And Green made sure to highlight it when talking to reporters postgame.
“I want to mention something that I saw today that no one will give a s–t about,” Green prefaced. “Trayce Jackson-Davis did something on the bench today. He didn’t play in the game. There were no seats on the bench, Quinten Post said, ‘Trayce, can I get that seat?’ and Trayce just got up. And a part of me was baffled that he got up for the rookie. Because the rookie – if there’s no seat, you sit on the floor. [Jackson-Davis] just got up and gave him the seat.
“And I walked over to [Jackson-Davis] and said that’s one of the more selfless things I’ve ever seen. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you’re going to be like, ‘You going to go sit on the floor, rook. Go find a seat somewhere else.’ But [Jackson-Davis] knew he wasn’t part of the rotation, and yet the rookie was. They’re playing the same position, and [Jackson-Davis] got up and went and stood in the tunnel because there were no seats.”
It isn’t easy to be out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation during the Warriors’ biggest game of the 2024-25 NBA season. It also isn’t easy to give up your seat for a less-experienced player who is playing crucial minutes over you.
Yet, Jackson-Davis did exactly that for Post – who finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, five rebounds and tied with Green as a game-high plus-12 – and the respectful moment clearly helped Golden State reach its first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets, even if he didn’t find his way onto the court.
“I just wanted to put that out there because that to me – that’s why you win games,” Green told reporters. “It’s chemistry, selflessness, togetherness, and I just thought that was a huge moment. Nobody else saw it except us three. And so I wanted to share that. I thought that was a really big moment for our bench.
“You know, you can make [Post] sit on the floor and nothing happens, or you can get up and boost confidence in him and he’ll go back out there and hit a [three-point shot]. And I thought that was special.”
Green has seen it all over his illustrious 14-year Warriors career. And even he was “baffled” by Jackson-Davis’ willingness to give up his seat for the fellow 25-year-old.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves has played his way from a two-way contract onto the roster and into the starting lineup. Now he's part of the team's Big 3 entering a playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Ric Tapia / For The Times)
JJ Redick had validated Austin Reaves all season, publicly and privately praising the Lakers guard as a key player of the roster.
It was a topic in Redick’s first news conference as Lakers coach, a topic in the preseason and, as the season began fittingly against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a topic an entire regular season ago.
“I’ve mentioned this a few times. We’ve talked a ton throughout the offseason. We’ve seen it already in the gym. He’s had a specific sort of pie to choose from, a menu to choose from so far in his career,” Redick said in October. “We’re going to try to give him a little bit more on the menu. Just make him a little more dynamic.”
Yet no piece of praise, no late-game play call, no moment more than any cemented how the Lakers felt about Reaves then their decision in Memphis in late March when Redick gathered LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Reaves together to talk about how the Lakers’ best players could make things work together.
“Just in terms of Austin being included, of course he's been included,” Redick said.
For Reaves, there’s rarely been a doubt. Since he played his way from a two-way contract onto the Lakers roster and, eventually, into the starting lineup, he’s never thought anything asked of him has been too much.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, right, drives past Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, on March 14 in Denver. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
Yet as he’s gained responsibility on the court throughout his first season with Redick coaching the Lakers, the team has sought more from him, trying to harness his ability as a connective personality in the locker room into a more vocal presence on the court.
Stunningly, the Lakers kept him from being included in the deal for Doncic, giving them a massive advantage in any series they’ll play this postseason — the ability to have three highly intelligent, creative playmakers. And, if trends continue, all three can lead the Lakers through the tough moments that are guaranteed to arise between now and their championship goals.
It’s has been a process, Reaves navigating shifting roles and the Lakers’ ever-fluid roster as he’s been one of the most consistent performers for the last three seasons.
But he and former Laker guard D’Angelo Russell often got in each other’s way on the court — and not in any combative way. The two are close friends. But the presence of one meant the sacrifice of the other, and Reaves couldn’t feel fully empowered until the Lakers totally bought in to him.
That happened just before the Lakers’ decision to trade Russell in late December, Reaves hitting a game-winner on Christmas Day against Stephen Curry and the Warriors to add to his growing list of Lakers moments.
