 18 FGAS, I expect 22+ shots from the 7-footer.
Wembanyama bounces back from quiet efforts, averaging 28 points in the last 21 games following 15 or fewer FGAs. Nine of those have hit 30+ points.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Thunder vs. Spurs predictions for Game 6.
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After a Game 5 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of a second NBA Finals appearance in two years.
In Game 5, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a performance worthy of his MVP title to help the Thunder secure a 127-114 victory, finishing with 32 points and 9 assists while converting 16 of his 17 free-throw attempts. The Thunder’s bench also contributed greatly, both offensively and defensively.
The Spurs got a strong 24-point effort from Stephon Castle and 22 points from Julian Champagnie in the loss, but Victor Wembanyama was held to just 4-of-15 shooting from the floor for 20 points as the Thunder’s physical frontline swarmed him all evening.
NBA Western conference finals: what to know
What: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
When: May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
Channel: NBC
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
Should the Spurs win tonight, the Western Conference Finals will move back to Oklahoma City for a winner-take-all Game 7.
Thunder vs. Spurs Game 6 start time:
Thunder vs. Spurs Game 6 is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight, May 28.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Start spreading the news: the New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals.
While the Western Conference competitors — San Antonio and Oklahoma City — sort themselves out, the Eastern Conference champion Knicks sit with 12 total postseason wins and await their opponent for the Bill O’Brien Trophy.
New York will be an underdog in the NBA Finals, regardless of the opponent, and Kalshi is offering prediction markets on the Knicks’ total number of playoff wins when the smoke settles on the tournament.
Here’s a look at those NBA odds and what market makes the most sense to New York backers.
How Many Playoff Games Will the Knicks Win?
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Prediction markets have “Yes” 15+ wins listed with a 50% probability, which would get better if the Western Conference Finals go seven games.
The New York Knicks need 16 victories to win the title, and 15 would make it a thrilling seven-game series. We had one of those last year, with the Oklahoma City Thunder edging out the Indiana Pacers in a do-or-die finale.
New York will be the more rested of the two contenders, but barely avoided the “rust” spot in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals after an extended break. The Knicks needed to rally from 22 points down in the fourth quarter to win the series opener, en route to a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
👍Go New York, Go New York, Go!
If you’re not as ambitious about the Knicks but give them plenty of respect for their postseason play, 14+ wins is trading with “Yes” as a 70% probability at Kalshi. This option pays out if the series goes at least six games, putting weight on the Knicks to win at home.
New York has been excellent in a star-studded Madison Square Garden this spring, owning a 6-1 record in the Mecca while boasting a playoff-best net rating of 16.1 at home.
I like this “Yes” option, as it pays $2 for every $1 investment at the current probabilities and doesn’t need the series to go seven games to win. Most NBA Finals go six games, and the Knicks have the personnel, star power, and coaching to make these matchups competitive.
👎No New York, No New York, No!
If you’re not buying into the Knicks’ postseason run and think whoever comes out of the West will squash a rusty New York squad, then “No” 13+ wins is paying a pretty penny.
This side of the market is essentially picking the Western champs to sweep the NBA Finals, which has occurred just nine times. The last time a title winner broke out the broom in the finals was when Golden State swept Cleveland in 2018.
If that happens to the Knicks in 2026, you’re looking at a current $12 win for every $1 investment. Again, this prediction market will fluctuate based on whether there’s a Game 7 in the WCF.
New York has won all three Game 1 outings so far in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and the NBA Finals won’t tip off until June 3, putting the Knicks’ red-hot run on ice for more than a week.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points
Price: -113 at bet365
You can say what you want about De'Aaron Fox as a bettor, but I’m not passing on Over 14.5 points in this spot. The San Antonio Spurs are facing elimination at home, and this will already be Fox’s fourth game back from injury.
That matters because his minutes have been managed carefully all season, and we still haven’t really seen his full workload in this series due to multiple blowouts. Tonight will be different.
With the Spurs favored by only 3.5 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder, this could be the most competitive game Fox has played since returning, and that’s where his value rises. In close games, his usage climbs, the ball stays in his hands late, and his scoring ceiling increases dramatically.
This feels like a spot where San Antonio leans heavily on Fox offensively, and I price him closer to -215 to clear this total.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Victor Wembanyama Over 12.5 rebounds
Price: -112 at bet365
Victor Wembanyama amassed a billion rebounds in the first two games of the series, but since then, he’s recorded a total of only 18 boards on 43 combined rebounding chances across the past three outings.
