Category: NBA

Where Warriors, Kings sit in post-NBA Finals power rankings ahead of 2026 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The best part of the New York Knicks winning their first NBA Finals in 53 years is knowing that they earned it. The grit and diligence on display when faced with peril was as astonishing as any champion in any sport in recent memory. They ate deficits for dinner.

The worst part of the Knicks winning it all is we’ll spend an eternity hearing about New York supremacy. It will be loud enough to obscure the San Antonio Spurs’ miscues, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s misfortune and the Cleveland Cavaliers sucking their collective thumb.

But with the 2026 NBA Draft arriving next Tuesday, followed a week later by free agency, all 30 teams are exploring paths to improvement. Each has studied its roster to determine offseason priorities, which we attempt to address in the almost-summer Power Rankings:

30. Washington Wizards

Tanking regulars acquired established but flawed stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Priority should be to keep both, allowing their abused fans to dream of the NBA playoffs.

29. Sacramento Kings

Watching Mike Brown and De’Aaron Fox in the Finals had to hurt. It should have. The front office priority is to do something that follows logic, like add a quality point guard.

28. Brooklyn Nets

Chasing lottery luck instead of wins has kept them in the NBA swamp. Jordi Fernandez is a terrific coach. Time to use cap space and the No. 6 pick to give him a respectable roster. 

27. Chicago Bulls

Their baffling FO (Kings of the East) has shed good coaches, good players and loyal fans. The priority for the new GM is to rebuild with enough savvy to prove real change is here. 

26. Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant, the last piece of a once-formidable group, must go even though his value has plummeted. The FO, with the rebuild already under way, knows the assignment.

25. Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most attractive trade chip in the league. A two-time MVP should be enough to launch a rebuild with promising youngsters and a couple culture-shifting veterans.

24. Dallas Mavericks

Proven architect Masai Ujiri needs only his phone and two years. Kyrie Irving with Cooper Flagg is a fine start. Now keep Dereck Lively II healthy and add some shooting.

23. New Orleans Pelicans

Here comes Jamahl Mosley to revamp a 23rd ranked defense. With no first-round pick, the priority is internal improvement and keeping Zion Williamson healthy and productive.

22. Phoenix Suns

Rookie coach Jordan Ott was impressive, guiding them to 45 wins. They have enough firepower to match that – if they reduce turnovers. They could use stronger paint presence.

21. Los Angeles Clippers

They went from awful to scary last season before landing on mediocre. Coach Tyronn Lue is secure, but Kawhi Leonard’s future, there or elsewhere, will be pivotal.

20. Utah Jazz

After so many years of overt tanking, they’re put together a long, athletic roster built to compete for the playoffs. They have a long way to go, but the turnaround is in view.

19. Charlotte Hornets

They generated enough momentum last season to excite the fan base. They’ll compete if LaMelo Ball plays smart. Add a strong defender, they could make the playoffs.

18. Portland Trail Blazers

Tiago Splitter coached wonderfully but got no love from the frugal new CEO. The entire league is curious to know if this franchise will prioritize excellence or cost savings.

17. Miami Heat

Eric Spoelstra kept them competitive, but if they can add Giannis to Bam Adebayo while re-signing Norman Powell, they’ll have a top-four roster in the East.

16. Golden State Warriors

The second half of the season exposed a flimsy roster behind Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III. Shot creators and a POA defender are wanted, but two-way wings are needed.

15. Toronto Raptors

The young core, led by Scottie Barnes, showed signs of real progress. The defense is superb, but the offense needs more deep shooters; they were 21st in 3-point percentage.

14. Philadelphia 76ers

Love the backcourt, but Bob Myers and new GM Mike Gansey must decide whether to pray for Joel Embiid’s health, or a miracle that delivers a way out of his mega contract.

13. Orlando Magic

Moseley was undone by injuries and poor shooting, so Sean Sweeney brings a new voice to a roster the FO surely knows is limited by inadequate shooting. Can they find it?

12. Los Angeles Lakers

Their limitations mostly trace to the holes in their defense. The must address that while also getting desirable contractual outcomes with LeBron James and Austin Reeves.

