Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, passes the ball over Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers will be without their starting backcourt for the rest of the regular season — five more games — after Austin Reaves was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain on Saturday.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Reaves underwent an MRI exam on his left olbique/rib area.
The team learned earlier this week that Luka Doncic has a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will be out for the remainder of the regular season — and perhaps beyond. Grade 2 strains often take four to six weeks to heal.
The Lakers are also dealing with an injury to guard Marcus Smart, who has missed the last six games because of a right ankle contusion and will be sidelined for the game Sunday at Dallas.
“It's it's lingering soreness in the ankle,” Redick said.
Even with all of this, Redick said the Lakers’ “mission hasn’t changed.”
“We want to get the third seed and we want to win a first-round series,” Redick said.
The Lakers are the third in the Western Conference, but Denver, Houston and Minnesota are within striking distance. The Lakers hold the tiebreaker over all three.
They'll try to hold on to the No. 3 seed over the final five games of the regular season without Doncic, who leads the NBA in scoring (33.5 points per game) and is fourth in assists (8.3), and Reaves, who is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
Each player was injured in the first half of a blowout loss on Thursday to Oklahoma City but returned to play in the second half.
“I know Luka's gonna do everything he can to get back on the court,” Redick said. “We don't know what this recovery timetable looks like."
The Lakers likely will have to lean more on LeBron James, a role the 41-year-old is more than willing to take on. James has been designated the third option behind Doncic and Reaves yet has still averaged 20.6 points per game, 6.9 assists and 6.0 rebounds in his 23rd season.
“It probably is going to look a little bit differently with Luka being out,” James said after practice. “I'll figure that out and then, obviously, the coaches will figure it out as well.”
The Lakers are making the mental adjustment of playing without Doncic. After the Mavericks, they'll have tough games against Oklahoma City, Golden State and Phoenix before finishing against lowly Utah on April 12.
“I mean, it’s a challenge for us,” James said. “It’s always got to be a next-man-up [mentality]. But there’s no way you can replace that type of impact. So, it's going to be a collective group. We all have to figure out a way to do a little bit more. But even now, you got to be even more tightened up on the things that we do. When you lose a special player like that, you can't have as many mistakes. So, we got to figure that out.”
For Redick, speaking for the first time since news of Doncic’s injury, he had to check on the temperature of his team to make sure his group was in the right space.
The practice Saturday on the campus of Southern Methodist helped.
“I think making sure that everybody's in the right frame of mind, first of all, and then you know we worked on just offensive stuff, just cleaning up some stuff and being really explicit with what we want to run,” Redick said. “Did some offensive breakdown. It was definitely more of an offensive day.
"We did work on defense to start the practice, but that's again that's the primary sort of focus. How do we score, how do we score efficiently, and our defense again is, it's we're interchangeable. We've been interchangeable now for two-and-a half-months.”
James controversy
James created a bit of controversy when he said on “Bob Does Sports” YouTube video that Memphis should relocate to Nashville.
“I’m not like the first guy to even talk about it in the NBA. We all like, ‘You guys have to move. Just go over to Nashville," James said.
James, when asked if he wanted to clarify his remarks, then mentioned Milwaukee also as one of his least favorite cities.
“I said Milwaukee as well,” James said. “I’m 41 years old (and) there's two cities I do not like playing in right now — and that's Milwaukee and that's Memphis. What is your problem with it? I don't like going home [to Cleveland,] either. … And I'm from there. People are ridiculous. They also get mad at my son [Bronny James] being on the [Lakers] team, too.
"So, what are we talking about? People need to figure out other ways to put their energy to other things that's important. Like, seriously? I'm not talking about the city, like the people in Memphis. I don't like staying at the Hyatt Centric [hotel]. What's wrong with that? Nothing. What are we talking about? What are we talking about? People need to chill the hell out.”
DALLAS — Lakers star guard Austin Reaves will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season because of an oblique injury, the team said on Saturday.
Reaves was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury after having an MRI over the weekend.
He suffered the injury during Thursday’s blowout loss to the Thunder after he “overextended a little bit” for a rebound in the first quarter, Reaves said postgame.
Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves stayed in the game despite the discomfort, going back to the locker room after subbing out before returning in the second quarter.
He subbed out for the remainder of the game in the third, with the Lakers down by 38 at the time.
Reaves is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks, joining fellow star guard Luka Doncic as Lakers who are out for the rest of the regular season after Doncic suffered a regular-season-ending Grade 2 left hamstring strain against the Thunder.
"The second [MRI] was today. Again, I don't know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but uh they scanned the wrong area. Not on our end. We made it explicit what was supposed to be scanned but they scanned the wrong area." JJ Redick on Austin Reaves' MRI https://t.co/JweK8oI1aZpic.twitter.com/SPcM0hvb0v
With Doncic (33.5 points) and Reaves (23.3) sidelined, the Lakers will be without their top-two scorers for the remainder of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.
Doncic’s injury is expected to sideline him for a few weeks.
“From a strategic tactical standpoint, we obviously are gonna have to play a little bit differently,” coach JJ Redick said after Saturday’s practice before Reaves’ injury was revealed. “There’s enough that we have in that we can play through LeBron [James], play through Luke [Kennard], play through Rui [Hachimura], play through [Deandre Ayton].”
The Lakers entered Sunday with a 50-27 record for third place in the Western Conference standings, a ½ game ahead of the fourth-place Nuggets (50-28), two games ahead of the fifth-place Rockets (48-29) and four games ahead of the sixth-place Timberwolves (46-31).
“Our mission hasn’t changed,” Redick said. “We want to go get the 3-seed and we want to win a first round series.”
In addition to his career-high scoring average, Reaves will finish the season with averages of 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in a career-low 51 games after missing significant time in December and January because of a calf strain.
He has a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 that he’s expected to decline, making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
LeBron James, who’s 41 and in his 23rd NBA season, is the Lakers’ lone star player available for the stretch run of the season.
“You got to flip the mindset a little bit,” James said. “When your role changes, whatever the case may be, or what’s needed out of the team. So the mindset changes a little bit for sure.”
