EL SEGUNDO, CA - OCTOBER 08: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the all access practice on October 08, 2025 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the Lakers having a new majority owner in Mark Walter, change has been happening quickly in Los Angeles.
Beyond these hirings, changes are also coming in the form of relocation and renovations. The South Bay Lakers are moving to the Coachella Valley so they can have their own stadium and no longer play G League games at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo.
This not only gives the G League team more resources but also opens up the Lakers’ practice facility to accommodate some much-needed upgrades.
During his exit interview, Lakers President of Basketball Operations, Rob Pelinka, outlined what these changes will be and when they’ll be taking place.
“As you guys saw, our G League team is relocating to a brand new, beautiful, 10,000-seat arena in Coachella Valley,” Pelinka said. “What that does in our building is it opens up all of this space and we actually have a space in the back where, working in collaboration with some of the Dodgers folks, we’re bringing in a biomechanics lab, new movements labs, a recovery lab.
“Those things are super expensive to do and super thoughtful but we’re doing the planning with Lon [Rosen] and his team around that and that construction is going to happen this offseason. They’re going to be redoing aspects of the court as well. It’s a full rebuild and retool and it’s adding to the great things that are already here which have led to success but elevating and bringing it to the next level. So, ongoing process that we’ll be doing throughout the offseason, probably hopefully culminating in and around the Summer League in Vegas.”
It seems that Walter is copying his Dodgers playbook and making sure the Lakers have everything they could possibly need to play their best.
The Dodgers are considered one of the best-run franchises in baseball, and part of the reason is that they spend heavily to win in the margins. The Lakers can’t fully emulate the Dodgers because the NBA has a salary cap, but it’s good to see the organization investing in its practice facility this way.
These kinds of upgrades were unlikely under the previous regime, but now that Walter is in charge, he’s spending the way every fan hopes their owner would.
The downside of the G League affiliate moving to Coachella Valley is that they’ll no longer be working in the same building as the Lakers. That means that the synergy they had with the main team will be weakened.
Overall, though, this is a win-win for the organization. Both the main team and the G League affiliate will have larger facilities and state-of-the-art equipment to be the best versions of themselves.
These changes aren’t the splashiest ones that fans care about, but everything matters, and winning in the margins is how good organizations become great and remain dominant.
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — OG Anunoby fully practiced with the New York Knicks on Friday for the first time since injuring his hamstring, moving them closer to having their starting lineup intact for the Eastern Conference finals.
The starting forward missed the final two games of the Knicks' second-round sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers after straining his right hamstring late in Game 2. He took part in some of practice when the Knicks returned on Wednesday, but sat out the portions when they went full speed.
But coach Mike Brown said Anunoby did everything with the team on Friday.
The Knicks would host Game 1 of the East finals on Sunday if Cleveland beats Detroit in Game 6 on Friday night. If that series goes the distance, Anunoby wouldn't have to be ready until Tuesday.
Anunoby is averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason while shooting 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from 3-point range.
The Knicks got a big boost ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals as OG Anunoby was a full participant in Friday's practice, head coach Mike Brown said.
“He practiced today in full,” Brown said, adding, “Everything we did today, he did.”
The forward, who made his return to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury he sustained in New York’s Game 2 win over the Philadelphia 76ers last Wednesday.
Asked if he saw that as an encouraging development, the head coach said that “anytime anybody is able to do anything like that, it’s always encouraging.”
With the Detroit - Cleveland series playing Game 6 on Friday night, the earliest the Eastern Conference Finals could begin is Sunday. Brown didn’t go as far as to say that Anunoby would be able to return after missing the final two games of the sweep of the Sixers.
“At the end of the day, I’m a wait and let the medical group tell me each day what he can do,” he said. "We'll see if they tell me something different tomorrow. But it's definitely encouraging to see somebody be able to go out there and practice a full practice like OG did."
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported last week that Anunoby's hamstring strain was minor and truly a day-to-day thing, adding that the general feeling about it was "optimism" inside the locker room.
Begley also noted at the time that it was possible Anunoby could suit up for Game 3 or Game 4 against Philadelphia. However, once the Knicks took a 3-0 series lead, it made little sense to have Anunoby play in Game 4.
If the Pistons win on Friday to extend the series with the Cavaliers, the ECF would not begin until Tuesday.
Caitlin Clark has put her own twist on the NBA’s iconic “three to the dome” celebration.
The Indiana Fever star sank a trey in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s 87-78 win over the Sparks and smacked her forehead five times as she ran back down the court.
Carmelo Anthony popularized the “three to the dome” celebration — tapping his temple are hitting a shot — during his Knicks days, and it’s since become a staple, often duplicated and personalized, throughout basketball since.
Clark’s move may have signaled more of her frustration than it did any good vibes, though — the 3-pointer was her first make on seven attempts as she continues to find her game after following a season derailed by injuries.
The Sparks didn’t exactly take it easy on Clark, either.
Cameron Brink set the Los Angels crowd off with a massive first-quarter block against Clark, and things further boiled over at the end of the half when she complained about an offensive foul, earning a technical foul from referee Jason Alabanza.
Clark finished the victory with a game-high 24 points and nine assists, leading Indiana to its first win of the season, and perhaps more importantly, is getting her legs back under her.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks. NBAE via Getty Images
“I feel good, I took a couple of hard fouls there at the end, I feel good overall,” she told reporters. “I felt fast tonight. I played 31 minutes — I haven’t played 30-plus minutes in a really long time. Last year, at least half the games, I was on a some sort if minutes restriction not really crossing into 30. Really happy with the way my body responded after the first game going into tonight. … overall, I feel good.”
Through two games, Clark is averaging 22 points, 4.5 rebounds and eight assists on 45.7% shooting — making just 18.8% of her 3-pointers thus far.
She’ll have a chance to build on those numbers — and maybe work on her 3-point celebration a bit more — with the Fever set to host the Washington Mystics on Friday night.
