Category: Basketball

The NBA Draft Lottery is complete, with the Washington Wizards walking away with the No. 1 overall pick in what many consider a loaded draft. The odds makers at FanDuel currently have AJ Dybantsa out of Brigham Young University as the favorite to go first overall at -500. The kid did well, and he can thank former Phoenix Suns assistant Kevin Young for his tutelage as the BYU head coach.

For Phoenix, the lottery was a non-event. The Suns traded away their 2026 first round pick during the journey that began with the acquisition of Bradley Beal back in 2023. Because Phoenix made the postseason, the pick never had a chance to jump into the lottery. It landed at 16th overall and heads to the Memphis Grizzlies, who also own the third overall selection in this draft.

So yesterday came and went quietly for Suns fans. No sitting around worrying the math somehow broke against Phoenix’s and pushed their former pick into the top four of a potentially generational class.

That being said, attention now shifts toward the draft, and the mock drafts are starting to flood in as analysts try to piece together who goes where. For the Phoenix Suns, holding the 47th overall pick means there isn’t much value in most mainstream mock drafts right now. Why? Because almost everyone is focused on solving the first round puzzle. The second round is an afterthought.

In Phoenix, it shouldn’t be.

That pick is an opportunity to add another young player to the roster and hope your development system can turn them into something impactful. Youth has never mattered more in the NBA, especially with the way the cap and apron system is structured. One of the clearest paths to staying competitive is stacking productive players on rookie-scale contracts.

That’s the challenge, though. Those players actually have to become productive.

Once the rookie-scale deal expires, teams are pushed into an awkward game of chicken where they almost have to overpay to retain the player. That’s how bad contracts happen. Look at the Denver Nuggets and Christian Braun. Tough season. Quiet postseason. Now the extension kicks in next year at five years, $125 million, and Denver is paying the tab for a mid-level player until 2031. That significantly impacts roster flexibility.

So even if the 47th pick isn’t flashy, the hope is that your scouting department and your culture can identify someone who matters. We’ve already seen signs of that. Oso Ighodaro was selected 40th overall and played all 82 games last season. Koby Brea went 41st overall last year, and even on a two-way deal, there’s a path for him to carve out minutes if Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale get moved this offseason.

So no, the 47th pick is not a throwaway asset. That said, second-round mock drafts are still hard to find right now. I still did the due diligence and pulled together a mock draft roundup so we can see who different outlets have the Suns taking at No. 47.

Here’s what we found.

There’s always a conversation around the NBA Draft about whether you draft for need or draft for best player available. Looking at the mock drafts above (and again, there really aren’t many of them right now, where’s your second round mock, The Ringer? Where are you, CBS Sports? Get on it!) a few of these mocks are clearly prioritizing talent over fit.

Jeremy Fears Jr., whose brother Jeremiah Fears was a lottery pick last season and now plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, appears to be a popular target at 47. Why? Because the thought process is simple. He could be the best talent available at that point in the draft.

That’s the question you have to ask yourself when you’re drafting that late. Talent or need? The Suns don’t need more guards. We know that. At the same time, this is a player you hope to develop over the next couple of years into someone who can eventually contribute.

That said, I really like the prospect Tankathon connected to Phoenix in JT Toppin. He checks both boxes. Talent and need. ESPN had him mocked around 36 in preseason projections before an ACL injury against Arizona State pushed him down boards. He wouldn’t be available immediately because he’d still be rehabbing, and honestly, that’s okay. Whoever the Suns draft at 47 probably isn’t walking into an immediate rotation role anyway.

This is a long-term play. That’s the lens you have to use. You’re drafting for what this player could become in a couple of seasons, hoping they help build toward what you ultimately want this team to be.

So what do you think about the early names showing up in these mock drafts? Does anyone stand out to you? What would you draft, talent or need? Is there another prospect Phoenix should target? Or do these mocks have it completely wrong? Let us know in the comments below.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Warriors will officially pick 11th in the draft after the results of Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery.
• Steve Kerr agrees to return to the Warriors on a two-year deal, according to ESPN.
• Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama gets ejected after receiving a flagrant-2 in Game 4 loss vs. Timberwolves.

The Golden State Warriors came into Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery hoping for a little luck, but ultimately stayed put at No. 11 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Despite entering the night with roughly a 10% chance of jumping into the top four, Golden State was unable to move up in the lottery order, keeping the franchise right outside the top 10 in what is viewed as one of the strongest draft classes in recent years.

With the draft order now officially set, several early mock drafts have already started projecting who the Warriors could target later this summer. Here’s a quick roundup of where analysts currently have Golden State going at No. 11:

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo: Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers, SF/PF:

The Warriors had long odds and no luck in their first draft lottery since 2021. They have an important decision to make with this pick, as they weigh the long-term health of the roster versus maximizing the team’s competitive chances with Stephen Curry still playing at a high level. Coach Steve Kerr agreed to an extension Saturday and presumably didn’t sign on for a rebuild. Selecting a younger player such as Lopez, who has the experience to potentially slot in early on his rookie deal, might help mesh the short- and long-term goals. Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) is another player who will draw strong consideration here.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie: Aday Mara, Michigan, C:

Mara, by far, helped himself the most in the NCAA Tournament. I had a vote for Final Four Most Outstanding Player and chose Mara because of how he dominated the semifinal against Arizona (going off for 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks) and how he completely changed the geometry defensively against Connecticut with his ability to guard Tarris Reed Jr. on an island while also shutting down the interior for drivers.

