Category: Basketball

The NBA draft lottery, an event that places the league’s 14 non-playoff teams into a lottery based on their regular-season record, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday.

After a brief preshow on ESPN, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum will stroll across the stage and gradually reveal envelopes containing the logos of the teams that will pick from No. 14 to No. 5, then reveal the top four teams after a commercial break.

The Washington Wizards finished with the league’s worst record, which locked them into a top-five pick. They hold a 14% chance of landing the No. 1 pick — the best odds a team can have in the modern lottery system — and a combined 52.1% chance of landing a top-four selection.

The issue: Luck hasn’t been on the Wizards’ side.

The Wizards have moved up just three times in the 25 NBA draft lotteries they’ve participated in since the event began in 1985. Here’s how unlucky they’ve been:

Moved down: 11 times

Stayed put: 11 times

Moved up: 3 times

The Washington Wizards have moved up just three times in the 25 NBA draft lotteries they've participated in. Here's how unlucky they've been:

Moved down: 11 times
Stayed put: 11 times
Moved up: 3 times

Washington owns a 14% chance at landing the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. pic.twitter.com/hkE6RKbiwp

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) May 4, 2026

The Wizards moved up two spots in 2001 before selecting Kwame Brown with the No. 1 pick. Ten years later, they moved up four spots to select John Wall with the top pick. And in 2013, they jumped five spots before selecting Otto Porter Jr. at No. 3.

But since selecting Porter Jr., Washington has moved down or stayed put in seven consecutive draft lotteries, most recently falling four spots to No. 6 in the 2026 NBA Draft after finishing with the league’s second-worst record.

The Wizards were also one lottery ball away from winning the No. 1 pick in 2019 (Zion Williamson), 2023 (Victor Wembanyama) and 2025 (Cooper Flagg). Washington owned six of the possible 11 remaining numbers in 2023 but lost out on Wemby to the San Antonio Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Draft lottery and the right to select Victor Wembanyama with the ping pong ball combo 14, 5, 8, 2.
After the first three numbers were picked, the Washington Wizards had 6 of the possible 11 remaining numbers (7, 9, 10, 12, 13) and barely missed.

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 17, 2023

Washington’s shaky lottery history hasn’t eased fans’ concerns surrounding Sunday’s event. And neither has the fate of the league’s worst team under the new lottery system, which began in 2019 and has yet to award the top pick to the team with the worst record.

• 2019 New York Knicks: 3rd
• 2020 Golden State Warriors: 2nd
• 2021 Houston Rockets: 2nd
• 2022 Houston Rockets: 3rd
• 2023 Detroit Pistons: 5th
• 2024 Detroit Pistons: 5th
• 2025 Utah Jazz: 5th
• 2026 Washington Wizards: ?

The last three teams to finish with the worst record have dropped to No. 5 — their worst possible result. It’s a reason Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins seemed resigned to his team’s fate during his end-of-season press conference.

“The priority on May 10 is just to get lucky … We’re already fortunate enough to add a top-five player in this draft. I feel very confident our staff will be able to pick the best player if we have five. I’m very comfortable at five.”

Washington successfully tanked to ensure they keep their top-eight protected pick and also secure a top-five selection in the 2026 draft. But that’s all they could do.

Now, it’s in the hands of a few lottery balls.

The Lakers are marching towards a storm. 

It’s in the form of a defense that encircles its opponents, obscuring their vision, sapping their energy, rendering them shells of themselves. 

The Lakers have lost to the Thunder in all four regular-season meetings, by an average of 29.3 points per game. Now they face them in the second round of the playoffs. 

The question on everyone’s mind: Do they have a chance?

So much must go right for the Lakers to compete against the reigning champions, who are younger, faster, deeper and more physical.

The Thunder have the top-rated defense in the NBA. The Lakers are missing the league’s leading scorer in Luka Doncic, who averaged 33.5 points per game before sustaining a strained hamstring on April 2.

That’s not exactly a recipe for success.

For the Lakers to stand a chance in this series, near-perfection is required.

They need to make their 3-point shots. They need to drastically reduce their turnovers. They need to control the pace.

The 41-year-old LeBron James, who’s the same age as both teams’ coaches in this series, needs to once again put the team on his shoulders and carry them as the first offensive option.

Austin Reaves, who returned in Game 5 of the first round from an oblique strain, needs to shake off his postseason struggles over the last two years and play the All-Star-caliber basketball he displayed for much of this season.

Luke Kennard, who led the league in 3-point shooting (44.8%), needs to be aggressive and hunt for his shot as though he were a star instead of deferring to his teammates.

Marcus Smart needs to channel his Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2021-22, using all of his basketball IQ and energy to try to slow down reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Deandre Ayton needs to be DominAyton, the most dominant, forceful version of himself, not the guy whose intensity wavers.

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Doncic needs to… return.

The Lakers aren’t just facing an uphill battle. They’re facing the Mt. Everest of opponents.

Lakers coach JJ Redick likened them to the Bulls of 1995-97 and Warriors of 2015-2017.

“The Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history,” Redick said. “It’s just the reality. They’re that good.”

It’s easy to look at this series and say the Lakers have no chance. But somehow this team thrives under those desert-like, harsh conditions.

When they were counted out of their first-round playoff series against the Rockets without Doncic and Reaves, they responded by taking a 3-0 series lead.

