One of the biggest question marks headed into the NBA’s offseason looks to have been answered before the Finals are even set.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, who is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, is expected to re-sign and stay in Utah.
REPORT: Walker Kessler is expected to re-sign with the Jazz on a $25-$30M per year deal, per @TimBontemps.
“Given that neither Jackson nor fellow big man Lauri Markkanen is a full-time center, Kessler remains an important player in Utah's path back to contention in the Western… pic.twitter.com/TnFrSmmVGG
“The consensus is that Kessler is signing a new deal with the Jazz in the range of $25 million to $30 million a year,” Bontemps wrote.
Bontemps didn’t write any other details about the contract, just the estimated range and that he is expected to re-sign.
Assuming that Kessler does re-sign, the Jazz’s starting front court now seems to be locked in place, with Kessler at the five, Jaren Jackson Jr. at the four and seven-footer Lauri Markkanen at the three. Locking in Kessler helps to offset Jackson’s rebounding abilities — or lack thereof — and they are now one of the best shot blocking duos in the league.
In only five games in the 2025-26 season, Kessler averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. He also shot 70.3 % from the field and shot 6 of 8 from deep — albeit in only a five games, but the 3-point shooting is really enticing if legitimate.
Now that the Kessler contract saga seems to be solved, the next task for the Jazz will be to select a game-changer at the No. 2 draft pick, where most pundits believe that Utah will take Darryn Peterson from Kansas.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to a final Game 7 matchup to determine which team will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
Oddsmakers believe that team will be the Thunder. NBA bettors are split.
The Thunder are -3.5 home favorites for Game 7 and are still favored to win the NBA Finals, despite being one game away from elimination.
Key Takeaways
The Thunder were favored by 4.5 or more points in three prior games as favorites.
BetMGM users are showing more support for the Thunder on the spread and more for the Spurs on the moneyline.
The Knicks, the only team to qualify for the Finals, still trail the Thunder in Finals odds.
Everyone knows the two best words in sports: Game Seven.
The Thunder and Spurs’ instant-classic series will see them head to Oklahoma City for one final time. BetMGM lists the Thunder as 3.5-point favorites and -165 (62.3% implied chance) on the moneyline, while the Spurs are +135 (42.6% chance).
Home teams were favored in every game in this series, although the Thunder’s 3.5-point advantage is the smallest of their four home games in the series.
Game 1: Thunder -6.5
Game 2: Thunder -6.5
Game 5: Thunder -4.5
Game 7: Thunder -3.5
BetMGM users can’t seem to agree on which team they’re backing in Saturday’s series finale. Currently, 59% of bets and 70% of the handle in the spread market are on Thunder -3.5, but 70% of tickets and 65% of the money in the moneyline market are on the Spurs, according to insights shared with Covers.
Neither the spread nor moneyline values have shifted since odds were first published after Game 6. The projected points total has increased one point from 211.5 to 212.5, with 69% of wagers and 72% of the pot favoring the over.
Who are bettors supporting in Spurs-Thunder?
While the Thunder are favored to win the Western Conference championship-decider, the Spurs can claim they have been the superior team in the series. They are +18 in aggregate score (678-660) and recorded wins of 27 and 21 points, while the Thunder’s largest win came by 15 points.
Betting trends have been nearly identical thus far. Both teams are 2-1 against the spread and on the moneyline at home and as favorites, and 1-2 on the road and as underdogs.
Series odds fluctuated dramatically based on the outcome of each game. The Spurs’ statement double-overtime victory on the road in Game 1 caused their price to shorten from +225 at opening to -105 heading into Game 2, although they have only lengthened since then. Their current +135 series value is as close as they’ve been.
The Thunder, -275 opening favorites, were only -115 after Game 1. They ballooned to -450 before Games 4 and 6 and sit at -160 entering the final matchup.
Although a dominant 74% of series bets are for the Spurs to win, an even larger 76% of the money is on the Thunder to advance.
The five most bet player props at BetMGM throughout the series, based on tickets, are:
Luguentz Dort under 5.5 points
Julian Champagnie under 5.5 rebounds
De’Aaron Fox under 4.5 rebounds
Jared McCain under 2.5 three-pointers
Chet Holmgren under 14.5 points
NBA Finals odds update
Team
BetMGM
DraftKings
FanDuel
Oklahoma City Thunder
+125
+125
+125
New York Knicks
+200
+200
+210
San Antonio Spurs
+240
+245
+230
BetMGM’s NBA Finals odds have the Thunder ahead at +125 (44.4% chance). The Knicks — the only team that has reached the championship round — are second at +200 (33.3% chance). The Spurs round out the bottom at +240 (29.4% chance).
BetMGM has not published look-ahead lines for potential series matchups between the Knicks and Thunder and the Knicks and Spurs. DraftKings, however, had the Thunder (-265) and Spurs (-225) both favored in hypothetical Finals matchups.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kelly Oubre Jr. had yet another season of showing up consistently when the Sixers’ competitiveness was often all over the place.
In 31.5 minutes per game through the regular season, he averaged 14.1 points on a career-high 58 true shooting percentage, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals. Oubre’s well and truly proven his strengths over his tenure with the Sixers now. The athleticism — paired with his consistent energy — has been such a welcome addition. He can effectively defend forwards and a range of guards with his size, lateral quickness and physicality, being able to take on pretty tough assignments at either position.
And despite not always taking the best shots himself, he did improve his shot diet with a higher frequency of threes this season (up from 32.7 percent of his total field goal attempts in 2024-25 to 43.9 percent this year). He provides quality cutting, finishing, transition play, and enough downhill scoring as a driver to complement the team’s stars in a variety of ways. He just had his best three-point shooting year yet, making a career-high 36 percent of his 4.8 attempts per game. That increased three-point volume did mean his attempts at the rim dropped somewhat, yet he still made a highly accurate 68.9 percent of his attempts within three feet. With his confidence, explosiveness, size and finishing, Oubre is still a threat attacking downhill.
