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The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to even their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons.
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DETROIT (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers reserve guard Sam Merrill is out of the lineup with a hamstring injury against the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of their second-round series on Thursday night.
Merrill was injured early in a Game 1 loss to the Pistons on Tuesday night. He had an MRI and was held out of practice on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Merrill averaged 12.8 points during the regular season and scored in double digits twice in the seven-game, first-round series against the Toronto Raptors.
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The Lakers will look to even things up against the reigning NBA champs when Game 2 against the Thunder tips off tonight.
Although the Lakers started strong in Game 1 behind LeBron James, who finished with 27 points and 6 assists, the Thunder’s depth and defense proved too much for a Los Angeles squad still playing without Luka Dončić.
Chet Holmgren led the way for Oklahoma City with a dominant 24-point, 12-rebound double-double, and even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to a season-low 18 points and forced into 7 turnovers, Oklahoma City maintained control for the final three quarters, outscoring the Lakers by 18 points in the second half and finishing in a 108-90 win.
The series will move to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday, May 9, before a Monday night Game 4.
Game 2 between the Los Angeles Lakers and OKC Thunder is scheduled to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET tonight, May 7.
Tonight’s Lakers game is one of the NBA Playoffs games streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch.
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Today’s NBA playoff slate features two conference semifinal games:
Both games are airing on Prime Video tonight.
The Los Angeles Lakers roster is already stretched thin as it is, but there's a chance they could be down one more body for Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
Luke Kennard was added to the Lakers injury report on Wednesday with neck soreness. He's still on it as of the 5:30 p.m. NBA injury report for Thursday and is officially listed as questionable.
Kennard struggled in Game 1, shooting just 1-for-4 from the field for seven points, five rebounds, one assist and two turnovers. But the 29-year-old sharpshooter played a major role in the Lakers' first round series win over the Houston Rockets, scoring 27 and 23 points in the first two games as LA raced out to a 3-0 lead. He ultimately averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 44.6% and 41.7% from beyond the arc over their six games against Houston.
Luke Kennard (neck soreness) is questionable for tomorrow's Game 2 at OKC. Jarred Vanderbilt is doubtful. pic.twitter.com/sahX1xLzRW
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) May 6, 2026
The Lakers acquired Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick at the trade deadline on Feb. 5. Since his arrival, he's provided some much-needed shooting to Crypto.com Arena, emerging as a go-to complementary piece for LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
If Kennard sits for Game 2, that would add to the Lakers' injury woes this postseason.
Doncic has missed a month with a grade 2 hamstring strain and recently revealed he was originally given an eight-week timeline to return, meaning he likely won't be available until the end of the Western Conference Finals.
Jarred Vanderbilt is day-to-day with a dislocated right pinky and Austin Reaves has struggled to a 30.4% field goal percentage since returning from a grade 2 oblique strain in Game 5 against Houston.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luke Kennard injury update Lakers vs. Thunder Game 2
First it was the Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2024. Then it was his jersey retirement in Brooklyn in January 2025.
Now, Vince Carter will be honored once again by the Brooklyn Nets. On Sunday, VC will be the Nets representative on the dias for the NBA Lottery, hoping the same luck that sustained them during his four seasons in New Jersey will continue in Chicago.
Later, the Nets tweeted out Carter’s reaction…
The names of all 14 reps on the dias will be announced tomorrow along with those who will sit in the actual draft room. Last year, the Nets were represented by Makar Gevorkian, the Nets capologist and vice-president of strategy. Like the Nets, other teams have chosen fan favorites from the past: Chicago with Tony Kukoc and Washington with John Wall.
While the Hall of Fame and jersey retirement honored Carter for his past achievements, Sunday will be about the future. The Nets have a 14.0% chance at the overall No. 1 and can’t fall below No. 7.
Carter, now 49, played for eight teams over 22 seasons in the league, but a strong argument can be made that his time in New Jersey was him at his best.
