Category: Basketball

Which path should Celtics take this offseason? Mannix weighs in originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A potentially franchise-altering offseason lies ahead for the Boston Celtics.

After a devastating first-round series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston must decide whether to keep its core intact or begin a new era of Celtics basketball. NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics insider Chris Forsberg laid out three paths for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens – Path 1: small tweaks to the roster, Path 2: an uncomfortable middle road, and Path 3: breaking up superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Path 3 has already been rumored to be under consideration. Boston is among the teams linked to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in trade rumors, and such a deal almost certainly would require shipping Jaylen Brown out of town.

Do Stevens and the Celtics need to make such a drastic move, or should they run it back with largely the same group plus a healthy Jayson Tatum? Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated joined Friday’s Early Edition to discuss which path he’d take.

“I don’t see a real reason to overreact to a bad playoff loss given what this season was supposed to be,” Mannix said. “I mean, the expectations coming into the year were extremely low. They wind up winning 56 games, having a better offensive rating this year than they did last year.

“Yeah, it was an ugly way to go out against Philadelphia, and obviously, they have some needs to address if they want to be considered a championship contender, but they’ve got the core of a championship-contending team. They’ve got two superstars that know how to play with each other. They’ve got a second star who elevated himself this year into that first tier of players.”

Brown stepped up in Tatum’s absence, leading Boston to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. When Tatum returned, it was like he had never left. The Celtics’ star tandem picked up where it left off before Tatum’s injury and appeared ready to make a run at Banner 19.

Then, they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Sixers.

Despite that devastating result, Mannix looks at this year’s Eastern Conference champions as a reason not to make any drastic decisions.

“I think looking at the New York Knicks is a great example of why you want to keep things together, because one of the reasons the Knicks are playing in the Finals right now is because of their chemistry,” Mannix said. “Jalen Brunson has been around for four years. Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, two or three years. They’ve built chemistry over multiple years and they’re playing and succeeding as a team.

“The Celtics have done it even longer with this group, and I would love to see them go out, try to find a big man, try to find a little bit more depth in the backcourt, and then run it back next year with a healthy Jayson Tatum and a vastly improved Jaylen Brown.”

Boston enters the offseason with a glaring need for frontcourt help. It could also use a playmaking guard and a another reliable scoring option for when Tatum and Brown need a breather.

Stevens has a massive $27.7 million traded player exception at his disposal, as well as a $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Both will be useful as the Celtics look to upgrade their roster, but if they go the trade route while keeping the Jays together, one name to monitor is Derrick White.

White, a Celtic since 2022 and a key member of the 2024 championship squad, is owed $30.34 million for the upcoming season. The three-time All-Defensive selection is one of Boston’s few trade chips that could bring in a significant haul.

Perhaps a big-man upgrade and other improvements on the margins will be enough. But as opportunities arise in the offseason, Stevens will have to seriously ponder whether a major change is best for the franchise’s future.

The NBA is truly a worldwide league, boasting 135 international players from 43 countries at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season (NBA News, 10/22/25). So, as well as evaluating US college and G League prospects, team scouts also have the daunting task of crisscrossing the globe for new talent. Is there another Luka Doncic making his name with Real Madrid? Another Giannis bending rims in the shadow of the Acropolis? Another Wemby towering over the Arc de Triomphe?

For the Utah Jazz, who only (only!) have the second pick in the entire draft, is it worth trading some of their assets for the chance to land the next big continental phenom? Let’s take a look at some of the worldwide talent on offer and you can decide for yourself. ‘

Karim Lopez is the undisputed top international prospect in this year’s draft. The 6’8” Mexican born wing is currently playing down under with the New Zealand Breakers. Watching his highlights, you see a player who can do a little bit of everything: ball handling, three-point shooting, creating his own shot, setting up teammates, driving to the basket. His size, athleticism and quick hands also provide glimpses of his potential on the defensive end. But as he is expected to be drafted between 11 and 14 on most draft boards, it would be a huge stretch for the Jazz to shell out enough player and future draft capital to acquire him.

