Category: Basketball

NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player, dies of brain tumor at 47, family announces.

Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, died following a “valiant” battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, his family announced Tuesday. 

Collins was 47. 

The ex-Nets player and 13-year NBA veteran had revealed his diagnosis in December in a piece published by ESPN. Stage 4 glioblastoma is one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. 

Collins died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family, ESPN reported. 

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” a statement from Collins’ family said. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. 

“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.” 

Collins had gone to Singapore over the winter to undergo an experimental treatment, which had been successful enough to allow him to return to the United States, appear at NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles and attend a game at Stanford, where he had played college basketball. 

The California native played in the NBA for more than a decade before he retired in 2014, playing two stints with the Nets — one while they were still in New Jersey and one in Brooklyn — along with stops with the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics and Wizards. 

Collins became a national news story in 2013 when he announced that he was gay in a cover story for Sports Illustrated. In the opening, Collins firmly declared: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.” 

The announcement made Collins the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the four major men’s professional sports leagues in North America. 

“I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport,” he said in the story. “But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.” 

Collins returned to the Nets in February 2014 when he signed a 10-day contract with the now-Brooklyn-based franchise. He played 22 games for the Nets that season and was coached by Jason Kidd, who played with Collins during his first run with the organization when it was in New Jersey. He retired from the NBA in 2014 and became an ambassador for the league. 

The Nets said they were “heartbroken” over Collins’ passing.

“Jason spent eight seasons in a Nets uniform, helping define an era of our franchise and playing a vital role on our back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams in 2002 and 2003. He was a constant in our locker room — selfless, tough, and deeply respected by teammates, coaches, and staff alike,” the Nets’ statement read.

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others. 

“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.” 

Collins married his longtime partner, Brunson Green, in May in a ceremony in Austin, Texas. 

In September, his family first revealed that he was undergoing treatment for an advanced brain tumor

The Knicks have the luxury of sitting back and watching the other Eastern Conference semifinal play out to learn their next opponent in the conference finals.

The Pistons and Cavaliers are tied 2-2 — both teams have won their two home games.

But who would the Knicks rather face? There are arguments for either. Let’s break it down:

The case for the Cavaliers

The Knicks lost all three regular-season matchups against the Pistons, and it wasn’t even close — their closest defeat was by 15 points. The other two were by 31 and 38 points.

They were completely outmuscled by the physical Pistons defense and interior presence.

But it’s important to remember how often the regular season does not translate to the postseason.

The case for the Pistons

They are pretty one dimensional offensively. Everything revolves around Cade Cunningham, and they lack secondary scorers who can create their own shot.

Jalen Duren has arguably been the biggest underperformer of these playoffs — his regular-season averages of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds are down to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in the postseason. Ausar Thompson is extremely limited as a scorer. Duncan Robinson is purely a catch-and-shoot option and nearly useless when he’s inside the arc or has to create for himself. Tobias Harris has had some big games this postseason, but he shouldn’t scare the Knicks.

And the Knicks, between OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges (who shut down Tyrese Maxey in the second round), have good options to guard Cunningham and force others to beat them.

Between Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, the Cavaliers have a bit more offensive firepower and a more high-octane scoring punch.

The case for the Cavaliers

The Knicks dominated the Hawks and 76ers in the paint. Even with Duren’s struggles and their overall inconsistency, the Pistons’ inside defense has been superb. They’ve given up just 39.1 points in the paint this postseason — the fewest in the NBA entering Tuesday. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have given up the third most at 50.2 paint points per game.

The Cavaliers have a former Defensive Player of the Year in Evan Mobley at center, but he should have nightmares about the Knicks tormenting him in the first round in 2023. It’s become obvious how important Karl-Anthony Towns is to the Knicks offense — he’d probably rather deal with the skinnier Mobley than the stronger Duren.do

As a whole, the Cavaliers defense is much weaker than Detroit’s — their defensive rating of 113.1 is 11th among all playoff teams. The Pistons are third best at 106.1.