Carter joined the Nets in December 2004 in a trade that Peter Vecsey, the New York Post hoops writer, called the most lop-sided in 25 years. After controversies arose in Toronto over time lost to injuries and reputed lack of effort, the Raptors sent VC to New Jersey for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams and Aaron Williams and two first round draft picks, neither of which amounted to much.
From his first days in New Jersey, Carter was a fan favorite, his electric play the perfect complement to Kidd’s steady unselfishness. In that year, he averaged 27.5 points a game for the rest of the season compared to 15.3 in Toronto.
Although his role in New Jersey is often overshadowed by what he did in his early years in Toronto — essentially popularizing basketball in hockey-mad Canada, the numbers are similar and Carter re-established his reputation at the Meadowlands after it had been tarnished at the Air Canada Center
Carter played almost as many games for the Nets as he did for the Raptors — 374 to 403 — and actually averaged more points — 23.6 to 23.4 — in his New Jersey tenure. His assists, rebounds and shooting percentage were all higher in New Jersey. And the love was just as strong and it was requited.
Mr. Whammy, who will join VC in Chicago as a guest of Joe Tsai, was asked back in 2025 about what made Carter special.
“I have to describe Vince in one respect: he was the ballet star of the NBA,” Whammy told NetsDaily. “You had to wonder and wonder about the things he did and what he would do next. He would fly. He would spin under the basket. He brought brilliance to the game. I don’t think there’s ever been a player as graceful as Vince Carter. He was the ballet star of the NBA.”
This time around, VC will only have to sit quietly and remain cool while deputy commissioner Mark Tatum open and read the giant cards with team names on them, identifying those who will pick Nos. 14 through 5 first, then after a commercial break, the final four get chosen.
Things begin at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Carter has become the Nets leading “alumni” in recent years. In addition to being honored after the Hall of Fame and with the jersey retirement, he traveled with the Nets to Macau last October for the renewal of the NBA China Games between Brooklyn and Phoenix.
Oklahoma City Thunder have been cruising so far through the 2026 NBA playoffs despite not being at full strength.
Thunder star Jalen "J-Dub" Williams has not played since suffering a Grade 1 left hamstring strain during the first round against the Phoenix Suns on April 22. Williams played in the first two games of the opening series and has been sidelined since.
Oklahoma City finished the Suns in a sweep and have since moved on to the Conference semifinals to face the Los Angeles Lakers, where they hold a 1-0 series lead after their 108-90 Game 1 win on May 5.
Williams missed the first game of the Thunder-Lakers series. His status for Game 2 mirrors his Game 1 status.
According to the NBA injury report (as of 5 p.m. ET), Williams is listed out for Game 2 with a left hamstring.
Williams, 25, averaged 17.1 points and 5.5 assists for the Thunder during the 2025-26 regular-season. He shot 48.4% from the field and just under 30% from 3-point distance. His average plus/minus is +6.9.
Despite missing those numbers, Oklahoma City has shown signs of success without Williams, who has sat out at times throughout the season with injuries. Williams played in 33 regular-season games. He was limited with two wrist surgeries and two hamstring strains.
The Thunder have been breezing by opponents with or without him, defeating their opponents by an average of 17.4 points in five games. Adding Williams would only make Oklahoma City seem unstoppable.
Williams is part of the Thunder core and the team's present run at a dynasty. He signed a five-year, $239.25 million deal as part of a designated rookie contract extension with Oklahoma City in July 2025.
Williams was selected by the Thunder with the 12th pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft out of Santa Clara. The pick was originally acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers as a part of a deal that sent Paul George to LA for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Here are Jalen Williams' 2025-26 regular-season stats:
Check out Thunder guard Jalen Williams' highlights from last year's playoffs.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams injury update vs. Lakers
There are a few coaches around the league who, even if their team isn't winning much, the job they are doing catches the eye of scouts and front office people from other teams. They see development, smart use of often-limited rosters, and the building of cultures that will serve as a foundation once the talent is built up.