Not to worry though. If you can’t afford a Cadillac, perhaps there’s a sporty mid-size sedan in the Jazz’s price range. Or perhaps in the case of this next player, a stretch limo. Standing 7’3” with a 7’5” wingspan, weighing in as a 289 lb Heavyweight, and optimistically referred to by one pundit as “The Italian Wemby” (whoa there, fella), Luigi Suigo is projected to be picked anywhere from the late first round to the early- to mid-second round. Watching his highlights, it’s easy to see why NBA scouts would be intrigued by this towering Goliath. He dominates the paint, easily putting back misses by his teammates. But he can also step back beyond the arc and hit threes, though his three-point percentage needs improvement. The capital needed to take a flyer on Suigo could be a lot less, especially if he drops into the second round. And it’s enticing to think of him as a backup rim protector to Walker Kessler.

Jack Kayil, a 6’5”, 185 lb German point guard is projected to be picked between 37-40 or per some analysts will remain undrafted. Playing for ALBA in Berlin during the 2025-2026 season, he averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds, while shooting just over 34% from three. His handle is reminiscent of Keyonte George and he could be a promising backup guard, especially if the Jazz don’t select Darryn Peterson with the second pick. Kayil is currently committed to Gonzaga, but that could change if there is more interest from NBA teams.

The Jazz, of course, may be completely happy with just taking the second pick and keeping their future draft capital and current players intact. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially considering that the 2027 NBA draft will likely have more intriguing international prospects: Dash Daniels, an elite defender with Melbourne United, whose brother, Dyson Daniels, had a breakout season with the Hawks; Miikka Muurinen, Lauri Markkanen’s Finnish national team sidekick, who will have completed a year with the University of Arkansas; and Sergio de Larrea, a 6’5”, 175 lb shooting guard from Spain, a three-point marksman with a high basketball IQ, who reminds me of Austin Reaves. But my suspicion is that Austin Ainge and the rest of Jazz management are keeping their options open, both here and overseas, as they try to create an edge in their quest to get back to the post season.

Last week, I tweeted this, a white lie…

Admittedly, it wasn’t “total” speculation. There were already whispers that the Brooklyn Nets were interested in Nate Ament in the upcoming NBA Draft, whether at #6 overall or after trading down. But stronger was the inductive reasoning behind it; given what we know about Brooklyn’s recent drafting history and Ament’s profile, the fit is almost too obvious. But we’ll get to that.

Over the past week, the whispers have become PSAs. Our own Connor Long reported that the Nets were interested in the University of Tennessee product, while Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports just mocked Ament to Brooklyn at #6, adding that the Nets are indeed “drawn” to him…

For what it’s worth, NetsDaily has not heard anything directly from Nets sources about their draft plans, though team insiders are telling people they “feel good” and are “excited” about the summer. Not much there.

But sources around the league — agents and their employees, as well as scouts for rival teams — all paint the same picture: The Nets are very interested in Ament. In fact, some sources are debating whether it’s an outright “lock” that Brooklyn takes the 6’10” forward. You hear phrases like “league-wide expectation,” and when other prospects are mentioned (Karim Lopez, Aday Mara, or one of the guards), the boldest convictions are that they could still be “in play.”

Three weeks out, there is such widespread agreement on Brooklyn’s interest that you wonder if it’s smoke. Or if Brooklyn is telegraphing their interest in a prospect recently projected to go much lower than #6 so as to facilitate a trade-down. O’Connor did note in his latest mock that “plenty of teams [are] interested in trading into this spot.”

The Egor Dëmin selection last season is a valuable reference point, likely part of why these sources feel confident about Brooklyn taking Ament. The team’s interest in Dëmin pre-draft was well known, but few believed the Nets would actually take Dëmin at #8 overall, a clear reach relative to most draft boards. (ESPN had the BYU product at No. 13 in their last mock.) After Brooklyn’s stunning 2025 NBA Draft — from the Dëmin selection to the other four picks to their jubilant reactions in the war room — sources aren’t putting anything past them.

