The Los Angeles Lakers' depth was already tenuous heading into the playoffs. It's even more so now ahead of Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night.
Jarred Vanderbilt went down with a gruesome hand injury when his fingers hit the backboard while trying to contest an alley-oop towards the end of the first half in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, resulting in a full dislocation of his right pinky that also broke skin. But there's optimism that the Lakers' fan favorite avoided the worst-case scenario.
During the off day on Wednesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that "they were able to put his finger back together," with stitches and put the finger in a splint.
Jarred Vanderbilt injury update: Status ahead of Game 2
Vanderbilt is considered day-to-day and is officially listed as doubtful for Game 2, according to the latest NBA injury report.
"He's obviously a tough-minded player and person," Redick told reporters. "... Certainly the pain is involved (in a return), from my understanding. Basically, making sure that the tissue is healed enough to protect his skin barrier and the bone."
#Lakers head coach JJ Redick and teammate Jaxon Hayes discuss Jarred Vanderbilt’s open dislocation of his right pinky finger and how he’s now “day to day” after doctor’s had to put it back together and sew it up with stitches last night during Game 1 against #OKC. #Thunder… pic.twitter.com/9zic7yLW9w
Vanderbilt was screaming and doubled over in pain as he walked off the court towards the locker room at the 5:51-mark of the second quarter. Athletic trainers placed a towel over his hand to conceal the graphic injury, but some camera angles did show a bone in his pinky sticking out through the side of his skin.
The Thunder bench reacted and moved out of the way when they got a glimpse of it.
While Vanderbilt is unlikely to play on Thursday, it seems like he avoided the worst possibility of a fracture. The only other Lakers listed on the injury report were Luka Doncic (out with a grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Luke Kennard, who is questionable with neck soreness.
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 02: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 02, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the days roll on, the discussion on who Phoenix should trade for continues to rise at a rapid rate. With most fans wanting to see some change to this team, something will have to give. Even if Mat Ishbia preached keeping most of this team, there will be some turnover within the roster. Just how big will that be?
That is the real question no one has the answer to. As fans mull over who the team should pursue, they really do not know what kind of upgrade they are looking for. Is it a big splash or on the margins? Only time will tell what Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia decide to do, but in the meantime, let’s discuss the possibilities they can make this offseason.
The latest article in this series looks at a different position than the previous one, even though the team has an abundance of guards; a shakeup could be necessary for the team’s best direction.
I haven’t seen his name come up at all, but I really think Dejounte Murray would be a great fit next to Book.
Now, there has been no linkage to Dejounte Murray wanting out, or even to the Pelicans wanting to move off him, but the writing is basically on the wall. With the Pelicans looking to develop their young players, there’s really no spot for Murray. If Jeremiah Fears is their future, they need to invest in him, not Murray. He is also out of the timeline the Pelicans want to be in. He is older, and even if their front office THINKS they can compete, it is clear they are further behind than they evaluated them to be in the Wild Wild West.
Hence, even if he is not “available” at this second, I do think he will be off this Pelicans team, as he will want to be on a team that is competing. Does this make sense for the Suns to pursue? If so, how could they get it done?
How could it get done?
Looking at Murray’s contract, there are multiple ways the Suns could look to acquire the point guard, though I think there are two realistic options. For starters, he is owed $63.5 million over the next two seasons, with a near-$31 million player option next season. That means it would either require Jalen Green’s $36 million deal or a combination of Grayson Allen’s and Royce O’Neale’s contracts to reach right under $30 million.
Which would make the most sense?
I can see both of them getting the job done, but one is better than the other. With the Green contract, you fully swap a guard for a guard, messing with the continuity a bit but getting a better fit around Devin Booker, your star player. Not only that, but it then leaves you the remaining assets in Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to either keep or to get the size you need in the front court to compete against their Western Conference opponents.
If you trade Allen and O’Neale for Murray, you do find a guard replacement for Green, but then have to sell on him. With the league then knowing the Suns need to move off Green, the low-ball offers will come streaming in. For a guy already on a 72M contract that most front offices are scared to look at, it will not help the Suns get a beneficial return.
Therefore, I think the first option is the best for all parties involved: a Green for Murray swap.
Why does it get done?
Suns
This is a significant change from the previous renditions in this series. As noted in those three, I said there should not be a deal. Here I stand on my ten toes and state that the Suns should pursue this one, and I believe the Pelicans would be interested as well.
For starters, let’s evaluate this from a Suns perspective, as I truly do think that adding Murray would be a positive for this team. Even if Murray has been injured recently, like the previous names discussed, this one is a bit different.
He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the 2024-2025 season, which kept him sidelined for most of the year as he only suited up in 31 games. He then recovered for most of this season, allowing him to return healthy for 14 games. With the Pelcians having no sense of direction, either, this was a good thing for the betterment of his career. Besides these two seasons, though, the guard has played fewer than 65 games only twice: once in his rookie year and in 2018-2019, when he tore his ACL in the preseason.
