After five years, including a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and an NBA Finals appearance in 2024, Jason Kidd is out as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
The team announced Tuesday that it had "mutually agreed to part ways" with the coach.
The decision comes just two weeks after the team hired Masai Ujiri as the new team president. This decision marks a noticeable shift in direction for the franchise as it looks to build around 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
Shockingly, though, Kidd's departure comes after two offseasons in which he had been extended, per ESPN. So, how much money was left on his contract as head coach?
Here's what we know about Jason Kidd's contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Jason Kidd's contract with Dallas Mavericks
Shams Charania reports that Kidd had four years and over $40 million remaining on his contract.
Kidd had four years and well over $40 million left on his Mavericks contract, sources said. Ujiri and Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont reached the decision this week to move on. https://t.co/z9arHudRVv
Reports also indicate that Kidd had expressed interest in moving to the team's front office after former president of basketball operations Nico Harrison was fired. Team governor Patrick Dumont supposedly made it clear to Kidd that he was not being considered for the role.
Kidd had a 205-205 record with the Mavericks as head coach, as well as a 22-18 record in the playoffs.
In a sudden change of direction, Jason Kidd is out as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
In a statement, the team announced that the sides mutually agreed to part ways. The move comes just 15 days after it was announced that Dallas had hired Masai Ujiri as the team's new head of basketball operations.
"Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals," said Mavericks President Masai Ujiri in a statement announcing the move. "We are thankful for Jason's leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team. In my short time here, I've developed an enormous amount of respect for what he has built. He will always be an important part of the Mavericks family."
At his introductory press conference, Ujiri was noncommittal about Kidd's future with the team, saying the plan was to review every level of the organization and proceed from there.
The Mavericks will now start a "comprehensive search" for Kidd's replacement. This will be a highly coveted job because Dallas has Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg on the roster to build around.
"As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team," Ujiri said in his statement. "We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention. We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve."
Kidd still had four years and roughly $40 million on his contract — and there is no way he left that money on the table — but owner Patrick Dumont signed off on this decision, reports Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Kidd got a contract extension after last summer, when the Knicks reached out to the Mavericks about talking to Kidd for their open coaching position. Kidd wanted a move into the front office — something also reported at his previous coaching stops — and he talked to Dumont about that before Ujiri was hired, but was shot down, ESPN's MacMahon reports.
If he's willing to return to the bench, Kidd will be the top choice for many teams and will have options.
Kidd was a Hall of Fame point guard who helped lead Dallas to its one NBA Championship in 2011, then returned as coach. In Kidd's five years as the Dallas head coach, he had a 205-205 record, leading the team to the Western Conference Finals in his first year and the NBA Finals in 2024, but the team missed the playoffs the past two years after trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers for a package centered around Anthony Davis.
The Mavericks said they had "mutually agreed to part ways."
"Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals," Ujiri said in the team's statement. "As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team."
Ujiri was brought on as team president on May 4 this year, and already he has made a move that will drastically alter the team's future. During his introductory press conference, Ujiri was noticeably noncommital when questioned about Kidd's future as head coach. Just two weeks later, Kidd is gone. ESPN reports that Kidd was kept out of the loop regarding Ujiri's hiring.
What does dismissing Jason Kidd mean for the Mavericks moving forward?
Given full control to reshape the direction of the franchise, Ujiri will move to bring in his preferred coach, likely someone with whom he’s familiar. Ujiri was the architect of the Toronto Raptors' 2019 NBA title, so he does deserve the benefit of the doubt. The Mavericks, however, need to tread carefully.
This hire should be about finding the ideal fit to maximize the talents of recently crowned NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Known for being a versatile player who can step into different roles — ball-handling and creating, playing off-ball as the primary offensive threat, using his length to defend — Flagg was the youngest player in the NBA this season and will turn 20 in December.
The Mavericks have a franchise piece in place, now they need to give him stability and continuity, and they need to build around him.
