Category: Basketball

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, the team and his sports agency announced Tuesday. He was 29 years old.

Clarke, who was selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft after a decorated collegiate career at San Jose State and Gonzaga, played seven years for the Grizzlies. He earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2020 and averaged 20.8 minutes per game over 309 games in the NBA.

His last three seasons were largely impacted by injuries, but the Canadian-born forward was a crucial part of a Memphis roster that made multiple postseason appearances.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29, the team, the NBA and his agency say.

Lakers want LeBron James to return for another season with Luka Doncic, GM says originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

If LeBron James wants to keep playing professional basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers want it to be with them.

General manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick affirmed their desire to keep James in a Lakers uniform on Tuesday. James’ eighth season with the club ended Monday night with a heartbreaking 115-110 loss and a second-round sweep at the hands of the powerhouse champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 41-year-old James just completed his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, and he says he doesn’t know whether he’ll keep going.

“Any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster,” Pelinka said. “That’s a blessing in itself, just with what he does.”

The top scorer in league history is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so James can choose his destination if he postpones retirement for another year — although not every team has the payroll flexibility to pay him something near his worth. The Lakers have significant salary cap room and many decisions to make, but they’re hoping James will choose to remain a part of their attempt to build a championship-contending roster around Luka Doncic.

“He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization, and the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back,” Pelinka said.

Pelinka spoke repeatedly of his desire to “honor” James’ decision process. That means waiting until James tells them what’s happening, and the Lakers appear to be content to wait for weeks to come.

“The first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are,” Pelinka said. “Does he want to play another year in the NBA? That’ll be (determined through) family time, I think, time with his inner circle, and we just want to honor that for him.”

James is eight seasons into his longest continuous stint with one team, and his family is happily settled in Los Angeles, where he has won a championship and set multiple NBA career records. What’s more, his 21-year-old son, Bronny, is two seasons into a career as a backup guard with the Lakers, allowing LeBron to play alongside his son — most notably in several significant stretches together in these playoffs.

James missed 22 games this season because of injuries, and he scored a career-low 20.9 points per game while frequently serving as the Lakers’ third offensive option behind Doncic and Austin Reaves — filling that role for the first time in his basketball life, he said with a laugh. But James seemed to thrive in that secondary playmaking role, particularly when Los Angeles was playing its best basketball in March.

The Lakers won 53 games and the Pacific Division title despite losing Doncic for the season and Reaves for nearly a month to injuries in the same game April 2. While the season ended with a four-game sweep at the hands of the strong favorites to win the NBA title, the Lakers are headed into the offseason with optimism about their ability to get even better next season — particularly if James sticks around.

But Pelinka also made it clear that the Lakers are building around the 27-year-old Doncic, who won the NBA scoring title and appeared to be ramping up for a formidable playoff run before a hamstring strain sidelined him.

“The archetype of the roster that we want is going to be retrofitted around Luka and the things he needs,” Pelinka said. ”Clearly he’s that leader and player for the future that we want to build the right way around.”

The Lakers’ largest offseason transaction is likely to be a new contract for Reaves, the former undrafted free agent who has become one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers in five seasons with Los Angeles. Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season, and Pelinka confirmed that both sides expect the guard to sign a massive deal to stay with the Lakers.

“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, and we feel the same way,” Pelinka said. “We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the purple and gold. Both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out.”

The Lakers’ other unrestricted free agents including forward Rui Hachimura, who likely earned a big payday with his strong postseason play after long stretches of offensive passivity in the regular season; shooting guard Luke Kennard, a late-season trade pickup who made big contributions while Reaves was injured; and backup center Jaxson Hayes.

Starting center Deandre Ayton has an $8.1 million player option, and he said Monday that he hasn’t even begun to think about whether to pick it up. Marcus Smart, another big-time playoff contributor, has a $5.4 million player option that he seems likely to decline for a bigger deal.

“Being here in LA, the crowd and everybody has been amazing,” Ayton said. “I wouldn’t change it for nothing, to be honest.”