The biggest difference is Wemby’s aggressiveness on the offensive glass. He stacked 14 offensive boards in the opening two games of the WCF but has pulled down only four rebounds on the offensive end over the last three showings.
Wembanyama has looked tired and is playing too passively at times, especially in Game 5. The Spurs are begging their big man to be more aggressive in Game 6, and that means getting inside and crashing the offensive glass for putbacks.
Game 6 models range from 12.3 rebounds to 15.5, with most projections sitting north of his current total.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Over 219.5
Price: -110 at bet365
This pick still comes down to pace. Both teams have a shot volume in the first five games almost identical to their regular-season averages, and that’s been driving scoring throughout the series.
San Antonio put up 114 points in Game 5 despite shooting below their standard, thanks to generating 92 shot attempts. Back at home, I’d expect better efficiency from the Spurs, especially if they continue to get lots of quality looks.
On the other side, Oklahoma City has topped 120 points in three of the last four games. The Spurs have also gone Over in nine of their last 10 games, with those contests averaging 227.4 combined points.
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The San Antonio Spurs showed the power of desperation in Game 2 of the last round, walloping the Timberwolves by 38 points to even the series.
In fact, that model informs how I break down the Victor Wembanyama odds before Game 6 on Thursday, May 28.
Victor Wembanyama prop pick for Game 6
Victor Wembanyama best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 threes (-180 at bet365)
That is a significant amount of juice. Let’s not deny that.
If uncomfortable with it, then bet 3+ threes at +170. That is in my portfolio tonight.
At either mark, the logic is as much about Wembanyama’s improved shooting at home as it is about his greater volume shooting at home. Both aspects have been true all three years of the San Antonio Spurs’ superstar’s career.
This season, Wembanyama shot 37.9% from deep at home, compared to 31.3% on the road, while taking 5.9 threes per game at home compared to just five per game on the road.
Look at this series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wembanyama is 4-for-14 (28.6%) from beyond the arc in three games in Oklahoma City compared to 5-for-12 (41.7%) in two matches in San Antonio.
Defenses hardly bother Wemby’s deep shots. Simply enough, he is too tall.
His shot comes down to comfort and rhythm. Those are improved at home, creating distinct value in tailing him tonight.
Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay
Amid all the headlines of Wembanyama’s 41-point, 24-rebound Game 1 in the Western Conference Finals, we overlook that he had just 27 points in regulation. Realizing that, Wembanyama has fallen short of this points prop in four of five regulation games, even though he hit multiple 3-pointers in two of those four contests.
While that is counterintuitive, the reality is that Wembanyama affects a game in so many ways that his scoring does not always come via expected patterns.
Obviously, one of those ways is via blocking shots, and taking the Under on Wembanyama’s blocks prop is actually meant as a compliment to him. There will be fewer and fewer shots for him to challenge as the Thunder steer clear of the rim when he is around.
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NEW YORK CITY - MARCH 25: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media following the Board of Governors meetings on March 25, 2026 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the NBA has passed a number of changes to the NBA Draft Lottery, effective for the upcoming 2026-27 season and lasting through at least 2029.
Breaking: The NBA's Board of Governors has passed new anti-tanking rules that include expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams, a relegation zone where the bottom 3 teams get penalized with lessened chances for the No. 1 pick, and flattened odds, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/e1oq10p2yV
The “3-2-1” lottery moniker is a slight misnomer, as the bottom three teams will receive “2” lottery balls each. Spots four through 10 will receive “3” lottery balls each. The 9-vs-10 game teams will also receive “2” lottery balls each, and the losers of the 7-vs-8 games will receive “1” ball each. I guess the “2-3-2-1” lottery isn’t as catchy a title.
The lottery expanding from 14 to 16 teams is a significant change, as now teams can actually split the difference by making the playoffs and getting a chance in the lottery. The losers of the 7-vs-8 games will receive one lottery ball each, and the 9-vs-10 teams receive two lottery balls, so the two teams who win the second round of the Play-In Tournament (i.e. loser of 7-vs-8 vs. winner of 9-vs-10) will get to be in the playoffs and remain in the lottery. Basically, advancing to the playoffs from the 9- or 10-spot would grant you the same lottery odds as the worst team in the league.
Additionally, no one will be able to win the first overall pick in consecutive years or have three consecutive top-five picks. The vote passed 29-1, with the Memphis Grizzlies the only vote against.
