Category: Basketball

The Knicks are back to the drawing board after a season of accomplishment. The club won 51 games, its most since 2013, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter century.

But the NBA rarely slows down. Now, it’s time for the Knicks to look at how to rebound for next season. Despite being limited by salary cap constraints, it seems like there’s still endless possibilities this offseason. There’s talk of pursuing stars on the trade market and signing potential free agents.

Here are a few areas of focus the Knicks could have for the 2025 offseason.

Going star hunting

One way the Knicks can shake up the roster is acquiring a superstar-level talent. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix Suns veteran Kevin Durant are among the high-caliber players coming up in the trade rumor mill.

Antetokounmpo specifically is intriguing. He finished third in MVP voting this year and causes constant problems for opponents. But the Knicks don’t have much to trade for the star compared to other teams.

It’s hard to envision Milwaukee having interest in Karl-Anthony Towns. Even if New York is able to cobble together the salaries and draft picks, does the franchise want to further cannibalize an already thin roster? That will be what they have to weigh going into the offseason.

Figure out the coaching situation quickly

Despite support from star Jalen Brunson, Tom Thibodeau’s status as head coach remains one of the largest questions the Knicks will face this offseason. Thibodeau was criticized heavily for rotations, minutes, and strategic decisions throughout the season.

But the results also speak volumes too. New York advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. The club has won four playoff series in the last three seasons. Before this stretch, the Knicks had won one playoff series from 2001 to Thibodeau’s arrival in 2020.

Also, several players including Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Isaiah Hartenstein, Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel have all had career years under Thibodeau. Whatever decision the Knicks make on Thibodeau’s future will be a difficult one.

Find a perimeter playmaker

The Indiana Pacers’ full-court pressure, aggressive defense, and frenetic style of play clearly wore on Brunson throughout the Eastern Conference finals. Though he shot well enough (50.4 percent), Brunson turned the ball over 25 times, the most he’s ever had in a series.

One issue the Knicks had was the lack of another perimeter playmaker to alleviate the pressure on Brunson to initiate everything. Especially with Cameron Payne benched in favor of defensive options like Landry Shamet and Delon Wright, it left New York without a reliable ball-handler and playmaker.

Tyrese Haliburton has Andrew Nembhard. Donovan Mitchell has Darius Garland. Brunson could use that kind of help so defenses can’t just load up and guard him every possession.

Given their salary structure, the Knicks can’t break the bank. The Knicks most likely will have their taxpayer midlevel exception ($5.7 million). There are some guards that could fill the role who are free agents like Tyus Jones and Dennis Schroder. Both players could likely capture more on the market, and that leads us further down the chart to options like Spencer Dinwiddie.

Youth movement

If the Knicks aren’t able to snag a playmaker as a free agent or on the trade market, internal improvement should be a priority for the club. Despite having four picks in last year’s draft on the roster, New York’s contributions from its rookies were limited.

Ariel Hukporti and Tyler Kolek both saw spot rotation minutes due to injury. First round pick Pacome Dadiet spent some time in the G League, and Kevin McCullar Jr. was rehabbing from a knee injury for much of the year. In all, the rookies played just 653 combined minutes.

Thibodeau has often been reluctant to play the younger players on the roster. But for a Knicks team approaching the second apron, drafting well and developing young talent is a differentiating skill that separates winners from losers in the NBA. This might be one of the more important summers for the Knicks’ young players.

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already taken home the NBA’s highest individual honor this season. Now, he’s four wins away from earning the league’s most coveted team prize.

The Thunder point guard has his team on the verge of its first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City and the franchise’s first since winning it all as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978-79. To get there, the top-seeded Thunder will need to defeat the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, which begin Thursday in OKC.

Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for the 2024-25 season after leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and guiding the Thunder to an NBA-best and franchise-best 68-14 regular season record. While being named MVP is an impressive feat, it doesn’t always lead to team success.

It’s been a decade since the regular season MVP has gone on to win an NBA championship. Only a select group of all-time greats have ever pulled it off, and Gilgeous-Alexander is on the verge of stepping into that Hall of Fame company.

Here’s a look back at all the regular season MVPs who went on to win an NBA championship, as well as those who also collected NBA Finals MVP honors.

Players to win NBA Finals and be named MVP in the same season

Fourteen players in NBA history have won a championship and been named league MVP in the same season.

Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics was the first to do it back in 1956-57. Fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell followed suit in 1960-61 and went on to do it a grand total of four times. Only Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has matched Russell when it comes to such seasons.

Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the most recent player to pull off the feat. He has earned two regular season MVPs and four NBA championships in his storied career, but the 2014-15 season was the only one in which he double-dipped.

Here’s a full breakdown of the players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same season:

• Bob Cousy (1956-57)
• Bill Russell (1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65)
• Wilt Chamberlain (1966-67)
• Willis Reed (1969-70)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71, 1979-80)
• Moses Malone (1982-83)
• Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
• Magic Johnson (1986-87)
• Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
• Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
• Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
• Tim Duncan (2002-03)
• LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
• Steph Curry (2014-15)

NBA MVPs to be named NBA Finals MVP in the same season

Of the 14 players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same year, 10 of them pulled off a trifecta by earning NBA Finals MVP honors:

• Willis Reed (1969-70)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71)
• Moses Malone (1982-83)
• Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
• Magic Johnson (1986-87)
• Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
• Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
• Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
• Tim Duncan (2002-03)
• LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)

NBA Finals MVP was not created until the 1968-69 season, so Cousy, Russell and Chamberlain did not have a chance to add it to their trophy collections.

Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980 after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned regular season MVP honors, while Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP when Curry and the Warriors won the 2015 Finals.

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already taken home the NBA’s highest individual honor this season. Now, he’s four wins away from earning the league’s most coveted team prize.

The Thunder point guard has his team on the verge of its first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City and the franchise’s first since winning it all as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978-79. To get there, the top-seeded Thunder will need to defeat the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, which begin Thursday in OKC.

Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for the 2024-25 season after leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and guiding the Thunder to an NBA-best and franchise-best 68-14 regular season record. While being named MVP is an impressive feat, it doesn’t always lead to team success.

It’s been a decade since the regular season MVP has gone on to win an NBA championship. Only a select group of all-time greats have ever pulled it off, and Gilgeous-Alexander is on the verge of stepping into that Hall of Fame company.

Here’s a look back at all the regular season MVPs who went on to win an NBA championship, as well as those who also collected NBA Finals MVP honors.

Players to win NBA Finals and be named MVP in the same season

Fourteen players in NBA history have won a championship and been named league MVP in the same season.

Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics was the first to do it back in 1956-57. Fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell followed suit in 1960-61 and went on to do it a grand total of four times. Only Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has matched Russell when it comes to such seasons.

Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the most recent player to pull off the feat. He has earned two regular season MVPs and four NBA championships in his storied career, but the 2014-15 season was the only one in which he double-dipped.

Here’s a full breakdown of the players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same season:

• Bob Cousy (1956-57)
• Bill Russell (1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65)
• Wilt Chamberlain (1966-67)
• Willis Reed (1969-70)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71, 1979-80)
• Moses Malone (1982-83)
• Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
• Magic Johnson (1986-87)
• Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
• Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
• Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
• Tim Duncan (2002-03)
• LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
• Steph Curry (2014-15)

NBA MVPs to be named NBA Finals MVP in the same season

Of the 14 players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same year, 10 of them pulled off a trifecta by earning NBA Finals MVP honors:

• Willis Reed (1969-70)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71)
• Moses Malone (1982-83)
• Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
• Magic Johnson (1986-87)
• Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
• Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
• Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
• Tim Duncan (2002-03)
• LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)

NBA Finals MVP was not created until the 1968-69 season, so Cousy, Russell and Chamberlain did not have a chance to add it to their trophy collections.

Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980 after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned regular season MVP honors, while Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP when Curry and the Warriors won the 2015 Finals.

Marks shares harsh truth behind Warriors' potential Giannis trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

So, you’re telling us there’s a chance …

The Warriors trading for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer is not likely, but certainly not impossible.

It’s unclear whether Antetokounmpo, who reportedly met with the Bucks to discuss his and the team’s future, will request a trade out of Milwaukee, but if he does want to play elsewhere, Golden State could be an intriguing destination for the nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time MVP.

However, the Warriors, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks outlined Tuesday on “Get Up,” would have to part with, at least, one of Jimmy Butler ($54.1 million in 2025-26) or Draymond Green’s ($25.8 million) contracts in a potential trade package to make Antetokounmpo’s $51.9 million figure work alongside Steph Curry’s whopping $59.6 million contract.