He reminded everyone, again, of what he could do when James and Doncic missed a game in Los Angeles against the Indiana Pacers — Reaves led the Lakers to a big win thanks to a career-high 45 points.
Late in the season, James loudly touted Reaves as the league’s most improved player, echoing his yearlong praise of a player he says is an “ultra-competitor, makes big-time shots and doesn't shy away from the moment.”
He quickly earned James’ trust after joining the team because of his high IQ and competitiveness, which are the same qualities that have helped him bond with Doncic early in his time with the Lakers.
“It doesn't surprise me,” Doncic said of Reaves’ level of play. “I've been watching him a lot.”
People outside the organization first really notice two years ago in his first playoff game, when he led the Lakers to a road win against Memphis and shouted “I'm him” after a fourth-quarter bucket iced the game. Yet greatness in the NBA comes with more responsibility than counting stats, and Reaves is starting to fully embrace that part of the job.
“We're asking a lot out of him and he's performed and lived up to everything we've asked him to do. So I think the next step is him just being more vocal cause a lot of times he has stuff to say,” Jarred Vanderbilt said.
Lakers star LeBron James, center, jokes around with guard Austin Reaves as the Lakers take a commanding lead against the Houston Rockets. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
And this season, it’s been one of the areas Redick has encouraged him to grow.
In meetings with Reaves this season, Redick has encouraged better decision making. “You gotta allow the Pistol Pete s— to some degree because it's what makes him Austin,” the coach said. He’s worked with him on handling his added on-court responsibilities and challenged him to be more vocal.
Reaves has done that — even embracing his part in the meeting with Redick, James and Doncic when the Lakers’ coach leaned on his stars to solve the biggest remaining riddle for the team.
“Them being able to accept that challenge of figuring something out on the fly in the middle of a season — we challenged all three of those guys on that. And Austin's great to coach, awesome to coach. And, he's accepted every challenge and exceeded any sort of baseline level of response that we could expect from him.”
The Pacers, Clippers, Timberwolves and Magic have secured their spot in the 2025 playoffs, and they could be joined by the Grizzlies if they win their play-in game on Friday.
Perhaps you thought the Oklahoma City Thunder would be on this list. The Thunder, who had the best record in the league this season at 68-14, won the NBA championship in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics. Since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008, the team has not yet won a title but did reach the NBA Finals in 2012.
As the NBA playoffs near, let’s look at each of the title-less teams and see how close each has come to winning that elusive championship:
Brooklyn Nets
Joined NBA: 1976
NBA Finals appearances: 2 (2002, 2003)
The Nets have not won a title since joining the NBA in 1976. But they did win two ABA titles!
Charlotte Hornets
Joined NBA: 1988
NBA Finals appearances: None
Neither the Hornets nor the Bobcats have won a title. In fact, they are one of two teams to have never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. Probably why Michael Jordan sold the team.
Indiana Pacers
Joined NBA: 1976
NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2000)
The Pacers, a three-time ABA champion, pushed a Los Angeles Lakers team led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant to six games in the 2000 Finals.
Los Angeles Clippers
Joined NBA: 1970
NBA Finals appearances: None
The Clippers’ postseason history is well documented, as is the organization’s past dysfunction. There’s even a television series about it. But the Clippers enter this season’s playoffs having won 18 of their last 21 games. Perhaps this is the year they finally reach their first NBA Finals?
Memphis Grizzlies
Joined NBA: 1995
NBA Finals appearances: None
The Grizzlies have more international relocations than NBA championships, having shifted from Vancouver to Memphis in 2001.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Joined NBA: 1989
NBA Finals appearances: None
The Timberwolves came within three wins of their first NBA Finals appearance last season after Anthony Edwards led the team to the Western Conference Finals.
New Orleans Pelicans
Joined NBA: 2002
NBA Finals appearances: None
The Pelicans, along with the Hornets, are the only teams in the league that have never reached the conference finals. Perhaps one day we’ll get the Pelicans-Hornets NBA Finals matchup we deserve.
Orlando Magic
Joined NBA: 1989
NBA Finals appearances: 2 (1995, 2009)
The Magic have made it to the Finals twice and lost both. But they will forever be the last team to eliminate Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, so there’s that.
