Category: NBA

The disrespect continues for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After the Timberwolves clawed back to even their Western Conference Semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs at two games apiece, the latest NBA title odds dropped, and Minnesota somehow ended up with the longest odds of any remotely viable contender left standing. I’m excluding the Lakers who are currently hanging on by a thread against Oklahoma City with odds sitting at a hilarious +60,000 like somebody accidentally left an extra zero on the spreadsheet.

The Wolves are a team that already survived their matchup with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, has now been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals, and has repeatedly punched above its weight in the postseason over the past three years.

And Vegas looked at all that and basically shrugged. The Wolves currently sit at +8,000 to win the NBA title at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs, the exact team Minnesota is currently tied with 2-2, are sitting at +380.

Now, to be fair, nobody is arguing that the Wolves should be favorites. That would be ridiculous. The road in front of them is absolutely brutal. They already had to go through Denver and the best player on the planet in Nikola Jokic. Now they’re in a trench war against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. And even if they survive this? Oklahoma City is looming like the final boss.

The Thunder, deservedly, have become the betting darlings of the postseason. They’re sitting at -180, the only remaining team with negative odds, and Vegas is treating them like Thanos after he finally got the last Infinity Stone. OKC is deep, athletic, relentless, and terrifying. Nobody is disputing that.

But +8,000 for Minnesota? That feels absurdly aggressive, especially when you actually look at what this Wolves team has already accomplished and who they’ve accomplished it against. They just eliminated Denver. Again. They beat the Nuggets in the playoffs for the second time in three years. They’ve now won playoff series in three consecutive seasons. They’ve proven repeatedly that when they lock in defensively, they can drag elite teams into ugly rock fights and survive. They split their regular season series with Oklahoma City 2-2. They’ve split this Spurs series down the middle despite being held together by athletic tape, pain tolerance, and whatever mutant healing factor Anthony Edwards apparently stole from Wolverine.

Yet somehow they’re still being treated like a novelty act. It’s funny because we’ve seen this exact cycle before. Nobody believed they could beat Phoenix in 2024. Then the Wolves stomped them into dust. Nobody believed they could beat Denver after dropping three straight games in that same postseason. Then Minnesota marched into Ball Arena and pulled off the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA history. Nobody believed they could survive the injuries against Denver this year after losing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Then they closed the Nuggets out anyway behind defense and one of the gutsiest team efforts this franchise has ever produced.

Every time, the Wolves have responded by making the doubters look ridiculous.

That’s part of what makes this current version of the Timberwolves so fascinating. They’re simultaneously battle-tested and doubted. Proven and dismissed. At some point, maybe people should stop acting surprised.

Now, again, let’s be realistic here. The Wolves are not some flawless juggernaut. Their offense can go into deep freezes. Their reliance on three-point shooting can make them look unstoppable one night and borderline unwatchable the next. Anthony Edwards is clearly compromised physically. The backcourt injuries have forced role players into critical minutes. Victor Wembanyama remains to be conquered and SGA is waiting in the wings after that.

There are legitimate reasons why Vegas is hesitant, but +8,000 still feels far from a fair assessment. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last few postseasons, it’s this: counting out the Wolves is a dangerous hobby. This team has embraced the underdog role. They seem to genuinely enjoy being doubted. The more people pick against them, the more they lean into the “nobody believes in us” identity they’ve built over these playoff runs. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels turning games into defensive hostage situations. Julius Randle bulldozing people downhill. Naz Reid detonating off the bench. Terrence Shannon Jr. becoming a quick step freight train. Mike Conley somehow continuing to outrun Father Time like he found Tom Brady’s avocado ice cream diet. And then there’s Ant, who even without functioning knees still walks around with the confidence of a guy who thinks every arena belongs to him.

All of this matters in playoff basketball. Belief matters. Chemistry matters. Defense absolutely matters.

And if Minnesota survives San Antonio? Suddenly those +8,000 odds start looking a whole lot sillier. Because once you get down to the final four, weird things happen. Injuries happen. Matchups matter. One hot shooting stretch can flip an entire series. One defensive masterpiece can rewrite everything.

So no, Minnesota probably shouldn’t be favored to win the title, but treating them like they’re 20 times less likely than the Spurs to pull it off? If you’re the gambling type and feeling a little reckless, Vegas may have just handed you the basketball equivalent of finding a wallet on the sidewalk.

Because if this Wolves team keeps defending like maniacs, keeps embracing the fight, and keeps making everyone look stupid for doubting them…

+8,000 might not stay on the board much longer.

As expected, the NBA will not be taking any further action against Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected from Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves for elbowing Naz Reid in the throat area, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The incident occurred with 8:39 left in the second quarter, after Wemby had grabbed an offensive rebound, and Reid and Jaden McDaniels were swiping and draped all over him. Wemby then swung his elbow and hit Reid in the throat, and after video review, head referee Zach Zarba determined that the three key points of intent, wind-up and follow-through were met to meet the criteria of a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in him being ejected from the game for the first time in his NBA career.

While making it clear that he did not justify the play itself, head coach Mitch Johnson had Wemby’s back after the game, stating his frustration with the officiating and how the amount of contact and physicality players are allowed to get away with on him led up to this point, perhaps at the risk of his own fine.

“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself. Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don’t complain because we’re just going to play. We don’t really give a s—. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.

“It’s starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.”

Wemby reportedly had words of encouragement for his teammates at halftime, and to the Spurs’ credit, they didn’t fold or give up on the game without their star center (despite Carmelo Anthony’s idiotic suggestion that they should during NBC’s halftime show — perhaps that mindset is an insight into why he never even made the finals himself). Instead, they weathered the initial storm and rode their star guards to a 9-point second-half lead before what felt like an inevitable Anthony Edwards fourth-quarter storm, and they didn’t have quite enough time recover, resulting in a 109-114 loss with the series tied at 2-2.