While we didn’t get to see it on the biggest stage in the postseason, one of the biggest positives to come out of the season for the Lakers was the Austin Reaves-Luka Dončić partnership.

On the court, the two blossomed into one of the league’s best backcourts with Austin ascending to All-Star level and Luka reclaiming his All-NBA form. Off the court, the pair became best friends.

The team rode that partnership to one of the best records in the Western Conference prior to their simultaneous untimely injuries late in the regular season. For Luka, though, it was enough of a proof of concept to want to see more.

On Tuesday morning, Dan Woike of The Athletic wrote of not just Luka’s desire to continue playing with Austin, but that he’s made sure the Lakers know about it as well.

Dončić has made it clear to the Lakers that he would like to continue playing with Reaves, according to league sources. Beyond their close friendship, Dončić believes in Reaves as a long-term piece next to him. Multiple league sources said that belief was best illustrated when Dončić told people within the organization that he wouldn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade packages for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dončić, those sources say, would strongly prefer a team construction that includes him and Reaves alongside whatever star the Lakers could acquire.

The easy reaction to this is that it’s a sign of how strong their friendship is. However, there’s also basketball reasons this makes sense, too.

The best versions of Luka teams in the past have featured a dynamic guard alongside him, whether that was Jalen Brunson or Kyrie Irving. Reaves absolutely fits that mold and the Lakers showed during the month of March how good they can be with that pair on the floor together.

The good news is that there doesn’t seem to be much resistance from the Lakers or Austin about him remaining in Los Angeles. Both sides have spoken about being open to a new deal this summer after Austin predictably turned down an extension last summer.

The Lakers have made a habit of including Luka in roster construction discussions and have followed his advice as well. Taking all that into account, it would be really shocking if Austin was not in purple and gold next season.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

We’re not going to dwell on Sunday! (much more) What’s done is done! (no, it isn’t, not really) Time to move on! (can I have a moment to cry again please before we do that??)

Yes, the Brooklyn Nets who had a 14.0% chance at the overall No. 1 and a 52.1% shot at a top four — aka “franchise changer” pick— wound up at No. 6. Truth be told, that shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise. The lottery slot with the highest odds Sunday was … No. 6 … with a 26.0%. Nets may have “dropped” three spots but such are the vagaries of the current draft rules. Ping pong balls are unforgiving as we’ve noted. Plus, we’re cursed, you know.

So now two days after the Lottery, the Nets are left with a diminished field to choose from on June 23 at Barclays Center. The top four are basically set, in some order: Cam Boozer, A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson. After that it’s a group of similar candidates between Nos. 5 and 8. Candidates there include Darius Acuff, Mikel Bridges Jr., Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler. Plus Nate Ament, a big man who once was seen as a possible No. 4 but had a disappointing season for the most part at Tennessee and will now try to recover lost reputation at the NBA Combine, a possible “agent day” after the combine and at workouts around the league.

That’s the basics, but of course a lot of things can and likely will change between now and the Draft. There was a report Monday by Brett Siegel of Clutch Points that the Nets and Jazz are “expected” to talk to the Wizards, holder of the top pick, about trades. That seems like a pipe dream, but the possibility of moving up (or adding a second first) cannot be dismissed easily. Did the Nets even prepare for this eventuality. One NBA decision-maker told ND before the Draft that teams don’t accumulate all those firsts unless you plan on being “opportunistic,” which was the same word Sean Marks used following the Lottery to describe how he sees the Nets situation.

They do have an excess of unprotected firsts between their own selections and picks they acquired from the Knicks and Nuggets, first round swaps from the Knicks and Suns (both in 2028), a protected first from the 76ers as well as two picks they may have to swap with the Rockets. Plus 22 seconds, including two in this draft at Nos. 33 and 43. You all know the numbers.

But for the moment, it’s about the sixth pick. So we went around the internet and gathered up all the latest mock drafts. Assuming they keep No. 6, the general consensus is that the Nets will wind up with Acuff, the 6’3” combo guard from Arkansas who is most explosive of the prospects and has the most star quality, both of which Brooklyn is in need of.