“How it would happen is you’re likely trading Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green in a trade,” Marks said. “That’s how it happens. There’s not a scenario where you can fit Giannis and also keep the other three players there.”

Former NBA guard and “Get Up” analyst Jay Williams wouldn’t hesitate to part ways with either if he were in Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy’s shoes.

“Well, Bobby, I would say this: ‘Thank you for your service, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. Thank you for being part of our team. Bye bye.'” Williams said in response to Marks.

While acquiring Antetokounmpo would result in the Warriors parting ways with either a franchise icon in Green or a bona fide star in Butler, Williams believes the seismic move would allow the Warriors to keep their championship window open throughout the remaining years of Curry’s career.

“If you’re Golden State, if you’re Mike Dunleavy here, you go big-fish hunting,” Williams added. “Giannis is a perfect fit there in the Bay Area. I know the West is absolutely loaded, but just think about the fit that Steph Curry would be able to have with Giannis and how compatible those two would be together.

“And if there’s one way you can send off Steph Curry off into the sunset on the horse, that’s with Giannis.”

Much easier said than done, of course.

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Celtics Player Spotlight: Why re-signing Luke Kornet should be a priority originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics acquired Luke Kornet in a trade with the Chicago Bulls in 2021. Four years later, he’s now one of the team’s most important bench players, so much so that re-signing him in the offseason should be a priority for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and his front office staff.

“Luke is one of the best teammates that you can have,” Jayson Tatum told reporters on Feb. 12. “An extremely selfless guy. Always talking, never has a bad day.”

In addition to his qualities as a teammate, Kornet is a valuable big man who can score in the paint, grab rebounds and defend the rim. He understands his role and plays it very well.

Kornet will be a free agent this summer. What does his future hold in Boston?

As we continue our “Celtics Player Spotlight” series, let’s recap Kornet’s 2024-25 season and analyze how he fits into Boston’s lineup for 2025-26:

2024-25 Season Recap

Kornet was a very useful center off the bench. He doesn’t stretch the floor as an outside shooter, but he’s very effective on lobs at the basket and has good touch around the rim. He averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting 66.8 percent from the floor this past season.

Kornet saw action in all 11 of Boston’s playoff games, including an excellent performance in Game 5 against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals during which he scored 10 points with nine rebounds and seven blocks in a 127-102 win.

Kornet’s ability to set good screens and roll to the basket also was quite impressive. In fact, the Tatum/Kornet pick-and-roll combo was among the most effective in basketball. These stats below — from March 21 — are pretty interesting:

Kornet ended up leading the Celtics in both offensive rating (121.2) and net rating (14.9) during the regular season.

Contract details

Kornet’s one-year deal worth $2.8 million is about to expire, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Potential roles for 2025-26

Scenario 1: Kornet re-signs, continues to play reserve center role

Kornet played his role at a high level this past season. He played a career-high 18.6 minutes per game and averaged more points and rebounds than any of his other seasons in Boston. He’s also been pretty durable, having played in 73 games this past season, 63 in 2023-24 and 69 in 2022-23.

ESPN introduced a new metric called “net points” this season. It tries to highlight players most directly contributing to their team’s point differential. Kornet ranked 16th in the entire league in net points, ahead of James Harden (17th), Jimmy Butler (18th) and LeBron James (19th). Kornet finished tied for 12th in defensive net points. It’s only one stat, and he’s obviously not better than Harden, Butler or James, but it does show that Kornet makes a very real (and quantifiable) impact on Boston’s success.

Scenario 2: Kornet departs in free agency; Celtics have to replace him

Kornet’s value in free agency might never be higher than this summer. He has proven to be an effective big man off the bench for a championship-caliber team. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers that desperately need a center would be wise to make a pitch to Kornet if he hits the open market.

The Celtcs have an expensive roster, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they tried to shed salary in the offseason. They also must work under the constraints of being a team in the second apron. Can they afford to bring back both Kornet and Al Horford? Would one or both need to take a cheap, team-friendly deal for that to happen?

Kornet is a fan favorite in Boston, and the Celtics should try very hard to re-sign him. But he might be able to get more money and a larger role with another team.