The good news is Wemby will be available for Game 5 after avoiding suspension. That shouldn’t be a surprise considering it was a pretty standard flagrant 2 (or at least as standard as a flagrant 2 can be) without anything extra, plus we already saw Nikola Jokic attempt to throw a punch against this same team in the last round with no suspension, as well as several far more egregious fouls that didn’t lead to suspension, although Wemby will have to pay the mandatory fine of $2,000 that comes with a flagrant 2. His case is likely also helped by the fact that has no prior history of such acts (unlike Draymond Green or Isaiah Stewart, whom we’ve seen receive “repeat offender” suspensions in the past).

Speaking of Green, one thing that likely won’t impact Wemby but he will have to keep in mind is the NBA’s technical counter, which can lead to a player being suspended after accumulating 7 points in the playoffs, with 2 points for Flagrant 2’s and one point for Flagrant 1’s or technical fouls. While it is extremely unlikely he will reach 7 points, hopefully this is still something he learns and grows from.

The series will resume on Tuesday in San Antonio. Thanks to the Knicks sweeping the 76ers, there is no double-header to contend with, so tip-off will be at the preferred time of 7:00 PM CT (instead 8:30) on NBC and Peacock. (Game 6 may be another story, depending on if Cleveland vs. Detroit reaches a Game 6, but at least that’s on Friday.)

The San Antonio Spurs, largely because Victor Wembanyama’s second quarter ejection, missed out on the chance in Game 4 to take a commanding lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Now, they can breathe a sigh of relief.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Wembanyama has avoided suspension over the right elbow he threw at Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid on Sunday, May 10 in Game 4, an eventual 114-109 Minnesota victory.

This comes as a massive relief for San Antonio, which is now in a 2-2 tie in the series. Wembanyama is the team’s best player and arguably the player in the entire NBA who most impacts games on both ends of the floor.

Once he left the game, the Timberwolves attacked the paint more freely because of the void Wembanyama left down low.

CHICAGO – Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard could hardly sleep the night before the NBA Draft lottery.

Who could, in his situation? In a daring trade to acquire Ivica Zubac back in February, the Pacers sent, among other things, their 2026 first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers. It was protected 1-4 and 10-30, meaning the Clippers could only receive the selection if it landed 5-9. On Sunday, a machine full of ping pong balls would decide which team would be blessed by fate. 52.1% of the time, the answer would be the Pacers. The other 47.9% would benefit L.A.

It was basically a coin flip, at least by odds. Maybe that’s too tame. It was closer to Russian Roulette but with a shade under 2.9 bullets; with just a couple of spins in a chamber they didn’t have eyes on to decide their fate.

Coin flip odds are more instructive. Heads, the trade looks incredible for the Pacers. They acquire a center that they covet, one who nearly made an All–NBA team in 2024-25. They send out two first-rounders in future seasons with worse lottery odds, plus two players who were fading in their plans. A near-perfect addition. Tails, it looks much worse for them. Add a top-five prospect in a very strong draft to that above trade package, and that’s after Zubac barely suited up thanks to injuries. Worst of all, it would mean the Pacers finished with the second-worst record in the NBA and didn’t get the lotto luck for it. How the deal feels could change over the next five years as assets continue to be exchanged, but the Pacers 2026 first-rounder was the best non-Zubac asset moved in the deal. Who would actually use that pick came down to the lottery.

“The truth is, I didn’t sleep much last night. And [Pacers general manager] Chad (Buchanan) and I kind of got away and walked. And we were trying to plan out everything, for the good, for the bad,” Pritchard explained.

As the lottery results were being revealed, Pritchard said his heart was beating like Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He would have been a terrible poker player on Sunday – his emotional state was obvious even to onlookers 30 feet away. And truly, as a trio of Pacers involved in the lottery broadcast sat to witness their fate, only one was able to hide their emotions as a Clippers logo was shown to a room filled with hundreds of people. Millions more watched on television.

The draft lottery and subsequent unveiling of results were held in Chicago’s Navy Pier. A massive Festival Hall was sectioned off, with about one-fourth of the room converted into a stage and viewing area for the proceedings. Every team involved in the lottery had a table in the front of the room for their executives to sit at – the Pacers’ was in the middle row on the left side between the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.

The only two at the Pacers table were Pritchard and Buchanan. They’ve worked together for years, originally overlapping with the Portland Trail Blazers over two decades ago. Now, they’re the leaders of Indiana’s front office – the other top figure of the group, vice president of basketball operations Ted Wu, was the team’s lottery representative who was in the room for the drawing.

So it was just Buchanan and Pritchard, the smallest number of team representatives at any table. The third figure in the room was guard T.J. McConnell, the Pacers’ on-stage lottery representative. He’s the longest-tenured Pacer and was a rookie with the 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers, a team that went 10-72 before winning the 2016 draft lottery. McConnell wanted to bring that luck to the Pacers.

There was a hope emanating from the Pacers about 30 minutes before the big reveal. Pritchard and Buchanan spoke with league figures like any other big NBA event – Pritchard congratulated new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri on his new job. Buchanan caught up with executives on another lottery team. There were smiles, at first. They believed they were due for some luck.

“Obviously not good news,” McConnell would be saying about a half hour later.

The two executives sat down, still awaiting the results. Something about doing so made reality settle in. For the next eternity – okay, still just 30 minutes – the Pacers front office leaders had to sit there, powerless against their fate, with judgment coming their way regardless of the result. For a few minutes, neither said a word.

Pritchard showed the most outward emotion. He chewed gum the entire event. At 1:48 p.m. local time, he put on his glasses. Four minutes later, he took them off to fidget with them on the table. The next minute, he put them on for the second time in five minutes.

Buchanan was far more rigid. At 1:51, he adjusted his collar, then was still for several minutes. Next to Pritchard, he looked like a statue. It was the perfect picture of the two and their personalities – and a display of why they’ve worked so well together for all these years as partners in the NBA.