While Dëmin and Ament are not identical prospects, there are important similarities, particularly when you consider how they could fit into the next iteration of the Brooklyn Nets. The thinking goes: Size + shooting provides a floor, and once GM Sean Marks goes star-hunting in the trade market, long viewed as an inevitability, those players theoretically slot in comfortably next to high-usage players.

If Brooklyn does take Ament, they clearly don’t believe this crop of guard prospects (Acuff, Wagler, Brown Jr., Flemings) will produce that aforementioned high-usage star. That thinking may be most in line with consensus; teams are lower on that group of players than the general public might be, hence players like Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara shooting up mocks.

Nate Ament could be a prototypical Nets prospect darling for other reasons. Let’s list ‘em.

• Prospect pedigree: Ament was the No. 4 prospect in his high school class before an underwhelming freshman season at Tennessee. Dariq Whitehead, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, and to a lesser extent, Egor Dëmin were all extremely hyped prospects who lost hype during their pre-draft year.
• High-character billing: Watch an interview. Read this Marc J. Spears story. Nate Ament does seem like a hard worker with a very pleasant attitude, affirmed by those in the know. We know the Nets really, really value character.
• Weaknesses: The general sell is size + shooting, right? Well, Ament shot 33% from deep, 37% on long twos, and under 79% from the line. Not terrible, but Brooklyn would certainly be banking on a shooting leap, nothing new for them. Ament also struggled with physicality and explosiveness, creating space and/or finishing at the rim. How many current Nets could that last sentence apply to?

O’Connor gave Ament a bit of a pass on the shooting:

[O]ver the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and severely struggled during the tournament.

We haven’t heard anything from Nets sources about their interest in Nate Ament. Brian Lewis tweeted Friday that Ament has not yet worked out for Brooklyn. Acuff was in Wednesday, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the first word any of the top prospects have been in. And while league sources are quite clear on their opinion, there are still nearly three weeks until the 2026 NBA Draft. Things can change in a hurry.

Alas, even if Ament to Brooklyn isn’t a “lock,” the noise and our own inductive reasoning is simply too much to ignore. We’ll have plenty of analysis coming, namely an interview with a prominent NBA Draft analyst on Brooklyn potentially taking Ament. But we can say this: If it does come to fruition, particularly without a trade-down from #6 overall, it will be a very polarizing (at best) decision within draft circles, perhaps even more than the Dëmin selection…

For those looking for more discussion on Nate Ament, I appeared on the most recent episode of Locked On Nets with Erik Slater, where we discussed Ament at length. Once again, we’ll have further analysis of Ament and other prospects before the draft, starting this weekend.

The NBA Draft begins on June 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Ten years ago, home teams wore white uniforms for 97% of NBA playoff games, and alternate jerseys were rarely worn during the postseason. This year, only 32% of playoffs games have featured home teams in white—many fans have voiced a desire for that number go back up—as NBA team’s jersey choices have become more chaotic.

The New York Knicks wore their non-traditional black uniforms at Madison Square Garden for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the San Antonio Spurs were not allowed to wear their popular Fiesta jerseys for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

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This week, Club Sportico talked to the NBA to get the league’s perspective on alternate uniforms during the playoffs, and whether the home whites tradition could ever return, even if only for the Finals.

You can read the full essay at Club Sportico. Here’s an excerpt ✍️:

The San Antonio Spurs opened the NBA Finals at home with another glorious Fiesta night. Just as they’d done in previous rounds, fans wore the team’s 1990s “Fiesta” shades, divided into tangerine, fuchsia and turquoise sections of the arena, to create an awesome visual.

The Spurs' Fiesta Colors in the crowd for the NBA Finals 😍 pic.twitter.com/eexV5ovNNV

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 4, 2026

But, unlike in the first two rounds, the team itself was not dressed as colorfully. Despite being cheered on by a giant sherbet menu, the Spurs wore their traditional black instead of their Fiesta jerseys. This wasn’t a surprise—Sportico explained back in April that the NBA requires teams to wear their “primary uniforms” in the conference finals and Finals.

The league’s priorities, though, seemed contradictory to me. If the NBA wants a more classic look for the higher-profile later rounds, then why allow the Spurs to wear black at home, when home teams typically wore white for the league’s first 70 years?

