‘Make him say no,’ is always popular this time of year when discussing Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and every single major college coaching job that opens up.

Gotta make Brad Stevens say no, which he will, but have to make him say no https://t.co/NEf4RODJBL

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 25, 2026

This year was no different when North Carolina moved on from Hubert Davis after five seasons. UNC made the call and Stevens, as expected, said no.

NEWS: Brad Stevens—who was atop the list of targets—has already removed himself from consideration for the UNC job, sources told @CBSSports. No surprise of course, but notable all the same as Carolina starts its search to replace Hubert Davis.

Story: https://t.co/CJy6517vfF

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 25, 2026

“As for Stevens, the news is anything but surprising yet still an important public update that allows North Carolina to sharpen its focus on realistic candidates,” wrote CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. “An Indiana native, Stevens has turned down the Hoosiers job the past three times it opened since he left Butler for the Celtics. The 49-year-old hasn’t strutted the sidelines as a coach since 2021, when he pivoted to the organization’s front office as its chief decision-maker.”

There are rumors that Bill Self might retire from the Kansas job so if that happens, I’m sure another call will be lobbed into the Auerbach Center and greeted with a similar response.

The Boston Celtics will be signing Charles Bassey to a second 10-day contract according to a report by Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Bassey signed his first 10-day contract with the Celtics on March 14^th, making today, March 25^th, its expiration date. As such, Boston opted to bring him back to stay in compliance with league minimum roster rules as they try to duck the luxury tax.

Charles is just 25 years old, and a five-year vet of the NBA. The 6’10 center has had stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Memphis Grizzlies before his time with Boston. In his five years, he’s played a combined 118 games, most of those coming from his three-year run with the Spurs from the 22-23 season through the 24-25 season. He averages 4.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.8 blocks across his career, with a field-goal percentage of 62.7%.

This signing brings Boston’s roster back up to 14 players on standard contracts, at least for the next 10 days. At the end of that timeline, it is widely expected that the Celtics will convert Ron Harper Jr.’s two-way contract to a standard deal to ensure he is playoff eligible, while also keeping the team in roster compliance, and giving them just enough room to stay under the Luxury Tax for the season.

Boston is signing Bassey to a second 10 Day, per @AdamHimmelsbach.

This gives the Celtics maximum flexibility with managing roster spots through the end of the regular season.

Ron Harper Jr. will get a standard deal before the season ends, but as I've said for weeks, it'll come… https://t.co/i7mdAnVbZ3

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 25, 2026

At this point, Bassey has only played in two games for the Celtics this season, a combined four minutes across those two games, all in garbage time. Given the limited on-court opportunity, Bassey didn’t have much room to prove himself, but he did score 4 points on 2-3 shooting while picking up 2 rebounds and 1 steal.

Charles was with Boston before the season as well, playing three games as part of the Celtics Summer League roster. He managed to impress fans who tapped in during that time, averaging 15.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 21.3 minutes per game, shooting 70.4% from the floor. His Summer League performance likely influenced the Celtics decision to bring Bassey in for the two recent 10-day contracts. While it’s unlikely that he will be retained for the season after this most recent contract expires, it’s clear he made an impression on the team.

Seattle could regain an NBA team after the league's board of governors voted to explore adding two expansion franchises, with Las Vegas the other potential location.

The Seattle Supersonics competed in the NBA from 1967 to 2008 before being relocated to Oklahoma City and renamed the Thunder after the franchise was bought by an Oklahoma-based group in 2006.

If the expansion is approved, it would increase the number of NBA teams from 30 to 32.

Las Vegas has not previously had an NBA team, but has two teams in the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

NHL side the Las Vegas Knights were founded in the Nevada city as an expansion franchise in 2017, while the NFL's Raiders moved there from Oakland in 2020.

MLB team the Athletics, previously based in Oakland and currently playing in Sacramento, will move to Las Vegas from the 2028 season.

Seattle hosts teams in three of the four major leagues - reigning NFL Super Bowl champions the Seahawks, MLB's the Mariners and the NHL's Kraken.

• From Sin City to Sports Town USA - how Vegas fell for sport
• Oakland Athletics to move to Las Vegas from 2028

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the current NBA champions, while the franchise previously won one title as the Supersonics in 1979.

Seattle would reportedly be able to use the Supersonics name and logo if a franchise were to return to the city.

Las Vegas has hosted NBA all-star events and summer league games, while Women's National Basketball Association side the Aces are also based there.

Any expansion is still several steps away and would require approval by at least 23 of the 30 NBA governors to pass.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the vote "reflects our board's interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle - two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball."

He added: "We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties."