At 1:59, Buchanan’s trance ended as he checked his phone. At the same time, Pritchard did the same. He put his phone away four minutes later, then frantically looked around the room before running his hands through his hair. Both executives were looking for something, anything, to distract them at that moment.

“I know the Twitterverse is probably going to be a little brutal. And I get it, man, I get it,” Pritchard would say later, fitting for someone whose phone became a key prop for fiddling and posting during the day. ”To those people, I’m sorry.”

In came McConnell to provide that diversion. In a sea of suit-wearing lottery representatives, McConnell took the court in a yellow button-up shirt and black pants. He was situated on the same side of the room as the Pacers’ executive table, so he had a clear view of Pritchard and Buchanan.

McConnell reached his seat. He gave John Wall – the Washington Wizards lottery representative – a high five before pulling his phone out and putting it on silent. The next moment, he gave a quick glance to the Pacers front office members gathered about 40 feet away from him. They all made eye contact. Suddenly, McConnell’s mood was serious. Nerves returned for everyone.

The broadcast began as ESPN’s Malika Andrews began to walk across the front of the room to interview the consensus top-three prospects in the coming draft. AJ Dybantsa was first. Right in the background of the interview, Pritchard could be seen as clear as day. Six minutes later, Andrews was finished and NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum took the stage. He was about to reveal the results.

As Tatum pulled the first card out of a folder to reveal which team would be picking 14th, Buchanan put his elbows on the table. It was his first movement in over five minutes. The Pacers had nothing to worry about until the sixth pick, but the start of the process increased the tension.

No teams jumped into the top four until the Chicago Bulls, who entered the day with the ninth-best odds to do so. When the Dallas Mavericks were revealed to have the ninth pick, that meant the Bulls jumped into the top four. Pritchard stroked his chin, thinking about how that would impact his team.

One minute later, the Memphis Grizzlies also jumped up into the top four. It’s 2:17 now, and both Buchanan and Pritchard are rubbing their chins. They each leaned forward. The team picking sixth was about to be announced. Time for the stressful part.

Tatum pulled out the card for the sixth slot. Up came a Brooklyn Nets logo. There was little reaction from Pacers executives. McConnell looked out over the crowd. There was one final reveal to go.

Between Tatum saying “Nets” and pulling out the card for the fifth pick, 13 seconds passed. To Pritchard and Buchanan, it felt like 13 days. Tatum began his lines. “The fifth pick in the NBA Draft will be made by…

“The LA Clippers,” he said, holding up a Clippers logo. McConnell stared off into space. Buchanan didn’t move. Pritchard took a few seconds before re-adjusting in his chair.

The team’s gamble was a loss. The best possible pick they could send to the Clippers is, in fact, going to the Clippers. It took five minutes before Buchanan moved at all, slightly loosening his posture at 2:23. McConnell walked off the stage and chatted briefly with Charlotte Hornets forward and lottery representative Kon Knueppel.

There was a commercial break before the top-four picks were announced, but that break in the action did little to change the demeanor of Buchanan, Pritchard, or McConnell. All three looked almost shell-shocked despite knowing the odds entering the event. 

McConnell’s darting glances after it became reality the pick was going to the Clippers were intentional. Moments earlier, his heart was beating “so fast,” yet there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. LA got the pick, and McConnell couldn’t even look at his front office reps

“In a way, I felt like I was letting him down,” McConnell said. “I know there’s no reason to feel that way, but just weirdly do.”

Wall’s Wizards were announced as the winners of the lottery a few minutes later. The broadcast ended, then executives and some high-profile draft prospects all chatted at the front of the room. Buchanan and Pritchard stayed near their table area but stood up and joined in on some conversations.

The 47.9% chance of losing their pick had actually happened. The odds said that was the most likely outcome for the team, but something about the draft lottery messes with everyone’s brain. It just seems like nothing bad will happen, until it does.

Pritchard couldn’t hide his emotions all afternoon. He was so fidgety that it was clear he was nervous in some way. As he began to speak with reporters not long after the event ended, the team president made his mental state even more clear.

“We’re all disappointed,” Pritchard said. That was a theme. “Disappointed because this is a great draft,” he added later. As he continued speaking, Pritchard kept making it clear how talented the team thinks Zubac is. But he would also catch himself by repeating that emotion.

“What we’ve learned from (Zubac) so far is he’s super smart, and he wants to fit in, and he’s all about winning. And again, disappointed. I’m not trying to smooth over that. We wanted to pick, but we’ll be okay,” Pritchard said. Just over 30 seconds later, a repeat. “Again, I wanted to pick. We wanted to pick, and I know people are going to be disappointed. But you have to remember, our top seven or eight players are still with us. So today it stings. But wait till next season. Let’s give this group an opportunity to go compete for a championship. Because they’ve proven they can do it.”

Indeed they have. The Pacers made the NBA Finals in 2025, then upgraded at center from Myles Turner to Zubac. A top-four would have been a perfect addition to round out the team for the next few years.

Many Pacers players couldn’t sleep before Game 7 of that series. They were nervous for the big stage. That was identical to Pritchard on Sunday, who had a ton of anticipation and wanted the lottery win for his owner, longtime Pacers governor Herb Simon.

“My heart hurts for Mr. Simon, if I’m honest. He’s such a good person and he wants it for Indiana like we all want it. In a way, I feel like I’ve let the organization down,” Pritchard said.

He and McConnell shared that emotion. The lottery brings out the hope in everybody. But instead, the Clippers will pick fifth, a painful twist of fate. It’s why Pritchard couldn’t sleep the night before and why the Pacers trade was viewed as risky. This risk didn’t pay off, but the Zubac trade still can. If Pritchard has his way, his next sleepless night will come before an NBA Finals game with Zubac leading his team’s defense. But there could be more tossing and turning in store for him if Zubac isn’t a perfect fit right away or, worse, the fifth pick turns into a star for the Clippers. Time, as with all trades, will tell if Pritchard’s future sleepless nights will be for positive or negative reasons. He’ll just have to hope for better than 52.1% odds of positive outcomes this time.