I talked to Christopher Arena, the NBA’s SVP of on-court and brand partnerships, to get his perspective.

“There’s something about world-building as a team hosts a game that they can tell a story wearing whichever uniform they’re wearing,” Arena said. “If in the early rounds, that’s about City Edition and Fiesta and doing t-shirt giveaways that paint the crowd, great. If that’s about a more traditional team like the Knicks and they just want to wear white at home, that’s great too.”

The league does recognize the importance of history—it’s one reason City Edition jerseys are no longer allowed late in the playoffs. The Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets clinched the 2019 and 2023 Finals, respectively, wearing alternates that debuted in those particular seasons and are no longer worn. The NBA understood that this wasn’t ideal.

“When you get to these big, call it trophy, T-shirt, hat moments… there’s something about seeing the teams in their core identities and fans connecting to that,” Arena said.

Don’t expect the home whites tradition to come back, but towards the end of our conversation, Arena seemed open to the idea of having some “dividing line” to distinguish certain games when teams would have to wear white at home.

“You could do just the Finals. You could do conference finals and Finals. You could do all the playoffs, including the play-in. You know, you could do Friday night games,” Arena said.

____________________________________________________
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He’s scoring some points with Knicks fans.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin dished to The Post about he and President Trump’s “die-hard” love of the team — saying players haven’t had such good chemistry since the days of Patrick Ewing and Hubert Davis in the 90s.

“It’s so exciting — and good luck to any of those San Antonio Spurs fans who think that a team that hasn’t lost a game in over 40 days is about to go two and four in the most important games of their entire lives,” he said, as the on-fire team geared up for Game 2 of the NBA finals Friday night.

He compared the team’s winning streak to its thrilling success in the mid-90s.

“The chemistry was an exciting time for New York,” he said. “It was the best…the city, the energy. And it’s just been a long time since we’ve had that feeling.”

 “They would, you know, pop up five, six, seven threes and you’d hear the crowd chanting for Hubert Davis,” he said of the time period.

The Long Island native said he and President Trump will both be glued to the NBA finals as the Knicks face off against the Spurs.

“You know, of course we’ll be watching the games every minute. Game one I found myself in front of my sofa, in front of my TV, frequently standing as if I was actually at the game,” he said of his excitement.

“The president has been a diehard fan for decades. You can find all the photos and videos of him through the 90s and the 2000 and the 2010s, basically until he started running for president, sitting court side,” he said. 

“[There’s] great video from the mid 90s of Charles Oakley falling into him as he was sitting in court-side. So yeah, he’s been no stranger  to those Knicks games for years,” Zeldin said.

The commander-in-chief said he plans to root for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden next week, but Zeldin stopped short of saying he’d be there with him.

“We’ll see,” he said.

Zeldin spoke to The Post about his passion for the Knicks before leaving on a boat to Oyster Bay near the Long Island Sound to promote a Trump administration project aimed at preserving the waterway.

The project, managed by the EPA and the state, centers on improving water quality, restoring coastal habitats and upgrading septic systems.

He predicted the Knicks, who haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973, would take home the title.

“That’s a great young team that the Spurs have. And that’s a long road, long future. But man I don’t think they have it this year. I don’t want to get too bullish so I won’t start guaranteeing anything,” he said.

“But as a Knicks fan, as a diehard, you gotta believe.”

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The San Antonio Spurs desperately need to hold down the fort tonight against the New York Knicks before heading into a hostile Madison Square Garden. Ahead of Game 2 of the Finals, our NBA player prop projections have locked in on a few major value spots you'll want to target.

By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.

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

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, June 5.

Knicks vs Spurs computer picks for Game 2

Knicks	Spurs
Towns o10.5 rebounds -125	Fox o14.5 points -115
Anunoby o15.5 points +102	Champagnie o2.5 3-pointers  +100
Brunson u6.5 assists -150	Wembanyama o11.5 rebounds  -120

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Knicks Game 2 computer picks

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds (-125)

Projection: 11.41 rebounds

New York’s relentless effort on the glass has been a defining trait all season, with the Knicks ranking 6th in the league by hauling in 12.5 offensive rebounds per game.