Marcus Smart will also remain sidelined because of a right ankle contusion. He’ll miss his seventh consecutive game because of the injury when the Lakers play the Mavericks on Sunday.
“The ball handling role, we’ll obviously have to ask guys to do more,” Redick said. “Kobe [Bufkin], Nick [Smith Jr.], Dalton [Knecht], those guys will be with us at some point for [on Sunday]. We’ll probably have to play a 10- and 11-man rotation, all hands on deck.”
There was a delay getting the results from Reaves’ MRI.
Saturday was Reaves’ second time getting imaging for his injury in Dallas after the first one didn’t scan the right area.
“Again, I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area,” coach JJ Redick said. “Not on our end. We made it explicit what was supposed to be scanned but they scanned the wrong area.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 03: Ron Harper Jr. #13 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against Andre Jackson Jr. #44 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2026 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Ron Harper Jr. has long awaited this moment. After four two-way contracts, the 25-year-old has finally signed a two-year NBA contract, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Harper Jr. has appeared in 26 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. Of late, he’s had several standout performances for the Celtics; last month, he exploded for 22 points on 8-11 shooting against the San Antonio Spurs. Last week, he had a great first-quarter stint against the Charlotte Hornets — scoring 7 quick points — before he went down with an ankle sprain.
The Boston Celtics are signing two-way wing Ron Harper Jr. to a new two-year deal, agent Drew Gross of WME Basketball tells ESPN. Harper has played a key Celtics rotation role at times this season while spending time starring for their Maine G League affiliate. pic.twitter.com/3g44oay1Ql
Harper Jr. had a standout season with the Maine Celtics before primarily joining the parent club in January. He averaged 24.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while shooting 37.7% from three in the G-League.
And while he hasn’t shot particularly well in very limited minutes in Boston, his shooting has nonetheless impressed his teammates.
“Ron’s one of the best shooters on our team,” Jaylen Brown proclaimed a few weeks ago. Harper Jr. proceeded to shoot 60% from three in March.
While this is his first year actually under contract with the Celtics, Harper Jr. is very familiar with the organization; he spent the 2024 and 2025 NBA training camps with Boston and was also on the Celtics’ Summer League team in 2024.
“I feel like I know the system; the coverages are like the back of my hand,” Harper Jr. said in February. “That was a big part of the process and the decision to be coming back in the summer — I just knew the team, I knew the coaches, I knew the system.”
After his first NBA start, a Celtics win over the Houston Rockets on February 4th, Harper Jr. said he felt he made the right decision to rejoin the Celtics organization.
“I felt like I could excel,” Harper Jr. said then. “I feel like it’s working out pretty good so far.”
Now, he’s officially achieved something he’s long desired: an NBA contract.
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) passes around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The haymakers are coming left and right for the Lakers right now.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Reaves is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with the injury. That safely rules him out for the first round and likely rules him out for part or most of a second round series, which feels basically impossible to even reach now.
Lakers' Austin Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks with the Grade 2 oblique injury, sources tell ESPN. Devastating run of injuries to L.A.'s two leading scorers. Reaves and Luka Doncic are expected to be sidelined to begin the NBA playoffs. https://t.co/E2495zVWqH
Truly, it’s hard to imagine a worse 24 hours for the Lakers. In that span, both Luka and Austin have all but been ruled for the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers are going to limp into the postseason like it’s 2012 all over again.
After practice on Saturday in Dallas, head coach JJ Redick revealed that Reaves had imaging done on his oblique. In fact, he had an MRI twice for the most hilarious reason possible.
“The second one was today,” Redick said. “I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area. Not on our end. We made it explicit where it was supposed to be scanned but they scanned the wrong area.”
Somehow, this is very fitting for how the Lakers’ season has gone.
It’s hard to really have much of a takeaway from this other than it being a brutal way for this season to unofficially end. There will be another week of regular season games and a first round series but it’s all going to feel ceremonial at this point.
We’ll always have the March Lakers. They can’t take that away from us at least.
Michigan coach Dusty May revived the Wolverines in just two seasons, leading the program to the Final Four in 2026 after taking over a team that went 26-40 in the two years prior to his arrival.
May has only been a head coach for eight seasons but already has two Final Four appearances at two schools – Michigan and Florida Atlantic. A national championship is in Michigan's sights this season.
His services are also – obviously – sought after. He has been tied to the North Carolina opening after the school fired Hubert Davis, and he'll likely always be thought of as a dream candidate at Indiana, where he cut his teeth as a student manager before graduating from his hometown school.
Michigan won't let him walk easy, like any other top-tier program in college basketball.
Here's a look at May's current contract at Michigan, which could increase even more if the Wolverines add another raise after is Final Four run:
Dusty May contract
May signed a new contract with Michigan in February 2025, just under a year after he became the Wolverines' next coach. His current deal is through 2030, and offers him an increase of $250,000 each season, according to his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
His base salary this season was $4.6 million and will increase to $4.85 million next season if his current deal doesn't change, which seems unlikely due to the Wolverines' dominance and other schools' interest in May. His yearly salary would peak at $5.6 million in Year 5 of the deal under the current agreement.
He also earns $150,000 on April 30, 2026, as part of his retention bonus. His retention bonus is set at $450,000 for 2027 and 2028, before going back to $150,000 for 2029 and 2030.
Dusty May bonuses
May has already made $250,000 in bonuses this season for leading Michigan to an outright Big Ten championship and at least a Final Four appearance, according to his contract. He's currently earning $200,000 for a Final Four spot, but that bonus can rise to $300,000 for a national championship berth and $400,000 if Michigan wins the title.
Dusty May buyout
May's buyout is currently set at $7 million, if he were to leave Michigan before April 30, 2026. The number decreases each year, and is set at $5 million until April 30, 2027, $3 million until April 30, 2028, $2 million on April 30, 2029, and $1 million on April 30, 2030.
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Nothing is going to loom over the Lakers’ offseason more than LeBron James.
Will he retire? Will he want to remain with the Lakers? At what price? Under what expectations for a role?