For his part, Kidd, frankly, wasn’t put in a fair position over the last two seasons in Dallas. Eight months after he led the franchise to the NBA Finals, former general manager Nico Harrison dealt the team’s face of the franchise, Luka Dončić, for Anthony Davis.
The trade was widely criticized, Davis played 29 games as a Maverick and the deal ended up costing Harrison his job. Dallas did have the benefit of luck when it won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery and ended up selecting Flagg.
In the fallout from the Dončić deal, however, the Mavericks were never going to be legitimate contenders, despite the improvements Flagg showed under Kidd.
Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard who spent eight seasons with the Mavericks and was beloved as a player, was put in an impossible situation. Dallas’ decision to move on, after everything he did for the franchise — including helping deliver the franchise’s only NBA championship in 2011 — is a disservice to the time, energy and commitment Kidd invested in the team and the city.
How did Jason Kidd perform as Mavericks' head coach?
Kidd had a 205-205 record as the team's head coach, and helped lead them to the NBA Finals in 2024, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. He also led the team to the Western Conference finals in 2022.
Where will Jason Kidd go next?
Reports indicate that the New York Knicks were interested in Kidd and even requested to interview him prior to the 2025-26 season. Dallas denied their request.
That said, it is unlikely that the Knicks would be willing to fire head coach Mike Brown if he leads them to the NBA Finals.
At the same time, Kidd has expressed interest in moving to a team's front office. ESPN reports Kidd "had expressed a desire to be promoted to president of basketball operations after general manager Nico Harrison was fired in November." However, Mavericks' governor Patrick Dumont told Kidd that he was not in consideration for the role.
Kidd spent five years in Dallas. He had four years and more than $40 million left on his contract, per ESPN.
Kidd had been extended each of the previous two offseasons, including after Dallas' run to the NBA Finals in 2024. However, a disappointing 2026 season prompted new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri to look for Kidd's replacement.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 22: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives against Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during their game at Madison Square Garden on October 22, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s no rest for the weary. The Cleveland Cavaliers are rolling into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks after two straight seven-game series. We’ll see if the Cavs are up for the challenge.
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NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby was in New York's starting lineup Tuesday after missing two games with a strained right hamstring, putting the Knicks back at full strength to begin the Eastern Conference finals.
Anunoby was hurt late in Game 2 of the Knicks' second-round sweep of Philadelphia and sat out the next two games. He returned to practice during New York's lengthy wait between rounds and fully participated during the final three practices leading into this series.
Anunoby injured his other hamstring two years ago, also during Game 2 of the second round, missed the next four games and was able to play only five minutes in Game 7. He said the pain this time wasn't as bad.
Anunoby is averaging 21.4 points in the postseason while shooting 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from 3-point range.
Knicks forward Og Anunoby #8, during practice at the New York Knicks training facility.
OG Anunoby is back.
The Knicks’ best performer during their dominant postseason is officially active and starting Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, returning Anunoby to action for the first time since injuring his hamstring 13 days prior.
Knicks forward Og Anunoby #8, during practice at the New York Knicks training facility. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Entering Tuesday, Anunoby had been a two-way force in the playoffs, averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a team-best 1.9 steals, while shooting 61.9 percent from the field (a team-high 53.8 percent on 3-pointers).
Anunoby, whose hamstring injury two years ago played a large role in derailing the Knicks’ postseason run, was a full participant in recent practices and declared he was feeling better every day, while noting that the injury he suffered in Game 2 against the 76ers wasn’t as severe as the one that sidelined him two years ago against the Pacers.
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The Knicks’ second-round sweep of the 76ers — combined with Cleveland’s seven-game series against the Pistons — gave the 28-year-old an unusually long time to rest and rehab, unlike when he rushed to return for Game 7 of the 2024 conference semifinals against Indiana and was removed after hobbling through five minutes.
It is unclear if Anunoby will be on a minutes restriction in Game 1.