11. Atlanta Hawks

Trading Trae Young was the right move. They have two first-round picks, solid talent and superior athleticism. Adding size and re-signing veteran leader CJ McCollum are priorities.

10. Indiana Pacers

Losing Tyrese Haliburton sank last season, but his return puts them back in the playoffs. With Ivica Zubac replacing Myles Turner, can the FO find a reserve stretch-5?

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

They learned that no matter where James Harden goes, his game shrinks in the playoffs. That can’t be minimized. But this team aches for an elite perimeter defender.

8. Houston Rockets

They tried to patch over the loss of Fred VanVleet and realized it didn’t fix the hole. His absence strangled the offense, especially in clutch games. If he returns healthy, look out.

7. Denver Nuggets

They were 27-9 when Aaron Gordon played, 27-19 when he did not. Expect a big-ticket player to be bounced, but their fix is a healthy AG and a legitimate two-way wing. 

6. Boston Celtics

Joe Mazzula was named Coach of the Year before his one-dimensional offense went one-and-done in the playoffs. This is an issue no matter what the FO does with Jaylen Brown.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Julius Randle beats the world one night, curls into a ball another. If he is their No. 2, Anthony Edwards is handicapped. Fix that, and the Wolves can join OKC and San Antonio.

4. Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham is for real, but none of his teammates fit the No. 2 role. The FO must find a floor-spacing shooter because several No. 3s don’t equal a No. 2.

3. San Antonio Spurs

The best team in the league in the second half of the season tried and failed to jump the line to the top. As they await maturity for the tyros, their priority is to add another shooter.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

A healthy Jalen Williams away from the Finals, OKC is built to reload while unloading. Isaiah Hartenstein’s team option forces Sam Presti to make a tough decision.

1. New York Knicks

Great fusion of pizazz and fundamentals. Synergistic top eight. Hoping Jalen Brunson set an example for teammates by sacrificing $$, the priority is to maintain continuity.

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Three best wings Warriors could take with No. 11 pick in 2026 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Skilled wings are every team’s dream entering the NBA draft. The position doesn’t run deep this year, which puts the Warriors in an interesting spot. 

Their own top two wings, Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, will begin next season on the shelf as they recover from knee injuries. Will Richard can play up as a wing, as can Brandin Podziemski in certain lineups. Gui Santos bettering his outside shot allows him to play down as a small forward, too. 

Simply put, the Warriors need help on the wings, as they do with most spots on the floor right now. The top wings in the draft all provide a little something different, with differing levels of readiness and differing heights of their ceilings. So, here are the top three wings for the Warriors with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan 

There are a handful of reasons why Lendeborg is seen as a natural fit for the Warriors. They’re one of the teams that maybe wouldn’t mind using a lottery pick on a 24-year-old rookie. Lendeborg has NBA size at 6-foot-9 and 241 pounds with a wingspan of a little over 7-foot-3. He finished off his college career in perfect fashion as a national champion in a storied season, individually as well. 

The Consensus All-American would obviously be on the older side as a rookie, but he also has shown growth and continued development throughout his unique path to get here. After three years in junior college, Lendeborg was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year at UAB, where he was a rebounding machine. Then, in his one season at Michigan, Lendeborg showed vast improvements as a shooter and the ability to play multiple positions. 

Yaxel Lendeborg appreciation post

• National Champion 🏆
• First-Team All-American
• Big Ten Player of the Year
• 2x All-AAC First-Team
• 2x AAC DPOY
• 15.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.7 BPG#GoBlue 〽️ pic.twitter.com/ehD44X3zLz

— Nick Brandel (@MotorCityBanter) June 12, 2026

Lendeborg could have been included in our “big man” section, but he believes the 3 is his best position and he did just shoot 37.2 percent on 4.5 threes per game at Michigan with an 82.4 free throw percentage. He says his upside is yet to be fully seen, and now it’s up to the Warriors if they believe that to be true. 

If so, Lendeborg does check all the boxes for them. 

Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor 

For those who question Lendeborg’s upside, Carr is the perfect combination of a prospect with huge potential and the ability to still help in the now. As Lendeborg put a stamp on a sensational senior season at Michigan, Carr was one of college basketball’s breakout stars as a redshirt sophomore. Again, at 21 and turning 22 in late November, Carr brings balance to the present and future. 