2026 NBA mock draft roundup: Early Celtics first-round pick predictions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics need to be a more dangerous team in the paint. They shot the most 3-pointers and ranked second-to-last in points in the paint per game among the 16 NBA playoff teams in the first round.

A lack of depth/talent in the frontcourt was a concern coming into the 2025-26 campaign, but in the regular season, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza did a good job alleviating those fears. The playoffs revealed that Boston really did have issues at center, especially against an opponent like the Philadelphia 76ers that had an elite big man in Joel Embiid.

Embiid dominated the Celtics and helped the Sixers overcome a 3-1 series deficit with a Game 7 victory in Boston.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talked after the playoffs about the need to be better around the rim and generate more good shots (dunks) in close.

“One of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that,” Stevens explained at a May 6 press conference. “Everybody plays a role in that, but at the end of (Game 7), (Sixers big man Joel) Embiid is standing at the rim on all those possessions, or a lot of those possessions.”

Stevens also added: “I think the biggest thing is, can we generate looks at the rim? Yeah, everybody wants to do that, and every one of us would prefer a dunk over a 3. Every single one of us. Those are hard to get, and we struggle to generate them.”

The Celtics could look at the trade or free agent markets to add a player who can create good looks at the rim. The 2026 NBA Draft is another place to find that kind of player, whether it’s a center with imposing size or a wing capable of attacking defenders and finishing at the basket.

The Celtics have the No. 27 pick in the first round. The chances of finding an impact player in this range aren’t great, but you can absolutely find a valuable role player. The C’s have drafted several of them in the 20s in recent years, including Robert Williams (No. 27, 2018), Payton Pritchard (No. 26, 2020), Baylor Scheierman (No. 30, 2024)) and Hugo Gonzalez (No. 28, 2025).

Which specific players should the Celtics target in Round 1 of the upcoming draft? Here’s a roundup of post-draft lottery predictions from expert mock drafts.

Jeremy Woo, ESPN: Amari Allen, SF/PF, Alabama

“Allen’s positional versatility and ability to augment lineups on both sides of the ball give him a path to finding a long-term NBA role. While he is not likely to create his own shot at a high level and shot a middling 34.1% from 3, his playmaking flashes and defensive instincts give him a good role-player baseline to build on if his scoring ability can catch up. Whether he can work up the board from here or ultimately winds up back in college remains to be seen, as an older Freshman who was unheralded to begin the season.

“The Celtics value taller perimeter players in Allen’s mold who can fit in alongside their stars, and they could afford him time to develop.”

Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina

“The 7-foot Veesaar transferred to North Carolina after two seasons at Arizona, taking on a larger role for the Tar Heels. His production jumped significantly as a starter, putting up 17 points per game. The Celtics are in a position where they can afford to strengthen the center position, even with Neemias Queta enjoying the most productive season of his career.”

J. Kyle Mann, The Ringer: Karim Lopez, SF/PF, New Zealand

“I’ve had more of a ‘pumped brakes’ mentality when it comes to López, because I think where he lands will be really important.

The ability to pinpoint useful skills and maximize them is an advantage that some organizations have and some don’t. We’ve seen what Boston has done with Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Sam Hauser, and I think that Lopez—a power wing whose rim pressure makes him an intriguing prospect—would similarly benefit from the time and structure that the Celtics could give him.

If they tidied up the details surrounding his downhill strength and helped his percentage from 3 climb a few points, Lopez could become an asset.”

Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports: Amari Allen, SF/PF, Alabama

“Another prospect who could return to school, Allen is a versatile wing who has both skill and toughness. He can handle, pass, and is a better shooter than his numbers indicate. Allen is a high-volume wing rebounder who is the type of competitor who should mesh well with Joe Mazzulla and ultimately realize his defensive potential.”

Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation: Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s

“Ejiofor is a great mover for someone with a 245-pound frame. The St. John’s senior big man isn’t super tall or long, but he adds a level of physicality to any frontcourt while also intriguing with his connective passing ability. Ejiofor is really good on the glass at both ends, and he can offer some rim protection while also having pick-and-roll coverage versatility. His rim finishing and playmaking are solid, but he might need to develop a three-point shot to stay in the NBA.”

It’s looking more and more like Kentucky Basketball freshman Malachi Moreno could remain in the 2026 NBA Draft.

On Monday, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that Moreno will not take part in this week’s NBA Combine 5-on-5 scrimmages. That’s usually a sign that a player likes where his NBA stock is and doesn’t want to risk damaging it in scrimmages.

In addition, O’Connor now says there’s a “pretty strong chance” Moreno would be drafted in the first round this year.

Between this development and the surprise addition of Washington center Franck Kepnang, it’s safe to think there’s now a very real chance Moreno is staying in the draft, which would be a brutal development for Mark Pope and his rebuilt roster, which was banking heavily on the Great Crossing product manning the 5 spot.

While Kepnang is a suitable big man when healthy, he’s missed far too many games in his college career to count on him staying healthy for the duration of next season.

In other words, if Moreno stays in the draft, then Kentucky will be in desperate need of another big man, and there aren’t exactly many good options available at this point.

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Giannis trade coming soon? What the latest reporting means for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Let the Summer of Giannis begin.

The Milwaukee Bucks are “open for business” on receiving trade offers for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

And it sounds like the Boston Celtics –fresh off blowing a 3-1 first-round series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers — could be in the mix for Antetokounmpo’s services.

There’s been plenty of reporting and discourse around Antetokounmpo’s future over the last several weeks, culminating with Charania’s latest insights. So here’s a breakdown of when a deal might be consummated (if it happens), which teams could be involved and what it all means for the Celtics.

When might a Giannis trade happen?