SB Nation’s Ricky O’ Donnell: Aday Mara, Michigan, C

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’ Connor: Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breaks, SF/PF

Tankathon: Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama, G

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann: Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama, G:

Sticking with my Philon-to–the Bay prognostication from my first mock a month ago because it feels like a perfect combination of ready-now intangibles and long-term possibilities. His toughness and savvy would allow him to blend in with the absurd amount of experience on this team, and even though he feels like less of a star bet than some of the other highly regarded guards in the class, I don’t expect him to stagnate after getting to the league.

The Warriors could still explore trade possibilities involving the pick depending on how aggressive the front office wants to be in maximizing the final years of Stephen Curry’s championship window. Still, holding the No. 11 selection gives Golden State an important asset in a deep draft class loaded with talent.

The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, May 11th:

Warriors News:

Steve Kerr returning as Warriors coach: Why? What’s next? | ESPN

This should also make extension conversations with Curry simpler later in the summer. The franchise icon has long expressed a desire to remain with the Warriors the entirety of his career. He can add either one or two seasons to his current deal, which has one season remaining, when he becomes extension-eligible in August. Having Kerr locked in should ease Curry’s concern of a franchise in complete transition, even if the championship ceiling is no longer there.

Why Warriors can feel optimistic despite lack of 2026 NBA draft lottery luck | NBC Sports Bay Area

Yet there are reasons for the Warriors to be optimistic in advance of the June 23 draft. For one, the last time Golden State held the 11th pick, in 2011, it came away with a Washington State guard named Klay Thompson. He became a five-time NBA All-Star and an essential member of four championship teams.

Thompson was by far the best No. 11 pick in franchise history, with a career that laps previous selections Andris Biedrins (2004), Mickael Pietrus (2003), Todd Fuller (1996) and Tyrone Hill (1990).

Draymond Green participates in Netflix’s Roast of Kevin Hart

NBA News:

Sources: Bucks seeking trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo | ESPN

Rival executives believe that Antetokounmpo’s desired teams will be the largest factor in his trade destination. He is essentially on an expiring contract, with next season guaranteed in his deal before a player option in 2027, providing him leverage to navigate to a specific team based on whether he would agree to stay long term given the players and picks needed to acquire him. He becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million contract extension Oct. 1 if he is not traded, or six months after being traded if he’s with a new team.

“The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved, and where will he sign long term?” one source with direct involvement in the situation told ESPN.

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama ejected after committing a flagrant-2 vs. Timberwolves

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Steve Kerr returns to the Warriors on a 2-year deal

While reports of the deal have not been revealed, ESPN reports that Kerr will retain his title as the highest-paid coach in the NBA. Last year, Kerr made $17.5 million, while the next-highest salary was $15 million, given both to the LA Clippers’ Ty Lue and the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra.

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

The Lakers’ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline this year was rather mundane. Without any real firepower to offer in a deal, they were quite far away from a competitive offer.

LA was limited to just one first and a host of expiring salaries they could offer. Even if one of those included Austin Reaves, it wasn’t going to be a competitive offer, so you could hardly blame the Lakers for being on the outside looking in when it came to chasing Giannis.

However, it never hurts to ask and they still reportedly made a run at him. On Monday morning, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Bucks were “open for business” when it came to Giannis trades. In the article, he revealed the Lakers were one of the teams that asked about Giannis at the deadline.

The NBA playoffs represent another landmark point for the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Sources said postseason teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers pursued Antetokounmpo at the February deadline, and their finishes to the campaign will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for Antetokounmpo.

When the last trade negotiation for a superstar resulted in the Luka Dončić deal, it’s not a surprise they asked. But the Lakers were never going to be serious contenders for him in February.

Still, it could have given them some insight into what the Bucks would be looking for in a trade so that the Lakers had a sense of whether they were interested in working on a deal once the summer rolled around. Now, they have three first round picks and a lot of cap space to potentially make the deal, plus the potentially more enticing option of an Austin Reaves sign-and-trade.

That being said, considering what the Bucks are searching for, according to Shams, the Lakers might not be able to make all that competitive of an offer yet again.

There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo, and ownership and front-office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said.

Is Reaves, who is 27 and about to be paid a salary at or near the max, considered a young blue-chip talent? Unlikely. And unless the Bucks have really loved Bronny’s spot minutes in the playoffs, the Lakers don’t have any of those.

Now, whether the team should pursue Giannis is another question worth asking, especially with how the regular season went after the trade deadline. Is it worth shaking things up to bring in Giannis?

Those are questions the team is likely going to have to face rather soon as the season nears its conclusion.