Any bids to own either of the two expansion franchises are expected to be between $7bn (£5.2bn) to $10bn (£7.5bn).

If both expansion teams are created, they would be placed in the Western Conference, with either the Memphis Grizzlies or Minnesota Timberwolves moving to the Eastern Conference to ensure 16 teams in each.

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The Milwaukee Bucks will play their fourth road game in six days when they travel west to face the surging Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center tonight.

My Bucks vs. Trail Blazers predictions call for the home team’s defense to lock down the shorthanded visitors’ offense.

Read more in my best free NBA picks for this non-conference tilt on Wednesday, March 25.

Bucks vs Trail Blazers prediction

Bucks vs Trail Blazers best bet: Bucks Team Total Under 106.5 (-115)

It’s no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled this season, and that’s been strikingly evident across the team’s last 10 games.

In that span, the Bucks rank 29th in scoring at a paltry 107.2 points per game. They scored 106 points or fewer in five of their last 10, and they were held under 100 points in two of their last three.

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains sidelined, and both Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Harris will join him there. Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma are questionable, and Milwaukee has a dearth of available offensive weapons.

On the flip side, the Portland Trail Blazers have allowed the fifth-fewest points to opponents across their last 10 games (108.8) and sport the second-best defensive rating at 106.9.

The Blazers have held opponents to 106 points or fewer in five of their last 10 outings, including two of their last three overall and two of their last three at home.

Over the last 10 games, Portland’s defense ranks top-12 in fewest points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers allowed.

Tonight’s matchup of a deflated offense traveling on the road to face a surging defense offers the perfect storm for the Bucks to post a dud in the scoring column. I’ll take the home team to put the clamps on Milwaukee’s lackluster offense.

Bucks vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay

The Bucks are hitting the skids right now, having lost by 30+ in two of their last three games on the current road trip. The Blazers have won four of their last five, including a 134-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. I’ll take the home team to win comfortably.

Donovan Clingan swatted seven shots against Brooklyn on Monday, and he’s averaged three rejections across his last eight outings. The big man has blocked multiple shots in six of his last eight.

Bucks vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Milwaukee Bucks Team Total Under 106.5
• Trail Blazers -12.5
• Donovan Clingan Over 1.5 blocks

Our "from downtown" SGP: Blazers Bottle Up Bucks

Clingan has averaged 13.1 rebounds across his last eight games, corralling 13+ five times in that span. Toumani Camara has reached 5+ boards in five of his last 10 outings, and he grabbed seven in his first matchup with Milwaukee.

Camara has recorded at least one swipe in 13 of 17 games since the All-Star break. Scoot Henderson has averaged 1.5 steals across his last six games, recording at least one theft three times. Both players should have no problem picking the pockets of a depleted Milwaukee roster.

Bucks vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Donovan Clingan Over 1.5 blocks
• Donovan Clingan Over 12.5 rebounds
• Toumani Camara Over 4.5 rebounds
• Toumani Camara Over 0.5 steals
• Scoot Henderson Over 0.5 steals

Bucks vs Trail Blazers odds

• Spread: Milwaukee +12.5 (-105) | Portland -12.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Milwaukee +500 | Portland -700
• Over/Under: Over 226 (-110) | Under 226 (-110)

Bucks vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know

The Milwaukee Bucks have only covered the 1Q Spread in 19 of their last 50 games (-16.50 Units / -29% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Trail Blazers.

How to watch Bucks vs Trail Blazers

Bucks vs Trail Blazers latest injuries

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It looked like a game against the Pels…

…until Knicks captain Jalen Brunson took over.

Here’s what was said before and after New York won its seventh consecutive game.

Mike Brown picked up a reporter's recorder to start his press conference

"The crap that I say is not that important" 😂 pic.twitter.com/9wiYedJzVG

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) March 25, 2026

Mike Brown

On Brunson’s clutch performance against New Orleans:

“That’s what great players do. Great players, when it matters the most, when the pressure’s the highest, sometimes that means drawing two and kicking it out to OG for a wide-open three or someone else. He was great at that tonight. For who he is and for me as a coach, I never put a cap on those guys. You don’t put a cap on Steph Curry in Golden State. Jalen Brunson here, and Jaylen Brown in Boston. You let those guys be who they are.

“Great players, when it counts the most, when the pressure is the highest, they make the game easier for everyone else.”

On a high-scoring back-and-forth game against the Pelicans:

“It was a funky game. Both teams offensively were really good, nobody could really get a stop.”