Critics of this reform have argued this will actually lead to more tanking, as the four through 10 group is even more of an advantage than it was previously. You could imagine scenarios where teams tank even earlier to ensure they’re in that group, or tank extremely hard down the stretch to drop from the 11th or 12th spot to 10th. It also gets harder for teams that are just plain bad, not due to tanking, to life themselves out of it, which was the whole point of a draft lottery system in the first place.
What do you think? For, against, or indifferent on the new system?
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Josh Okogie of Rockets warms up before the NBA playoffs game 5 between Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets at the Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets are evaluating their future when it comes to veteran shooting guard Josh Okogie.
Okogie, 27, signed with the Rockets on a one-year minimum deal in the offseason and turned out to be a bargain for the team. He even started two playoff games for the Rockets in their series against the Los Angeles Lakers last month.
Bleacher Report writer Eric Pincus praised Okogie and believes he could have interest around the league in free agency.
“Okogie is a capable veteran who played in 78 games for the Rockets (starting 32) at 17.4 minutes per game. He defends and shoots the ball well (38.5 percent from three) on low volume,” Pincus wrote.
Okogie only averaged 4.5 points per game this past season, which was a step back from where he was a year ago. That being said, he did play in 78 games and shot a career-high 38.5 percent from deep.
The Rockets likely would want to have Okogie back on a minimum deal if he was interested in returning. That being said there is reason to believe that he may have interest from other teams around the league, which could start a bidding war.
Contending teams could justify signing Okogie for the mid-level exception (~$5-6 million), which could be out of price range for the Rockets considering he only made $3.1 million. However, a raise could be in the cards based on his successful run with the Rockets this past season.
TDS community, how much would you pay Okogie this offseason? Should the Rockets sign him or let him walk? Let us know in the comments section below.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: A detailed view of the shoes on Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA officially wrapped up this year’s regular season awards on Tuesday after naming Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla the Coach of the Year. For the Golden State Warriors, however, the announcement marked the end of a rare and unfamiliar awards season as the franchise came up completely empty across all major honors.
It’s the first time in well over a decade that Golden State failed to produce a major award winner, All-NBA selection, All-Defensive selection, or even an All-Rookie honoree, according to RealGM. A full list of this season’s winners and final voting results can be found here on NBA.com.
Voter selections for the 2025-26 NBA regular-season awards are now available.
A global panel of 100 media members voted on each annual award.
The only Warrior to receive any recognition was Draymond Green, who earned votes for both the NBA All-Defensive Team and the Defensive Player of the Year award, though not nearly enough to emerge as a serious contender in either race.
Outside of Green, no other Warrior even received a vote across the league’s major regular season awards. While injuries certainly played a role in that, the bigger picture is how far the roster has drifted from their championship-caliber standard that once made Golden State a fixture throughout awards season.
Now entering a pivotal summer with the No. 11 pick in the NBA Draft and potential for some cap flexibility, the Warriors look to retool their roster in hopes of returning to relevance among the Western Conference contenders.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, May 27th:
The next contract: Curry signs the fourth extension in his career. The unknown, however, is whether the extension would be for the full amount or if Curry would take less. The 2027 offseason is the next opportunity for the Warriors to reshape their roster. With three players under contract (Moses Moody, Gui Santos, Will Richard), Golden State has financial flexibility to improve its roster in free agency.
A large crowd of reporters was still in the Spurs’ visiting locker room, all of them waiting around to hear what the 22-year-old big man had to say about why he struggled so mightily Tuesday night as the Thunder took a 3-2 series lead. But as Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox was addressing the reporters, Wembanyama surprised the media masses and walked right past them on the way to the team bus. He took a left at the PayCom Center hallway, walked a few hundred feet more, then veered off into the night while team officials and reporters alike were stunned by his choice not to fulfill the media duties that are mandated by the NBA.
The Golden State Warriors’ injured star looked spry as he joined Teddy Swims on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage at Bottlerock in Napa. He threw peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the crowd, seemingly because it was the Culinary Stage, professed his love for the Bay Area, and even danced to Shaboozey while telling the crowd, “Don’t tell Steve [Kerr]! I got a torn ACL!”
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
It is official. The NBA has passed draft lottery reform, with 29 of the 30 teams voting in favor (Memphis being the only team to vote against the anti-tanking measures).
Breaking: The NBA's Board of Governors has passed new anti-tanking rules that include expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams, a relegation zone where the bottom 3 teams get penalized with lessened chances for the No. 1 pick, and flattened odds, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/e1oq10p2yV
In search of a way to discourage tanking, the NBA decided that drastic changes to the draft lottery were the best approach. They may be right, and the new lottery system will be a big change from the previous one. With the Suns not having control over their own draft picks until 2032, it won’t change much for them in the near future, but it could still affect the picks they’ve already traded or swapped (whoever finally uses them). More on that later.