Phoenix Suns
Joined NBA: 1968
NBA Finals appearances: 3 (1976, 1993, 2021)
The Suns have been two wins away from winning a title on three occasions, including in 2021 when they held a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks. They are the only current team in the league to have reached three NBA Finals without winning a championship.
Utah Jazz
Joined NBA: 1974
NBA Finals appearances: 2 (1997, 1998)
Thanks, Michael Jordan.
Which teams have never been to the NBA Finals?
Five current NBA franchises have still yet to play in the Finals with one team in the midst of a half-century drought.
Could the Memphis Grizzlies have walked away with a win against the Warriors on Tuesday at Chase Center if star guard Ja Morant hadn’t sustained an ankle injury during the third quarter?
Without discounting Golden State’s merit in its 121-116 win over Memphis, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes so.
“But in the same breath, let’s make sure we understand partially anyways what happened,” Smith said Wednesday on “First Take.” “Ja Morant did get hurt. And if Ja Morant, considering some of the plays that he was making, had remained healthy throughout…”
In the dying minutes of the third quarter of Tuesday night’s pivotal NBA play-in tournament game, Morant landed awkwardly on the foot of Warriors guard Buddy Hield.
Soon after Memphis’ medical staff attended to Morant, the 25-year-old limped to the charity line and sank a free throw before hobbling back to the bench.
Morant scored a team-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting before sustaining the injury. He returned with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points.
As Smith argued, the Grizzlies, despite experiencing noticeable ups and downs throughout the game, fought until the end behind the likes of its star players.
“You look at Desmond Bane and what he was doing,” Smith added. “Jaren Jackson looked alive a little bit late. You saw Ja Morant and how he tried to play through the obvious pain from that ankle injury.”
In sports there’s no shortage of what-ifs, and, merely, that’s what Smith is proposing.
“I would just look at it from that standpoint – not taking anything away from the Golden State Warriors,” Smith concluded.
“But you did find yourself saying, especially in the end, if Ja Morant had not gotten hurt, we might be saying something different this morning.”
"Joe's achievements as a renowned Hall of Fame player, NBA champion and front office executive are indisputable," Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson said in a statement. "I have a great deal of respect for what Joe has already accomplished as a player and executive, but more importantly I admire his character and leadership. His vast experience and relationships throughout the NBA, along with his strong leadership qualities, will have a tremendous impact on our organization and our goal of winning an NBA championship.
Dumars walks in the door facing big questions, starting with whether the franchise should continue to build around Zion Williamson. From his introductory statement, it sounds like he may have already made that decision.
"As a Louisiana native, this is truly a full circle moment. I grew up as a Saints fan and the first AAU basketball team I played on at 16 years old was based in New Orleans, so this opportunity is very special to me on a personal level..." Dumars said.
"There is a lot of talent on this roster. My vision is to build a disciplined team that is built on toughness, smart decision-making and a no-excuses mindset. I am proud to have grown up in Louisiana and know how passionate, resilient and tough we are as a community. Our fans deserve a team that represents that spirit, and those characteristics will be the foundation of our team's culture."
There has been buzz in league circles that Dumars has been given orders to retain coach Willie Green and trade Zion. Dumars was reportedly going to have "very candid conversations" with Zion, ESPN's Shams Charania on NBA Today (via Real GM). "They're going to have to have a sitdown eventually."
There would be teams willing to step up and take a swing on Zion's potential. Zion averaged 24.6 points a game on 56.7% shooting with 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists a night this past season, the question is always how many nights he would be healthy to give a team that production. Zion only played 30 games this season and has played more than 65 games just once in his career.
Still, teams will be willing to take a chance, and it sounds like Dumars will test those trade waters.
Duke’s Kon Knueppel is heading to the NBA after one college season. The 6-foot-7, 217-pound wing announced his decision Wednesday after a season that included him being named MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament while helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four. Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as the team’s No. 2 scorer behind Associated Press national player of the year Cooper Flagg.
Kristaps Porzingis can relate to what Jaylen Brown is dealing with as the Boston Celtics prepare for the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
A knee injury limited Brown late in the regular season and sidelined him for three of Boston’s seven games in April. Brown played through the ailment on multiple occasions, but the C’s ultimately decided to rest the 2024 NBA Finals MVP despite him being only two games short of All-NBA eligibility.