His college career began in disappointing fashion. Carr played in only 18 games for a total of 102 minutes during his first two years at Tennessee and then left the program during his second season. A change of scenery at Baylor saw him burst onto the scene, averaging 18.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He dropped 28 points in his first game at Baylor and had 15 games of 20-plus points. 

2026 Cameron Carr https://t.co/zC5WEFnuMypic.twitter.com/i7BJKe18VC

— Pitless (@pitlessball) April 23, 2026

Carr is 6-foot-5 with a massive 7-foot-1 wingspan, giving him all the tools to be a perfect 3-And-D player. It’s easy to see him as a top-notch 3-point shooter with his picturesque shot and length. That was on full display at the combine when Carr played in one scrimmage and impressed everyone with 30 points, seven rebounds and six 3-pointers. 

While he will need to add strength to his lanky 184-pound frame, Carr uses his 42-inch vertical leap to throw down dunks in transition, and he can be an impact defender with his length as a shot blocker and overall disruptor. 

Nate Ament, F, Tennessee

Welcome to the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect of this year’s draft. How many players can handle the rock and shoot off the dribble at 6-foot-10? It’s clear why Ament was a top high school recruit, and why he’s now an enigma in the lead-up to the draft. 

The idea of Ament is what has kept him in lottery discussions as a possible top 10 pick, not how he played as a freshman at Tennessee. Ament averaged 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but he shot a lowly 39.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent behind the 3-point line while having just three more assists than turnovers. He scored 20 or more 11 times last season, and also missed all his threes in 12 games. 

Spent time with Nate Ament in NYC as he prepares for NBA Draft workouts. At 6’10 with a projectable frame, fluidity, and a versatile skill set, it’s easy to see why he’s a projected top-10 pick and the type of big wing NBA teams covet. pic.twitter.com/49rcgMyww3

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 8, 2026

Ament is 19 and turns 20 in late December. Teams with years to let him learn through mistakes and see him blossom into who many thought he would be at Tennessee could jump at the opportunity to add Ament. Others could easily be scared away. 

Where the Warriors land in his camp will say everything about how they view the franchise going forward. Another option could be trading down and seeing a wing like Texas’ Dailyn Swain or Mexico’s Karim Lopez still available.

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There’s a lot of intel out there with the NBA Draft just a week away. Here’s a look at all the latest stories revolving around the Jazz.

It’s a three-player race for the Jazz at #2

Tony Jones recently reported on the Jazz decision-making process and who they’ll be picking come draft night. According to Tony Jones:

The Utah Jazz are “genuinely torn” between selecting AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer or Darryn Peterson one week away from the NBA Draft, league sources told The Athletic.

Jones goes on to describe what the Jazz like about each player:

Through the draft process, according to league sources, the three prospects have stood out in different ways. Dybantsa, at 6-foot-9, is maybe the most physically imposing of the three, relative to his position. The former BYU star is capable of playing both wing positions, and he’s the giant shooting guard/small forward that almost every team covets. The Jazz are drawn to Peterson’s ability to score at a high level. They love Boozer’s ability to pass, rebound and process the game at a high level.

That Boozer is firmly in the mix at No. 2 is a testament to how much the Jazz like him, being that he isn’t a clean positional fit. The Jazz already have Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen at his position, but Boozer is so talented that it may not matter for the Jazz. They may take him and worry about fit after.

The thing you can most take from this is that the Jazz have a choice between three great prospects, obviously dependent on what the Wizards do. Jones mentions that the Jazz weren’t surprised by Peterson’s decision, and even anticipated it to some level. They’re no stranger to this, and if they are confident that they can sell their organization to any prospect … and Peterson.

Utah’s front office is confident in its ability to sell prospects on the organization’s culture once that drafted prospect is in the building. The Jazz believe this situation won’t be any different.

But this is probably a non-issue, we know that Peterson has said he’s fine being drafted by the Jazz.

