Category: NBA

Carmelo Anthony said he wants to “clear the air” with his former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin more than a decade after “Linsanity” took over New York in 2012.

During Monday’s installment of the “7PM In Brooklyn” podcast, Anthony invited Lin to come on his podcast to “speak the truth” — but Anthony offered no other explanation.

“Jeremy Lin, I’m giving you my invite to come sit on the couch,” Anthony said.

“Let’s have a conversation, let’s clear the air on a lot of bullshit that’s out there please. And I love what you’re doing right now, man … Come speak the truth.”

NY Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony invites his former teammate Jeremy Lin on his podcast so they can clear the air of any prior misunderstandings

Melo has previously said he believes Lin’s Houston Rockets contract (3 years-$25 million) was “ridiculous” and sources suggested… pic.twitter.com/cxwsRDp2e7

— Slime (@ItsKingSlime) May 18, 2026

Knicks faithful know that rumblings of a reported feud came about during Lin’s rise to fame during the 2011-12 season.

At the time, Lin led the Knicks to 10 wins in 13 games when he averaged over 22 points and nine assists after the Knicks called him up.

Anthony was dealing with a groin injury at the time.

After that season, Anthony made waves when he called Lin’s Houston Rockets contract offer — three years and $25 million — “ridiculous,” which led to reports that he was jealous of Lin’s fast success and it was disrupting what he was trying to build in New York.

Anthony has discussed the matter on multiple occasions.

During a May 2024 installment of his podcast, Anthony and Baron Davis, who was a member of the 2012 Knicks team, said they were supportive of Lin’s fame behind closed doors.

“People always talk about … nobody liked the Linsanity … personally me, you get what I’m saying? They throw that out there,” Anthony said. 

“But people don’t know that, behind the scenes, we were very supportive of this.

“… Linsanity could have been a $100 million business easy and I’m trying to get this through to him,” Anthony recalled. “He was like, ‘Nah, I’m not brought up on that, my parents. But I respected that. I hear that, matter of fact, bring your parents in here, let us talk to them… It was [happening] so fast.”

Davis added, “Yeah, he wasn’t trying to hear that s–t from nobody.”

Lin acknowledged “the theory” that Anthony being jealous played a part in his Knicks exit — but declined to “feed the speculation train” in a 2022 interview with the Daily Beast.

“I know, and I’m saying this truthfully, that there were multiple points of opposition completely outside of Melo within what was going on, and once [head coach Mike] D’Antoni resigned, there was already opposition within the organization — whether it was the coaching staff that took over or certain members of the front office,” Lin said.

“But there was definitely, from what I’ve heard or gathered in the few years after, it wasn’t all as rosy as people thought it was. I don’t know who to attribute it to, but I know there were multiple points of opposition.”

Lin had stints with the Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks and Raptors after going undrafted out of Harvard.

He was part of the 2019 Raptors team that won the franchise’s first championship. 

Lin later went on to play for the Beijing Ducks.

He most recently played for the New Taipei Kings of the P. League+ in Taiwan, alongside his brother Joseph Lin.

Lin announced his retirement from professional basketball in an Instagram post last August.

At long last, the Knicks will play basketball tonight.

Nine days after they finished off the Sixers in a dominant four-game sweep, the Eastern Conference Finals will finally begin, as the Cleveland Cavaliers will travel to the World’s Most Famous Arena for Game 1 tonight at 8pm.

It’ll be a truly massive difference in terms of rest between the Knicks and whoever survives tonight’s game at Little Caesars Arena. Eight days of rest versus just one. It’s a stark enough difference, especially in a playoff setting, that makes you wonder about the age-old debate.

Rest vs. rust. Is it better to get the long layoff, or will the all-around cohesion we saw in the last seven games dissipate with the amount of time off?

The concern is very valid, especially when you look at other sports. In MLB, teams with a bye to the LDS have struggled considerably against fresh teams in the Wild Card Round over the last few years. In the NHL, there’s been a startling trend of teams that sweep series and get a long layoff struggling against teams that have played these prolonged series.

But those are different sports. Baseball is a game of repetition, and these guys play every single day. Hockey can be an issue with the physicality and the goaltenders getting too much time off. Basketball is different than both of those stylistically as a sport.

So what does the data say? Do teams with extra rest come out sloppy in Game 1?

The overall verdict? Not really.

Since 2000, there have been exactly 20 instances of a sweep in the second round or later. I decided to exclude first-round sweeps because it may skew the sample size with top seeds who were obvious massive favorites, making it closer to this exact situation.

In those 20 instances, the team coming off a sweep is 12-8, but 8-1 since 2016. Each situation also has entirely different context to one another, so we have to dive deeper.

Teams on 8+ days of rest

Looking back to the sample since 2000, there have been 12 instances in which a team had at least eight days of rest ahead of a conference final or NBA Finals matchup, and those teams are 7-5. What occurred in those losses, you might ask?

2003 New Jersey Nets: 10 days of rest, lost in six games to the Spurs (5 days rest)
2005 Miami Heat: 8 days of rest, lost in seven games to the Pistons (5 days rest)
2009 Cleveland Cavaliers: 8 days rest, lost in seven games to the Magic (2 days rest)
2013 San Antonio Spurs: 9 days rest, lost in seven games to the Heat (2 days rest)
2019 Golden State Warriors: 9 days rest, lost in six games to the Raptors (4 days rest)

Of these five occurrences, only one has happened in the last 12 years, and that deserves a big asterisk. The 2019 Warriors were bruised and battered and lost both Klay Thompson to an ACL tear and Kevin Durant to an Achilles tear during the series. Could this theoretically happen to the Knicks, too? Sure, but it deserves to be pointed out as an outlier.

Some recent series victories include the 2024 Celtics (vs DAL), 2017 Cavaliers (vs BOS), and the 2011 Mavericks (vs OKC). But let’s go even deeper to find the series that truly match up.

Big Rest vs Little Rest

To narrow the parameters, we’re going to break down series where one team has a rest advantage of at least six days. The Knicks currently have a seven-day rest advantage, so this will give us the proper comparison we need.

This gives us seven examples since 2001, in which the team with a rest advantage is 5-2. Four of the wins came in just five games, while both losses took at least six games. Let’s look at the full context of these series and evaluate from there:

2001 NBA Finals (Lakers/Sixers)
Rest advantage: Lakers +7 (9 to 2)
Winner: Lakers, 4-1

After completing a sweep of the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, the Shaq & Kobe Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals in 2001, where they awaited the winner of a seven-game series in the ECF, in which Allen Iverson’s Sixers prevailed over Ray Allen’s Bucks. A quick turnaround for a very AI-centric Sixers squad doomed them from the start against a dynasty in the making.