A massive portion of that interior wealth belongs to Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT carried that regular-season dominance right into the NBA Finals, dominating the paint in Game 1 with a stellar 19-point, 12-rebound double-double that completely disrupted the San Antonio Spurs’ interior defense.

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OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points (+102)

Projection: 15.41 points

OG Anunoby has been an absolute cash cow for this line, clearing his points prop in 10 of the New York Knicks' 13 postseason games. 

While the Spurs boast the defensive tools to make life difficult, Anunoby has consistently found a way to assert himself in a resilient New York offense that adapts to any scenario. Expect him to deliver once again & take the Over on Anunoby's points prop tonight.

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Jalen Brunson Under 6.5 assists (-150)

Projection: 6.39 assists

Jalen Brunson has hit the Over on 6.5 assists just three times in his last 10 games, and keeping "Captain Clutch" contained is San Antonio's top priority for Game 2.

To establish any peace of mind, the Spurs must disrupt Brunson both as a scorer and a playmaker. Forcing him into a frustrating, inefficient night is the key to throwing the loaded Knicks off script, and San Antonio's defensive blueprint begins and ends with slowing down New York's star guard.

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Spurs Game 2 computer picks

De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-115)

Projection: 17.76 points

While it’s entirely understandable that injuries have kept De'Aaron Fox from playing at 100%, his seven-point dud in Game 1 simply won't cut it.

The Spurs desperately need more production from their star guard if they want a fighting chance to give their home crowd some life before the series shifts to New York. Expect a resilient bounce-back performance tonight & back Fox to put it all on the floor and erase the memories of his Game 1 struggles.

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Julian Champagnie Over 2.5 3-pointers (+100)

Projection: 2.55 3-pointers

You know the old saying: you can take the kid out of New York, but you can't take New York out of the kid. Julian Champagnie proved that in the series opener, letting it fly against his hometown team to the tune of a 5-for-10 shooting performance from deep.

Playing against your roots in the NBA Finals brings a different kind of juice, and Champagnie was locked in. Expect him to bring that exact same energy to the floor tonight & the Spurs are going to need every bit of it.

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Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds (-120)

Projection: 12.74 rebounds

San Antonio has been dominant on the glass lately, ranking as the league's second-best offensive rebounding team over its last five games. When it comes to reliable bets, few lines look safer than Victor Wembanyama’s rebounds.

Wemby hauled in 12 boards in Game 1, and with the Spurs desperate to avoid a 2-0 hole before heading to New York, expect him to fight even harder tonight to limit Towns & Co. from creating second-chance opportunities.

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How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 2

Location	Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date	Friday, June 5, 2026
Tip-off	8:30 p.m. ET
TV	ABC

Not intended for use in MA.
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The fan accused of verbally harassing Jalen Brunson has been banned from sitting courtside for the remainder of the Finals, an NBA spokesperson told The Post. 

The league investigated the male fan after he allegedly heckled Brunson with profanities during Game 1 of the NBA Final. Brunson was so upset following the Knicks victory he was held back from approaching the fan by teammate Jose Alvarado and referee Scott Foster. 

Now he doesn’t have to worry about that fan getting too close. 

Even though the fan could still sit elsewhere in the arena, a league source said he wasn’t expected to attend Friday’s Game 2 in San Antonio.

“The fan was not a season ticket holder and if he were to attend another game in this series, he would not be permitted to sit in courtside seats,” the league spokesman said. 

After carrying the Knicks to victory with a clutch performance in Game 1, Brunson approached Foster to point out the heckling fan. The exchange went viral because Brunson appeared to get further angered by something said by the fan, and social media sleuths tried to implicate a courtside woman as the offending fan.

As The Post reported Thursday, the league was not investigating the woman. It identified the man as the heckler, investigated, and kicked him out of the front row until next season. 

“I didn’t even see what happened,” Josh Hart said Thursday. “I heard something about it. I didn’t really see it. I don’t know. He’s always pretty calm, pretty composed. I’m sure the fans probably said something crazy to kind of get him going. I wish I could answer that a little bit better, but I didn’t see the interaction.”