Final thoughts

Kornet’s steady improvement with the Celtics has been impressive. His minutes and points per game have increased in each of the last three seasons. He’s a good defensive player, he’s effective in pick-and-rolls, his teammates love him, etc. He’s an ideal backup center.

Losing him in free agency wouldn’t be a massive blow to the Celtics roster, but it would definitely be a setback. The Celtics had a .750 win percentage (21-7 record) in the regular season when Kornet played 20-plus minutes. He makes a strong contribution to winning. Those players are not very easy to find.

Knicks fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after their best season in 25 years originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Knicks are parting ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, who led New York to their first Eastern Conference finals in decades and four playoffs in five years, the team announced Tuesday.

ESPN Insider Shams Charania first reported the news on X. The team issued a statement from Knicks president Leon Rose confirming the development a short time later.

“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction,” the statement began. “We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories.”

“Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward,” it continued. “Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

The Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, leaving them without a championship since 1973. The team went further than they’d gone in 25 years, just not as far as they hoped.

They signaled they were serious about making a run at the NBA title when they traded for Mikal Bridges in the summer and then Karl-Anthony Towns in a preseason blockbuster, adding a top perimeter defender and an All-Star center to a lineup headlined by Jalen Brunson.

Their all-in moves just couldn’t get them all the way there.

After Boston rolled to the 2024 title and brought back all its key players, the Celtics were viewed as strong favorites in the East. Yet after building gradually since Rose’s arrival as team president in 2020, the Knicks weren’t conceding anything to the champions.

They re-signed OG Anunoby to the largest contract in team history, then traded five first-round picks in the deal to acquire Bridges from Brooklyn. Just as they were set to begin training camp, the Knicks dealt two starters in All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who had just set their single-season 3-point record, to get Towns from Minnesota.

The moves made the Knicks good enough to get past the Celtics in the second round. But it turned out to not be the right roster against the deep and speedy Pacers, who knocked them out for the second straight season.

“You make the moves to win, so it hurts to not be able to bring an opportunity to the city for a championship,” Towns said. “We’ve got a bunch of great guys in that locker room and the plan now is just to put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time.”

First, Rose and the front office will have to evaluate just how close the Knicks really are.

Their 51-31 record left them a distant third in the East behind Cleveland and Boston, and they went a combined 0-8 against those teams in the regular season before they finished off the Celtics in the second round after Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4.

With two All-NBA selections in Brunson and Towns, the starting lineup is one of the NBA’s strongest. The bench could use a boost, as the Knicks lack the solid depth of the Cavaliers and Celtics — and certainly of the Pacers.

Still, after being mostly miles away for two decades, the Knicks have turned themselves into a contender. They have won 50 games in back-to-back seasons and made the playoffs in four of five under Thibodeau. Even after Saturday’s defeat, there was belief that the Knicks will get another shot soon.

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already taken home the NBA’s highest individual honor this season. Now, he’s four wins away from earning the league’s most coveted team prize.

The Thunder point guard has his team on the verge of its first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City and the franchise’s first since winning it all as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978-79. To get there, the top-seeded Thunder will need to defeat the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, which begin Thursday in OKC.

Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for the 2024-25 season after leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and guiding the Thunder to an NBA-best and franchise-best 68-14 regular season record. While being named MVP is an impressive feat, it doesn’t always lead to team success.

It’s been a decade since the regular season MVP has gone on to win an NBA championship. Only a select group of all-time greats have ever pulled it off, and Gilgeous-Alexander is on the verge of stepping into that Hall of Fame company.

Here’s a look back at all the regular season MVPs who went on to win an NBA championship, as well as those who also collected NBA Finals MVP honors.

Players to win NBA Finals and be named MVP in the same season

Fourteen players in NBA history have won a championship and been named league MVP in the same season.

Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics was the first to do it back in 1956-57. Fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell followed suit in 1960-61 and went on to do it a grand total of four times. Only Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has matched Russell when it comes to such seasons.

Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the most recent player to pull off the feat. He has earned two regular season MVPs and four NBA championships in his storied career, but the 2014-15 season was the only one in which he double-dipped.