On the Pelicans’ physical challenge:

“Zion is on another level, in terms of his drives to the rim. Physically, athletically, extremely powerful. It takes all five guys being in the right position to try and make it tough on him. And they might not even be able to make it tough on him, he’s that powerful, athletic, strong. They’ve been playing fast, you know, as of late. Getting out in transition and been doing a good job overall, defensively. And even offensively since the All-Star Break, Dejounte Murray just takes them to another level, with his ability to run their team and to score. Think since the All-Star Break, they’re like 10-5. So they’ve been playing some really good basketball.”

On OG Anunoby’s defense on Zion:

“Our defensive player of the game was OG. He guarded a lot of different players throughout the game, but to close the game the way he did against Zion, he’s a monster. He’s a handful for anybody but for OG to be able to do the job that he did on him down the stretch was huge.”

On adjusting the offense for Karl-Anthony Towns:

“I had to adjust to him…and that’s what a season’s about. We’re not playing the same way offensively as we did to start the year. So I had to make some adjustments to try to figure out how I can get him involved a little bit better, get him to feel a little more comfortable and it’s showing a little bit. He’s obviously put in the work but … it’s a two-way street and it’s good to see him playing at the level he’s playing at right now.”

On simplifying Towns’ role at the four:

“When he is at the four spot, we’ve really simplified it so that he doesn’t have to think as much. And when he doesn’t have to think as much, he can just react.”

On spacing and preferred spots for Towns:

“He loves being at the top of the floor; he’s not always there, but we’ve added a couple more things that put him there with appropriate space. And then we found a post-up and an iso situation for him that is pretty good from a spacing standpoint in how he likes to operate. Those things, we didn’t have at the beginning of the year for him. So again, he’s made adjustments, he’s kept working, he continues to work, but as the head coach, I have to make adjustments, too. Especially with him being one of our two best players.”

On Jordan Clarkson’s two-way impact:

“Jordan has been playing well on both ends of the floor. He’s giving it to us defensively and he’s giving it to us offensively. I tell ya, his ability to read the defense and make timely cuts and finish in that painted area is a lot of fun to watch. It just adds another dimension to what we’re trying to do.”

On Clarkson’s defensive play:

“You can see the level of awareness and sense of urgency that he plays with now, especially on that end of the floor. What I like more than anything else is his physicality on the ball. You feel him. He’s relentless with it.”

On letting his assistants lead in huddles:

“It’s great for the guys to hear different voices. It’s like with your kids, if you’re the one talking all the time, sooner or later they tune you out. I have the utmost confidence in all of my assistants. So, for them to have a voice or a presence in what we’re doing, I’m all for it because they handle their business the right way. It also gives me an opportunity to save my voice. Maybe when I’m speaking, it can be magnified a little louder if you have that around you. All of my guys on the front of the bench, all of my guys on the back of the bench, I’ll close my eyes and let them coach and be OK with it.”

Jalen Brunson on the Knicks 7th straight W! @alanhahn | @NYKnicks | #NewYorkForeverpic.twitter.com/zbs9ehNofX

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) March 25, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On having a shot at clinching the No. 2 seed:

“Just focus on playing as best we can, control what we can control. That’s what’s most important to us right now.”

On sticking to his habits late in games:

“Just trying to be myself. I stick to my habits, focus on my work ethic and what got me here, and keep it that way.”

On Brown’s assistants gaining experience by leading huddles:

“I feel like it helps us but also helps the coaches. They get more experience and put in positions where they’re leading. I think it’s all-around good for everybody.”

Josh Hart on the Knicks getting through the soft part of their schedule with a 7-game winning streak

"Good teams win games that they're supposed to. Obviously anyone in the league can beat you on any given day" pic.twitter.com/7D0AqeVJ8B

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) March 25, 2026

Josh Hart

On Brunson embracing clutch moments:

“That’s a position he wants to be in. We want him in that position. You learn when you watch his game and play this game that the last 3-4 minutes of a game are winning time. That’s where your superstars show why they are at that level. That’s what he did.”

On hearing different voices in huddles:

“Sometimes it’s good to hear different voices. I think there is a sweet spot because you don’t want to hear too many different voices, but I think he does a good job of holding guys accountable but letting other coaches have our attention and mixing in other voices.”

Ogugua Anunoby Junior just became the first New York Knickerbocker in known history with double-digit DPOGs:

👷🏾 OG: 10
👷🏾 Mitch: 8
👷🏾 Josh: 6
👷🏾 Mikal: 5
👷🏾 KAT: 3
👷🏾 JC: 3
👷🏾 Jose: 3
👷🏾 Deuce: 3
👷🏾 Huk: 2
👷🏾 Cap: 1
👷🏾 Lan: 1
👷🏾 Trey: 1
👷🏾 Kev: 1
👷🏾 Mo: 1 pic.twitter.com/ncOZh4yycw

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 25, 2026

OG Anunoby

On defending Zion Williamson:

“I was just trying to make it difficult for him. Trying to make the catches difficult, push them out further and then just play one-on-one defense. I have great teammates who help me out, communicating what’s behind me. Just executing.”