Mar. 20, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Washington Wizards center Jason Collins against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Wizards defeated the Suns 88-79. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Earlier this week, former NBA player Jason Collins died at the age of 47 after a battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He played 13 years in the NBA, including part of the 2012-13 season for the Washington Wizards where he played six games.
While he was with the Wizards, Collins announced that he was openly gay and was the first NBA player to do so. He then played one more season with the Brooklyn Nets. As an NBA player, Collins’ most noteworthy seasons were with the Nets earlier in his career when they made two NBA Finals appearances.
SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 20: Mj Collins Jr. #2 of the Utah State Aggies takes a foul shot during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game against the Villanova Wildcats at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are less than six weeks away from the 2026 NBA Draft, and a pair of former Mountain West players competed in the NBA G-League combine last weekend. Did they help their stock during the 44-player showcase in Chicago, Ill.? Let’s examine!
MJ Collins, G, Utah State:
Skinny: Neither Collins nor Henley were one of the handful of players who were invited to the NBA Draft combine. But Collins was the better of the two in the workouts. The athletic guard had the fourth-highest standing vertical (32.5”), third-highest max vertical (39.5”) and ninth-fastest pro-lane shuttle time (10.64) of the 44 participants.
Additionally, Collins shot the ball fairly well in the workouts. He scored just five points on five made free-throws in the scrimmages (0-3 FG), but Collins netted 24 of his 30 mid-range pull-up jumpers and excelled in the 3-point star drill (the final numbers said he went 26-of-25 … obviously a typo, but I’m not sure in which direction, so I don’t have a final number).
All in all, it was a good combine for Collins, even though his performance in-game didn’t help his stock.
Verdict: Stock Neutral
Projection: Undrafted free agent, two-way
Jaden Henley, G, Grand Canyon:
Skinny: Conversely for Henley, I don’t think he tested particularly well (relative to his peers), but he was as advertised in game.
Henley was a wrecking ball. He led Team 4 with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 20 minutes, totaling eight rebounds, one assist and one steal. He missed his lone two 3-point attempts while knocking down all five of his free-throws.
Conversely, his poor shooting from 3-point range carried over into the workouts, where I wanted to see some improvement. He only made nine threes in the star drill, tied for the third-fewest; only Liberty’s Zach Cleveland, George Washington’s Rafael Castro (who impressed) and North Dakota State’s March Strickland finished with fewer. He shot 11-for-25 on the spot-up shooting drill (one fewer than Collins) and 17-for-30 on the pull-up shooting.
Henley, a hyper-athletic slasher, shot just 30.7 percent from beyond the arc (2.5 3PA) across four collegiate seasons, including 26.8 percent in his lone season at Grand Canyon. He has an intriguing skillset, but one that desperately needs an efficient shot. I think he helped his stock, but that weakness will still exist until it doesn’t.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: The Suns need to get bigger at power forward. Rasheer Fleming is the only real choice currently on the roster to accomplish that.
Would you prefer him to be penciled in as the Suns’ starting PF for 2026-27 or should the Suns look for a veteran (either through a trade or free agency) to take on that role for now?
Diamondhacks: The Suns don’t need a bigger power forward. We need defensive rebounds, which is fairly straightforward, and better team shot quality, which is fraught and complicated. Personally, I’d consider acquiring Josh Giddey, who might be uniquely qualified to improve on both deficiencies. Of course, you would have to give him the ball, and there’s only one, so I don’t expect it will ever happen.
Absent acquisitions, I’d pencil in whoever’s our most productive all-around “4”, regardless of salary, history, or potential. That’s how a healthy meritocracy, which elevates the entire team, should work. Right now, O’Neale is better than Fleming in: free throw percentage, three-point shooting, defensive rebounding, outlet passing, (clears throat), screen setting, ballhandling, half-court decision making, and court awareness. Rasheer’s probably better at most everything else, presumably working diligently on the other stuff. He doesn’t need to be better than Royce at everything, of course, but that’s how I would frame the evaluation between now and opening day.
Ashton: Anytime this question is asked, I am left wondering with what money? The Suns have roughly $9 million to commit when it is all said and done, and when a team is that close to staying under the luxury tax through cap gymnastics, my brain turns into a pretzel. So, the writers can unravel it for me.
Summertime is the time to float outlandish trade ideas on the board and I enjoy the takes. I always have. Or Rod can just correct me on what aspects of player retention the Suns are looking at, and then round down or up since pennies aren’t accepted anymore.
I did a quick scroll through available UFAs that might be affordable for the Suns. Not RFAs or team/player options, just using that $9 million in mind and leaving the trades to those who know better than I.
Of course, you keep Fleming, but asking him to man the PF starting role is a big one. And the question was asked about who could be available with size in the power forward free agent market? Okay, I omitted size and went with potential talent.
I like the following:
Jeremy Sochan
Marvin Bagley
Mouhamed Gueye
Dean Wade (the name sounds cool – I know nothing about him)
Nicolas Batum
But if we are all talking weird trade ideas. The Suns should trade for Bronny James. That would put two of his sons in the Great State of Arizona and LeBron likes to puff about having more family time. Well, coming off the bench and enjoying the heat with Scottsdale golf courses, he might do it at a vet min. This will never happen, of course, he likes LA.
OldAz: I know that this question is really asking about bringing in another STARTING power forward, but when I read the question, I couldn’t help but think of the Old El Paso taco shell commercial (and meme) where the little girl quizzically asks, “Why not both,” to which everyone reacts as if she just cured cancer. That is the only correct answer here.
The Suns should pencil Fleming in as the starter, AND go get the best PF they can get using the assets they have and are willing to use. If that player is on the level of Julius Randle or the version of Brandon Ingram that the Suns faced in the playoffs a few years ago, then no one will complain when Fleming has to come off the bench and compete for minutes. OTOH, when that player is similar to Bobby Portis, 2021 Jae Crowder (ie, a bigger Royce O’Neale), then Fleming has a competent backup, and Ott has no excuse for any more 4 guard lineups that leave their center hanging out to dry.