The Agent Issue

What is likely the biggest issue, and something we’ve heard more of lately, is that Peterson’s agent might be trying to dissuade Peterson from the Jazz. Why? He’s the same agent as Keyonte George, who is going into a contract season. From Jones:

Behind the scenes, there is some concern on Peterson’s side that he and Jazz point guard Keyonte George share the same agency. But the Jazz firmly believe the two can play together. The teams advancing deep into the playoffs enforced that belief by simultaneously playing multiple ball handlers.

This is definitely the core of everything we’ve seen about Peterson apparently not wanting to go to Utah. In reality, it all likely derives from his agent (which is almost always the reason for all of this). And it may not even necessarily be only about Darryn Peterson. With Keyonte George coming into a contract season, it makes sense that their shared agent would want to help George earn the maximum amount possible.

But like Jones says, there should be no shortage of opportunity for both Peterson and George. Jones mentions that Utah doesn’t have a starting-level shooting guard on the roster and Peterson would be in line for big minutes. The other element that makes things interesting for Utah is that at all times they can make sure that one of Peterson or George is on the floor running the offense.

Mark Cuban has admitted why the Mavericks completely whiffed on letting Jalen Brunson walk to the Knicks.

“It was really, really simple. We didn’t see JB, as what he would become,” Cuban, the owner of the Mavericks from 2000 to 2023, said in a recent appearance on “House of Haymaker.”

Brunson spent four years with the Mavericks, averaging more than 15 points per game only in his final year, the 2021-22 season.

Dallas had an option to extend the guard for $55 million prior to his breakout season, but opted to wait to see if his value would change after the year.

Cuban said he thought he would have a chance to match other teams’ offers, but Brunson accepted the Knicks‘ four-year, $104 million deal before talking to the Mavericks.

“He showed that star potential when Luka [Doncic] got hurt, and he won those games against Utah for us, but we were trying to get a star to put next to Luka, and JB’s star had not risen yet,” Cuban said.

It’s safe to say Brunson’s star has risen now after he just won the NBA Finals MVP in the Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years.

Mark Cuban admits the Mavericks completely misjudged Jalen Brunson before letting him walk to the Knicks

Ben Rogers: How did Jalen Brunson get away?

Mark Cuban: "It was really, really simple. We didn’t see JB, as what he would become"

"He showed that star potential when Luka… pic.twitter.com/tqlIklXVBi

— Fibonacci (@Fibonacci69) June 16, 2026

The former Villanova Wildcat averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in the Finals, including a 45-point night to seal the series in Game 5.

That mirrors the success Brunson had during his entire stint with the Knicks, as he has averaged 26.3 points, 6.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 284 games with New York.

The guard was a part of the championship run in more ways than one; the court, though, he turned down approximately $113 million in guaranteed money when he signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension in 2024.

This allowed the Knicks to afford guys like OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Kentucky Basketball may be on the verge of one more big-time recruiting win to cap off the 2026-27 roster.

The BBN learned recently that Kentucky was making a push for international prospect Nikola Kusturica, a 6-foot-9 wing from Serbia who is already firmly on NBA radars. While the Wildcats are in the mix, Gonzaga was thought to be the leader, as the Zags have a bigger need right now, and they’ve been on him for longer.

Well, there may have been a shift in this recruitment, as 247 Sports’ Travis Branham just logged a prediction for Kentucky to land Kusturica with a confidence level of 7. This would be a massive late addition for Mark Pope and Co. that would keep his recent hot streak going after the offseason got off to a rough start.

Back in the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket Tournament, Kusturica averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.5% from the field and 30.8% on 3-pointers across 25.6 minutes per game. He was named MVP of the tournament and is now being projected as a lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.

NBA Draft Room currently has Kusturica projected to go No. 2 overall in the 2028 draft. That tells you just how highly thought of he is already. And because he has to play two seasons of college basketball — he just recently turned 17 — there’s a good chance he’ll become a star player for some lucky program before he leaves for the NBA.

And Kentucky may just be who he decides to play for.

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Bronx rapper Fat Joe saw something this weekend that he never thought he would see in his lifetime. 

But those dreams came true Saturday night when the Knicks hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy after defeating the Spurs in five games for their first NBA championship in 53 years.

Fat Joe went on “The Beat with Ari Melber“to talk about his experience during Knicks fever.