For chunks of the season, it’s felt like the swan song for LeBron in Los Angeles. All of the mesaging from the Lakers was about moving into the Luka era and LeBron’s presence felt like a hindrance to that.
Then in March, things changed. LeBron’s role on the court shifted into one he’s never had before as he was a willing third fiddle, eager to capitalize on fastbreak opportunities and work off the ball offensively.
That shift seemed to open the door for a future with LeBron in LA. While President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka has said that the team wants LeBron to retire with the Lakers, that always felt more like saying the right thing in public. When the rubber meets the road, will they hold the same belief?
Those answers won’t come for a number of more months, but some insight indicates that the Lakers could be leading the pack for LeBron’s 2026-27 season. In a recent appearance on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, Dave McMenamin of ESPN shared his thoughts on LeBron’s future.
It’s a very lengthy quote with the most important parts bolded.
“If you asked me in October or December, I’d probably have put retirement as the No. 1 option here. As of today covering LeBron with the Lakers winning 15 out of 17 games and accepting this role that I didn’t know if I’d ever see him actually accept being willingly this much off the ball, why wouldn’t he stay with the Lakers. It gives him all the off-court things that he values — his business empire, his family, his son’s on the team, his other son is a short flight away in Arizona…and they’re winning.
So, I think the only part of the equation that would be less desirable than other situations would be the money because the Lakers do intend to build this time around Luka Dončić and use their cap space to get younger and get two-way type players and talent. Quite frankly, they don’t have a ton of cap space after they re-sign Austin Reaves and Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard and maybe Rui Hachimura. It’s not like they have all this money…If he wants to come back, you’re not talking about a lot of money. That’s the sacrifice he would make. But everything else checks the box. So, the Lakers, I think, are the No. 1 by a wide degree at this point.”
While I’d push back against the “not like they have all this money” part because, well, the Lakers are going to have a lot of money, it doesn’t change that they want to spend that money elsewhere and not on a returning LeBron.
This isn’t the first time this debate has been had this season and even with free agency approaching, it won’t be the last time either. Things clearly change throughout the season and maybe there is one more swing before free agency opens in July.
But McMenamin is right. The Lakers give him everything he wants off the court. If they can also add winning on the court to the table, it’s a compelling case. Is it a strong enough case for him to take less money to return? That might be out of his control as it’s hard to imagine him getting a ton of money from any franchise he wants to go to.
But as things play out, it certainly seems like the Lakers are the frontrunners.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half of the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
I’ll confess up front that I have no life. Which is why I spent a large part of my weekend running simulations of the 2026 NBA draft using the Fanspo site. I won’t bore you with the mathy details (yet), but I ran the draft using 9 default setting combinations (auto pick behavior standard, team needs, and chaos vs. the ESPN, Fanspo, and No Ceilings draft boards) 6 times each for a total of 54 runs.
I learned a lot of things (which will be covered in my next article), but one of the more important things I learned was that there were three players that fell to 47 that I had not expected, but that the Suns might want to consider. Thus, I’m providing 3 more scouting reports of players that might be available when the Suns pick at 47. Keep in mind, these are all long shots, but they are players that should at least be on the radar in case they do fall.
Aday Mara (Michigan, Junior, C)
Aday Mara (7’3″, ~255 pounds) is a highly skilled 2026 NBA Draft prospect and Michigan transfer known for elite passing instincts, soft touch around the rim, and significant size. While an exceptional interior scorer and rim protector, his NBA projection relies on improving lateral mobility, perimeter defense, and added physical strength.
Elite Passing & IQ: Possesses rare vision for a center, acting as a high-post playmaker with advanced reads, including flashy behind-the-back passes.
Interior Scoring: Efficient scorer with soft touch, shooting high percentages on layups and dunks, particularly as a pick-and-roll or short-roll threat.
Rim Protection: Uses his 7’3″ frame to block shots and alter attempts in the paint, showing good verticality.
Weaknesses
Shooting: Needs to develop his jump shot to expand his floor spacing, as his free-throw shooting is low.
Physicality & Mobility: Concerns exist regarding his ability to defend in space and switch onto smaller players, which could make him a drop-coverage specialist in the NBA.
Draft Range
Late first to early second round (20-40) with several mocks putting him in the 26-27 range
Why the Suns Should Take a Look
The NBA meta has taken a shift back to having room for giant centers: Zach Edey has been great in Memphis. During last year’s draft, several big men dropped into the second round (Maxime Renaud, Ryan Kalkenbrenner) and have had great rookie seasons. Mara has a 7’6.5” wingspan and grades out as a better defender than Reynaud, if a worse shooter. He averages 4.6 blocks per 36 minutes. He has a more advanced feel for the game than Maluach, and might be a good pick-up if Mark Williams’ contract demands prove exorbitant. He could also provide insurance if Maluach fails to develop.
All in all, he’s a late first round talent; you can’t teach height, and there are several scenarios that fell out where he was the best player available when the Suns drafted in the simulation. I would rank him 5th on the Suns board from my previous article, between Henri Veesaar and Rueben Chinyelu.
NBA Comparison
Maxime Reynaud, but with less jumpshot and more shot blocking.
Flory Bidunga (Kansas, Sophomore, PF/C)
Flory Bidunga is an elite, high-motor 6’10” 235 lbs. sophomore center at Kansas (2025-26) and a projected 2026 NBA Draft prospect known for explosive athleticism, premier rim protection, and efficient finishing. Named the 2025-26 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, he dominates as a lob threat and rebounder, though he is considered slightly undersized for a center and is developing his offensive game beyond the paint.
Elite Athlete & Motor: Possesses tremendous energy, speed, and agility, allowing him to play above the rim consistently.
Rim Protection: A premier shot-blocker (98th percentile block rate) with great verticality, timing, and recovery speed.
Efficient Scorer: Highly reliable in the dunker spot and as a roll man (96th percentile), featuring a soft touch and strong lefty hook.
Rebounding: High-level rebounder on both ends of the floor.
Weaknesses
Size/Position: At 6’9″ to 6’10”, he is considered a bit undersized for a traditional NBA center, leading to challenges against stronger, taller opponents.