It probably didn’t help that Philly had played two consecutive seven-game series leading into this (sound familiar?), but this was actually a potential warning for the Knicks as they enter Game 1 tonight. The Sixers actually won Game 1 in Los Angeles against a rusty Lakers squad, but the fatigue caught up to them to win the next four.

If the Knicks lose tonight, this series can be used as an example to stay off the ledge.

2009 Eastern Conference Finals (Cavaliers/Magic)
Rest advantage: Cavs +6 (8 to 2)
Winner: Magic, 4-2

LeBron James didn’t have much help in his first stint in Cleveland, but it was fairly disappointing when they lost an opportunity to square off with Kobe and the Lakers in 2009, as Dwight Howard led the Magic to the heights of a young Shaq in the 90s.

This might be a case of a lack of adversity dooming a team. The Cavs started their postseason 8-0 and most of those wins were by double figures, while the Magic gritted out a seven-game series against the Celtics in the second round.

As such, guess what happened when Orlando dragged Cleveland into one-possession games early in the series? The Magic stole Game 1 on a late Rashard Lewis 3-ball and took a 3-1 lead in Game 4 after narrowly surviving LeBron’s heroics late. It all culminated in a six-game series victory where Orlando went 3-0 at home.

2011 Western Conference Finals (Mavericks-Thunder)
Rest advantage: Mavericks +7 (8 to 1)
Winner: Mavericks, 4-1

Dirk Nowitzki’s redemption for 2006 finally came five years later, when he took advantage of a young and inexperienced Thunder team (that included a certain James Harden) in the WCF to continue a run that would result in a shocking upset over the Heat in the Finals.

A young Damian Lillard battled Dallas to six in the first round before a sweep of the defending back-to-back champion Lakers set up this titanic clash. OKC defeated Denver in five in the first round, but was pushed to seven games by the Grit-and-Grind Grizzlies and entered this series at a tremendous rest disadvantage.

OKC lost Game 1 by nine, but turned around and stole Game 2 in Dallas to even the series and put pressure on the veteran-laden squad. The Mavericks won each of the next three games by just 17 combined points, using their experience to overwhelm a Thunder team that wasn’t quite ready yet.

2013 NBA Finals (Spurs-Heat)
Rest advantage: Spurs +7 (9 to 2)
Winner: Heat, 4-3

Regardless of the connotation of the superteam Heatles in the early 2010s, these were two stacked rosters that went toe-to-toe in an instant classic of an NBA Finals. A 58-win team against a 66-win team with scores of future Hall of Famers and two of the greatest coaches of all time.

San Antonio had gone 12-2 in a rampage over the Western Conference, only being challenged by the plucky Mark Jackson-coached Warriors in the second round before sweeping the Grizzlies in the WCF. Meanwhile, Miami went 8-1 in the first two rounds before being pushed to seven by Paul George and the Pacers in the ECF, prompting a massive rest differential.

The rested Spurs stole Game 1 in Miami, but this series was back-and-forth the whole way through. It seemed like the Spurs were going to topple the reigning champions in six games, but Ray Allen’s heroics saved the day for Miami and forced a Game 7 that the Heat would ultimately take at home.

2016 Eastern Conference Finals (Cavaliers-Raptors)
Rest advantage: Cavs +7 (8 to 1)
Winner: Cavaliers, 4-2

Another series involving LeBron, who knew? In the midst of his legacy-sealing 2016 championship run with the Cavs, he faced an extremely similar situation to 2009, where his team was 8-0 entering the conference finals as considerable favorites against a Raptors team that would always be the bridesmaid in the East until acquiring Kawhi Leonard.

Cleveland swept their way here and showed no ill effects of a seven-day layoff prior to the second-round matchup against the Hawks. Toronto gritted through two seven-game series and had a quick turnaround after playing 7 games in 14 days against the Heat in Round 2 (sound familiar?)

The first two games saw the rested team demolishing the fatigued team, as the Cavs won by 50 points combined to take a 2-0 series lead. Toronto was able to pick itself up off the mat to win both north of the border, but got similarly pummeled in the next two games. In Cleveland’s four wins, they outscored their opponents by an average of 26 points a night.

2017 Eastern Conference Finals (Cavaliers-Celtics)
Rest advantage: Cavs +8 (9 to 1)
Winner: Cavaliers, 4-1

Oh, hey, it’s LeBron again. In their ultimately futile quest to repeat as champions in 2017, Cleveland squared off with an Isaiah Thomas-led Celtics team that featured a rookie Jaylen Brown and didn’t yet have Jayson Tatum. This was an infant version of the perennial contenders we know today.

As usual, a LeBron-led team strolled into the conference finals with back-to-back sweeps over Indiana and Toronto, while the Celtics won a six-game series against the Bulls before a highly entertaining seven-game series against John Wall and the Wizards led to them limping into a matchup with a man who had made the Finals in six consecutive seasons.

Boston did have home-court advantage, but it didn’t matter. Cleveland won by 57 points combined in the first two games in Boston, showing no ill effects from a nine-day layoff. The Celtics stole Game 3 at Quicken Loans Arena without IT thanks to an Avery Bradley buzzer-beater, but the toll came due to a 10-point win in Game 4 and another 30-point blowout in Game 5 to clinch the series for Cleveland.

2023 NBA Finals (Nuggets-Heat)
Rest advantage: Nuggets +7 (9 to 2)
Winner: Nuggets, 4-1

There are a lot of interesting wrinkles in this series. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are getting their era-defining championship against the No. 8-seeded Heat, who were basically Jimmy Butler and a dream at this point. Gotta give credit to Erik Spoelstra for seemingly doing this over and over again.

Denver took down the Timberwolves and Suns in the first two rounds before sweeping the Lakers in the WCF in a relatively competitive series for its length. Miami stunned the top-seeded Bucks in five games before defeating a young Knicks team in six to face Boston in the ECF. It looked like the Heat would stroll to the Finals like Denver, but the Celtics rallied back down 3-0 to force a Game 7 before ultimately falling short.

The quick turnaround didn’t necessarily faze the Heat, who split the first two games in Denver, but the fatigue slowly set in as their offense crumbled to dust around Butler’s brilliance in a series that ended in five games

What’s the verdict? There are obviously different circumstances with every case, but history suggests that rust is not an excuse for teams at this stage in the postseason. You got that extra rest after how dominant you were last round; now you get a chance to prove it.