In fact, of the ten mocks we surveyed, Acuff was linked to the Nets in five of them, followed by Wagler in three. Mikel Brown Jr. and Kingston Flemings get the other votes. In the second round, no consensus (and only seven post second round projections) but Tounde Yessoufou, the 6’5” Baylor wing, gets two nods.

Also, a number of draftniks argue that despite the Nets taking three or four playmakers last year they should go “best player available” even if it’s lead guard … and in the process, diss last year’s selections.

Enjoy (as much as you can.)

ESPN

Jeremy Woo takes note of the Nets bad luck over the last two drafts and will have to make the best of a bad situation.

This was a second consecutive tough draw for Brooklyn, which fell from No. 3 in the default sequence to No. 6. The Nets have operated in anticipation of the 2025 and 2026 drafts ever since reacquiring control of their picks in a trade with Houston two years ago. After dropping all the way to No. 8 last year, they will again have to make the best of the situation. The Rockets still have swap rights to Brooklyn’s 2027 first-rounder, giving the Nets an incentive to be more competitive next season. 

He thinks Acuff would be a wise pick.

[T]here’s little doubt he has the chops to help run a team next season. There is an expectation that Acuff will need to be insulated defensively on a winning team, but he is highly skilled and the most polished point guard in this group.

Here’s his full take:

• #6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman
• #33 – Tounde Yessoufou, SF, 6’6” Baylor, freshman
• #43 – Malachi Moreno, C, 7’0” Kentucky, freshman

Tankathon

As we’ve noted before, Matt Hoover is long on video, short on individual analysis. Since he likes Keaton Wagler of Illinois to the Nets, here’s his Wagler highlights.

No, he is not the athlete the other guards are but he has the smarts and the shots. Plus, he’s the tallest at 6’6”.

• #6 – Keaton Wagler, PG/SG 6’6” – Illinois freshman
• #33 – Alex Karaban, SF 6’8” – UConn senior
• #43 – Jaden Bradley, PG 6’3” – Arizona senior

Bleacher Report

We always pay attention to Jonathan Wasserman who after all got three of the five firsts right last year, even if in a different order. He too likes Acuff and argues that despite a perceived overlap with last year’s picks of three playmakers, Nets need to go BPA.

The Brooklyn Nets should be focused on drafting the best player available over filling needs. That could lead to Darius Acuff Jr., who could play on and off the ball next to big playmaker in Egor Demin.

Perceptions of Acuff have shifted over the season’s final two months, when he averaged 27.8 points and 6.7 assists while consistently carrying Arkansas during important stretches. With diverse, accurate shotmaking, advantage-creating handles and quickness, finishing craft and convincing playmaking IQ, he’s poked enough holes in the belief that limited size, athleticism and defensive resistance cap his ceiling.

• #6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman
• #33 – Luigi Suig0, C/PF 7’2” Mega Basket, 19 years old
• #43 – Izaiyah Nelson, PF 6’9” South Florida, senior

NBADraft.net

Aran Smith’s venerable and data heavy site may be a bit quirky (less so this year in our opinion) and he thinks that Wagler has real potential, a “swing” candidate for sure who could be a “foundational young perimeter star.”

Brooklyn continues its long-term rebuild by adding one of the premier upside swings in the class in Wagler, a dynamic scoring guard with outstanding pace, shot-making ability, and offensive creativity. At No. 6, the Nets can afford to prioritize talent and star upside, and Wagler offers the type of offensive centerpiece potential the franchise has lacked in recent years. His ability to operate both on and off the ball gives Brooklyn lineup flexibility moving forward, while his advanced feel and shot-making instincts allow him to impact games.

• #6 – Keaton Wagler, PG/SG 6’6” – Illinois freshman
• #33 – Trevon Brazile, PF, 6’10”, Arkansas, freshman
• #43 – Jakobi Gillespie, PG, 6’1”, Tennessee senior

The Athletic

Sam Vecenie is like Smith, Wasserman and Jonathan Givony of Draft Express a veteran in this competition. His mocks are consistent and regular, a lynchpin. And he has long been enthusiastic about Acuff and to the Nets. (In his last mock, he projected the Nets at No. 6 based on a single spin of the Tankathon simulator, proving him smarter than us.) Still, he offers a balanced appraisal.