Offensive Range: Primarily a paint scorer with limited shooting range; needs to develop a consistent jumper to floor-space, according to SI.com and Reddit users.
Defensive Discipline: Can occasionally get lost on defense or over-pursue block attempts, resulting in foul trouble
Draft Range
Early to mid-second round (35-45)
Why the Suns Should Take a Look
Bidunga has the mobility to play PF or C, making him an interesting option if the Suns want to play two bigs at a time. As noted elsewhere, re-signing Mark Williams isn’t a given, and the Suns’ depth at PF is awful. Bidunga has a 7’2” reach and an excellent vertical leap. He would add athleticism and a lob threat, while being young enough for potential growth. I like his intangibles of being high motor and high effort, which fit well with Ott’s vision for the team. My main concerns with him are his limited shooting and limited offensive game, including assists. I would put him between Alex Condon and Baba Miller on my draft board.
NBA Comparisons
Mark West (Look him up, you whippersnappers), Jarrett Allen, Clint Capela.
Ebuka Okorie (Stanford, Freshman, PG)
Ebuka Okorie is a 6’2″, 185-pound freshman guard for the Stanford Cardinal who has rapidly emerged as a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. Originally an under-the-radar recruit ranked outside the top 100, he became one of the most productive freshmen in college basketball during the 2025-26 season, earning All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Rookie honors.
Elite Rim Pressure: Okorie is widely considered the best pure driver in his class. He led the country in drives, converting 71.4% of his half-court rim attempts.
Shot Creation & Ball Handling: A “jitterbug” with the ball, he uses a shifty handle and change of pace to create his own shot and get downhill.
Efficiency Under Pressure: Despite a high usage rate (30.7%), he maintains a low turnover rate, averaging only 1.7 turnovers per game.
Foul Drawing: He is highly effective at getting to the line, leading the ACC in free throws made and shooting 83.4% from the stripe.
Weaknesses
Physical Limitations: Scouts hold concerns regarding his lack of elite size and “above-the-rim” athleticism for the NBA level.
Shooting Consistency: While a capable three-point shooter, his long-range consistency is a “work in progress,” currently hitting 36.0% from deep.
Defensive Versatility: Due to his size, he can be overpowered by larger guards and lacks the versatility to switch onto multiple positions.
Draft Range
Late 1st to early 2nd Round (roughly 28th-31st).
Why the Suns Should Take a Look
Okorie fell to the Suns in one of the runs. He’s unlikely to be there when the Suns pick, just based on his raw potential, but could fall if his measurements at the combine say he’s as short as he looks in video. The good is that he is just about the craftiest scorer I’ve seen: his toolset on drives is otherworldly for a 19-year-old. Stop and pop, floaters, Eurostep, slithery-reverse layups, speed changes, shifting to his left hand, all the skills are there. His three-point shot improved dramatically as the season went by, and I think it will continue to improve at the NBA level. He also displays amazing handles and good court vision while limiting turnovers.
The downside: he’s small, slight, and his defense is abysmal. He is going to struggle mightily at the NBA level. I’m uncomfortably reminded of Damian Lillard at both ends of the court, both the good and the bad. But, if the Suns want a backup point guard behind Gillespie who will run an offense, score, push the pace, and not let the opposing team rest with Green out of the game, Okorie fits the mold.
NBA Comparisons
Damian Lillard, Brevin Knight
Final Verdict
While it’s unlikely that these three players will be on the board when the Suns draft, the simulations show it as possible once in a great while. With these three players added into the mix, here is my draft board for the Suns heading into the 2026 Draft with the 47th Pick:
Joshua Jefferson: Very unlikely to be available, but Julius Randle-level upside
JT Toppin: A borderline lottery pick if not for injury
Zuby Ejiofor: One of the best players two years running at the college level. Elite intangibles
Henri Veesaar: Sweet shooting PF/C to stretch the floor. Could form a rotation with Fleming.
Aday Mara: Best shot blocker in the NCAA this past year per 36
Rueben Chinyelu: Rebounding machine with a clear NBA role and good fit
Milan Momcilovic: 6’8” 50% three-point shooters will always have a spot in the league
Ebuka Okorie: Potential Jamal Crawford sixth-man of the year type-player
Bruce Thornton: Smart, efficient point guard with a bad rap for being one inch too short. Could easily be a steal of the second round like Gillespie
Alex Karaban: He shoots threes, meh rebounder, and can play a little 4. Nothing special
Alex Condon: We already have Oso Ighodaro at home, dear.
Flory Bidunga: projects as a solid, high-energy back-up C. Limited offensive upside.
Baba Miller: Kirkland-brand Oso Ighodaro
Pryce Sandfort: Not sure what he provides that Koby Brea doesn’t
Juke Harris: Low efficiency chucker who doesn’t play defense either. No future in the league. See also: Cam Thomas, Ricky Davis
Next Up
Taking these ratings and showing what they yield in the draft simulator to figure out who the Suns are most likely to get, given this draft big board. Stay tuned…
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 25: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz looks on during the first half of a game against the Washington Wizards at Delta Center on March 25, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In our most recent Utah Jazz Reacts survey, we got some interesting answers from Utah Jazz fans. Utah is nearing the end of another season where draft position was the goal. With that in mind, most of Jazz Nation is looking forward to next season and how good the team will be. One of the biggest questions these last four years under Will Hardy is, “Can Will Hardy turn them into a top-10 defense in the NBA?” Even though the team has been purposely designed to lose games, they’ve been one of the worst defenses in the league, if not dead last, each season. With an upgraded roster, that’s going to be one of the most interesting storylines next season. But how do Jazz fans feel?
From this survey, it looks like Jazz fans have a lot of faith in Will Hardy going forward. AlthoughThere may be some noise in that data. For example, maybe the roster doesn’t have enough players who are able to defend at a high enough level. We’ll see. All that said, it is interesting that Hardy has the seal of approval for the defense from the fans.
The next question I had was: who has the best chance of making the All-Star Game next season? According to Jazz fans, it looks like that is Lauri Markkanen.