Porzingis, who has his fair share of experience with knee injuries throughout his career, was in favor of resting Brown until the playoffs.
“I think we just have to urge him to make sure he does everything he needs to prepare, to get it healthy and to prepare for what’s going to come,” Porzingis said last week. “And I think he’s a smart guy. So he will. It just shows his heart and how bad he wants to be out there even for games that don’t mean super much for us right now. But that’s who he is and I appreciate him for that.”
On Wednesday, Porzingis told reporters he advised Brown on managing the injury so that he’s a full-go for the postseason.
“We definitely talked about it. Just because of my history also with some of the knee stuff that had bothered me in the past,” Porzingis said. “So definitely talked and gave him my point of view and what I thought could help him.
“He did the things necessary, I think, to be as healthy and as feeling good as possible for this run that we’re about to have. He looks good. He’s always saying that he feels good, but he actually looks good, and that’s the most important.”
Porzingis joined C’s teammates Jrue Holiday and Al Horford in downplaying Brown’s injury. Both spoke highly of Brown’s performance in practice, with Holiday noting that “nobody is worried about him.” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he is “100 percent confident” Brown will be ready for the playoffs.
The optimism should help Celtics fans breathe a sigh of relief ahead of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic. While Boston should be able to get past Orlando even with a hobbled Brown, it will need its star to be at full strength for tougher matchups on its road to a repeat.
Game 1 of Celtics-Magic at TD Garden is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Warriors star Draymond Green had a sportsmanlike message for Grizzlies star Ja Morant after the guard admirably played through a tweaked right ankle in Golden State’s 121-116 win over Memphis in the NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday night at Chase Center.
“The dog that always is Ja,” Green told reporters postgame. “I think he may struggle to play in [Memphis’ play-in game] Friday. He came back tonight off straight adrenaline. But that’s who he is. That’s why this franchise has been in the position that they have been in over the last few years, and you’re kind of like, man, they may make a run.”
Morant hurt his ankle after landing on Warriors guard Buddy Hield’s foot when attempting a shot with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter. Morant went to the bench desperate for treatment and ultimately returned to finish the close game.
The 25-year-old finished with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting with two rebounds and two assists over 35 minutes, though he had a Grizzlies-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting before landing on Hield’s foot.
As Green mentioned, Morant was able to play through the pain and rely on adrenaline to carry him to the finish line. And for that, the four-time NBA champion has even more respect for the rival, high-flying guard.
“Ja is special,” Green told reporters. “He’s one of the more special players in this league, and has the heart of a lion. So I wasn’t surprised at all. That’s who he’s been. That’s who he is going to be. His saying: ‘I’m going to run up the chimney,’ he live[s] by that.
“You know, I respect it because he never not run up the chimney.”
Like Green, Morant has never been afraid of smoke.
So Green wouldn’t be surprised if the Grizzlies were to make noise in the NBA playoffs – if they handle business against the winner of Wednesday night’s Sacramento Kings-Dallas Mavericks play-in game – on Morant’s back and tweaked ankle.
“I’m playing,” Morant told reporters Tuesday night about the Grizzlies’ upcoming game. “That’s basically the answer I’m giving. It ain’t nothing different.”
Jimmy Butler shot 2-for-4 on 3-point shots en route to a 38-point outing in the Warriors’ 121-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday at Chase Center.
But the career 32.8-percent 3-point shooter made it clear that his game against Memphis was an anomaly shooting-wise, and that no one should expect the Golden State forward to be a routine deep-range shooter – at least like his teammate Steph Curry.
“I can shoot, I just choose not to shoot threes,” Butler told reporters after Tuesday’s win (h/t ClutchPoints’ Kenzo Fukuda). “I’d rather drive into the paint and get a layup or pass the ball to someone on my team who’s probably a better shooter than I am. I think you and everybody else want me to shoot more threes, but I like shooting layups.”
Butler shot 10-for-16 inside the arc and sank 12 of 18 free throws against the Grizzlies. Those stats are more Butler’s speed.
After all, the six-time NBA All-Star averaged just 0.6 triples per game during the 2024-25 NBA season, and his career-high is only 1.7, which he averaged in 2018-19 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Butler is glad to play “Robin” to the greatest shooter ever in Curry, but their play styles remain vastly distinct.