Acuff might be the most polished freshman guard prospect I’ve ever evaluated. His footwork and balance are pristine, and he tends to make efficient decisions. He plays off two feet and moves well without the ball to set up his on-ball moves. His passes are always crisp and on-target, even if his vision isn’t always elite.

But can he consistently get paint touches against NBA length, and can he guard anybody? In terms of the former, he’s done just about everything in his power to make me a believer that he can separate, thanks to the threat of his shot and elite pace. But the latter is another story. Even though Acuff is stocky and strong, he’s easily the worst defender among the top 10 prospects. He struggles to get through screens and shows a lack of off-ball engagement too regularly.

He, too, thinks Nets should go BPA and offers a not-so-positive comparison between and last year’s draft.

Brooklyn just took multiple guards in last year’s five-man, first-round draft class, but none of them is remotely at Acuff’s level. Their presence should not stop them from taking him if he’s the best player available on their board.

• #6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG, 6’3”, Arkansas freshman
• #33 –  Joshua Jefferson, SF, 6’9”, Iowa State senior
• #43 – Baba Miller, C, 6’11”, Cincinnati senior

SB Nation

The home team.

Ricky O’Donnell, as prolific as they come in SB Nation annals, was one of the first to file his post-Lottery mock draft. He’s one of several writers who doesn’t delve into second round prospects. He likes Kingston Flemings for Brooklyn, thinks while there may be concerns about his size, particularly after Monday’s combine measurements, he has “bankable” NBA skills.

Flemings stood out in a loaded freshman guard class for his quick-twitch athleticism and two-way aptitude. The 6’3 guard plays bigger than his size with a strong chest, impressive lateral quickness, and disruptive hands on the defensive end. The Cougars star is so hard to contain as a driver with the standstill burst to get by the first defender, and awesome change of direction ability when he’s attacking off the bounce. Flemings is at his best as a scorer elevating for mid-range shots, but his driving is most dangerous because of his live-dribble passing ability. NBA teams will want to see Flemings up his three-point volume, prove he can finish over NBA rim protectors, and get to the line more often. He still has enough bankable NBA skills that he should be a good lead guard for a long time.

• #3 – Kingston Flemings, PG/SG, 6’3”, Houston freshman

CBS Sports

CBS Sports has THREE writers who provide mock drafts: Adam Finkelstein, Carmen Salerno and Gary Parrish. No analysis or video, just a list and they only project the first round. Finkelstein and Parrish like Darius Acuff, Salerno likes Wagler. So chalk one up for Acuff. Majority rules.

• #3 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman

Yahoo! Sports

Kevin O’Connor, master of the exhaustive NBA Draft Guide, posted his latest mock draft Tuesday morning which gives him, alone among the draftniks, access to the first NBA Combine measurements and athletic testing. Put him down as a Kingston Flemings supporter. He’s got Houston lead guard between Keaton Wagler at No. 5 and Darius Acuff at No. 7.

Like the others, he has no concerns about the Nets drafting another playmaker, particularly since he thinks other than Egor Demin the Nets did themselves few favors in the 2025 Draft. Flemings, he acknowledges, has flaws that could hurt him.

What a bummer for Brooklyn to fall so far. The Nets took four guard-ish players in last year’s draft, but Egor Demin looks like the only real keeper and that decision shouldn’t necessarily stop them from taking an even better guard prospect here. Flemings plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step, and passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But he is also 190 pounds, midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season. The question is whether his scoring package translates to NBA length and spacing, or whether opposing scouts figure him out the same way late-season defenses did.

Thanks for the kind words, KO’C. They’re needed.

• #3 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman
• #33 – Sergio De Larrea, PG, 6’5” Valencia (Spain) 20 years old
• #43 – Zuby Ejiofor, PF, 6’9” St. John’s senior

Eijofor is the only local product mocked to the Nets. Here’s what O’Connor says about him:

Ejiofor found success with foundational skills: motor, length, and defensive versatility. The question with Ejiofor is the fact he’s undersized for a center and his jumper is still a work in progress. But he’s developed enough to deserve a chance to figure it out in the league.