Charles Lee is one of those coaches, and after leading the Hornets to 44 wins this past season and the play-in, he was rewarded with a multi-year contract extension, the Hornets announced.
we’re honored to continue building something special with Coach Charles Lee pic.twitter.com/jOt5G1Nwea
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) May 7, 2026
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this team and building on what we've started here in Charlotte..." Lee said in a statement announcing the extension. "I'm excited about the direction we're headed and our team's bright future. Our players have shown a real commitment to growth, and I'm proud of the culture we're establishing together. We're just getting started, and I'm looking forward to the work ahead."
Lee took over from Steve Clifford for the 2024-25 season, and an injury-riddled Charlotte squad won just 19 games — but you could see the development and potential. This season, with a healthy LaMelo Ball and the addition of rookie Kon Knueppel, Charlotte won 44 games, made the play-in and beat Miami in one of the best play-in games ever, but fell short of making the playoffs. Still, that is a 25-game leap from season to season, with a young and improving team.
"Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team," Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson said in a statement. "From day one, Charles and his staff have prioritized player development, creating an environment where each of our players are committed to getting better and continue to improve. He has built a team-first culture rooted in accountability, hard work and professionalism."
There are no details on the contract. When Lee signed two years ago to take over as head coach, it was reportedly a four-year contract, likely with a team option on the final year. This contract likely replaces that option year and adds at least two, so that would keep him under contract with the Hornets for at least three more seasons, until the summer of 2029.
This is Deandre Ayton’s chance to reinvent himself.
He can rewrite the script. Change his narrative. Rehabilitate his name.
His issues around professionalism? Total focus on the court can quiet them.
His lack of consistency? Dominance down low can smooth over that storyline.
Ayton has gone from being a wildcard to being of pivotal importance to the Lakers in their second-round playoff series against the Thunder.
“He’s the person that changes our ceiling the most,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
Ayton is facing a frontcourt of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, two guys who are known for their elite rim protection.
In Game 1, Ayton had a good performance, finishing with a game-high-tying 12 rebounds along with 10 points.
But he needs to be better.
The Lakers need Ayton to play like a No. 1 overall pick.
They need him to take on the challenge of stopping Holmgren, who finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. They need him to pour himself into both sides of the court, owning the paint.
They need him to dominate in his role.
Ayton was integral to the Lakers getting past the Rockets in their first-round series..
He averaged 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in 31 minutes in his first postseason appearance since 2023. He mostly outplayed Rockets center Alperen Sengun. In the Lakers’ Game 5 loss, he was one of the lone bright spots, finishing with 18 points and 17 rebounds. In their Game 6 clincher, he grabbed 16 boards.
When Ayton is at his best, the Lakers are a different team.
But his effort fluctuates.
That’s a major reason why the Suns traded him to the Trail Blazers in Sept. 2023 and the Blazers bought out his contract last June.
When Ayton signed with the Lakers as a free agent this summer, he knew he had a golden opportunity to turn things around.
But his struggles followed him to Los Angeles.
He became disengaged when he felt he wasn’t getting enough touches. Sometimes he was a force. Other times, he was going through the motions.
His immaturity issues were present, too.
He infamously declared in the locker room in February, “I’m not no Clint Capela.” He was sometimes snappy with reporters.
But things shifted during the Lakers’ 16-2 run this spring. Instead of trying to be a star, he fully bought into starring in his role.
It has been a difference-maker for the Lakers.
“DA’s had a great season,” Redick said. “He was instrumental in us getting past Houston. His baseline of who he is every day for the last two, two-and-a-half months has been awesome.”
Now the Lakers need Ayton to lock in even more.
He needs to make Holmgren think twice about shooting in the paint. In addition to grabbing rebounds, he needs to be physical. He needs to be disciplined.
In Game 1, Ayton helped the Lakers go on a 7-0 run to open the game. He was active. He made a putback layup. He was grabbing defensive rebounds. He was flying around everywhere.
But things fell apart for him in the second half.
He was assessed his fourth foul a few minutes into the third quarter and only played 4 minutes in the period. In the fourth quarter, he had only one rebound and one shot attempt in nearly 9 minutes.
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The Thunder finished with 48 points in the paint.
That’s not going to cut it.
Before facing the Thunder, Ayton was well-aware of the task ahead of him.