Rod: I would go ahead and pencil Fleming in as the starting PF for next season while searching for a quality backup. If, however, during that search, they turn up a very good deal for someone who could in fact be the starter they need, they should jump on that. It all depends on what the Suns would have to give up to get another PF to add to the roster. If the price is too high to get anyone who could potentially start, then go after the best quality backup they can afford and roll with Fleming as the starter.
Q2: Across the board, Ryan Dunn’s stats changed little between his first and second seasons. Do you still have faith that he can significantly improve in year three?
Diamondhacks: A Dunn breakout resembling starter quality seems more likely in year four or five. But I’m willing to wait, because outside of our centers, Ryan’s the best two-way rebounder on the team, and to the extent we’re leaning into the likes of Booker, Green, and Brooks hoisting sixty shots a game, there’s going to be a heck of a lot of rebounds.
Ashton: Remember last season when the board was abuzz with Brooks and Dunn? Yeah, that did not quite work out, and I really only like a few country songs. Certainly not this generation of country songs. So, in that vein, Dunn is Done. Those calling for trading him are correct.
In an offensive scheme, you have to show growth. Dunn (and a few others) were unable to do it. A trade to another team may?
For that matter, what is the offensive scheme? Just let Booker and Green hoist shots? This is a bit of a dig on Coach Ott’s system, but I really could not describe it to you.
OldAz: So you’re telling me the stats from his rookie season, where everyone was so high on him and happy, and his sophomore season, where fans have howled about wanting to trade him, were basically the same? It’s amazing how much expectations can change.
In his rookie season, Dunn was one of the only players who looked like they cared at all on the defensive end. Last year, he struggled at times with the new system, but I don’t remember ever questioning his effort. I still believe he can improve on both ends and that his jumper doesn’t look that bad. He just needs time and some consistent effort put into letting him develop, and I think he will be just fine. Whether he gets that opportunity with the Suns, however, is a totally different question.
Rod: After this last season, my hope in Dunn significantly improving has dimmed quite a bit. I still think he can improve in certain areas and that he’ll at least be a solid backup/rotation player, but I’m not really expecting much more than that. I’m not sure at all what goes through his head on the court, but at times I think he’s his own worst enemy. In some games, he’s looked almost timid on offense, and in others, he seemed to throw caution to the wind and play reckless at times. And the only reason I can see for his sub-standard FT shooting is something mental, perhaps a lack of confidence. He seems to have all the tools to get the job done, but just hasn’t managed to put it all together and become more than he currently is yet.
Q3: Some fans have expressed the opinion that the Suns should go ahead and sign Koby Brea to a standard NBA contract this summer instead of another two-way contract if he’s brought back. What’s your opinion on whether Brea should be re-signed and how?
Diamondhacks: In college, Brea’s Treyahs (this rhymes, not a real word, and not a typo 😊 ) speak to Koby’s repeatable stroke and elite concentration. As does his 90% FT standard. But does he have any game, at all, beyond that? When professionals guard? Sub 32% in G-League? His stroke seems sufficiently intriguing to keep on a two-way, but I don’t understand his overall game well enough, if he has one, to commit to a full.
Ashton: Nope. Suns fans were correct in identifying Collin Gillespie as an early riser, and Koby was also identified by many during Summer League as another.
But it comes back to the financials, and this is not something that Suns do. That razor-thin margin between repeater tax, heck, even $10 million more into the first apron is brutal or $20 million more into the second apron.
If they can keep Koby on a two-way, then that is the path to take. CBA and economic realities are what they are.
OldAz: Why would they do this when they don’t have to, and certainly not do it earlier than they need to? Brea has yet to show consistently that he can contribute at the NBA level or even stay on the back end of the roster. I would wait until he proves he belongs and maintain flexibility as long as I can if I was in the Suns front office.
Rod: There’s been a lot of talk about Brea’s three-point shooting. If you take out his 6 of 9 performance in the final game of the season against OKC’s bench players, he made a very modest 33.3% of his three-point attempts this season. He only did slightly better in the G League at 34.9% against lesser competition. At this point, I think the jury’s still out on him as to whether he’ll become more than just another guy with a lot of potential. I’d be fine with bringing him back on another two-way contract, but right now I don’t think the Suns should use one of their standard contract roster spots on him.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“When I talk about the identity, one of the things that’s really important is … when our fans leave the arena, here’s what I want them saying: Man, that team plays hard!” – Brian Gregory
We asked Suns fans to describe this season their own words… here's what they said 🤩💜 pic.twitter.com/cWPMEzwt3t
On May 16, 1976, the Suns defeated the defending NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors, 94-86 in game seven of the Western Conference Finals to earn their first conference championship and their first trip to the NBA Finals to face the Boston Celtics.
On May 16, 2000, the Suns were defeated 87-65 by the LA Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals and eliminated from the playoffs 4-1. The 65 points scored by the Suns is the franchise record for the lowest point total ever in any game, playoff, or regular season. Only one Suns player — reserve player Todd Day — scored in double figures (barely with 10 points). The team made only 28.8% of their shots from the field. None of the starters made more than 27.3% of their field goal attempts and were a combined 11-of-52 from the field.
On May 22, 2006, the Suns defeated the LA Clippers 127-107 in the 7th game of the WC Semi-Finals to take the series 4-3. The Suns played only seven players that night, with two starters playing over 40 minutes (Shawn Marion, 45 mins, Tim Thomas, 42 mins) and the rest of the starters playing between 35 and 39 minutes each. The two bench players utilized that night (Leandro Barbosa and James Jones) played a combined 40 minutes. All seven scored in double figures with Marion leading the Suns with 30 points. The leading scorer for the Clippers was Elton Brand (36 points), who played all but 5 seconds of the game.