The case for the Pistons

Outside of his offensive struggles, Thompson is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He would almost certainly guard Jalen Brunson for the Pistons, like he did in last year’s first-round matchup.

Brunson has pretty much figured him out, though. Who can forget Brunson crossing him up before drilling the series-clinching shot in Game 6 last year?

Across their three regular-season games, the Cavaliers seemed to find a potential Brunson stopper in Dean Wade. In those three games, Brunson shot just 1-for-16 from the field and 0-for-6 from 3-point range when Wade guarded him, according to the NBA’s tracking stats.

The overall Cavaliers defense might be worse, but they have the better option to guard Brunson specifically.

The case for the Cavaliers

The Knicks would have home-court advantage. Little Caesars Arena was absolutely raucous when the Knicks and Pistons met in the first round last year. Pistons fans relentlessly chanted vulgarities at Brunson.

It would help to not have to play the first two games and a potential Game 7 there.

The case for either

Both J.B. Bickerstaff and Kenny Atkinson are strong regular-season coaches with little postseason success. Mike Brown has been pushing all the right buttons with the Knicks in the playoffs. They should be confident they’ll have the coaching advantage either way.

And in terms of depth, both teams are similar in the strengths of their benches. The Cavaliers are eighth and the Pistons are 11th in bench scoring in the postseason.

The Post says:

The Knicks should prefer to face the Cavaliers. The Pistons have looked a lot more beatable in the postseason, but even so, their defense has remained elite. It’s been on the offensive end where they’ve really struggled. The Knicks offense has been executing at its highest level in the two years with this core. The Pistons and their physicality would be a bigger threat to disrupt that than the Cavaliers.

Cunningham is the most dangerous opponent left in the East.

And home-court advantage does matter. Playing the first two games and a potential Game 7 on the road would be tough. It should also be noted that the Cavaliers have lost all five road games they’ve played this postseason.

With the Lakers’ 2025-26 ending after their Game 4 loss to the Thunder on Monday, there will be a period of “deconstruction”, as president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka put it, to figure out how the franchise can elevate itself after a four-game sweep at the hands of the defending champions.

But there will also be a wide variety of reconstruction: Inside the team’s El Segundo practice facility; on the roster; and in the front office.

The front office has already witnessed changes over the last several months since Mark Walter, the Dodgers controlling owner, officially purchased the team in October. 

And there are more to come, with Pelinka saying on Tuesday during his joint end-of-season media availability with coach JJ Redick that the organization is currently in the interview process for two assistant general managers.

One assistant general manager will work in “player draft and evaluation processes”, according to Pelinka, which will include pro scouting, draft scouting and player development. 

The other assistant general manager will be more on the “strategy side”, which entails cap, analytics and data. 

Pelinka’s comments on Monday were aligned with what he said in February. He told reporters then that he and Jeanie Buss, the Lakers governor and former majority owner, will lead the offseason changes with Walter’s support.

“It’s not that we’ve had holes in those places,” Pelinka said of the assistant general manager hirings. “We got a great team of people that work incredibly hard. It’s just we want to add more to that and for both those [assistant general manager] positions we have started a wide search and have begun interviews, but haven’t hired out either of those.”

The Lakers made significant changes to their basketball operations in the fall, which included firing Joe and Jesse Buss from their front-office positions in November. Joey was the organization’s vice president of research and development, while Jesse was an assistant general manager and director of scouting. 

The franchise also parted ways with most of their scouting department.

Since then, the Lakers have made several hires, including Lon Rosen as the president of business operations (replacing Tim Harris), Michael Spetner as the new chief strategy and growth officer (new position) and Ryan Kantor as the vice president of global partnerships (new role). 

Rosen, Spetner and Kantor all previously worked for the Dodgers.

On the basketball operations side, the Lakers hired former Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett as an NBA draft adviser in February.

Dodgers executives Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman joined the Lakers in advisory roles in November. 

Pelinka said the Lakers have made “numerous” other hires, but said they don’t publicly announce the addition to the data, strategy, analytics, scouting and medical scouting teams. 