Pooch would agree.

Clutch Points

Brett Siegel is new to the mock draft game. He covers the draft, free agency, etc. for Clutch Points and has broken some news over the past years so we’ve moved him into the queue. Credit to him, he did a two-round mock which we love, content whores that we are.

He likes Mikel Brown Jr. who had some (back) injury issues this year but seems recovered. A bigger lead guard, Siegel had these thoughts about Brown’s fit in Brooklyn.

All indications point to the Brooklyn Nets being opportunistic (that word again) this offseason and searching for ways to immediately turn around their recent misfortunes. While unfortunate that the Nets fell out of the top four of the draft and into the No. 6 spot, there is still plenty of opportunity for Brooklyn to add a long-term, high-level scoring option. That player would be either Brown, Flemings, or Acuff, depending on what type of player this organization truly wants.

Brown was limited at Louisville this past year because of a back injury, but his pure-scoring abilities and positional size make him intriguing for the Nets. Unlike Acuff, who is a pure scorer, and Flemings, who still needs to work on his overall shot selection and perimeter abilities, Brown would join Brooklyn immediately ready to take on the responsibilities of being a lead guard.

And he doesn’t believe Brown would take a back seat to Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf.

Although the Nets selected Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf last year, Brown brings a new dynamic to this team and would be the ideal type of scoring guard to play alongside Michael Porter Jr.

• #6 – Mikel Brown Jr., PG/SG 6’5” Louisville freshman
• #33 – Tounde Yessoufou, SF, 6’6” Baylor, freshman
• #43 – Rueben Chinyelu, C/PF, 6’10” Florida Junior

USA TODAY

Bryan Kalbrosky is another veteran NBA writer who annually comes up with mock drafts annually. He only goes 30 deep in his mock and he’s a Keaton Wagler supporter. Like others, he points to Wagler’s “athletic limitations” but loves his “cerebral game.”

During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.

• #3 – Keaton Wagler, PG/SG 6’6” – Illinois freshman

There are a few others out there but we have to limit things somewhere. Brian Lewis of the Post, goes only lottery-deep. He likes Keaton Wagler, stating “Shoots like a two-guard and maps the court like a lead playmaker. Yes, his modest athleticism and lack of downhill juice are a worry next to Egor Demin, but the Nets go with the best available player.”

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died on Tuesday afternoon. He was 29 years old. ESPN reporter Shams Charania broke the news.

Clarke spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies after being the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Clarke’s journey to being a first-round pick was an inspiring story: he spent two seasons at San Jose State where he had a broken three-point shot, transferred to Gonzaga and blossomed after sitting out a year.

Clarke’s NBA career was plagued by injuries. He only played two games this season. Clarke tore his left Achilles tendon in March 2023, suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee in 2025, and then was limited by a calf strain this season. He suffered from knee synovitis just before this season.

Clarke was arrested on drug and speeding charges last month. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit, and trafficking a controlled substance.

The Grizzlies confirmed Clarke’s passing:

Clarke was born in 1996 in Vancouver, Canada. This is a shocking loss for the Grizzlies, and the NBA community. Clark’s cause of death is not known at this time. This story will updated as it develops.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, his sports agency announced in a statement released on Tuesday, May 12. He was 29 years old.

Clarke's sudden death comes almost six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies.

"We are beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke," Priority Sports said. "He was so loved by all of us here, and everyone whose life he touched. He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family. Our hearts are so broken as we think about his mom, Whitney, his entire family and all of his friends. From high school to San Jose State to Gonzaga to the Grizzlies, Brandon impacted everyone who was part of his life."

The Spurs will have Victor Wembanyama back for a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he avoided suspension for a Game 4 flagrant foul, but the Spurs’ guard rotation could be shorthanded. De’Aaron Fox was already listed as questionable on yesterday’s injury report with a sore ankle after Ayo Dosunmo rolled up on his legs while diving for a loose ball in the second half of Game 4, which Fox briefly left before returning, and today, Dylan Harper has been listed as questionable with a sore knee.