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Jalen Brunson may be an undersized point guard, but the New York Knicks’ lefthander keys NY in nearly every matchup. How he fares in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers may determine the series.

These Jalen Brunson picks expect him to start the Eastern Conference Finals aggressively, the last round putting plenty of material on film for him to study.

Jalen Brunson prop pick for Game 1

Jalen Brunson best bet: Over 6.5 assists (+110 at bet365)

Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham look like completely different players. The New York Knicks’ point guard is listed at 6-foot-2, charitably, while Cunningham is an athletic 6-foot-6.

But both their offenses rotate around them. Brunson’s usage rate of 30.3% this season barely trailed Cunningham’s 30.5%. Brunson shoots and scores more while Cunningham moves the ball a bit more often, but the ball is in their hands one way or another at rates that near the top of the league.

Cunningham regularly got inside the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense last round. That is the defensive cost of a starting backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Cunningham then frequently moved the ball. That is the defensive perk of a starting frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

Brunson should see similar assists opportunities in this series.

Jalen Brunson same-game parlay

Cunningham also chucked quite a bit against the Cavaliers. He averaged nine 3-point attempts per game in the final three games and seven attempts per game through the seven-game series.

Compared to his regular-season rate of 5.7 3-point attempts per game, those numbers stood out.

Now realize, Jalen Brunson attempted 7.1 threes per game this season and has hit 40.9% of his attempts in the playoffs.

This Cleveland defense should provide Brunson looks anywhere but the rim, and he will gladly take those.

He will stray from the rim on both ends of the court, though, given the Cavaliers’ quality post presences and, quite frankly, James Harden’s physical advantages on the glass compared to Brunson’s.

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

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama hits clutch three in Game 1 vs. Thunder eerily similar to Steph Curry’s iconic “double bang” shot.
• ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft has the Warriors selecting Arizona freshman guard Brayden Burries.
• Pelicans hire former Magic coach Jamahl Mosley as their next head coach, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The Golden State Warriors’ season may be over, but Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs gave fans a moment that felt all too familiar to Dub Nation on Monday night.

Late in overtime during San Antonio’s 122-115 Game 1 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, Wembanyama pulled up from deep near the exact same spot where Steph Curry buried his iconic “double bang” three against OKC back in 2016.

The similarities were impossible to ignore. Same arena. Same opponent. Same fearless audacity to pull up from well beyond the three-point line with the game hanging in the balance.

Only this time, it was a 7-foot-4 basketball alien doing it.

Wembanyama finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds in the thrilling double-overtime victory, but his deep three quickly became the defining highlight of the night.

And much like Curry’s legendary performance against the Thunder nearly a decade ago, the shot felt like a statement to the rest of the NBA. If there were still any questions about whether Wembanyama had truly arrived, there shouldn’t be anymore.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, May 19th:

Warriors News:

How Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama showed he’s NBA’s Steph Curry 2.0 | NBC Sports Bay Area

The Spurs have their young Steph. The NBA has its new Steph. Someone who captivates fans, motivates teammates, dominates opponents and whose unprecedented impact makes him the envy of every franchise in the league. Someone whose presence ensures generous national-television exposure, year after year.

And Wemby is polishing his star five years before Curry, who turned 27 a month before the 2015 postseason.

From a marketing and promotions viewpoint, Wemby is Steph 2.0 – a foot taller, possessing gifts that can dominate on offense and defense.

2026 NBA mock draft: Projecting all 60 picks post-combine | ESPN

Steve Kerr’s decision to return to the Warriors is a fair indicator that Golden State doesn’t plan to rebuild in the near future, but this pick gives it a chance to get younger and deeper. Long-term injuries to Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody mean the Warriors will be extremely light on the perimeter to open next season, which could be a consideration here. GM Mike Dunleavy also told reporters this week that Golden State would consider moving around in the draft.

Burries is drawing looks inside the top 10 but could also end up being the guard who falls. He would be a solid fit for the Warriors in this scenario. His dimensions will play up better on the ball than at the two, but his sturdy build should also help him defend wings. The fact he’s a year older than some of the other freshmen and somewhat caught between positions based on tools makes him more of a back-half lottery option.

Warriors very impressed by guard prospect Darius Acuff Jr., per Arkansas reporter Kevin McPherson

NBA News:

Alex Caruso took on an impossible challenge for the Thunder. He almost succeeded | The Athletic

Caruso kept shooting and hitting, often enough that it warranted Wembanyama gradually inching closer to him on the perimeter. He tried to weaponize the 22-year-old’s own overzealous tendencies.

“He’s a good player defensively, so he’s trying to make all the plays, and rightfully so. He can make them,” Caruso said of Wembanyama. “So part of that is just being smart about how you attack him. You watch the first couple series that they played, and there’s times where they’re just trying to shoot layups over him, and that’s not how you should play against him, right?

“I’m not gonna give you our game plan, but there’s times to be aggressive, and there’s times to manipulate the defense and get better shots.”

Pelicans hire Jamahl Mosley as their new head coach, per ESPN’s Shams Charania

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

NBA 2K, Boys & Girls Club SF unveil new Excelsior basketball court

And somehow, that atmosphere was sitting right here in our own backyard Wednesday afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club Excelsior Clubhouse in San Francisco, where 2K Foundations (the philanthrophic arm of the legendary 2K video game franchise) unveiled a newly refurbished basketball court designed for the hundreds of kids who use the facility every week.

I was invited out to cover the unveiling, which featured appearances from Ronnie 2K, Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard, and GSW champion Festus Ezeli. But as cool as the event itself was, what stuck with me most happened before the ribbon cutting.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

The proverbial lines that regulate college sports have never been more difficult to identify than they are at this present moment in time. Players that would have been declared ineligible without a second thought as recently as five years ago are now not just being allowed to suit up for collegiate athletic programs across the country, they’re being paid handsomely (in some cases extremely handsomely) to do so.

Even in this current climate, every now and then there comes a situation where the line crossing becomes akin to pornography: You might not be able to fully articulate exactly what lines have been breached, but you know it when you see it.

Enter, of course, Will Wade. The man who was openly talking about paying players before it was cool (or allowed) is back to pushing the envelope in Baton Rouge like Kendrick Lamar and Drake are lightly lobbing sneak disses at one another.

On Monday, Wade made headlines for signing 25-year-old Israeli point guard Yam Madar to a reported $5 million deal. Not only is Madar a EuroLeague vet at this point — his Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. squad just faced Real Madrid Baloncesto in a EuroLeague quarterfinal — but he was the 47th overall pick by Boston in the 2020 NBA Draft. For reference, that’s the same draft where Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton all had their names called.