While Fat Joe is happy that the team he supported for most of his life is now on top of the basketball world, what stuck with him most was how the title brought New York together.

He pointed to a moment when he heard the city sing Jay-Z and Alecia Keys’ famous song “Empire State of Mind” after the Knicks finally brought home the crown with a 94-90 win in San Antonio.

“When you’ve seen thousands, maybe a million fans at one time singing that, man, it’s like a dream come true,” Fat Joe said on MS Now.

Knicks fans across all five boroughs took to the streets to celebrate the victory. The lesson Fat Joe took from the long wait was that it takes a lot to become a champion. 

“The lesson is, you can’t buy a championship,” he said. “You can’t waltz, you can’t get lucky. You’ve got to earn your way to a championship. And it’s just like when we won, Mr. [James] Dolan gave that speech where he was like, ‘I’m sorry, New York, I was trying,’ you know, ‘I’m sorry it took so long to win this chip.’ That’s how hard it is to be a champion. You’ve got to beat the very, very best.”

The rapper also credited more than just the players for bringing home the trophy.

“But I want to thank everybody, man, for fighting hard — and the fans, man, we went out there. We went to Cleveland. We went to Atlanta. We went to San Antonio. I mean, by the thousands. There was so many New York fans all over,” Fat Joe said. “I like to think we willed them some way or another. We willed them. Like, whenever they had doubts, or whenever it was down, we was like, yeah, let’s go.

“These scenes in New York City will never get replaced.” 

Fat Joe was a prominent member of Madison Square Garden’s celebrity row. The rapper traveled to most of the away games as well. 

He ran into trouble in Cleveland when the Cavaliers revoked his courtside tickets for Games 3 and 4. Fat Joe was told that “New York Knick fans can’t sit courtside.”

Luckily for Fat Joe, he saw his team clinch the title in San Antonio without any issues.

The city will celebrate once more on Thursday as the Knicks’ parade will start at Battery Park and end at City Hall. 

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Golden State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The 2026 NBA Draft is just around the corner, and the Golden State Warriors are back in the lottery, holding the No. 11 pick. It’s a position where elite talent is occasionally available … two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a fairly recent No. 11 pick, as was Warriors franchise legend Klay Thompson.

While the Dubs are actively scouting potential players — many signs point to Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg — there’s also the possibility of trading the pick. We all know that the Warriors will be star-hunting this offseason, even if the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors have calmed down significantly.

So we want to know your opinion: should the Warriors trade the pick and add some young — but unproven — talent? Or should they trade it in pursuit of a more win-now player? Let us know!

According to Tim MacMahon on Utah ESPN 700 Radio, Walker Kessler has received an offer from the Utah Jazz for a 5-year, $ 140 M deal, but apparently it wasn’t enough.

MacMahon was asked if he thinks that Kessler wants to play in Utah, and he responded: “… for more than 5 years, $140M.” It also sounds like there are some real frustrations with how the Jazz have gone about his contract situation. Apparently, the Jazz feel that they can have any hurt feelings improve over time once the contract is signed.

To be honest, it’s a pretty surprising attitude from Kessler, who has shown a lot of potential but not necessarily some concrete production. Utah is right to hold strong in this situation because the worst thing they can do is start handing out max deals to every player on the team. They already have big contracts with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., they have Keyonte George coming up, and then who knows what happens with Ace Bailey eventually.

We know from Sam Amick that there are teams interested in Kessler, like the Lakers, the Hawks, and others, so it’s not like the Jazz don’t have options. If Kessler is trying to force his way out, he may get just that, but don’t be surprised if he ends up in places he didn’t expect, like Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an open lottery for ecstatic New York Knicks fans to get free tickets to a Championship Ceremony at City Hall after a celebratory ticker-tape parade.

“The Knicks belong to New York City. And this championship belongs to the people who waited 53 years for it,” Mamdani wrote on X.

“That’s why we’re giving away 600 free tickets to Thursday’s Championship Ceremony at City Hall following the ticker-tape parade.”

The sweepstakes opened on Tuesday evening and will close on Wednesday at 11 a.m., the Hizzoner said. New Yorkers will know if they were randomly selected for two tickets to the ceremony on Wednesday.