The 6-foot-7 forward struggled in his most recent return from an injury, having missed four games with a right toenail avulsion before the All-Star break. Anunoby was uncharacteristically out of rhythm in his first game in 15 days — shooting 3-of-13 (1-of-8 3-pointers) for eight points with zero rebounds in 32 minutes — and also failed to contain Cade Cunningham, who put up 42 points and 13 assists in Detroit’s 15-point win despite largely being guarded by the Knicks’ top defender.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 08: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks announced on Tuesday evening that the organization and coach Jason Kidd have “mutually agreed to part ways”. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Kidd had four years and well over $40 million left on his contract after being extended twice in both 2024 and 2025. Kidd and former general manager Nico Harrison came to the organization as a package deal in 2021. Now, just over a year after making the defining move of their tenure when they traded Luka Doncic, both Harrison and Kidd are now out.
Kidd had four years and well over $40 million left on his Mavericks contract, sources said. Ujiri and Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont reached the decision this week to move on. https://t.co/z9arHudRVv
There was a certain level of speculation about Kidd’s future when Team President Masai Ujiri fielded questions at his introductory presser. In that, Ujiri said he will give the team a “head-to-toe” examination, including at the head coaching position. We now know the results of that exam. As pointed out by Charania, Ujiri and Governor Patrick Dumont decided to “move on” from the coach early in the week.
“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team. We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention. We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve.”
The coach will always have a complicated legacy in Dallas, for numerous reasons. As a player, Kidd unceremoniously left just one year removed from winning a championship to sign with the Knicks. Upon his return to Dallas after a stint in coaching rehab with the Lakers under Frank Vogel, Kidd led Dallas to heights it had never seen before, making its first Western Conference Finals since 2011 in his first year at the helm. After a rough 2022-23 campaign, Kidd helped guide Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to win the Western Conference as the fifth seed, before losing to the Boston Celtics in five games in the NBA Finals. Outside of those two fantastic years, Kidd failed to lead Dallas to the playoffs in the other three years of his five-year term in Dallas.
CLEVELAND, OH – FEBUARY 2: Head Coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks and Nico Harrison talk to the media before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 2, 2025 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Perhaps what Kidd will be remembered most for is his alleged role in the trade of Doncic. That scene on February 2nd from the press conference room in Cleveland is one that will stick in the memory for Mavericks fans forever. We likely will never know the honest truth on who was responsible for what in that, but what can’t be debated is that ownership and the new front office would like to move forward from the ordeal all together. As the Cooper Flagg era begins in earnest, a clean slate is probably best for everyone.
Per the Mavs, Team President Masai Ujiri will be holding a news conference Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. CT at the American Airlines Center to speak on the decision. It also seems logical to assume that Ujiri will heading up the search for the next head coach of the team. As the story develops, we’ll continue to update you on Mavs Moneyball.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks shoots during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on February 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at MSG, in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals. (ECF for the second straight season? What a time to root the orange and blue.) Both sides should be at full strength, with the Knicks coming off a nine-day rest and all healed up. Fun fact: New York has a 12-2 record versus the Ohio Players in the playoffs all-time.
Tip off is at 8 PM EST on ESPN. This is your game thread. This is Fear the Sword. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Behave, you magnificent creatures. And go Knicks!
Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
The Mavericks are moving on from Jason Kidd.
The team announced on Tuesday that it “mutually agreed’ to part ways with Kidd after he’s led the team for five seasons.
Kidd still has four years and more than $40 million left on his contract, ESPN reported. It was clear that new president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri wanted to take the organization in a different direction.
“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team,” Ujiri said in a statement. “We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention. We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve.”
Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
Kidd was named Mavericks head coach in 2021 and led Dallas to a number of postseason appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2024 and the Western Conference finals in 2022.
He went 205-205 during his five-year run with the Mavs, but his record was severely impacted by the presence — and later lack thereof — of star Luka Doncic.