Shooting slumps in a small sample can obviously happen any time, and unfortunately for Oubre it struck in this year’s playoffs. Oubre had space to fire from three but only hit 25.6 percent (10-of-39) of his attempts in the postseason. That’ll always be the swing factor that turns Oubre from being a starter-level piece of this team to someone who’d you’d maybe rather play 25-30 minutes off the bench.
Now, as Oubre gets into another summer of training, he wants to continue building on the shooting work he did last offseason. The plan is to take what he believes led him to some improvement and go a step further. He wants to introduce even more game-like situations in training to polish his shooting as much as possible, and continue working on his IQ, making reads, and seeing how plays can develop before they happen.
“Every year that I’ve come into this league, I’ve learned something, and I’ve grown in some areas,” Oubre summarised when speaking to reporters after the season ended. “So I want to continue that trend.”
Beyond his training focuses, the future is uncertain right now for Oubre. He’s set to hit free agency now that his great value two-year, $16.3 million contract is up. Keeping him for something close to that would be ideal for the Sixers’ wing depth.
When speaking at the end of the season, there was plenty for Oubre to reflect on. He certainly sounded interested in staying, but he’s unsure what to expect from free agency.
“I haven’t really been able to decompress, but I would say we took a step forward from the efforts that we put out last year,” Oubre said when looking back at how the season ended. “I think that we were able to build some form of camaraderie, some form of brotherhood throughout our trials and tribulations this year. And that’s all you can kind of ask for.
“And I would say I can’t really give it a grade, but I had fun. I enjoyed all my teammates. Everybody’s an amazing human being and a brother to me. And it just stings to go out like this, but at the end of the day, man, we made sure that we kept tight huddles throughout it all, because we’re all in this together.”
“I love my guys,” Oubre said to cap off his reflection of the team.
He also expressed how much he feels he learned this season.
“The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here. And I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for the city. And obviously I don’t like how I ended. So I always say, I like to finish what I start. And this is a bit sour for me, but at the end of the day, man, it’s already written. God already has it written up upstairs, and it’s just gonna follow through. So I hope I did myself a good service by being more efficient, slowing down, and just playing better overall basketball. And just continue to grow as a human being and as a player.”
Given Oubre’s been in the league 11 years, played on five different teams, and has already earned over $80 million in that time, it’s only fair that Oubre is thinking a lot about his family in all this as well. When asked about what he’s hoping for in a free agency situation and what his priority is, he made it clear how much his family and stability will factor into his decision.
“Somewhere where I’m loved, just somewhere where my family can be comfortable,” he said when describing what he’s after. “I have a family now. So it’s not like I’m thinking for myself and being able to do spontaneous stuff, right? So I just want my kids to have some somewhere that they can call home. I’m gonna go out there, I’m gonna grind with my hard hat on and go to work. But what I do is for my family, and I just want them to be stable somewhere and to not have to worry about anything when it comes to their lives, being uprooted and figuring out things on the fly.”
Staying in Philadelphia would certainly tick the stability box for Oubre and his family. It would give him stability from a career standpoint as well. To continue in a role where he’s finding increased success as an important factor on the team.
Even if the Sixers want to try saving a little on Oubre’s annual salary, perhaps offering him a longer term contract — let’s say three years — is the way to give him the stability he seeks and keep the team’s salary cap and possible apron issues in check.
Oubre may not be able to repeat the increased three-point success he had in 2025-26, but he has improved his composure on offense. That plus his drive game, versatile defense, work on the glass, and athletic energy all around makes him a player worth keeping. If the Sixers can sell Oubre on the value of stability, staying with a team he loves, and (potentially) a contract with more years in free agency over a shorter more expensive deal elsewhere, perhaps this partnership can continue working for both sides.
Head to NBC and Peacock this Saturday night to watch Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Live coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock before transitioning to NBC and Peacock at 7:30 p.m. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder Game Preview:
With their backs against the wall on home court, Wembanyama and the Spurs were able to force Game 7. San Antonio never trailed in Thursday night's 118-91 win. Wembanyama had 28 points and 10 rebounds. Dylan Harper scored 18 points and 6 rebounds off the bench, and Stephon Castle finished with 17 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds.
“All of our focus and attention was on the defensive end,” Castle said. “I don't think scoring against them has been a problem for us. … So when we're focused on defense and we're getting stops and being able to get out of the run and get easy looks, it makes the game pretty simple for us.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 15 points in the loss.
“Anything can happen in a Game 7,” said the two-time reigning MVP. “You have to go out there and be the better basketball team or your season is done.”
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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May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) in the first half during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
Coming off a tough Game 5 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs returned home down 3-2 with their backs against the wall. Game 6 got off to a blazing start for the Spurs, as they outscored OKC 35-22 in the first quarter. With a more aggressive approach, the Spurs drained eight threes in the first, which is the most they’ve scored in a playoff quarter since 1998. However, OKC responded with a 31-25 second quarter and cut the Spurs’ lead to seven. In the third, the Spurs finally were locked in on both sides of the ball, going on a 20-0 run. The Thunder went almost eight minutes without a point. The Spurs outscored OKC 32-13 in the quarter and kept their pace up in the fourth. The Spurs ultimately won 118-91.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 28 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals. After shooting 4 of 15 in Game 5, Wemby started Game 6 with an aggressive mindset by draining three threes in the first quarter. 22 of his 28 points came in the first half, and he shut down OKC in the paint. The 22-year-old faced a lot of scrutiny after Game 5, but he responded with a reminder that there was a reason he was voted All-NBA First Team. If Spurs fans and NBA fans thought Game 6 Wemby was great, wait till his first-ever Game 7.