Madar, who will turn 26-years-old in December, never signed with the Celtics, but the franchise still owns his draft rights. He was the EuroLeague’s “Rising Star” award recipient in 2023, and averaged 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in 16 appearances for Hapoel Tel Aviv in league play last season.

If that piece of news wasn’t splashy enough, less than 24 hours later LSU announced that Wade had signed former St. John’s star R.J. Luis. The 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year, Luis opted last spring to spurn another year in college in favor of chasing his NBA dream. He went undrafted.

While there were rumors last summer that Wade was trying to convince Luis to sign with him at NC State, the 6’7 wing ultimately inked a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz. Two months later he was traded to the Boston Celtics. Though he was waived by Boston before the start of the 2025-26 season, Luis signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.

The Luis signing has immediately drawn comparisons to the Charles Bediako situation that Alabama went through this past season.

In 2023, Bediako had left school early to play in the NBA, gone undrafted, ultimately signed a two-way contract with San Antonio, and competed in the G League as a professional over parts of three seasons. He then re-signed with Alabama and played five games for the Crimson Tide between January 24 and February 7 thanks to a temporary restraining order. On February 9, his temporary restraining order expired and he was denied a motion to play out the remainder of the season.

“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way contract),” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement last December in response to the Bediako situation.

Wade’s reasons for pushing the envelope here extend beyond his established status as a provocateur.

Since making the highly controversial jump from NC State back to LSU after just one season in Raleigh, Wade has had a more difficult time piecing together a roster than he likely anticipated. The Tigers are returning essentially zero production from last season’s 15-17 squad and have no incoming freshmen from the recruiting class of 2026. This would be fine if Wade was crushing it in the NCAA transfer portal. He hasn’t been.

Wade has inked just four players from the portal so far this spring — Divine Ugochukwu from Michigan State, Abdi Bashir from Kansas State, Mo Dioubate from Kentucky, and Austin Nunez from UTSA. That’s a four man class that has LSU currently ranked No. 40 in 247 Sports’ team portal rankings. At a time when most major conference programs are putting the finishing touches on their 2026-27 rosters, Wade and the Tigers are very much in scramble mode.

Earlier this month, Wade beat out Kentucky to sign 23-year-old Brazilian big man Marcio Santos of the Israeli league. In addition to signing Madar and Luis, there are reports that Wade has also been pursuing 22-year-old Saliou Niang, who is currently competing in the Italian Wing. With so few uncommitted impactful players in the portal remaining, it’s apparent at this time that Wade’s last ditch effort to produce a roster that can be competitive in the ultra-difficult SEC revolves around signing as many pros as possible and hoping at least a handful of them will be deemed eligible by the NCAA.

Given the precedent set by the Bediako situation, it seems extremely unlikely that the NCAA will clear Luis for a return to college basketball in 2026-27. Madar has more of a shot (somehow), but it still seems more likely than not that the NCAA will do everything in its power to keep the seasoned EuroLeague vet from spending the first four months of his 26th year playing college basketball.

For any other power conference college basketball coach, the actions taken by Wade this week would reek of desperation and a lack of any sort of respect for the last vestiges of the sanctity of college hoops. But for a man who has spent the better part of his kicking at lines like a leadoff batter on a dirt field and still managed to fall upwards more times than not, it’s almost hard to blame him for continuing to exist in the shadowy world he knows better than anyone.

Turns out, George Kittle had a good reason for cheering on the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Monday night.

Shortly after the 49ers tight end — who’s been a passionate Golden State Warriors fan since arriving in San Francisco in 2017 — caught flak for wearing an OKC shirt during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, he made it clear to several trolls on X he’s not actually a bandwagon supporter.

“I graduated high school from Norman Oklahoma !!” Kittle wrote to one.

“Graduated from Norman Oklahoma so you can chill bruh,” he added in a message to another.

Kittle was seen throughout NBC’s broadcast of the big playoff game going nuts for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and the rest of the Thunder as they took on the Spurs in an epic, double overtime matchup.

At one point during the game, the seven-time Pro Bowler’s antics actually caught the attention of play-by-play man Mike Tirico, who shared a tidbit about Kittle and Spurs star Victor Wembanyama while on-air.

Only poetic that Mike Tirico bring up George Kittle and Wembanyama together.

After all, what would he know about being a positionless freak who plays both big and small and plays both ends of their game at an S tier level? pic.twitter.com/tzUrAetbIo

— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) May 19, 2026

Unfortunately for Kittle, the home team ended up losing in a nail-biter to San Antonio, 122-115.

Game 2 is slated for Wednesday night, though it’s unclear if Kittle has plans to stick around in Oklahoma for the tilt — and the criticism that would no doubt come with another appearance.

The NBA, like most businesses, is people-based. Yes, having talented players is important, but plenty can hoop. What differentiates teams is their ability to maximize their rosters and bring out the best in their group.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has shown an ability to do that.

He’s had back-to-back 50-win seasons, and that’s because he’s been able to navigate massive roster changes and get the best out of his players night in and night out. And even for players like Deandre Ayton, who are known for being inconsistent and having up and down moments, he’s been able to reach him and bring out his best more often than not.

Even during a down moment, after the Thunder eliminated the Lakers, Ayton praised Redick for how he navigated the season.

“He was really proud of the group, how much faith he had,” Ayton said in his exit interview. “This being his 17th season with an NBA team, he was just really proud of each one of us. That really gave me some burdens off my shoulders. He showed in the media that he had my back as well. He’s a really good coach and I was just really honored to be coached by him and his staff.”

Since we are not privy to the behind-the-scenes moments between players and coaches, we only know a sliver of the dynamic between Ayton and Redick. Still, we have seen signs of how Redick supported him.

When Ayton was signed to the Lakers, he praised his raw talent. During the season, Redick was rocking a t-shirt that featured Ayton’s face mixed with a lion, expressing his desire for him to be a lion on the court.

Overall, Ayton had a solid season. He remained the team’s starting center all year long and shot a career-best 67% from the field.

Acquiring Ayton was a bit of a risk, as this was his third team in four years, but overall it was far more good than bad. The credit goes primarily to Ayton, but Redick played his part as well. Thanks to their collaboration, they made this a positive experience, and if Ayton does come back next season, he will likely be welcomed with open arms.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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It took some time, but the Eastern Conference Finals are finally here. Our NBA player prop projections are set for Game 1, as the Cleveland Cavaliers face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, with the model uncovering several high-value betting spots.

By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.

These Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, May 19.

Cavaliers vs Knicks computer picks for Game 1

Cavaliers	Knicks
Mitchell u26.5 points  -112	Brunson o27.5 points -120
Harden o6.5 assists -112	Towns o11.5 rebounds +102
Mobley o8.5 rebounds +102	Anunoby o15.5 points -110

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Cavaliers Game 1 computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Under 26.5 points (-112)

Projection: 25.95 points

The Cleveland Cavaliers should face a slower pace in this matchup against the New York Knicks, who’ve played at the league’s slowest tempo over the last 25 games — making it tougher for Donovan Mitchell to dictate offensively.

It’s also a challenging spot for getting to the line, as opposing starting shooting guards have averaged just 1.9 free-throw attempts per game at Madison Square Garden over the last 10 — third-fewest in the league.

Coming off a Game 7 on Sunday, the quick turnaround combined with a well-rested Knicks squad puts Mitchell at a disadvantage to open the series.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet mitchell Now at bet365!/span

James Harden Over 6.5 assists (-112)

Projection: 6.57 assists

Mitchell won’t be the only star under pressure, James Harden should also feel the full force of New York’s defense in Game 1.

The Knicks understand how vital Harden is to Cleveland’s offense, and keying in on him could force more playmaking than scoring. He either cleared or came close to this assists line in five of seven games last series against Detroit, showing a strong tendency to facilitate when defenses tighten up.

If New York clamps down, expect Harden to lean into the distributor role and rack up the dimes.

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Evan Mobley Over 8.5 rebounds (+102)

Projection: 8.56 rebounds

Evan Mobley’s rebounds prop has been a steady moneymaker throughout the Cavaliers’ playoff run, and after a 12-board performance in Game 7 against the Pistons on Sunday, there’s little reason to expect a slowdown.

Cleveland has thrived on the glass on the road, ranking sixth in the league with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game over its last 10, with Mobley playing a major role in that dominance. Look for him to bring that same energy into the Big Apple.

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Knicks Game 1 computer picks

Jalen Brunson Over 27.5 points (-120)

Projection: 27.92 points

Jalen Brunson has averaged 31.4 points per game over his last five home outings, which is 3.9 points higher than his season-long home average.

The Knicks could also benefit from their full week of rest, a boost that could further elevate Brunson’s production as New York looks to keep defending home court throughout its postseason run.

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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (+102)

Projection: 12.24 rebounds

The Knicks rank fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounding at home this season, and for Karl-Anthony Towns, the key to clearing this rebound line in Game 1 will be staying on the floor and avoiding foul trouble.

That was an issue at times during the series against Atlanta, but New York managed those minutes well in his absence. When Towns is active, though, he remains a strong presence on the glass — positioning him to do enough damage on the boards to push this prop Over tonight.

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OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points (-110)

Projection: 16.53 points

OG Anunoby has averaged 22.0 points per game over his last five outings, 4.8 points higher than his season-long mark, highlighting an uptick in offensive production.

New York’s quick work in the series against Atlanta also gave him valuable time to recover from the hamstring issue that forced him to miss the final two games. He’s expected to be available for Game 1 against Cleveland, and the Knicks are clearly more dangerous when he’s operating at full strength.

If the injury doesn’t limit him, Anunoby should slide right back into a key offensive role as New York looks to keep its attack rolling.

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How to watch Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 1

Location	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date	Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
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Brian Windhorst leaves Warriors legend off best conference finals showing list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On May 28, 2016, Klay Thompson dropped 41 points and helped the Warriors avoid elimination in Oklahoma City. The performance was enough to earn him a new nickname, “Game 6 Klay.”

His 11 made 3-pointers were the most ever in an NBA playoff game at the time, and his 19 points and five triples in the fourth quarter helped Golden State overcome the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.

That game – and that showing – however, were not enough to land on ESPN Brian Windhorst’s “Tower of Power” when it comes to conference finals performances.

The topic came up Tuesday on “NBA Today” following Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama’s Game 1 against the aforementioned Thunder.

Before Windhorst gave his list, he explained that he took which game of the series the performance came during as part of his metric.

“I took into account where it was in the series, OK?” Windhorst said. “The later in the series, the more important. Having said that, Game 1, Victor Wembanyama. It was a Game 1 but, my God, what a game.”

Wembanyama put on an incredible showing as he dropped 41 points and 24 rebounds in his first ever conference finals appearance to lead the Spurs to a road victory.

He followed that up with:

4. Michael Jordan’s Game 4 vs. the New York Knicks where he had 54 points.

3. LeBron James’ Game 5 in Detroit against the Pistons in 2007 where he finished with 48 points — 25 straight to close out the game.

2. Charles Barkley’s Game 7 against the Seattle Sonics in 1993 where he dropped 44 points and 24 rebounds to help the Suns clinch a trip to the NBA Finals.

1. LeBron James’ Game 6 against the Celtics in 2012 as he dropped 45 points to help even the series at 3-3.

While the top four performances all helped the respective player and teams head to the NBA Finals, whether Wembanyama’s holds the same weight is to be determined.

As for Thompson’s legendary night, it might not have been enough to land him on Windhorst’s list, but it was enough to earn himself a reputation in the Bay and NBA world that’s still discussed a decade later.

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Quentin Grimes’ audition with the Sixers for the 2025 free-agency class couldn’t have gone much better. He averaged 21.9 points in 28 games on 46.9/37.3/75.2% shooting splits. He also bore no responsibility for the team’s record over that time as they began to pile the roster with G-Leaguers and journeymen from overseas in a tanking effort to retain their draft pick.

Likely thanks to an overambitious agent, that didn’t translate to lucrative offers though. Grimes’ restricted free agency became a tumultuous stand-off that dragged on all offseason and ended with him taking an $8.7 million qualifying offer just as the Sixers were beginning training camp.

For the first month of the season, Grimes had appeared to put such a rocky negotiation behind him, scaling down perfectly into the sixth man role the team envisioned for him when they acquired him. Through November, he was averaging 17 points a night shooting 44.8% from the field and 36.9% from behind the arc.

As the season wore on, he struggled more and more to consistently be that complementary player. He shot 31% from three the rest of the season and as his percentage dropped, so did his willingness to take them.

He was getting up 6.4 threes a game in that first month and a half versus 4.6 the rest of the way. The drop off in his three-point shot hampered his other ways to score, as did the erratic playmaking that saw him post the second-highest turnover percentage of his career.

By the time the playoffs rolled around, the scuffling Grimes was still the only trustworthy one out of the Sixers’ “glut of guards” off the bench.

