Category: Basketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The $1.5 billion sale of the Minnesota Timberwolves from Glen Taylor to an investment group led by e-commerce entrepreneur Marc Lore and former baseball star Alex Rodriguez gained NBA approval on Tuesday, finalizing a complex and contentious process more than four years after the deal was reached.

The ownership transfer that Taylor tried to stop last year received an unanimous vote from the league’s board of governors that comprises the 30 team owners. The deal, which is expected to close this week nearly 51 months and more than 1,500 days after the initial agreement, includes the four-time WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx.

The Timberwolves are planning an introductory news conference for Lore and Rodriguez next month in Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League. Lore and Rodriguez will serve as co-chairmen on the board, with Lore as Timberwolves governor and Rodriguez as alternate governor, the league announced. For the Lynx, Rodriguez will serve as governor and Lore as alternate governor.

“We fully recognize the great responsibility that comes with serving as stewards of these exceptional franchises,” Lore said in a statement distributed by the organization. “We are committed to building an organization that sets the standard for excellence, is universally admired, and rooted in pride that spans generations.”

The business partners and close friends who met during the pandemic over a Zoom call have said they’re committed to keeping the teams in Minnesota.

“I’ve dedicated my entire life to the world of sports, not just as a game, but as a powerful force that unites people, uplifts communities, and changes lives,” Rodriguez said. “I’m incredibly honored and energized to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I know what it takes to be a champion, and I’m ready to bring that same commitment and drive to create a winning culture in Minnesota.”

The 83-year-old Taylor, who grew up on a Minnesota dairy farm and built a fortune with a business that specialized in printing wedding invitations, bought the Timberwolves for about $88 million in 1994 to prevent them from moving after a deal between the original owners and a group in New Orleans was nixed by the NBA.

After Lore and Rodriguez were outbid for the New York Mets by hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, they turned their attention to basketball after learning Taylor was exploring a sale. The deal was arranged in phases to allow Taylor to stay as a mentor of sorts.

The value of the franchise has more than doubled since that April 10, 2021, agreement due largely to soaring NBA revenues. Forbes has estimated the Timberwolves are worth $3.1 billion. Sportico’s most recent calculations pegged the club at $3.29 billion. Both publications put them as the third-lowest in the league, playing in a midsized market in a 35-year-old arena.

The Lynx have been valued between $230 million (Forbes) and $240 million ( Sportico ), in the bottom half of the league that’s in the midst of an expansion to 16 teams by 2028.

Taylor announced on March 28, 2024, he was exercising his right to back out of the sale because Lore and Rodriguez missed the deadline to purchase a third portion of the club that would have given their group about an 80% stake.

Lore and Rodriguez were blindsided by the decision and defended their integrity, accusing Taylor of having seller’s remorse. They blamed the payment delay on the slow pace of the league’s approval process and said they submitted paperwork six days ahead of the deadline.

The dispute first went to mediation and then to arbitration, where a three-panel judge ruled in favor of Lore and Rodriguez. Their group, which includes former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Google executive Eric Schmidt, has been poised to buy Taylor and his partners completely out rather than the leave him with a 20% stake from the initial agreement.

Taylor decided in April not to appeal the arbitration decision, near the end of his 31st season controlling the team. The Timberwolves saved him the best for last, reaching the Western Conference finals for a second straight year before losing to NBA champion Oklahoma City.

Even after making the playoffs in each of Taylor’s final four seasons, the Timberwolves have the worst all-time regular season record — 1,196-1,680, a .416 winning percentage — of the league’s current 30 franchises. They’re 39-55 in playoff games, with a first-round elimination in 10 of the 13 times they qualified.

Taylor and his wife, Becky, published a farewell message in Monday’s print edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune, which Taylor bought in 2014. The Timberwolves also posted it on the front of their website.

“This marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in our lives — one filled with purpose, pride, and a deep connection. When we kept the Timberwolves from moving to New Orleans in 1994, we did so with the hope of building something that could unite people across Minnesota and beyond. And when we added the Lynx in 1998, it was driven by our belief in supporting women and fully embracing the diversity and promise of the WNBA,” the Taylors said, thanking their limited partners, the players, the staff, the community and the fans for their support.