“It’s going to be big with me protecting that paint this series,” he said. “Them having 50-plus points in the paint — they’re a really unstoppable team.”
Well, Ayton, this is your chance to prove what you can do.
You were solid in Game 1, but that’s not enough. You need to be great.
The Lakers need you. And you need them.
You want to change your narrative. You want to show the world who you are. You want respect.
The Lakers and Ayton are in a symbiotic relationship, with both needing each other in this series to thrive.
Now’s the time, Ayton. Let’s see what you can do.
OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s no secret that the Lakers’ 3-point volume has dipped significantly since Luka Doncic has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain.
But if the Lakers are going to have any chance of beating the Thunder in their best-of-seven second-round playoff series, they’re going to have to reverse the trend regardless of Doncic’s status.
The Lakers were a low-volume 3-point shooting team even before Doncic and Austin Reaves (left oblique) suffered their regular-season-ending injuries April 2 against the Thunder.
Just 36% of their shot attempts came from beyond the arc through April 2, according to Cleaning The Glass, which ranked 22nd among NBA teams.
But Doncic, through his perimeter shooting and playmaking, helped the Lakers become a more threatening team from deep.
The Lakers’ 3-point frequency increased by 5.7% when Doncic was on the floor compared to on the bench, by far the highest mark on the team.
But then the shift came.
The Lakers’ 3-point frequency dropped to 30% (28th) in the final five regular-season games without Doncic and Reaves.
And through their first seven playoff games, their 3-point frequency has stayed at 30%, the lowest among all playoff teams.
Even with Reaves’ return during Game 5 of the first-round series against the Rockets, the Lakers’ 3-point frequency jumped to 31.3% over the last three games entering Thursday, ranking 13th among the 14 playoff teams that played a game since Reaves came back.
The Lakers were one of the league’s most efficient scoring teams during the regular season because of their free-throw shooting and dominance on scoring inside of the paint — areas in which Doncic played a significant role.
That hasn’t been the case during the playoffs, with their true shooting percentage of 56.6 a strong mark but still fifth among playoff teams compared with ranking second (60.9%) during the regular season.
Their 2-point shooting dropped from 59.5% during the regular season to 50.8% in their seven playoff games entering Thursday, including 45.5% in their Game 1 loss to the Thunder. They also only took 13 free throws in Game 1 after averaging 26.3 attempts during the series against the Rockets.
The Lakers should shoot better on 2s.
But getting more free throws will be challenging against a physical Thunder team that has the league’s best defense and doesn’t foul frequently.
The Thunder don’t allow a lot of shots at the rim and are elite at protecting it once opponents get there.
But the areas they allow a frequent number of shots are from midrange and beyond the 3-point arc.
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“They give up the most spray 3s in the NBA, and they have heavy shifts, and they always make [Chet] Holmgren [the] low [man], so you’re likely going to be able to shoot more 3s against them,” coach JJ Redick said before the series started. “But, again, you have to base that on what the coverages are. And are they helping off, are they not helping off?”
Redick added: “It’s based on the coverage. If they’re not willing to give up 3s, you can’t force up the 3s. We gotta be ready to launch.”
With the Thunder primarily playing drop against the Lakers, being ready to launch off the dribble will be an important factor for LA.
They took just eight pull-up 3s in Game 1.
Reaves and Luke Kennard should be the primary players taking pull-up 3s if the Thunder continue to prioritize protecting the paint like they do best.
The Lakers can’t be expected to be a high-volume 3-point shooting team without Doncic, but they can be a higher-volume 3-point shooting team.
And they need to be to have any shot of beating the Thunder in this series.
Way to get rid of the fun.
After hinting at it for the past two years, the NCAA finally did what many people didn’t want and expanded its basketball tournaments, upping the field from 68 teams to 76 beginning next season.
Historically, it makes sense given this tournament has had significant growth since the first edition of eight teams in 1939. In fact, the 42 years without a major shift was the longest it had gone without expanding.
Why so long? That’s because it finally found the perfect balance. Now, the NCAA is trying to ruin its most sacred postseason, dismantling all the work necessary to make March the spectacle it is.