When James was dismissed as being too old to carry a bunch of role players into the second round, he responded by outplaying guys nearly half his age.

When Ayton and Smart were viewed as has-beens who were slipping out of the league, they reminded us that the former was the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and the latter was considered the league’s top defender.

Doncic’s absence sharpened everyone. It heightened their awareness. It made them become the best version of themselves.

“As much as we see that narrative and feel bad, you would think that it hurts us not having him, but it actually helps,” Smart said. “It forces guys to have to elevate their game to a whole other level.”

Each rotation player has met the challenge.

Against the Thunder, the tide must rise even more.

Smart didn’t hesitate when asked where guarding Gilgeous-Alexander ranks among his toughest challenges.

“No. 1,” he said.

Ayton’s task is just as difficult.

He has to try and outmatch the skills and physicality of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.

“He’s the person that changes our ceiling the most,” Redick said of Ayton.

The Thunder have no holes. No weaknesses. Their defense is notoriously suffocating. Offensively, they were rated seventh.

They’re a group of guys who like each other. Who play for each other. Who know how to win.

“You can respect the team,” Jake LaRavia said. “But you can’t fear them.”

The Lakers need to believe they belong.

They need to be hyper-focused. They need to star in their roles. They need to take their games to another level.

The storm is coming.

How will they weather it?

Luka Doncic is still building towards a return, but it won't come in time for Game 1.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Doncic for the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on "Inside the NBA."

Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis, and he is currently on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the past month.

"He's doing more and more on the court," Charania said. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts."

Is Luka Doncic playing tonight vs. Thunder?

No, he is out for Game 1. The timeline for his return is also still unclear, according to Charania.

Doncic was seen putting shots up during Lakers practice on Monday, May 4, but he has yet to progress to 3-on-3 or 5-on-5. Lakers head coach JJ Redick had no update for reporters.

Doncic has missed 11 games since straining his left hamstring against Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers have gone 7-4 in that span and ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets before winning the series in six games.

Luka Doncic, getting up shots Monday. When asked about his availability for Game 1, JJ Redick said, “no update.” pic.twitter.com/UZBw9x2E9R

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 4, 2026

The odds are stacked against Los Angeles yet again with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Thunder, who won a league-best 64 games in the regular season. The absence of Jalen Williams makes things slightly less lopsided, especially if the Lakers keep producing total team efforts with contributions from Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura.

Make no mistake, though: Doncic, who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game and finished third in assists with 8.3 per game, will be needed this series. It just remains to be seen when – or if – he'll be back in time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic injury update, status ahead of Lakers vs Thunder Game 1

Fresh off an opening-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns, the Oklahoma City Thunder will continue their title defense tonight as their second-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers tips off at Paycom Center. OKC is the heavy favorite over the Luka Doncic-less Lakers, but they'll also be down one of their own key players for Game 1 Tuesday, May 5 with star forward Jalen Williams still sidelined.

Williams, who sustained a grade 1 left hamstring strain in Game 2 against Phoenix, has been officially listed as out for Game 1 on Tuesday in the latest NBA injury report.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault told reporters Monday, May 4 that Williams was "progressing according to plan," but declined to put a timeline on his return.

"We're not going to release that," Daigneault told reporters. "We’ll continue to let you guys know on a week-to-week basis."

Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams: “He's progressing according to plan, I would say. In terms of timeline, we're not going to release that. We’ll continue to let you guys know on a week-to-week basis.” pic.twitter.com/zxM3HW8IjF

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) May 4, 2026

Here's what to know about Williams' status against the Lakers:

Is Jalen Williams playing tonight?

No. As stated above, Williams is listed as out for Game 1 on Tuesday and is considered week-to-week with a left hamstring strain.

The Thunder aren't putting a definitive timeline for his return publicly, but reporting by The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, estimates that the usual recovery window for a grade 1 hamstring strain is 1-2 weeks. Williams went down on April 22, so that would theoretically put his return sometime around Games 3-5.

Williams exited in the third quarter when he went up for a layup attempt, grabbed his left hamstring after landing back on the court and has not played since.

Jalen Williams left Game 2 vs. the Suns with an apparent hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/P47wjF0c9T

— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2026

The 2025-26 season has been a frustrating one for Williams, who established himself as an All-Star last season and was one of OKC's biggest contributors to their title run. But injuries have added up over the course of this season.

Williams underwent wrist surgery after the NBA Finals, which forced him to miss the start of the regular season. He later missed 49 games with a right hamstring strain.

Jalen Williams stats

Jalen Williams averaged 17.1 points and 5.5 assists per game this season, a major reason the team posted the best record in the league this season. Williams recorded 22 points and seven rebounds in Oklahoma City's Game 1 win over Phoenix and had 19 points in 23 minutes before his injury in Game 2.

Thunder vs. Lakers playoff schedule

All times Eastern

• Game 1 at Oklahoma City: Tuesday, May 5 at 8:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
• Game 2 at Oklahoma City: Thursday, May 7 at 9:30 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video
• Game 3 at Los Angeles: Saturday, May 9 at 9:30 p.m. | ABC, Fubo
• Game 4 at Los Angeles: Monday, May 11 at 10:30 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video
• *Game 5 at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, May 13 | Time and TV TBD
• *Game 6 at Los Angeles: Saturday, May 16 | Time and TV TBD
• *Game 7 at Oklahoma City: Monday, May 18 | Time and TV TBD

*If necessary

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Williams hamstring injury: Thunder star to miss Game 1 vs. Lakers

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t assemble the highest-paid roster in the league just to get out of the first round.