On the team’s defensive execution on Tuesday:

“We have great defensive pieces all over the floor, so we’ve just been executing, communicating better and it’s been showing on the court.”

Rando crashes postgame show @McNuttMonicapic.twitter.com/ohmCqbbUXv

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 25, 2026

The days all blend in to each other. The Brooklyn Nets continued their western road trip with a visit to Oregon to face the Portland Trailblazers. The Nets didn’t have much of anything for the play-in bound Blazers and lost by 35 points. The team’s current losing streak is at eight. And if you’re keeping track at home, that was the team’s seventh loss by at least 30 points this season.

Tonight’s opponent is firmly locked in to the tenth seed and the final play-in position. The Golden State Warriors are making through the end of a frustrating and disappointing season as they look ahead to the future. They beat the Dallas Mavericks in overtime on Monday night, but that was the last thing on anyone’s minds following the game. More on that shortly.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 10 PM.

🤕 Injuries

The following are out:

• Noah Clowney
• Michael Porter Jr
• Day’ron Sharpe
• Nolan Traore
• Egor Demin
• Danny Wolf

As expected, Malachi Smith has been extended another 10 days.

In overtime, Moses Moody went up for a layup and suffered a horrifying leg injury. Moses was diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon and will be out for indefinitely. All the best to him on his road to recovery.

The following are also out:

• Jimmy Butler
• Seth Curry
• Steph Curry
• Al Horford
• Quinten Post

🏀 The game

Golden State won the first meeting in December.

One game away from the top of the standings Nets fans care about. The journey continues.

Ben Saraf, this is your moment. With Traore out, Ben will get the start and get all the minutes he can handle at the one. This matchup in particular will be a great challenge for his decision making skills as the Warriors are fifth in the NBA in opponent’s turnover rate this season. Ben has had turnover trouble for much of the season and tonight will be a great opportunity for him to work on it.

What do you do without Stephen Curry? For the Warriors, it’s relying on a whole lot of Brandin Podziemski. It’s been a learning lesson for him, and when Curry does return, we’ll see how Podz gets reacclimated to a familiar role. In the meantime, he’s got to navigate this rocky road.

“So in my mind right now, where he is: if he’s playing off of Steph, off of the ball, if he’s playing more of a secondary ball-handler role, he’s really good,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “He does a lot of things that a lot of players don’t do. He’s got a knack. When he tries to be too on-ball, you see him get into some trouble. You see the warts.”

No time better than the present to figure this stuff out.

👀 Player to watch: Kristaps Porzingis

KP came over from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, and it’s been a rocky start to his new adventure. Porzingis missed time due to illness and it led to more questions about the Warriors’ future. When this group is healthy, they have the potential to be championship contenders. However, they’re not healthy, they’re older, and the clock is getting closer and closer to midnight. It’s a lot to navigate for this proud franchise and the hope is Porzingis can remain healthy long enough so this group can make one more attempt to reach the top of the mountain.

Nic Claxton will be the vet tasked with keeping the young Nets within range tonight. It’s been difficult, but that’s why you play the games. For Clax, he’ll look to see if his guards can find him some good looks near the basket tonight. The Warriors allow teams to shoot 68.9 percent inside the restricted area, seventh highest mark in the NBA this year. Against a shorthanded frontcourt, tonight could be the night for Nic Claxton to have a big scoring game.

📺 From the Vault

What you about to witness is my thoughts
Right or wrong
Just what I was feelin’ at the time

Also, we are one day away from the best baseball team returning to our lives. HIT THE MUSIC!

More reading: Golden State of Mind, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Golden State Warriors Game Notes – Golden State Warriors

The NBA has moved a step closer to adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.

The league’s board of governors met this week and voted to explore bids and applicants for teams exclusively in those two cities, beginning the process for its first expansion in more than two decades. Bids are expected to be in the $7bn to $10bn range per franchise.

Commissioner Adam Silver had previously described this year as a target for a decision on expanding the 30-team league, which last added a new franchise in 2004. The league will now evaluate bids over the next several months.

“Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle – two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” Silver said in a statement Wednesday. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”

Here’s a breakdown of what this expansion would mean for the NBA.

Wait, the NBA has new teams?