Here’s a full breakdown of the players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same season:

• Bob Cousy (1956-57)
• Bill Russell (1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65)
• Wilt Chamberlain (1966-67)
• Willis Reed (1969-70)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71, 1979-80)
• Moses Malone (1982-83)
• Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
• Magic Johnson (1986-87)
• Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
• Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
• Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
• Tim Duncan (2002-03)
• LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
• Steph Curry (2014-15)

NBA MVPs to be named NBA Finals MVP in the same season

Of the 14 players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same year, 10 of them pulled off a trifecta by earning NBA Finals MVP honors:

• Willis Reed (1969-70)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71)
• Moses Malone (1982-83)
• Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
• Magic Johnson (1986-87)
• Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
• Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
• Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
• Tim Duncan (2002-03)
• LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)

NBA Finals MVP was not created until the 1968-69 season, so Cousy, Russell and Chamberlain did not have a chance to add it to their trophy collections.

Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980 after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned regular season MVP honors, while Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP when Curry and the Warriors won the 2015 Finals.

Why Marks states Kuminga controls Warriors' NBA free agency plans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga, one way or another, will play a big role in the Warriors’ offseason.

Golden State likely will either pay him in the form of a lucrative contact, or facilitate with the restricted free agent a sign-and-trade deal that lands the Warriors additional players/assets.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks joined 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” on Monday and explained why Kuminga not only is the Warriors’ biggest storyline this summer, but also why the outcome of his restricted free agency pretty much controls what Golden State’s offseason looks like.

“It all depends on Kuminga,” Marks said. “He basically controls free agency in Golden State. If they sign him to a contract and bring him back, then that’s really it as far as what they can do in the offseason. They might have one of their smaller exceptions and everything here. And then you look at the rest of the roster, and it’s like, OK, is it [Buddy] Hield? Is it Brandin [Podziemski]? Is it some of those other players? Guys that are not making that much money.”

In addition to signing Kuminga to a long-term contract and the sign-and-trade outcomes, the young forward, as a restricted free agent, can agree to an offer sheet with another NBA team, which the Warriors have an opportunity to match. If they choose not to, Kuminga can sign elsewhere. Kuminga also could sign the $7.9 million qualifying offer the Warriors are likely to offer him, keeping him under contract for one more year at that figure before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. However, that option is highly unlikely.

It appears the Warriors either will sign Kuminga to a long-term contract, which will leave them with very little financial flexibility in free agency, or facilitate a sign-and-trade that brings in a player(s) that are a better fit in coach Steve Kerr’s rotations.

Regardless of which direction they go in with the 22-year-old this summer, his contract situation should play a big role in what the Warriors’ roster looks like for the 2025-25 NBA season.

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2025 NBA mock draft roundup: Best fits for Celtics in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics could go in several different directions with the No. 28 pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Center is probably the team’s most glaring roster need to address. Veterans Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both able to become unrestricted free agents this summer. Kristaps Porzingis has played well for Boston when healthy, but he’s also missed 65 regular season games since becoming a Celtics player two years ago.

So it would make sense to bolster the depth in the frontcourt with this pick.

One option if the C’s want a center is Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner. He averaged 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 34.2 percent from 3-point range last season. He also averaged 2.7 blocks per game at 7-foot-1 and 270 pounds.

Michigan center Danny Wolf is another mid-to-late first-round prospect to consider, too. He averaged 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game for Michigan after transferring from Yale. He’s 7-foot and 250 pounds.

A case also could be made to just take the best player available. Either way, the Celtcs just need another player who can step in and play right away. A wing who can create his own shot and defend multiple positions would be helpful for Boston’s roster as well. You can never have enough 3-and-D wings.

The C’s have an expensive roster as a second apron team, so there aren’t many good options for them to add talent to their roster. The most cost-effective method is the draft, which is one reason why making a good pick at No. 28 is so important for the Celtics.

Which players should the Celtics consider with the No. 28 pick in the first round? Here’s a look at recent projections from expert mock drafts after last Wednesday’s deadline for players to withdraw their names from eligibility in the 2025 draft.

NBC Sports: Noah Penda, SF, France

“The Celtics may not have multiple first-round picks in this draft, but their salary cap situation and Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles tendon tear make them one of the teams to watch. Penda, who can play either forward position, offers defensive versatility and a solid basketball IQ. His shooting does need to improve, but Boston should have the options around him to help compensate for that issue.”

Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo! Sports: Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas

“Thiero is a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step, but he has severe limitations on offense as a shooter. If he’s able to figure out the shot, then his length and versatility would make him a classic 3-and-D role player. The Celtics have had good success at improving shooters, so he’d be a fair bet at this spot, considering his other strengths are tailor-made for their system.”

Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: Danny Wolf, F, Michigan

“Danny Wolf made a strong, final pitch to scouts against Auburn, finishing with 20 points and a number of eye-opening highlights that showcased his creation and shotmaking.

“Though his three-point numbers might not indicate shooting improvement, he added a pull-up and step-back to his repertoire this year. A 7-footer who made 21 dribble jumpers, served as Michigan’s lead playmaker and still averaged 9.7 boards and 1.4 blocks is bound to entice a number of teams.”

Kyle Boone, CBS Sports: Noah Penda, SF, France

“A French prospect putting together a strong season with Le Mans, Penda checks several boxes as a long forward who can score inside and out and match up well physically defending multiple positions. He could give Boston some long-term flexibility as it enters a potential transition year next season.”

FOX Sports: Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton

“Kalkbrenner could easily go in the top 20 given he’s over seven-feet tall and shoots 34.4 percent from three. He won Big East Defensive Player of the Year four times and has the makings of a Boston Celtic written all over him.”

Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY: Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida

Ainge and change: Rare front office exit symbolic of Celtics' summer in flux originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the first time in 22 years, the Boston Celtics don’t have at least one member of the Ainge family on their front office staff.

Austin Ainge, who spent the past 17 seasons within the Celtics organization, morphing from the first head coach of the Maine Red Claws of the then-NBA Development League to Boston’s director of player personnel to one of the team’s assistant general managers — logging plenty of international miles scouting overseas along the way — is joining his father, Danny, on the Utah Jazz.

The younger Ainge will serve as the Jazz’s new president of basketball operations. Danny Ainge spent 19 seasons as the Celtics’ president of basketball operations before stepping down in 2021. He now serves as CEO of basketball operations for Utah.

Even when the elder Ainge departed after the 2020-21 season, the Celtics maintained a high level of front-office continuity around Brad Stevens, who elevated from coach to general manager that summer. Assistant GMs Mike Zarren (2003), Austin Ainge (2011), and Dave Lewin (2012) had all been in the organization since before Stevens’ arrival. 

Ainge’s departure occurs as the Celtics prepare for an ownership transition, with Bill Chisholm waiting for final NBA approval on his $6.1 billion purchase. Change has been rare within the Celtics organization, but things will feel undeniably different after this summer. That includes potential changes to the core of this team, as Stevens’ front-office staff must charter an offseason path through murky waters.

Austin Ainge worked hard to distinguish himself on a staff helmed by his father. We can’t remember the last draft workout that didn’t feature Austin at the forefront, handling the “I can’t say too much” media responsibilities when reporters pried him for clues.

It was clear how much pride Danny Ainge took in the way his son carved out his own role in Boston, and all the time they got to share together on work duties.

“[Austin has] been around the game his whole life,” Danny Ainge told us in 2015. “Austin was in my coaches’ meetings, Austin was on the court, he was in my huddles. He was tugging on my pant leg telling me what to do when I was a head coach in Phoenix. He’s been around it his whole life. Him and I have talked basketball — I’ve talked more basketball with him than anybody else.”

Now father and son are reunited in Utah. Austin Ainge gets to put his stamp on Utah’s rebuilding process — one that features some familiar faces, not just with his father, but also with former Celtics assistant Will Hardy as head coach of the Jazz.

But seeing Boston’s brain trust, which includes vice president of team operations and organization growth Allison Feaster, around TD Garden and on the road will simply feel different without Austin’s presence. We’ll miss the tales of his latest international odyssey and the elite list of golf courses he navigated in his travels.

The lingering question for Boston is whether the team will infuse new blood in a front office role. The Celtics were rumored to be interested in outside possibilities after Stevens’ elevation in 2021 but mainly stayed in-house while adding Feaster, who first joined the team during Danny Ainge’s tenure.

At the very least, we need to know who will be tracking the records on the so-called “Boston Marathon,” where draft prospects engage in a three-minute, full-court sprint drills after their pre-draft workouts. Austin Ainge had to be sick of us asking about who held the records each year.

In Ainge, the Celtics are losing a whole bunch of institutional knowledge and someone who understood the vision of the team. Let’s see if the addition of another Ainge in Utah leads to any additional Celtics-Jazz trade chatter as both teams figure out their path forward.