NBA Draft Lottery System Reforms
#1: The NBA will expand the lottery from 14 to 16 teams.
This isn’t because of the proposed expansion to 32 teams. When expansion comes, they will likely further expand the draft to 18 teams…although this point hasn’t been reported on yet. What it does mean is that, along with the 14 teams that miss the playoffs, the 8th seed playoff teams from both the East and West will also get a shot in the lottery.
#2: The Lottery odds will change drastically, as will the drawing process.
Previously, they drew lots to select the teams to get the top 4 picks in the draft, with the rest picking in order of their regular season records, worst to best. Now, every pick 1-16 will be determined through actual lottery picks with the odds greatly leveled, which will hopefully make tanking a less attractive strategy. No team in the lottery will have much of an advantage over the others, and the 3 teams with the worst regular season records will actually have a worse chance to get one of the top 3 picks than the 4th through 10th worst teams. The odds are as follows:
Teams 1-3: Each has an equal 5.4% chance of landing the number 1 pick.
Teams 4-10: Each has an equal 8.1% chance of landing the number 1 pick.
Teams 11-14: Each has an equal 5.4% chance of landing the number 1 pick.
Teams 15-16: Each has an equal 2.7% chance of landing the number 1 pick.
The new system allocates 37 lottery balls across 16 teams. The three lowest-ranked teams receive two balls each, teams four through ten receive three, play-in seeds nine and 10 receive two, and the seven-vs-eight play-in loser receives one (2.7%). All 16 lottery picks will be drawn, with the three worst-record teams unable to fall below 12th.
This version is more like the original lottery system used from 1985 through 1989, where every team had equal odds and every position was drawn for, than more recent systems. The new system sounds a bit wacky but it might work in regard to discouraging tanking…at least some of it. Why try for the worst record in the NBA when that will get you worse odds in the lottery? It might even prove fun to watch the teams with the worst records actually fighting to win games at the end of the season to improve their lottery odds!
#3: There will now be pick “limits”.
To prevent franchises from accumulating top-tier talent year after year, teams are restricted from selecting No. 1 overall in back-to-back seasons or securing a top-five pick in three consecutive drafts. These rules apply to the original team, not the pick’s current holder. Even if it’s traded to another team, these rules still apply to the pick, no matter who uses it, and they apply retroactively.
For example, the Wizards, who won the 2026 lottery, cannot land the first pick again in 2027…even if it’s traded to someone else. Also, the Utah Jazz, which selected fifth in 2025 and second in 2026, cannot finish in the top five in 2027. Although Utah traded its 2027 1st round pick to Memphis for Jaren Jackson Jr., this rule would bar the Grizzlies from receiving a top-five pick in the lottery through it.
In the event a team’s pick is drawn in the lottery in a position where it is not permitted to be, then that pick would be moved down to the first permissible draft position.
#4: Draft penalties for tanking can be imposed.
Teams face severe fines (up to $10 million) and potential loss of draft picks for “tanking behavior,” such as sitting perfectly healthy starters in the final weeks of the season to drop in the standings. The league will also have expanded disciplinary authority to reduce lottery odds and/or modify draft positions for teams.
#5: There will be new draft pick protection limits.
Teams will no longer be able to protect picks that fall into the 12 to 15 slots. Why 12-15? Your guess is as good as mine, as I’ve not found an explanation for this rule so far.
#6: The lottery reforms affect the second round, too.
The first 16 picks of the second round will now be in the reverse order of the first round.
While none of the bottom three teams can fall further than 12th in the first round, the team with the fourth-worst record could possibly fall all the way to No. 16. But if that’s the case, that team would get the first pick of the second round (No. 31). Conversely, the team that wins the lottery would pick 46th overall in the second round.
The “Sunset Provision”
There is also a “sunset provision” which will allow the new system to expire after the 2029 draft. After that, the board of governors will vote to either continue with the system or transition to a new one. Whatever they decide to do then, the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement runs through the 2029-2030 season, at which time they could possibly change it all once again.
There has also been some talk of the NBA moving away from the lottery system entirely if the new system doesn’t work as well as they hope and institutes a “draft credit” system similar to a Fantasy Football-style auction. In that type of system, every franchise would be awarded an equal allotment of “draft credits,” which teams would use to bid on rookies in an auction, starting at the No. 1 overall pick and proceeding down the board. Front offices would trade portions of their credit allotment to other teams in exchange for veteran players rather than trading actual draft picks. This option is still only in the discussion stage and not a part of the latest reforms, though.