There’s no secret here: In a press conference last week, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters he’d like Antetokounmpo’s future settled before the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins June 23.

“I just think before the draft is a natural time,” Haslam said. “Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we’ve got to have a lot of assets.”

Blockbuster trades rarely happen until after the NBA Finals, as clubs typically want the option of negotiating with every other team for leverage purposes. This year’s finals could end as early as June 10 (Game 4) and as late as June 19 (Game 7).

So, if a Giannis trade goes down, it will likely be sometime between June 10 and June 23.

Which teams could be involved in Giannis trade discussions?

Charania noted the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are both expected to pursue Antetokounmpo this offseason.

Charania also added that playoff teams such as the Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers all had interest in Antetokounmpo ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline in February, and that how those teams finish in this year’s playoffs “will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for Antetokounmpo.”

Boston, of course, is the only team on that list that lost in the first round. So, perhaps that means Brad Stevens and Co. are more aggressive in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo this summer.

Another wrinkle: Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to sign an extension with his future team and may have some leverage in choosing his desired destination.

“The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved and where will he sign long term?” a source told Charania.

Will the Celtics be a legitimate suitor for Giannis?

It certainly appears that way.

Antetokounmpo clearly has respect for the Celtics and recently praised their ability to maintain success this past season despite losing several key members of their rotation in the offseason.

“Everything about my decision is based on winning; culture,” Antetokounmpo told Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in April. “Like, you saw I talked with [Boston] coach Joe Mazzulla. I said, ‘You had so many opportunities to make excuses, but you didn’t.'”

The Celtics also have a need for a player like Antetokounmpo. In his end-of-season press conference, Stevens expressed a desire to have “more of an impact at the rim,” and Giannis fits that mold on both ends as a former Defensive Player of the Year who leads the NBA in dunks per game over the past two seasons.

Any Celtics trade for Antetokounmpo likely would involve dealing Jaylen Brown, which would be a monumental move that the franchise would have to weigh carefully. But at the very least, it seems like Stevens and Co. are leaving all options on the table after a premature playoff exit.

Draymond Green clarifies viral comments about end of Charles Barkley's career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors star Draymond Green set the social media landscape ablaze when he took a jab at Charles Barkley last week on ESPN’s “Inside the NBA,” saying the goal is to “not look like [Barkley] in a Houston Rockets uniform.” 

After Green’s comment was widely labelled as disrespectful towards Barkley, he provided clarification on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” denying that he meant any disrespect. 

“Don’t lie and don’t put words in my mouth,” Green said. “If you want words, I always give you the words out of my mouth. [At] no point did I say, ‘Oh man, I’m better than Charles Barkley.’ Stop it. Again, to try to build it as disrespect. There’s no disrespect from me to Charles Barkley. That’s just not how I roll.” 

Green explained that he admires Barkley’s career and meant no disrespect towards his accomplishments and skill. 

“We’re not on the same level. Yeah, I’m not an NBA MVP. I’m not at all,” Green said. “But I hope to walk in the Hall of Fame. And if I do that, if I’m lucky enough to do that, fingers crossed. Hopefully I will be. Then that would stamp us on the same level. So he’s right. I’m not there. And that’s okay. Still constructing. Still working at it. Still trying to get there.” 

Green also explained that, in the context of the show, the analysts take jabs at each other and current NBA stars. He notes that Barkley has frequently criticized stars like Steph Curry or LeBron James, despite their careers, on paper, being better than Barkley’s. 

“It’s a very interesting concept because some of Chuck’s funniest things that’s made him the media personality he is , is kind of him taking digs at people,” Green said. “Some of the best moments on the show is him taking a dig at Kenny, or him taking a dig at Shaq…  

“…That’s what makes that show great. And so, I find it very interesting when people say [I] can’t say nothing about Chuck because [I don’t] have a better career…” 

In saying that he did not intend any personal disrespect towards Barkley, he apologized for the public’s perception of his comments being disrespectful. 

“I am also a man of accountability, and in telling a joke — the way it was received —  I don’t think it should have been received that way, but it was …” Green said. “If it’s received the way I see it being received, I am not too big to say — if that was viewed as disrespect publicly, I can say sorry publicly.” 

In the end, it doesn’t seem that Barkley took much disrespect from the comment, and Green added that the two have a great working relationship on the show and that there is no tension. 

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And now we wait.

On Sunday, May 11, the New York Knicks completed their stomping sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season.

This time around, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and co. will face either Cade Cunningham’s No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons or Donovan Mitchell’s feisty Cleveland Cavaliers.

If you’d like to see Mike Brown’s red-hot club at the Garden, tickets are already available for all four hypothetical (if the Cavs win, the NYK will have home-court advantage) games in the Big Apple.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on potential Knicks Madison Square Garden Eastern Conference Finals game tickets was $642 including fees on SeatGeek.

Other MSG games start between $651 and $1,200 including fees.

While pricey, Knicks fever is at an all-time high following the teams’ defiant statement wins over the Hawks and Sixers in the first two rounds.

“The Knicks’ wins on and off the court were a gift to fans who finally saw their faith rewarded,” The Post reported following Mike Brown’s squad’s statement game four victory.

“…[they’re] moving on after a game and a series in which they left zero doubt about the better team. The Knicks swept the 76ers by a cumulative total of 497-408 — that’s about a 22-point difference per game — in a matchup that technically was the East’s No. 3 vs. No. 7 but felt like varsity against freshmen.”

Now, in order to ensure they keep that momentum going and move onto the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign, Brunson and Knicks will need all the help they can get from the fans.

Spike Lee will be there. Timotheé Chalamet will be there. Ben Stiller will be there. Tracy Morgan will be there. Will you?

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about seeing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals below.

New York Knicks playoff home game tickets

A complete calendar, including all potential Knicks Eastern Conference Semifinals home game and the best prices on tickets can be found here:

New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals tickets

Want to get ahead of the curve?