These serious injuries could be scary, especially since one happened recently, but in his short time back with the Pelicans, Murray seemed to have it still. Even with a small sample size of 14 games, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals on 48/31/87 shooting splits. The guard would also help the Suns and fit their style.
Similar to Jrue Holiday, who was written about earlier this week, Murray would complement Devin Booker in many ways. This would allow Booker to return to his true position as a shooting guard and give him help with playmaking and ball-handling duties. He is also a solid defender and has a 6’ 10” wingspan, allowing him to use his length to create some big turnovers for the Phoenix defense.
For someone who started his career with the San Antonio Spurs, who believed in a defensive identity and culture, this would easily translate for Murray in a scheme with Jordan Ott at the helm. Murray would bring fear to opponents on the offensive end, alleviating pressure on Booker to hunt his own shots. Murry would also be a solid ball handler and playmaker who could help initiate the offense with Booker on the court, but with either Collin Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin alongside him, too.
The age may be a factor for some of these other players I said no to trading for, but with Murray, it’s not as glaring an issue. Yes, he will be turning 30 and getting older, but he is not at the age of Jrue Holiday or Anthony Davis. Nor is he said to be looking for a max contract like one of those guys is.
One of the best parts as well is that the Suns save money in this deal, a little under 4M that could be used to help bring back Gillespie and Goodwin while arguably finding a better fit for the roster and direction.
In review, he is everything the Suns could look to add in a point guard that will not disrupt the ability of Devin Booker to get touches still or attack the shots he wants. Murray, with a solid defensive frame, fits the identity the franchise wants to pursue on defense while not being a long-term detriment, given his age and salary.
Pelicans
Now, here comes the difficult part: convincing the Pelicans to do this deal… Ha, you thought I was being serious? The Pelicans’ front office is widely regarded as one of the most dysfunctional in this association. After their trade for Derik Queen at the draft, giving up their unprotected first-round pick for this season, they thought they were going to compete in the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, they did not even make the Play-In, so they had to hand over a lottery pick to the Atlanta Hawks.
This shows me that Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver, the two in charge over there, have no idea what is going on, and it was clearly evident this season. They still believe they can build around Zion Williamson and continue to make those comments even after this year. Both Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, arguably their two most valuable players, remained on the roster when teams were willing to trade for them. The Pelicans are trying to find their path, but keep struggling to get there or even establish a true star for their squad. Since Zion has been injured, they haven’t been able to jump-start the rebuild, and the process has been ongoing.
That is why I believe the front office will take this deal. They would see Jalen Green as adding a former number two pick, who has the potential to be a guy for them, pairing him with Zion and their lot of players to try and push for a deep playoff run. Green helped get Phoenix there this year and showed up in the playoffs. That’s a strong buying point for Dumars and co to decide to want this deal.
Not to mention that Green would be a better fit next to Fears, allowing the young guard to get the keys to himself as PG instead of competing with Murray. The Pelcians also get younger, taking on the 24-year-old who still has the potential to change his narrative in this league. Green could bring some much-needed rim pressure and work well paired with offensive hub Derik Queen.
Ultimately, I can see the Pelicans taking on Allen and O’Neale as well, thinking those role players would get them to make the play-in, but that is something I see Phoenix declining, rather than going with a 1-for-1 swap.
Final Thoughts
That said, I am not shipping Green for anyone. There are very few guards I’d consider it for, and Murray happens to be one of the only ones that are going to be “available” to do so.
So what would you guys do if you were the Suns? Would you consider a deal for Dejounte Murray if he wanted out, and do you think that either of these deals could get done? Your thoughts are more than appreciated, and I hope you have enjoyed the new series on Bright Side so far!
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After two contests in New York, one that was over by the third quarter and one that came down to the final minutes, the Philadelphia 76ers trail the Knicks in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series, 2-0. Joel Embiid missed Game 2 with hip and ankle injuries and his status remains up in the air moving forward. Tyrese Maxey committed six turnovers in the latest loss and later connected the dots that he had jammed his injured pinky finger during the game, causing him additional discomfort. They say a series doesn’t start until the road team wins, but the Sixers are certainly testing that sentiment with the overall feeling about how things are going at the moment.
Aside from the fact that Philadelphia looked to figure some things out in the close Game 2 defeat, the biggest cause for optimism going forward is injury luck swinging back slightly in the other direction. Knicks wing OG Anunoby left Game 2 late with what we later found out is a hamstring injury.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with right hamstring strain and will be day to day, sources tell ESPN. Anunoby is the Knicks second-leading scorer this postseason at 21.4 points per game. He is listed questionable for Game 3 on Friday against Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/q1zLXpbRkr
It does appear that Anunoby avoided a serious strain and various reports have mentioned him as day-to-day to perhaps out up to a week. He has a history of hamstring injuries, most recently missing three weeks earlier this season with one. The Knicks faced a similar situation two years ago in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Indiana; OG’s hamstring injury then was a turning point in the Pacers coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win that series. Could history repeat itself here?