But at the forefront of the Lakers’ front office changes will be the hiring of the assistant managers who’ll report to Pelinka, who was promoted to his current role as president along with his role as general manager as part of contract extensions he and Redick received last year. 

“Those will be two key pillars that we’ll add for this offseason,” Pelinka said. 

Inside of the building, there will be other changes the Lakers hope to benefit from that don’t have anything to do with roster changes. 

With the Lakers’ G League team relocating to Coachella Valley, the Lakers will have more space to enhance their practice facility.

“We have a space in the back where working in collaboration with some of the Dodgers folks, we’re bringing in a biomechanics lab, new movement labs, a recovery lab, those things are super expensive to do and super thoughtful, but we’re doing the planning with Lon and his team around that and that construction is going to happen this offseason,” Pelinka said. “They’re going to be redoing aspects of the court as well. It’s a full rebuild and retool, and it’s adding to the great things that are already here, which have led to success, but elevating it and bringing it to the next level. So an ongoing process that we’ll be doing throughout the offseason. Probably, hopefully, culminating in and around the summer league in Vegas.”

The Lakers will look different next season – well beyond the expected roster changes.

And they’re hopeful those changes will provide them with the foundation of getting closer to competing for a championship, and achieving “sustained excellence”.

First, RIP to Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, who recently died in California. There is also one playoff game today.

• Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs — 8:00 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Enjoy the basketball and the constant playing of John Tesh below.

Brandon Clarke’s Grizzlies teammates flooded social media on Tuesday after learning of the 29-year-old’s death. 

The news sent shockwaves through the NBA, particularly in Memphis, where Clarke was widely viewed as one of the team’s most respected locker room presences.

“Everything he’s went through in the time I’ve been in Memphis he still came in with a smile on his face and was a light in the locker room, truly an inspiring person,” said Jaylen Wells, who has spent the last two seasons in Memphis, wrote on his Instagram Story.

“Memphis won’t be the same without you.”

Clarke was a key contributor for the Grizzlies for the first few seasons of his career before injuries derailed him, starting with a torn left Achilles in March 2023.

He would play just six games during the 2023-24 season and 64 games the following year before sustaining a high-grade PCL injury in his right knee.

Clarke then missed the start of the 2025-26 season and returned for two games in December before a right calf injury sidelined him once again. 

“One of my favorite teammates and people ever. Fly high king,” Lamar Stevens, who spent two seasons from 2023-25 in Memphis, wrote on his Story. 

Grizzlies star Ja Morant, who was part of the same 2019 draft class as Clarke, also spoke out on Instagram. 

“This hurt BC,” he wrote. “Love you broski. gone way too soon.”

Kyle Anderson, who was Clarke’s teammate in two stints with the Grizzlies, wrote that he was “so f—in hurt” by his passing. “I love u so much brother i wish i coulda been there for u im so f—in hurt man,” he added. 

Clarke’s death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose. 

On April 1, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on charges of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit and improper passing.

All seemed to be OK with Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke just days before his tragic death on Monday. 

A barber who cut Clarke’s hair on Friday in Los Angeles told TMZ that Clarke seemed perfectly content during the haircut and that they were even watching the NBA playoffs during the appointment. 

Clarke was staying with a friend from college while he was in Southern California. 

The barber said they were watching Spurs-Timberwolves Game 3 when Clarke was getting his haircut. 

Clarke’s death is being investigated as a possible overdose, according to multiple reports.

NBC Los Angeles reported that the fire department received a 911 call shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday and that the Grizzlies player was pronounced dead at the scene. 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league was “devastated” over Clarke’s death and called the player a “beloved teammate and leader” who “played the game with enormous passion and grit.”

The Grizzlies mourned Clarke with a statement of their own. 

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.

“We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Clarke was taken by the Grizzlies with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and played in 309 NBA games, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. 

He spent all seven seasons of his NBA career in Memphis and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.

Clarke appeared in two games this season due to a knee and calf injury.