“It’s always, ‘Play basketball the right way; shoot the ball when you’re open; attack into the paint, get to the free throw line and pass it to the open guy.’ I feel like I have the opportunity [in Golden State] to pick my spots incredibly well,” Butler said. “And they are always looking to get me the ball in my spots where I can be aggressive and put the ball in the basket, or make the right play for the next individual.
“We ran a couple of sets for me to do that [against Memphis], and Steph did all the other stuff.”
The Warriors have a first-round playoff date with the Houston Rockets largely because of Butler’s impact after he was traded to Golden State from the Miami Heat on Feb. 5. His approach to basketball often has rubbed people the wrong way throughout his 14-year career, but his prideful stubbornness has led to promising results in the Bay thus far.
Butler is a scorer, but not a shooter. The same as he has always been.
Jonathan Kuminga didn’t play a second in the Warriors’ regular-season finale loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, nor in Golden State’s 121-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday.
While coach Steve Kerr’s rotation changes often, not many expected the 22-year-old to register consecutive DNPs during the most crucial points of the 2024-25 NBA season.
“He’ll contribute,” Green told reporters postgame on Tuesday about Kuminga. “He’s getting his work in. That’s all you can do in that situation, get your work in. He’ll be meaningful for us in that series. I have zero doubt about that. I think the challenge for him is to stay mentally engaged, as is for anyone in that situation. But I have zero doubt in my mind that he’s going to help us in this series – he will, 1,000 percent.”
Kuminga, even through his growing pains, seemingly brings great value to Golden State on any given night and would appear to be a key piece against Houston.
He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists during his fourth Warriors campaign, and in four games against the Rockets this season, Kuminga averaged an impressive 21.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
Kerr said Kuminga has been “pretty impactful” for the Warriors after the loss to the Clippers but proceeded to not play him Tuesday night. Green expects Kuminga to have a big role against the Rockets, but the rotation ultimately will be decided by Kerr.
However, one of the calls, had it been correctly assessed, could have greatly benefited the Grizzlies in the game’s final seconds.
Chronologically, here are the four incorrect calls in the game:
Draymond Green should have been called for a shooting foul on Scottie Pippen Jr. after making contact with the Grizzlies guard’s wrist on a play with 1:29 remaining in the game.
Edey (MEM) makes contact with the ball while it is in the imaginary cylinder above the rim.
One call that had Warriors fans upset, was Brandin Podziemski being called for a foul on his block attempt on Pippen Jr. with 37 seconds remaining in the game. The NBA stated that was an incorrect call.
Podziemski (GSW) makes contact with the ball during Pippen Jr.’s (MEM) shot attempt near the basket and any ensuing contact once the ball becomes loose is considered incidental.
Perhaps the most notable missed call of the game, was the Warriors’ inbound pass to Steph Curry with 10.5 seconds remaining. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant initially appeared to knock the ball out of Curry’s hands, but the NBA stated the ball actually touched Curry’s hand last before it went out of bounds and possession should have been awarded to Memphis with 7.3 seconds remaining.
After Morant (MEM) reaches in and makes contact with the ball, it touches Curry’s (GSW) hand last before going out of bounds. Possession is awarded to Golden State, but should have been awarded to Memphis.
Another controversial moment in the game was Kevon Looney being called for a loose ball foul on Edey under the rim with 14.3 seconds remaining. That, according to the NBA, was correctly called.
While there were missed calls that went against both teams, the Grizzlies certainly wish at least one, in particular, was called correctly.
There is plenty at stake in New York and around the NBA as the playoffs start. Here’s a look at the ramifications for some playoff teams:
KNICKS: As noted on this week’s Putback, the stakes are high for Tom Thibodeau entering the playoffs. If the Knicks beat Detroit and are competitive in the second round against Boston, I’d assume Thibodeau will be fine. Given Thibodeau’s success in New York, this is the most likely scenario.
But if the Knicks struggle against Detroit or are noncompetitive in the second round against Boston, there will be tough conversations about the franchise’s next steps.
The post-mortem analysis will include an assessment of Thibodeau. Would the Knicks head coach survive a subpar playoff performance?
It all depends on how team president Leon Rose and owner James Dolan view the season.