The organization will tell you it’s expanding the field because it was necessary, giving one-fifth of its 361 teams a shot at the exclusive spot. More teams means better matchups, so more drama and opportunities for madness. The NCAA also won’t mind the extra money that comes with it.
However, do those teams that are just missing out really deserve a shot? Because it has shown none of it looks pretty.
It has everything to do with who is getting these extra spots. You know who this expansion is really for, and if you need a hint: it’s not those small schools.
The NCAA tried to say since the first four out started in 2011, 42% of teams to just miss the cut came from non-power conferences. With that logic, more of the mid-majors will get in, right?
No way. The smaller conferences have dwindled recently. Of the 24 teams to miss out since 2021, just seven were mid-majors. That’s just 29%. Plus with the new seeding, automatic qualifiers all get bumped a seed down. So a No. 13 seed in the field of 68 can end up a No. 14 in the field of 76.
That’s why those at the mid-major level are skeptical they will see any benefits of this.
“I think the intention of expansion is only to get more power conference teams in the tournament, and that's frustrating. Every year, there's a couple of teams in that mid-major group that I think would add a lot to the tournament that get excluded,” UC Irvine coach Russell Turner told USA TODAY Sports in July. “You could be optimistic, but knowing how the tournament bids are being chosen with the formulas that they're using, I don't think that optimism is well placed.”
More and more, the selection committee has pushed away mid-majors in favor of power teams, and it’s an ugly way to go about it. Just look at who barely missed out on the field in 2026.
Congratulations, 18-14 Indiana and 17-16 Auburn get a shot to play for a title. Quality wins or not, they have zero business being in the bracket compared to teams that did more in their respective conferences.
With the way the tournament is trending, the regular season loses even more of its luster, and puts a bigger spotlight on the bigger conference teams that should be behind the curtain.
Now, those fringe contenders are going to do everything to schedule easier buy games to make the lipstick look a little bit better on the pig, leaving those quality mid-majors scrambling for opponents like Miami (Ohio).
When the race to the tournament really begins in February, we’re going to be discussing teams hovering around .500 because they are getting punched around in the Big Ten or SEC, but that one or two Quad 1 wins suddenly makes them a contender. Rather than make it an exciting sprint to the end, we’ll be spending time focusing on teams you want to shield your eyes from. It’s getting close to the “SEC-Big Ten-Big 12-ACC-Big East” invitational status.
It’s unfortunate, because the build up to Selection Sunday is part of the magic. You want to see quality teams fighting to get in, not a mid-off between squads fighting one of the worst fights you’ll ever watch.
The NCAA wants to get more people inside the door. The problem is the teams being let through are ones that shouldn’t even be knocking in the first place, and those that should get in aren’t even getting the invite. Let in a 26-6 Belmont team that won the Missouri Valley regular-season title over middling Indiana who’s limping on the porch because of program recognition.
Thankfully, this isn’t the complete end of the tournament. Teams like 2024 Indiana State and 24-win Boise State in 2025 that barely missed out then will get a shot in the future, and that’s what most teams are asking for. If there is a better focus on getting the right teams – not brands – then expansion wins.
The days leading up to Selection Sunday will be ugly, but this doesn’t wreck the tournament completely. The first round and everything after stays intact, meaning the first round madness is still going to happen. For as much has been changed, the best part is untouched. It will just be an unfortunate start before the greatest show in basketball can officially begin.
The NCAA hasn’t killed the NCAA Tournament, but it’s getting better at ruining it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does NCAA Tournament expansion kill March Madness? No, but it's worse
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The Minnesota Timberwolves did not respond well to a San Antonio Spurs’ adjustment in Game 2. This Spurs vs. Timberwolves same-game parlay focuses on Minnesota’s likely adjustment in Game 3 on Friday, May 8.
For more NBA picks, here is our complete Spurs vs. Timberwolves predictions.
The San Antonio Spurs sent a second defender at Anthony Edwards as often as possible in Game 2. Whenever the Minnesota Timberwolves’ superstar crossed halfcourt, a second defender charged at him in an effort to get the ball out of Edwards’s hands as quickly as possible.