He was phenomenal in Game 5 of round one against the Boston Celtics, dropping 18 points while providing stellar defense on the other end, but it was short-lived. That ended up being Grimes’ only meaningful double-digit performance of the postseason (he scored 12, mostly in garbage time, in a Game 4 blowout loss to the Celtics). Game 2, the only game the Sixers had a shot in against the New York Knicks, was lost because this glut could not withstand the 1:12 Maxey sat on the bench.

The context has changed this time around with Grimes set to hit the market again, this time as an unrestricted free agent, but what kind of offers he will get and from who are just as unclear. Grimes is one of two key free agents for the Sixers this summer, along with Kelly Oubre Jr. Andre Drummond and Kyle Lowry’s contracts are also set to expire.

With three max contracts still on their books, the Sixers are in a pretty similar cap situation they were last summer, with room for about one real contract to hand out in free agency before hitting the first apron. It’s probably a safe assumption to say they’d want to stay under that so they’d be able to use the $15 million non-tax payer mid-level exception.

The Sixers’ choice is likely not going to be as binary as this, especially given the expected financial limitations, but if it comes down to keeping Oubre or Grimes, the choice doesn’t seem too hard at this point. Oubre is coming off a career-high three-point shooting season. With the work he’s put in to get his shooting hand and wrist healed the past couple of offseasons, that feels sustainable as well. The chemistry he’s developed cutting off Joel Embiid has made him malleable and scalable for this team in a way Grimes has yet to figure out. 

The best case to be made for retaining Grimes is that his value around the league remains a lot lower than many would have expected after how his previous season ended. He no longer has the restricted tag that would scare teams with cap space away, but his struggles to fit in nicely as a role player seem likely to give any contender pause.

It would also go a long way in explaining how a guy with so many sought-after traits in the current NBA has already played for four teams through his first five seasons.

In his exit interview, with his season having just ended only hours prior, Grimes admitted he isn’t sure what he’s looking for in free agency just yet. He did feel like it was a solid season, one he felt he showed he could do different things when needed.

“Whenever guys were in and out or were dealing with injuries or whatever I feel like I was able to prove myself every time I stepped on the court,” he said. “If I had more responsibility, if I was in a bench role, I would come in and just try to make an impact anyway I can. So, I’m just kind of digesting the whole season as a whole right now.”

With a new agent, Grimes will hope his free agency goes better this time around. The Sixers, on the other hand, might be even more cautious than they were a year ago.

According to Kevin O’Connor at Yahoo Sports, the Suns are expected to try to trade into the first round of this year’s draft. This may be harder than we would like, as this year’s draft is considered to be of good quality, and many teams may want to keep their picks.

That said, this Suns front office is aggressive. We shouldn’t write off the possibility. If Brian Gregory does manage to make it into the first round, how could he do it?

Currently, the Suns sit at pick 47. Here are five ways I could see the Suns moving up on draft night:

Phoenix sends 2033 1st round pick to OKC for #17

Does this trade make you sick? This trade makes me sick. But I see this as the most obvious way for Phoenix to make it into the first round. Oklahoma City does not need any more young talent. They are already so deep that many young players aren’t getting playing time, and they also have pick #12 in this year’s draft.

Devin Booker is going to be 36 by the 2033 draft, and the Suns have no total control over any of their own first-round picks between now and then. If you forced me to bet, the odds are good now that the 2033 pick is a lottery pick.

Who knows what the Oklahoma City Thunder will look like seven years from now? Given their youth, they may still be in contention as long as their core stays healthy. This gives them future flexibility to make even more trades or draft a young player down the road.

For Phoenix, this trade only makes sense if there is someone still available at #17 that they really like. Someone who they think can one day launch into stardom. If they pick another role player at #17, they won’t get this team any closer to a championship. In fact, they may be pushing themselves further from one another with this trade.

Phoenix swaps Jalen Green for PJ Washington

Dallas has entered their “Timeline” era. They are restarting. They need young talent around Cooper Flagg and flexibility for the future. 

For them, Jalen Green can slot in between Kyrie and Cooper and (hopefully) be their solid third option. In addition, they get what could be a really good pick in 2033 to either come in and support Flagg in his prime or be traded to put them over the top.

The Suns give up a lot in this deal. Green and the 2033 1st are some of the Suns’ best assets in their incredibly limited pool. In return, however, they get two first round picks, albeit late ones. They would be getting pick #30 this year and OKC’s 2028 1st round pick, which would probably also be #30 or close to it. 

In my eyes, the big prize here is PJ Washington. Washington is hardly the second coming of Charles Barkley, but he can come in and start for the Suns at the Power Forward, which they desperately need.

Why should Dallas trade Washington? Because he fits the Luka Doncic timeline, not the Cooper Flagg one.

Klay Thompson is pure salary filler in this deal. He can come in and fill minutes, especially if the Suns move off of either of Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale.

In total, this cleans up the depth chart and nets the Suns two picks for one.

Cleveland gets under the second apron

I have enjoyed the Royce O’Neale experience. He is, unfortunately, not going to get the Suns into the NBA Finals. He could, however, get the Suns into the first round of the draft. 

Both Royce and Max Strus scored around ten points on 40% shooting from three this season. This deal doesn’t push either team hard in either direction. 

This trade is all about the financials. In shedding the 5.8 million dollar difference in salaries between Royce and Strus, the Cavs get under the 2nd apron. In exchange for helping Cleveland do this, the Suns pick up the 29th pick in the draft.

This deal just makes so much sense for both teams. Cleveland and Phoenix are positioned well to help each other this offseason without either team having to give much up in the process.

This is easily my favorite trade on this list for its sheer cogency. If the Cavs were willing to do this, the Suns should leap on the opportunity.

Cameron Johnson comes home

I know Suns fans will say that Phoenix is giving up a lot in this deal for Cam Johnson and a late first. I wouldn’t fault anyone who says they’d rather just keep Grayson Allen and Ryan Dunn. Let me try to convince you, though.

The Cameron Johnson experience hasn’t been great in Denver. Cam ended the season with decent stats and really turned things around after a rough start to the season, but for some reason, the fit never seemed to work as well as it should’ve next to Jokic and Murray. He is a good player, but isn’t worth 21 million dollars at this point.

Grayson Allen, on the other hand, has lived up to his contract. He has been a top-6 player for the Suns since he got to Phoenix. He is cheaper than Johnson and better than him. I think Denver would swap them 1-for-1 if they could. 