While next man up mentality always applies, and the Knicks certainly have better roster depth than the Sixers, there’s no denying what a huge loss Anunoby would be for New York if he misses any time. He’s unquestionably their top two-way player and someone that has earned the “16-game player” designation with how his numbers regularly improve in a postseason environment. In this current postseason, OG is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 0.5 turnovers.
He, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart taking on the difficult defensive assignments and generally covering a ton of ground allow the Knicks to get away with two negative defenders in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Anunoby’s versatility and ability to credibly guard four positions allows head coach Mike Brown a ton of lineup malleability. I mentioned the Knicks have solid depth, but they don’t really have any similar big wings coming off the bench. They either get much smaller with more guard types receiving playing time like Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson. Or New York could try additional minutes with the two bigs beside each other, assuming Mitchell Robinson is back from his illness-related Game 2 absence. Either way, there’s something for the Sixers to exploit that simply isn’t there with a perfect jack-of-all-trades guy on the floor in Anunoby.
Even if it comes out that Anunoby is officially missing one or two games, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that changes everything from the Sixers’ perspective. They still have their own gigantic healthy mystery box to unravel in the form of Joel Embiid, after all. But if you’re looking for avenues Philadelphia could walk down to get back into this series, the Knicks missing the guy most critical to making everything else work would be a good place to start.
On Thursday, May 7, the NCAA formally ratified a proposal to expand both the men’s and women’s tournaments from 68 to 76 teams — or, approximately one-fifth of all Division I programs.
“I’m in favor of three weeks,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said to a group of reporters. “It’s really hard to win six games in three weeks. I’m all in favor of the smaller teams having a chance to be in this tournament, I really am.
“As long as we stay in a three-week period, I think that’s all we got and I think it’s the best sporting event going because we’re going to allow more and more teams to be a part of it, obviously, and it’s going to impact the country in every state. I don’t have a problem with that at all, but the fact is, it’s hard to win six games. But there may be somebody to come through there and win seven or eight games, whatever it takes to get to the championship.”
The men’s tournament will maintain “March Madness Opening Round” games in Dayton, Ohio, on the Tuesday and Wednesday following Selection Sunday; the city will play host to six games across those two days. An additional location, which the NCAA has not divulged, will host the other six games.
Six of those opening-round matchups will feature the 12 lowest-placed conference championship automatic qualifiers while the other games will pit the 12 lowest-seeded at-large bid recipients.
Not every coach is quick to embrace the move to expand the field.
“I think for me, they can call us mid-major, we’re low-mid-major in the Big South, whatever gives us the best opportunity to win a game is what I’m for,” UNC Asheville coach Mike Morrell told USA TODAY Sports. “Without really knowing what that looks like, then I think my opinion could be skewed a little bit. When I was at the University of Texas (as an assistant coach), we were a 10-seed and a 6-seed. I think if you were to ask me 10 years ago, I would have said expand that thing and get as many of those high-major guys as we can.
“I understand that’s the reason, but I just think it really … I don’t know that dilutes is the right word but it negates some regular-season importance because you’re allowing so many of these quote unquote big boys in. How many teams are going to get in now with losing records in their league? I’ve got to imagine it’s going to be a much higher percentage.”
Tom Crean has coached in 20 career NCAA Tournament games across stops at Marquette, Indiana and Georgia. He remains close to the sport as an analyst for radio and TV.
His only shock about Thursday’s news? That it took 15 years to materialize.
Crean rightly expects a tougher road for the final teams earning their way into the field — at-large and as lower mid-major conference champs.
“It was inevitable from the moment that it was floated out there years back and I’m surprised it took this long to come to fruition,” Crean told USA TODAY Sports. “I believe you will see more teams that would have been 14s or 15s have to play their way in, and you’ll see some brand name and Power conference teams end up as 12s or maybe even 13s.
“An occasional outlier, lower-mid or mid-major will jump in, but it’s not really set up for that with the metrics and the money allocations.”
On the heels of a 2025-26 basketball season that saw Miami (Ohio) barely earn an at-large selection despite 31 wins before Selection Sunday because of a soft nonconference schedule that ranked as low as No. 360, Crean expects more scheduling woes in that ecosystem.
“If people thought scheduling was hard before for lows and mids,” said Crean, a 2003 Final Four to his credit, “it’s going to get even tougher.”
After guiding Asheville into the 2023 NCAA Tournament and earning a No. 15 seed, only to be “shipped to Sacramento for a road game against UCLA,” Morrell battles the conflicting emotions of wanting a pathway for his Bulldogs to win versus preserving the scarcity of an invitation.
“If it allows more of a chance for us to a win a game and increase revenue for our league, at Asheville, we do actually have an NCAA Tournament win in our history from a play-in game but you still get a unit, you still get a share,” Morrell said. “As a lover of college basketball, I don’t love (expansion). I think there’s a real honor to playing in that tournament. A real earned right to playing in that tournament, and I don’t want to see it diluted by more teams in there.”
Army coach Kevin Kuwik has 10 previous NCAA Tournament appearances as an assistant coach but is still seeking to engineer the Black Knights’ first entrance into the Big Dance.