The soreness is possibly a result of a play from late in the fourth quarter when — guess who? — Dosunmu grabbed him from behind on an offensive rebound. Harper then fell backwards, with his left leg folding underneath him. He remained down for a few seconds, rubbing his knee before getting back up. A foul was called on Dosunmu on the play. (None if this is to say Dosunmu is a dirty player. There’s a bit extra on tug backwards there, but he was not trying to bring Harper down, tried to catch him as he went down, and he checked on him after it happened.)

While both players were seen practicing today, Fox is still a game-time decision while Harper was downgraded to questionable. Beyond Wemby, guard play has been the Spurs’ biggest advantage in this round, and it will be a tall task if Stephon Castle has to carry the load by himself. If one but especially both miss the game, the Spurs may need to give former Timberwolf Jordan McLaughlin some minutes, who to his credit has always been ready when called upon and can give them some solid minutes in smaller doses.

The good news is players being listed as questionable on game day has not always meant they will not play, so at this point there is little reason to panic. Still, both players have been vital to the Spurs postseason success so far. Harper has averaged 15.3 points and almost 3 assists off the bench for the Spurs in this series, while Fox has struggled with his shooting at times but has still hit some big, timely shots when needed, averaging 16.8 points and 4 assists.

Tip-off is at 7:00 PM CT on NBC and Peacock. This series is tied at 2-2 and will return to Minnesota on Friday for Game 6.

If you have remained a Cleveland Cavaliers fan since LeBron James departed the franchise for a second time back in 2018, you would know that, despite the varying degrees of success the team has endured since then, the main question on everyone’s mind has been whether and when LeBron would end his career in the Wine and Gold. As the Los Angeles Lakers were just swept in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, interest in LeBron’s final destination in his career is once again at the forefront of many minds.

In an interview with 92.3 The Fan, Bill Reiter joined and described the current situation between the Lakers and LeBron James. Reiter distilled the situation between LeBron and the Lakers to the current dynamic of the locker room. “I know that they (LeBron and Luka Doncic) don’t get along very well”. Reiter then went on to elaborate on what is causing this rift. “He doesn’t do well in a locker room that is toxic…LeBron wants to be the guy and Luka wants to be guy”. Reiter described the current situation as “awkward” and “weird”.

The dynamic of any locker room appears to be decided by LeBron. Reiter went on describing “he (LeBron) is the sun, the physics of any locker room he is a part of, and bend to his will. Bend in a good way when he is happy, and bend in a bad way when he isn’t.”

This is where the Cavaliers enter the picture as a team, where this would “bend in a good way.” Reiter posed that “being in Cleveland with James Harden, who he is close to, and being with Donovan Mitchell…who loves LeBron, would be a happier situation for LeBron.”

This isn’t the first time that the two have been linked for this reason. It has always made sense why Cleveland would be alluring to LeBron. The team has been in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference for the better part of a half-decade. The roster is built to contend for championships. It feels like, especially with Harden now in the picture, that the players on the roster would be appealing to LeBron James.

There would obviously be various hoops to jump through for this reunion to take place. It is not a simple cut-and-paste LeBron from LA to Cleveland. However, there will be tons of offseason discussion where these various routes will be discussed in further detail.

Right now, LeBron says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do next season. It’s something he’s going to discuss with his family.

As the Cavaliers are currently battling with the Detroit Pistons tied at 2-2, the Cavaliers will keep their eyes on moving on to battle the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Until then, quotes like these simply acknowledge that the Cavaliers appear to have various approaches available if they bottom out in the postseason.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ four-game elimination from the NBA Playoffs, LeBron James is still widely expected to return for a record 24th season.

Leading prediction platform Kalshi gave James a 23% chance of playing another professional season, regardless of team.

Key Takeaways

• James said that he didn’t know if he would play again in 2026-27.
  
  
• Chances of retirement have steadily declined since the turn of the year.
  
