Category: Basketball

O'Connor: C's still best-positioned team in East for next three years originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics’ reign atop the Eastern Conference ended with their surprise second-round series loss to the New York Knicks. Now entering an offseason of uncertainty, it’s fair to wonder whether they’re still the team to beat.

Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum will spend most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season recovering from a ruptured Achilles. Al Horford and Luke Kornet are free agents, and the rest of the roster seems to be on the trade block as the C’s aim to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Boston must shed roughly $20 million in salary to accomplish that goal.

With the Celtics having so many question marks, plus other Eastern Conference teams like the Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Detroit Pistons trending upward, Boston may not be favored to win the conference in 2025. However, if you ask Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, the C’s remain the best-positioned team of the bunch for the next few years.

“I still think it’s the Celtics,” O’Connor said on NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season special. “It is still the Celtics, best positioned in the Eastern Conference for the next three years because they have Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White. They still have that core, and they have Brad Stevens as their GM, Joe Mazzulla as their head coach.

“So until we see Boston trade away Jaylen Brown or Derrick White and become a team that’s in the middle or even at the bottom, they’re still the best-positioned team in the Eastern Conference today despite the Tatum injury.”

Brown and White have been the subject of trade rumors, though O’Connor reports the Celtics would prefer not to trade either star this offseason unless blown away by an offer. It appears far more likely Boston would part ways with Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and/or Sam Hauser.

Barring a surprise trade, Brown is set to be the No. 1 option for most of the 2025-26 campaign with Tatum out. O’Connor believes we still may not have seen the best of the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.

“I just think Jaylen, you also can’t rule out further improvement. Just because he’s in his late 20s nearing 30 doesn’t mean a guy like that can’t get better,” O’Connor said.

“We’ve seen him get better every single year of his entire career. We see him get better as a shooter when he’s young. We see him go from a robotic ball handler to a guy who can create his own shot when he was at Cal in college to what he became as a prime player in the NBA. We saw improvement as a playmaker last season as well from what he did in past years. So now, if he’s the 1a, maybe we see him reach another level whether it’s in Boston or somewhere else.”

Watch the full episode of The Off C’season featuring O’Connor, Brian Scalabrine, Chris Forsberg, and Drew Carter below:

Kings interested in Jrue Holiday? What to make of latest trade rumor originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If the Boston Celtics are going to get under the second apron of the luxury tax, that would require trading an important player or two from this past season’s roster.

One player who the C’s could potentially consider trading is Jrue Holiday. He is a tremendous all-around guard and still one of the best wing defenders in the league. He also brings championship experience and great leadership.

But Holiday is also 35 years old, has three more years left on his contract with an average annual salary of around $34 million, and some of his stats declined this past season. He scored only 11.1 points per game — his lowest single-season scoring average since his 2009-10 rookie campaign. Holiday’s 35.3 3-point percentage was his lowest since 2018-19.

The Celtics also have good depth in the backcourt with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown, among others.

One team that might be interested in a potential Holiday trade this summer is the Sacramento Kings.

“New general manager Scott Perry, remember, immediately highlighted the Kings’ need for improved playmaking during his introductory press conference and sources have duly linked Sacramento to various guards known to be available this summer,” Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line Substack (via Bleacher Report). “That list includes Holiday in Boston and (Marcus) Smart in Washington… and stretches to more affordable free agent ballhandlers like Malcolm Brogdon.”

The Kings aren’t the only team that could be interested in acquiring Holiday. Marc Stein reported late last month that the Dallas Mavericks are “expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways” to a Holiday deal, while adding “complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday’s contract.”

There are different Celtics-Mavericks trade packages you could come up with that would make some sense for both sides. It’s much harder to conjure up those deals with the Kings. Frankly, the Kings just don’t have a good roster.

A deal where DeMar DeRozan (and another player or two) goes to the Celtics in a Holiday trade would work financially, but the Kings guard isn’t exactly the type of player who would thrive in Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla’s 3-point focused system. DeRozan has scored 20-plus points per game in 12 straight seasons, but he mostly takes mid-range shots and doesn’t attempt many 3-pointers. He’s a career 30 percent shooter from beyond the arc. He also isn’t an amazing playmaker, he doesn’t rebound at a high level and his perimeter defense is average.