“As a fan of the tournament, I'm probably kind of a purist so this doesn't really excite me,” Kuwik told USA TODAY Sports. “But as a coach, it ultimately comes down to this is the dream we have, this is what we have to do to get there, so let's get to work.
Joel Embiid is day-to-day. Again. And nobody knows when, or even if, he will play again.
The Philadelphia 76ers are staring at a 2-0 series hole against the New York Knicks after Embiid sat out Wednesday’s Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and right hip soreness. ESPN reported on Thursday that he is day-to-day with no guarantee he plays Friday.
The 108-102 loss Wednesday night puts the 76ers’ season on the brink heading into Friday’s Game 3 at Xfinity Mobil Arena.
Coach Nick Nurse said Embiid woke up Wednesday with significant soreness before the shootaround. He received treatment and was ruled out by the Sixers' medical staff.
“He really wants to be out there,” Nurse said. “Coming back from that appendectomy so quickly was not easy for him to do. He worked extremely hard. I just know from his reaction – he was genuinely sad.”
The latest setback adds another chapter to a brutal postseason for the oft-injured star.
Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy on April 9 and missed the first three games of the first-round series against Boston. He came back and was dominant, averaging 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in four games as the Sixers rallied from 3-1 down to beat the Celtics in seven games.
In Game 1 against the Knicks, Mikal Bridges ran into Embiid's midsection on a screen. There is speculation the collision aggravated the hip, but Embiid would not call it a dirty hit and said he needed to do a better job of protecting himself.
Embiid played just 38 regular-season games this year, the third consecutive season he hasn’t cracked 40. Since his MVP season in 2022-23, he has appeared in just 96 regular-season games and has missed time in six of his eight playoff runs. He started his career by missing two full seasons with a foot injury and has missed more than 130 additional games since.
This season alone, Embiid dealt with a strained right oblique, a right shin stress reaction and ongoing management of both knees. That was all before the appendectomy. The Sixers rarely played him in back-to-back games all year in an effort to keep him available for the playoffs.
Without Embiid Wednesday, the Sixers competed but could not close, committing 18 turnovers in the loss. Tyrese Maxey had 26 points. The Knicks got 26 from Jalen Brunson and 24 from OG Anunoby, who left late with an undisclosed injury.
The Sixers are now two losses from elimination with Game 3 Friday at 7 p.m.
In response, expect Minnesota to emphasize its shooters.That starts with Naz Reid, finally looking close to healthy and already 5-of-7 from deep in this series.
In four games against the Spurs this season — ignoring the game when Reid left after five minutes with a shoulder injury — Reid is 11-for-21 from deep, hitting multiple 3-pointers in every game.
If the Timberwolves need to emphasize their shooters and move the ball out of Anthony Edwards’s hands quickly in the halfcourt — thereby breaking the Spurs’ designed double teams — that should naturally lead to a few additional assists for Ant-Man.
Those assists are unlikely to come in the paint, though. They will come on deep 3-pointers.
One player who does not take those is obviously Rudy Gobert, whose minutes should continue to be diminished in this specific series.
Spurs vs Timberwolves SGP
Naz Reid Over 1.5 threes
Anthony Edwards Over 4.5 assists
Rudy Gobert Under 11.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Timberwolves' Trio
Minnesota seems to have two offensive options aside from Anthony Edwards’s creations: Julius Randle or Jaden McDaniels in isolation. Amid foul trouble, McDaniels has struggled to get going on offense to start this series, but he is more vital to the Timberwolves’ hopes.
McDaniels also presents more of a mismatch, as well as being eager in transition. Minnesota getting off to the races is the most obvious counter to San Antonio’s defense.
Every thought there encourages a second straight Over in this series, albeit hopefully a more competitive game on the way to it.
Spurs vs Timberwolves SGP
Naz Reid Over 1.5 threes
Anthony Edwards Over 4.5 assists
Jaden McDaniels Over 14.5 points
Over 216.5
Spurs vs Timberwolves odds for Game 3 tonight
Spread: Spurs -4 (-110) | Timberwolves +4 (-110)
Moneyline: Spurs -190 | Timberwolves +160
Over/Under: Over 216.5 (-110) | Under 216.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
Minnesota is 3-0 ATS at home so far this postseason. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 3
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Spurs vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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There are few basketball players alive who can match the accomplishments of Oscar Robertson.
The former Indiana high school trailblazer, Cincinnati Bearcat and 12-time NBA All-Star has pretty much seen it all. And now, the 87-year-old Hall-of-Famer can see a larger NCAA Tournament.
Robertson visited the Marquee Network broadcast booth Thursday, May 7, during the Cubs vs. Reds game and was asked about March Madness' expansion. His answer was to the point:
“Well, they probably want more money."
He ain't wrong.
How much money will NCAA, schools make from March Madness expansion?
Yahoo! Sports' Ross Dellenger reported the expanded NCAA tournaments "will add $300 million in additional revenue over the final six years of the contract with TV partners Warner Bros. Discovery and CBS."
In its release announcing the expansion, the NCAA said it "will be able to award more than $131 million in new revenue distributions to member schools participating in the basketball tournaments over the remaining six years of the NCAA's broadcast agreements."