“Though we are stepping away as owners, our love for this organization and this community remains as strong as ever. We will always be fans, cheering from our seats, celebrating your triumphs, and believing in what comes next. It has been the honor of our lives.”

Lore, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at $2.9 billion, is the CEO of the New York-based meal delivery service Wonder. He has founded e-commerce companies that were previously acquired by retail giants Walmart and Amazon.

Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star who hit 696 career home runs but has fallen short of Hall of Fame induction due to his admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs, built a business career around real estate investment and development. He made more than $450 million in salaries over 22 years in the major leagues.

With Dejounte Murray sidelined for a chunk of next season following an Achilles tear, the New Orleans Pelicans needed more playmaking next to Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and the rest of the roster. Jordan Poole spent most of last season in Washington playing point guard for the Wizards and had a respectable year (despite the team's struggles), showcasing improved playmaking.

That has led to a trade. The Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Wizards for Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in this year's draft, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other reports. The trade cannot be made official until July 6 (in the next fiscal year for the NBA), meaning the Wizards will make the No. 40 pick for the Pelicans on Thursday.

McCollum is taking being traded again in stride.

For the Pelicans, they get Poole, who averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 assists a game last season while shooting 37.8% from beyond the arc. The Pelicans will now have a core rotation that includes Poole, Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy II, Yves Missi, Herbert Jones, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins, and Bey. They also have picks 7, 25, and 40 in Wednesday's NBA Draft.

The Wizards are trying to lean into a young roster with Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and whoever they select with the No. 6 pick in this year' draft, surrounded by good veterans as mentors such as McCollum and Khris Middleton (who is picking up his $33.3 million player option for next season). With McCollum, Olynyk and Middleton in the final years of their contracts, the Wizards could have $100 million in cap space next summer to completely reshape the roster. Washington also could use those veterans as trade bait closer to the deadline if playoff teams are looking for depth.

My first time watching Cooper Flagg in person came when he was a 17-year-old member of the USA Basketball Select Team, the only player under 21 on a roster of rising NBA stars sent to Las Vegas as scrimmage fodder for the USA squad that went on to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Flagg joined a team with Brandin Podziemski (Warriors), Payton Pritchard (Celtics), Trey Murphy (Pelicans), Keegan Murray (Kings), Jalen Suggs (Magic) and Amen Thompson (Rockets).

From the first day, Flagg's motor stood out, and he made some plays. By Day 3, what stood out was how much more comfortable he got and how quickly he learned — Flagg looked like the best player on the select roster by this point. In one standout sequence, he knocked down a 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, and one possession later, out-hustled everyone to get a putback over Bam Adebayo.

Flagg will be the No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night in the 2025 NBA Draft. Let's dive into his fit in Dallas, NBA comps and more.

Flagg’s fit in Dallas

Flagg may be the most NBA-ready No. 1 pick in recent memory (including Victor Wembanyama, although Wemby's ceiling is higher). Flagg's defense and his high motor will have him standing out from the opening game of the season.

Flagg would fit anywhere — he is the kind of player teams try to fit other guys around, rather than worrying about his fit. His defense and rim protection will have coach Jason Kidd playing him critical minutes Day 1, he is at his best in transition (which will fit great with Kyrie Irving and Dallas, once Irving recovers from a torn ACL), and his ability to create his own shot and get buckets means he can play the three or slide up to the four.

Flagg also provides a critical bridge to the future in Dallas. Part of the head-scratching nature of the Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade was Dallas getting six years older with its core players, both Davis and Irving are north of 30. While there could be some concern that Davis and Flagg are both natural fours, because both can step away from the basket and hit shots, Jason Kidd should have no problem playing
them together.

In Dallas, Flagg could elevate the Mavericks to become a top-four team and a playoff threat if everything goes right. By late next season, this could be the Mavericks' starting lineup:

Guard: Kyrie Irving
Guard: Klay Thompson
Forward: Cooper Flagg
Forward: Anthony Davis
Center: Dereck Lively II
Sixth Man: P.J. Washington

"That'll be a really good spot for him right away, at least to be able to come in and contribute in a big way," fellow Duke star and projected top-five pick Kon Knueppel said, speaking to Clutch Points. "I think it'll be on a good team where it's not just like empty calories for a team that isn't really, maybe not going anywhere. But I think that will fuel his fire, you know. He wants to win."