That may be very likely, although I also think Keyonte George would be my own pick. The ball will be in George’s hands a lot and will be the player making everything happen. That might give him an advantage, but we’ll see.
To look at the odds for these and the upcoming playoffs, you can visit FanDuel here.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has officially announced its Class of 2026 inductees, representing some of the most impactful individuals who have played a part in the growth and advancement of basketball.
The Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2026 is headlined by Joey Crawford, Mark Few, Doc Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire, the 1996 U.S. Women's national team, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker and Mike D'Antoni.
“The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to welcome the Class of 2026, a group that reflects the very best this sport has to offer,” President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame John Doleva said in a news release. "From a referee who set the standard over four decades, to coaches who built dynasties at every level, to players who redefined their positions, to a visionary who changed how the game is played — and a women’s class headlined by a national team that helped launch an entire league, alongside three of the most accomplished players the women’s game has ever seen — we are honored to welcome them to Springfield."
These individuals were recognized for their contributions to the game of basketball, whether they revolutionized the sport, pushed it forward, or have been an adversary to the betterment of the overall product of the game.
Here are the list of the newly inducted Class of 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame members, their accolades and how they've impacted the game.
These individuals were selected by the North American committee to the 2026 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Joey Crawford
Joey Crawford was an NBA referee for 39 seasons spanning from 1977 to 2016. He is one of the NBA's longest-tenured and most accomplished officials in league history. Crawford has officiated 2,561 regular-season games in his career, which is second most to fellow Hall of Fame NBA referee Dick Bavetta. Crawford has also officiated an NBA record 374 playoff games and 50 NBA Finals games. He's worked every Finals series from 1986 to 2015.
His refereeing career first began with high school basketball in 1970. Crawford earned professional experience in the Eastern Basketball Association. He made his NBA debut as a 26-year-old.
Mark Few
Mark Few is one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history. He got his collegiate head coaching start at Gonzaga in 1999 and hasn't looked back. Few has led the Bulldogs to long-term national prominence with 773 coaching wins, 26 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and two NCAA championship game appearances in 2017 and 2021. Few was named Naismith Coach of the Year in the seasons where he coached his team to a NCAA title game.
Few is the winningest active coach, by winning percentage. He has recorded at least 20 wins in every season as Gonzaga’s head coach. He's won numerous West Coast Conference titles and was an assistant coach for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team that took home the gold medal against France.
Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers, who is currently head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, was named to basketball's highest honors for his contribution to the league for 27 seasons. Rivers collected more 1,180 wins in his career that spans nearly three-decades.
Rivers has coached the Orlando Magic (1999-2003), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23), and Bucks (2023-present). Rivers was named NBA Coach of the Year with Orlando. He is revered for coaching the Celtics to their 2008 championship, at the time was the first for the franchise since 1986. He also coached them to a finals appearance in 2010.
Rivers moved into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list, passing George Karl, in a 123-113 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on December 29, 2025. He is the winningest active coach and has 114 playoff victories, which ranks fourth all-time.
Although he is being inducted as a coach, Rivers was a former All-Star point guard who played 13 NBA seasons.
Amar'e Stoudemire
Stoudemire was the ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft directly out of high school. He played 14 seasons in NBA and was a six-time NBA All-Star and 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year. In his career, Stoudemire averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.
His best years came with the Phoenix Suns where he tallied 21.4 points and 8.3 rebounds on a nightly basis during his first eight seasons from 2002 to 2010. He earned five All-NBA selections and was a key figure in Phoenix’s “Seven Seconds or Less” era coached by Mike D'Antoni, who was also inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2026.
Women's committee Hall of Fame selections
These individuals were selected by the women's committee to the 2026 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The 1996 United States women's national team
Similar to how the 1992 U.S. men's national team changed international competition and expanded the NBA's popularity, the 1996 United States women's national team probably single-handedly showcased the women's talent and sparked conversations of a professional women's league, which became the WNBA later that year.
The U.S. women's team captured the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics Games in Atlanta, finishing with an undefeated 8-0 record and an average margin of victory of more than 30 points.
The roster included future Hall of Famers Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, Teresa Edwards, Rebecca Lobo, and Katrina McClain. Other members were Jennifer Azzi, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, Venus Lacy, Nikki McCray, Carla McGhee and Katy Steding. The team was coached by future hall of fame coach Tara VanDerveer.
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne played 11 seasons in the WNBA and became a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2015 and 2019. She was drafted second overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft, selected by the Chicago Sky. Delle Donne was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2013. She was traded to the Washington Mystics in 2017. Delle Donne led Washington to its first WNBA championship in 2019. She was named to the WNBA’s 25th Anniversary Team in 2021. Delle Donne was a seven-time All-Star and four-time All-WNBA First Team selection. She helped win an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. team at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Chamique Holdsclaw
Chamique Holdsclaw played 11 seasons in the WNBA suiting for the Washington Mystics (1999-2004), Los Angeles Sparks (2005-2007), Atlanta Dream (2009), and San Antonio Silver Stars (2010).
She was a six-time WNBA All-Star from 1999 to 2003 and in 2005. She was the first overall pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft after she led Tennessee to three consecutive NCAA national championships (1996-98), twice won Naismith College Player of the Year (1998, ‘99) and finished as the SEC’s all-time leading scorer.
Holdsclaw became the 1999 Rookie of the Year. She led the WNBA in scoring in 2002. She averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds across her career. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2000. She was inducted to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Candace Parker
Candace Parker is arguably one of the most accomplished players in women’s basketball history. Parker is a two-time league MVP (2008, 2013), three-time WNBA champion (2016, 2021, 2023) and 2016 Finals MVP.
Parker was drafted with the first pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft to the Los Angeles Sparks. At the time she became the second player ever to dunk in a game, second to Lisa Leslie, her former Sparks teammate. Parker became the only player in WNBA history to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She earned a league Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Parker is a seven-time WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA First Team selection.
She made her name at the college level, starring at Tennessee, where Parker helped to lead the program to two NCAA national championships in 2007 and 2008. Parker is a two-time Olympic gold medalist winning in 2008 and 2012.