So the Big O is right. It's all about that big bag.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 09: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly held discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks about a potential deal at this year’s trade deadline. The swap would have included Evan Mobley and all of Cleveland’s available draft picks for 10-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“There’s another Eastern Conference contender, however, that folks around the league are looking at as a potential Antetokounmpo landing spot,” said Jake Fischer per The Stein Line Substack. “Cleveland.”
Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last year while shooting above 62% from the floor. He’s a generational talent whose development has proven to be second to none. For every ‘Giannis-like’ prospect that emerges, only one has actually blossomed into the athletic beast that Antetokounmpo has become.
That’s partly why trading Mobley for Antetokounmpo might make sense.
Mobley is also a special talent, notching a Defensive Player of the Year Award and an All-NBA nod before turning 24. Still, even the most optimistic outlook for Mobley would likely have him falling below the heights that Giannis has reached. That’s a credit to Giannis, not a knock on Mobley.
Two things complicate this move, however.
For starters, there’s always a risk to trading a player as accomplished and young as Mobley. Sure, I wouldn’t expect him to be better than Antetokounmpo, but I can’t guarantee it. I also can’t guarantee that Giannis will be healthy enough long-term for any of it to matter. The 2021 Finals MVP has had numerous postseasons derailed due to injury since then, and only played 36 games last season.
Trading Mobley (and all of your draft capital) means you are fairly confident that Giannis puts you over the top for a championship. If not, there’s no reason you’d do this. Mortgaging the future of the franchise without meaningfully increasing your window for a title is nonsensical. That comes with a parlay on Antetokounmpo’s health and a bet against Mobley’s development.
Moreover, the Cavs would also have to feel certain that this roster, as constructed around Mobley, is enough to win it all. This current group, including an aging James Harden and an unproven Donovan Mitchell, has to justify another big swing for this to make sense.
As a result, the end of this playoff run will likely influence what decisions the Cavs make this summer. There’s much to learn about this team and only a few more opportunities to do so. It’s going to be an interesting few weeks.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Starting in 2027, March Madness will get even madder.
The new opening round will grow from eight teams to 24, be played Tuesday/Wednesday prior to the first round for men and Wednesday/Thursday for women and feature at-large teams and automatic qualifiers.
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 7: Chris Webber and Charles Barkley of NBA TV chats with Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 7, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For years, Draymond Green seemed like the perfect fit alongside the Inside the NBA crew. Four years ago, he signed a long-term deal with TNT and began making guest appearances after the Golden State Warriors were no longer in the playoffs, which often happens much earlier than Green would like. Green was a natural, comfortably fitting into the banter between Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and sometimes Shaq,
Something has changed in the last few seasons. Now what used to be pointed but light-hearted banter is coming off as simply mean-spirited, like when Green slammed Charles Barkley’s late-career stint with the Houston Rockets.
Things got a little tense on the 'Inside the NBA set when Draymond took a shot at Chuck's final years in Houston 😬 pic.twitter.com/g9xRH5H6qq
Responding to Barkley’s assertion that, “Sports are for young people,” Green said that his goal was to, “I think the goal is simply not to look like you in a Houston Rockets uniform.” When Kenny “The Jet” Smith asked Green what that looked like, Green asked, “Did you see it? I saw it.”
The diss didn’t land, in part because Barkley was pretty good as a Rocket, making the All-Star team and the Western Conference Finals in his first season as part of a “Big Three But Old” alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Even when Scottie Pippen joined up for a single season in 1998-99, Barkley averaged 16.1 points and 12.3 rebounds as a willing third option on a team that won at a 51-win pace.
This is not to ignore that insulting other members of the panel is a foundational element to what Inside the NBA has been, along with racing Kenny to the video board, shoving Shaq into Christmas trees, body-shaming the beautiful women of San Antonio, failing to find sponsorship for the Neat-O Stat of the Night, and wildly underestimating the distance from Earth to the moon.
But the problem is that Green didn’t actually deliver a zinger, or a punchline at all. Smith even set him up for a chance to burn Barkley, or describe why he was so bad on the Rockets, and Green just gave him a weird look and didn’t expand. Essentially, Green responded like he would to a critic on social media, giving back the “Thinking Face” emoji.
It’s a sign that Green is spending too much time both podcasting by himself and reading internet comments. Green no longer has Baron Davis as a co-host, so the majority of his podcast content is a solo monologue. That doesn’t keep him ready for the pushback, bantering, or playfulness that comes from being on a panel show. Being on Inside the NBA isn’t about owning people, or clapping back, or Epically Destroying your co-hosts. More than anything, the show is about jokes.
That element of humor has really disappeared with Green, whether it’s from insecurity about his own decline, the extra cussedness that comes with aging, or public sentiment turning dramatically against him after punching Jordan Poole (or choking Rudy Gobert, or hitting Jusuf Nurkic, or stomping on Domantas Sabonis, etc.).