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

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from joining the New York Knicks in the conference finals, with the Los Angeles Lakers down 3-0.

We've checked our model and found the top NBA player prop projections to help you make your NBA picks.

Hungry for more? Check out our complete Thunder vs. Lakers predictions for May 11!

Thunder vs Lakers computer picks for Game 4

Thunder	Lakers
Dort o6.5 points +100	Ayton o9.5 points +102
Mitchell u16.5 points -105	Reaves u5.5 assists +120
Hartenstein o8.5 points -105	Kennard o9.5 points +100

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Thunder Game 4 computer picks

Luguentz Dort Over 6.5 points (+100)

Projection: 8.33 points

This is a five-star play according to our model, showing a 25.73% EV edge. Lu Dort is always ready to take a couple of threes if the Oklahoma City Thunder's offense calls for it, and he shoots the long ball at a 37% clip.

He scored 10 points in Game 3, and projections call for a similar Game 4.

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Ajay Mitchell Under 16.5 points (-105)

Projection: 14.71 points

Ajay Mitchell has been shredding the Los Angeles Lakers, but our model believes this is two points too high. With OKC sitting as a 12-point favorite, Mitchell might not see as much floor time as normal.

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Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 points (-105)

Projection: 9.60 points

The Lakers have no answer for Isaiah Hartenstein. The big man has scored 10+ points in back-to-back games, and our model calls for him to approach that total again.

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Lakers Game 4 computer picks

Deandre Ayton Over 8.5 points (+102)

Projection: 10.65 points

Deandre Ayton looks horrendous out there, but he's still scored 10 points in two of three games against OKC. The Thunder are more than happy with letting him shoot, and he'll get his tonight.

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Austin Reaves Under 5.5 assists (+120)

Projection: 5.28 assists

Austin Reaves is a stupendous playmaker, but the Lakers need him to score more than ever. He'll do all he can to help keep L.A. alive, and more shots will result in fewer assists.

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Luke Kennard Over 8.5 points (+100)

Projection: 10.06 points

Luke Kennard is one of the best pure shooters in the NBA. He's scored 10+ points in two straight, and it looks like he's found a rhythm again. Nine points are easily obtainable for the guard.

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How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 4

Location	Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date	Monday, May 11, 2026
Tip-off	10:30 p.m. ET
TV	Prime

Not intended for use in MA.
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The Washington Wizards were one lottery ball away from landing Zion Williamson in 2019 and Cooper Flagg in 2025. In 2023, Washington held six of the possible 11 remaining numbers in the draft lottery before narrowly missing out on the No. 1 pick, which became Victor Wembanyama.

But the franchise many called “cursed” after its several near misses in the lottery finally got its glorious moment on Sunday afternoon when NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum revealed the Wizards had won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

So, after all those years awaiting the top pick to select the franchise’s next star, surely they wouldn’t consider trading down, right!? Well, it’s not as simple as that.

It should come as no surprise to Wizards fans that Michael Winger, the team’s President of Basketball Operations, told TheSteinLine’s Jake Fischer that the Wizards ”will at least consider trading down.“

Washington is keeping all of its options open, as it should, in a draft deprived of a sure-fire No. 1 pick. The 2026 draft class lacks a Wemby or a Williamson that everyone knows is going first overall and every executive understands would be impossible to trade for.

While AJ Dybantsa is viewed by most as the favorite to be selected by Washington, it’s not a lock. Darryn Peterson, and even Cameron Boozer, have drawn buzz as potential candidates to go No. 1. Just look at how certain draft boards differ.

ESPN and The Ringer pinned Dybantsa as their top prospect, while DraftExpress has Peterson going No. 1.

In a draft that lacks a clear top choice, Washington would be smart to keep it’s hand close to its chest. Why openly admit your preference between Dybantsa and Peterson? Why say there’s a clear No. 1 choice? Why give rival teams any information regarding your draft strategy?

There’s no reason to do any of those things, which is why Winger said Washington will consider trading down.

Winger means this in the same way he means there’s several prospects Washington will consider with the top choice. Maybe they internally view Dybantsa as miles ahead of Peterson and Boozer. Maybe they don’t.

But why offer that information to the Utah Jazz, or other teams, who could offer a lucrative trade package for the top pick?

If Utah truly wants Dybantsa — the two have several connections spanning from the 6-foot-9 forward’s playing days at Utah Prep and BYU to the many Jazz games he attended last season — they’ll have to pay a premium price. And they know that.

The Wizards will do their homework. They’ll bring Dybantsa and Peterson in for private workouts, meetings and physical tests. Just as they’ll do for prospects like Boozer, Caleb Wilson and more. And Washington’s brass — comprised of Winger, general manager Will Dawkins, senior vice president of player personnel Travis Schlenk and others — will determine its top prospect.

If the Wizards believe Dybantsa is the obvious choice at No. 1, they can simply select him and move forward with a generational talent as the face of their franchise. Should they believe Peterson is on the same level, if not a step better, than Dybantsa, they can milk Utah for several key assets while still selecting their preferred prospect at No. 2.