The Kidd-led Mavericks were 136-87 when Doncic was in the lineup and 69-118 when he wasn’t, including the 26-56 record — even with Rookie of the Year winner Cooper Flagg — Dallas had during the 2025-26 season, the first full campaign following the controversial Doncic trade in Feb. 2025. The architect of that trade, Nico Harrison, was fired in November.
Kidd’s future with the Mavericks seemed up in the air after Ujiri took over his post earlier this month and was non-committal about keeping him on during an introductory press conference.
“He’s done a great job, but we are going to look at this thing from head to toe,” Ujiri said. “That’s the right way to look at an organization and evaluate in every single way we can.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 08: Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to a three-point shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
When you’re having these holistic conversations about which players should be retained and which players could potentially be moved, it’s hard not to inject a little emotion and bias into the equation.
In the case of Royce O’Neale, the third-longest tenured member of the Phoenix Suns, he’s honestly a player I like having on this roster. What he brings, especially in terms of consistency, has real value. It’s one of those things you don’t fully appreciate until it’s gone. Think back only eight years ago, when the Suns ranked 30th in the NBA in three-point shooting. You would’ve killed for an O’Neale-type player on that roster.
So if next season starts and Royce is still on the team, I’m completely fine with it.
In the spirit of the thought exercise though, there are absolutely reasons why he could become a trade candidate, and it starts with the simple reality that he possesses one of the more tradable contracts on the roster paired with skill sets that fit almost anywhere.
Three-point shooting carries massive value in today’s NBA. Every team needs it, and the teams that already have it are constantly searching for more. So when Royce O’Neale shoots 40.8% from three in a season and owns a career 38.9% mark from deep, that’s naturally going to attract attention from teams around the league looking to improve in that area.
Then you factor in the contract. O’Neale is scheduled to make $10.9 million next season, which makes him even more attractive as a trade target. Plenty of teams will look at that combination of shooting, versatility, and contract value and see someone worth pursuing.
Of course, simply because other teams want what you have doesn’t mean you need to hand it over. For the Phoenix Suns, though, the primary reason I could see them moving O’Neale wouldn’t necessarily be basketball-related. It would be financial. More specifically, avoiding repeater tax territory.
This is an organization that appears interested in bringing back Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, and rightfully so. If the number makes sense, probably Mark Williams as well. The challenge is that retaining all three would put Phoenix in a very uncomfortable luxury tax situation. At that point, shedding salary where you can starts becoming part of the equation, and O’Neale’s contract becomes one of the more logical avenues to explore.
Let’s go ahead and do some math here.
The current luxury tax for the 2026-27 season is projected at $201 million. Before signing anyone, the Suns sit at $185.5 million (thank you very much, $23.2 million dead cap). Let’s say they bring back Collin Gillespie at $11 million next season and Jordan Goodwin at $5.5 million. That adds $16.5 million, pushing Phoenix to $202 million, barely above that tax line. Then comes the Mark Williams question. If his health hurts his value on the open market and the Suns bring him back on the $9.6 million qualifying offer, now you’re at $211.6 million. That puts Phoenix over the first apron with one open roster spot still left to fill.
So how do you shed salary? How do you get under the luxury tax and avoid repeater tax penalties? The path is pretty simple. You trade Royce O’Neale, and you do it with a team where you can take back a contract worth roughly half of his.
Need an example? How about the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that finished dead last in bench three-point shooting last season at 32%. A deal where Phoenix sends O’Neale to Portland for Kris Murray and a second-round pick would save the Suns $5.6 million in payroll.
That drops Phoenix to $206 million, $3 million under the first apron with one roster spot to fill. That means they can sign one more player to a veteran minimum deal, provided the player has 5 years of experience or less. It gets them under the tax and opens up a little flexibility.
And yes, I know it’s not about where you start the season relative to the luxury tax. It’s about where you finish. Still, that’s a tightrope the Suns walked this past season very carefully, and they may have to do it again if staying under the tax is part of the plan.