When Green told a heckling Paul Pierce, “You thought you was Kobe?” and told him, “There ain’t gonna be no farewell tour,” it was mean but funny. Pierce really did try to end his career on a high note in his hometown of Los Angeles, a place that did not particularly care about him or the Los Angeles Clippers. (Note: Pierce briefly ran a truly terrible hookah bar called “The Truth Hollywood” and it did not succeed.)
So when Green tried to mock Barkley’s Rockets career, the issue wasn’t that Green was being inaccurate or disrespectful. It was that he wasn’t funny. Make fun of him being out of shape! Say Barkley’s defense was worse than his golf swing! Remind Barkley that in his last playoff appearance, he lost to Shaq!
A key element of what makes Barkley great is his ability to laugh at himself, but there has to be a punchline. Green’s own persona is increasingly based on responding angrily to every critical remark abut him, the opposite of taking a joke. And as recently as two years ago, Green and Barkley delightfully went at each other late in the All-Star Game broadcast.
Is the problem that angry responses are more likely to go viral? Has Green become less comfortable on camera as his own NBA future gets murkier? Regardless, Green should shift his tone, simply because it makes for much better television.
And bring some churros to the set the next time ESPN has a Spurs game. With the Chuckster, time and fried dough heal all wounds.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 10: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets grabs the rebound during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 10, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets plan last season was not some mystery. From Media Day back in September, it’s been about “playing the probabilities” and “flexibility.” Could you call it tanking? In response, Nets officialdom did everything but paraphrase the fictional prime minister in the British House of Cards TV series: “You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.”
That’s in the past now. With the Draft Lottery Sunday, we are about to get real. Speculation will soon be replaced by a much clearer path to the team’s summer moves which just about everyone believes will be aggressive. Count Michael Porter Jr. among those who thinks he can see the future.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Kendrick Perkins on the Road Trippin’ podcast, he talked about how he sees the summer working out, which he believes will include him.
Michael Porter Jr. joined @RoadTrippinShow today and was asked whether he thinks he could function as the #1 option for a championship team.
MPJ says he thinks he’d need a little bit of help next to him, hinting a co-star and said he’s talked to the Nets front office about the… pic.twitter.com/DMEtFzuP38
“I’ve talked to the front office,” he told Perkins. “I think we’re going to get a good draft pick and then we got the most money in the NBA to get a really good playmaking 2-guard or point guard.”
A “good draft pick” will be subjective of course. The Nets can’t fall below the seventh pick and have twice as good a chance at No. 1 — 14 percent — as they do at No. 7 — seven percent. But as we keep saying, it’s all about the aerodynamics of small plastic balls.
His other comment about having “the most money” — presumably cap space — is not quite so. Brooklyn will be top two or three with as much as $50 million but at the very least Chicago will have more. It should also be noted that at one point early in the season, Porter suggested the Nets then-rookie guards weren’t cutting it … which got in a bit of hot water.
He didn’t offer any names the Nets might have in mind. He did say that he sees the Nets following the OKC Thunder path, building organically, developing both lottery picks and others into championship pieces. He admits the losing last season was tough on him.
“I never lost consistently my whole career until I got to Brooklyn. We were losing a lot. We were young. We were building something, but we’re not there yet. So it was definitely hard, bro. It definitely was hard,” he told Perk. “But I see the future with the team. I see what we’ve got in the young dudes. I see we have the most money to spend. I think we’ve got the most. We’re the youngest team. Kind of like Oklahoma City — it took them a while to get good. I think that’ll be how it is here. But I’m with it. I want to stay in Brooklyn.”
He even admitted that between the time he was snubbed for the All-Star Game in early February and the time he was finally shut down with a hamstring issue on April 3, he was not the same player. He said he regrets taking his “foot off the gas.“
MPJ once again said that he took his foot off the gas after not making the All-Star team:
"I regret that once I didn’t make that All-Star game, I let my foot off the gas because there really wasn’t anything we were playing for anymore. We couldn’t make the playoffs, I couldn’t… https://t.co/3ggkHdPyGG
“I regret that once I didn’t make that All-Star game, I let my foot off the gas because there really wasn’t anything we were playing for anymore. We couldn’t make the playoffs, I couldn’t be an All-Star… I wasn’t in the weight room as much, I wasn’t preparing as much, and my 3-point percentage dropped.”
As Erik Slater noted Thursday, MPJ averaged 20.5 points on 40.9% shooting from the field and 25.6% from three over his final 14 games after the All-Star reserves were announced. For the season, he put up 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds while shooting 46/36/86.
Porter of course is eligible for an extension up to $234 million over four years. He can starting talking to Sean Marks & co. starting on June 30 and although the top of the range seems quite pricey, both sides have offered positive takes about a future together. The 6’10” 27-year-old will make $40.8 million this season, the last on the five-year, $172 million deal he signed with the Nuggets. The Nets certainly had offers to move him at the trade decline, but reportedly told suitors, thanks but no thanks.
Asked if he thinks he could be the No. 1 option on a championship team, he admitted he’d need a co-star and that he’s talked to the front office about possibilities. Peyton Watson anyone?