Bottom line: Washington is in a terrific spot. They can draft the best player in the class, or they can trade down, pick up an additional first-round pick and maybe more, and still leave with a generational talent they likely believe is better than whoever goes No. 1.

Will Washington trade the top pick? I think it’s unlikely. But they’d be dumb to not keep their phones open to at least here Utah’s offer.

In the first round, it was the Lakers who were up 3-0 over the Rockets, looking to complete a sweep. Now, in the second round, they are on the other side, looking to avoid going out in four games against the Thunder.

So far, the odds don’t look so good. Not only have the Lakers lost all three games, but they have been blown out in each. Oklahoma City has an average margin of victory of 19.6 points and a net rating of +20, which is the best in the second round.

Add in the fact that the Lakers lost all four games against the Thunder in the regular season and will have to play Game 4 without Luka Dončić, and it’s hard to find any sort of optimism. So, it’s no surprise that FanDuel’s odds have the Thunder ending this series in a sweep as they are currently -560 favorites.

Still, for the Lakers, it’s not over till it’s over.

“You just come and compete,” Austin Reaves said after Game 3. “It’s a bunch of guys in this locker room that are competitors. Basically, the message after the game was we’re going to come in here Monday and we’re going to win. Obviously, the situation sucks, but that doesn’t give us the license to quit.

“We got to come in here and compete. We owe the organization that. We owe each other that. We owe our fans that. So, we’re going to come here Monday and play as hard as we can.”

The Lakers might not have found the recipe for success, but it hasn’t been due to a lack of trying.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has made defensive adjustments, has found success limiting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring and has gone to players who were out of the rotation, like Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero.

However, it hasn’t turned a loss into a win, since the Thunder just have too many playable guys who can step up and perform.

“Typically, if you can poke holes at a team in a playoff series, there’s a good chance they might have like a temporary solution or can sort of adjust maybe a little bit,” Redick said. “This team in-game, because of their personnel, can just adjust like that. They need shooters on the floor? Great. They need multiple wing defenders on the floor? Great. They need two bigs on the floor? Great. They’re a terrific basketball team. I said that before the series. I’ve been very impressed with them. I still think we can beat them. But we got to be better.”

To the Lakers’ credit, there has been no sign of quitting from this team. Redick can be seen coaching every night like it’s Game 7.

Marcus Smart’s defending SGA hard, Reaves keeps trying to attack the paint and generate offense and LeBron James is playing well over 30 minutes per game at 41 years old.

The room for error that the Lakers have is slim to none. OKC is the defending champion and hasn’t lost a playoff game yet. Clearly, beating them isn’t easy and to do so will take a complete performance.

“Well, obviously, everything,” LeBron said of what will be needed in Game 4. “Everything and more to beat a team like this. We’ll have to be at our best on Monday.”

Winning four straight games after losing the first three in a best-of-seven is daunting. It’s never been done before. Someone will eventually do it.

The Lakers will attempt to be that first team, and it starts on Monday with Game 4.

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

Game 4 was a must-win for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

That was true coming into the night with the Wolves down 2-1 in the series, and certainly became true after Victor Wembanyama launched an elbow at the neck of Naz Reid and ejected the San Antonio Spurs’ best player from the game with a Flagrant Two foul.

When Wembanyama exited the game with 8:39 left in the second quarter, the opportunity for Minnesota was obvious. With the other team’s best player out for the rest of the game, the Wolves’ path to winning Game 4 became a lot cleaner and, to put it bluntly, easier.

The Timberwolves showcased why in the next few possessions. Without Wembanyama’s rim protection, the Wolves went straight to the rim for layups and took what was a two-point lead when Wemby went out to a nine-point lead within a few minutes.

What happened from there was classic Minnesota Timberwolves basketball in the worst and best way.

The Wolves stopped attacking the paint or getting many good looks on offense. Their ball pressure relaxed, which allowed the Spurs to get to their preferred spots on the floor, and at times, Minnesota mentally lost track of the game, including more than once allowing the Spurs to get a fastbreak bucket following a made basket on the other side of the floor.

As has consistently happened during this era of Timberwolves basketball, instead of stomping out any chance for the Spurs to come back, the Wolves let their foot off the gas. They appeared to play down to the level of their opponent, despite that team being of high quality even without their best player.

“I thought we let our mind slip more than anything else,” Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch said after the game. “I felt like we lost our way a little bit and then gave them life. We never expected them to just go away.”

The Timberwolves only won the second quarter minutes following Wemby’s ejection by two points, which put their lead at four points heading into the third quarter, which allowed the Spurs during the halftime break to reset their rotations and their strategy for the rest of the game.

The start of the second half didn’t go much better for Minnesota. They missed 13 of their first 17 shots, while the Spurs made nine of their last 11 shots to win the third quarter 28-20.

The San Antonio lead grew to eight points, and with less than eight minutes left in the game, a nervous energy began to take hold inside the arena. While that feeling of anxiety has been absent from this Timberwolves postseason run, it is certainly an emotion that Target Center crowds have become well acquainted with going back years and decades.