You can (prematurely) snag NBA Final tickets below.

2026 NBA playoff schedule

Been meaning to see howthe postseason has shaken out?

Check out the NBA’s 2026 playoff bracket here.

Huge concerts at MSG in 2026

Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NBA season?

MSG has you covered.

The legendary venue has booked a number of exciting acts to entertain audiences all summer long.

Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.

• Bon Jovi (July 7-9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26)

• Earth, Wind, and Fire with Lionel Richie (July 11)

• Phish (July 22, 24, 25, 27, 29)

• RUSH (July 28, 30, Aug. 1, 3)

• J. Cole (Aug. 2, 4)

Want to see who else is Big Apple-bound? Check out this list of all the upcoming events at Madison Square Garden to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

The Dallas Mavericks entered Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery with the primary objective of moving up in the draft order for the second straight year. Their secondary objective was to at least not fall in the order. Neither objective was accomplished, as Dallas slid one spot and will be picking 9^th in the Draft this June.

Throughout the season, there were instances that frustrated fans who were fully on board with the effort to tank for a better draft pick. Late in the season, aside from Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year campaign, the best thing the Mavs could play for was a better draft pick.

Two primary reasons are cited for hurting the Mavs most. While accurate, there is an alternative perspective on both grievances being filed, and we’ll take a look at them here.

Specific unnecessary wins doomed the odds

A select few games continue to come up in the public lexicon as those which particularly hurt the Mavs’ chances at a better outcome in the Draft Lottery. April 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers, March 12 against the Memphis Grizzlies (more on them below) and game 82 against the Chicago Bulls.

The Lakers game came at a time the Mavericks were playing out the season and the Lakers were playing to keep hold of a top seed. Dallas took the victory in a game where both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sat out. Less than a month prior, Khris Middleton went out of his mind scoring 35 points on 8-for-10 three-point shooting in a win over the Grizzlies, with whom the Mavs were neck-and-neck with through the final stretch of the season. The Bulls game was the object lesson of who wanted to tank more. A Bulls loss would prevent them from tying the Milwaukee Bucks, while a Mavs loss would prevent them from tying the New Orleans Pelicans. Dallas ended up tied, then lost a coin flip with the Pelicans. The Bulls jumped to #4 in the Draft Lottery.

These were three (admittedly glaring) games across 26 total wins. They didn’t count more than any other win, yet we are more annoyed by them than we are about two wins against the Denver Nuggets in December, an overtime win against the 60-win Detroit Pistons, and a late-season win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. Recency bias at its finest. That doesn’t mean early-season wins didn’t equally hurt the Mavs’ draft standing. We also often fail to think of the favorable losses (if there really is such a thing). For example, Dallas lost to the Pelicans in three of their four matchups, yet still tied them when all was said and done.

In reality, these worst-offending games are no worse than any other. They just happen to be recent or ironic enough (Middleton going All-NBA for a night?) to anger us more.

The Mavs could have moved up to #3 instead of Memphis had they ended the season tied

The Mavericks ended the season with a 26-56 record. The Grizzlies ended at 25-57. Memphis subsequently moved from their slot at #6, all the way up to #3. The #6 slot was very attainable for Dallas had they lost even a single game more, frustrating fans who feel Dallas could easily be sitting with the #3 pick next month had they simply been in the spot Memphis held coming into Sunday’s Lottery. I would contend that is not exactly the case.

Had Dallas lost one more game, they would have been in a tie with Memphis. This would have required a coin flip for the #6 slot, which they may or may not have won. Even assuming they had won, that doesn’t necessarily mean it would be them sitting at #3 right now. In other words, it wasn’t necessarily the #6 slot that moved up, but rather, it was the Grizzlies that moved up.

In the Draft Lottery, each team is designated a certain number of four-number combinations. If one of those four-number combinations is pulled, it’s that team’s lucky day. One of Memphis’ four-number combinations was pulled third, and that was that. Had Dallas been slotted in the #6 spot, it still would have been Memphis’ four-number combination that was pulled. There remains an argument that had Memphis been slotted lower than Dallas, they would have had fewer combinations and one of those combinations they didn’t have could have been the one that pulled them up to #3. Still, had they not had that magic combination, it doesn’t mean that Dallas would have had it – it could have been any other team as well.  

Closing arguments

To be clear, I’m not intending to tell anyone how to think. This is as much an exercise in catharsis for me as it is (hopefully) a perspective-helper for anyone reading. I was massively disappointed to see the Mavericks name called early. It was like a game of Russian Roulette on each envelope.

Candidly, I feel like somehow Middleton should have sat a few more minutes on that turn-back-the-clock night. Maybe a couple of our better players happen to sit out the Laker game for load management. Ultimately, we can probably say something similar about any given night.

As it stands, the Mavericks still have a very good pick. On top of that, we have absolutely no idea what will transpire before the Draft, or on Draft night. Dallas could package #9, #30 and a player(s) to move up (or back). For now, we’ll just have to trust the new regime to steer things the right way.

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

The 2026 NBA Draft lottery concluded on Sunday afternoon, and it included a couple of big nuggets, with several teams moving up and down the board, which also involved the Indiana Pacers ceding the No. 5 pick to the Los Angeles Clippers.

With the draft order now set, mock drafts are flowing as players continue to decide whether to stay in the 2026 NBA Draft or return to college for another season. One of those decisions is former Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell, who committed to the Duke Blue Devils earlier this offseason, but was among the invites to the NBA Draft Combine.

Blackwell is expected to return to Duke for his senior season, but another Badgers star, guard Nick Boyd, is also competing at the Combine and is hoping to hear his name called in the draft next month.

Well, in The Athletic’s post-lottery mock draft, Boyd was taken as the No. 60 overall pick by the Washington Wizards, making him the oldest player taken in the mock draft.