The head coach has helped guide the Knicks to their best three-year run since the late 1990s.
He is also under contract for four more seasons. Earlier in the season, I thought Thibodeau would survive any playoff shortcomings and be back next season. But that’s not the case anymore. I think anything is on the table if the Knicks struggle in the playoffs, including a coaching change.
No matter what happens this spring, the Knicks will have to decide on Mikal Bridges’ extension. Bridges is eligible for a four-year, $156 million deal on July 1. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks in order to acquire Bridges. So it would be surprising if they didn’t secure him long-term to an extension if everything goes well in the playoffs. If things go sideways, New York could include Bridges in a deal for a significant return.
OTHER EASTERN CONFERENCE RAMIFICATIONS
PACERS: The Pacers want to retain 2025 free agent Myles Turner. But the team also reportedly wants to remain below the luxury tax. In order to achieve both of those goals, the Pacers may have to shed salary via trade.
They have several options if they want to go this route, including Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith. The club’s playoff performance – and the performances of its role players – will likely factor in to any roster decisions made around Turner.
BUCKS: The Nets aren’t the only NBA team keeping a close eye on the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Several teams operated at the NBA trade deadline with a potential run at Antetokounmpo in mind. Why would teams see an Antetokounmpo trade as a remote possibility? That belief stems – in part – on Antetokounmpo’s own stance. He has said in the past that his top priority is to win. In acquiring Damian Lillard and Kyle Kuzma via trade and making high-stakes coaching changes, Milwaukee has operated like a team desperate to win. But the results haven’t been great. Will another subpar playoff performance cause Antetokounmpo to request a trade? That’s part of what is at stake for Milwaukee this spring. The Nets, it should be noted, have a bevy of assets to offer in a trade for Antetokounmpo – or another star. Brooklyn owns four first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft and has 13 tradeable first-round picks in the next seven drafts.
HAWKS: After losing to Orlando on Tuesday, the Hawks face an uphill climb to qualify for the playoffs. Whether their season ends later this week or after a first-round loss to Cleveland, the Hawks will have a significant decision to make with Trae Young. Young has a player option in 2026 and is eligible for a four-year, $230 million extension in the offseason.
Do the Hawks want to make that financial commitment to Young while building around Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and, presumably, rookie Zaccharie Risacher? That’s a big question for Landry Fields & Co entering the offseason.
WESTERN CONFERENCE RAMIFICATIONS
TIMBERWOLVES: The most pressing issue for the Timberwolves is stopping Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Lakers. The big picture facing the Wolves: how much is ownership willing to spend on the roster? Naz Reid could test free agency. He has a $15 million player option for next season. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be an unrestricted free agent. Julius Randle has a $30 million player option. The Timberwolves are facing a significant tax bill. It would be extremely challenging to keep all three of Randle, Alexander-Walker, and Reid.
Worth noting on Randle: the Heat have had interest in him at different points over the past few seasons. Randle could exercise his player option and be traded. The Nets, Bulls, and Pistons are among a small group of teams projected to have cap space this offseason. On the other side of Timberwolves-Lakers, James has a player option for 2025-26.
ROCKETS: The Rockets are in an enviable position. They won 52 games in the regular season and have a bevy of assets to swing a trade this offseason. Houston can acquire five additional first-round picks over the next five drafts and has several players – Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Dillon Brooks, Fred Van Vleet- who would draw interest in the trade market.
Houston’s performance in the postseason will impact their approach in the offseason. The No. 1 question for Houston this summer: what would you trade for Kevin Durant? Durant will be available via trade and will presumably be moved to one of his preferred destinations. It’s well known that he and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka have a strong connection. The Rockets obviously would have competition for Durant. The Mavericks are among the teams who pursued him aggressively at the trade deadline. They continued to search for ways to land Durant even after he made it clear through back-channels that he didn’t want to be traded. So Dallas will almost assuredly explore the Durant market again this summer. Will Houston be in an as well? On the other side of the Warriors-Rockets series, Golden State will have a decision to make on restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga was not in the Warriors’ rotation during their play-in win over Memphis on Tuesday.
KINGS: Sacramento has been underwhelming this season after firing head coach Mike Brown, trading De'Aaron Fox and acquiring Zach LaVine.