Brunson wasn’t interested in discussing the exchange. 

“I’m all good about talking about that,” Brunson said Thursday when asked if something was said that crossed the line. “All good.”

Editor's Note:Click here for live coverage and all the latest news from Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

Some sports fans think Buffalo Wild Wings is playing chicken over its response to the person who ran onto the court at the first game of the NBA Finals.

On June 4, the wing chain took to X to address the incident at the game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs a day earlier during which a fan ran onto the court trying to get a selfie with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

"Internet, help us find the banned fan. He can watch the rest of the finals at B-Dubs on us," Buffalo Wild Wings wrote.

Buffalo Wild Wings' response to the debacle drew widespread attention on social media; the post garnered 4.8 million views as of June 5. While some fans supported the restaurant, many people took issue with the chain's offer.

USA TODAY has reached out to Buffalo Wild Wings.

There's been a development in the investigation of the courtside fan who was heckling Knicks star Jalen Brunson during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

According to SNY's Ian Begley, a league spokesperson said that the fan will not be banned from the arena, but their access to courtside seats will be taken away.

"The fan was not a season ticket holder and if he were to attend another game in this series, he would not be permitted to sit in courtside seats," the statement read. 

The NBA's investigation was solely focused on one fan, per Begley.

In various points of the opening game, Brunson could be seen going back and forth with Spurs fans in the front row near the scorer's table. Once the game ended with the Knicks defeating San Antonio, 105-95, Brunson was shown on the television broadcast approaching the group. Referee Scott Foster and Jose Alvarado intervened before the Eastern Conference Finals MVP walked away. 

During Thursday's media availability, Brunson was asked about the fan interaction and the guard declined to go into detail.

"I'm all good about talking about that," Brunson said. 

The Knicks will look to take a 2-0 series lead in San Antonio on Friday night. 

Source confirms NBA is investigating fans sitting courtside for what they said to Knicks star Jalen Brunson. @ChrisBHaynes 1st on it. Brunson was talking to ref Scott Foster about fans after NYK’s Game 1 win. Video by @NBA_NewYork presents timeline here: pic.twitter.com/RETGyrR8T5

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 4, 2026

One thing has been abundantly clear about Austin Reaves’ time with the Lakers: he loves Los Angeles.

He hasn’t exactly made it a secret that he wants to remain in LA. Every time he’s asked about free agency, he tries to take a stab at a diplomatic response, but somewhere along the way, he’ll make it known he loves being a Laker.

In 2023, he said he wanted to be a Laker his whole career ahead of free agency. In the summer of 2025, he said he wanted to be a Laker for life. After turning down an extension from the Lakers last offseason, he spoke about how hard that was but, again, stated he wanted to remain a Laker. And at President of Basketball Operation’s Rob Pelinka’s exit interview this spring, he reiterated that Austin had made it clear he wanted to remain with the franchise.

For fans who want to see him back, this is all great news. For Austin’s agents, it’s probably pretty awful!

All these comments haven’t exactly given Austin an edge in negotiations. If the Lakers know he badly wants to be in LA, how much are they going to leverage that in their contract offer?

It probably shouldn’t be a surprise, then, to see them trying to shift the narrative back around. On Thursday, Brad Turner of the LA Times appeared on Spectrum SportsNet and spoke about Austin’s impending free agency, revealing that he wants a max deal.

Here’s a transcript of what Turner said for those without Twitter/X:

“He stands to make five years, $241 million, that’s from the Lakers if they offer him that deal. Or if he goes to a team like Chicago or a team like Brooklyn, he can get four years, $178 [million]. Those teams will kind of lurk around. Based on what I understand, what I keep hearing, Austin wants the max. Is he willing to give the Lakers a hometown deal? I’m not so sure about that. Maybe he does, but maybe he reps don’t want to.”

The end of this quote pretty accurately lays things out and shows where things stand. If it were up to Austin, it’d be much more likely that a hometown discount is on the table. But Austin’s agents are trying to do what’s best for him financially.