Minnesota did not handle that well, in part because its best response is currently in a walking boot on a scooter after tearing his Achilles in Game 4 against the Nuggets. Without Donte DiVincenzo hoisting 29-foot 3-pointers, it was more difficult to break the Spurs’ traps.
But the Timberwolves will need to adjust. The defensive focus is on Edwards. He needs to move the ball to open teammates.
The best remaining Minnesota shooter, Edwards aside, is Naz Reid. For much of March and even the first round against the Nuggets, Reid’s shoulder bothered him too much to properly stress a defense.
But he has now gone 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in this series. He can hit those 30-footers that will best open up the court for Edwards.
Reid has hit multiple 3-pointers in four games against San Antonio this season.
More Reid may mean less Rudy Gobert. This whole series should mean less Rudy Gobert.
Victor Wembanyama is such a defensive force; the Timberwolves need five scorers on the court as often as possible, and Gobert simply is not that.
Minnesota’s problem in Game 2 was not its defense, though that was not necessarily spectacular. It was the offense.
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs Timberwolves predictions for Game 3.
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The Los Angeles Lakers' depth was already tenuous heading into the playoffs. It's even more so now ahead of Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night.
Jarred Vanderbilt went down with a gruesome hand injury when his fingers hit the backboard while trying to contest an alley-oop towards the end of the first half in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, resulting in a full dislocation of his right pinky that also broke skin. But there's optimism that the Lakers' fan favorite avoided the worst-case scenario.
During the off day on Wednesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that "they were able to put his finger back together," with stitches and put the finger in a splint.
Vanderbilt is considered day-to-day and is officially listed as doubtful for Game 2, according to the latest NBA injury report.
"He's obviously a tough-minded player and person," Redick told reporters. "... Certainly the pain is involved (in a return), from my understanding. Basically, making sure that the tissue is healed enough to protect his skin barrier and the bone."
#Lakers head coach JJ Redick and teammate Jaxon Hayes discuss Jarred Vanderbilt’s open dislocation of his right pinky finger and how he’s now “day to day” after doctor’s had to put it back together and sew it up with stitches last night during Game 1 against #OKC. #Thunder… pic.twitter.com/9zic7yLW9w
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 6, 2026
Vanderbilt was screaming and doubled over in pain as he walked off the court towards the locker room at the 5:51-mark of the second quarter. Athletic trainers placed a towel over his hand to conceal the graphic injury, but some camera angles did show a bone in his pinky sticking out through the side of his skin.
The Thunder bench reacted and moved out of the way when they got a glimpse of it.
Look at the Thunders reaction to Vando’s injury. pic.twitter.com/KknAV1Yg2e
— Showtime Luka (@showtimeluka) May 6, 2026
While Vanderbilt is unlikely to play on Thursday, it seems like he avoided the worst possibility of a fracture. The only other Lakers listed on the injury report were Luka Doncic (out with a grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Luke Kennard, who is questionable with neck soreness.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jarred Vanderbilt injury update: Latest on Lakers finger, game status
As the days roll on, the discussion on who Phoenix should trade for continues to rise at a rapid rate. With most fans wanting to see some change to this team, something will have to give. Even if Mat Ishbia preached keeping most of this team, there will be some turnover within the roster. Just how big will that be?
That is the real question no one has the answer to. As fans mull over who the team should pursue, they really do not know what kind of upgrade they are looking for. Is it a big splash or on the margins? Only time will tell what Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia decide to do, but in the meantime, let’s discuss the possibilities they can make this offseason.
The latest article in this series looks at a different position than the previous one, even though the team has an abundance of guards; a shakeup could be necessary for the team’s best direction.
Now, there has been no linkage to Dejounte Murray wanting out, or even to the Pelicans wanting to move off him, but the writing is basically on the wall. With the Pelicans looking to develop their young players, there’s really no spot for Murray. If Jeremiah Fears is their future, they need to invest in him, not Murray. He is also out of the timeline the Pelicans want to be in. He is older, and even if their front office THINKS they can compete, it is clear they are further behind than they evaluated them to be in the Wild Wild West.