“We haven’t done anything,” Donovan Mitchell said after his team closed out the Toronto Raptors in seven games. “It’s just the first round.”

The Cavs will have their hands full against a 60-win Detroit Pistons team that proved to be one of the best defenses in the league all season. That said, there’s a path to winning the series and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. Let’s get into the keys for Game 1.

1. Reestablish the pick-and-roll

Both Mitchell and James Harden struggled to shake free of Toronto’s perimeter defenders. The top-locking defensive strategy, coupled with their ability to switch every screen and not be at a distinct disadvantage because of it, made it difficult for them to establish a consistent scoring rhythm. At least not the kind we’re used to seeing.

Detroit is a better statistical and traditional defense than Toronto. They were the second-best unit in the league for a reason. Their ability to run teams off the three-point line, funnel them inside, and then provide tough contests from there made them difficult for teams to crack, especially with two imposing centers in Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart.

At the same time, they aren’t a switch-heavy team like the Raptors, which does present some additional openings for the Cavs to attack mismatches.

Cleveland’s best offense this year has been when they can create advantages off the pick-and-roll. They should be able to get into those actions much easier, given Detroit’s drop coverage.

2. Exploiting the weak links

The Raptors weren’t the most talented team in the playoffs, but there aren’t many groups that had as many passable two-way players. There really weren’t any weak links to attack on offense or ignore completely on defense.

The Pistons have more talent, but there’s more guys who aren’t high impact on both sides of the ball.

Duncan Robinson is a great shooter, but he’s someone that the guards can go after in a matchup much easier than any of Toronto’s rotation players. On the other end, Ausar Thompson is a phenomenal defender, but you can cheat off him defensively due to his lack of playmaking and shooting.

The Cavs also have several players that teams can take advantage of as well. Opponents mostly ignore Dean Wade on offense and attack guys like Mitchell and Harden on the other end.

The team that can hide its weaker players and exploit their opponents could come away with the win.

3. Find the three-point shot

The Cavs won their first-round series without ever getting the three-ball going. They shot just 34.1% from beyond the arc throughout the series. This included shooting below 30% in three games, including the Game 7 victory.

Cleveland isn’t the outside-shooting juggernaut they were at times last year, but they’re still one of the better shooting teams in the league as they connected on 36% of their shots in the regular season.

This is an advantage they should have over Detroit. The Pistons aren’t a high-volume three-point shooting team, and they don’t connect on them particularly well. That came through repeatedly in their first-round victory over the Orlando Magic, even in some of their wins.

4. Win the possession game

Head coach Kenny Atkinson has preached the need to grab rebounds and limit turnovers all season. The Cavs struggled at times throughout their first-round series with both, but closed the Raptors out in Game 7 by winning this category by nine.

That same focus will be needed against the Pistons.

Cade Cunningham was at his worst in the first round when he was turning the ball over. He averaged 5.9 giveaways per game against Orlando. This includes averaging 6.7 in Detroit’s three losses.

As a team, the Pistons aren’t great at protecting the ball. They finished the regular season 22nd in turnover percentage (15%) as an offense. However, what they made up for that in other areas, particularly in offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers of their own.

Detroit was second in offensive rebounding percentage in the regular season. They grabbed 34.3% of their missed shots.

On the other end, the Pistons had the highest turnover percentage in the league as a defense. They turned opponents over on 16.8% of their possessions.

However, despite their good offensive rebounding, they struggled ending possessions, as they finished 20th in defensive rebounding percentage.

There are areas the Cavs can attack here. They could be disruptive on the offensive glass and force Cunningham into turnovers. But they have to be careful not to fall victim to those same issues themselves.

5. Can Dean Wade make things difficult for Cade Cunningham?

Stopping a player as good as Cunningham is a complete team effort, but you’d expect Wade to draw the primary assignment on the superstar guard.

Wade has been the team’s best wing defender all season. He did an excellent job of taking Brandon Ingram away at the beginning of the series against Toronto and shifted onto Barnes as the series progressed.

Cunningham struggled against Orlando when he was guarded by Franz Wagner. Wagner’s size and strength presented real issues. It wasn’t until a calf strain forced Wagner out of the lineup that Cunningham really got going.

Wade has some of those same qualities. He has good length, quickness, and strength. Wade has continually shown he’s comfortable defending on the perimeter against an opponent’s primary offensive engine.

The key to this will likely come down to the other end of the court. For Wade’s defense to be its most effective, his offense needs to be good enough to justify staying on the court. That was an issue at times in the first round as Wade’s outside shot left him for stretches.

Outside of Wade, the Cavs don’t have many good options to turn to for guarding Cunningham. Max Strus has shown a willingness to battle with bigger wings, but he doesn’t have the strength or size to present the same issues for Cunningham. Jaylon Tyson has had stretches of looking like that guy, but it’s fair to question whether he’s ready for such a big assignment.

Cunningham is the head of the snake. There’s no situation where the Pistons get past the Cavs if he isn’t playing at an All-NBA level. That puts a premium on Wade and the rest of the team’s defense against Cunningham.

Good morning, BBN!

It is officially one of the greatest times of the sports calendar as the NBA and NHL Playoffs are in full swing. Now, while there are not a lot of former Kentucky Wildcats riddled across the NHL, there are plenty of them in the NBA.