On big boards, Boyd has typically been seen as a late second-round or undrafted player. He was undrafted on ESPN’s post-lottery mock draft and is considered the No. 93 player in the class by them.

Boyd will have his chance to improve his stock by performing well at the Combine, especially in shooting and defensive drills, and will hope to hear his name called after John Tonje was a second-round pick for the Boston Celtics last year.

Generally, when a season ends in a sweep, there are going to be questions about the futures of the front office and coaching staff.

After the Sixers were crushed by the New York Knicks in Game 4 Sunday, the focus shifts to the culpability of Daryl Morey and Nick Nurse for the team’s quick exit in the second round.

According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, neither is guaranteed back next season — at least as of now:

“The jobs of Morey and head coach Nick Nurse are expected to be evaluated entering the offseason, multiple league sources told The Athletic. As of Sunday’s elimination, team sources said ownership has not made final decisions on either and is likely to take a few days to assess before making any major calls.“

It would be a reasonable decision if Josh Harris and company decide to move on from Morey and Nurse.

As Jones notes in the article, the actions (and inactions) at the trade deadline did not sit well with Joel Embiid and others in the locker room. The trade of second-year guard Jared McCain wasn’t viewed positively, especially considering Morey and the front office chose not to make any corresponding moves to improve the team now.

While nobody was expecting the Sixers to mortgage their future by trading for a mid-season upgrade, moves were made by other teams around the league to improve. The Sixers have a bounty of second-round picks, something several teams used to add depth at the deadline — including the Knicks, who acquired guard Jose Alvarado for a pair of seconds. Surely Morey could’ve spared a couple second-round picks to help the team now while holding on to its premium assets (the future LA Clippers’ first-round pick and pick swap, for example) for the future.

Even with maneuvering below the luxury tax, something this franchise has regularly achieved, there were ways to improve the roster. The organization will push back on their emphasis for dipping below the tax and point to successful teams doing the same. It’s true, several teams did dip below the tax at the deadline, but several also at least attempted to add and make their rosters better.

On top of that, it’s difficult to watch players like Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Justin Champagnie and McCain thrive in the postseason, while a player like Quentin Grimes, who was the only bench player firmly in Nurse’s rotation, struggled mightily. The inability to fortify the backup center position, knowing Embiid’s shaky health, is also glaring. Andre Drummond gave the Sixers all he could. Adem Bona showed flashes, but also exhibited his rawness as a second-year big. Johni Broome, a high second-round pick in 2025, never appeared to be a legitimate option.

The lack of bench options does make Nurse’s evaluation trickier.

Nurse essentially played 6.5 players during the postseason — and he didn’t have much of a choice. Maybe he could’ve used Justin Edwards or Dominick Barlow more, but it’s hard to see how either guy would’ve made an immense impact in either series. The roster was flawed. Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker were solid regular-season contributors at times, but it’s hard to see how either could’ve had success against the Celtics or Knicks.

At the same time, Nurse was far from perfect. As Jones points out, Nurse does coach his teams hard. That type of coaching can grate on players over time. He also ran Maxey and Edgecombe into the ground during the regular season, something Nurse was known for with his best players while coaching the Toronto Raptors. Aside from his lingering pinky issue, Maxey simply looked exhausted in the Knicks series.

There were also weird lapses during the season, including the playoffs, where the team looked ill-prepared and unfocused during games. The multiple blowouts in the Boston series were jarring. The effort in the Knicks series you can chalk up more to fatigue and New York simply being the better team.

Lastly, there’s Embiid, whose future is very likely to be in Philadelphia. His three-year max extension begins in 2026-27 and it’s hard to imagine a trade scenario that makes sense. The Sixers are unlikely to get positive value given Embiid’s injury history and contract, but the former MVP is also too good to give away (or even possibly attach assets to).

Embiid is obviously far from blameless when it comes to the current state of the Sixers. The incident that occurred on April 1 — when Embiid missed shootaround in D.C and posted his displeasure on being ruled out that night on social media — was a cause of consternation, per Jones.

“On April 1, the same day as Embiid’s social media post, a handful of players met with members of Philadelphia’s coaching staff before shootaround in Washington to express concern over certain players’ participation in team activities and frustration over the direction of the 76ers’ season, multiple league sources told The Athletic. Among other things, the players expressed they felt there wasn’t enough control of the locker room, according to those sources. The meeting was tense enough to briefly imperil the team’s shootaround; however, the conversation resolved enough that the activity was able to proceed as planned, those sources said.”

Jones does not explicitly say the players who raised concerns were talking directly about Embiid, but it’s not a difficult conclusion to draw. You’ll recall last season, there was a point where Maxey even called out Embiid for chronic latenesses during a heated team meeting in Miami.

When talking to the media yesterday, Embiid did make a comment about his situation, taking blame for frequent absences and how that affected the team. He believes with the health of his knee in a good place, he should be more available in general.

“That’s where I put it on me,” he said, “where I felt like I wasn’t around for much of the season, for a lot of things, and moving forward, understanding what it takes when it comes to my body, and what we have to do as a group to make sure that I get to play every game. I feel like we found that solution, so it’ll be better next year.”

It’s also worth noting that Embiid’s teammates did all seem to truly rally around their embattled star after his emergency appendectomy.

All of this adds up to another messy offseason in Philadelphia.

Should Morey be allowed to oversee the draft, an area where his front office has done its best work? Is Nurse’s voice still the right one for this group? How do you handle roster building around a supremely talented but undependable Embiid? How do you fix the glaring depth issues while paying three max contracts and essentially operating on two timelines?

There hasn’t been a dull moment during the Joel Embiid era. This summer should be anything but boring.

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The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are ready to rock and roll in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal set tonight.

With Cleveland countering last time out, the Cavs are once again home chalk on Monday. I pass on the point spread and turn my attention to the individual efforts with my Pistons vs. Cavaliers props.

For more NBA picks, check out our full Pistons vs. Cavaliers predictions for May 11.