With Brown out, the Kings front office is under the microscope. Owner Vivek Ranadive is expected to take a hard look at the front office in the offseason. Obviously, a strong playoff run would factor in to any decision Ranadive makes on Monte McNair and his group. Other teams viewed Wes Wilcox’s move from the Kings to the University of Utah as a sign of uncertainty in Sacramento. The Kings face the Mavericks in the Play-In tournament on Wednesday night.
Every NBA champion has one or two superstars who play a significant role in their team lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but winning 16 games over four playoff rounds doesn’t happen without supporting players stepping up along the way.
There are a couple games every playoff run that require someone to come off the bench and provide a spark offensively.
The Celtics know this fact better than most franchises.
Don Nelson hit a clutch shot toward the end of Game 7 in the 1969 NBA Finals. Glenn McDonald scored eight points off the bench in the triple-overtime Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals. Cedric Maxwell led the C’s with 24 points in Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Leon Powe scored 21 points off the bench in Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. Kelly Olynyk scored 26 points off the bench in a Game 7 victory in the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Here’s a list of five candidates, ranging from starters to role players, ahead of Sunday’s Game 1 of the first round against the Orlando Magic.
Kristaps Porzingis
The Celtics are at their best when they hit a lot of 3-pointers. Porzingis is a 7-foot-3 center who can score in the paint and step outside the 3-point line and make shots consistently. There aren’t many players like him.
Porzingis is also an X-factor defensively because he is so good at protecting the rim. Whether it’s on drives to the basket in the halfcourt or fast breaks, Porzingis consistently blocks shots or forces opponents to alter their shots to evade his long reach. And the Celtics will need this rim protection because three of their potential playoff opponents — Knicks, Cavs, Thunder — ranked top 10 in points in the paint this season.
We saw plenty of examples of Porzingis’ impact at both ends of the floor during the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
This sequence from Game 1 shows how effective Porzingis can be as an outside shooter and a shot blocker:
WHAT. A. SEQUENCE. 😱
Porzingis deep 3. Porzingis block. Hauser 3. Porzingis block.
Of course, the concern with Porzingis is always health-related. He missed most of the 2024 playoffs due to injury. But since returning in March from a battle with an illness, he has consistently stayed healthy and played quite well.
If Porzingis can play a full postseason, the Celtics might be even tougher to beat than they were a year ago.
Payton Pritchard
Pritchard took a huge leap in his development this season, setting career highs with 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 47.2 percent from the field and 40.7 from 3-point range. He’s the favorite to win the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
There will be a moment when the C’s need Pritchard to hit shots and give the team a boost of energy at both ends of the floor. Pritchard played OK in the 2024 playoffs. His best series was the second round against the Cavs, but he struggled in the Finals and scored three or fewer points in four of the five games versus the Mavs.
Can Pritchard be more consistent offensively in this year’s playoffs? If the answer is yes, the C’s will be very difficult to defend.
Sam Hauser
Hauser is one of the league’s best 3-point shooters and led Boston with a 41.6 3-point percentage this season. His ability to get hot from beyond the arc and hit five, six, or seven 3-pointers can totally change a game.
Hauser was pretty inconsistent from 3-point range in the 2024 playoffs. He hit more than three 3-pointers in just three of Boston’s 16 postseason games. He shot 2-for-9 from beyond the arc in the conference semifinals and 1-for-14 in the conference finals.
Hauser was able to stretch the floor on offense and not get burned defensively in last season’s title run. He was even a good defender at times in those four series, including some matchups against Kyrie Irving in the Finals. If that’s the Hauser the Celtics get for most of the 2025 playoffs, they’ll be in good shape.
Jrue Holiday
Holiday’s experience — two NBA titles and two Olympic gold medals — is so valuable to the Celtics. He is a steady, calming presence in high-pressure situations.
The veteran point guard made so many clutch plays in the 2024 playoffs. Whether it was a momentum-changing 3-pointer, a key offensive rebound or a steal, he consistently made the right decisions at both ends of the court. Whenever the Celtics offense is becoming too iso-heavy or bad shots are being taken, he settles everyone down and gets the team back on track.