Ja Morant was heartbroken to hear the news of the death of his Memphis Grizzlies teammate Brandon Clarke. The two-time All-Star paid tribute to the forward on social media after the news of Clarke's passing broke.

Morant shared a series of posts to his Instagram stories on Tuesday, May 12 expressing his appreciation for Clarke, who spent all seven seasons of his NBA career in Memphis with Morant.

The first post was a media day photo of Morant laughing while reaching out for a high-five from Clarke with Jaren Jackson Jr. also grinning widely on Morant's other side.

The second picture showed Clarke hugging Morant from behind during a game.

"this hurt BC," Morant said with a broken heart emoji, "love you broski. gone way too soon." He added, "its' bigger than basketball."

By now, we’re all used to NBA stars muscling their way to the top of the hobby’s leaderboard, from the courtside-to-cardboard hype of Ant-Man, to record-shattering Goldin gavels for Victor Wembanyama’s Black Shimmer 1-of-1. Well, as of this month, Nikola Jokic can add another notch to his Mile High résumé: the three-time MVP’s 2015-16 Panini Immaculate Collection RPA Logoman just sold for just over $1 million in Goldin’s April Elite Auction, becoming the first Jokic card to crack seven figures.

While Joker, who might become the sixth four-time MVP when the award is announced over the coming weeks, isn’t the only recent MVP getting hobby love, not all most valuable players are, well, quite as valuable.

Here’s how the last five different winners of the Michael Jordan Trophy stack up. 

The MVP (Card) Hierarchy

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo — $1.812 million

Long before the Joker crossed the seven-figure threshold, the Greek Freak set the modern-day basketball card ceiling when his 2013-14 Panini National Treasures Logoman 1/1 hammered for $1,857,300 at Goldin in September 2021. Giannis briefly held the title of most expensive modern basketball card ever sold, knocking The King off his throne. Other cards have since Topp(sed) it, but the Antetokounmpo still owns the title of having the priciest public sale of any active MVP.

2. Nikola Jokic — ~$1.012 million

🚨 BREAKING: NEW RECORD $$$ FOR ANY JOKIĆ CARD! 🚨

— May 10, 2026

The MVP-podium fixture finally got a hobby valuation to match his trophy case. The original owner waited nearly a decade to cash in at auction, but now they must be feeling like the three-time MVP and NBA champion himself. Well, maybe not after the star center’s first round playoff exit, but you get the idea.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — $577k

 

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A post shared by Goldin (@goldinco)

The reigning MVP is the fastest riser on this list. SGA’s 2019 Panini Flawless Logoman Autograph 1/1 sold for $577,300 at Goldin just last month, the first SGA card to ever clear half a million. If the Thunder PG wins back-to-back MVP awards later this month, that price might look like a steal. 

4. Joel Embiid — $144,000

The Process delivered a 2022-23 MVP, but the hobby never quite trusted his knees. Embiid’s high-water mark is a 2014-15 National Treasures Logoman, which sold for a paltry (lol) $144,000 in January. Given that he’s the only MVP to never reach the Conference Finals, and that the 6ers didn’t put up much of a fight against the Knicks with what might’ve been his best-ever running mates, we might not see Embiid’s cards come close to his MVPeers.

5. James Harden — ~$69,000

The Beard’s 2017-18 MVP campaign feels like a lifetime ago, and his cardboard footprint reflects it. The most expensive Harden card ever sold was his 2009-10 Panini National Treasures /99, which sold for nearly $69,000 in 2001. With the Cavs taking both games at home against the Pistons, those looking to collect Harden cards might see some serious movement over the coming weeks. Then again, it looks like nobody stands a chance against his debut team, so a first-ever championship still seems unlikely. Even still, prime Harden was electric.

It’s Not Just MVPs

The gap from Giannis to Harden is more than 20x—but maybe there’s more to it than the player himself. In this case, the throughline seems to be the Logoman. Four of these five MVPs have at least one Logoman patch card in circulation, and the four biggest sales on this list (Giannis, Jokic, SGA, and Embiid) are all Logoman 1/1s. Is Harden’s rookie Logoman still floating around—and, if so, what is the owner doing with it? Was one even made way back in 2009?