Implications for the Suns
Some might think, “So what? The Suns have no control over their 1st round picks until 2032. This won’t affect us at all until then.” There you’d be wrong to a certain degree.
Pretty much everyone agrees that the Suns need to acquire more draft picks; they can. If you thought they were worth their weight in gold before, now they’re more likely worth their weight in platinum, which is going to make it even harder to pry them away from other teams. And you can pretty much forget about ever getting control of the Suns’ own picks back. If these rules had been in effect for this year’s lottery, as the 8th seed in the West, the 2026 pick that’s going to Memphis at 16 would have instead been in the lottery with a very good chance of moving up to a top 10 pick and a 2.7% chance of landing 1st. Unless the Suns return as a much stronger team in 2026-27, other teams will view those picks as potential lottery tickets, even without the Suns trying to tank.
In short, these changes are very likely going to make the Suns’ retooling/rebuilding efforts even more difficult in the short term simply because they are going to make first round draft picks, especially future firsts, even more valuable than they are now, making them even more difficult for the Suns to acquire…at least as long as this system remains in place.
On the plus side, it does at least make the future first round picks that the Suns still own even more valuable if they decide to use them in a trade. I know many, if not most, Suns fans cringe at the idea of trading away any more of their 1st round picks, but if a deal came along that was just too good to pass up, it’s nice to know that the added value might be just enough to make it happen.
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into one of their most important roster decisions in years, and Austin Reaves has become a central figure in that debate.
As the 27-year-old guard approaches unrestricted free agency, a potential five-year, $240 million extension hangs in the balance. Now former Laker Lonzo Ball is making headlines by questioning whether Reaves is worth anywhere near that figure.
“Nah, I’m not doing that,” Ball said on the “Ball in the Family” podcast. “I got $150 million for him… plays no defense. I keep him, but not for $240. I would trade him for Peyton Watson.”
It’s not exactly common practice for an active NBA player to be so outspoken on a peer’s contract situation, especially one still fighting to solidify a consistent rotation spot.
Ball was traded in February by Cleveland before making their playoff run and he was unceremoniously cut by Utah the same day he was traded to the team.
Lonzo Ball says Austin Reaves isn’t worth a max deal, say Lakers should trade him for Peyton Watson Getty Images
Ball’s comments were blunt: He labeled Reaves a “fourth option” type player and suggested the Lakers would be better off flipping him for Watson, a rising 3-and-D specialist for the Nuggets.
That perspective, while controversial, aligns closely with recent league reporting.
Lonzo Ball #2 of the Chicago Bulls watches his shot during the first quarter Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps noted that the “majority opinion” around the NBA is that Reaves will stay in Los Angeles, but likely for less than a full max.
Several scouts and executives project a deal closer to five years, $200 million, with one league source suggesting the Lakers would be “surprised if the first year starts with a 3 instead of a 4,” meaning they expect an annual salary in the $40 million range.
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) defends Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) in the second half at Barclays Center Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The tension lies in fit versus production. Reaves has evolved into one of the Lakers’ most reliable offensive creators, averaging over 23 points per game in the regular season while shouldering significant playmaking duties alongside LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
But concerns about his defense, paired with Doncic’s own limitations on that end, have fueled skepticism about committing a massive portion of the salary cap to him.
Reaves’ brother Spencer fired back on social media, dismissing Ball’s criticism with a sarcastic jab: “They need to stop selling mics at Best Buy.”
The comparison between Reaves and Watson highlights a division at the core of the Lakers plan to build around Doncic this offseason, particularly the Slovenian’s liabilities on defense. Reaves is a high-usage offensive engine, capable of running pick-and-rolls and generating scoring bursts. Watson, meanwhile, is valued for versatility, length, and defensive impact, even if his offensive role is more limited.
For the Lakers, the decision is less about talent and more about roster construction. Pay Reaves the max and double down on offense, or pivot toward balance and defense at the cost of losing one of their most productive scorers.
Injury status - While no call has been made officially, Jalen Williams remains questionable as he looks to get back from a hamstring injury
Best bet to make: Jalen Williams Over 0.5 threes (-140)- With Williams likely trying to avoid challenging Wemby in the paint on a bum hamstring, he will likely opt to shoot more from deep
More available props - Books have priced the majority of props in advance in case J-Dub is good to go, posting points (13.5, +102), assists (3.5, -110), and rebounds (3.5, -110).