Best Pistons vs Cavaliers props for Game 4

Player	Pick
Donovan Mitchell	Over 4.5 rebounds	+110
Cade Cunningham	Over 9.5 assists	+105
Duncan Robinson	Over 2.5 threes	-160

Game 4 Prop #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 4.5 rebounds

+110 at bet365

Donovan Mitchell hauled down 10 rebounds in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win in Game 3 — tying his second-biggest day on the boards all season.

Those rebounds weren’t all because Mitchell was feeling extra froggy on the glass, but rather a byproduct of the Cavs putting extra emphasis on boxing out the Detroit Pistons forwards. 

“Their bigs are elite, elite at offensive rebounding,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson told the media. “A lot of times, our bigs are wrestling with their bigs. That’s why Donovan having 10 rebounds was huge last night.

With Jarett Allen and Evan Mobley throwing themselves in the way (and snatching only 12 collective rebounds Saturday), Mitchell found himself in position for 17 rebounding chances in Game 3. That’s more than the 16 combined in the first two games, which led to outputs of four and six boards.

His Game 4 projections all sit north of the 4.5 O/U, with a ceiling of 5.7 rebounds. He’s brought down five or more boards in seven of his 10 postseason outings and has topped this bar in 10 of his past 13 games overall.

Game 4 Prop #2: Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 assists

+105 at bet365

Game 3 was a rough one for Cade Cunningham. The Pistons' point guard failed to energize the offense — shooting 10-for-27 — and barfed up eight turnovers in the loss. 

Despite that mess, he still topped his assist total. Yet there was a lot of meat still left on the bone when it came to Cunningham’s playmaking. 

Part of the problem was Cleveland couldn’t miss on offense, shooting a sizzling 58% from the field. That forced a Detroit attack to start its possessions off the inbounds, rather than having its defense fuel the offense in transition and from turnovers.

He was clocked for 16 potential assists in Game 3, trickling down to 10 actual dimes (62.5% conversion rate). The Pistons fired at only 45% from the field, being forced to play more half-court schemes, and wasted those setups. 

In the prior two games combined, Cunningham dished out 17 helpers on 23 potential assists (74% conversions).

The Cavs’ shooting comes back to earth in Game 4, and Cunningham will find himself in his usual spot behind the wheel, pushing pace and creating for teammates on the open floor. 

His models for Game 4 are divided, ranging from 8.2 to 10.3 assists. Given the unique circumstances on Saturday, I’m leaning toward the high side of Cunningham’s playmaking vs. a Cleveland defense that’s 25th in opponent assist rate (64.9%).

Game 4 Prop #3: Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 threes

-160 at bet365

Duncan Robinson’s 3-point prop isn’t coming cheap in Game 4, nor should it. 

The Pistons’ sharpshooter is clicking at 58% from distance in the series, 43% for the playoffs, and has knocked down at least three triples in eight of his 10 postseason outing. 

That includes totals of five, five, and four long-range makes in the opening three games of this series. It’s not just Robinson’s success that should sell you on his 3-point prop, however. 

It’s the volume of attempts from beyond the arc and the amount of space the Cavaliers are giving him. Fourteen of his 24 total 3-point shots have come with no defender within at least four feet of Robinson (making nine of those “open” to “wide open” looks). 

It also helps that Robinson is 6-foot-7 and facing smaller defenders in Mitchell (6-foot-2), James Harden (6-foot-5), and Max Strus (6-foot-5), who struggle to get a hand up on closeouts.

His Game 4 forecasts call for at least three makes from downtown with a ceiling of 3.6 treys. His defensive shortcomings make me a little nervous in terms of minutes, but with Detroit an underdog on the road, game script says it trails and needs Duncan to take and make triples in order to close that gap.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Chris Cenac Jr. is one of the more intriguing big men in the 2026 NBA Draft, and it’s the potential that he has shown on both sides of the ball that makes him someone teams could keep their eyes on. At 6-11, the Houston center has the size to be a solid big in the league, but it’s his mobility that helps him stand out more than others at his height. To add on to that, some of the things that he does on the defense are important for what teams are looking for nowadays.

The one thing that sticks out when watching Cenac is his knack for grabbing rebounds (7.9 per game). He may be one of the best in the draft in that category, because when the ball comes off the rim, he seems to always be in the vicinity. That’s where his athleticism comes in, because he has a solid second jump that keeps him in play for grabbing rebounds.

Cenac still has a long way to go with building out his frame, and there were times throughout his collegiate career where he got outworked by bigger centers than him. There’s no doubt that he has to get stronger, especially when comparing him to what he’ll see once he enters the league. As far as perimeter defense, he slides his feet well, but it’s not something that he’s best at right now. He’ll be better off staying down low and defending players around his height.

The biggest concern with Cenac’s defense is picking up fouls. He’s typically been aggressive closing out on shooters, and he can be undisciplined if he’s on the perimeter, reaching in when he doesn’t have to or getting beat off the dribble.

On offense, Cenac has a nice mid-range jumper that can help teams spread the floor. He also took a few threes with Houston, shooting 2.4 attempts per game, and making 0.8 of them. They mostly came off catch and shoot, and he’s not known as a creator. For a center, shooting 3-pointers are big, and he’ll need to continue that when he enters the league.

As far as what he can do in the interior, Cenac’s athleticism allows him to finish well around the rim. All you have to do is throw the ball up, and he’ll throw it down, no matter where the ball is coming from. He also has a nice touch at the rim, and he has the ability to take advantage of mismatches if he has to.

Cenac has the motor that teams want in a center, but it’s the inconsistency that could hold him back at times. Nonetheless, if he’s actively engaged in the game, there will be a lot of good things to come from him.

The Atlanta Hawks had a problem with their center depth throughout the season, and adding a player like Cenac could be the start to improving that area. With his size and potential to space the floor, he’s a player the Hawks might look at with their pick later in the draft.