Important Future Dates
Mid-June (date TBD) – Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents (following the Finals) June 23 – NBA Draft First Round, 8 ET (ABC/ESPN) June 24 – NBA Draft Second Round, 8 ET (ESPN) June 30 – Teams can begin negotiations with all free agents July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas
Headed into this past regular season, the Rockets offered Tari Eason a four-year, $100 million extension with protections tied to injuries given Eason’s already extensive injury history. Eason kindly rejected that offer and chose to bet on himself. Now that the dust has settled on the 2025-2026 season, we can begin to answer the question of whether he won that bet or not.
The 6’8” Forward out of LSU made himself a fan favorite immediately in his rookie season with his intense effort and tenacity on the court, specifically on the defensive end. Eason played all 82 games that season, and it appeared that Rafael Stone may have gotten the steal of the 2022 NBA Draft. While there is a chance that can still be the case, unfortunately Tari Eason hasn’t played more than 60 games in a season since his rookie campaign.
In 2023, he suffered from a lower leg stress reaction and benign bone growth issue. From 2023-2025 he continued to have soreness and would miss a multitude of games for injury management. In 2024, he missed two games due to concussion. He’s missed time this past season with both ankle and oblique strains and only played in 60 games, which was the most he’s played since his rookie season. The positive for Eason is that both of those injuries are not the kind of soft tissue injuries that wouldn’t throw up too many red flags under normal circumstances, like an ACL or Achilles injury would. However, with Eason’s previous health issues it raises some cause for concern.
Aside from the health portion of the question of whether Tari was right to bet on himself, when he was on the court, did he play well enough to earn a max contract as a restricted free agent? In the 60 games Eason played, he logged 25.8 minutes per game, scored 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Eason shot 41.6 percent from the field including 35.8 percent from the three-point line, 77.6 percent from the free-throw line, and a true shooting score of 51.4 percent. Granted, that Eason is the kind of player that puts up numbers strictly with effort and hustle, having zero plays drawn up to specifically get him a shot, those numbers do not add up to a max contract, which for Eason would be in the range of about five years $240-245 million from the Rockets and four years $178-180 million should another team offer it to him.
For Eason to win this bet he made on himself, he will need to get more than the Rockets initially offered him, either from another team or from the Rockets if they decide to match the offer, but one thing I do know, Tari Eason is not getting a five-year max contract from the Rockets. If I’m wrong, then I will resign my post as a staff writer on this beloved website. There is no chance. However, can he get more than the Rockets initial offer? Well, sure… it’s the NBA, and there is always one team that is willing to overpay or at least pretend to be willing overpay to put the pressure on the Rockets to match in order to keep the player they drafted. But if I am being honest, I don’t believe Tari Eason deserves much more than the initial contract the Rockets offered him. It’s possible he will get less.
The thing I would point out if I were Eason’s agent is that his soft tissue injuries were not severe, and that Tari stepped up his scoring output in the playoffs. He scored 13.8 points per game in 32.5 minutes played per game. He shot 47.7 percent from the field, (I’d point to his career and regular season three-point percentages) 84.6 percent from the free-throw line and a 58.7 true shooting percentage. The one thing I do like is a guy who steps his game up when the stakes are higher. Tari Eason is going to have to convince either the Rockets or another NBA team that he is that exact type of player, that he will continue to be that type of player, and that he is going to be healthy if he wants any shot out pacing the extension he turned down last summer. If not, 2025-2026 will be the season Tari Eason bet on himself and lost.
After years of seemingly constant rumors, in part fueled by mixed signals from Giannis Antetokounmpo himself — not to mention teams hoarding picks and players just for this moment — an Antetokounmpo trade feels more certain than ever.
Milwaukee is reportedly “open for business” and appears more serious about it than ever — and there is a deadline. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslem said he wanted to see a decision made (either Antetokounmpo agrees to sign an extension in Milwaukee or they trade him) and any trade completed before the June 23 draft, less than six weeks away. The Bucks reportedly continue to seek a blue-chip young player and a boatload of draft picks in any deal.
Which teams are calling Milwaukee? Where might Antetokounmpo play next season? Here are nine teams to watch (and a few to rule out).
Remember: Antetokounmpo has a lot of leverage in where he lands. He only has one year guaranteed left on his contract (the second year is a player option), and he can tell a team he will not sign an extension with them, making the price to get him unreasonable. Antetokounmpo can almost control this process, and his representatives will work with the Bucks on any deal that gets done.
Miami Heat
Pat Riley wants to go big game hunting (Pat Riley always wants to go big game hunting), and after a play-in exit this April, he will be willing to push all his chips into the middle of the table. The Heat went after Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline and can do so again with an offer centered around Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, three first-round picks including the 13th pick in this draft (Miami has to make the pick then trade the player after the draft), plus 2031 and 2033, and they can throw in the swap rights from up to four years between now and 2033.
Antetokounmpo wants to stay in the East with a contender, and while there would be a lot of roster work to do, he and Bam Adebayo are a very good foundation. Plus, Miami has the draws of no state tax, plus plenty of sunshine and mojitos nearby. If Antetokounmpo pushes for Miami, this would happen.
Boston Celtics
At his end-of-season press conference, Brad Stevens — the man in charge of basketball operations in Boston — talked about the need for this team to put more pressure on the rim. Specifically, the Celtics need players who can drive the lane (and an upgrade at the five).
Nobody puts pressure on the rim like Antetokounmpo. After the Celtics' first-round exit, Boston is suddenly the team on everybody's lips. It can put together an offer around Jaylen Brown and up to four first-round picks — but is that the direction the Celtics want to go? Trade away the player they drafted and developed in Brown to get a mercenary who is older and has been injured often in recent seasons?
Antetokounmpo has expressed admiration for coach Joe Mazzulla and might well be interested, but how aggressive will the Celtics really be in this chase? If Antetokounmpo pushes for it, this could happen.