Either way, the evidence is clear: An MVP trophy carries you to the upper echelon of the Hobby, but a Logoman gets you to seven figures.

Does Joker have a chance at the MVP or is SGA a lock? Let us know on Mantel.

It’s rare that one moment in a game can end an entire season.

But for frustrated fans of Lakers Nation, they’re taking out their anger on head coach JJ Redick.

With 12.2 seconds remaining in Game 4, the Lakers were trailing 113-110 when Redick called a timeout. As the Lakers broke the huddle, it made sense to see LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart take the court.

However, it was that fifth player that had everyone in the arena — including the announcers — questioning what was going on.

Maxi Kleber — the same Maxi Kleber who spent the previous 47 minutes and 48 seconds of game time sitting on the bench — took off his warmups and trotted out to take his place among the four others.

Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura — who 25 points on 4-of-8 from three, including a four-point play a minute earlier — took Kleber’s spot on the bench.

Rui Hachimura in 2026 playoffs:

33-58 3PT (56.9%)

Not on the floor for Lakers' possession needing a 3.

Thunder win and sweep.pic.twitter.com/JbRSegN5uU

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 12, 2026

JJ Redick watched Rui Hachimura do this and sat him on the bench in the final seconds pic.twitter.com/tQsy00Cn0Y

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) May 12, 2026

In the end, Reaves got a good look at a deep three — off a screen by Kleber — that clanged off the rim and ended the Lakers season.

It’s understandable why fans are mad at Redick regarding the move, but in a way it make a lot of sense.

Realistically, the ball was going to be shot by either James or Reaves. Kennard, who led the league after knocking down 47.8% of his threes, had to be out there as a decoy at the very least. Smart has a knack for knocking down big shot so his spot made sense.

Leaving Rui Hachimura out of the game in this moment makes zero sense.

He was having a phenomenal night and completely earned the right to be on the floor—maybe even taking the last shot.

An incredibly questionable coaching decision from JJ Redick. https://t.co/jqwshqzT4c

— Zach Schumaker (@ZachSchumaker) May 12, 2026

It then came down to Hachimura, who was going to be the fourth option at best, or Kleber, a much better screen-setter. Considering that role was going to be a screener at the most, Kleber made a lot of sense and Redick got it right.

It might not be what Lakers fans want to hear, but Redick has earned the benefit of the doubt after another impressive season.

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The largest fish in the rumor sea has to be discussed, right? Well, that is what we will do today in this edition of Suns Trade Verdict. The noise has gotten too loud, not only from the Bucks but also from fans clamoring for this to be the time to strike for the superstar.

So how does this even start? Well, for years, it felt like this saga had gone on, with Antetokounmpo potentially leaving, but it hasn’t been as clear as it is now. With the team failing to trade him in the offseason and making roster changes to persuade him to stay, it does not seem to be working.

Word from the Bucks is that they would like to get this deal done before the draft, and Shams Charania of ESPN has already got the ball rolling on that with his latest update.

How can we get this done, and would Phoenix be interested in something like this? Let’s explore those thoughts.

How could this get done?

For Phoenix, getting to a max player contract is going to take a lot of guys going out. With the Suns not having much draft capital either (2027 first, the least of UTA/CLE/MIN, and their own 2033, which isn’t tradable until after the draft), they’re in a pickle. Especially if the other 28 franchises around the league also have offers lined up.

This leads me to believe it would take a massive haul to get it done. The Bucks had interest in Jalen Green around the trade deadline. Could they value him as a young piece for a retool/rebuild? The Suns also have the former lottery pick Khaman Malauch and the 31st pick, Rasheer Fleming. Could they be used as young assets to compensate for the limited draft capital the Suns have?

Those are the questions the Suns have to ask when evaluating a deal for Antetokounmpo. He is owed 121M over the next two years, with a near-$63 million player option next year, he would expect. The 31-year-old is also looking for a long-term extension and would need to be committed to the team before signing one.