Although he didn’t talk much about his current teammates, he offered a take on Cam Thomas’ exit from the Nets and later the Bucks, suggesting Thomas’ personality played a big part of his failure to harness all his powers. While conceding Thomas was one of the best shotmakers in the league, he said that’s not enough.
Michael Porter Jr. on why things didn’t work out for Cam Thomas in Brooklyn and Milwaukee:
"There's a lot more to sticking around in the NBA than just [scoring]. For Cam, I think it was a mixture of him being frustrated with a lot of things and also his personality… He doesn't… pic.twitter.com/yhBbJ2MaWf
“There’s a lot more to sticking around in the NBA than just [scoring]. For Cam, I think it was a mixture of him being frustrated with a lot of things and also his personality… He doesn’t really socialize… He’ll say like two words all day, all practice. He doesn’t really talk to anybody. I don’t think he does it in a way where he’s trying to be a bad teammate. I just think that’s him.
“But when it comes to a team being willing to pay you and make you a No. 1 option, it comes with so much more [responsibility]. I don’t know if he was willing to break out of his personality and be talkative and try to be a leader and try to bring guys together. I think that’s kind of what happened here in Brooklyn.”
Porter, as he has in the past, did not step back from his controversial takes on culture beyond sports, saying he thinks it’s even helped his career …. financially.
“I think the reason that I make a lot of money in the NBA, but I still want to do other things, is because most NBA players, and most athletes — or people who have a lot to lose — are like robots. They want to maintain a certain image. They want to not disturb the peace. They want to shut up and dribble. They just want to play their sport, stay out of the way, and whatever. I always wanted to actually have a platform. I wanted to use my platform to actually have an impact and be able to talk about what I want to talk about.”
The New York Knicks get ready to run the “Rocky Steps,” with their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers shifting to the City of Brotherly Love.
My Knicks vs. 76ers predictions give a hat tip to the home team, with Philadelphia winning on the strength of its defense. That means shutting down New York superstar Jalen Brunson and continuing to get production from Paul George.
The Philadelphia 76ers are against the wall in Game 3, down 0-2 to the New York Knicks. After rallying in Round 1, the 76ers aren’t panicking and will turn to their defense to get the job done.
Potentially having Joel Embiid back is big, and the Knicks possibly missing OG Anunoby is even bigger.
SGP leg #2: Jalen Brunson Under 26.5 points
Although Jalen Brunson finished with 26 points in Game 2, he wasn’t at his best, shooting just 9-for-21 from the field and needing several trips to the foul line to boost his total. Philadelphia threw longer defenders at Brunson, using Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe to close the gaps quicker.
With Embiid back inside and clogging up the key, Brunson won’t get easy looks or space on the perimeter. He also doesn’t draw the same whistles on the road as he does in MSG, limiting his scoring from the stripe.
Brunson's projections sit as low as 24 points for Game 3.
SGP leg #3: Paul George Over 16.5 points
Paul George has been the 76ers’ most consistent offensive player in the playoffs. He’s topped his scoring prop in four of his last five outings and scored 19 points in Game 2, thanks to a red-hot start from beyond the arc.
With Anunoby either out or limited, New York has some serious rotation issues, which could leave smaller players on PG. He’s projected for 17+ points on Friday.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs 76ers predictions for Game 3.
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Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown recently raised eyebrows by labeling the 2025-26 season as his “favorite.” However, his statement should come as no surprise to those who paid attention throughout the campaign.
Brown called it his “favorite season” during a Twitch stream one day after the Celtics blew a 3-1 first-round series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers. He doubled down on his remarks during another stream on Wednesday night.
“You got to see all of these guys, all of my teammates, grow,” Brown said. “I got to see them overcome adversity as a group, up close and personal. … Obviously, we’re not satisfied with the result. If it sounds like an excuse, it’s not. But to fight and maneuver through adversity and grow, and galvanize with a bunch of guys and to have that mindset and approach, this was my favorite year.
“I wouldn’t say by far. By far would be a stretch because obviously winning the championship is great. But I’m telling y’all, this was my favorite season.”
Understandably, Brown calling it his favorite season immediately after Boston’s collapse didn’t sit well with many fans. Plus, one would think that hanging Banner 18 at TD Garden would trump a first-round exit, especially when star teammate Jayson Tatum missed most of the season and Game 7 due to injuries.
But Brown made similar statements on several occasions before his postseason Twitch streams. Throughout the campaign, the 10-year veteran spoke glowingly about the Celtics’ supporting cast blossoming and the team exceeding its preseason “gap year” expectations. He called it his “favorite season” as early as December.
Brown’s messaging has been consistent all season long. Here’s a look back at some of his most noteworthy quotes that show why he considers the 2025-26 season the “favorite” of his illustrious career:
“I think this has been my favorite season so far,” he said. “Being able to get the opportunity to lead a group of guys who – some of us, we have some championship experience, but we have five or six new guys who haven’t really played NBA basketball. And now, we look like one of the better teams in the league.