McCain brings the pain - If Williams sits out, Jared McCain will surely continue to get increased floor time for OKC. The Year 2 pro started in Game 5 and will likely get the nod again after putting up 20 points. His points line currently sits at 12.5 (-135)
Shorthanded Thunder - Williams isn't the only player who would sit for OKC, with Ajay Mitchell already ruled out for Game 6
Will Jalen Williams play tonight?
Jalen Williams suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in OKC's opening-round series against the Suns, and he hasn't been able to shake the damn thing since.
J-Dub went on to miss the entire series against the Lakers in Round 2, and he's missed every outing since leaving Game 2.
Hamstring injuries aren't anything OKC wants to eff around with, so it is likely he sits another night with the Thunder holding a 3-2 series lead. As of now, no call has been made.
Latest Thunder vs Spurs odds
Jalen Williams player props tonight
Sportsbooks have posted player props for Jalen Williams for Game 6, just in case he's ready to go for tonight.
Market
Over 13.5 points
+102
Over 3.5 assists
-110
Over 3.5 rebounds
-110
Over 0.5 threes
-145
Over 0.5 steals
-180
Even if Jalen Williams does play, it's hard to predict how many minutes the Thunder want to run on that tender hamstring. The play that caught my eye was his 3-point prop.
We only need one to cash it, and J-Dub will likely rather heave from deep than try to test his luck in the paint against Victor Wembanyama.
Pick: Jalen Williams Over 0.5 threes (-145 at bet365)
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Game six of the Western Conference takes place tonight on NBC and Peacock as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder head to San Antonio to take on Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The Thunder lead the series 3-2 after defeating the Spurs 127-114 on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 32 points, Alex Caruso scored 22 off the bench, and Jared McCain added 20, bringing the defending champions just one win away from the NBA Finals.
"We had a tough game the other night," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. "This team does a great job of just coming back in the next day in a very neutral way, taking whatever the lessons are, applying them forward, and getting into the next opportunity.”
Stephon Castle led the way for San Antonio with 24 points, Julian Champagnie finished with 22, and Wembanyama, who was held to 4-of-15 shooting, added 20.
The Spurs are looking to become just the second team in the last 50 seasons to overcome a 3-2 series deficit against a reigning champion in either the Conference or NBA Finals. The last team to accomplish this was the Cavaliers in 2016 when they beat the Warriors in the Finals.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 07: Duke Brennan #24 of the Villanova Wildcats keeps the ball in bounds in the first half of a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Capital One Arena on February 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ever since the Lakers traded away Anthony Davis to acquire Luka Dončić, they’ve been searching for a big man they can rely on.
They went with Jaxson Hayes as a starter for the rest of the 2024-25 season after their trade for Mark Williams didn’t pan out. Then, last offseason, they brought in Deandre Ayton to be the starting center. While Ayton was a positive for the team, it’s clear that frontcourt depth is still a need the Lakers must address this summer.
Perhaps they can find the center they desire in the NBA Draft.
The Lakers have the No. 25 pick and can use it to take a young big man. Details on who the Lakers have done pre-draft workouts with are scarce, but one player that has reportedly worked out for the purple and gold is Duke Brennan of Villanova.
Add the Los Angeles Lakers to the list of NBA pre-draft workouts for Villanova big man Duke Brennan.
At Villanova, he started in all 32 games he played in and averaged 12.4 points on 65% shooting. Brennan was also a monster on the boards, averaging 10.3 rebounds per game. He is the first Villanova player to average at least 10 rebounds per game since Harold Pressley did it in the 1985-86 season.
Brennan is currently projected to be a second round draft pick, so one might wonder why the Lakers are looking at him. Well, for starters, it’s all about the franchise doing its due diligence and looking at as many options as possible.
It’s why the Lakers brought on former Virginia coach Tony Bennett as an NBA Draft advisor. They need to explore every option available to bolster their roster. And finding hidden gems in the draft is a great way of accomplishing that.
Also, things can change between now and the draft. It’s possible the Lakers can either trade for a second round draft pick and select a player like Brennan or bring in players like him that go undrafted.
That’s how Austin Reaves became a Laker, joining the franchise after not being selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.
As we get closer to the draft, expect a myriad of bigs, guards and wings to work out for the Lakers. The franchise could use a little of everything as they attempt to become one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference.
How Many Playoff Games Will the Knicks Win?
Fox o14.5 points
Kurt Helin