Hence, even if he is not “available” at this second, I do think he will be off this Pelicans team, as he will want to be on a team that is competing. Does this make sense for the Suns to pursue? If so, how could they get it done?
Looking at Murray’s contract, there are multiple ways the Suns could look to acquire the point guard, though I think there are two realistic options. For starters, he is owed $63.5 million over the next two seasons, with a near-$31 million player option next season. That means it would either require Jalen Green’s $36 million deal or a combination of Grayson Allen’s and Royce O’Neale’s contracts to reach right under $30 million.
I can see both of them getting the job done, but one is better than the other. With the Green contract, you fully swap a guard for a guard, messing with the continuity a bit but getting a better fit around Devin Booker, your star player. Not only that, but it then leaves you the remaining assets in Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to either keep or to get the size you need in the front court to compete against their Western Conference opponents.
If you trade Allen and O’Neale for Murray, you do find a guard replacement for Green, but then have to sell on him. With the league then knowing the Suns need to move off Green, the low-ball offers will come streaming in. For a guy already on a 72M contract that most front offices are scared to look at, it will not help the Suns get a beneficial return.
Therefore, I think the first option is the best for all parties involved: a Green for Murray swap.
This is a significant change from the previous renditions in this series. As noted in those three, I said there should not be a deal. Here I stand on my ten toes and state that the Suns should pursue this one, and I believe the Pelicans would be interested as well.
For starters, let’s evaluate this from a Suns perspective, as I truly do think that adding Murray would be a positive for this team. Even if Murray has been injured recently, like the previous names discussed, this one is a bit different.
He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the 2024-2025 season, which kept him sidelined for most of the year as he only suited up in 31 games. He then recovered for most of this season, allowing him to return healthy for 14 games. With the Pelcians having no sense of direction, either, this was a good thing for the betterment of his career. Besides these two seasons, though, the guard has played fewer than 65 games only twice: once in his rookie year and in 2018-2019, when he tore his ACL in the preseason.
These serious injuries could be scary, especially since one happened recently, but in his short time back with the Pelicans, Murray seemed to have it still. Even with a small sample size of 14 games, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals on 48/31/87 shooting splits. The guard would also help the Suns and fit their style.
Similar to Jrue Holiday, who was written about earlier this week, Murray would complement Devin Booker in many ways. This would allow Booker to return to his true position as a shooting guard and give him help with playmaking and ball-handling duties. He is also a solid defender and has a 6’ 10” wingspan, allowing him to use his length to create some big turnovers for the Phoenix defense.
For someone who started his career with the San Antonio Spurs, who believed in a defensive identity and culture, this would easily translate for Murray in a scheme with Jordan Ott at the helm. Murray would bring fear to opponents on the offensive end, alleviating pressure on Booker to hunt his own shots. Murry would also be a solid ball handler and playmaker who could help initiate the offense with Booker on the court, but with either Collin Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin alongside him, too.
The age may be a factor for some of these other players I said no to trading for, but with Murray, it’s not as glaring an issue. Yes, he will be turning 30 and getting older, but he is not at the age of Jrue Holiday or Anthony Davis. Nor is he said to be looking for a max contract like one of those guys is.
One of the best parts as well is that the Suns save money in this deal, a little under 4M that could be used to help bring back Gillespie and Goodwin while arguably finding a better fit for the roster and direction.
In review, he is everything the Suns could look to add in a point guard that will not disrupt the ability of Devin Booker to get touches still or attack the shots he wants. Murray, with a solid defensive frame, fits the identity the franchise wants to pursue on defense while not being a long-term detriment, given his age and salary.
Now, here comes the difficult part: convincing the Pelicans to do this deal… Ha, you thought I was being serious? The Pelicans’ front office is widely regarded as one of the most dysfunctional in this association. After their trade for Derik Queen at the draft, giving up their unprotected first-round pick for this season, they thought they were going to compete in the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, they did not even make the Play-In, so they had to hand over a lottery pick to the Atlanta Hawks.