“That’s just credit to our coaching staff and credit to our leadership that we’ve been able to get those guys comfortable, and we’re playing some good basketball right now. So it means everything.”
Jan. 21, 2026 – Brown praises Celtics’ ‘resiliency’
One month after his first “favorite season” declaration, Brown raved about the Celtics’ resiliency as the second-place team in the East without Jayson Tatum.
“Very resilient, very tough,” he said. “Start of the season, the expectations weren’t high. But these guys, they came in and worked day in and day out. Last year, we were second in the East. We’re halfway through the season and we’re second in the East.
“That’s just a testament to the work ethic, the resiliency of our head coach, of our leadership. It’s a testament to where we are right now.”
Feb. 12, 2026 – First-half comparison
During the All-Star break, Brown took to social media to compare the team’s 2025-26 first-half numbers with those from 2024-25. Boston’s record, seeding, offensive rating, and defensive rating were eerily similar to the previous year.
“I’m proud of this group and staff/office,” he wrote on X. “Looking forward to 2nd half go C’s.”
I’m proud of this group and staff/ office looking forward to 2nd half go Cs ☘️ pic.twitter.com/I0cqxQTPYg
Feb. 16, 2026 – Brown ‘extremely proud’ of Celtics’ season
Brown couldn’t help but smile while speaking about his team’s surprising success at the All-Star break. Boston entered the break with a 35-19 record.
“To see them finding their ground, their footing, and playing well – as a leader, I can’t tell you how much that means to me, to see those guys kind of starting to flourish on their own,” he said of the Celtics’ supporting cast. “Before, when the season started, there was uncertainty.
“I’m proud. I don’t know what to tell ya’ll, I’m extremely proud of our group, where we’re at right now. Second in the East versus how many players (we lost) and everything that was being said, the gap year, and for us to be sitting here at the All-Star break and having our guys feeling like we could even be better, I’m proud, bro. It’s been great, it’s been fun.”
March 30, 2026 – So much for a “gap year”
With Tatum back in the fold, the Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets on March 29 for their 50th win of the season. Few expected Boston to accomplish that feat during what was expected to be a “gap year” with Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury.
“50 wins in a gap year,” Brown wrote on X after win No. 50.
With the No. 2 seed in the East locked up, the Celtics’ second unit got a chance to shine in the regular-season finale against the fully healthy Orlando Magic. Boston earned a 113-108 victory in arguably the most entertaining game of the season, with Baylor Scheierman (30 points), Ron Harper Jr. (27 points), and Luka Garza (27 points) each having memorable performances.
Brown, who often credited the role players for making it his “favorite season,” took to social media with a simple message after the thrilling win.
May 2, 2026 – A ‘great season’ despite Game 7 loss
Brown didn’t hang his head after the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers. Instead, he called the 2025-26 campaign “probably one of my most fun years playing basketball,” while once again mentioning the growth of his teammates.
“It was a great season. I’m proud of my teammates and just their growth,” Brown said. “I’m so grateful to be with this group. This group is awesome. I had a fun year. This is probably one of my most fun years playing basketball.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ offense has been struggling all postseason long, and Game 1 against the Thunder was no exception.
Los Angeles failed to crack 100 points, losing on the road to OKC. In fact, in their last five playoff games, LA has only scored above the century mark once.
Despite the inability to put the ball through the hoop, the Lakers are certain that change is going to come.
“We’re going to make shots,” Marcus Smart said postgame. “It’s just a matter of time and we just got to continue to make sure we’re shooting them.”
LA and OKC took the same number of attempts at 85, but the Thunder just made more shots. OKC went49% from the field and 43% from deep, while LA shot 41% overall and 31% from beyond the arc.
Besides just making more of their shots, LeBron James offered insights into how those looks can be improved.
“We have to be better at finding ways to get into the blender, finding ways to get into the paint,” LeBron said. “We know they’re a paint-swarming team so we have to be better with getting into the paint, not turning the ball over and shooting with confidence. I thought we got some really good looks.”
Similar to putting points on the board, turnovers have also been an issue for LA. They had 18 in Game 1 and lead the playoffs in this category, averaging 17.7 per game. That can’t continue if the Lakers want to pull off a series upset. No one has beaten OKC even once in the playoffs, and self-inflicted errors will not lead to anything good for LA.
On the plus side, this was just one game, and the path towards improvement is clear. The Lakers need to protect the ball, get in the paint and take advantage of the looks they get from deep.
“We watched the film and know we can shoot a lot on threes on this team,” Rui Hachimura said. “I think they gave up a lot of threes in the regular season. They’re like one of the worst teams or something [at allowing threes]. We talked about that. I think we need to shoot more threes for sure, especially against them. I think in the second half we did a better job, but we could have done it in the first.”
Even with how badly things went for LA, they hung around with OKC for most of the game. This was just one performance, and not every contest will go this way. Austin Reaves will play better, LA’s defense has proven to be respectable and if a couple more shots can go down, they can still leave OKC with a 1-1 split.
COVERS INTEL: Naz Reid attempted 6.1 threes per game at home this season, 