It soon may. The NBA’s board of governors voted this week to approve a formal exploration of adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. The league is reportedly targeting the 2028-29 season for debuts.

Why?

These markets look ripe – sports-mad large urban areas with viable arenas. But mainly because for billionaires, too much is never enough. The NBA has been at 30 teams since the Charlotte Bobcats arrived in 2004. The value of franchises and media rights have since skyrocketed and the Los Angeles Lakers were sold last year for a record $10bn, giving fresh momentum to a process the league has been considering for a few years. According to ESPN, the NBA could demand an expansion fee of $7bn to 10bn per team – delivering about $500m into the pockets of the owners of each current franchise.

Isn’t that outrageously expensive?

Yes! But it could still be a good deal.

The NBA has a history of failed and relocated franchises – including in Seattle and nearby Vancouver. However, these days team valuations are only going up, driven by the league’s 11-year, $77bn media deals that began this season. In 2025 the average team was valued at $5.5bn – more than double the estimate from three years prior, according to Sportico. The least valuable team, the Memphis Grizzlies, was put at $4bn. So it’s a solid bet even at such an eye-watering price. Back in 1966 the Seattle SuperSonics’ original ownership group paid a $1.75m expansion fee – the equivalent of $17m in today’s money.

How did Vegas go from zero major league men’s teams to four?

In the past, Vegas’ reputation as a seedy tourist-oriented city and the leagues’ previous anti-gambling stances counted against it. It was seen as a place for boxing, wrestling and other exhibition-type one-off events designed to fill hotel rooms, rather than a location for numerous regular-season games that rely on a committed local fanbase.

But now sports are all-in on legal betting, the metro area’s population has soared to about 2.5 million, and the city has modern venues. The first major pro team, the Golden Knights, were an instant success when they joined the NHL in 2017. The NFL’s Raiders relocated from Oakland in 2020 and MLB’s Athletics plan to take the same road in 2028. The NBA has staged its summer league in Vegas since 2004, as well as Cup games, so it’s familiar with the city.

Who would own the teams?

Not LeBron James. Though the Lakers megastar has previously expressed a desire to own a team in Vegas, he firmly ruled that out when speaking to reporters earlier this month. The Athletic reported that James’s partner, the Fenway Sports Group – which owns Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox – balked at the potential price tag.

Some reports have surmised that the owners of the NHL’s Kraken would be in pole position in Seattle, which would be logical. There has also been speculation that Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos might be interested. (Buying a major league basketball team after eliminating the Post’s sports desk would seem a tad weird, but these are strange days.)

What happened to Seattle’s first NBA team?

The Seattle SuperSonics boomed and busted and were reborn in 2008 as the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Sonics won their lone NBA title in 1979 but then went mostly quiet. The team signed Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft for what proved their final season in Washington state. Amid failing to strike a deal with local and state officials over renovating their arena or building a new one, majority owner Howard Schultz – the former Starbucks boss – sold the team for $350m in 2006 to an Oklahoma-based investment group that controversially but predictably dispatched it to Oklahoma.

The Thunder flourished and are the reigning NBA champions. Schultz called the sale the “biggest regret of my professional life”.

Is there room for two more teams?

In an enormous country of more than 340 million people? Of course. That said, the bigger the league, the more diluted the talent pool, and the NBA depends heavily on star power.

Prosperous Seattle is the 15th-biggest urban area in the US and can easily support a franchise in a modern arena. Vegas is smaller but has enough rich people to fill luxury boxes. The NBA’s global appeal makes it an attractive night out to many international visitors (though that’s a dwindling cohort). That said, Vegas isn’t a huge TV market – only the 40th biggest in the country, per Nielsen – and its tourism-dependent economy is slumping.

What would the teams be called?

Seattle has surely maxed out its climate and location-related team names – it’s already got the Mariners, Seahawks, Kraken, Sounders, Storm, Reign, Orcas, Torrent and Seawolves. We get it: it’s rainy and coastal. The city has a proud coffee tradition but we can expect the team to forgo anointing itself the Grinders or the Roast in favour of the obvious: resurrecting the SuperSonics brand, tapping into a rich seam of history and nostalgia and righting a perceived wrong as it drops anchor. (Sorry.)

Considering the NBA’s recent betting scandals, it’s debatable whether the Vegas team would follow the WNBA’s Aces and go for a gambling-related moniker. The hostile desert environment has no shortage of vicious critters that could offer inspiration in addition to the glitz of the city itself, though US sports are already rife with snakes, scorpions and wildcats, Miami brings the Heat and Phoenix shines its Suns.

Where would they play?