This shows me that Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver, the two in charge over there, have no idea what is going on, and it was clearly evident this season. They still believe they can build around Zion Williamson and continue to make those comments even after this year. Both Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, arguably their two most valuable players, remained on the roster when teams were willing to trade for them. The Pelicans are trying to find their path, but keep struggling to get there or even establish a true star for their squad. Since Zion has been injured, they haven’t been able to jump-start the rebuild, and the process has been ongoing.
That is why I believe the front office will take this deal. They would see Jalen Green as adding a former number two pick, who has the potential to be a guy for them, pairing him with Zion and their lot of players to try and push for a deep playoff run. Green helped get Phoenix there this year and showed up in the playoffs. That’s a strong buying point for Dumars and co to decide to want this deal.
Not to mention that Green would be a better fit next to Fears, allowing the young guard to get the keys to himself as PG instead of competing with Murray. The Pelcians also get younger, taking on the 24-year-old who still has the potential to change his narrative in this league. Green could bring some much-needed rim pressure and work well paired with offensive hub Derik Queen.
Ultimately, I can see the Pelicans taking on Allen and O’Neale as well, thinking those role players would get them to make the play-in, but that is something I see Phoenix declining, rather than going with a 1-for-1 swap.
That said, I am not shipping Green for anyone. There are very few guards I’d consider it for, and Murray happens to be one of the only ones that are going to be “available” to do so.
So what would you guys do if you were the Suns? Would you consider a deal for Dejounte Murray if he wanted out, and do you think that either of these deals could get done? Your thoughts are more than appreciated, and I hope you have enjoyed the new series on Bright Side so far!
After two contests in New York, one that was over by the third quarter and one that came down to the final minutes, the Philadelphia 76ers trail the Knicks in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series, 2-0. Joel Embiid missed Game 2 with hip and ankle injuries and his status remains up in the air moving forward. Tyrese Maxey committed six turnovers in the latest loss and later connected the dots that he had jammed his injured pinky finger during the game, causing him additional discomfort. They say a series doesn’t start until the road team wins, but the Sixers are certainly testing that sentiment with the overall feeling about how things are going at the moment.
Aside from the fact that Philadelphia looked to figure some things out in the close Game 2 defeat, the biggest cause for optimism going forward is injury luck swinging back slightly in the other direction. Knicks wing OG Anunoby left Game 2 late with what we later found out is a hamstring injury.
It does appear that Anunoby avoided a serious strain and various reports have mentioned him as day-to-day to perhaps out up to a week. He has a history of hamstring injuries, most recently missing three weeks earlier this season with one. The Knicks faced a similar situation two years ago in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Indiana; OG’s hamstring injury then was a turning point in the Pacers coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win that series. Could history repeat itself here?
While next man up mentality always applies, and the Knicks certainly have better roster depth than the Sixers, there’s no denying what a huge loss Anunoby would be for New York if he misses any time. He’s unquestionably their top two-way player and someone that has earned the “16-game player” designation with how his numbers regularly improve in a postseason environment. In this current postseason, OG is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 0.5 turnovers.
He, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart taking on the difficult defensive assignments and generally covering a ton of ground allow the Knicks to get away with two negative defenders in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Anunoby’s versatility and ability to credibly guard four positions allows head coach Mike Brown a ton of lineup malleability. I mentioned the Knicks have solid depth, but they don’t really have any similar big wings coming off the bench. They either get much smaller with more guard types receiving playing time like Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson. Or New York could try additional minutes with the two bigs beside each other, assuming Mitchell Robinson is back from his illness-related Game 2 absence. Either way, there’s something for the Sixers to exploit that simply isn’t there with a perfect jack-of-all-trades guy on the floor in Anunoby.
Even if it comes out that Anunoby is officially missing one or two games, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that changes everything from the Sixers’ perspective. They still have their own gigantic healthy mystery box to unravel in the form of Joel Embiid, after all. But if you’re looking for avenues Philadelphia could walk down to get back into this series, the Knicks missing the guy most critical to making everything else work would be a good place to start.