Given how things will shake out and the mechanisms of the CBA, it’s ultimately not really going to matter for the Lakers’ free agency plans what type of deal Austin takes. His cap hold is going to be so low relative to the deal he’s going to get that his deal is likely going to be one of the last things the team does in the order of operations this summer.

The only difference in his deal is how close it brings the Lakers to the second apron and how much money Mark Walter will have to fork over. The Lakers shouldn’t end up all that close to the second apron, so it’s only going to be the second part that matters all that much.

And if that’s the case, here’s to Austin getting as big a pay day as he deserves…and much bigger than the one he’s been angling for.

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

This is what Chalamet money looks like.

When the Knicks host the Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, it will be the most expensive game in NBA Finals history — and very nearly sports history.

The cheapest ticket for the game, according to Seat Geek, is $9,006 and that’s for the upper bowl.

While courtside seats are not offered on ticket platforms, folks looking for one can place a bid on the NBA website. The highest bidder at time of publish has offered $500,000.

The tickets aren’t comparable to anything else in NBA Finals history, with tickets in Dallas for the 2024 finals being the second highest with an average of $1,965, per SeatGeek.

The MSG average right now for tickets sold stands at $7,149 — and that number just keeps rising.

In sports history, only Super Bowl 2024 between the Chiefs and 49ers surpasses the Knicks tickets with an average cost of $10,497, per SeatGeek.

Games 1, 2, and 6 at MSG all rank among the top eight in all-time average ticket price.

The Knicks fans’ obsession for the franchise’s first championship in 53 years has been clear throughout this playoff run.

The Knicks haven’t made it to the NBA Finals in 27 years, meaning at least 25% of the population of New York City wasn’t yet born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And they haven’t won a title since 1973.

Ticket prices surged from their $3,900 starting point Monday, per Front Office Sports, to over the $10,000 minimum after the Knicks took Game 1.

New Yorkers are starting to taste a championship and want a piece of it.

Another reason for the absurd prices is the clout they carry, according to the The Wall Street Journal.

This has created a scramble effect on Wall Street, in Big Law, in real estate and among celebrities to just pay $10,000 or more.

“If you’re not there, you’re a loser,” Jaclyn Sienna India, founder of concierge agency Sienna Charles, told the Wall Street Journal.

India’s team has already spent as much as a staggering $176,000 for a single ticket, she said.

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will both attend Game 3 of the series.

Other celebrities like Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan could also make their usual courtside appearances.

While the prices have skyrocketed, the views remain the same from the regular season.

The aforementioned $10,000 seats have the following view.

Others won’t be as lucky, with many of the seats in the back rows of the 200 level considered obstructed-view tickets.

The Chase Bridge completely blocks the view of the center-court scoreboard.

If the series goes past four games, Knicks fans dying to watch an NBA Finals game in person would spend less on flying to San Antonio for the weekend to see Game 5: tickets on SeatGeek for Frost Bank Center start at $1,711, with round-trip flights under $600.

Editor's Note:Click here for live coverage and all the latest news from Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

Julian Champagnie is a fascinating figure in the 2026 NBA Finals because he's the only player in the series who grew up in New York and then went to college in New York — and he happens to now play for the San Antonio Spurs.

So the fourth-year pro isn't just emerging as a valuable sharpshooter who was overlooked initially after going undrafted and being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers to begin his NBA career. He also might be a villain in his hometown if the Spurs manage to come back and win an NBA championship over the Knicks.

"I have a lot of friends who are New York fans and I would love to spoil their plans," Champagnie told reporters before the NBA Finals began.

TRUMP: Amazed by Wemby, 'How do you guard this guy?'

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The San Antonio Spurs will be playing desperate tonight after dropping Game 1 of the NBA Finals at home on Wednesday. Game 2 goes tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET, with the Spurs once again convincing 6.5-point favorites. 

That spread is at the center of at least one of our expert NBA picks. Keep reading for more Knicks vs. Spurs predictions. 