Ryan Dunn completely fell out of the rotation this season. He is thrown into this trade to make the salaries work and to hopefully bring enough value to bring in a second round pick. Denver is taking a flyer on him in this deal to try to eat up some of the forward minutes they are losing by trading away Cam Johnson.

For Phoenix, this helps clean up the shooting guard logjam and brings in the first round pick they are hunting for. 

I would love to see Cam come home where he belongs.

The Suns trade up…in the second round.

I know, I know. I promised five trades into the first round. But what is the real difference between pick 31 and pick 30 in terms of talent? Probably nothing. Pick 30 and pick 31 in this year’s draft will be in the same tier of talent.

I don’t know exactly what this trade would look like, but let’s just say it’s two second round picks for the 31st pick in the draft. This is the type of deal the Suns have done before, trading up for Rasheer Fleming last season in the second round. 

If the Suns cannot move into the first round, I expect they will be aggressive if there is someone they like at the top of the second round.

What do you think, Suns fans?

Do you like any of these trades? Do you hate all of them? Do you want BG and Mat Ishbia to stay put at 47? Let us know in the comments below!

The 2026 NBA Draft has some of the most impressive one-and-done prospects in recent memory and lottery teams will have plenty of talent to pick from.

After the conclusion of the scouting combine in Chicago, talent evaluators are walking away with new opinions on some of the players after they completed measurements and athletic testing. Others, like Cameron Carr, were able to improve their stock by playing well during five-on-five pre-draft scrimmages. 75 total players participated in the drills with dozens more participating in the G League Combine.

Players can remain as early entry draft candidates through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 if they want to maintain their collegiate eligibility or they can return to college. The latest updates on those with big decisions are included below.

All heights and wingspans (as well as the distance between the two) are listed to the nearest inch and players were measured without shoes.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and benefited tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. While the battle for No. 1 is far from over, the former five-star recruit emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. He would be a fascinating fit next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who could help him play alongside veteran talent early in his career.

2. Utah Jazz: Cameron Boozer

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 18

CBS Sports recently reported that folks at the combine spoke with the "same level of confidence" about Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson going No. 2 overall as they did about Dybantsa hearing his name first. However, this is far from a foregone conclusion. Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year honors. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, though he performed well during athletic testing at the combine in Chicago. He offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set and can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16. It is important to note that his father, former Jazz player Carlos Boozer, currently works as a scout for Utah. Even if this is an awkward positional fit, the Jazz are building a much stronger core after trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. and drafting Ace Bailey.

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

One general manager also told Jake Fischer that “every team” is going to have North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson over either one of Dybantsa, Boozer, or Darryn Peterson. Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor reported that some front office executives view Wilson with “similarly high upside” as Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson with “dramatically lower downsides” than the guard. The Memphis Grizzlies are unafraid to draft away from consensus and tend to like analytically-friendly prospects, so they're potentially one of those teams. Wilson did more than enough to earn this placement before his injury. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded and was one of the best vertical athletes who tested at the combine in Chicago. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.

4. Chicago Bulls: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Bryson Graham, who was recently hired as the new executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, has a simple task: Select whichever of the four players is still available. While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, he has received “largely positive” feedback and was "quiet but serious" during the pre-draft interview process of the combine. Overall, it is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

5. Los Angeles Clippers: Kingston Flemings

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-4 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Clippers received this pick from the Indiana Pacers and when they are on the clock at No. 5 overall, look for them to potentially call on Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night. Flemings measured with a 40.5-inch max vertical and elite speed across all his agility testing.

6. Brooklyn Nets: Keaton Wagler

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. 

7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr.

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-2
• WINGSPAN: 6-7 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need a potential star and according to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, folks around the league "widely believe" they are targeting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. right now.En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory. It's also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college.

8. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Brayden Burries

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+2)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

With the pick the Hawks received from New Orleans, one potential target is Arizona freshman Brayden Burries. He was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.

9. Dallas Mavericks: Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-3 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 23

The Mavericks had the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and after hiring Masai Ujiri, they could benefit from a player as productive as Yaxel Lendeborg. He showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. While he is older than other players projected in the first round, his impact in college basketball was undeniable. He also had a strong "stocks" (steals plus blocks) rate and a plus wingspan, two things Ujiri often loves.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Milwaukee Bucks, potentially heading toward an ugly Giannis Antetokounmpo divorce, must simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, some scouts feel Brown has the highest “upside” of the guards in this range.

11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López

• TEAM: International
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Karim López had a low usage rate and played fewer minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros, but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup. López measured well, weighing just shy of 222 pounds and 38-inch max vertical.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• WINGSPAN: 7-6 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add even more lottery-caliber talent, like Michigan center Aday Mara. While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. Oklahoma City tends to like low-usage big men with high assist percentages as well as high block and steal percentages. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large folks like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) to guard Victor Wembanyama.

13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Heat could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

14. Charlotte Hornets: Cameron Carr

• DRAFT AGE: 21
• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+8)

The player who improved his draft stock the most during the combine was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. He scored 30 points in a five-on-five scrimmage, recorded a 42.5-inch max vertical and had great physical measurements. This should grab the attention of teams that tend to like athletic prospects like the Hornets. The All-Big 12 wing brings sincere athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament. This is about the range of German big man Hannes Steinbach, who reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shone during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads. 

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa St.
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Grizzlies will have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade and may have their eyes on Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization. A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the All-Big 12 forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The Grizzlies are not afraid to draft away from consensus and have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past. Perhaps they trade back to get him, but he fits their profile.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Nate Ament

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+2)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While the Thunder may not actually use this pick because they have such an abundance of talent on its roster already, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament. The forward reportedly considered returning to college to aim for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. His decision to declare for this class, instead, suggests he is likely comfortable with the feedback he has received so far. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking this forward with a standing reach exceeding 9-foot-1 near the lottery.

18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic): Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to win the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson was a winner during measurements at the combine, recording a 39-inch max vertical and testing with elite agility for his position.

19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz, who reportedly has a workout scheduled with the franchise, on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Ebuka Okorie

• TEAM: Stanford
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: New Hampshire
• HEIGHT: 6-1
• WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue the Spurs, who often fall in love with players who boast a high assist-to-turnover ratio like he did (2.3) last season. He told reporters there is "no chance" he is returning to school next season.

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Detroit Pistons have drafted several prospects capable of contributing to an elite defense, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. He is athletic with good positional size and length. Peat is also a solid rebounder and passer for his position. The All-Big 12 forward will desperately need an improved jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. "Speculation" about a return to Arizona and head coach Tommy Lloyd has reportedly "increased" recently.