The Knicks’ Championship Ceremony will take place live on the City Hall Plaza in Lower Manhattan and feature unspecified “speeches and musical performances.” Knicks players will also be awarded keys to the city.

The ceremony will kick off at noon on Thursday, two hours after a ticker-tape parade for the Big Apple to revel in the hometown team’s historic NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

The parade will begin around Battery Park and travel about a mile north on Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes before reaching City Hall.

Revelers can line up across Broadway for the best view of the parade.

More information about security measures, specific street closures, and possible performances is expected later in the week before Thursday’s festivities.

The celebrations were scheduled after the NBA champs sent thousands into the streets across New York City on Saturday night, with everyone from MTA bus drivers to firefighters joining the frenzy.

The historic moment marked the first NBA title for the Knicks since 1973, following near misses in 1994 and 1999.

Despite the identity of the Lakers undergoing a massive recent change, one of the players most consistentlylinked to the teamin the trade markethas been Walker Kessler.

The Jazz big man was once seen as the perfect complement to Anthony Davis and can now be viewed as the lob-catching, defensive anchor in the paint for the Luka Dončić version of the team.

The assumption, however, was that, with Kessler being a restricted free agent this summer, it would take a big offer sheet to lure him away from Utah. However, that may no longer be the case.

In a surprising bit of reporting on Monday night, Sam Amick of The Athletic revealed that Kessler and the Jazz front office are not seeing eye-to-eye and the big man might be making plans for his next team.

Kessler, the 24-year-old who was taken 22nd overall out of Auburn by the Memphis Grizzlies before his rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and eventually the Jazz in 2022, was already known to be frustrated by Utah’s choice not to offer him an extension last summer. And now, with the Jazz choosing to leverage the realities of restricted free agency against him as a way to minimize his market, sources say he is strongly considering the prospect of a basketball future outside Utah.

It wouldn’t take much to already link the Lakers to Kessler, given their history. On top of that, though, J. Kyle Mann of The Ringer appeared on Zach Lowe’s podcast on Tuesday and connected the two parties yet again.

“I think you could see some teams across the league who are in need of maybe an asset that be ‘distressed’ that they maybe think could perform what they might end up having to pay for him. I’ve heard teams like the Lakers kicking [his name] around.”

When Kessler is healthy, he’s been one of the league’s best young rebounders and defenders. He would be a natural fit with the Lakers in their search for a big man of the future.

However, injuries have been a problem for him in his young career. Last season, he appeared in just five contests before undergoing surgery on his torn labrum. In the 2024-25 season, he played in just 58 games. However, the Jazz have been one of the most egregious tankers in the league in the last few seasons and a lot of those missed games came in the second half of the season, so that could be the reason for him missing games.

As it stands, the Jazz front court is already crowded with Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. That comes before the potential addition of AJ Dybantsa or Cam Boozer at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft, too.

It’s hard to know what a deal for Kessler would require, particularly if he wants to leave. The Jazz still hold the cards in this situation, but it would be in their best interest to try to acquire an asset in a trade, especially given how many forwards and centers they already have on the roster.

With the draft quickly approaching, it could be something to monitor.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

In their first power rankings since the New York Knicks won the NBA Finals, ESPN is projecting the Suns to potentially take a step back in the 2026-27 season after a surprising year the season before.

Ranked 15th in their previous rankings, ESPN has the team 21st, with the Milwaukee Bucks being the only other team to experience a six-spot drop from where they sat the previous year, as Milwaukee deals with a future potentially without Giannis Antetokounmpo. The network ranks the Suns 10th in the conference.

Finishing 45-37 on the year, the Suns disappointed in postseason play. After sitting in the seventh spot for most of the regular season, they lost in the 7/8 play-in game to the Portland Trail Blazers and fell to the eighth seed, where they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With the new tanking protocols going into effect, many teams are making moves to level up for the 2026-27 campaign, including the Utah Jazz, while teams like the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks are looking to get key players back and benefit from another year of development for their young players. As a result, the Western Conference projects to be tougher next season than it was this year, which doesn’t bode well for a Phoenix team that ended the year 7-15 in its final 22 games, including postseason contests.