1st Quarter highlight tape! Wemby drains a pair of threes alongside swatting Jared McCain’s layup attempt off the glass!
Dylan Harper dropped 18 points (6-9 FG), six rebounds, and four assists in 22 minutes off the bench. After struggling the last couple of games, Dylan dropped his best game in the series since Game 1. Granted, he has been playing with an adductor injury. In Game 6, Dylan looked like he was at least 99% healthy. He showed off that quick first step and burst to the cup like Spurs fans have seen all year, and finished at the rim with finesse. If Dylan is healthy enough to have another game like this, it bodes well for the silver and black. Just a reminder: he’s only 20 years old.
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE! First, look at the hustle and disciplined defense Devin Vassell plays on this fastbreak. Dev stays vertical on the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander layup attempt, and blocks Alex Caruso’s putback attempt! The ball lands in De’Aaron Fox’s hands, and he throws it up for an open Dylan three in transition!
Stephon Castle dropped 17 points (5-10 FG, 7-8 FT), nine assists, five rebounds, and a steal. Steph played with control and shut down his opponents on defense. Ever since Fox returned in Game 3, Steph has only turned the ball over six times and has dished out 28 assists. He continues to play without fear, and his determination to get the paint by any means necessary provides scoring with either a tough bucket or a dime. The 21-year-old’s defense and his control will help determine the outcome of Game 7.
First points on the board! Steph drives into the paint and finds a wide-open Julian Champagnie for three! Julian has been solid these last two games, including 10 points (4-8 3PT), six rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and a steal.
Devin Vassell dropped 12 points (4-7 3PT), two assists, one rebound, two blocks, and a steal. It has been said multiple times this postseason, but Dev has taken his game to another level throughout every playoff series. In this one especially, he has shown OKC that he does not fear them, and he continues to make every crucial momentum-building play for the Spurs. Besides his timely threes, he continues to be solid on defense. Whether it has been on the perimeter or in the paint, Dev has made a play. In terms of impact and efficiency, Dev is more than likely to make an impact in Game 7.
D3VIN! Dev knocks down the early three off the Steph dish!
When the Spurs were on the ropes, they simply returned a heavy blow. They were ready to respond after Game 5. They are showing the Thunder that they will not give up or waver. This was a total team effort on both sides of the ball, somehow more dominant than Game 4. This team’s confidence is through the roof heading to Game 7. Even though the odds are not in their favor with them going on the road and playing in their first Game 7 this season, lack of experience has not stopped this train. On Saturday, Spurs fans will witness if this young and resilient team can punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The best two words in sports: Game 7. This Saturday at 7:00 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock, the Spurs face their toughest game of the entire postseason.
Anti-tanking passed nearly unanimously, but the Memphis Grizzlies were the lone holdouts.
The new rules are proposed to get the NBA’s teams to be more competitive – to stop sitting their top players in an attempt to have a worse record and better chances at landing a top draft pick.
The Grizzlies voted against the new “3-2-1” anti-tanking proposal due to the provision prohibiting teams from securing top-five draft picks in three straight seasons, per ESPN.
Adam Silver declared war on tanking in the NBA. Getty Images
They will receive the highest pick first-round among the Jazz, Cavaliers and Timberwolves next season, with Utah being the weakest link of the trio this past season.
Utah will No. 2 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft and also selected Ace Bailey No. 5 overall last season.
After acquiring Jackson, it’s possible the Jazz are a solid team for the first time in nearly a decade, but the Grizzlies acquired that 2027 pick with the hopes that it lands in the top five.
If Utah does have a bottom-five record, due to the new rules their pick would be executed as the sixth overall pick in the draft, despite the Grizzlies owning it.
The Grizzlies have had a tough go of it over the past few years, as Morant has dealt with off-court issues, including a suspension, and they’ve fallen apart in two of the last three seasons.
The Grizzlies voted against the NBA anti-tanking provision. NBAE via Getty Images
Memphis ended the season with a 25-57 record, though they played well the year before, finishing 48-34.
Their 2023-24 record was a disappointing 27-55.
There is also a chance that the Grizzlies opt to uproot their franchise by trading Morant and attempting to tank for a better draft pick next season, though the new lottery odds make this significantly less likely.
The worst three records in the NBA previously had a 14 percent chance of the top draft pick, which has been reduced to 5.4 percent with the new rules taking effect immediately.
The fourth- to 10th-best records will have an 8.1 percent chance to land the top pick.
The Grizzlies had even caught some strays from LeBron James, who said that his least favorite place to play was Memphis, an opinion that has been talked about around league circles for years.
Memphis had the worst attendance in the NBA last season.
The Knicks are only four wins away from their first NBA championship since 1973, a long, aching wait that’s tortured generations of fans. Falling short of that goal, even to a Western Conference juggernaut in seven games, would be a disappointment offering no consolation prize to the mecca of basketball.
Still, it’s important to note that what the Knicks have accomplished on this run is nothing short of historic, no matter how it ends. They’ve already etched their names in the record books, whether a ring comes with it or not.
Since losing Game 3 of the first round in Atlanta, New York has rattled off 11 consecutive playoff wins, taking three straight against the Hawks before sweeping the 76ers and Cavaliers. That’s tied for the third-longest postseason winning streak in NBA history. One more win would tie the 1999 Spurs at 12, and three would pass the Warriors at 15.
The wins alone are impressive -- over a Hawks team that had the third-best record in the NBA post-All-Star break, a Sixers team that had just toppled the Celtics with their three stars, and a Cavs team that has been a perennial top seed and acquired James Harden ahead of the deadline.