Contributor's committee hall of fame selection
The following individual was selected by the contributor's committee to the 2026 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni has his prints all over the modern game of basketball. In the 2000s, 'experts' thought he was insane for idolizing offense, and less defense. D’Antoni influenced the game through his up-tempo, 'space-and-pace' philosophy that helped redefine offensive strategy, emphasizing ball movement, shooting and efficiency, and shaping the analytics-driven era of the sport. His Suns' offense was deemed 'seven seconds or less' meaning that players had the green light to shoot good, high volume shots within seven seconds of a 24-second shot clock.
His impact spans continents, having coached professionally in Italy for eight seasons before bringing his ideas to the NBA. Through his 16 NBA seasons, D'Antoni has racked nearly 1,200 career wins. He was named NBA Coach of the Year twice in 2005 and 2017, he served as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 2012 U.S. Olympic Team and was recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Contributors in EuroLeague history in 2008.
The Connecticut men's basketball coach is also often animated on the sidelines, whether it is his displeasure with something from his team or displeasure with a call from a referee (or referees) on the officiating crew.
Speaking of officials, the Huskies will see three officials in their Final Four game on Saturday vs. No. 3 Illinois who have worked previously worked their games earlier this season, including one who was on the whistle for three of their five losses.
As noted by CT Insider's David Borges, UConn is 1-3 on the season with official Ron Groover this season. The three losses came against Arizona on Nov. 19, at St. John's at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6 and then Feb. 18 vs. Creighton. The lone win came in a home game against Marquette on Jan. 4.
Hurley has spoken at length about his intensity on the sidelines with officials this week in Indianapolis after he appeared to have butted heads with referee Roger Ayers in the final seconds of UConn's Elite Eight win vs. Duke last Sunday in Washington, D.C. after Braylon Mullins knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer.
"I get much more of a bad reaction from people, I think, on social media than when I meet regular people," Hurley said Friday, April 3 at the Final Four. "Because anytime I meet regular people, they look at me and they start laughing or they start smiling. Or (say), 'You're the guy from the video. You look a little crazy, but I think you're a good egg.'"
It's worth noting that in eight overall trips to the NCAA Tournament across his coaching career, Hurley has not received a technical foul or an ejection — like he did in the final game of the regular season vs. Marquette after making contact with an official — from a game in the tournament. He was mindful of this in a media availability on Thursday, and based on his speculation history, he's likely thinking of it still.
"I think I'm an intense coach. It's not easy to work my games. But I've always gotten zero technical fouls in my NCAA Tournament coaching career. I just jinxed myself. Oh, my God, now I'm going to get bounced out of this thing. Oh, my God," Hurley said on Thursday, April 2.
Saturday's Final Four will be the third national semifinal that Hurley has led the Huskies to in the last four years, the first team in over a decade to do such a thing in the NCAA Tournament in a four-year span. UConn is 17-3 in six NCAA Tournament appearances under Hurley.
Official crew for UConn-Illinois Final Four semifinal
The NCAA announced on Saturday that the official crew for UConn-Illinois in the Final Four will comprise Ron Groover, Paul Szelc and Marques Pettigrew. The alternate referee is Greg Nixon.
UConn has won both games that Szelc and Pettigrew worked earlier this season: Szelc for the win over Illinois at Te Garden in November, and then Pettigrew for the win over Florida in the Jimmy V Classic at The Garden in December.
One team will head home with a national championship trophy when Michigan, Arizona, UConn and Illinois face off in the Final Four and national championship game this weekend.
Another team across the country won't be winning a national title, but will be going home with $300,000 in name, image and likeness cash.
The second annual College Basketball Crown, which Nebraska won during its inaugural tournament in 2025, is a five-day tournament in Las Vegas, where eight teams that didn't make the Men's NCAA Tournament compete for cash prizes.
Oklahoma, Baylor, Creighton and West Virginia already earned at least $50,000 each for reaching the semifinals of the tournament, which are being played Saturday, April 4. The championship game will be held Sunday, April 5.
The CBC is a similar postseason tournament to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), which usually features the top non-NCAA Tournament teams in a given season. NIL, though, is shaking up which consolation tournament teams choose to be a part of, especially with the CBC featuring all power conference teams.
Here's a look at the payout structure for the CBC in 2026, which features $500,000 in prize money:
CBC winner's share: How much does champion make in prize money?
CBC champions: $300,000
The champion of the College Basketball Crown earns $300,000 in NIL money.
College Basketball Crown payout structure 2026
Teams competing in the CBC are guaranteed to earn NIL cash prizes as long as they won their first-round game in 2026. Here's how the CBC payout structure works:
CBC champions: $300,000
CBC runners-up: $100,000
Semifinalists: $50,000 each
College Basketball Crown bracket, scores
Here's a look at the full College Basketball Crown bracket so far, with scores for each game:
Wednesday, April 1
Oklahoma 90, Colorado 86
Baylor 67, Minnesota 48
Thursday, April 2
West Virginia 82, Stanford 77
Creighton 82, Rutgers 69
Saturday, April 4
Oklahoma 82, Baylor 69
Creighton vs. West Virginia | 4 p.m. ET
Sunday, April 5:
Oklahoma vs. Creighton/West Virginia | 5:30 p.m. ET
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: The sneakers worn by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on March 8, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Wildcats are back on the biggest stage in college basketball, breaking a 25-year drought to reach the national semifinals. It's been a remarkable ride, winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles to earn a No. 1 seed in March Madness. Arizona hasn't slowed down since then, winning every game by double-digits to make it to Lucas Oil Stadium.
With Arizona having one of its most successful seasons in decades and two wins from its first national title since 1997, fans will sure be rallying around its most famous chant: Bear Down.
People may be hearing it for the first time and may be confused about why the Wildcats are chanting about bears, but it holds a special meaning for Arizona, with a story that is 100 years old.
Why does Arizona say ‘Bear Down’?
Bear Down came from a tragedy.
In 1926, John Byrd “Button” Salmon was a star on campus as the student body president, member of several honor societies, football quarterback and baseball catcher, according to Arizona.