Orlando Magic
After another early, disappointing exit from the playoffs — including a Game 6 collapse where the Magic missed 23 shots in a row at one point — there are a lot of people around the league who see Orlando potentially going all in on an Antetokounmpo trade. The Magic at least explored the idea of trading for the Greek Freak at the deadline.
Orlando likely would construct a deal around Paolo Banchero and a handful of first-round picks. This trade would dramatically shorten the runway in Orlando because they get much older — Banchero is 23, Antetokounmpo turns 32 next season — but, if everyone is healthy, it gets them closer to the teams at the top of the East next season and for a few years. Antetokounmpo gets to go to a contender in a warm-weather state. If the Magic are convinced the Banchero and Franz Wagner era isn't going to work out and the duo needs to be broken up, this is a path they can choose.
Cleveland Cavaliers
If Cleveland makes it to the Eastern Conference Finals, does it change things for the Cavaliers? Probably not. This is the most expensive team in the NBA this season, and it should be Finals-or-bust. If they are unable to get past the Pistons (Cleveland leads that series 3-2 as of this writing) or the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, changes will be coming. Remember, Donovan Mitchell can be a free agent in the summer of 2027, and he will put pressure on the organization to go all in to get the players who can get him to the Finals.
Cleveland and Milwaukee discussed a trade package centered on Evan Mobley at the deadline, but the sticking point was how much draft capital would go back to the Bucks. If Antetokounmpo decides he wants to stay in the Midwest and go to Cleveland, and he pushes for it, this could be a deal that becomes real.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota was one of the teams that talked with Milwaukee at the trade deadline, and Antetokounmpo reportedly — and understandably — had interest in pairing with Anthony Edwards.
But there are a lot of hurdles to this trade. It's just hard to construct. The Bucks will want Jaden McDaniels, and he has shown incredible growth and become a foundational piece for the Timberwolves in the last year (and he has had a standout playoffs). Also, Minnesota is short on draft picks to trade, so it would need a third team involved.
Another massive hurdle (for Minnesota and a few more teams on this list): Does Antetokounmpo want to go to the Western Conference, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, and Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets all stand in the way the next few years? The sense is Antetokounmpo wants to stay in the East, league sources have told NBC Sports.
Houston Rockets
Houston has the quality young players and draft picks needed to entice Milwaukee in a trade, and after an early exit from the playoffs despite signing Kevin Durant last summer, might the Rockets go all-in again? Don't bet on it. GM Rafael Stone didn't sound like a guy thinking big moves at his end-of-season press conference.
"We'll look at everything over the offseason, and all potential deals," Stone said. "But we think the players in our locker room can win a lot of games and be very competitive. We have players coming back from injury that will help us. And if we bring back the same group, I think continuity will help us."
Golden State Warriors
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry together and chasing a ring (let's throw LeBron James in that mix, too). It would be entertaining.
It's also unlikely. Golden State pushed hard for a deal at the trade deadline because it knew heading into this summer there would be better offers on the table than its four first-round picks. The matching salary would likely have to be Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green, and an injured Butler (ACL) or Green — neither of whom would want to be there — is not appealing to the Bucks. Plus, again, the Warriors are in the West, and if Antetokounmpo wants to compete for a title, well, he and Curry are at best in the second tier in that conference.
New York Knicks
Never say never, but this team is on the verge of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since people feared the Y2K bug — do they want or need to break that roster up for Antetokounmpo?
That said, New York is the one team we know Antetokounmpo told Bucks general manager Jon Horst to talk to. The challenge is putting together a trade both sides like. The money works if it's Karl-Anthony Towns for Antetokounmpo, but KAT is a poor fit for a rebuilding Knicks team. A deal also can work with OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, but do the Knicks want to break up the guys who embody the team's identity? Even if Milwaukee is interested in those players, it also will want picks, and the Knicks don't have many to trade, so now a third team is in the mix, and it gets complicated.
Never say never, but this is a long shot.
Milwaukee Bucks
While it seems like a parting of the ways is going to happen, we've all seen this movie before. Antetokounmpo has threatened to leave in the past, used that as leverage to get the Bucks to make a bold (if not always wise) trade, and then signed to stay with the only city and team he has known.
This time it feels different. Antetokounmpo was frustrated last season — especially for the final games when he was not cleared to return and play with his brothers. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks talked, and their general manager, Jon Horst, explored trade offers at the deadline. Around the league, the expectation is that a trade is happening this time.
But would anybody be shocked if it doesn't?
Brooklyn Nets
No doubt the Brooklyn Nets are star hunting after being let down in the NBA Draft Lottery in consecutive years, but this team probably should be in the group below. The Nets have plenty of picks to offer in a trade, but not the blue-chip young talent. Also, Antetokounmpo wants to compete for a title, and even with him healthy and at his peak, the rest of this roster is worse than Milwaukee's. It's hard to see this happening.
That’s not happening group
• Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are building around Luka Doncic, and he and Antetokounmpo — two ball-dominant players who are not elite off-ball — would not mesh well. The Lakers' only blue-chip young player is Austin Reaves, and he'd have to agree to a sign-and-trade for this to work, and the Lakers would rather keep him. Plus, Antetokounmpo has said in the past he doesn't love Los Angeles as a city, and he'd be moving to the stacked West. Just hard to see this happening.
• Portland Trail Blazers. New owner Tom Dundon wants to make a statement about how he is there to compete and wants his front office to go after Antetokounmpo. It all feels a bit performative. The Trail Blazers do have two former teammates Antetokounmpo loves in Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, plus they have quality young players and some picks. But does anyone see Antetokounmpo agreeing to sign an extension in Portland? He's not going West to be on this team.
• Atlanta Hawks. All the buzz in league circles is that Atlanta is not throwing its hat in the ring, it wants to build something more organically around Jalen Johnson. They want to keep the No. 8 pick in this draft. While the Hawks could use a No. 1 option, this is not the guy they are going to chase.