  
• If James leaves the Lakers, the Cavaliers are the favorite to land him.

The Lakers were the largest underdogs of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That played out as it was expected to, as the defending champs swept the purple and gold out of the playoff bracket.

About an hour after the season-ending loss, James told reporters that he did not know if he would be back for another year.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” James said. “[I’ll] go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then, when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

"I don't know what the future holds for me."

LeBron addresses questions about retirement after Year 23 comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/TE78ENnOax

— ESPN (@espn) May 12, 2026

Kalshi’s market peaked at a 50% chance on June 30, 2025. Its highest mid-season value was 46% on Jan. 13, from which point the expected likelihood steadily declined.

Although James turned 41 on Dec. 30, he is still a spry youth compared to Kevin Willis — the oldest player to take an NBA court in the modern era — who was 44 years and 224 days old when he played his final game in 2007. “The King” would need to play in a game four seasons down the line in 2030 to steal the record.

Where will LeBron play if he returns?

Kalshi’s prediction markets aren’t limited to whether or not James will retire. Users can also predict which team’s colors he will don next season, if he doesn’t walk away.

Staying with the Lakers or retiring is the market leader with a 49% probability, determined by real-time input from the Kalshi user base. Reuniting with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third stint is the obvious second choice with a 33% chance.

The only other outcome with a probability greater than 10% is the Golden State Warriors, who have a 14% chance. The Warriors were reportedly interested in trading for James, who is friends with Draymond Green off the court, and won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics with Stephen Curry as the starting point guard.

The San Antonio Spurs (6%), New York Knicks (5%), and Los Angeles Clippers (2%) are the remaining teams with an expected chance greater than 1%. 

A possible retirement year with the Spurs would allow James to mentor Victor Wembanayama, although he wouldn’t team up with coach Gregg Popovich, for whom James previously said he wanted to play. 

The Knicks were in the running to land LeBron ahead of “The Decision” in 2010, have made back-to-back conference finals, and are in a market capable of supporting LeBron’s superstardom.

Links to the Clippers likely stem from their coach, Tyronn Lue, who won a championship with James in Cleveland in 2016, and since James wouldn’t have to relocate.

NBA Finals picture

The upcoming NBA season is expected to begin in early October, meaning that there could be several months before James announces a decision on his future. 

In the meantime, the Thunder are still dominating NBA Finals trading markets. Their 64% expected chance to win the championship is at the top of the board, followed by the Spurs (19%) and the Knicks (14%). The Detroit Pistons (4%), Cavaliers (3%), and Minnesota Timberwolves (2%) are all comfortably behind.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

A pivotal Game 5 takes place at Frost Bank Center tonight between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs tonight.

Our NBA player prop projections have you covered for all the action, with two five-star plays!

If you're looking for more NBA picks, look no further than our Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions for May 12.

Timberwolves vs Spurs computer picks for Game 5

Timberwolves	Spurs
Gobert o7.5 points -120	Champagnie o8.5 points +100
Dosunmu o12.5 points -112	Fox o17.5 points -112
Reid o11.5 points +100	Castle o4.5 rebounds -155

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Timberwolves Game 5 computer picks

Rudy Gobert Over 7.5 points (-120)

Projection: 9.75 points

This is one of two five-star plays our model found for this game, showing an EV edge of 23.91%. Rudy Gobert has scored 10+ points in back-to-back outings, playing 30+ minutes in each.

He should see a similar workload tonight with Wemby back after his ejection.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet gobert Now at bet365!/span

Ayo Dosunmu Over 12.5 points (-112)

Projection: 14.78 points

Ayo Dosunmu has become a pivotal part of the Minnesota Timberwolves' rotation, even drawing the start in Game 4. Our projections see him turning up the heat after three underwhelming performances.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet dosunmu Now at bet365!/span

Naz Reid Over 11.5 points (+100)

Projection: 13.51 points

Naz Reid provides a perfect scoring punch for the Wolves off the bench. He's eclipsed this total in six of his last seven games, finishing with exactly 11 in the other outing.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet reid Now at bet365!/span

---

Spurs Game 5 computer picks

Julian Champagnie Over 8.5 points (+100)

Projection: 10.54 points

This is the second five-star play for tonight's game, sitting with an EV edge of 24.32%.