Holiday’s ability to knock down 3-pointers and shoot around 90 percent from the foul line will make him a very important player in this Boston playoff run. How much will his finger injury impact him? You could argue he’s played his best basketball of the season the last month-and-a-half despite nursing this injury. He shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range in March and 41.7 percent in April.
The Celtics were 14-2 this season when Holiday scored 15-plus points. His best performances almost always translate into wins.
Luke Kornet
Kornet played just 10.2 minutes per game in the 2024 playoffs. It wouldn’t be surprising if that number goes up this year because the veteran center was highly effective in a lot of games this season.
Kornet scored 10-plus points in nine of his last 14 regular season games. He grabbed eight or more rebounds six times during that stretch, including a 16-rebound performance in a win over the Spurs on March 29. Kornet is very good in the pick-and-roll, too, with his ability to finish on lobs at the basket.
In fact, the Tatum-Kornet pick-and-roll combo was one of the best in the league this season:
Luke Kornet has been one of the most impactful bench players this season. Cs are steam rolling opponents when he's on the court (+11.6 Netrtg.)
He's got an undeniable chemistry with Tatum, which shows in their pick & roll numbers — #2 most potent combo behind Murray/Jokic pic.twitter.com/yRgIQCiQvj
The Celtics like playing with two centers on the court, especially in certain matchups. Kornet’s ability to produce at both ends of the floor alongside Porzingis or Al Horford is quite valuable.
He plays his role extremely well, and he might be asked to do it more in this playoff run than in previous years.
Sometimes the NBA Rookie of the Year race features highly touted prospects like Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, or Luka Dončić and Trae Young. This season, it comes down to Stephon Castle, Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher—a trio of players who despite moments of brilliance did not statistically stand up to top predecessors.
During the 2024 NBA Draft, analysts predicted a weak 2024-25 rookie class. In terms of scoring, at least, they were right. Only five rookies in the 2024-25 regular season averaged double-digit points per game—there were at least eight in each season since 2017-18, and the post-NBA/ABA merger record is 14.
The average NBA player this season scored 17.0 points per 36 minutes on the court, but the average rookie scored just 13.7. That gap of -3.3 is the largest of any of the past 40 seasons.
It’s not as if this season’s youngsters were picking their spots with greater efficiency on that lower volume. The league’s average true shooting percentage in 2024-25 was 57.6%, while first-year players collectively shot only 53.7%. That disparity is the largest since 1990-91, when that season’s rookies shot 4.4 percentage points below the NBA average.
The decline of rookie scoring, though, is a broader trend. Of the past 40 seasons, nine of the bottom 10 in rookie scoring frequency, according to the aforementioned calculation, have occurred since 2013-14. Similarly, eight of the bottom 10 years ranked by rookie scoring efficiency have also come during that recent time span.
Players are on average entering the league younger than ever before, even though the ability to jump straight from high school as Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett once did no longer exists. As NBA paychecks have gotten bigger, projected high lottery picks have been incentivized to be one-and-done in college, though NIL and revenue sharing under the pending Housesettlement could alter that equation. Additionally, there’s been an increase in international prospects declaring for the draft at a younger age.
The five youngest rookie classes in NBA history (weighted by minutes played) are 2023, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2025. Naturally, these less-experienced players are having more difficulty adjusting to the NBA.
Using a more holistic metric than simply scoring, however, this year’s rookie class appears to be weak, but not a historical outlier. The rookies this season accumulated 0.054 win shares per 48 minutes—the ninth lowest of the past 40 seasons, but still significantly above recent seasons such as 2014, 2015 and 2017, as well as the infamously unproductive 2001 cohort.
In xRAPM, another all-in-one individual player statistic created by Jeremias Engelmann, three players who debuted this season graded out as having a greater-than-average impact on their teams—the Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, along with the Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan. Three may sound low, especially when compared to eight in 2023-24, but the average for a season is typically around four such rookies, and two seasons ago there was only one: the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler.
Rookie performance isn’t necessarily correlated with future success, especially for teenagers, such as Sarr and fellow Washington Wizards lottery pick Bub Carrington (No. 1 overall pick Risacher also just turned 20). A list of recent lottery picks who posted a negative xRAPM in their rookie season includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trae Young, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham.
And if nobody from the 2024-25 rookie class ever pans out, the NBA still has next season—and Cooper Flagg.