• Toronto Raptors. Some people see this as possible because the Raptors are in the East, have plenty of picks and can add Collin Murray-Boyles after a strong playoff showing. However, it seems to me that Antetokounmpo would see Toronto as another version of Milwaukee — a good team with him, but not a contender. I just do not see this happening.
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on May 12, 2026 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s clear that for right now, the Western Conference belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the San Antonio Spurs are next up, trying to take them down.
That leaves the Lakers just out of the conversation and trying to improve enough to be a threat to these two young teams. One clear weakness the Lakers have is a lack of depth.
The Thunder were able to play more players for longer stretches in their series against the Lakers. The Spurs have also played nine-plus players for 10 or more minutes in most of their playoff contests.
Meanwhile, LA’s rotation continued to shrink in the postseason, and few players cracked double-digit minutes. In Game 4 against OKC, Lakers head coach JJ Redick essentially played just seven players. The only other players who saw the court were Adou Thiero and Jarred Vanderbilt, and they both played just three minutes.
It’s not sustainable to only play seven guys for months of playoff basketball, but that was the situation Redick was in.
However, now that the postseason is over, the Lakers can assess their roster and bring in guys who can be part of their rotation and contribute to winning basketball.
Redick spoke about depth, continuity and where the Lakers stack up against the best in the West during his exit interview.
“I don’t necessarily view depth as a rotation thing,” Redick said. “Whether you play eight, nine, whether you play 11, 12, you need to have depth and that depth typically comes in the roster spots 10-15. Whether that’s internal development, draft, trade, free agency, whatever that is, we need to build depth beyond just an eight- or nine-man rotation because you’re naturally going to have injuries…It really is about just building that depth.
“We can figure out, as coaches, what a rotation looks like. But you look at OKC’s roster, you look at San Antonio’s roster, those guys, they have 13 high-level rotation players, minimum. That’s a luxury to have in the NBA and it’s one of the reasons those teams are really good.”
Based on how Redick used his roster, it’s clear the Lakers don’t have 13 high-level rotation players. OKC and San Antonio do, and that’s why they are still playing and Los Angeles is not.
Sure, Luka Dončić was out, and he would’ve absolutely helped, but not enough to turn a sweep into a series win.
The tricky part for the Lakers is that they were a very good team, but need to make moves to become great. How can they balance keeping all the things that made them a 50-win team while making enough changes to take a leap?
“I believe in continuity, but…If you’re trying to win a championship, which this organization is, and I’m trying to win a championship, ” Redick said. “I know [Rob Pelinka] is trying to win a championship. I know Jeanie is. I know Mark is.
“We’re trying to win a championship and so you have to be realistic and assess where you’re at. We’re not good enough right now. There probably will be some continuity. There probably won’t be. But that’s what the next two months are for.”
Redick left room for some continuity, but he said it as clear as day that LA isn’t good enough. If they’re trying to win a title, change is needed.
Over the summer, we’ll see what that change looks like, but if the Lakers front office does its job, they’ll bring in the players Redick needs so that this time next year, he has enough guys to take on the Spurs and Thunder and have a legitimate shot at beating them.
The saga surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks got another curveball this week when one of his teammates aired out some behind-the-scenes details about this past season that weren't flattering for former Bucks coach Doc Rivers or the franchise's Greek superstar.
Myles Turner revealed on an episode of his "Game Recognize Game" podcast with WNBA star Breanna Stewart that Rivers had a policy in which he didn't fine any players and "guys were late all the time. Guys were showing up to film whenever they want. Guys were missing meetings. It was one of the craziest things I've personally experienced."
"We literally, if the plane took off 2 o'clock, we weren't leaving until 4:30," Turner continued in comments that were published on Thursday, May 14. "I'm being so serious, bro. It was crazy, dog. Guys were hours late to the plane. It got to the point where I just knew not to show up until like an hour after they said the plane was going to take off. It was crazy."
Stewart asked Turner to name to worst culprit for being late. Turner responded without hesitation: "Giannis."
"Giannis is going to show up whenever he wants, really, you know? I think that kind of just came with the territory of that," Turner added, "and once I kind of saw what was going down, I was like ... more power to you. They ain't going to fine you. Do what you do, except when we're going to Dallas (near his hometown of Bedford, Texas)"
Turner just completed his first season with the Bucks after signing a 4-year, $108-million contract last year to potentially help Milwaukee remain an Eastern Conference contender alongside Antetokoumpo. But the Bucks struggled most of the regular season, with Antetokounmpo in and out of the lineup due to injuries while dealing with steady trade speculation.
Antetokounmpo has one year left on his contract, with a player option for the 2027-28 season. Bucks ownership stated it plans to either sign Antetokounmpo to a new max contract extension or trade him and hopes to have a resolution on his future with the franchise before the NBA Draft. The team's front office is already listening to potential deals, according to reports.
— Game Recognize Game (@gamerecgamepod) May 14, 2026
Turner said he had never been on an NBA team before in which the players weren't fined, and expressed surprise at the lack of structure and disciplinary protocols under Rivers.
"Any other team I've been on, guys got fined. And there was a sense of order and a sense of understanding," Turner said. "So yeah, you're late to the plane? Fine. You're late to treatment? Fine. You're late to film? Fine. But I personally did not experience that last year for the first time in my career. So we'll see what Taylor Jenkins does."
And while Kerr’s allegiance to Steph Curry and Draymond Green likely played a significant role from the coach’s side of things, the Golden State stars didn’t meddle in the decision-making process within the organization.
At his first press conference since his new Warriors contract became official, Kerr was asked Friday about his communication with Curry and Green during the weeks of uncertainty, as well as how much input the players had.
“I was in touch with both of them,” Kerr told reporters. “They did not have any impact or influence on whether I was going to be the coach, and that’s a credit to them.
“You know, I think one of the strong points of our organization is that our best player, who is one of the greatest players in the history of the game, is not telling [general manager Mike Dunleavy or owner Joe Lacob] what to do. He understands the repercussions of that if he wanted to go down that path, and it’s not healthy.