DeRozan is also 35 years old, so he wouldn’t be a long-term fit, either.

There are ways to make a league-compliant trade where Holiday goes to the Kings, but the return for the Celtics likely wouldn’t be as strong as it might be from other potential trade partners.

O'Connor: C's want to avoid Jaylen or D-White trade, but hearing offers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics would prefer not to trade Jaylen Brown or Derrick White this offseason, but what if a team comes calling with an enticing offer for one of their stars?

According to NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, the Celtics have already fielded calls from teams interested in Brown and White. Boston is listening to trade offers for anyone on its roster, with the exception of injured superstar Jayson Tatum.

“Besides Tatum, the Celtics are at least listening to offers for everybody out there, whether it’s Derrick White or Jaylen Brown,” O’Connor said on NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season special. “Shams (Charania) said big offers have been made for those guys. How can you not listen? Now, as Shams said, and I’ve heard as well, I don’t think Boston wants to trade Jaylen Brown or wants to trade Derrick White. They want to go the Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Sam Hauser route for getting under the second apron.

“But ultimately, they want to avoid Brown or White trades. That’s what is going around the NBA. That’s what everybody’s talking about. But teams are making offers, so you at least have to listen. If somebody comes over the top with some absurd offer on draft night or the day before the draft, maybe that’s the route that makes more sense for you to go if it seems like it’s too good to be true that it’s actually an offer being made to you.”

On a previous episode of The Off C’season, O’Connor mentioned the San Antonio Spurs as a potential trade partner for Brown. The Spurs have the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — likely Rutgers guard Dylan Harper — and a handful of active players who could pique the president of basketball operations Brad Stevens’ interest.

As for White, the Golden State Warriors reportedly have expressed interest in the two-time All-Defensive guard. For what it’s worth, NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics analyst Brian Scalabrine emphatically stated that “there’s no way in hell” White isn’t on the team next season and beyond.

Regardless, the Celtics will have to make some difficult decisions this summer as they aim to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. They must shed roughly $20 million to make that happen, which will require parting ways with at least one rotation player from their championship core. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Sam Hauser each are prime candidates to be moved, though our The Off C’season panel argued in favor of keeping Porzingis.

Big moves could be made before the 2025 NBA Draft begins on Wednesday, June 25. The Celtics currently own the No. 28 and No. 32 overall picks.

Watch the full episode of The Off C’season featuring O’Connor, Scalabrine, Chris Forsberg, and Drew Carter below:

Celtics draft fits: Florida star Walter Clayton Jr. could add scoring depth originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have finished in the top eight in points scored per game each of the last three seasons.

Boston’s depth and outside shooting have been huge reasons for that offensive success. And, of course, it also helps to have two All-NBA caliber players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

But despite this recent success, it might be challenging for the Celtics to maintain their status as one of the league’s highest-scoring teams next season.

Tatum could miss most or all of the 2025-26 campaign as he recovers from Achilles surgery. The C’s also might have to trade away some veteran players to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. If that happens, it’s possible that players such as Sam Hauser or Jrue Holiday could be moved. Holiday and Hauser aren’t elite offensive players, but both of them are very good outside shooters.

If the Celtics do make significant roster changes this summer, how will they bolster their scoring depth?

More Celtics best draft fits:

• Ryan Kalkbrenner
• Thomas Sorber
• Adou Thiero
• Rasheer Fleming
• Liam McNeeley
• Sion James

The 2025 NBA Draft is one of the best options. The Celtics own the No. 28 overall pick in the first round and the second pick (No. 32 overall) in the second round.

One player who fits what the Celtics need off the bench and could be available when they pick in the first round is Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr.

Learn more about Clayton and his potential fit with the C’s below:

Walter Clayton Jr.’s bio

• Position: Guard
• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 195 pounds
• Birthdate: March 6, 2003
• Birthplace: Lake Wales, Florida
• College: Florida

Walter Clayton Jr.’s collegiate stats

• 2024-25 (w/Florida): 18.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 44.8 field goal percentage (39 games)
• 2023-24 (w/Florida): 17.6 points, 2.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 43.2 field goal percentage (36 games)
• 2022-23 (w/Iona): 16.8 points, 3.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 45.5 field goal percentage (32 games)
• 2021-22 (w/Iona): 7.3 points, 1.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 43.4 field goal percentage (32 games)