"As far as Dallas goes, they've got a lot of really good pieces," Flagg told Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal. One of those is fellow Duke player Dereck Lively II. "To be able to learn from D-Live — that's pretty cool. So I think it would be a really cool opportunity."

Cooper Flagg’s NBA Comparison

Cooper Flagg is going to be the first Cooper Flagg in the NBA.

That said, player comparisons get made around the draft. Flagg is such a complete player that coming up with a good NBA comparison proves challenging — guys don't enter the league this well-rounded. After speaking with some scouts and front office people asking for comps, here are three names that frequently come up.

1) Kevin Garnett. A high-energy player who had a massive impact on both ends of the court. Flagg does not have KG's big personality and, while very competitive, is a more low-key about it. However, if you're talking about the impact a player had on the court, you can see how Flagg matches up with the Hall of Famer who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds through the peak of his career, while also being a defensive force and an NBA champion.

2) Jalen Johnson. Flagg could be a better version of the smooth 23-year-old Atlanta forward who can do everything well. Johnson is a plus defender who averaged 18.9 points and 10 rebounds per game last season — Flagg has a similar well-rounded game, but with better defense and a higher ceiling. Johnson has struggled to stay healthy (a labrum tear ended last season for him after 36 games) but Flagg doesn't project to have any expected health issues.

3) Andrei Kirilenko. This comp may be for the older generation, but it's one I like. AK-47 (that was his nickname) was a defensive force as a 6'9" forward — he led the league in blocked shots in 2005 and was a three-time All-Defensive team player who could handle the ball and create shots — his offensive game would fit the modern NBA better than his era. Flagg, with his 3-point shooting and handles, would be a better version of Kirilenko, but the style of play strikes me as similar.

Where did Flagg go to high school and college?

Flagg started his high school career in Maine, where he led Nokomis Regional High School to the state title as a freshman. By his sophomore year he transferred to basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida, where he played on a loaded team that included fellow expected 2025 NBA Draft first-round picks Liam McNeeley, Derik Queen and Asa Newell.

Flagg committed to Duke for college and last season, where he led the team to a 35-4 record during the regular season and the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

How much NIL money did Flagg make?

How much NIL money Flagg made at Duke kind of depends on who you ask and how you want to break it down — but most of what he earned are sponsorship deals that will follow him to the NBA, not disappear because he went pro.

Flagg made $4.8 million in NIL money last season, according to On3. That was by far the most of any college basketball player and was the second most of a college athlete in any sport (Texas quarterback Arch Manning made more at $6.5 million).

However, journalist Howard Bryant stated in an interview that Flagg earned $28 million last season, thanks to sponsorship deals with New Balance, Gatorade, Fanatics, and more, all of which will carry over to the NBA. That means saying Flagg made more in college than he will in the NBA is not accurate, the vast majority of the NIL money he made at Duke will not follow him to the Dallas Mavericks.

Flagg's rookie NBA contract is estimated to pay him $13.8 million next season and be worth $62.7 million over four years. The critical part of his leaving college and getting to the NBA is to start the clock on Flagg getting to his second NBA contract — if he is anywhere near the player he is expected to be, that will be a five-year deal worth well in excess of $350 million.

After finishing the 2023-24 season as the top seed in the Western Conference, expectations were high for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2024-25. Eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, Oklahoma City made a few key additions during the offseason, signing Isaiah Hartenstein and acquiring Alex Caruso in exchange for Josh Giddey. Even with their lack of experience, Mark Daigneault's team entered this season loaded and had the look of a potential title contender. Sure enough, Oklahoma City took a significant step forward. Once again, they finished atop the Western Conference, winning 68 games during the regular season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP award and Jalen Williams took another step forward in his development. Boasting one of the deepest squads in the NBA, Oklahoma City won its first NBA title, outlasting the Pacers in a classic, seven-game series. Given the draft capital at lead executive Sam Presti's disposal and the amount of talent that remains under contract for the foreseeable future, did a dynasty begin when Adam Silver handed Oklahoma City the Larry O'Brien trophy?