The difference with this Timberwolves team is that they have Anthony Edwards. With the season on the line, Edwards scored 16 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter to drag a lifeless Timberwolves offense back into the lead.

“Today is Mother’s Day, so I just wanted to win for my mom,” Edwards said of his late mother, whom he lost in 2015 when he was in eighth grade. “I couldn’t lose this game for her.”

Edwards did exactly that. He did not allow the Timberwolves to lose this game while playing 40 minutes for the second straight game. With offense stuck in the mud and the Spurs throwing constant double-teams at the Timberwolves’ superstar, Edwards did just enough to get the Wolves over the finish line.

In the same way that the Wolves often play down to the perceived level of their opponent, Edwards and the Timberwolves responded when their back was up against the wall. Despite having numerous poor stretches of play, when the game mattered most, the Wolves made enough winning plays to get the job done.

It was an ugly win for the Timberwolves in Game 4, but the manner in which they got the win doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the series is tied 2-2 with a set of three games left to determine who advances to the Western Conference Finals.

“Now it’s just take it one game at a time, trying to figure out how to get a win,” Edwards said about the rest of this series. “That’s the only thing that’s on my mind right now, trying to figure out how to get a win.”

The Celtics joined the Lakers, Knicks, Cavaliers and Timberwolves in pursuing Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA trade deadline in February, according to Shams Charania. ESPN also indicated that disappointing postseason finishes for some of those teams — Boston the only one eliminated already — could dictate pursuits this summer.

The Bucks will listen to Antetokounmpo offers ahead of the NBA Draft next month, opening the offseason’s biggest blockbuster early after Milwaukee co-owner Jimmy Haslam expressed a desire last week to resolve Antetokounmpo’s future before then. Charania added that the Bucks, who can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million extension in October, continue to leave the door open to Antetokounmpo remaining with the Bucks.

That could lead to a maddening summer of indecision and posturing meant to improve offers. Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee’s similar assessment of interest ahead of the deadline fielded no offers that intrigued the franchise to move on, and Antetokounmpo’s own stated interest in leaving the team emerged tepidly. There is hope, ahead of his extension date, that such a deadline could spur action.

Charania’s reporting, connecting the Celtics to Antetokounmpo, followed Sam Amick’s that stretched back before Boston’s elimination in the first round and indicated that sources around the league expected the Celtics to make a run at Antetokounmpo. Such a move won’t happen without a significant roster overhaul that could include one of their superstars — Antetokounmpo makes $58.5 million next season, Tatum earns the same, and Brown comes in slightly below them at $57.1 million.

The Celtics’ relatively small assortment of draft picks and challenging salary-matching rules would almost certainly call for additional teams to become involved. Chris Mannix recently reported that Boston and the Hawks, Brown’s hometown team in Atlanta, briefly discussed a Brown deal last summer that the Hawks balked at over Brown’s salary.

Antetokounmpo, 32 in December, saw his averages drop across the board to 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game on 62.4% shooting, an improvement alongside his three-point shooting (33.3%) at low volume. He appeared in only 36 games due to a calf ailment that Antetokounmpo and the team reportedly disagreed about his ability to return from late in the season. Another calf injury in 2024 cost him the ability to appear in the Bucks’ first round loss to Indiana, and he missed two games in 2023 while the Heat upset Milwaukee in three games. His Bucks’ tenure over that stretch also became marked by roster overhauls and coaching changes that made the team worse since his last healthy postseason push in 2022, when the Celtics defeated him in seven games.

Still, Antetokounmpo ranks among the 4-5 best players in the league when healthy, making seven straight All-NBA First Teams prior to this season. He led the NBA in player efficiency rating this year, and provides the rim-threatening, defensive impact at the center position that Brad Stevens desired in his end-of-season press conference. A move would come with excruciating sacrifices, though, whether several years of draft picks, Brown or Tatum, or the entirety of the roster’s significant depth. Antetokounmpo has some say in his destination as well, long connected to New York City and complimentary of Joe Mazzulla, unprompted, in an interview late this season.

He can become an unrestricted free agent next summer by declining his $62.8 million team option. Giannis’ brothers Thanasis, an impending free agent, and Alex Antetokounmpo, who played on a two-way last year, have also joined him on the Bucks’ roster.

“My general feeling watching us play in each of the last two playoffs, in the second round against New York and even against Orlando in the first round, was we had a hard time generating really good looks on that first shot,” Stevens said last week. “We’ve got to figure out a way to do better in that. One of the things we’ve got to figure out is how to have more impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that.”

The ball is beginning to roll on the Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason, which could include moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are listening to offers on a potential Antetokounmpo trade over the next several weeks:

“The Milwaukee Bucks are open for business on trade calls and offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo entering the NBA draft combine and over six weeks away from the draft, league and team sources told ESPN. There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo, and ownership and front-office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said.“

This report doesn’t exactly tell us anything new about a possible Giannis trade, and Charania has said this type of thing many times before. But it could have other teams pandering between now and the NBA Draft, which is just over a month away on June 23–24. It would be wise for the Bucks to drum up as much interest as possible to create a bidding war between the teams that are interested in Antetokounmpo, which would allow the Bucks to get the best offer possible.