But the way the Knicks have won has been in a category of its own.
New York avalanched these teams, with 10 wins coming by 11 or more points -- they beat Atlanta by 16, 29, and 51, before two additional 30-point victories over Philadelphia and another against Cleveland.
The degree to which the Knicks are skating by in the postseason is unmatched -- their 262-point differential in their 11 consecutive wins is the largest in any 11-game span in NBA history, regular season or postseason.
We’re at the stage where the competition is at its fiercest, every flaw is magnified, and the Knicks managed to look more dominant than any team ever. They also broke a few more records on the way.
No team has ever led by 47 points going into halftime of a playoff game until these Knicks did it against the Hawks in a closeout Game 6. A couple of games prior they tied the record for the most threes in a postseason game with 25.
Then there was Game 1 against Cleveland, when New York fell behind by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter before improbably coming back and winning in overtime. That was the second-largest fourth quarter comeback in the history of the NBA playoffs, amid a streak of the greatest string of blowouts in the postseason.
The individual accolades haven’t met these standards after multiple record-breaking feats by Jalen Brunson in previous playoffs, but that’s kind of the point. The Knicks are truly playing team-first basketball, with each individual sacrificing to be the most optimal versions of themselves in pursuit of winning.
They haven’t even done it in one particular way. It took mid-series adjustments against the Hawks and Cavs to continue this run unabridged. Now the Knicks are in the Finals for the first time in 27 years, as the first NBA Cup Champions to do so, and the first team in franchise history to pull off multiple sweeps.
These things may not mean much at the moment to Knicks fans salivating over the Larry O’Brien trophy, and even less so if the Knicks were to lose. But after decades of toiling, failed promises, and broken rebuilds, it should.
Should New York fall short in the Finals, as tragic as that outcome would be to some, it shouldn’t take away from the magnitude of the run that got them there. Few teams have exhibited this type of command over a conference in such style, and that should be commended.
More than the streak and insane blowouts, the real history is the Knicks managing to break a quarter-century curse and rebuild themselves back into a contender with good management while finding the superstar hidden in plain sight.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball against Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on February 06, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 119-115. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we sit staring down another long Minnesota offseason, waiting for October to arrive and Timberwolves basketball to finally return, our minds inevitably drift toward the future.
That’s what NBA offseasons are for. They are five months of hope, speculation, trade machine screenshots, and fan bases convincing themselves that one move, just one move, is all that stands between them and a championship parade.
For Timberwolves fans, that process has already begun. The wounds from the loss to San Antonio are still fresh. Watching Victor Wembanyama dismantle Minnesota over six games wasn’t exactly a relaxing experience. Neither was watching Oklahoma City continue to establish itself as one of the premier powers in basketball. As Wolves fans survey the landscape of the Western Conference, one thing becomes abundantly clear: standing still is probably not enough.
The Wolves are good. Very good. They have five playoff series victories in three seasons to back up that claim. Anthony Edwards has established himself as one of the premier stars in basketball. Jaden McDaniels remains one of the league’s most versatile defenders. Rudy Gobert still anchors an elite defense. And yet despite all of that, Minnesota finds itself looking up at San Antonio and Oklahoma City and wondering how exactly it closes that final gap.
That’s where the offseason rumors begin. We’ve heard the Giannis Antetokounmpo whispers. We’ve talked about Kyrie Irving potentially becoming available if Dallas fully embraces the Cooper Flagg era. Now the latest name making the rounds is Zion Williamson, a player who somehow manages to be both one of the most tantalizing and terrifying trade targets in basketball at the exact same time.
Honestly? I understand why Wolves fans are intrigued. I also think it’s probably a mistake.
Zion entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. He is still a player who, when healthy and engaged, can look like a force of nature unlike anything else in basketball. We’ve seen it firsthand. Wolves fans have watched Zion put his shoulder down and head downhill toward the basket looking less like a power forward and more like a runaway freight train.
He’s one of the few players in the league who can consistently generate efficient offense simply through sheer physical dominance. Pair that type of player next to Anthony Edwards and it’s easy to see why fans start daydreaming. You suddenly have two players capable of collapsing defenses. Two players capable of living at the rim. Two players capable of making life miserable for opponents.
When you start imagining a playoff series against Oklahoma City or San Antonio, it’s easy to picture Zion bulldozing his way through defenders while Edwards attacks from the perimeter. It’s easy to convince yourself that maybe this is the move that finally gets Minnesota over the hump.
That’s the seductive part of the argument. The problem is that every Zion discussion eventually runs into the same brick wall.
Reality.
There is a reason the Pelicans would even entertain moving him. Teams don’t trade players with Zion’s talent level because they want to. They trade them because something isn’t working.
For years, New Orleans has been waiting for Zion Williamson to become the centerpiece they envisioned when they drafted him. For years, they’ve been waiting for the fully realized version of the player that appears in highlight reels and All-Star discussions. And for years, they have largely been left waiting.
The injury history is impossible to ignore. The conditioning concerns have never completely disappeared. Questions about motivation continue to follow him around like a shadow. At some point, we have to stop treating those concerns as temporary obstacles and start acknowledging that they are part of the player profile. This is who Zion is right now: a tremendously gifted player whose availability remains a major question mark.
That’s where my hesitation begins. Because trading for Zion requires betting on the absolute best-case scenario. You’re betting that a player who has struggled to stay healthy suddenly becomes healthy. You’re betting that a player whose conditioning has frequently been questioned suddenly becomes fully committed. You’re betting that a player who has spent years frustrating one franchise suddenly arrives in Minnesota and immediately becomes the best version of himself.