Oklahoma City Thunder 2024-2025 Season Review

Record: 68-14 (1st, West)

Offensive Rating: 119.2 (3rd)

Defensive Rating: 106.6 (1st)

Net Rating: 12.7 (1st)

Pace: 100.90 (5th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 15 (from Miami via LA Clippers), 24 (from LA Clippers), 44 (from Atlanta)

Some questioned whether or not a second-round playoff exit was enough experience for the Thunder to draw on as they looked to win an NBA title this season. However, Hartenstein made multiple playoff appearances in his prior stops, and Caruso was part of the Lakers' championship team in 2020. And while experience can be the best teacher, talent and depth are just as important, especially in an era in which seven different franchises have won the title in the last seven years.

Oklahoma City won its first seven games and never looked back. Daigneault's team would rip off a 15-game win streak in December, which did not include their loss to Milwaukee in the In-Season Tournament final (that game did not impact official records or stats). During the regular season, the Thunder enjoyed five separate win streaks of at least seven games, and they finished atop the Western Conference standings by a staggering 16 games.

After sweeping Memphis in the first round of the playoffs, Oklahoma City needed seven games to dispatch the Nuggets in the second round. Back in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, the Thunder eliminated Minnesota in five games to make their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. While the finals shifted for good when Tyrese Haliburton suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the first quarter of Game 7, this was an elite series filled with high-level performances. Gilgeous-Alexander won series MVP, but Jalen Williams' 40-point Game 5 won't be forgotten by Thunder fans anytime soon.

From a fantasy standpoint, the Thunder roster boasts a lot of quality with SGA and J-Dub leading the way. Chet Holmgren was limited to 32 games this season due to injuries, most notably a fractured hip, but he's a safe bet to provide excellent fantasy value when available. Based on his ADP, Hartenstein exceeded expectations, as did second-year guard Cason Wallace. With the key contributors from Oklahoma City's run to the title all under contract for next season and the team holding two first-round picks in Wednesday's draft, this could be the start of a dynasty in Oklahoma City.

Fantasy Standout: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

After finishing fifth and second in the Most Valuable Player voting the prior two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander took another step forward in 2024-25. He became the first player since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 to lead the league in scoring while also winning MVP and NBA Finals MVP, and those who drafted SGA certainly reaped the rewards. In 76 regular season games, he averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.1 three-pointers, shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 89.8 percent from the foul line.

Gilgeous-Alexander also shot 37.5 percent from three, his highest percentage since the 2020-21 campaign (40 percent), on a career-high 5.7 attempts per game. He entered the 2024-25 season with a Yahoo! ADP of four, and that number should be higher in 2025-26. Is SGA worthy of consideration for pick 1.1 in fantasy drafts? Nikola Jokić may remain the preferred option of many, but Gilgeous-Alexander's name should come up, especially if San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama remains in the conversation despite being limited to 46 games due to injury.

Fantasy Revelation: Cason Wallace

After recording modest numbers during his rookie season, Wallace was not on the radar for many fantasy managers ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. However, Holmgren's hip injury opened the door for him to provide far greater value than many anticipated. Starting 43 of the 68 games he appeared in, Wallace averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 three-pointers. He would finish the season as a top-100 player in nine-cat formats.

While Wallace was not a player who had to be rostered in standard leagues, due to Holmgren's return and Mark Daigneault's willingness to also use Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, it was easy to justify having him, especially for fantasy managers who needed defensive stats in their weekly matchups. Wallace will likely be a late-round pick in drafts in the fall due to Oklahoma City's plentiful options. But, as seen this season, he's capable of providing greater value than anticipated.

Fantasy Disappointment: Chet Holmgren

Holmgren being a fantasy disappointment has nothing to do with his production and everything to do with the availability. A fractured hip suffered during a November 10 loss to the Warriors sidelined the second-year forward/center for nearly three months. With the Thunder taking a measured approach to Holmgren's return, and rightfully so, fantasy managers had to craft their rosters with the expectation that minutes would be limited and he would not be available for both games of back-to-backs. The good news is that Chet had solid availability during the fantasy playoff weeks, especially in leagues that ran into early April.