On top of that, there are still several Cats fighting for a chance to win an NBA Championship this season.

As the second round gets underway, we have eight teams remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Only one team does not have a former Cat on the roster: The Pistons.

So who is still playing? Here is a quick list:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
• Cason Wallace (OKC)
• Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)
• Julius Randle (MIN)
• De’Aaron Fox (SA)
• Keldon Johnson (SA)
• Olivier Sarr (CLE)
• Karl Anthony-Towns (NYK)
• Tyrese Maxey (PHI)
• Justin Edwards (PHI)

At the moment, it looks like the chances of another former Wildcat bringing home an NBA Championship are quite good. Should be a fun few rounds left to watch who cuts down the nets.

Tweet of the Day

How many 20+ million dollar rosters are there in college basketball this offseason? Sean Miller's perspective:

"Educated guess? Sometimes you don't have all the information… I would say 20-25." 👀

🎥: https://t.co/kRYnhn5fpCpic.twitter.com/nG8CMfoVOg

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) May 4, 2026

Plenty of people are spending on college basketball this offseason.

Headlines

SEC Tournament Tuesday Schedule Update – UK Athletics

Kentucky Softball is set to play Mississippi State around 2 PM ET.

ABS system approved for SEC Tournament- KSR

FINALLY!

New 2026-27 preseason projection poll has Kentucky sitting outside the top 40- KSR

The Cats have room to go forward.

Doubling Up: Bell, Van Cleave Earn SEC Weekly Honors- UK Athletics

A big week for a few Cats.

Kentucky continues to improve its chances with three-star RB Kelsey Gerald- Cats Pause

Will Stein is continuing to stay hot on the trail.

Tigers’ Tarik Skubal to undergo surgery on left elbow- ESPN

A huge loss for th Tigers.

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards to play in Game 1 vs. Spurs- ESPN

He’s Baaaack.

Way-too-early 2027 NFL Mock Draft- CBS

These are always great to follow.

With Louisville, Tennessee thriving, Mark Pope’s hot seat intensifies amid Kentucky’s portal struggles- CBS

Never good when your recruiting struggles continue to make national news.

Jerry Krause doesn’t get enough credit for what he did with the Chicago Bulls. Not only did he not make the mistake that Houston and Portland made in not taking Michael Jordan (the Bulls took him at #3 in the 1984 draft), he quickly paired him with Scottie Pippen.

For the first three championship teams, the Bulls put guys like Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, and John Paxson around their Dynamic Duo.

Jordan, of course, stepped away from basketball after the 1993 championship, but came back in 1995.

The team to an extent had already been rebuilt, notably with Grant being traded, but Krause again put together a brilliant group. He still had Pippen, and of course, Jordan was back. But the core of the rotation had been rebuilt, and brilliantly.

Chicago brought in shooter Steve Kerr, Aussie big man Luc Longley, Ron Harper, Dennis Rodman, and a player Krause had long coveted, Toni Kukoc.

Krause had long celebrated Kukoc, a native of Croatia, to the point where Jordan and Pippen were sick of hearing about him, so they went out of their way to shut him down when the Dream Team played Croatia in the 1992 Olympics.

But Krause wasn’t wrong: Kukoc was great. Not really good. Great.

At 6-11, Kukoc had point guard skills, as you’ll see here, and he meshed perfectly with that team. You wanted to keep Jordan and Pippen on the court as much as possible, but you could add Rodman, Kukoc, and Harper to almost anyone else on the floor and have possibly the most versatile team in NBA history.

That team really did invent positionless basketball, and did it decades before the term was even considered.

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The Rockets are not going to fire their GM or their Head Coach. Once you allow the emotion of the immensely disappointing end to the Rockets season subside, (and please take all the time you need) then you understand why they aren’t doing it, even if you think they should fire Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka. As for this writer? I’m in the camp that doesn’t think it’s time to fire them yet, but things sure seem to be heading in the direction where I think they may need to go. For instance, should they turn right around and trade Kevin Durant for pennies on the dollar, that would signal to me a complete admission that trading for him was a mistake in the first place.

Now, I want to say there is no way they are going to trade Kevin Durant, but I am the same guy who said they would never trade for Kevin Durant and hang their championship hopes on a 37-year-old with a lengthy injury history. That to me is kind of the issue. I hope they know what the plan is, because from where I am sitting, I have no clue. I have stood 10 toes down for Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka over the last three seasons, but in my humble opinion, enough time has passed where it’s time to start asking some questions about the job Rafael Stone has done.

My first question is this… How is it that after having a top four pick for four years in a row, having 10 first round nd picks total, the Rockets managed to get exactly zero consistent shooters, and after trading away Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore, have just one freakishly athletic player in Amen Thompson, who can create their own shot or shots for others. Yes, Alperen Sengun is athletic for his size, however he is not the type of player that will break down any defender and create offense, and if you want to agree to disagree that’s okay… I’ll give Stone two guys… out of 10. Neither of whom is a consistent shooter.

How is it that the Oklahoma City Thunder have shooters all the way down to the ball boy and guy who wipes the sweat off the floor, and the Houston Rockets have none? How is it that they have 11 guys who can create a shot for themselves, and the Houston Rockets have two? Rafael Stone built this team. No one, and I mean NO ONE he has drafted is a consistent shooter. If Reed Sheppard becomes that, then he will have drafted exactly one shooter.