To get this deal done, though, the Suns would have to send either Jalen Green with Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, or Dillon Brooks to make the money work. Then, with the addition of two young players like Ryan Dunn, Khaman Malauch, Rasheer Fleming, or Oso Ighodaro, it could be done. The Suns would have to take back the Anteokumpo bros, too, which is the price to pay.

Which would most likely get done?

Since the Suns want to extend Dillon Brooks, I think it is unlikely they move off of him in this trade. Therefore, it leaves either the deal involving Royce or Grayson to get this one across the finish line.

In the deal with Royce, they are taking back more money, making it harder to resign the free agents that they would need to make this move worth it. The decision on this one needs to involve both Jalen Green and Grayson Allen.

Allen may not end up going back to Milwaukee, as this trade could expand, but for now, he goes back with the young talent the Suns have and all their draft capital. This would certainly push the Suns to go all-in on a Booker + Antetokounmpo duo, with supporting pieces in Gillespie, Goodwin, Brooks, and O’Neale to help as well. Even if that is the case, is it the best move?

Why does it not get done?

Suns

Given their situation, you would think maintaining this steady growth is the way for the Suns, but ownership may think otherwise. Even if he preached continuity at the end-of-year presser, we all know some change will come with Mat Ishbia at the helm. We also know he wants to capitalize on this Devin Booker window, stating he will bring a championship to the Valley. That says to me that if the right star is available and the Suns can acquire him, they will go after him, but is that Giannis?

The fit would be seamless, as he would fill the vacant power forward spot this team is searching for. Not to mention his fit alongside Booker in the pick-and-roll, with his physical presence in the paint, are all there. He would solve most of the issues this team ran into this season, and by giving up four players who barely played or were injured, you could see how this makes so much sense.

If you plug Giannis into last year’s team, where does that get them? Definitely a higher seed than seven and potentially even in an Eastern Conference finals. That is where the intrigue deeply vomes from, and I see that, but there are also some concerns.

He is 31 and has had some serious injuries as of late. Multiple calf injuries and having to be held out this season (even if he was healthy) prove there is some weirdness around it. He is not getting younger either, and even though Booker is around the same age and doing the same, I’d rather not sacrifice a 4-year window for a 2-year one.

Secondly, the extension is a big ask for this team. One that was just in cap hell and barely escaped by the skin of their teeth. They are still going to pay for the Bradley Beal stretch-and-waive until 2030, and that dead money will creep up on them. Building a roster with that dead money is already a hard obstacle, and it will only be more difficult with two max contracts on the books.

Lastly, and certainly not least, is the package the Suns have. With Giannis available, all 28 other franchises will also try to do this deal. Now, some will obviously bow out as Giannis will not want to go there, but that does not mean Milwaukee will accept a bad deal. It will have to be a happy mediuma nd Giannis has expressed wanting to stay out East as well.

This severely limits the Sun’s ability to pull off this deal if their trade package cannot compare, and they are not on his destinations list.

Many say the Suns will be on that list, but only time will tell.

Bucks

I think the Bucks, in this situation, try to milk the Suns out of everything they have. Since other teams like Boston or Cleveland have better players to offer in Jaylen Brown or Evan Mobley, it will be hard for the Suns to match some of these offers. This leaves the Bucks looking at the Suns’ package and trying to force both young players, Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.

It also depends on which path the Bucks see themselves taking in the future. Will they look to strip it down, fully rebuild, and invest in youth, or would they rather get a star to stay relevant? If they want to go with the Suns package, it becomes more appealing because it includes three players under 25 to build around, potentially.

That being said, I do not think the Bucks do this deal unless Giannis puts his foot down and says, “Trade me to Phoenix.” Even if Fleming, Maluach, and Green have the potential to be something, I do not know if it entices the Bucks enough.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, every day, my thoughts about the situation change as we learn more. Truly, the duo would be unstoppable and prove to be one of the best, but in a star-studded Western Conference, how far is that? Is that truly Finals runs, or is it Western Conference Finals runs? That is where I think patience is key, waiting for Fleming and Malauch to be ready to really commit to winning with this squad.