Knicks vs Spurs Expert Picks Tonight

Pick	Odds
Jon Metler: Knicks +6.5	-115
Jason Logan: Bridges o11.5 points	-125
Joe Osborne: Knicks +6.5	-115

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Jon Metler's expert pick: Knicks +6.5

Price: -115 at bet365

The San Antonio Spurs enter Game 2 down 0-1 and already facing significant pressure. Falling behind 0-2 at home would be disastrous, and that urgency is clearly reflected in the NBA odds. Despite losing Game 1 as 4.5-point faves, the Spurs have been bet up from -6 to -6.5 for Game 2. Even after accounting for the expected bounce-back effort, I still can’t get to that number.

I make San Antonio closer to a 4.5-point favorite, which leaves value on the New York Knicks. Nothing I saw in Game 1 changed my outlook on this series. New York continues to hold several key matchup advantages, and I still believe they have a legitimate path to winning it all.

A big reason why is the frontcourt pairing of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Both were exactly what the Knicks needed against Victor Wembanyama, minimizing his offensive impact while holding their own on the glass. I'm taking the points with the Knicks again.

Jason Logan's expert pick: Mikal Bridges Over 11.5 points

Price: -125 at bet365

Mikal Bridges did more damage with his defense in Game 1, but the Knicks can use his shooting touch when the Spurs crack down on Jalen Brunson in Game 2. Bridges is one of the better mid-range shooters for New York, and that’s been the perfect foil against San Antonio, as it likes to park Victor Wembanyama in the paint.

Bridges only scored nine points on 3-for-6 shooting in the opener, but has been a consistent contributor in the playoffs, scoring 12+ points in the nine games before Wednesday. His player projections all sit north of 11.5 points O/U, with most above 13 points and a ceiling flirting with 15 points tonight.

My number boils down to 13.5 points, which should have the Over 11.5 priced around -150.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Knicks +6.5

Price: -115 at bet365

I'm not stepping in front of the Knicks right now. They've extended their historic playoff run to 12 straight victories, with 11 of those wins coming by double digits, and continue to reward anyone willing to back them.

After shaking off some early rust in Game 1, New York settled in and controlled the action, outscoring San Antonio by 17 points in the second half thanks to much more efficient shooting and forcing eight turnovers while only committing one.

More Knicks vs Spurs Game 2 picks

• Knicks vs. Spurs prediction
• Knicks vs. Spurs props
• Jalen Brunson odds and props
• Free NBA picks
• Best NBA betting sites

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“Elmo causing NBA Finals drama” probably wasn’t on your bingo card.

The famed “Sesame Street” puppet is getting pushback from fervent New York basketball fans after wishing both the Knicks and Spurs well before Wednesday night’s NBA Finals Game 1.

“Elmo hopes both teams have fun,” the Muppet wrote on X before the start of the Finals.

The post has since drawn over 12 million views and over a thousand comments, mainly from irate Knicks fans stunned Elmo wasn’t fully endorsing his hometown team before its first NBA Finals game since 1999.

Sesame Street is canonically a New York City street — the show was originally filmed in Manhattan before moving to Queens in 1993.

“Elmo this is the first time I’m not rocking with you. You gotta root for your city man!” X user @UTxJGTheDon replied in the comments.

“Hey man, you from Sesame Street, in the middle of New York City. You better be rooting for the Knicks!” another New York sports fan, @RonDeLaPena, wrote on X.

Several of the comments used colorful language not appropriate for the PBS show, and others used anatomical words to describe their feelings about the post.

Even with Elmo getting serious backlash, the Knicks rallied back from down 14 points in the third quarter to steal Game 1 of the Finals 105-95.

In the Knicks’ first Finals win in 27 years, Jalen Brunson stole the show with a game-high 30 points on 12-of-31 shooting.

Brunson struggled in the first half, but hit a clutch 3 to put the Knicks up 97-95 with under two minutes remaining, and they wouldn’t relinquish that lead.

Karl-Anthony Towns also starred in his first NBA Finals game with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Josh Hart grabbed 15 boards and added four steals despite only having three points.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama couldn’t fit his footing, shooting just 6-of-21 from the field.

San Antonio aims to even the series Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.