Maybe it happens… but that’s a lot of maybes.
More importantly, it’s asking the Timberwolves to solve a problem that another organization has spent years trying unsuccessfully to solve. Historically speaking, that hasn’t exactly been Minnesota’s specialty. How many times have we seen this franchise convince itself it could be the place where another team’s reclamation project finally worked out?
Michael Beasley. Ricky Davis. Antoine Walker. D’Angelo Russell. Even Derrick Rose, as successful as that reunion briefly became. Some worked better than others. Some provided memorable moments. Some even became fan favorites, but none fundamentally altered the trajectory of the franchise.
The Timberwolves have spent much of their existence talking themselves into upside, potential, and what a player could become. More often than not, those gambles have failed to deliver the transformative impact everyone hoped for.
Now, to be fair, this organization is different than it was during many of those years. Anthony Edwards has changed the expectations. Tim Connelly has dramatically improved the talent evaluation process. The Wolves are no longer the dysfunctional franchise they once were. But even with all of that acknowledged, I still struggle with the idea that Zion Williamson suddenly discovers basketball enlightenment simply because he changes zip codes.
Especially when there’s a compelling argument that Minnesota would be better off investing in the player it already has. Because if we’re being completely honest, a Zion-for-Julius Randle discussion isn’t really about talent. It’s about trust.
Zion is younger. Zion is more explosive. Zion probably has a higher theoretical ceiling. But Julius Randle has something Zion doesn’t possess: Availability.
That’s not a small thing. Availability matters. Particularly in a Western Conference where every playoff series feels like a war of attrition.
Randle’s postseason against San Antonio was disappointing. There’s no reason to sugarcoat that. The Wolves needed more from him. There were stretches where he disappeared when Minnesota desperately needed a secondary offensive star. But over the course of the season, Randle also showed why the Wolves acquired him in the first place. When he’s engaged and playing his best basketball, he gives Minnesota another player capable of generating offense when everything breaks down. He can bully smaller defenders. He can create his own shot. He can facilitate. He can take pressure off Edwards.
The frustrating part is that version doesn’t always show up. But at least you know he’s going to be on the floor. That’s not something you can automatically assume with Zion.
And ultimately, that’s why I keep coming back to the same conclusion. Even if Zion has the higher upside, the probability distribution of outcomes is heavily tilted toward disappointment. There’s simply a much greater chance that this move makes Minnesota worse than there is that it turns them into champions.
Perhaps the biggest issue of all is that it doesn’t actually solve the Wolves’ biggest problem: the point guard position. Trading Randle for Zion doesn’t recalibrate the roster and improve the ball handling. It doesn’t address the fact that Mike Conley is no longer a reliable starter and that Minnesota still lacks a true long-term answer at lead guard.
A Randle for Zion traide is essentially swapping one power forward for another and hoping the rest sorts itself out. Which is why, as controversial as it may sound, a Kyrie Irving discussion actually makes more sense to me. Not because Kyrie is without risk – far from it. Age is a factor, the injury history is real, the contract isn’t small, but at least the move addresses an actual weakness.
Kyrie immediately changes the geometry of the offense. He punishes teams for loading up on Edwards. He gives Minnesota another creator who can generate offense late in games. He allows Naz Reid to potentially slide into a larger role while maintaining balance throughout the lineup. You can argue whether it’s the right move. You can argue whether it’s realistic. But the logic is clear.
With Zion, I’m not convinced it is.
At the end of the day, this is why Tim Connelly gets paid the big bucks.
The Wolves are entering a fascinating offseason. They have enough talent to compete. They have enough flaws that standing pat feels dangerous. They’re operating within financial constraints. They’re navigating an increasingly brutal Western Conference. Every decision matters. Every move carries risk.
And while Zion Williamson is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing names that could become available, I keep coming back to the same question: does this move actually solve Minnesota’s problems? Or does it simply replace one set of questions with another?
From where I sit, the answer feels pretty obvious.
The temptation is understandable, the upside is intoxicating, but championships are usually built by making smart decisions, not by chasing the most exciting possibility on the board.
In recent years, I’ve come to wonder whether I’m on the autism spectrum.
Then again, I kind of think everyone’s on the spectrum now. That could be selection bias – I’m mildly autistic, so I gravitate to mildly autistic people. It could be a reflection of bastardization of diagnostic and clinical language. It could also just be accurate.
One symptom of autism is “a profound, often unwavering commitment to fairness, equality, and moral correctness”. I used to find this annoying. It felt like a sneaky way of virtue signalling. “Oh no, I have a neurodevelopmental disorder that makes me a really good person!“. Now, I feel like it’s another symptom I might endorse:
Because I am absolutely seething about the NBA’s new anti-tanking reforms, even if they might benefit my beloved Houston Rockets.
New NBA tanking rules patently unfair
So, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired three future first-round picks from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr. The new rules state that a team’s pick can’t convey in the top five for three consecutive seasons. The Jazz have picked in the top five for two straight years, so now, their 2027 pick can’t land there:
Even though the Grizzlies own it.
If anyone can locate the iota of sense that makes, someone tell me. I’ve seen some attempts to justify the rule, but they have been feeble.
Some have said the Grizzlies should be punished for trading Jackson Jr. in a deliberate bid to get worse. Hogwash. Teams can’t get younger anymore? This is especially outlandish in an increasingly punitive CBA. So the Grizzlies have to keep Jackson Jr.’s salary on the books, even though they’re not winning, or else they’re punished? The league is bullying one of their smallest markets directly into a space between a rock and a hard place.
“Well, the Jazz acquired Jackson Jr. so they could stop tanking. They likely weren’t sending the Grizzlies a high lottery pick anyway”. Likely true, and incidentally, not the point. Who’s to say Jackson Jr. doesn’t suffer a season-ending injury on day one?