Now, for those of you who will say, “But the ping pong balls never went his way…” Okay, so he couldn’t have drafted Cade Cunningham, but you did get an absolute freak of nature in Jalen Green, and you gave up on him at the age of 23. He couldn’t draft Paolo Banchero… but he could have drafted Jaylen Williams. I’ll give a slight pass on this as Jabari was projected to be a much more consistent shooter in the NBA, but I get my draft analysis from TV and the internet. Rafael Stone gets paid a lot of money to be right. I will give Jabari this complement. He cares and he steps his game up in big moments. That’s the kind of guy you want on your team, but in hindsight, he is not the third best player from that draft class. I’m not going to fault him for drafting Amen Thompson because in my opinion, outside of Wemby, Thompson is the best player from that class. However, Thompson is a guy you put on a team full of shooters and the Rockets had none at the time they drafted him.

So, if you couldn’t draft the shooters then why couldn’t you add them in free-agency? Luke Kennard could have been made a Rocket last offseason. Instead, Stone signed DFS to a three-year deal. A 35-percent career three-point shooter, because he had one efficient shooting season with the Lakers and Nets. Duncan Robinson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Seth Curry??? Anyone? Rather, we saw the Rockets turn into a stand around and watch KD, because no one else can create a shot, offense. Udoka is not absolved from this conversation, but Raphael Stone is doing the grocery shopping, and like me when my wife sends me to the store, he keeps forgetting stuff.

The Rockets cannot, in my opinion, turn around and make the Kevin Durant trade obsolete by flipping him after one season. I think, they want to get a look at the team with Fred Van Vleet, with a healthy DFS, with a healthy Durant and Steven Adams, but go back and just read what I wrote there. Put the odds on all of that happening. Put the odds on that beating OKC, or even the Lakers. The year to run it back one more time was this past season and Rafael Stone said “NOPE!” So now, what is he going to do? Because the job is still his. He painted himself into this corner and he’s going to have to get himself out of it, quickly.

Florida only added one player via the college basketball transfer portal ahead of the 2026-27 season, but came away as one of the biggest winners of the offseason due to retention.

The Gators were able to keep leading scorer Thomas Haugh and two-year starting forward Alex Condon for next season, despite both players having heavy NBA interest. Starting guard Boogie Fland is also returning, and starting center Rueben Chinyelu is testing the NBA draft waters while maintaining his eligibility.

Elsewhere, Connecticut was able to keep March Madness hero Braylon Mullins for his second season, despite Mullins being projected as a first-round pick.

There's a new No. 1: College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Basketball portal’s early losers: Big names, big swings, bigger questions

Sometimes the best additions are the ones already on the roster, especially in today’s era of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness influencing players' decisions.

Here’s a look at our top-10 retentions ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season, whether it was an NBA or portal decision looming:

College Basketball Transfer Portal Retention Wins

Braylon Mullins, UConn

Mullins proved to be a missing puzzle piece for Dan Hurley and UConn to get back to the Final Four as an all-around player, highlighted by his ability to hit challenging shots. He hit the game-winning shot to get the Huskies to within two wins of their third national championship title in the past four NCAA tournaments.

After averaging 12.0 points per game, 33.5% from 3-point shooting and 29 starts in 33 games, he was being projected as a mid- to late-first round draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. However, he opted to return to the Huskies for his sophomore season, where there's "unfinished business" to be settled.

Mullins’ return to UConn positions him as one of the top players in the country and one of the Huskies' leading scorers next season, but also gives him a real chance to elevate his stock into a lottery pick for the 2027 NBA Draft.

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Haugh is another player who seemed destined to declare for the draft. He decided to pass up on being a projected lottery pick and return to the Gators in an attempt to making one last deep run in March Madness after an abrupt end this past season.

"Most guys in my position in the draft, it would be a no-brainer to go to the NBA," Haugh said on his reasoning. "It’s not just the NIL. It’s a chance to play with my boys. To play for coach (Todd) Golden." While NIL certainly isn't the main reason in his return, it certainly is a factor in why the Gators were able to retain him. As noted by ESPN, Haugh is expected to be one of the highest-paid players in the country this upcoming season which, like Mullins, will likely be more than he would have potentially made in the NBA.

His return gives Golden an All-American returning to his frontcourt and a reliable go-to scorer and rebounder who averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season.

MORE: When the stars are gone, the smart transfer portal moves matter most

Patrick Ngongba II, Duke

Patrick Ngongba II was another top talent who opted to run it back one more year in college rather than go to the NBA, where he was projected as a late first-round draft pick.

The return of the 6-11 center is a big one for Duke, who will look to give it another go at snapping an 11-year national championship drought. Ngongba finished as Duke's third-leading scorer last season with 10.1 points per game and 60.6% shooting from the field, while being one of the top defensive players in the country with 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.

Before sustaining a foot injury just before the ACC Tournament, Ngongba was playing some of his best basketball down the stretch of the regular season, as he scored in double figures in five straight games before the injury.

Nigel James Jr, Marquette

One of Marquette's most important offseasons in the Shaka Smart era began with retaining the core three — Nigel James Jr., Adrian Phillips and Royce Parham — of the Golden Eagles' freshman class for their 2026-27 roster rebuild.