With key contributors Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie, and Mark Williams set to become free agents (Williams is a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns can match any offer he receives from other teams), Phoenix has a lot of decisions to make this offseason regarding whether it wants to run back the same roster it had this past season or make some changes. Additionally, Dillon Brooks is eligible for an extension after having a career year in his first season with the Suns.

On the bright side, rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming now have a year under their belts in the NBA, and Jalen Green projects to be healthier than he was this past season after missing more than half the year with a hamstring injury.

With the draft next week and free agency to follow, the Suns’ (and their opponents’) rosters could look very different from what they did a season ago, and any rankings for next season at this time should be taken lightly.

Paul Pierce cut a plea deal with Los Angeles prosecutors on Tuesday to close out his DUI case, court records obtained by The California Post show.

Pierce pleaded nolo contendere to one misdemeanor count of wet reckless driving upon a highway, per the records, and was sentenced to 12 months of probation.

The Boston Celtics legend was also ordered to pay a $375 fine and complete multiple courses, including a MADD Victim Impact Program, according to the records.

Prior to striking the agreement with officials, Pierce had been facing one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of driving with .08% blood alcohol content after authorities alleged they found him asleep and intoxicated at the wheel of an SUV on a busy Los Angeles highway on Oct. 7, 2025.

Both charges were dismissed following Pierce’s plea, the records show.

Pierce — an Inglewood native — was accused by the California Highway Patrol of passing out in his ride after officers closed down a portion of the 101 freeway to attend to a multi-car crash.

When lanes reopened, law enforcement officers alleged they found Pierce knocked out in the driver’s seat and “noted signs of alcohol impairment” during an ensuing investigation.

Pierce, 48, was ultimately arrested, though in a statement he posted on Threads days after the incident, he said he merely fell asleep while waiting for traffic to clear.

“Imagine being stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins and falling asleep I took this picture that night because I never been in stand still traffic for this long,” Pierce posted Thursday to Threads. “I’m old, I’m tired, and I fell asleep I’m good y’all thanks for the love.”

Messages seeking comment from Pierce’s attorney as well as the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office on Tuesday afternoon were not immediately returned.

OG Anunoby wanted to go live.

He just did not want to lose a new phone in the process.

The Knicks forward explained Monday night during an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” what happened during his viral Instagram Live from the locker room celebration after the franchise won the NBA championship on Saturday night.

Anunoby briefly went live as the Knicks celebrated their 94-90 Game 5 win over the Spurs, which secured the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.

OG Anunoby on trying to turn off his champagne-soaked Instagram live from the Knicks locker room:

“I just got a new phone and I didn’t want it to get wet.” #AlwaysKnicks
pic.twitter.com/ADMaEjCazn

— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) June 16, 2026

Champagne was being sprayed around the locker room, with Karl-Anthony Towns appearing in goggles and declaring, “We live, baby, we live.”

That was when Anunoby realized he had a problem.

“I meant to go on Live, like going on Live was my goal,” Anunoby told Fallon.

OG accidentally broadcasts live from the locker room! pic.twitter.com/66lPIMFoPO

— emma (@_emmajbrown) June 14, 2026

“But then they were spraying the champagne, and I just got that phone. I didn’t want the phone to get messed up, so I was like, let’s turn this off, and I didn’t know how to do it.”

During the original stream, Anunoby could be heard repeatedly asking how to end the video before the clip cut out after roughly 25 seconds.

The explanation got a laugh from Fallon and his Knicks teammates, who were on the show as part of the team’s post-title media tour.

Anunoby said someone eventually took the phone and helped him turn off the stream.

The moment quickly became one of the funnier scenes from the Knicks’ championship celebration, partly because of how calmly Anunoby appeared to panic while the rest of the locker room was in full party mode.

It also fit the forward’s low-key reputation.

Anunoby has become a fan favorite in New York not only for his defense and clutch postseason moments, but also for his dry personality and understated postgame interviews.

His defining moment in Game 4, when he tipped in the winning shot at Madison Square Garden to give the Knicks a commanding 3-1 series lead.

But amid all the champagne and chaos after Game 5, Anunoby had a more immediate concern.

He had meant to bring fans inside the celebration.

Anunoby just had no idea how to get out of it before his new phone got soaked.