Of course, you could always make the same argument, and instead of Royce’s name, you insert Grayson Allen’s. My response to that is Allen is much more servicable in the rotation than Royce. Allen spent 84% of his time playing a guard position, so he fits in nicely as the backup two. Royce? Only 7% of his time was spent ot the shooting guard position, and he primarily played as a wing. Unfortunately, O’Neale starts to look like the odd man out in the rotation.
Let’s say the Suns are running a 10-man rotation, and let’s say they do it in the way I think they should:
PG: Booker/Gillespie
SG: Green/Allen
SF: Brooks/Goodwin
PF: Fleming/Oso
C: Williams/Maluach
There simply aren’t enough consistent minutes in that group for O’Neale. Sure, he becomes useful when injuries occur, and we know they will. You still don’t build your roster around injuries, and you probably shouldn’t have a $10.9 million player sitting outside the regular rotation. Moving off him gives you cleaner rotations, more defined roles, and a better opportunity for the youth movement to actually take hold.
These are the decisions facing the Phoenix Suns.
If the organization values Mark Williams more than Royce O’Neale, then O’Neale is probably the player you move in order to create apron flexibility. If O’Neale is viewed as the more important piece, then Williams is likely the one who doesn’t return.
There is, of course, another scenario where the Suns simply don’t care about the luxury tax or the penalties attached to it and bring both players back regardless. There’s also the possibility that Phoenix understands the real goal is to be under the tax by the end of the season, not necessarily at the beginning. In that case, you could absolutely see them bring back both Williams and O’Neale with the intention of moving salary later in the year once the market shifts and opportunities present themselves.
But if you are looking for reasoning as to why the Suns could and perhaps should move off of Royce O’Neale, now you have a more complete picture as to what, why, and how.
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The moments Adou Thiero played for the Lakers were exciting and promising. As a young player with an incredible athletic burst, he had some of the best dunks of the year for the Lakers.
Part of the reason for that was health-related. Thiero wasn’t able to play in Summer League or the preseason and didn’t make his NBA debut until mid-November, as he was recovering from left knee surgery. Add in an MCL sprain in late December, and most of Thiero’s rookie year, he was unavailable.
Once Thiero was healthy, the Lakers were in the final stretch of the season and fighting for playoff positioning, making it difficult for him to crack the rotation.
Now that the summer is here and Thiero is healthy, he’ll have a chance to maximize his offseason, which includes playing in Summer League events in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Thiero all but confirmed his participation in the summer competition during his exit interview.
“Most likely,” Thiero said. “I didn’t get to play last year, so I’d assume they’d have me out there this year.”
While Summer League isn’t the end-all be-all of player development, it’s good to hear that Thiero will likely play. Ideally, he looks too good for that level of play and can gain some confidence as a second-year player, dominating and playing for a few days in July.
Beyond those handful of games, Thiero should be spending most of the time in the gym. He is already near the top of the list when it comes to athletic players on the Lakers, but there is basketball work that needs to be done.
“Getting my shot a lot more consistent, but just getting the confidence to take the open shot when it’s there,” Thiero said. “Just keep building on my offensive game. Try and get more comfortable with the speed of the NBA. I feel like still a couple more reps would do that some good, but just trying and make myself a little bit more ready for the next season. Try to be a little bit more of an impact player for the team.”
It’s rare to hear a player admit that they don’t have confidence in their shot, so Thiero’s honesty and self-awareness are appreciated.
On the season, Thiero shot 51% from the field and a woeful 33% from 3-point range. These numbers are similar to his collegiate stats. In his final season at Arkansas, he made 54% of his shots and only 25% from deep.
Despite his shooting struggles, he did play in the playoffs for the Lakers and was a positive contributor.
He had some nice highlights in the team’s series win over the Rockets and played for shifts here and there against the Thunder. Playing in the postseason and proving he belongs were invaluable experiences for Thiero.
“Just being out there, seeing how teams are playing me,” Thiero said. “What reads I’ll have to make in the offense we run and everything. Just picking that up and seeing where I can be better at and now I can go into the offseason knowing what I got to work on.”