The first domino to fall came on Day 1 of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden when James announced he was returning to the Golden Eagles for his sophomore season during his Big East Freshman of the Year acceptance speech. It was not only a moment that shut down any thought of him potentially entering the transfer portal, but it also provided Marquette with a point guard and go-to scorer to build around with its expected portal activity.

The 6-foot guard finished as one of just two freshmen in the country to finish with at least 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in conference games this past season, with the other being Darius Acuff Jr. at Arkansas.

Cayden Boozer, Duke

All signs pointed to Cayden Boozer returning to Duke for a sophomore season after playing alongside his brother, Cameron Boozer. His announcement of his return was a big one for Jon Scheyer.

Boozer provided Duke with quality minutes at the end of the season when Caleb Foster got injured ahead of the ACC Tournament. The 6-4 guard, the son of former Duke legend Carlos Boozer, averaged 13 points per game in the seven starts he made during Foster's absence.

Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt

Tyler Tanner enjoyed a breakout season in 2025-26, averaging 19.5 points with 3.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for Vanderbilt. The 6-foot sophomore declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility, keeping the option to return to school.

Tanner returning to Vanderbilt looks likely, where he’ll be well-compensated and be one of the best returning guards in college basketball. His size (listed at 6-foot), along with the 2026 class being loaded at guard, could factor into his decision.

Alex Condon, Florida

Condon nearly left Florida for the NBA Draft after winning a national championship in 2025. He returned for 2025-26 and now will be back again for 2026-27 as a senior.

The 6-11 Australian averaged 15.1 points with 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season for the Gators, and formed one of the best frontcourts in college basketball with Haugh and Chinyelu, who’s also trending toward a return next season.

Condon could be the best returning big man in college basketball next season, especially with his playmaking ability as both a scorer and passer.

Trey McKenney, Michigan

One of the most popular breakout picks for next season, former five-star recruit Trey McKenney is returning for 2026-27 despite having NBA interest after his true freshman season at Michigan.

The 6-4 former McDonald’s All American averaged 9.9 points while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range off the bench for the reigning national champions. He should enter the starting lineup next season, and has a chance to turn into Michigan’s go-to scorer as a sophomore.

McKenney averaged 12 points per game during the NCAA Tournament and was a huge retention win for coach Dusty May and the Wolverines.

MBB recruiting 2026 team rankings: Kansas lands top player, but another program is No. 1

Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois

Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic also entered his name into 2026 NBA Draft consideration, although it's becoming increasingly likely he'll return to school.

The 6-7 guard was an NCAA Tournament breakout, earning All-Region honors after averaging 13.8 points with four rebounds per game off the bench for the Fighting Illini. The two-time transfer will likely start alongside a cast of Illinois returners, including Tomislav Ivisic and David Mirkovic, along with transfer Stefan Vaaks from Providence.

Stojakovic, the son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, averaged 13.5 points per game in his first season after transferring from Stanford and Cal.

Rob Wright III, BYU

BYU guard Rob Wright III initially entered the transfer portal, but the Cougars were able to retain their second-leading scorer for his junior season.

Wright averaged 18.1 points with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game last season, despite playing second fiddle to projected No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa. Wright will pace BYU in 2026-27 and will be the No. 1 option for the squad in his second season after transferring from Baylor.

Wright was one of the top-ranked players in the transfer portal, but he ends up returning to BYU, where he’ll be asked to score early and often.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sometimes best transfer portal move is keeping what you already have

Before the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for superstar guard James Harden, there was reportedly another team that his representatives inquired about seeking a deal with: the Houston Rockets.

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon, Harden’s team reached out to Houston to gauge their interest in acquiring the former MVP from the then-reeling Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers, who started 6-21, were in the midst of several crises and the subject of many trade rumors to try to right the ship. There had been mutual interest in both Harden’s camp and the Rockets’ over the past several years, according to ESPN.

But the Rockets, having moved away from that heliocentric type of player, were not interested in adding. One source told ESPN that, while it would be intriguing to have as great a player as Harden on the young Rockets team, they wanted to develop players like Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson instead. This was not the first time that Houston had spurned the chance to acquire Harden, having done so twice before.

Another source told ESPN that the Rockets “weren’t going to put the ball in James’ hands anyway”, and questioned the need to trade for someone that requires the rock to be impactful. All this despite the fact that Houston was without their starting point guard, Fred Van Vleet, who suffered a torn ACL before the season started.

As history would tell it, the Cavs swooped in and acquired Harden for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. The move, which garnered plenty of criticism and raised eyebrows across the league, was the kind of risk that the Rockets were not willing to take. But for the Cavs, it was worth it to raise their championship window for the next year or two just a smidge wider.

Part of the wink and nudge of the deal with the Clippers was probably a contract extension for Harden, who doesn’t have too many of them left in his Hall of Fame career. After all, the Cavs very likely would not move on from their former All-Star point guard in Garland — 10 years younger than Harden — for just half a season of Harden. But perhaps that is not a forgone conclusion given the reported mutual interest in a return to Space City.

The Cavs figure to be one of the more interesting teams this upcoming offseason, whether that occurs after this series with Detroit or beyond. Harden’s contract is a big part of the equation that Koby Altman must solve.

Brad Stevens earned his Executive of the Year award by resetting his team’s roster financially while also fielding a squad of productive, overachieving, high effort players with high future potential. Then the first round happened and Cinderella’s carriage turned back into a pumpkin. So for his next trick, Brad Stevens has to use that hard earned flexibility to reload this roster for the future and get that glass slipper.