Limited to 32 games, he averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.2 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers, shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 75.4 percent from the foul line. A top-50 player in nine-cat formats, Holmgren was a sixth-round player in eight-cat, per-game value. Unfortunately, the hip injury torpedoed his value in points leagues. Sandwiched in between a foot injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022-23 campaign and this championship season was a 2023-24 in which Holmgren played all 82 games. Fantasy managers certainly hope his availability in 2025-26 will align more with that season than the other two.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Jalen Williams

Based on his Yahoo! ADP of 36, many fantasy managers expected Williams to be a top-50 player at minimum. In nine-cat formats, he exceeded those expectations, finishing the season ranked 24th according to Basketball Monster. Williams appeared in 69 games, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 78.9 percent from the foul line. And J-Dub's versatility was on full display, with point guard being the only position that he was ineligible for in Yahoo! leagues. Due to the injuries suffered by Holmgren and Hartenstein, there were times when Oklahoma City employed Williams as a small-ball center, and he held his own defensively.

Williams finished the regular season with career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and three-pointers, earning third-team All-NBA honors. He scored at least 30 points in seven games, headlined by a 41-point effort in a March 2 win over the Spurs. During Oklahoma City's run to the championship, Williams had three games of at least 32 points, including the 40-point night he enjoyed in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. A third-round pick in most drafts ahead of this season, Williams may not be on the board at that point going into the 2025-26 campaign.

Isaiah Hartenstein

Given the Knicks' limitations in what they could offer Hartenstein in free agency last summer, it was unsurprising that Oklahoma City swooped in to sign the 27-year-old center. While limited to 57 regular-season games due to injury, iHart enjoyed the most productive season of his NBA career to date. Making 53 starts, he averaged 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.1 blocks in nearly 28 minutes per game, shooting 58.1 percent from the field and 67.5 percent from the foul line. Hartenstein recorded career-best averages in points, rebounds and assists, providing excellent value in his first season with the Thunder. A sixth-round player in eight- and nine-cat per-game formats, iHart exceeded his Yahoo! ADP (82) by a safe distance.

A non-displaced fracture in his left hand delayed Hartenstein's official Thunder debut until November 20, and there would be a five-game absence in January due to a left soleus strain. Outside of those absences, there would not be another instance in which Hartenstein missed more than two games in a row until Oklahoma City's final three games of the regular season. During the playoffs, he would start all but the first three games of the NBA Finals, with Daigneault going back to his usual starting five ahead of Game 4. Hartenstein's ADP entering this season was fair, but he's likely to go a bit earlier in drafts after a stellar debut season in Oklahoma City.

Alex Caruso

When Caruso was acquired from the Bulls last June in exchange for Josh Giddey and a trade exception, most of the basketball world was stunned that Oklahoma City did not have to give up any of its plentiful draft capital. While injuries limited Caruso to 54 appearances during the regular season, it was evident during the postseason that the Thunder made out like bandits in the trade. The combination of athleticism, strength and toughness makes Caruso a player who can be used in a variety of roles defensively, as evidenced by him taking on the challenge of guarding Denver's Nikola Jokić during Oklahoma City's Game 7 rout in the second round.

Coming off the best offensive season of his career, Caruso's scoring dipped in 2024-25, an unsurprising development due to Oklahoma City's depth and his minutes being managed. He averaged 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers in 19.3 minutes, shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 82.4 percent from the foul line. That production was good for 10th-round value in nine-cat formats and 12th-round value in eight-cat formats, according to Basketball Monster. Caruso did not meet or exceed his Yahoo! ADP (103), but no one would consider him a fantasy liability. Having agreed to an extension in December, he's under contract through the 2028-29 season. The key for Caruso will be to remain healthy, as he's capable of providing top-100 value when available.

Luguentz Dort

One of the NBA's best defenders, Dort has made notable strides as a perimeter shooter. This season, he shot a career-high 41.2 percent from three on 5.8 attempts per game after making 39.4 percent of his attempts in 2023-24. While there can still be moments when Dort struggles, he's been far more consistent the last two years. In 71 games, all starts, he averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 71.7 percent from the foul line.

The improved three-point production has boosted Dort's fantasy value, as he was a 10th-round player in nine-cat formats while his eight-cat value aligned with his Yahoo! ADP of 142. In addition to the three-point production, Dort recorded a career-high average in steals. As good as he is defensively, that does not always result in steals and blocked shots, which may limit Dort's fantasy ceiling. Ahead of the 2025-26 season, he should remain a player who's targeted in the later rounds of standard league drafts.