Thiero knows where the improvement needs to come from, and that’s half the battle. The other half involves a path towards improvement and then execution of said plan.
The Lakers have had mixed results with their draft picks as of late. Jalen Hood-Schifino didn’t work out, and Dalton Knecht has been out of the rotation for over a year now.
However, Thiero has shown promise.
If Thiero’s words are backed up with actions, we will see early returns on his efforts in Summer League. And next year, he’ll be in a prime position to take a leap in his career, which will greatly benefit himself and the Lakers as they try to bolster their depth and compete for a title.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks meet in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals. The Cavaliers reached the East finals after beating the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons in seven games in the first and second rounds, respectively. The Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round then swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the East semifinals.
Moneyline: New York Knicks -262 (69.4%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +213 (30.6%)
Over/Under: 217.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1: Cleveland at New York (Tuesday May 19, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Game 2: Cleveland at New York (Thursday May 21, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Game 3: New York at Cleveland (Saturday May 23, 8 p.m. ET, ABC) Game 4: New York at Cleveland (Monday May 25, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Game 5: Cleveland at New York (Wednesday May 27, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)* Game 6: New York at Cleveland (Friday May 29, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)* Game 7: Cleveland at New York (Sunday May 31, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)*
We are a little over a month away from the NBA Draft, and rumors are starting to fly around. Here are some of the latest — and also check out the latest NBC Sports Mock Draft.
AJ Dybantsa not lock to go No. 1
AJ Dybantsa helped his cause at the NBA Draft Combine — he was everything teams expected, and his 42-inch vertical leap solidified him as one of the best pure athletes in the draft. Which is why most teams have the BYU wing on top of their draft boards, projected to go No. 1.
Rival teams don't view Dybantsa as a lock to go first, however, as there has been no true consensus No. 1 among scouts all season. Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson are all expected to receive consideration as the Wizards go through their process.
With all due respect to Boozer and Wilson, if it's not Dybantsa at No. 1, it will be Darryn Peterson out of Kansas — he was the guy on top of draft boards before the season, and scouts have told NBC Sports he still has the highest ceiling of the group. What has dropped Peterson's stock in the eyes of most teams is health concerns in a season where he yo-yoed in and out of the Jayhawks' lineup due to cramping and other injuries. Scouts and front office people have told NBC Sports they want to see Peterson's medical reports, and ESPN's Woo echoes that, also reporting Peterson did well in his combine interviews with teams.
NBA teams are still awaiting the results of Peterson's medical evaluation, which is viewed around the league as the most important off-court piece after he dealt with serious cramping concerns, which he attributed to high dosages of creatine. According to team sources, Peterson came across as quiet but serious in interviews last week and handled that part of the process well, addressing questions about his strange season.
One thing is clear out of the Combine: Those top four — Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson — are considered by teams in their own tier, something Woo and others at the combine report.