Walter Clayton Jr.’s collegiate accolades

• 2025 NCAA champion
• 2025 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
• 2025 SEC Tournament MVP
• 2025 Consensus first-team All-American
• 2025 All-SEC first team
• 2024 All-SEC second team
• 2023 MAAC Player of the Year
• 2023 All-MAAC first team

Walter Clayton Jr.’s highlights

Why Walter Clayton Jr. fits with Celtics

Clayton played fantastic for Florida on its road to a national title this past season. He is a dynamic offensive player who can shoot well from 3-point range, and also beat players off the dribble and finish at the rim. His free-throw shooting is top-tier, too, and he doesn’t shy away from taking shots in high-pressure moments.

Celtics center Al Horford, who won two titles with the Gators, sounds like a huge fan of Clayton.

“He’s such a smart player,” Horford said after the national title game in April during an interview with John Fanta. “He’s a team player. He understood they were gonna double him and he needed to get his guys involved. He was looking to pass early, and then he took his moments late and scored some big baskets for us.

“He’s just a winner. He knows how to play. I know that I’m going to be playing against him next year in the NBA. Maybe he’ll be with us, who knows? I’m sure he’ll be playing in the NBA.”

Our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg views Clayton as a player worth considering with the No. 28 pick, assuming he’s still on the board when Boston is on the clock.

“Clayton won big at Florida. He was the Final Four’s most outstanding player and a consensus first-team all-American, all while guiding the Gators to a national title,” Forsberg said, as seen in the video player above. “A 39 percent 3-point shooter as a senior, Clayton can stick the big shot or create for his teammates. And perhaps most importantly, he can shine in the clutch.

“If Payton Pritchard is going to shuffle up to a starting role as part of Boston’s offseason roster tweaks, maybe Clayton could be the sort of depth scoring option the Celtics need, and maybe his presence would give Al Horford another reason to consider coming back.

“In mock drafts, he’s going right around where the Celtics pick at 28.”

Report: Warriors a ‘team to monitor' for Portis in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors likely will look to add size this NBA offseason, and there’s one name that could be a fit.

NBA insider Jake Fischer believes Milwaukee Bucks veteran forward Bobby Portis, who declined his $3.8 million player option and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, could be a Golden State target this summer.

“Team executives expect Portis to have numerous potential landing spots in the midlevel market as well, although Milwaukee would like to bring back the 30-year-old forward, sources say,” Fischer wrote in his latest column. “Golden State has always been a team to monitor for Portis, who has a notable fan in head coach Steve Kerr from their shared days during the 2023 FIBA World Cup competition with USA Basketball.”

The 30-year-old Portis, who won a championship with the Bucks in 2021, missed a portion of the 2024-25 season due to a suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. However, in 49 games (seven starts), he averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 46.6-percent shooting from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point range.

Golden State, for years, has been a team that many believed needs to add size, and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy indicated in his end-of-season press conference that he would like to do so this offseason.

“That’s always, I know, around here the buzz word is ‘size.’” Dunleavy said on May 22. “I’d love to have an ability to play bigger with Draymond [Green] and Jimmy [Butler III] in the frontcourt, and we can always go to our ace in the hole with Draymond at center, which we did basically from February 8 on.”

Might Portis be the answer?

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Draymond reveals Pacers' key to winning NBA Finals vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green believes the Indiana Pacers can win the NBA Finals over the Oklahoma City Thunder if they do one thing.

The Warriors veteran and four-time NBA champion explained what the Pacers need to do offensively to beat the Thunder.

“I believe the Pacers can win this series,” Green told Metta World Peace and Baron Davis on “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.”

“But, my only thing is… the Pacers don’t get Pascal Siakam the ball enough. He is the one guy on their team who, every possession he has the ball, can get to the shot he’s trying to get to.

“And, secondly, every possession he has the ball, he’s the one guy on Indiana’s team that can create a double-team, which makes the next domino fall. And so, when I take a step back and look at this series…I really like Indiana. I think Indiana can win this series. I just don’t know if they will.”

While Siakam has been a big difference-maker for the Pacers, other key players have stepped up to give Indiana a 2-1 series lead. Behind Bennedict Mathurin’s 27 points off the bench and another stellar night from Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers roared back in the fourth quarter of Game 3 to win 116-107.