For a brief reminder, the reason the team cut all those salaries last offseason was because the current CBA was designed to break up teams like the 2024/2025 version of the Celtics. The ginormous tax bill was part of the problem, and we’ll never know how much it was a motivator. But the other big factor was all the team-building restrictions put on any team above the 2nd apron. I’m not looking to re-litigate that whole process — just pointing out that decisions were made with a stated objective to maximize future flexibility.

Well, the future is now. Jayson Tatum returned looking better than any could have hoped (with the unfortunate exception of Game 7) and will have a whole offseason to get back to 100%. Both Jayson and Jaylen Brown are squarely in the primes of their careers (and paid handsomely over the next 3-4 years). The singular goal of the front office is to field a championship level team this year and for the foreseeable future.

So where do we stand with the team’s books? Bobby Marks lays out the basics below.

https://t.co/SMOI7sX2tapic.twitter.com/N17c2U0f7K

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 3, 2026

Let’s take a closer look at some of those subjects. This is by no means an exhaustive breakdown, but a good place to kick things off two months before the draft and offseason and reset expectations.

While the team is under the tax aprons, they are still over the salary cap, which means they don’t have room under the cap to offer to free agents. (See Spotrac for a year over year breakdown of the roster). The good news is that they do have exceptions that they can use. More on that below.

Celtics Own Free Agents

The Celtics have several players that could be free agents, but nearly all of them have a team option to keep around. Some of those are no-brainers (Jordan Walsh) and others are decisions that can be made in the fall based on how the rest of the roster shakes out (Amari Williams, Ron Harper Jr., etc.).

Perhaps the most important objective is to find a way to keep Neemias Queta around. The team has a team option on him (so he’s almost certainly going to be back next year), but he’s also extension eligible. The team would be best served by picking up his option and extending off of that at (subject to what Queta is willing to agree to). The other option is to decline the option and sign him to a contract that starts off with a bigger first year value. The problem with that is that it takes away a lot of the flexibility that the team worked so hard to create.

Finally, the team has to decide what to do with Nikola Vucevic. In my opinion, they would be best served by letting him walk and using the flexibility elsewhere. There are also sign-and-trade options but I’m not sure if there’s going to be a ton of demand for his diminishing skills.

Another note: Payton Pritchard is not a free agent, but he is extension eligible as well (with one of the best contracts in basketball). I think the team would be wise to consider extending him beyond the two years left on his deal.

Free Agent Exceptions

The biggest lever the Celtics have for improving might be their Non-Tax Mid-Level Exception ($15M). They also have the Biannual Exception ($5.5M) that they could use. The asterisk here is that they will still have to make moves with an eye on the luxury tax. The trade deadline deals were made to duck the tax this year, but the repeater tax penalizes teams that are in the tax 3 out of 4 years. It is possible that under certain circumstances the team would consider it worth it to pay the taxes, but it would be an interesting decision given the cuts made this year.

The other item of note are the trade exceptions ($27.7M and others). The important note here is that the team would get hard capped at the First Apron if they used any of these. There are ways to cut costs elsewhere and/or use these exceptions in creative ways. Just don’t assume that we can simply trade for anyone making under $27.7M and call it a day.

Draft Picks

The Celtics currently own picks #27 and #40 in the upcoming draft. From what (little) I understand, the draft should be relatively deep and there could be value found. On the other hand, the team currently skews pretty young already and Brad might find better value in using those picks to trade for veteran contributors.

Your turn

So what do you think the Celtics should do next? What areas of need do you think the team should address as a priority? What would you do with Vucevic? Are there any free agents that you would target? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and let’s start a discussion.

Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -6.5; over/under is 215

EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference second round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last meeting 137-98 on Tuesday, led by 35 points from Jalen Brunson. Paul George led the 76ers with 17.

The Knicks are 14-3 against opponents in the Atlantic Division. New York averages 116.5 points and has outscored opponents by 6.4 points per game.

The 76ers are 9-7 in division matchups. Philadelphia ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference scoring 50.1 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 14.0.

The Knicks score 116.5 points per game, 0.4 more points than the 116.1 the 76ers allow. The 76ers score 5.8 more points per game (115.9) than the Knicks give up (110.1).

TOP PERFORMERS: Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 58.1% over the last 10 games.

Quentin Grimes is shooting 45.0% and averaging 13.4 points for the 76ers. George is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.4 points, 42.0 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.1 points per game.

76ers: 6-4, averaging 105.5 points, 41.9 rebounds, 21.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.

76ers: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

A record-breaking defensive performance from Victor Wembanyama was not enough to prevent the Minnesota Timberwolves taking a 1-0 lead against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA's Conference semi-finals.

Wembanyama made 12 blocks - a record for the NBA play-offs - but Minnesota, sixth seed in the Western Conference, upset second seed San Antonio by claiming a 104-102 win on the road on Monday.

The defensive player of the year added 11 points and 15 rebounds, becoming the third player to get a triple-double in the play-offs including blocks since the league began tracking blocks in 1973-74.

Anthony Edwards returned from a knee injury for the Timberwolves and scored 18 points from the bench as they held on to win the opening game of the best-of-seven series.

San Antonio remain at home for game two on Wednesday.

"We have to be better," said Wembanyama. "We need to figure it out in the next 48 hours, and I've got no doubt that we will. I would trust us."