The official position from the league is that they didn’t want to create an imbalance in the value of acquired vs original picks. Sure, but the Grizzlies acquired the pick with the understanding that it held a certain value. The broader point is that you can’t change the rules of a game in the middle of the game. You buy a lottery ticket with the understanding that you probably won’t win the lottery. You would not buy a lottery ticket knowing that it was impossible to win the lottery.
It’s garbage. It’s unfair by any measure.
Does it affect the Rockets?
Rockets could benefit from rule changes
When Rafael Stone traded the second-best player in the history of an old NBA franchise for nothing but draft capital, he had a vision. Just two years later, he would state on record that “the NBA punishes the middle…that’s just the way the system is set up.”
We can safely assume that principle informed his decision-making process.
The rule changes incentivise the middle. In theory, the Rockets also had the rug pulled out from under them. It shouldn’t hurt them, but that’s mere serendipity. Luckily, the teams that owe Houston picks (the Nets, Suns, and Mavericks) are likely to land broadly in the middle going forward.
This could also open up paths for Houston. The fear of regression should be less prominent. If they ultimately decide (re: realize) that Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson can’t play together, retooling at the expense of a handful of regular-season wins will be more palpable with the flattened odds.
In terms of the NBA viewing experience, this may not even be so bad. Personally, my least favorite era of Rockets basketball since becoming a fan in (roughly) 1998 was the Louis Scola / Kevin Martin era. If the Rockets had a chance of adding a young John Wall to the 2009-10 team that went 42-40, it would have piqued my interest.
Personally, I’ve never considered tanking a major issue. Most of this feels like fear-mongering designed to pander to the gambling companies. Still, nobody should be fiercely opposed to disincentivizing the practice. If you love tanking, you’re weird.
What I am (as it turns out) passionately opposed to is unfairness. There is no rational reason why the league couldn’t amend the rules to “grandfather in” the Grizzlies’ incoming pick.
Federal prosecutors have indicted ex-Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on additional charges in connection with a sports gambling sting, alleging he took a hefty bribe to exit a game early in March 2023.
Rozier, 32, was charged Thursday in a superseding indictment in Brooklyn federal court with bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. Superseding indictments are used when prosecutors want to change or add new charges to an existing criminal case.
Rozier has denied participating in the gambling scheme, and has been fighting to have the case dismissed after pleading not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges in December. His attorneys argue in part that the government's theory of the case — that he prevented sportsbooks from making informed decisions about accepting certain bets — runs afoul of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the federal wire fraud statute.
The new indictment "just confirms that our motion to dismiss was righteous — new charges, new theories, but all just an effort to make something stick," Rozier's attorney, Jim Trusty, wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
Rozier was arrested in October along with former NBA player Damon Jones, who pleaded guilty last month for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel. Others charged in the case include sports bettor and influencer Marves Fairley, who pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy, bribery and other federal charges in connection with gambling schemes targeting basketball games in the U.S. and China.
Rozier remains free on $3 million bond. The case has kept him off the court this season.
The new indictment alleges that Rozier not only defrauded sportsbooks, but also the NBA and the team he was playing for at the time, the Charlotte Hornets.
Rozier is accused of conspiring with gamblers to leave a game early, citing a lingering lower leg injury, so they could cash in on more than $250,000 in bets that his points, assists and other totals would be lower than what the sportsbooks had set as betting lines.
Not all of the bets were successful because Rozier collected four rebounds, which was more than the betting line, the superseding indictment said. As a result, after the game, Rozier and his co-conspirators negotiated a discount on his bribe, cutting it from $100,000 to about $70,000, the superseding indictment said.
The new indictment against Rozier was filed within hours of the guilty pleas by Fairley, who goes by the name "Vezino Locks" on Instagram. As part of his plea, Fairley admitted to prosecutors' allegations that he used insider information to get an edge when betting on NBA, NCAA and Chinese Professional Basketball League games — including paying Rozier's longtime friend $100,000 in exchange for a tip that Rozier was going to leave a game early.”
Fairley's attorney Eric Siegle said his client “deeply regrets and is ashamed of his conduct.”
"By publicly acknowledging his guilt and conduct today, Marves is taking the first step toward atoning for his wrongful conduct and to starting his ‘second half’ on the right foot," Siegle said.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 5: Nick Smith Jr. #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball in front of Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we continue our series with a look at Nick Smith Jr.
Back in September, when the Hornets waived Nick Smith Jr. and the Lakers pounced to sign him to a two-way contract, he instantly became the latest in a string of “second draft” prospects the team would try to nurture and develop into a contributor who could impact their roster.
As a former first round pick, Smith was the exact sort of player the Lakers have tried to add to their system in the past, targeting pedigree and potential as a potential pathway towards someone who could viably make the main team and possibly even stick in the rotation.
Smith, to his credit, ultimately did turn his two-way opportunity into a standard NBA deal right before the regular season ended. Whether he’s able to turn that end-of-year deal into something more lasting remains to be seen, but after a year in JJ Redick’s system, he at least has a firm idea of what it will take to earn the sort of trust that can allow him to stick.
How did he play?
Though on a two-way contract for most of the regular season, Smith appeared in 30 games for the Lakers and averaged 6.8 points and 1.0 assists on 43.8% shooting from the field and 39.5% from behind the arc. The outside shooting was encouraging, showing a nice ability to hit shots both as a spot-up option and off the dribble, mostly out of the pick and roll.
Smith mostly got chances at the end of games in garbage time, but did show real pop in a couple of longer stints over the course of the year when the Lakers were dealing with injuries. In what was his highlight performance of the year, Smith helped a Lakers unit down all three of Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves win a road game in Portland on the second night of a back-to-back.