That October after the varsity team beat the freshman squad, Salmon returning from a trip to Phoenix with friends when he was in their car crashed and rolled over, leaving him "critically injured." He was paralyzed below his second rib and his spine was shattered. He had regained some motor function in his arms, but doctors determined that any additional surgeries wouldn’t be effective.
Coach J.F. "Pop" McKale visited him in the hospital regularly, but Salmon died the morning of Oct. 18 at the age of 22. Before he died, his last words with McKale were a message to his teammates, "Tell them... tell the team to 'bear down.'”
Later that season, McKale gathered his team and relayed the message to the players.
Word spread of Salmon's final message and the university student body grew attached to it, painting the slogan on the roof of the gym and it inspired Jack K. Lee to write the song “Bear Down, Arizona” in 1952 for his application to become the university’s band director. He earned it and the song became the fight song, which is played at sporting events and the campus bell tower daily.
College basketball fans won't be too shocked by this development, as the actor and comedian has long attended Connecticut men's basketball games. That's because he's the father of Luke Murray, an assistant coach for UConn and future head coach of Boston College.
However, Bill Murray also grew up a fan of Illinois men's basketball — the team UConn happens to play in the Final Four for a chance to compete in the March Madness national championship game.
So, who is the "Saturday Night Live," "Caddyshack," and "Groundhog Day" actor rooting for between UConn and Illinois?
Here's what Bill Murray said ahead of the Final Four meeting between Huskies and Fighting Illini:
Is Bill Murray a UConn or Illinois basketball fan?
Bill Murray grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and is a known longtime Chicago Cubs fan. And, despite attending Regis University in Denver, a private Jesuit school, he still grew up a fan of the Fighting Illini.
He has also been seen supporting Illinois basketball in the past, as evidenced by a 2005 photo of when Illinois last played in the Final Four:
The Tribune went back into the archives to find some photos of Murray at the 2005 Final Four. And look who’s next to him, over his right shoulder, when he was 17 and being heavily recruited by the Illini: pic.twitter.com/RdTOocvUXZ
That said, Bill Murray will be rooting for the Huskies for at least one more game.
“Go Huskies!” Murray wrote in a text message to a Chicago Tribune reporter earlier this week.
His son, Luke Murray, 41, is in his fifth season as an assistant coach to Dan Hurley. He has won two national championships in the role. However, last month, he was hired as the new head coach for Boston College.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves plays defense during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers Round 1, Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For months now, the Wolves and the Houston Rockets have been stuck in a hotly contested battle for the West’s middle playoffs seeds, never really separating, never really collapsing, just kind of stalking each other across the standings. And now, with the regular season finally narrowing into its last meaningful stretch, the picture is starting to come into focus. Not complete focus, because this is still the Western Conference minefield, but enough focus to at least see the outline. Barring a last-minute collapse, Oklahoma City looks headed for the one seed. San Antonio would then have the two seed on lock. The Lakers, sans Luka Doncic, are clinging to the three slot, while Denver has the inside track on four. That leaves Minnesota and Houston locked in the same argument they have been having for months, battling over whether the reward for this season’s efforts will be the five or the six.
And that, in turn, raises the question Wolves fans are now wrestling with: which road would you actually rather take?
Make no mistake, there is no easy path here. This is not the Eastern Conference circa 2014 where you could spend two rounds bludgeoning flimsy pretenders before the real test arrived. Out West, the real test starts immediately. It is a gauntlet no matter where you finish, and the only thing that changes is the flavor of the pain.
If Minnesota lands in the six seed, it likely gets the Lakers in round one and then, if the bracket holds, the San Antonio Spurs in round two. If the Wolves leap Houston and grab fifth, then the opening act becomes Denver in round one and Oklahoma City in round two. This is basically the basketball version of deciding whether you’d rather fight a bear in the woods or a shark in open water.
So we asked the Canis Hoopus faithful which road they would prefer: Lakers then Spurs, or Nuggets then Thunder.
The overwhelming response was clear. Most of you want the six seed. Most of you want the Lakers in round one and San Antonio in round two. Which is understandable, but also not as simple of a choice as it appears on the surface. If you’ve watched the Lakers-Wolves matchups this season and walked away thinking, “Yes, that’s who I want in the playoffs,” then I admire your courage and also question your memory.
Yes, the Wolves absolutely steamrolled the Lakers in five games last postseason. That happened. It was real. It felt cathartic. Minnesota owned the paint, bullied them physically, and made Los Angeles look like a team that had one superstar too many and one center too few.
But this version of the Lakers is not that version of the Lakers.
At the time of last year’s first-round meeting, Los Angeles was still trying to fold Luka Doncic into the whole operation. The fit was a little weird, the rhythm was off, and the center spot was a full-blown construction site after they moved on from Anthony Davis. This time around, there’s more cohesion, more comfort, and more rhythm. Luka was playing like an MVP candidate in March, the Lakers have been scorching hot, and they have taken all three games from Minnesota this season. They’ve won one on an Austin Reaves buzzer-beater and taken the others two in convincing fashion.
While Deandre Ayton is not exactly prime Hakeem, he has at least been competent enough to keep Minnesota’s frontcourt from reenacting last year’s paint domination. The Wolves had their way inside in that playoff series. This year, the Lakers have done enough to make things far murkier.
Now, to be fair, there is one giant caveat here, and it’s a GIANT one. We didn’t know this at the time the poll went live, but Luka’s injury situation certainly tilts the conversation. If he is not full strength by the time the playoffs start, that changes everything. It doesn’t make the Lakers easy, but it makes them far more palatable then facing Jokic and Denver. In a conference where every path involves walking through fire, sometimes “slightly less flammable” is all the optimism you need.
Then there is the second-round possibility in that bracket: Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
This is where the conversation gets weird in a way that only Timberwolves basketball can make weird. If Minnesota gets past the Lakers and finds San Antonio waiting in the second round, the Wolves would actually hold the playoff experience advantage. Read that again slowly, especially if you’ve been following this franchise for more than five years. The Minnesota Timberwolves would be the mature, battle-tested team in the matchup. It sounds absurd because for the first 36 years of this franchise’s existence, the idea of Minnesota having postseason gravitas would have felt like a typo. But now? They’ve been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals. They’ve played in real games, under real pressure, against real teams. They know what that feels like.