Aaron Wiggins

In his fourth NBA season, Wiggins took a considerable leap forward in his production. Starting 26 of the 76 games he played, Wiggins averaged 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.7 three-pointers, recording career-best marks in each of those categories. He shot 48.8 percent from the field and 83.1 percent from the foul line and was especially valuable to fantasy managers when Oklahoma City was without Holmgren.

Along with Wallace and Isaiah Joe, Wiggins was one of the options consistently considered by Daigneault to help fill the void. While this led to some maddening times for managers hoping to see one option rise above the rest, all three being capable streamers at various points was a fitting outcome for the eventual NBA champions. Like Wallace, Wiggins will likely be a player who's viewed as being worthy of a late-round roll of the dice in drafts next fall.

Isaiah Joe

Like Wallace and Wiggins, Joe also enjoyed the most productive season of his NBA career in 2024-25. In 74 appearances, 16 being starts, he averaged 10.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.6 three-pointers in 21.7 minutes. Joe shot 41.2 percent from three on 6.3 attempts per game, and there were ten games in which he made at least five triples. Joe also recorded three 30-point games during the regular season, including a January 10 win over the Knicks in which he shot 8-of-11 from beyond the arc.

His best performance was an April 11 win over the Jazz in which he tallied 32 points, five rebounds, nine assists, two steals and 10 three-pointers, but the season was finished for most fantasy managers by that point. While Wallace and Wiggins were superior options this season, Joe was no slouch, either. Even if he is not selected in standard drafts in the fall, there will be points during the 2025-26 season when Joe will be worth picking up off the waiver wire.

Jaylin Williams

Among the players who received consistent rotation minutes during the regular season, Williams may be the lone question mark for the Thunder heading into the summer as the team holds an option on his contract. However, it's worth a little under $2.2 million, and Jay Will provides another option behind Holmgren and Hartenstein when needed, which should bode well for a return. Due to a strained hamstring, Williams did not make his season debut until just before Christmas. The good news is that he would not miss more than two games in a row again until April, when a sprained left ankle sidelined Williams for four contests.

In 47 games, he averaged 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers, recording career-best marks in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and three-pointers. While Williams won't be worth selecting in most fantasy drafts, there should be points when he's useful as a streamer.

Restricted Free Agents: Branden Carlson, Alex Ducas, Adam Flagler

Team Option: Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell

On the eve of the 2025 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks continue their search to find their next head coach (they don't have a pick before No. 50, there's no pressure there).

The Knicks have already conducted interviews with former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins and former Cavaliers/Lakers/Kings head coach Mike Brown, and both were "impressive," reports James Edwards III at The Athletic. Those are names we knew were in the mix, but then Edwards adds they are considering bringing in a new name, former Hornets head coach James Borrego.

"New York has tossed around the idea of speaking with James Borrego for its vacancy, per league sources. Borrego, a CAA client, is known around the league for his offensive creativity and analytics-forward approach."

The Knicks have already interviewed Minnesota lead assistant Micah Nori, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

Nori has been near the top of the list of assistant coaches deserving a shot in the big chair and is well-liked by the players he has coached. He has been a key part of a Minnesota staff that has led the Timberwolves to back-to-back Western Conference Finals. However, the Knicks have been looking for an experienced head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau, rather than replacing him with a first-time coach.

Borrego has experience as a head coach, and his teams in Charlotte improved every year — he led them to 43 wins in his final season — despite the roster not exactly being stacked with elite NBA talent. That wasn't enough for the Hornets, who let him go. Last season he was an assistant on Willie Green's staff in New Orleans.

The Knicks have taken their time and done a broad search to replace Thibodeau, who in five years as the Knicks head coach established a culture, led the team to the playoff four times (as many times as they had been there the previous 20 seasons combined), and last season led New York to its first Eastern Conference Finals in a quarter century. The sense was that Thibodeau had taken this team as far as he could, and a new voice was needed to take Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the rest of the crew one final step: to the NBA Finals. The door feels open in the Eastern Conference next season (considering the Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum in Boston, Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana, and Damian Lillard in Milwaukee). Still, that's a big ask for the next Knicks coach, which is why the team has leaned into veteran coaches.

There is no timeline for the hire, but Leon Rose and the Knicks front office would want a coach's input on free agency, which starts in a week.