Other draft notes
• Aday Mara climbing. One of the winners of the draft combine, Michigan center Aday Mara is climbing draft boards, and it's not out of the question that he could be the surprise pick that disrupts the run on point guards expected in picks 5-8 (Brooklyn at No. 6 reportedly is taking a look). The Spanish native had physical measurements at the combine similar to Zach Edey — 7'3" with a 9'9" standing reach — and he showed during the season (and reminded everyone at the combine) that he moves well for a man his size. • Don't expect Jazz to trade up for Dybantsa. It's easy to see why the speculation started: Dybantsa went to prep school in Utah, then attended BYU for college — a place that owner Ryan Smith, as well as team president Danny Ainge and GM Austin Ainge, all have ties. And, it would be a hit with the fan base. However, multiple reports — including Sarah Todd of The Deseret News — say the same thing: Don't expect the Jazz to move up to No. 1. The price to swap picks with Washington to go No. 1 and ensure the Jazz get Dybantsa is likely a quality young player — the Wizards reportedly really liked Ace Baley a year ago — and another first-round pick. Unless the Jazz rate Dybantsa on his own tier and well above anyone else in the draft — and as noted above, that's not how anybody sees it — then the price is far too steep to play that game. • Kings eye Darius Acuff Jr. The lottery gods were not kind to the Sacramento Kings — again — but they could still land a difference maker at No. 7. Sacramento reportedly is interested in Arkansas' Darius Acuff, reports Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports. There is a real logic to this: the Kings need someone to inspire the fan base (and help them win games), and all you need to know about Acuff is that Allen Iverson says Acuff reminds him of him. He's just fun to watch. Acuff is a dynamic scorer who can play on or off the ball and is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game. • Bucks acting like a team about to get another pick. Milwaukee has one pick in the first round, No. 10, but they are acting like a team that is going to make multiple picks in this draft, reports ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. If, as widely expected, Milwaukee trades Giannis Antetokounmpo before the draft, that will very likely come with a pick this season from whichever team lands the two-time MVP. Consider it another sign that the Bucks are serious about making a deal this time around.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) and center Jarrett Allen (31).
It became an instant meme.
After Jarrett Allen and the Cavaliers were bullied and eliminated by the Knicks in five games in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, his brutal honesty made for an unforgettable quote.
“The lights were brighter than expected,” Allen said at the time.
But now, Allen has a chance for redemption. Here he is, three seasons later — again facing the Knicks, again playing under those bright Madison Square Garden lights. This time around, it’s in the Eastern Conference finals.
“That comment was that comment,” Allen said when asked by The Post at Cavaliers shootaround Tuesday morning ahead of Game 1. “What I said is what it is. For me personally now, I’ve grown, evolved, had a lot more playoff series under my belt, a lot more games under my belt, experience. What I said then was what I said then.”
Both teams are certainly in different spots now. They were both upstarts three years ago, coming off a season (and in the Cavaliers’ case, four seasons) in which they missed the playoffs.
“Everybody’s evolved, everybody’s grown, everybody’s come into their own skin,” Allen said. “Everybody’s just a different person coming here. So it’s good to see how everybody’s grown.”
The Knicks core is now way different — Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have been added to the mix. Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein are all long gone.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) and center Jarrett Allen (31). Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The main Cavaliers figures, though, are the same — Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Allen. They acquired James Harden midseason in exchange for Darius Garland in a move they envisioned to take that core to the next level.
Dean Wade and Sam Merrill were both on the team in 2022-23. But Wade played just 11 minutes in that first round against the Knicks. Merrill did not play at all. Now, they are both key bench pieces for the Cavaliers.
“For most of the team, the core that was there, it was their first time in the playoffs,” Mitchell said Tuesday morning. “We’ve had a few series under our belts [since then]. We didn’t like how it went, obviously. This is different. We’re not here to rehash the past. This is a different scenario. This is something that, even last season, we came into it like, ‘This is our goal, to get to this point, to get to the Finals.’ Not really looking at it like, ‘Man, what happened [three] years ago?’ It’s just the opportunity in front of us.”
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Entering the season, this conference finals matchup was one that many could see coming. The NBA seemed to, at least.
They were scheduled against each other for the NBA’s opening-night game and a marquee Christmas Day game. And they had the two best preseason odds to win the East.
For most of the year, though, it felt more far-fetched. The Cavaliers got off to a rough start, and the Knicks went through their own lulls.
“I think for us, we weren’t saying, ‘It’s gonna be us vs. New York.’ We were really just focusing on ourselves,” Mitchell said. “Especially how we started the year, it was a long road. I think now, it’s more so like we gotta steal the first one. And if we don’t steal the first one, steal the second one. That’s the mentality. It’s just like ‘hey, we’re here, we haven’t come this far just to be excited to be here.’ I think that’s the biggest feeling around the group — that we’re not just like, ‘We did it.’ Now, it’s more so that this is an opportunity for us to play and get to the Finals, and we have to get through these guys to get there.”