“It usually doesn’t work out well when a player tries to dictate what an organization does. So Steph has always recognized the sanctity of that wall that should exist, but we had a lot of discussions and talked about everything, talked about our team and some of the things I’ve just mentioned where we can get better.”
As Kerr stated, Curry has been heralded throughout his career for not interfering with major organizational decisions, despite his superstardom. In the end, though the Warriors haven’t been as successful recently as they have desired, Kerr emphasized the long-standing trust between players and coach in his ultimate decision.
“I know [Curry] wanted me to coach,” Kerr continued. “I know I wanted to coach him, and that mattered, but ultimately we have a really special, strong bond that should carry over into our success as a team. I think I have a better chance of coaching this team than anybody else because of that relationship, my relationship with Draymond, my intimate knowledge of our team and our organization.
“And, as I said from the beginning, I still love what I do. If I were tired and burned out, then I would not be doing this, but I love my job, I love coaching the Warriors, being in this city, being in the Bay. It all worked out.”
So, it seems as though Kerr’s return was the outcome everyone wanted. But now, what remains is whether or not Kerr, Curry and Green can compile one last deep run together in the NBA playoffs.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 17: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics looks on prior to Game One of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on May 17, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Isaiah Thomas last suited up in a Boston Celtics uniform nine years ago, facing LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. He spent the remainder of his career playing for eight different teams, all while never relinquishing his desire to return to Boston.
At the same time, the respect and reverence Thomas had and left behind in Boston never faded. In 2019, as a member of the Denver Nuggets, he was honored with a tribute video at TD Garden midway through the first quarter of a regular-season matchup. This past season, as part of the organization’s “Legendary Moments” campaign, Thomas was welcomed back and sat courtside next to team owner Bill Chisholm on Dec. 19 — a night again marked by a video tribute during a game against the Miami Heat.
Now, that connection has come full circle. According to The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, Thomas will return to the Celtics as a professional and college scout, contributing primarily from the Seattle area, and reuniting him with the franchise where he became a two-time All-Star and MVP candidate.
Himmelsbach also reported that Thomas has already gotten started, joining team executives at the NBA Combine this week in Chicago.
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 19: Isaiah Thomas is honored during the game between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics on December 19, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Thomas, now 37 and two years removed from his last NBA appearance, has long awaited an opportunity to contribute to the Celtics once again. Before signing a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns in March 2024 for his final run as a player, Thomas floated the idea of signing with the Celtics, vowing to provide leadership and not needing a single minute on the floor. Boston, at the time, had an open roster spot following February’s trade deadline and before the team began exploring the buy-out market.
The front office passed on Thomas, and four months later, the Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals.
Boston acquired Thomas in a trade with Phoenix in 2015. Then-head coach Brad Stevens didn’t start Thomas until the following season, playing him off the bench for the final 21 games of the 2014-15 season. Even on a rebuilding, 40-42 roster led by Jeff Green and Avery Bradley, the Celtics made Thomas earn his spot.
He made his first All-Star Game in his first full season with the Celtics, averaging 22.2 points in 72 starts. The following year, Thomas wrote his legacy in Boston. He earned a second straight All-Star selection, averaged a career-high 28.9 points, and finished fifth in MVP voting behind Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and LBJ — and ahead of Stephen Curry.
In the 2017 NBA playoffs, Thomas elevated his game even further. He helped the Celtics rally from an 0–2 deficit in the first round against the Chicago Bulls, then delivered a 53-point performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Wizards, a series Boston went on to win in seven games.
Thomas fell short in the conference finals, departing after 18 minutes in Game 2 versus Cleveland with a right hip injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the series. That was the catalyst for then-president of basketball operations Danny Ainge to trade Thomas for Kyrie Irving months later in the offseason.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 17: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics gets introduced in the starting line up before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
That was the beginning of the end for Thomas, who in Boston was at the peak of his career and had done everything to earn a max contract.
His contributions weren’t enough to raise a banner, but they were among the organization’s most pivotal stepping stones. Just before the arrivals of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Thomas helped make the Celtics an exciting, watch-worthy team again. They weren’t the overwhelming favorites in the East like Cleveland, but they were a fearless underdog capable of hanging with the league’s top dogs.
In April 2016 against the Warriors, Thomas scored 22 points as the Celtics ended Golden State’s 54-game home winning streak. Against the Heat in December 2016, he set a then-career high with 52 points and cemented himself as the “King of the Fourth,” scoring a franchise record 29 points in the final quarter alone.
“I’ve opened my arms to try to come back in so many ways,” Thomas told reporters four years ago as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. “It’s not even about playing and trying to pick up where I left off, I’m past that moment, but I know there’s been times where I can help in that locker room. I’m not in there every day, so I can’t speak on what’s going on. This is from the outside looking in, but I’ve felt there’s been times where Brad could make a call and give me an opportunity and it hasn’t happened.”
Thomas added: “That’s disappointing in a lot of ways because I love Boston. I love everything about the city of Boston and the people who showed me the most love is obviously from Boston.”
Over the years, the team has kept its doors wide open to Celtics of the past. Paul Pierce is a frequent visitor at practices and a regular presence at games. Sam Cassell and Phil Pressey are members of Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff. Rajon Rondo made a visit three years ago after receiving an invite from Mazzulla, as did former Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau just before Opening Night this past season.
During his run with the Celtics, Thomas wasn’t surrounded by a star-studded cast — and it still didn’t matter. At 5-foot-9, he consistently overcame physical limitations, just as he did in Boston, where he helped turn a post–Big Three rebuild into immediate gratification before handing the reins to Tatum and Brown.
In the history book of Celtics basketball, Thomas has a chapter of his own. It’s arguably the most sentimental, making a reunion long overdue for one of the franchise’s most beloved all-time legends.