In just under 27 minutes off the bench, Smith connected on 10 of his 15 shot attempts overall, including five of his six shots from behind the arc to score 25 points to go along with a team-high six assists. Playing against a physically strong and stout Blazers defense, Smith used his quickness and off-the-dribble prowess to create separation and get to his jumper over and over again.
Smith would have a similar performance nearly two months later when he again got thrust into the lineup with Reaves out injured, helping the Lakers blow out the Kings with a 21-point effort fueled by 8-of-14 shooting from the field that included five made 3-pointers.
It wasn’t this way all season, of course. Smith did spend the majority of the year racking up DNP-CD’s and was even passed over by fellow former first round pick Kobe Bufkin when the Lakers originally filled their open 15th roster spot. But Smith stuck with it, proved ready to play hard when his number was called later in the year, and ultimately did get his contract converted when the Lakers waived Bufkin before the regular season ended.
What is his contract situation moving forward?
Smith is on a non-guaranteed minimum contract for next season, making it unclear if he’ll be on next season’s roster or not. In the summer of optionality for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office, it would not surprise me if Smith’s contract is voided before its June 29th guarantee date in order to generate an additional sliver of cap space for the team to go into the marketplace with.
There’s also a possibility of Smith’s guarantee being pushed back into July where the Lakers would have a better understanding of what their roster construction might be or whether they would need the extra bit of cap space waiving Smith would open up.
Either way, the very nature of Smith’s contract creates uncertainty for his future with the team.
Should he be back?
Smith showed enough potential offensively as a shot maker to consider bringing him back for a longer look to see if he can stick with the team. He’d need to show he can compete harder on defense and become more consistent as a catch-and-shoot player, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him in training camp fighting to make the team.
While I’m not sure it’s possible or if he’d be amenable to it, pushing the guarantee date in his contract back to December or January where the Lakers could essentially give him the chance to make the team with a strong training camp and at least stay on through the initial transaction period that happens on December 15 could be a happy medium for both sides.
This would allow Smith to continue to learn and grow in the Lakers system and show he’s ready for more, but also give the Lakers the sort of flexibility they covet to maneuver as they’d like in free agency and the trade market.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 9: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs the rebound during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Adou Thiero.
Over the past several years, the Lakers have been hit-or-miss with their draft picks. Max Christie and Bronny James have been the best selections, but 2023 first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino is out of the league and Dalton Knecht remained glued to the bench this year.
Their most recent selection, Adou Thiero, was a player the franchise clearly desired as they moved up twice in the draft to pick him at No. 36.
Now that his first year in the NBA is done, let’s assess how successful it was or wasn’t.
How did he play?
For Thiero, being available to even suit up was a challenge. He missed all of training camp and the start of the regular season while recovering from surgery on his left knee. Thiero also missed time midway through the year after suffering an MCL sprain.
When he was ready to play, minutes were hard to come by. This was a combination of monitoring his health and the Lakers being a win-now team, which doesn’t allow a rookie to play through mistakes.
When he did play, it was usually in garbage time. Thiero only had two games during his rookie year in which he played 20 or more minutes.
Still, in those short stints, he showed promise. Thiero has athleticism and explosiveness that can’t be taught. He leaned on his strengths and lived in the paint. On his 31 shots, 21 were at the rim.
In his limited play, Thiero had some monstrous slams, showcasing the vertical spacing he provides whenever he is on the court.
His defensive moments were an adventure, but he has the speed and strength to eventually become a respectable player on that side of the ball if he puts in the time. Right now, he was at least an active defender.
It was an encouraging sign of where Thiero is in his career that Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave him some run come playoff time. LA was shorthanded with Luka Dončić out during the entire postseason run and Thiero played in both series against the Rockets and Thunder.
He did well in those minutes and didn’t look like a rookie overwhelmed by the moment. Thiero was still able to get to the rim, score and be a ball of energy for the team.
What is the contract situation moving forward?
Thiero is on a rookie deal, so not only is he locked in for next season and a club option after that, but it’s at a modest number at $2.1 million for the 2026-27 season.
This is a standard rookie contract, but it’s great that the Lakers have a cost-controlled player and someone with tremendous upside on the roster.
Should he be back?
Thiero should absolutely return next year.
He is a solid prospect, and given how injured he was and his limited minutes, there is no telling how good he can be. Now that he’s healthy and ready for an offseason in the gym and at Summer League, he’ll have a chance to put in the appropriate amount of time into his game.
The only way Thiero leaving makes sense is if a team like, say, Milwaukee, demands him in exchange for the Lakers acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. This is exactly how the Lakers lost Christie, who was part of the Luka Dončić-for-Anthony Davis trade.
This will be a big summer for the Lakers and Thiero. If things go right, he can build off his rookie year and have a huge sophomore season. Now that he’s healthy, he’ll have every chance of making that happen.
New York Knicks reserve big man Mitchell Robinson has already had surgery on his fractured little finger on his right hand, according to multiple reports, and he hopes to be able to play through it with a brace on his hand in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Robinson fractured his finger sometime after the Knicks swept the Cavaliers out of the playoffs — there still has been no official word on how this happened — and had surgery earlier this week, something first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania and since confirmed by others.
Robinson is pushing to play in Game 1 of the Finals, which is Wednesday in either Oklahoma City or San Antonio (Game 7 between those teams is Saturday). That would be a radically fast turnaround. Usually when a player has surgery to repair a broken pinky finger, they are out for a month, according to Jeff Stotts’s injury database at In Street Clothes.
That said, the Knicks don't rely on Robinson for shooting or his handles, if he can deal with the pain and not make the injury worse, the things he can do on the court are still valuable.