Still, the series is far from over, considering the Thunder possess one of the most potent lineups in the NBA, capable of quickly turning the series around.

With a pivotal Game 4 set for Friday evening in Indianapolis, expect the Pacers to feed the ball to Siakam and Haliburton as they look to take a commanding 3-1 lead. If Indiana manages to win its first NBA championship, Green won’t be too surprised.

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Fear not, Sixers fans: This is not a ‘2-player draft'  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers pick third in the 2025 NBA draft, so you may be dismayed to read numerous sources declaring that superstar Duke forward Cooper Flagg and outstanding Rutgers guard Dylan Harper are the only two sure things in this draft. 

But fear not, Sixers fans. Because I promise you there will be more stars in this draft than Flagg and Harper. 

We’re watching an NBA Finals right now where both teams’ franchise players were drafted outside the top 10 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was 11^th in 2018, Tyrese Haliburton was 12^th in 2020). While we’re at it, Finals MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard were both picked 15th.  Eight of the 15 players who made the three All-NBA teams this season were drafted outside the top 10.

It’s Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and the front office’s job to evaluate Ace Bailey,VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel and everyone else and find the future star. Of course, that’s the hard part and smart front offices get these picks wrong repeatedly. That’s the nature of evaluating human beings and the intangibles you can’t measure at a combine. But it is the task at hand. 

The secret sauce in getting the draft right is to separate players thought to be in similar tiers and find the star. Just ask the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had two shots at Stephen Curry in the 2009 draft and took Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn instead.

Someone who gets drafted after No. 2 this season will blossom into a star player. The Sixers just have to find him. And history proves it could be a player outside the top 5 in every mock draft you’ll read. 

So, broaden your horizons a bit and watch some of the players outside that consensus top 5, because chances are that “consensus” won’t look remotely the same in a couple of years.

Haliburton used Steph film to prepare for physical Game 3 vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There is a lot Steph Curry can teach young NBA players, both directly and indirectly.

The four-time NBA champion has seen it all. He’s done it all. He’s gone up against just about every type of defensive matchup.

And yet, at age 37, other teams still struggled to contain the Warriors superstar.

Which is why Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton, per Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, turned to Curry, or his film, to prepare for another physical matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“After two games of wrestling with Oklahoma City’s defense, of battling waves of defenders that just kept coming, Tyrese Haliburton cracked open his laptop to study someone familiar with it,” Mannix wrote. “Few players in NBA history are as adept at shedding a physical defense as Stephen Curry, the Warriors superstar who has powered Golden State to four championships … and counting.

“Early in the week, Haliburton’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, fired off a file of a decade’s worth of Curry’s postseason field goals, a highlight reel of Curry torching defenders from San Antonio to Houston, Cleveland to Boston. A generation of shooters have been inspired by Curry. In his first NBA Finals, perhaps Haliburton could be, too.”

The result? A near-triple-double, as Haliburton scored 22 points with nine rebounds and 11 assists on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 4 of 8 from 3-point range in Indiana’s 116-107 Game 3 win.

The Pacers now lead the Thunder two games to one in the best-of-seven series and are two wins away from capping off their storybook 2024-25 NBA season with the franchise’s first-ever championship.

Curry knows a thing or two about closing teams out in the Finals, perhaps Haliburton should continue to take a page out of his playbook.

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Warriors guard Podziemski underwent second surgery of offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s been an eventful offseason for second-year Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski.

Golden State announced Wednesday that Podziemski had another surgery on Tuesday, this time to repair a core muscle injury, two weeks after the 22-year-old underwent surgery on his left shooting wrist on May 27.

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair a core muscle injury. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of training camp. Podziemski previously underwent successful left wrist debridement surgery on May 27. pic.twitter.com/9pRHYI4uzr

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) June 12, 2025

As the Warriors mentioned in their statement, the surgery was successful and Podziemski is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of training camp in the fall.

Podziemski dealt with abdominal, back and facial injuries throughout the 2024-25 NBA season, and after his pair of offseason surgeries, appears to be addressing any lingering ailments in order to be fully healthy for his third season with the Warriors.

In his second year with Golden State, Podziemski averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game on 44.5-percent shooting from the field and 37.2 percent from 3-point range in 64 games (33 starts).

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