Just like in the 1st round against the Orlando Magic, the Pistons have reached the point of win or go home as they face elimination against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. If there is one positive for the Pistons it is that they only have to win two games in a row to steal the series rather than the three they had to against Orlando.
Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland came with a bit of controversy as what many thought was a missed foul on Ausar Thompson at the end of the game kept the game tied before the Pistons lost in Overtime. The Last Two Minute Report by the NBA has since disproven the controversy by confirming the correct call was made, but it has still led to a ton of discourse.
The bottom line about Game 5 is that the Pistons put themselves in a position to win multiple times during the game and couldn’t seal the deal. You can complain about the foul and free throw discrepancy, and those are valid things, but the Pistons blew a 15-point lead in the 1st half and also a 9-point lead with two minutes left.
Now, they have to go to Cleveland with their season on the line where the Cavaliers have not lost a game during the postseason so far.
Vitals
Where: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH When: Friday, May 15 at 7 pm EST Watch: Prime Video Odds: Cavaliers (-3.5)
Analysis
The big takeaway from the last three games amongst Pistons fans is the foul discrepancy and how many more free throws the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken. In Cleveland’s three straight wins, they have shot a total of 100 free throws while the Pistons have only shot 52. I don’t think I really need to say much more about it here that hasn’t already been talked about to death online.
The biggest reason why the Cavaliers have taken control of the series is because their stars have stepped up while the Pistons have gotten very minimal contributions out of anybody but Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. It reached a breaking point in Game 5 as Jalen Duren was benched for the whole 4th quarter and overtime in favor of Paul Reed, who is one of the few bright spots outside of Cunningham and Harris.
In Games 1 and 2, the Pistons were able to successfully hold James Harden in check to the point where despite 23 and 31 point games by Donovan Mitchell, they were still able to come out on top. Since those first two games, Donovan Mitchell has kicked it up to another level and James Harden has gotten things rolling. It has scrambled the Pistons defense as they have to sell out more to stop both player’s dribble penetration and it has allowed the Cavaliers to get players like Evan Mobley, Max Strus, and Jarrett Allen rolling with easy looks.
You can say it is due to an uneven whistle, but the bottom line is that unless the Pistons make adjustments to how they are defending Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, this series will be ending tonight.
The Pistons have done a bad job defending the three point line as the Cavaliers have gotten quite a few open threes after long possessions because the Pistons lose focus or rotate off somebody too much. The Cavs are too good of a shooting team to consistently allow that to happen.
The Cavaliers have successfully matched the Pistons physicality on defense and are able to bring doubles on Cade to force other players to beat them. That did not happen on Wednesday down the stretch. All the Pistons had to do was make one of the wide-open shots that Cade generated off of a pass out of a double and the controversial call doesn’t matter and we are discussing the Pistons closing out a series tonight.
You can blame the refs all you want, but the bottom line is despite the foul and free throw discrepancy, the Pistons have held leads in 2 of the last 3 games in the 4th quarter and could not seal the deal in either one. Young teams have to learn how to win in the playoffs and the Pistons were able to get the job done against the Orlando Magic, but the Cavaliers are an older, more experienced team with a ton of players that have played a lot of playoff games.
They know how to game the system whether you like it or not. And those plays around the margins can make all the difference in winning or losing a playoff series.
The Pistons are not dead in the water. But, if they want any hope at winning this game and returning home for Game 7, their execution down the stretch has to be much better. The amount of free throws each team have shot won’t matter if you execute your offense and do a better job at defending and creating turnovers. The Cavaliers are prone to doing it as they proved in Games 1 and 2.
JB Bickerstaff and the players can discuss the uneven whistle all that they want, but it is clear at this point that the team that led the league in fouls during the regular season is going to foul a lot. The Cavs know it and have put together a gameplan that focuses on it. Now, the Pistons have to put together a gameplan of their own to counteract it.
Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2): James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Joe Lacob made it clear what his expectation is for the Warriors each and every season.
Which was, in part, why Steve Kerr was confident in his decision to return to Golden State for two more seasons.
The Warriors coach spoke to reporters for the first time since signing his new contract, and was asked about his relationship with Lacob over the years and currently, as the team navigates a difficult path back to playoff contention.
“Joe and I have great respect for each other,” Kerr said. “I was here as a player all those years at Oracle when the crowd was loving it and the team was lousy. It just was. The team did not have what it haves now, which is really strong leadership, incredible infastructure and a vision for winning. Everyone boo’d Joe when he said ‘We’re going to win a title’ or ‘We’re trading Monta [Ellis]’ or whatever it was, right? You can’t argue with the results.
“Joe came in here, and he built a pretty incredible organization, on the business side, on the basketball side. We’ve had a great partnership. It doesn’t mean we always agree, nor should we. We want to be pushing each other.”
In recent weeks, when Kerr was deciding whether or not he wanted to return and coach the Warriors, he spoke with both Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy on multiple occasions, and one thing Lacob said in those meetings stuck with him and gave him confidence that the organization still is dedicated to winning.
“The only thing I would reveal from our conversations, and I don’t think he would mind if I shared this, but we were talking about our injuries and how this is the first time where we can’t realistically just say, “Hey, let’s win a title next year,’ you know?” Kerr recalled.
“He just said, ‘You know, I’m the owner, and I can’t help but just say I expect to be in the playoffs every year and have a shot.’ Frankly, that’s one of the reasons why we have done that is because of his vision and his passion. I admire that. I love that. I think he sees the same thing in me. We’re both incredibly competitive. He’s going to be frustrated with things that I do, and I’m going to be frustrated with his reaction sometimes on the sideline if he’s upset with something.”
If winning was not Lacob and the Warriors’ No. 1 priority, there is no doubt in Kerr’s mind that he already would have called it quits by now.
“That’s all part of it, but we have great respect for one another, and we share the exact same goal,” Kerr explained. “That’s ultimately why I’m coming back, because if that didn’t exist, then this would have ended.