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Dailyn Swain 

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. He is quick, bouncy, a solid rebounder and his 81.5 percent free-throw percentage indicates he has good shooting form. While he has three years of college experience, at 20 years old, he is the same age as a few NCAA freshmen. Swain told reporters he is "two feet in" about turning pro and decided to withdraw from the second day of pre-draft scrimmages.

23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Chris Cenac Jr. 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. He did, however, get hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. Cenac told reporters he is “fully committed” to the NBA Draft and had great measurements at the combine, recording a 37-inch max vertical and a very impressive agility.

24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves 

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. He declared early entry for the 2026 NBA Draft but also entered his name in the transfer portal and could return to school. If he returns to college, he is reportedly most seriously considering LSU and Duke and added that Kentucky also reached out to his agents.

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+8)
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers.

26. Denver Nuggets: Christian Anderson 

• DRAFT AGE: 20
• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-1
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+5)

The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson is a potentially perfect fit. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs. Anderson said he’s “100% invested in [the draft],” but he reportedly "didn’t completely shut down the chance" to go back to school.

27. Boston Celtics: Milan Momcilovic

• TEAM: Iowa St.
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Wisconsin
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 6-9 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 21

Former Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic may decide to stay in college and use the transfer portal, but if he does turn pro, he will have options. Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers. Momcilovic scored 297 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked fifth-best among D-I players last season. He also matched 28 corner 3-pointers, according to CBB Analytics, which trailed the top-ranked player (34) by just four field goals made.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Tyler Tanner 

• TEAM: Vanderbilt
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Tennessee
• HEIGHT: 5-11
• WINGSPAN: 6-4 (+6)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

It is unusual to find a sophomore under 6-foot projected in the first round of a mock draft, but if there were ever a player who has earned that kind of praise should he decide to turn pro after this season, it's Tyler Tanner. Despite his size, the All-SEC guard found meaningful ways to contribute on both sides of the floor. He can score efficiently, dunk, block shots, steal the ball, and he is more than serviceable as a floor general capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. Tanner could also return to school, but he will continue to receive first-round buzz if he stays in the draft after the early entry withdrawal deadline. 

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Henri Veesaar

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Estonia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered “at least $6 million” in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr. 

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke. During the combine, he did the dirty work, recording 5 rebounds with 1 steal and 1 block in his first game and then scored 117 points (7-of-9 FG) with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the second. Reed also tested with elite agility for his position. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft: Latest update before early entry withdrawals

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The New York Knicks haven’t faced much resistance in nearly three weeks. The Cleveland Cavaliers are aiming to do more than just stay competitive, but even a close game could create betting value for us.

These Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect a quality Game 1 tonight.

Best Cavaliers vs Knicks props for Game 1

Player	Pick
Jalen Brunson	Over 6.5 assists	+110
Jarrett Allen	Over 12.5 points	-115
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 1.5 threes	+145

Game 1 Prop #1: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists

+110 at bet365

We, as a basketball community, probably did not properly appreciate that seven-game series from the Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. That was the good stuff, even if Game 7 ended in a rout.

Detroit leaned heavily on Cade Cunningham, perhaps too heavily, but with good reason. Even on a lineup devoid of a second scorer or enough perimeter shooting, Cunningham averaged 7.9 assists in that series.

The New York Knicks do not need to rely on Jalen Brunson as heavily for all things offense, but he is still clearly their focal point and initiator. Expect Brunson’s assist numbers to spike in this series, frequently able to get past Cleveland’s perimeter defenders, but then faces quality rim defenders.

Game 1 Prop #2: Jarrett Allen Over 12.5 points

-115 at bet365

One of those quality rim defenders found his groove offensively late in that series against the Pistons. Jarrett Allen struggled to start the series, going just 1-for-4 in 18 minutes in Game 1, but he averaged 17.3 points in the final three games, clearing this points prop each time.

Allen needed to find his space against a physical center like Jalen Duren.

He should not have that same issue against the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson both bring their own qualities, but neither is as physical a presence as Duren.

Game 1 Prop #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes

+145 at bet365

This is simply too rich a price to be ignored. Karl-Anthony Towns hit multiple 3-pointers in two of four games last series and has done so in four of 10 games this postseason while shooting an absurd 48.3% from deep.

Realize, he hit multiple 3-pointers in two of the four games last round despite never playing even 28 minutes in that lopsided series. A similar limitation fell on the final three games of the first round.

If Cleveland can actually keep things competitive, Towns should attempt five or six 3-pointers. At that point, there would also be value in betting on him to hit three triples, available at +500 at bet365.

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

After going through the NBA Draft process — including putting on a show at the NBA Combine — forward Morez Johnson Jr. is officially staying in the draft and will not return to Michigan next season, he told ESPN.

“From Day 1, coach (Dusty) May told us he was going to help develop us on and off the court, and the goal was to win a national championship,” Johnson told ESPN. “We accomplished that mission. I am excited to chase my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.”

Johnson played in all 40 games this past season for the maize and blue, averaging 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three. He leaves college on a major high note, putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds in the National Championship vs UConn.

Following the conclusion of the season, Johnson — along with fellow Wolverine big man Aday Mara — declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility. He went through the NBA Combine and impressed attendees by measuring in at 6-foot-9 (barefoot) and 251 pounds. He also has a 7-foot-3 wingspan and an 8-foot-11 standing reach. Additionally, Johnson had the highest maximum vertical (39 inches) among all forwards at the event.

Perhaps what impressed folks the most was his shooting, as he drained 17-of-25 three-pointers at the Combine. Johnson only went 12-of-35 on three-pointers all of last season, so to make them at a 68 percent clip — albeit a small sample size — is exactly what NBA front offices wanted to see out of him.

With Johnson officially done at the college level, Dusty May and company have one roster spot remaining for the 2026-27 season. May spoke about that with Andy Katz when the two of them were at the NBA Combine and how they would be “prepared to pivot” in the event Johnson stays in the draft.

“We have one (open roster) spot — we’re just waiting and taking a wait-and-see approach with Morez and certainly anticipating him having a difficult decision because of how well he’s played in Chicago,” May said. “But we’ll support him, and then if he does stay in, we’ll be prepared to pivot. We like our team regardless, but obviously, he raises our ceiling like (Yaxel Lendeborg) did last year.”

It’s unclear whether May will get another player through the portal, the high school ranks, or internationally, but it sounds like he and his staff have a plan in place to put their best foot forward for next season.

In the meantime while we wait on those developments, we wish Johnson nothing but the best as he pursues his dreams of being an NBA player.