Teams like the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers (since they own Milwaukee’s first-round picks from 2028–30) make the most sense out of the gate, but other teams could emerge as possible destinations for him. The main thing Antetokounmpo wants is a chance to win another championship, so teams that are a player away could be other options for him. If squads like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets are willing to make a move, the Bucks should look to do business with them.

Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel discussed what teams would and wouldn’t make sense in a trade offer, but also adds this important caveat:

“Heading into the February trade deadline, team sources maintained to the Journal Sentinel that any potential deal for the star would require ‘everything’ in terms of young players and future draft assets. If the Bucks maintain such a firm stance on a big return, it might be more indicative of the team’s willingness to continue to retool around its star.“

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Luka Doncic isn’t coming to the Los Angeles Lakers’ rescue. And at this rate, the Purple and Gold would need a lot more than their superstar to counter the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oklahoma City can sweep Los Angeles in Game 4 of this Western Conference semifinal tonight, laying double-digits in La-La Land tonight. 

Our Thunder vs. Lakers props dig into this do-or-die game (at least for L.A.), breaking down my best NBA picks and prop predictions for May 11.

Best Thunder vs Lakers props for Game 4

Player	Pick
Luke Kennard	Over 1.5 threes	-125
Isaiah Hartenstein	Over 8.5 points	-105
Lu Dort	Over 1.5 threes	-130

Game 4 Prop #1: Luke Kennard Over 1.5 threes 

-125 at bet365

Luke Kennard was one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ few highlights in Game 3. The reserve guard was much more aggressive offensively, jacking up 10 shots and finishing with 18 points in the loss. Twelve of those tallies came from beyond the 3-point arc.

Kennard finished 4-for-6 from distance on Saturday. He’d been MIA since Austin Reaves returned to the L.A. rotation but was big to open the playoffs. 

He started Round 1 making 8 of 11 triples in the first two games then cooled for a 3-for-10 slump from outside before going 2-for-3 from 3-point land in Game 3. In Game 4, the Lakers scaled back a struggling Marcus Smart and Kennard’s usage jumped to 14.5%.

The way I see it, Los Angeles needs Kennard to take and make shots from outside — either in a competitive game or a blowout, that could see the bench get extra run. Game 4 projections agree, with Kennard pegged for two triples with a positive game script for this prop.

Game 4 Prop #2: Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 points

-105 at bet365

On the long list of things L.A. can’t compete with is the Oklahoma City Thunder's size.

The Thunder’s twin 7-footers really stress the Lakers’ size restrictions. Center Isaiah Hartenstein is having an excellent series beating up on Los Angeles around the rim.

Hartenstein is getting his share of looks, especially with L.A. selling out to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That past two games, he’s a collective 11-for-13 from the floor for totals of 10 and 12 points with his usage almost doubling to 13.2% from 7.3% in Game 1.

His 31 minutes in Game 3 tied his season high in floor time and his seven shots matched his postseason pinnacle. His scoring prop for tonight remains modest, however, at 8.5 O/U.

Game 4 projections are very bullish on the Oklahoma City’s big man, with most north of 9.5 points and a ceiling of 11.0 from Hartenstein.

Game 4 Prop #3: Lu Dort Over 1.5 threes

-130 at bet365

Thunder small forward Lu Dort logged only 20 minutes in Game 3 due to foul trouble yet made both of his looks from long range.

Dort attempted 11 total triples in the two games prior, making just three of those 3-pointers. He has, however, connected for two more treys in five of OKC’s first seven playoff games and is shooting 37% from deep in the postseason.

With Los Angeles throwing the kitchen sink at SGA and Oklahoma City owning the inside, Dort is getting clean looks the perimeter versus the Lakers. 

All 13 of his 3-point attempts are graded as “open” or “wide open,” with no defender within at least four feet — including 10 3PAs with no Lakers within six feet of Dort.

Dort, who strangely shoots significantly better beyond the arc on the road (39.4% vs. 30.8% at home), is projected for two makes from distance in Game 4 with models either leaning toward the Over or calling for 2+ triples.

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.

“The Roast of Kevin Hart” on Sunday night somehow turned into the blasting of Draymond Green.

The Warriors star, whose NBA season came to an end just a couple weeks ago via a playoff loss to the Suns, attended Netflix’s special event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, and while the evening was supposed to be all about hearing celebrities throw barbs at Kevin Hart, Green sure took a verbal beating.

Tom Brady led off the attack on the polarizing hooper just minutes into the start of the show, right after he got done grilling Hart.

“Draymond Green is here,” the seven-time Super Bowl champion roared to the crowd. “Yeah. Draymond’s here. For now. He’ll probably get thrown out in the next 10 minutes. You know we’re not roasting Steve Kerr, right?”

Green laughed at the quip, but a few minutes later, he found himself in the crosshairs of comedian Shane Gillis.