Before two mediocre outings, Julian Champagnie was going to work. With Wembanyama expected to play the full game, it'll open up more catch-and-shoot opportunities for Champagnie — who is hitting threes at a 49% clip in the playoffs.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Champagnie Now at bet365!/span

De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-112)

Projection: 19.73 points

De'Aaron Fox plays a pivotal part in the San Antonio Spurs' success, and they'll need him to be at his best tonight. He just scored 24 points in Game 4, and he's on track to play after going through the afternoon shootaround.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet fox Now at bet365!/span

Stephon Castle Over 4.5 rebounds (-155)

Projection: 6.17 rebounds

Stephon Castle puts his 6-foot-6 frame to good use, averaging 4.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He's eclipsed this line in two of four games against Minnesota, finishing with exactly four in the other two.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Castle Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 5

Location	Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date	Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Tip-off	8 p.m. ET
TV	NBC/Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

MORE NBA PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

In some alternate NBA timeline, Victor Wembanyama was suspended for his katana-like elbow on Naz Reid. In that dimension, the Western Conference semifinals look very different.

But in our universe, the league isn't holding out one of its biggest superstars for Game 5 between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. San Antonio remains a massive favorite at home tonight with the inside track to the conference finals.

Wembanyama will be on the floor tonight, impacting the game as only he can, and these are my best NBA picks surrounding Victor Wembanyama props for May 12. Be sure to also read our Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions.

Victor Wembanyama prop pick

Victor Wembanyama best bet: Victor Wembanyama Under 27.5 points (-112 at bet365)

Prior to his Game 4 ejection, Victor Wembanyama was coming off a 39-point explosion in Game 3.

That boosted his scoring total to 26.5 O/U heading into Game 4 and has tonight’s points prop trending up to 27.5 O/U. 

Wembanyama’s absence after getting the hook on Sunday was definitely felt on the defensive end, but the San Antonio Spurs managed well without him on offense.

Guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper picked up the scoring slack, and that takes pressure off Wemby to shoulder the load as he returns to the lineup.

If there wasn’t already a target on the 7-footer, there’s a glowing red laser dot on him in Game 5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are pissed the NBA didn’t suspend him for an obviously calculated elbow to the neck of beloved forward Naz Reid. 

Just how Minnesota treats Wembanyama tonight remains to be seen, but it won’t pull any punches. If this were the NHL playoffs, we’d see the gloves come off the instant the puck dropped.

Wembanyama started Game 4 shooting 2-for-5 from the field, scoring off the dribble and on an alley-oop toss. Outside of Game 3, the T-Wolves have done a solid job on Wembanyama. 

Taking out that 13-for-18 outing, he’s shooting just 37.8% in the other four showings, with outputs of 11 and 19 points in the first two games of the series.

Player projections for Game 5 range from 25.1 to 29.2 points from the lanky Frenchman, but most models come in shy of his current scoring total of 27.5 points. My number flirts with 26 points, giving the nod to the Under.

Another thing to consider: Given the sizable spread, San Antonio may pull away in the second half. If the score gets out of hand, it could get chippy.

If I’m Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, I’m not playing my franchise player any more than I have to and protecting him from garbage time shenanigans.

Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay

San Antonio returns to Texas as 10.5-point home chalk. The Spurs are 12-3 straight up as double-digit home faves this season, as well as 18-5 SU when coming off a loss.

The T-Wolves aren’t going to play nice with Wembanyama after his elbow on Reid, and you can expect the veteran team to needle the youngster in an effort to frustrate and throw him off his game. The bulk of scoring projections come in short of 27.5 points

Wemby will still battle on the boards and with his interior presence pushing Minnesota to the outside — where it’s shot poorly — there will be plenty of rebounding chances for the 7-footer to snap up.

He grabbed 15 boards in each of the first three games and is forecasted for as many as 15+ rebounds tonight.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.