The New York Knicks made a commanding start to their series with the Philadelphia 76ers, winning 137-98 at home.

The Knicks, who are the third seed in the Eastern Conference, became the first NBA team to win three straight play-off games by at least 25 points.

Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his game-high 35 points in the first half while London-born forward OG Anunoby finished with 18.

After beating the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 on Thursday, the Knicks became just the second team in NBA history to end one series and begin another with consecutive victories by at least 30 points.

"Wasn't any fun to be a part of, to be honest," said 76ers coach Nick Nurse. "But it's 0-1. Doesn't really matter if it's six points or 36 or whatever the hell it was."

Game two is scheduled for New York's Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

• Pistons and Cavaliers advance in NBA play-offs

Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -9.5; over/under is 215.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Timberwolves lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference second round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Timberwolves won the last meeting 104-102 on Tuesday, led by 21 points from Julius Randle. Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 18.

The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is ninth in the league with 28.1 assists per game. Stephon Castle leads the Spurs averaging 7.4.

The Timberwolves are 31-21 in Western Conference play. Minnesota ranks second in the Western Conference shooting 37.0% from 3-point range.

The Spurs make 48.3% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Timberwolves have allowed to their opponents (46.2%). The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field, 3.0% higher than the 45.1% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: De'Aaron Fox is shooting 48.6% and averaging 18.6 points for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is averaging 15.2 points over the last 10 games.

Anthony Edwards is averaging 28.8 points and 3.7 assists for the Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels is averaging 15.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 7-3, averaging 114.8 points, 45.4 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 7.6 steals and 7.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points per game.

Timberwolves: 7-3, averaging 116.4 points, 43.4 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 6.8 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Carter Bryant: out (foot).

Timberwolves: Ayo Dosunmu: out (calf), Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The game never felt comfortable. Not for a second. Every possession was a fight. Every shot was earned. And by the time the final seconds ticked away Monday night, the difference between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves came down to a single shot that wouldn’t fall.

San Antonio opened its Western Conference semifinal series with a narrow 104-102 loss, a game defined less by scoring runs and more by survival. From the opening tip, it was clear this wouldn’t be pretty. Shots clanged off the rim. Driving lanes disappeared as quickly as they opened. Both teams leaned into physicality, turning the game into a defensive grind that never allowed rhythm to settle in.

“They’re physical, they guard the basketball really well,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of Minnesota. “They take a lot of pride in it. In first half, I thought we were a bit indecisive, that hurt us in the first half, picked up pace in 2nd half. We missed some good shots.”

Still, the Spurs never broke.

They absorbed Minnesota’s pressure, matched their intensity, and kept the score within reach all night long. It wasn’t smooth or flashy, but it was enough to keep hope alive deep into the fourth quarter with a three point lead.

If there was one force that shaped the night, it was Victor Wembanyama. Every time Minnesota thought it had an easy look at the rim, he was there: altering shots, blocking attempts, and reshaping the Timberwolves’ offense entirely. His performance was historic, anchoring a defensive effort that gave San Antonio every chance to steal Game 1.

But even dominance on that end couldn’t solve everything and for all their defensive success, the Spurs struggled to find consistent scoring. Open looks were rare. Clean possessions were even rarer. And when opportunities did come, San Antonio couldn’t convert enough of them, especially from beyond the arc.

“Offensively I used too much energy on things that didn’t really help our team. So that’s on me,” Wembanyama said after the game. “First thing, I need to start making some shots [in Game 2].”

Instead, they leaned on balance. Contributions came from across the roster, with rookie guard Dylan Harper stepping into the moment and leading the team in scoring with 18 points. It was enough to stay close, even going into the final minutes. Unfortunately, it was not enough to steal the win from the jaws of defeat.

For the Timberwolves, didn’t solve the Spurs’ defense. Instead, they handled it better than the Portland Trail Blazers. Timely baskets from Julius Randle helped create a sliver of separation late, while Anthony Edwards returned to the lineup and provided a spark that shifted momentum in key moments.

In a game where neither side could build a cushion, those small bursts mattered. And in the final minutes, they were the difference. Despite off games from Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs still had a chance to win the basketball game. That alone should give the Spurs and their fans some hope going into Game 2.

Game 1 didn’t reveal a mismatch. It revealed how thin the line is. The Spurs proved they can go toe-to-toe with Minnesota’s physicality, match their defense, and withstand the pressure of a playoff atmosphere. But they also learned how little room there is for error.

Two points. One shot. A handful of possessions.

That’s all that separated them from a different ending — and perhaps, a different start to the series.

Game Notes

• De’Aaron Fox had one of his worst outings as a Spur, scoring 10 points on 35% shooting and turning the ball over six times. After the game, Fox told San Antonio Express-News’ Tom Orsborn that the loss is on him. “I think this game, in particular, I think it was on me,” he said.
• There has been debate on Mitch Johnson not calling timeout on the final play and that seems like the right move. Julian hits that shot 95% of the time. This was the 5% he didn’t. You move on. As bad as Fox and Wemby were, the Spurs almost stole Game 1 from the jaws of defeat. Encouraging for Game 2.
• Wemby’s 12 blocks are just incredible.
• De’Aaron Fox and Wemby combined for just 21 points and were 0-for-12 from three-point range. That’s not likely to happen again in this series or the rest of the playoffs. So that’s good news for the Spurs.