Tom Brady: “Draymond Green is here. Draymond’s here, for now. He’ll probably get thrown out in the next 10 minutes.” #KevinHartRoastpic.twitter.com/tFpafgakTU

— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) May 11, 2026

“Draymond Green is here, give it up for Draymond,” Gillis, the event’s host, said. “Yeah. Sick. F–k him. Boo.

“With a name like Draymond Green, he only had a few options in life: Pro athlete, pimp in a documentary or wealthy cartoon duck.”

“Steph Curry couldn’t make it tonight, but he did carry Draymond Green all the way here.”

Jeff Ross came with the jokes for Draymond Green #KevinHartRoastpic.twitter.com/dkzPpEJSej

— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) May 11, 2026

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also made fun of Green’s name, telling him, “Maybe it’s time to retire.” Pete Davidson also lit him up over the Warriors’ loss to Phoenix.

But perhaps the most painful dig came from Jeff Ross, who poked fun at the four-time All-Star’s relationship with Steph Curry.

“Steph Curry couldn’t make it tonight, but he did carry Draymond Green all the way here,” Ross said. “Love you, buddy. I’m not going to make fun of you because you’re violent. You’ve been ejected more times than a Kevin Hart DVD.”

"I never have, and never will, smash Chelsea Handler. I'm Draymond Green. I don't hit threes." #KevinHartRoastpic.twitter.com/7ujebgnG7y

— Netflix (@netflix) May 11, 2026

Green, though, did get a chance to dish some jokes back, and one he hit Chelsea Handler with went viral on X.

“I never have, and never will, smash Chelsea Handler,” he said. “I’m Draymond Green. I don’t hit threes.”

It’s been an eventful month already for Green, who was criticized for some on-air sparring he did with Charles Barkley last week, and with the Warriors not slated to begin the 2026-27 campaign for a few more months, it seems the Green offseason headlines might only be just getting started.

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The New York Knicks are earning a break for themselves after a Game 4 win against the Philadelphia 76ers that completed a sweep and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row.

The Knicks will face off against the winner of the other Eastern Conference series between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, which is only three games deep. The Pistons lead 2-1 with Game 4 coming on Monday in Cleveland.

Game 5 for the series is scheduled for Wednesday, while Game 6 would take place on Friday if the Cavs win at least one more game. If the series were to reach Game 7, that would mean the series would end on Sunday, May 17.

If the series goes that long, the Eastern Conference Finals would begin on Tuesday, May 19, either at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit if the Pistons come out on top or Madison Square Garden if the Cavs win the series.

If the series were to end in five or six games, there is potential for the series to begin early on Sunday. This means the Knicks will have at least a week to heal and rest up for the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s rare to get this kind of break in the middle of the playoffs, but that’s what happens when you take care of business during the postseason.

Posting and Toasting Community, which team would you want the Knicks to face off against in the ECF? Let us know in the comments below.

The disrespect continues for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After the Timberwolves clawed back to even their Western Conference Semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs at two games apiece, the latest NBA title odds dropped, and Minnesota somehow ended up with the longest odds of any remotely viable contender left standing. I’m excluding the Lakers who are currently hanging on by a thread against Oklahoma City with odds sitting at a hilarious +60,000 like somebody accidentally left an extra zero on the spreadsheet.

The Wolves are a team that already survived their matchup with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, has now been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals, and has repeatedly punched above its weight in the postseason over the past three years.

And Vegas looked at all that and basically shrugged. The Wolves currently sit at +8,000 to win the NBA title at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs, the exact team Minnesota is currently tied with 2-2, are sitting at +380.

Now, to be fair, nobody is arguing that the Wolves should be favorites. That would be ridiculous. The road in front of them is absolutely brutal. They already had to go through Denver and the best player on the planet in Nikola Jokic. Now they’re in a trench war against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. And even if they survive this? Oklahoma City is looming like the final boss.

The Thunder, deservedly, have become the betting darlings of the postseason. They’re sitting at -180, the only remaining team with negative odds, and Vegas is treating them like Thanos after he finally got the last Infinity Stone. OKC is deep, athletic, relentless, and terrifying. Nobody is disputing that.

But +8,000 for Minnesota? That feels absurdly aggressive, especially when you actually look at what this Wolves team has already accomplished and who they’ve accomplished it against. They just eliminated Denver. Again. They beat the Nuggets in the playoffs for the second time in three years. They’ve now won playoff series in three consecutive seasons. They’ve proven repeatedly that when they lock in defensively, they can drag elite teams into ugly rock fights and survive. They split their regular season series with Oklahoma City 2-2. They’ve split this Spurs series down the middle despite being held together by athletic tape, pain tolerance, and whatever mutant healing factor Anthony Edwards apparently stole from Wolverine.

Yet somehow they’re still being treated like a novelty act. It’s funny because we’ve seen this exact cycle before. Nobody believed they could beat Phoenix in 2024. Then the Wolves stomped them into dust. Nobody believed they could beat Denver after dropping three straight games in that same postseason. Then Minnesota marched into Ball Arena and pulled off the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA history. Nobody believed they could survive the injuries against Denver this year after losing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Then they closed the Nuggets out anyway behind defense and one of the gutsiest team efforts this franchise has ever produced.