There’s plenty of talk about constructing a new arena, as you’d expect in a dynamic city that loves to build spectacular edifices. It’d be cheaper and more logical, at least in the short term, to share T-Mobile Arena, the Strip-situated home of the Golden Knights. It has hosted the NBA Cup semi-finals and final since 2023. But a sensible and restrained choice wouldn’t feel very Vegas, would it?

A decade too late to save the Sonics, the KeyArena near downtown Seattle was renovated with private money for $1.15bn and rebranded as Climate Pledge Arena in 2020 by locally headquartered Amazon, who acquired the naming rights to highlight their avowed commitment to sustainability. How that squares with the company reportedly donating $1m in 2024 to the second inauguration fund of a coal-loving and regulation-repealing US president is one question. Another is: could an NBA team share it with tenants including the WNBA’s Storm and NHL’s Kraken? Certainly.

How would they fill their rosters?

In addition to the usual draft, there would be an expansion draft. Typically these require existing teams to produce lists of unprotected and protected players. The new franchises form their squads by picking no more than one unprotected player from each team. Sounds simple … too simple.

There’s ample scope to complicate proceedings by making trades and deals with salaries, roster balance and other conditions imposed by the league in mind. There could be some shock names on unprotected lists if existing teams see the draft as a chance to offload overpaid and underperforming stars.

Would there be conference realignment?

Those who paid attention in geography class don’t need telling that Seattle and Las Vegas are firmly in the western US. So they’ll go in the Western Conference. To balance the two conferences at 16 teams each, one club would need to join the Eastern: probably Minnesota or Memphis. Maybe New Orleans, but they’re conveniently close to the Texas teams.

Minnesota makes the most sense because they’re distant from the other Western teams but relatively near to a cluster of Eastern teams in the midwest. That may also help competitive balance by moving a reliably-strong team to a usually-weaker conference.

Would this be it for expansion?

For the foreseeable future. Exclusivity helps keep franchise values high and sustains more power in the hands of individual owners. Still, there are plenty of mid-sized American cities that could make a case: Nashville, Baltimore, Austin, San Diego, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City, St Louis.

Success in Seattle could revive chatter about Vancouver regaining a team, while NBA commissioner Adam Silver has referenced Montreal and Mexico City as contenders. But economic uncertainty – such as currency fluctuations – and burgeoning international political tensions make it unlikely that the league would look outside the US for another franchise in the short or medium term. It’ll focus on continuing to bring teams to Europe for regular-season games and forming a new European league.

The Brooklyn Nets are giving Malachi Smith an extended look.

After inking him to a 10-day contract on March 13, the Nets are renewing the combo guard’s 10-day deal, per Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto.

The Brooklyn Nets are signing Malachi Smith to a second 10-day contract, league sources told @hoopshype. Smith has averaged 6.2 points on 50% shooting from the field and 3-point range, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 19.5 minutes during six games played for the Nets. pic.twitter.com/wY42VJo1ir

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) March 25, 2026

After going undrafted out of Gonzaga in 2023, Smith bounced around the G League, spending time with the Trailblazers, Bucks, and Grizzlies affiliates before being dealt to Long Island last September.

While playing in 39 total games for Brooklyn’s affiliate this season, production took off January 6, when Long Island head coach Mfon Udofia handed him the keys at point guard following Nolan Traore’s call-up to Brooklyn.

Since the move, Smith dominated. Over his last 24 games in the G League, he averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per night, all while shooting an efficient 51.9% from the field and 42.9% from three.

Throughout six games with Brooklyn on his initial 10-day contract, Smith averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and a steal in 19.5 minutes while shooting 50% from the field and beyond the arc.

Against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, he notched a career high of 18 points along with three steals, four assists, and two rebounds.

All together, he compiled 37 points, 16 assists, 13 rebounds, six steals, and three blocks in 117 minutes while hitting 15 of his 30 field goal attempts and five of his ten tries from 3-point range. He also committed nine turnovers.

By signing him to a second 10-day contract, Smith is expected to remain with Brooklyn through April 4.

From there, the Nets face a decision.

Because this is his second 10-day stint, Brooklyn can either convert Smith to a standard NBA deal for the final five games of the season or have him to return to Long Island, where he remains under a standard G League contract.

While it’s an excellent opportunity for Smith to continue to build up his stock in the NBA, it’s a tough break for Long Island at the worst possible time.

The team clinched a playoff spot, but momentum is not in their favor. They’ve dropped five straight and have been shorthanded, missing all three two-way players, Chaney Johnson, Tyson Etienne, and E.J. Liddell, while also dealing with Grant Nelson’s season-ending injury and now losing Smith.