As many of you saw this weekend, John also discussed this situation. Here is his article, in case you missed it, with his thoughts.

It’s been pointed out to me that you wild and crazy kids are using the MMB Lounge thread to also talk playoffs and perhaps we should have a distinct discussion post for that.

I couldn’t agree more.

So here we are. The Oklahoma City Thunder have advanced as of this writing, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0. The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves are tied 2-2. The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are deadlocked at 2-2 as well. The Knicks swept the 76ers 4-0 in their match up.

I have no preference who wins either open series. I think the Spurs playing the Thunder would be better basketball, but also think the Spurs losing to the Wolves is funny. The East is ugly but if I had to choose a winner to advance, I’d go Pistons.

I am curious to read what you all have learned about how this season of basketball has played out and what Dallas needs to do next to get back into playoff contention.

Brandon Clarke died on Monday, cutting short an NBA career plagued by injuries.

The Grizzlies forward’s death at the age of 29 is under investigation as a possible drug overdose.

His NBA career began as the No. 21 overall pick in 2019 out of Gonzaga. Clarke proved to be a strong rotation piece for the Grizzlies in his first three seasons until a series of injuries limited his on-court contributions.

In October 2022, he inked a four-year, $52 million contract extension with Memphis, but his season ended early due to a torn left Achilles in March 2023.

That injury and a lengthy recovery process kept Clarke to just six games during the 2023-24 season.

In the following season, he played 64 games before sustaining a high-grade PCL injury in his right knee.

As a result, Clarke missed the start of the 2025-26 season and returned for two games in December before a right calf injury put him on the shelf again.

“Just keep playing basketball,” Clarke said in December of his plans after coming back from his knee injury. “I’m kind of used to just expecting nothing else. I can jump higher than I did last year, according to the trainers. I’m feeling good. Just keep working and everything is going to come together nicely.”

Memphis announced on March 24 that the Vancouver native would not return for the remainder of the season.

Things also took a turn off the court for Clarke, who was arrested on drug charges in Arkansas on April 1, six weeks before his death.

He was facing charges of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit and improper passing.

Per TMZ, the case was still open before his death on Monday.

“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Tuesday. “As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization.”

There was a moment when the Lakers were humming along near the end of the NBA's regular season, when they went 16-2 in the month of March as Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James found their groove together as a dynamic threesome.

But on April 2 at Oklahoma City, Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain) went down with injuries and it was left to James to lead the group.

James did, leading the Lakers past the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Reaves joined James in Game 5 of that series and the two of them led the charge into the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder, a series in which Los Angeles got swept, 4-0.

Through it all, Doncic was and still is the center of the Lakers’ universe.

So with James and Reaves looking at free agency, Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said Tuesday at the team’s exit interviews that the organization wants both players back to team up with Doncic.

James, 41 and in his 23rd season, made $52.6 million last season but will be a free agent this offseason, when he can retire, return to the Lakers or play for another team.

Read more:'I don't know.' LeBron James unsure if he'll return for 24th season or retire

“I think in terms of LeBron, we probably haven't seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he's honored the game. He's given so much to his teammates, to this organization,” Pelinka said. “And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back. And I think the first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are.

"Does he want to play another year in the NBA? And that'll be, as he said to you guys last night, family time [and] I think time with his inner circle. And we just want to honor that for him. Of course, any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster. That's a blessing in itself just with what he does.”

Reaves is expected to opt out of his contract that will pay him $14.8 million next season and become a free agent. The Lakers can pay Reaves the most, a maximum deal of $241 million over five years, with a starting salary of about $41.5 million next season. Reaves could sign with another team that has cap space, but that deal would be for four years and about $178 million.

"He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker,” Pelinka said. “And we feel the same way. We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the purple and gold. As you know, there's rules and timing to all of that, but I think both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out where he continues his prolific career here."