Every time, the Wolves have responded by making the doubters look ridiculous.

That’s part of what makes this current version of the Timberwolves so fascinating. They’re simultaneously battle-tested and doubted. Proven and dismissed. At some point, maybe people should stop acting surprised.

Now, again, let’s be realistic here. The Wolves are not some flawless juggernaut. Their offense can go into deep freezes. Their reliance on three-point shooting can make them look unstoppable one night and borderline unwatchable the next. Anthony Edwards is clearly compromised physically. The backcourt injuries have forced role players into critical minutes. Victor Wembanyama remains to be conquered and SGA is waiting in the wings after that.

There are legitimate reasons why Vegas is hesitant, but +8,000 still feels far from a fair assessment. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last few postseasons, it’s this: counting out the Wolves is a dangerous hobby. This team has embraced the underdog role. They seem to genuinely enjoy being doubted. The more people pick against them, the more they lean into the “nobody believes in us” identity they’ve built over these playoff runs. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels turning games into defensive hostage situations. Julius Randle bulldozing people downhill. Naz Reid detonating off the bench. Terrence Shannon Jr. becoming a quick step freight train. Mike Conley somehow continuing to outrun Father Time like he found Tom Brady’s avocado ice cream diet. And then there’s Ant, who even without functioning knees still walks around with the confidence of a guy who thinks every arena belongs to him.

All of this matters in playoff basketball. Belief matters. Chemistry matters. Defense absolutely matters.

And if Minnesota survives San Antonio? Suddenly those +8,000 odds start looking a whole lot sillier. Because once you get down to the final four, weird things happen. Injuries happen. Matchups matter. One hot shooting stretch can flip an entire series. One defensive masterpiece can rewrite everything.

So no, Minnesota probably shouldn’t be favored to win the title, but treating them like they’re 20 times less likely than the Spurs to pull it off? If you’re the gambling type and feeling a little reckless, Vegas may have just handed you the basketball equivalent of finding a wallet on the sidewalk.

Because if this Wolves team keeps defending like maniacs, keeps embracing the fight, and keeps making everyone look stupid for doubting them…

+8,000 might not stay on the board much longer.

As expected, the NBA will not be taking any further action against Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected from Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves for elbowing Naz Reid in the throat area, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The incident occurred with 8:39 left in the second quarter, after Wemby had grabbed an offensive rebound, and Reid and Jaden McDaniels were swiping and draped all over him. Wemby then swung his elbow and hit Reid in the throat, and after video review, head referee Zach Zarba determined that the three key points of intent, wind-up and follow-through were met to meet the criteria of a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in him being ejected from the game for the first time in his NBA career.

While making it clear that he did not justify the play itself, head coach Mitch Johnson had Wemby’s back after the game, stating his frustration with the officiating and how the amount of contact and physicality players are allowed to get away with on him led up to this point, perhaps at the risk of his own fine.

“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself. Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don’t complain because we’re just going to play. We don’t really give a s—. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.

“It’s starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.”

Wemby reportedly had words of encouragement for his teammates at halftime, and to the Spurs’ credit, they didn’t fold or give up on the game without their star center (despite Carmelo Anthony’s idiotic suggestion that they should during NBC’s halftime show — perhaps that mindset is an insight into why he never even made the finals himself). Instead, they weathered the initial storm and rode their star guards to a 9-point second-half lead before what felt like an inevitable Anthony Edwards fourth-quarter storm, and they didn’t have quite enough time recover, resulting in a 109-114 loss with the series tied at 2-2.

The good news is Wemby will be available for Game 5 after avoiding suspension. That shouldn’t be a surprise considering it was a pretty standard flagrant 2 (or at least as standard as a flagrant 2 can be) without anything extra, plus we already saw Nikola Jokic attempt to throw a punch against this same team in the last round with no suspension, as well as several far more egregious fouls that didn’t lead to suspension, although Wemby will have to pay the mandatory fine of $2,000 that comes with a flagrant 2. His case is likely also helped by the fact that has no prior history of such acts (unlike Draymond Green or Isaiah Stewart, whom we’ve seen receive “repeat offender” suspensions in the past).

Speaking of Green, one thing that likely won’t impact Wemby but he will have to keep in mind is the NBA’s technical counter, which can lead to a player being suspended after accumulating 7 points in the playoffs, with 2 points for Flagrant 2’s and one point for Flagrant 1’s or technical fouls. While it is extremely unlikely he will reach 7 points, hopefully this is still something he learns and grows from.

The series will resume on Tuesday in San Antonio. Thanks to the Knicks sweeping the 76ers, there is no double-header to contend with, so tip-off will be at the preferred time of 7:00 PM CT (instead 8:30) on NBC and Peacock. (Game 6 may be another story, depending on if Cleveland vs. Detroit reaches a Game 6, but at least that’s on Friday.)