San Antonio, on the other hand, is terrifying in a completely different way. Wembanyama has taken another leap in the second half of the season, and the Spurs have become the type of team nobody can quite believe is this good this fast. They are young, they are hungry, and they are nipping at the one seed with the kind of reckless confidence that makes young teams dangerous before they’ve learned they’re supposed to be scared.
Still, if you’re choosing your poison, there is a logic to preferring San Antonio over Oklahoma City in round two. The Wolves could get physical with the Wemby. They could lean on their experience. They could try to turn the series into an ugly, grown-man fight and make San Antonio prove it can handle that kind of pressure. That path makes sense.
But then you look at the other road.
The fifth seed. Denver in round one. Oklahoma City in round two.
This is where things get complicated, because the road most fans seem least interested in might also be the one the Wolves secretly believe they’re built for.
It is not hard to understand why Denver would be a more intimidating first-round opponent than the Lakers. Nikola Jokic exists, and he is still the most terrifying player on the planet to see across from your team in a playoff setting. He is the best player in the world, and unlike some other stars, his greatness doesn’t need dramatic flourishes. He doesn’t need to hit 40-foot threes or scream into the camera. He just quietly disassembles your defensive plan with surgical precision.
And yet, if you’re Minnesota, Denver is the monster you at least recognize. The Wolves have seen this movie before. They took Denver to seven games in 2024 and ended the Nuggets’ title defense in the greatest playoff moments in franchise history. They swept the Nuggets in the regular season last year. Even this year, despite going 1-3 against them, the matchups have often felt familiar rather than hopeless. Denver has won the games, yes, but some of them were close enough to remind you that Minnesota understands the challenge. Christmas Day, for instance, ended in overtime. These teams know each other. There is no mystery. No fear of the unknown. If anything, there may be a degree of confidence on both sides that makes that series feel almost inevitable, like two rivals who have already agreed they’ll be seeing each other again in the spring whether the bracket wants it or not.
That is the pro-Denver argument. Familiarity. Physicality. A belief that Minnesota is one of the few teams in the league structurally built to at least make Jokic work for everything. Gobert, Randle and Reid in waves, all the size and length and bruising frontcourt options you need to keep Denver from just skating through a series unchallenged.
The problem, of course, is what comes next.
Because lurking around the corner in that path is Oklahoma City, and that one still feels different. The Thunder ended Minnesota’s season in last year’s Western Conference Finals, and they did it with a level of maturity and control that made the Wolves look like a team still learning how serious basketball is played in late May. Minnesota has split the season series 2-2 with OKC this year, so it’s not as if the matchup is hopeless. The Wolves can absolutely play with them. They’ve proven that. But there is still a professionalism to the Thunder, a clarity of identity, that Minnesota has not consistently shown. Against San Antonio, the Wolves might have the composure edge. Against OKC, that edge belongs to the Thunder until proven otherwise.
The one possible silver lining there is timing. If Minnesota drew Oklahoma City in the second round rather than the conference finals, the Wolves might actually have fresher legs than they did in the past two postseasons, when some of the wear and tear really started to show by the time they reached the final four. There is at least a case to be made that a second-round clash with the Thunder would catch both teams in a better physical spot and potentially give the Wolves a cleaner crack at the matchup.
Still, if you’re asking fans which road feels less terrifying, it makes sense that the Lakers-Spurs path won the poll. It looks cleaner on paper. It has fewer Jokic and Shai-related nightmares built into it. It offers a younger second-round opponent. It feels, if not easy, at least slightly less like intimidating.
And yet, this is where the whole conversation circles back to the same reality: the Wolves do not actually control this. Not fully. Not yet. There are still games left to play, and all kinds of weird variables remain in play, not least of which is Luka’s health and whatever last-minute surprises the Western Conference cooks up in the final week. Maybe the standings shift. Maybe one team stumbles. Maybe somebody rests on the last weekend. Maybe the bracket that looks obvious right now is totally different in six days.
That is why this whole exercise is more about preference than prediction. At the end of the day, whether Minnesota finishes fifth or sixth, the path is going to be brutal. It is going to require them to beat teams they have struggled against, stay healthy, get Anthony Edwards fully back into rhythm, and play with a level of consistency that has eluded them for maddening stretches all season. There is no gimmick route here. No lucky loophole. No “just get this matchup and everything opens up.” That door does not exist in this conference.
So maybe the better question is not which path do you prefer. Maybe the better question is which version of the Timberwolves do you think is actually showing up?
If it’s the locked-in, physically dominant, defensively connected version, the one that beat Boston and survived Houston and remembers how to play like a team with real postseason confidence, then either road is survivable. Difficult, yes. But survivable.
If it’s the sleepy, self-sabotaging, switch-flipping version that spends entire quarters treating urgency like an optional feature, then it honestly does not matter if the opponent is the Lakers, Nuggets, Spurs, or Thunder. That version is not getting to June.
The thing Wolves fans know now, maybe more than at any other time in franchise history. The playoffs are not just about the bracket. They are about identity. And for this team, that identity still fluctuates a little too much for comfort.
Still, if you made me choose? I get why the fan base picked the sixth seed. I do. There is still something about avoiding Jokic in round one and OKC in round two that feels marginally more humane. Luka may be in street clothes. The Spurs are terrifying, but they are also young. The Wolves would have been there before. They would know what the pressure feels like. There’s something to that.
But whichever road the Wolves get, the mission is the same. Use these final games to get Edwards right. Get the rotations locked in. Get the supporting cast settled. Get the defense back to a place where it can travel into any arena and make life miserable. Because the bracket may determine the shape of the challenge, but not the size of it.
Out West, every path is uphill. The only real question is whether the Wolves are ready to keep climbing.
As the Wolves get locked and loaded for the post-season, FanDuel Sportsbook is here for all of your NBA playoff betting needs!