The Lakers have their star in Doncic and will collaborate with him going forward.

He led the NBA in scoring (33.5 points per game), was third in assists (8.3) and was a most valuable player candidate.

Doncic, who missed the last five regular-season games and all of the playoffs, signed a three-year extension last summer for $165 million.

The Lakers want to build on that.

“He's an incredible partner,” Pelinka said of Doncic. “His basketball IQ on the court is something we get to see as fans. [Lakers coach] JJ [Redick]) and I get to see his basketball knowledge in terms of other players in the league and the way he wants to play and who he wants to play with.

"His knowledge-base is vast and so those collaborations with him are really inspirational. He also does it in a way that he wants to do his job great, and he wants to let JJ do his job great and let me do my job great. So, they really are productive conversations through that lens.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Several notable players, including former UConn star Tarris Reed Jr., will participate in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine five-on-five scrimmages.

While these scrimmages do not include big stars or players projected to hear their name called at the top of the draft next month at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, there is typically first-round talent broadcast on national TV for fans to watch and for front offices to evaluate.

The most interesting players are often the ones who declared as early entry candidates because if they perform well, they can skyrocket on draft boards (like Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams did in 2022) or return to college and make more money in the modern NIL era.

Here’s how the NBA draft combine scrimmage pool breaks down entering this week based on consensus rankings across major draft boards.

Early entry candidates with collegiate eligibility remaining

These players have the most on the line because they will use feedback to determine whether they return to school or stay in the draft. Kentucky big man Malachi Moreno, who is also an early entry candidate, was originally included on scrimmage rosters but opted not to participate.

Potential first round picks

1. Cameron Carr (Baylor)
2. Dailyn Swain (Texas)
3. Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt)

Potential early-to-mid second round picks

1. Rueben Chinyelu (Florida)
2. Flory Bidunga (Kansas → Louisville)
3. Billy Richmond III (Arkansas)

Potential mid-to-late second round picks

1. Matthew Able (NC State → North Carolina)
2. Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State)
3. John Blackwell (Wisconsin → Duke)
4. Jacob Cofie (USC)

Players who could play their way into guaranteed long-term deals

These players are ranked relatively near the first-round cutoff and can potentially move up with especially strong showings during scrimmage reps. They fall between No. 30 and No. 50 on the consensus rankings. Guaranteed contracts are signed if a player is picked in the first round and sometimes negotiated for early second-round picks, too.

1. Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn)
2. Ryan Conwell (Louisville)
3. Braden Smith (Purdue)
4. Trevon Brazile (Arkansas)
5. Jaden Bradley (Arizona)
6. Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia)
7. Baba Miller (Cincinnati)
8. Izaiyah Nelson (South Florida)

Notable second-round prospects to watch closely

These players have shown occasional NBA traits and are being evaluated on whether they can translate into consistent roles. They fall between No. 50 and No. 65 on the consensus rankings.

1. Otega Oweh (Kentucky)
2. Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)
3. Emanuel Sharp (Houston)
4. Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee)
5. Keyshawn Hall (Auburn)
6. Milos Uzan (Houston)
7. Maliq Brown (Duke)
8. Rafael Castro (George Washington)
9. Dillon Mitchell (Texas)
10. Tyler Nickel (Vanderbilt)

Under-the-radar names to know

These players are currently outside most consensus rankings but earned combine invites and could raise their profiles this week. These players rank beyond No. 65 on consensus rankings.

1. Nick Martinelli (Northwestern)
2. Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech)
3. Kylan Boswell (Illinois)
4. Felix Okpara (Tennessee)
5. Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue)
6. Peter Suder (Miami Ohio)
7. Bryce Hopkins (St. John's)
8. Nick Boyd (Wisconsin)
9. Aaron Nkrumah (Tennessee State)

How to watch the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages

The 2026 NBA Draft Combine scrimmages are on Wednesday, May 13, at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and on Thursday, May 14, at 2 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA draft combine top players in scrimmages, including Tyler Tanner