Going up against the size and physicality of either West team, New York could really use Robinson. He brings physicality and rim protection on defense, plus he is a high-level offensive rebounder — he averaged 4.2 offensive rebounds a game during the regular season (fourth in the league). In that role, he was critical to the Knicks' NBA Cup Finals win over the Spurs back in December.
While Robinson has a long history of injuries, this season was among his healthiest, and he played in 60 games (his most since the 2019-20 season). Robinson has averaged 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game off the bench in these playoffs, although his minutes dropped against Cleveland as the Cavs adopted a hack-a-Mitch strategy to get him off the court.
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) speaks to the media after game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
What a roller coaster this series has been. San Antonio and OKC have been taking turns winning over the last four games in blowout (or at least blowout-adjacent) fashion, which makes it really difficult to judge which team holds the edge at any point in time. Having said so, last night went about as well as it could for the Spurs, and we can be hopeful that the success they enjoyed will translate (even if only partially) to Game 7. In the meantime, let’s review some box score stats:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of May 28, 2026, this group include 1,200 games.
Factors that decided the game
The factors deciding this game were really simple. First the Spurs had an excellent foul differential (-7), which allowed them to earn a FTA margin of +13. Even though their FT% differential was mildly negative, they still outscored OKC by 10 from the charity stripe.
On top of that, San Antonio had excellent FG% (+9.36 percentage points) and 3P% (+11.59 percentage points). The Thunder had a volume advantage from field overall (because the Spurs went to the free throw line far more often), but San Antonio still recorded FGM and 3PM margins of +6 and +5, respectively. As a result, they outscored OKC from 17 from the field.
From an overall box score perspective, everything else was more or less a wash. The turnover battle was (mercifully) dead even, and the only other notable box score margin was the Spurs edge in defensive boards (+11). However, this latter edge was mostly the byproduct of OKC shooting more often and much less efficiently, resulting in lots of defensive rebounding opportunities for San Antonio.
Rare Box Score Stats
OKC recorded just the fifth instance in 1,200 postseason games since 2012-2013 in which any team (winner or loser) had FG% and 3P% values no better than 37.23% and 25% (respectively) while shooting at least 91.67% from the free throw line.
It’s not very uncommon for a player to log 18+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 4+ assists in a playoff game; in fact, it’s happened nearly 2,500 times since the 1996-1997 postseason. However, Dylan Harper became the FIRST player in that period to do so in just 22:04.
Wemby’s stat line is much rarer, as only 36 other postseason player performances since 1996-1997 have included 28+ points, 10+ rebounds, 2+ steals, and 3+ blocks. However, Victor and Dylan had similar nights in that Victor also set the timing record for achieving these values, with a total playing time of just 28:25.
SGA recorded just the fourth performance in which a player took 18+ shots and had a plus/minus of -28 or worse in under 28.3 minutes of play.
Here’s a wild stat to end with: Prior to last night, no team had achieved a playoff performance in which at least 15 players played and everyone had a positive plus/minus.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was indicted on new bribery charges on Thursday after federal prosecutors alleged that he accepted $100,000 to manipulate an NBA game.
Key Takeaways
Terry Rozier was charged in a Brooklyn court on Thursday.
The superseding indictment adds to his wire fraud and money laundering charges.
The former NBA player’s lawyer claims his client’s innocence.
Rozier was charged in a Brooklyn court through a superseding indictment, which adds to previous federal allegations of wire fraud and money laundering. Rozier, who was arrested in October 2025 as part of an FBI takedown of multiple gambling operations, pleaded not guilty to the original charges and had attempted to have his case thrown out in December that year.
His attorney, Jim Trusty,told the Associated Press that the latest indictment “just confirms that our motion to dismiss was righteous – new charges, new theories, but all just a sad effort to make something stick.”
Rozier is still out on a $3 million bond. He was placed on leave following his arrest and missed the entire season. The Heat released Rozier at the end of this NBA season.
The payment plan
Federal prosecutors said in April that they planned to bring new charges against Rozier, which include defrauding the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets, as well as sportsbooks FanDuel and DraftKings.
The bribery indictment came hours after bettor Marves Fairley told prosecutors that he agreed to pay Rozier and his longtime friend Deniro Laster $100,000 if Rozier left a game in March 2023 early while he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
Rozier removed himself from the contest with a lower leg injury. He was not on the injury report before the game. His early exit allegedly helped a group of bettors cash over $250,000 worth of under bets on his player props.
The Hornets guard scored five points, recorded two assists, and hit one 3-pointer, all below his season averages and the prop totals set for that game against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, because Rozier recorded four rebounds, going over his betting total, the co-conspirators agreed to a $70,000 payment.
Laster allegedly met Fairley to collect the bribe money in Philadelphia and then drove to Rozier’s house, where the co-conspirators counted their payment. Some of the bettors included in the scheme were also part of the Jontay Porter scandal that rocked the NBA in 2024.
Fixing games
Fairley, a social media influencer,pleaded guilty to seven charges, all related to the illegal betting scheme. Fairley allegedly helped fix games in the Chinese Basketball League, the NBA, and college basketball, a scheme that spanned nearly 40 players from 17 NCAA schools.
He admitted to paying an unnamed NBA player, who prosecutors believe is Rozier.
“There are some desperate men in this case with terrible criminal records and tons of exposure, and they know what to say to please these prosecutors,” Trusty said about Fairley’s claim.
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested in October for his role in informing bettors of nonpublic injury information on NBA stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Jones pleaded guilty in Aprilto betting scheme charges and for helping recruit players to a mob-run, rigged poker game, and he faces sentencing in January.
Kurt Helin