And there’s not much time left to figure it out, as the G League playoffs begin March 31 and are single elimination, meaning one night ends the season.

At the same time, Smith’s rise is another example of Long Island’s player development paying off.

Head coach Mfon Udofia, associate head coach Sean Swords, and their staff have consistently put players with all different types of backstories in position to reveal their value, and Smith is the latest to benefit. He is the third player from Long Island to earn an NBA opportunity this season, joining Nelson, who signed a 10-day contract with Brooklyn, and Nate Williams, who landed with the Golden State Warriors on a two-way deal.

Overall, Smith gets a longer look in Brooklyn, while Long Island heads into their final regular-season game hoping to get in the win column before postseason play kicks off.

Following North Carolina's firing of Hubert Davis, one of college basketball's biggest blue-blood programs is in the market for a new coach.

Could a second team soon join the Tar Heels in the coaching market?

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self told reporters on Sunday, March 22 that he has not "decided" on his future amid health concerns. He added that he would discuss it with family.

REQUIRED READING: Kansas coach Bill Self considering retirement amid health concerns

No. 4 seed Kansas exited the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament short of a Sweet 16 berth after St. John's game-winning — and season-ending — buzzer-beater. It is the fourth straight season the Jayhawks have been eliminated in the first weekend, with the Jayhawks last advancing to the second weekend in 2022, when they won the national championship.

The Jayhawks finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-11 record.

Since taking over in Lawrence, Kansas in 2003-04, Self has led the Jayhawks to the Men's NCAA Tournament every season in which March Madness was held. That includes four Final Four appearances, three national championship game appearances and two national titles, in 2008 and 2022.

Here's everything to know about Self's decision, including updates:

Bill Self live updates: Latest on Kansas basketball coach

Bill Self 'got to think about this'

Jeff Goodman, in a separate report for The Field of 68, reported Self didn't say "he wasn't going to retire," adding that the Jayhawks coach has "got to think about this." The ball remains in Self's court, but on his own timeline.

"Bill Self told me there's no truth to the speculation that he's retiring today... but he didn't say he wasn't going to retire. He said, 'I've got to think about this.' I don't know what he's going to do" - @GoodmanHoops

🎥: https://t.co/g3l00M4NXbhttps://t.co/GLe0NI2aYT

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 25, 2026

No announcement expected Wednesday for Bill Self-Kansas

According to a report from Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68, Bill Self is still "in (the) process of making a decision," and there is no expected announcement from the Jayhawks coach on March 25.

Kansas coach Bill Self told me that there is no truth to the fact that he will announce his retirement today.

Said he is still in process of making a decision on his future.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 25, 2026

Bill Self says 'no news to report'

According to a report from Gary Bedore of the Kansas City Star, Bill Self said "as of now there is no news to report regarding his decision."

Bill Self tells me as of now there is no news to report regarding his decision. In fact he told me "b.s., bad info" referring to some comments out there. That's as of now from the head coach.

— Gary Bedore (@GaryBedore) March 25, 2026

Will Bill Self retire?

Following Kansas' loss to St. John's in the second round of the Men's NCAA Tournament on March 22 in San Diego, Self was noncommittal about what his coaching future looks like.

"No, I haven't decided," Self said in the postgame news conference. "I'll get back and visit with family. I've had obviously some issues off the court health-wise. And that will be discussed.

"But I love what I do. I want to feel good while I'm doing it, though. We'll get back and we'll discuss that when we get back."

The 63-year-old Self has experienced some health concerns in recent years and was briefly hospitalized in January. Self's hospitalization was out of "abundance of caution" due to being under the weather, and kept him from traveling with his team to a road game at Colorado.

"I feel as good as I've felt in a long time," Self said on March 22. "I'm not making any statements whatsoever. But every year, I think — it used to be you work — when you get to be doing it as long as I've done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I'm probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak."

What are Bill Self's health issues?

Self has been dealing with heart conditions for several years. 

He missed the 2023 Big 12 Tournament and 2023 Men's NCAA Tournament after being hospitalized for chest tightness and balance concerns. Self "underwent a standard heart catheterization and had two stents placed for the treatment of blocked arteries" that year, according to the Topeka Capital Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Self was taken to the hospital in July 2025 after he “felt unwell and experienced some concerning symptoms," according to a statement from Kansas at that time. He had two stents inserted, and the "procedure went very well," per Kansas.

This season, Self was taken to the hospital out of an "abundance of caution" due to being under the weather.

How old is Bill Self?

Self is 63 years old. He'll turn 64 on Dec. 27th.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Bill Self retire? Latest updates on Kansas basketball coach

PRAGUE (AP) — It's time to say goodbye for Kaori Sakamoto, and she's aiming to go out on a high with the world figure skating title.

Sakamoto's short-program music, “Time to Say Goodbye,” was charged with emotion as she targets a fourth world title before retirement.

Sakamoto shouted with joy and clapped as she learned her score of 79.31, a season-best which put her into first place by less than a point from her fellow Japanese skater Mone Chiba on a personal-best 78.45 in her disco-themed program.

There's a strong U.S. challenge for the medals with Amber Glenn third and Isabeau Levito fourth.

Without Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, who withdrew from the world championships amid a hectic media schedule, the focus was on whether Sakamoto could regain the title she won three times in a row from 2022 through 2024, and whether three-time U.S. champion Glenn could claim a first world medal.

Glenn came to the world championships with an Olympic team gold but missed the individual medals after a short-program error. She was back on form Wednesday, starting with a big triple axel on her way to scoring 72.65. Levito was just behind her with 72.16 for fourth in her return to form after 12th at the Olympics.

Ami Nakai's triple axel propelled her into the Olympic short-program lead — she ended up with bronze — but went missing Wednesday. The 17-year-old Japanese skater could only manage an awkward double as her opening jump and has a tough task to recover from eighth.

The championships continue with the pairs short program later Wednesday.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Much like the first week of spring, the Miami Heat have been hot and cold due to a constant influx of bodies in and out of the lineup.

Superstar Bam Adebayo has been the one constant, but Miami is starting to get healthy, and that takes pressure off Adebayo to perform — especially in the wake of his historic 83-point performance.

My Heat vs. Cavaliers predictions size up Miami’s main man in the middle, and my NBA picks don’t see Bam having as big a night in Cleveland on March 25.

Heat vs Cavaliers prediction

Heat vs Cavaliers best bet: Bam Adebayo Under 21.5 Points (-110)

There is light at the end of this losing tunnel for the Miami Heat. For the second straight game, head coach Erik Spoelstra will have a healthy lineup with all key rotation players ready to run.

Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez, and Tyler Herro have all missed time over the past month, putting a lot of weight on Bam Adebayo’s sculpted shoulders. 

His usage rate shot through the roof, jumping from 23.7% to 30.1% in March. His floor time increased by five minutes as those injuries mounted, leading to an uptick in touches, field goal attempts, and, naturally, points.

Bam was taking almost 22 shots per game after averaging around 16 on the season, scoring just over 29 points per night. That stretch includes his 83-point performance on March 10, which nuked his points props. Those totals now hover between 21.5 and 24.5 points O/U.

He’s coming off a quiet outing in a one-sided loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He played 29 minutes and went 5-for-17 from the field for just 18 points. 

That was Miami’s first game in a while with everyone healthy, and there will be more offensive balance in its second full-strength outing at Cleveland tonight.

Player projections are tempered for Bam, sitting between 18.5 and 20.9 points — reflecting a return to his normal workload and usage rate.

My number boils down to 19.6 points, which should have the Under 21.5 priced as high as -180.

Heat vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

A full-strength Heat squad is teetering on the play-in cutoff and desperate to stop the bleeding against a Cleveland Cavaliers team playing the second of back-to-back games after failing to cover vs. a struggling Orlando squad last night.

Rising tides raise all ships, and Davion Mitchell benefits from all those bodies back in the rotation, opening up space to operate. He goes up against a softer Cavs backcourt, with game models forecasting close to nine points tonight.

Heat vs Cavaliers SGP

• Miami +2.5
• Bam Adebayo Under 21.5 points
• Davion Mitchell Over 7.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: The Mitchells vs. the machines

First off, have you seen “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”? Hilarious. Go watch it after you watch the two Mitchells in this game:

Donovan and Davion (no relation). Some models call for 30+ points and six assists from the Cavs' guard, while the Heat’s Mitchell is projected for nine points and as many as six dimes.

With a total of 243, there are plenty of points up for grabs, and the floor generals will certainly get involved.

Heat vs Cavaliers SGP

• Donovan Mitchell Over 28.5 points
• Donovan Mitchell Over 4.5 assists
• Davion Mitchell Over 7.5 points
• Davion Mitchell Over 5.5 assists

Heat vs Cavaliers odds

• Spread: Heat +2.5 | Cavaliers -2.5
• Moneyline: Heat +125 | Cavaliers -150
• Over/Under: Over 243 | Under 243

Heat vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

The Cleveland Cavaliers played last night and are 7-4 SU but just 4-7 ATS on the second of back-to-back games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Heat vs Cavaliers

Heat vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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NEW YORK (AP) — NBA owners vote to explore expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle.