Category: Basketball

The NBA playoffs are down to just four teams. And what a battle it's shaping up to be.

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a stunner in the Eastern Conference by dominating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in Game 7. Now the Cavs will look to knock off a well-rested New York Knicks team coming off a sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers that seems to be peaking at the perfect time.

In the Western Conference, the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs eliminated the No. 6 seed Timberwolves on the road in Minnesota. This series had been a back-and-forth affair, but the Spurs took command in Game 5 at home then clinched a trip to the conference finals on the Timberwolves home court in Game 6. The Spurs will take on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who haven't lost in these playoffs. The Thunder started this postseason by sweeping the Phoenix Suns, and then they did the same to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

Here’s a look at the bracket and upcoming schedule for the Eastern and Western Conference finals:

I’ve said before that one of my favorite things about being editor-in-chief of this website is reaching out to the writers that cover other teams and having conversations with them. The Fraternizing with the Enemy series is one of the things of which I’m most proud from my tenure at PtR. So when I say that I very nearly took this series off, you’ll understand what a big deal that is.

See, running this website has brought me not only a lot of joy since 2010, but also a lot of friendships. Of those relationships that have developed over the years, none have been more important to me than the one that grew between J.A. Sherman and me. J.A. used to run Welcome to Loud City when it was a part of S.B. Nation, and we met as fellow blog managers. We frequently Fratted together, and even did so through the Western Conference Finals of 2014 which Spurs fans remember fondly and Thunder fans less so.

As time went on and he left the sports blogging world, he became one of my closest friends. Last year, at the age of 49, he died. I don’t currently have the words to express what losing him has meant to me. Those of you who have experienced the loss of someone close to you know how foundation-shaking a thing it can be.

I wrestled with the idea how best to honor him, and finally settled on continuing the series. I reached out to one of his former contributors, Cray Allred, who currently runs the excellent Daily Thunder and has agreed to accompany me as our teams battle it out on the court. Please enjoy and discuss, but also remember my friend. His family misses him terribly, and so do I. This is for him.

Cray:

Nice to meet you, J.R.! I actually used to write and podcast a bit for J.A. at Welcome to Loud City (rip). Great guy. 

12 years ago, but it seems like yesterday. The Spurs battles from that era were some of the best (i.e. most grueling and miserable until they were over) for Thunder fans. I still have nightmares about Derek Fisher guarding Tim Duncan in the post in 2014. And I bet Anthony Edwards’ in-game congrats in Game 6 didn’t wash away your memory of KD hugging his family in the final moments of the 2012 G6. Or maybe you’re a more well regulated fan than I am lol. 

J.R.

I’ll admit that I’d completely forgotten Durant’s 2012 celebration. Candidly, 2014 put a lot of negative memories to rest. In some ways, it does seem like yesterday. And in other ways it’s been long enough that it feels like forever. The DeMar DeRozan years. The Dejounte Murray years. The misses in the draft like Lonnie Walker and poor Josh Primo. Tearing down the team meant losing Derrick White and Jakob Poeltl; bottoming out meant learning to actually pay attention to the lottery. Not much fun. 

Nightmares aren’t fun either, so I’m sorry that last year’s championship didn’t cleanse your subconscious of the trauma that the Beautiful Basketball Spurs inflicted on you and your fanbase. That’s the thing about zero sum games like professional sports. There’s no ultimate celebration for thee without misery for me. And it’s not just a single me. Every title-clinching team leaves a collection of bitter opposition fans in its wake.

It’s hard to remember, in the midst of our fond memories of victories last, that every series we remember with nostalgia is a painful memory for up to four different communities — and speaking of painful memories, the loss of J.A. Sherman is something I’m still dealing with. He had become one of my closest friends, and I miss him terribly and daily. The time I was fortunate enough to spend with him is both a source of joy and pain, but I’m so glad you knew him too, and this conversation helps me to not focus on that loss. 

Which brings me to the series, and what now seems like the inevitable clash of these two young teams that has all of the markings of an epic (and potentially annual) conflict. What do you think of the series? What are you looking forward to and what concerns you? 

Cray

I suggest we dedicate this article to J.A. He was the rare sports media member, able to voraciously follow every play and story without losing his positive, good-natured outlook. We could all stand to be a little more like him when yelling at the TV, muting our @s, and writing from the rollercoaster that every fanbase rides.

As for the series, my Thunder optimism has provoked the “blind homer” label from a loyal reader. I know the Spurs are capable of reaching OKC’s level in the very near future. I know Oklahoma City looked just as spooked as the rest of the league when struggling against Victor Wembanyama and the talent orbiting him in their matchups this regular season. I know Wemby might be the most inevitable force of nature the sport has ever seen.  (Is he still growing? Please tell me he at least stopped growing.)

But I know the Thunder are in a historic tier of excellence in their own right. Specifically, their defense has become one of the most relatively dominant of all-time, as has their lead bucket-getter. If a reigning champ was ever built to withstand an alien invasion, it’s the basketball team in Oklahoma City.

If healthy.

That’s my main concern for the conference finals: that Jalen Williams’ fourth return from injury this season will not be shortlived like the others. OKC needs his size and rim pressure on the mix in order to hold up against Wemby on both ends. Ajay Mitchell has been a revelation, and there are plenty of bright spots throughout the postseason roster I could point to for the Thunder hopeful. But only JDub adds the kind of perimeter and paint force on the level of SGA and Chet Holmgren.

As for the matchup dynamics, I think the biggest game-by-game swings will come from corner shooting volume (San Antonio’s bread and butter, which OKC de-emphasizes in their defensive scheme) and midrange proficiency (Shai’s all-time bread and butter, which only doubles and triples have been able to slow thus far in 2026).

What do you think? Should I feel like the Spurs are more of an existential threat than my interpretation of the numbers has convinced me?

J.R.

I don’t think it’s my place to try to dial up your fear of San Antonio. Through the first two rounds of the playoffs, my Fraternizing partners have been very upfront about their doubts as to whether they could keep pace with the Spurs. So your confidence is not only refreshing, but well-founded, I think. I’ve never thought it was wise to put too much faith in regular season success when trying to predict how a postseason series would go. As a result, I’m trying to maintain my balance in the face of so many people I respect picking the Spurs, or at least calling the matchup even. 

The Western Conference Finals is a reality now, but at the beginning of the season it was just dream, and a remote one at that. I feel a bit like I should be thankful for how far the team has come, but what kind of fan can satisfy themself with nearly making the finals? No, fanatics are never satisfied. Which means we have to get our hands dirty and dive into the nitty gritty. 

But where to begin? How about Wemby’s dislike for Holmgren! What does it mean to you that there’s some unfulfilled animosity brewing under the surface before the games even get underway?

Cray

I can relate to your capacity for greedy discontent. The Thunder vaulted into the 1 seed two years ago, way ahead of schedule. Pushing Luka and the Mavs, the eventual Finals representatives from the West, to six games was way beyond our expectations for OKC. And it felt awful. As soon as you can sniff title contention, you stop counting moral victories. (Not to mention those 2012 Thunder, who appeared primed to leave San Antonio and the rest of the league in the dust. We know how that worked out.)

I’m a total hypocrite when it comes to Wemby and Chet. I love the rivalry, and I enjoy it getting as petty and charged as possible. It wouldn’t feel like Thunder/Spurs if everyone seemed to be having a good time. But I still find Wemby’s disdain for Chet to be pretty annoying since it’s never felt provoked by Holmgren, let alone reciprocated. Maybe Chet starts to take it more personally this time around. That might be a good thing for OKC, since he’s been far from his best against San Antonio of late.

One thing to track is SGA tiptoeing into the petty wars. Known for his class, SGA has developed a routine of avoiding verbal spats and sticking to the high road *during* the series, only to flex at the opponent after besting them. See: Dillon Brooks and the Los Angeles Lakers. If he pulls out this win, you can expect Shai to finally trade a barb or two with Wemby on their budding MVP and championship rivalry about which Victor has been much less bashful.

All that is to say, I think the animosity between our fanbases will be raging in the very near future. There is no way out of this postseason without us locked into another very bitter feud in place for the years to come. And this time around, the algorithms are here to make it even nastier.

Aside from Wemby, I expect to be most tormented by Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell. They’re both gamers I’ve been admiring from a distance up until now. Are you worried about any Thunder players outside of Shai driving you insane?

J.R.

Two words. First word. First syllable. Sounds like “Eww.” Second word. First syllable. Sounds like “Fort.”

I don’t think that there’s anyone I’m more primed to dislike than Lou Dort, and it’s not a new thing because I’ve had a decades-long dislike for guys that are a danger to the health and well being of their fellow players. It started when I was a kid watching a game with my day and I was so upset at the player who was killing our team with these baseline jumpers. He kept getting open and simply refused to miss. 

I finally blurted out, “Someone kick him in the knee!” and my dad had a talk with me about what we do and don’t do as fans. It was a lesson in sportsmanship and mutual respect. About playing hard but also recognizing that it’s better to take your lumps and learn from it than it is to give in to your worse instincts and lash out, endangering the career and livelihood of your fellow competitor. 

That lecture is something that guided me as a student athlete, and it guides me as an editor-in-chief. Every writer on PtR called out Wemby’s shot at Naz Reid’s neck as being unjustified. I was horrified that Vic was about two inches below what might have shattered the dude’s jaw. 

So when I see a guy that’s not just going to the edge of what the refs will allow (never the line that I think should be the limit for a player) but into the realm of what could take an opponent out of a game, I get uncomfortable. 

So here are my questions: is Dort’s reputation earned, or does he get a bad rap? Am I right to be concerned that he could injure one or the Spurs, or has that threat been blown out of proportion?

Cray:

Wow, most other fans LOVE Sweet Lu.

Jokes aside, I get it. Dort is the Thunder most prone by far to actual, outright flopping. And he lost the benefit of the doubt with many after tripping Nikola Jokic this season. He’ll be scrutinized even more closely as a result of taking such a blatant action out in the open. So I wouldn’t call his rap sheet unfounded. (And props to you for holding Wemby to the same standard.)

While he’s even admitted to crossing the line, I do think his reputation as a goon or even an enforcer is overstated. (Jaylin Williams has a lot more fun doing the latter.) No one who has seen his multitude of finishing fails would accuse him of masterful body control that could mask constant dirty intent. Referees are always trained on his matchup, and he racks up a small fraction of the uncommon fouls that other boundary-pushing, sly defenders like Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks are notorious for. If he were as sneaky and capable as his reputation, he would be capable of more than standing in the corner on offense. He’s guilty of more reckless hustle plays than cheap shots, though that’s little consolation if your favorite player is at the bottom of the pileup. 

What I think is underrated: Dort’s genuine, elite on-ball defense. It’s not just driven by his physicality; he’s not just good because he fouls. He’s thrived through the changing winds of what refs call too much or too little over the years. And he isn’t the one turning halfcourt into football. Opposing offenses run him through a gauntlet of screening collisions to free their best scorers from Dort’s ball denial. Of course they’d rather he let up when facing the first, second, or seventh pick of a possession; his coaches don’t, and that’s why he’s got a starting gig in the NBA. 

But when his dreads go flying on one end after he brushes your big’s shoulder, followed by an ugly, swished moonball after the ball swings his way on the other end…I get that the Dort experience is annoying at best.

With the conference finals almost underway, here’s to a healthy series free of any dangerous swinging limbs. I hope De’Aaron Fox and Luke Kornet join Jalen Williams in flipping from questionable to active when Game 1 tips later tonight. Strength for strength, I’m ready to find out who’s got whose number.

Good news, everyone!

Marquette fans everywhere still have a rooting interest in the 2026 NBA Playoffs! Our lone entrant in the Conference Semifinals advanced to the Conference Finals, so we’ve still got something to latch onto here.

Tyler Kolek — New York Knicks

Look, I’m not trying to tell head coach Mike Brown how to do his job here, but the fact of the matter is that New York is a perfect 6-0 when Marquette’s very own Tyler Kolek gets on the floor for the Knicks in these playoffs. Fair’s fair, so I have to remind myself that the Knicks are 2-2 when Kolek does not play, and .500 in the playoffs isn’t that far from advancing anyway. It does mean that the Knicks have only lost when Mike Brown does not get Kolek into the game though, so perhaps I’m more right than I realize.

We should also point out that Kolek has played in six of the Knicks’ last seven games, all of which have been a part of the most overwhelming 10 game point differential stretch in NBA Playoffs history.

Tyler Kolek is helping the Knicks mollywhop the opponents, and I will not accept explanations that challenge this information. I mean, come on, like anyone could possibly believe that the Knicks would have beat the Sixers by 30 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals without Kolek giving them four points, three rebounds, and two assists in 13 minutes?

Anyway, that level of Kolek-led domination has the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year. Oooh, that means Tyler Kolek is a two-time Eastern Conference Finalist! Take that, almost every single other pick in the 2024 NBA Draft!

While Tyler Kolek’s playing time is the clear key to the Knicks’ success, we do have to acknowledge that Jalen Brunson led New York in scoring against the Sixers, averaging 29.0 points thanks to 45% three-point shooting. However, the Knicks’ point guard in name was not their assists leader in the series, as that went to Karl-Anthony Towns. The self-proclaimed best shooting big man in NBA history beat out Brunson in the helpers department, 7.5 per game to 6.0. KAT also shot 55% on threes, which is some Markus Howard freshman year level nonsense, and having fun beating the Knicks when Brunson and Towns essentially can’t miss from deep.

After more than a week off, #3 seed New York will face off against the #4 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs have had to play two seven game series in the playoffs so far, which means they’ve played 14 games against just 10 for the Knicks. Cleveland went down 2-0 out of the gate against #1 seed Detroit in the Eastern semis, then evened the series out, and then won two road games to close the series out, handing out a 125-94 thumping in Game 7 on Sunday night.

Donovan Mitchell was the Cavs’ leading scorer in the series, putting up 28.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. His three-point shooting was not working in the series, landing at just under 29%, but Mitchell was a 36% shooter in the regular season, so the Knicks will have to watch out for a bounce back from him. Evan Mobley was Cleveland’s leading rebounder at 7.4 per game, while the Cavs were led in assists against the Pistons by James Harden. He had 6.3 assists per game to go with nearly 20 points and just over five rebounds a night in the series. Harden was a shooting liability in the series, hitting just 38% of his shots overall and just 29% from long range. I’m not entirely sure why the 36 year old guard led the Cavaliers in minutes in the series, but that’s a thing that happened, and you gotta wonder if that’s going to start catching up with Harden, who is in his 17th year in the league.

2026 NBA Playoffs

Eastern Conference Finals

All games at 7pm Central on ESPN

Game 1: Tuesday, May 19
Game 2: Thursday, May 21
Game 3: Saturday, May 23
Game 4: Monday, May 25
Game 5*: Wednesday, May 27
Game 6*: Friday, May 29
Game 7*: Sunday, May 31

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It’s been a long time since the Knicks played a basketball game. By the time the Knicks face the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday, New York will be nine days removed from its last game. Though rest is important, it will be interesting to see how New York looks after a lengthy break.

Led by Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers just finished a grueling seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons. With four past and present All-Stars on the roster, Cleveland has a good mix of talent and should be a tough challenge for the Knicks. 

Here are three keys to watch in the series-opener... 

The possession game

One category the Knicks can take control of in this series is possessions. Cleveland has the second-highest turnover rate (17.0 percent) among all 16 teams, according to NBA Stats. The Cavs also have the third-lowest defensive rebound rate (65.2 percent).

Cleveland’s starting lineup features two big men in Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but they still are susceptible to giving up offensive rebounds. Knicks centers Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson could both feast on the offensive glass during this series. 

In fact, it was Robinson who dominated with 29 offensive caroms in New York’s 2023 4-1 first round series win against the Cavaliers. We could see more of Towns and Robinson on the floor together in this series. Through the first two rounds, the pairing has only seen the floor for 11 minutes, per NBA Stats. 

Cleveland took care of the ball in the regular season, finishing ninth in turnover rate. But the playoffs have seen their opponents exert extra pressure with strategies like pressing full court. The Knicks could follow suit and apply more pressure. 

OG Anunoby

New York has been able to thrive with or without Anunoby in the playoffs. Though the Knicks won without Anunoby in the final two games of their 4-0 series sweep of the 76ers, they will need the two-way player to have control in the Conference Finals. 

Anunoby is expected to return from a right hamstring injury for Game 1 after being a full participant in practice late last week. Anunoby, who missed Games 3 and 4 against Philadelphia, has been awesome in the postseason. In eight games, he’s averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals.

Anunoby’s ability to space the floor as a shooter and finisher at the rim has been crucial to New York’s playoff run. He’s also a very versatile defender. Anunoby will start games guarding Mobley, but there will also likely be possessions where he checks Mitchell and James Harden.

The first few moments of Game 1 will be important to see how Anunoby looks after the injury and long layoff. 

Hart swing

Cleveland has been one of a handful of teams to guard Josh Hart with a center. In Hart’s two games played against the Cavs, he was primarily defended by Allen.

In a late-February 109-94 win by the Cavaliers, Hart attempted a season-high eight three-point attempts (he made two) in just 26 minutes and 13 seconds of action. Hart had a good season as a shooter, knocking down a career-high 41.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Despite the career year, Hart has not been as effective from deep during the playoffs, shooting 27.5 percent on 40 attempts. Hart can be a reluctant shooter, especially if he misses his first few open attempts. 

New York has found some workarounds for centers defending Hart, such as initiating the offense through Towns. But Allen is a disruptor in the paint, so Hart will have to knock down some shots to keep the defense honest. How Cleveland guards Hart will be something to watch for since his outside shooting will be a swing factor in this series.

With Cleveland’s 125-94 beat-down of Detroit Sunday night, the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals are set, and three of the four teams are represented by Duke’s Brotherhood: Cleveland has Tyrese Proctor, San Antonio has Mason Plumlee, and Oklahoma City has Jared McCain.

In other words, if New York falls to Cleveland, a Duke guy gets a ring. OKC is a heavy favorite currently, followed by San Antonio. New York is a somewhat distant third, and Cleveland is the long shot.

So if the odds hold up, Jared McCain may get a ring to show off on Tik Tok.

Given the size of Cleveland’s victory, we were a bit surprised that Proctor didn’t get in, but unfortunately, he got another DNP.

• Last Aussie standing: Tyrese Proctor, Cavs into ECF
• Pistons news: Cade Cunningham reveals painful impact of series loss to Cavs
• James Harden Ends 8-Year Curse After Cavaliers’ Win Over Pistons
• Mitchell, Cavs break through, rout Pistons in G7

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

The ACC massively improved last season, and that trend is expected to continue after how hard it went in the transfer portal.

There may be no conference that did the portal better. Even though teams lost plenty of talent, the ACC restocked it and four of the top seven transfer portal classes hail from the ACC, according to 247Sports. That also includes getting arguably the best available players.

It's clearly become a better conference, but how does the entire league stack up in the transfer market? Let's look at all the addition and losses for the 18 teams heading into the 2026-27 season.

Who has best haul so far? College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Staying put: 10 most-important players who skipped basketball transfer portal

Boston College basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Money Williams (Montana). Luke Murray sure hopes Williams is money after he was cash at Montana. He was the top scorer for the Grizzlies, but he erupted in the Big Sky tournament when he dropped 40, 32 and 19 to nearly get Montana in March Madness. He only had three games of scoring less than 10 points.
• Worst loss: Jayden Hastings (Cincinnati). One of the starters that made solid contributions, Hastings was mostly productive on the defensive end, leading the Eagles in blocks.
• Biggest remaining need: Energy. This program has been in the dumps, last appearing in the NCAA Tournament 17 years ago. Boston College needs to show signs of life and give people a reason to invest in one of the toughest jobs in the sport.

Cal basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Jake Wilkins (Georgia). The son of Basketball Hall of Famer Dominque Wilkins, the sophomore is looking for an elevated role in Berkeley. He didn't do a whole lot at Georgia, but he did showcase the explosiveness he has, just like dad.
• Worst loss:Dai Dai Ames (Tennessee). Cal had one of its best seasons in recent memory because of Ames. He started every game and averaged 16.9 ppg on impressive shooting numbers. His late game play will be something the Golden Bears will desperately miss.
• Biggest remaining need: Roster continuity. Again, Mark Madsen is having to retool his roster after star players bolted elsewhere. The guards will again rely on some inexperience, and it makes for a challenge to build upon last season.

Clemson basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Cole Certa (Notre Dame). Certa made big strides in his sophomore season that should pave the way for a staring role with Clemson. He averaged 16.1 points per game, but turned it on down the stretch, asserting himself as a bucket-getter. It also doesn't hurt he's one of the best free throw shooters in the game (89.2%, first in ACC).
• Worst loss:Jake Wahlin (BYU). You knew what you were going to get when it came to Wahlin. He didn't do much in terms of the stat sheet, but he was a consistent presence in the lineup that helped with the frontcourt.
• Biggest remaining need: Frontcourt. Brad Brownell has done well with forwards, and Clemson relied heavily on its bigs last season. They are out of eligibility, making it important for the Tigers to restock the position.

Duke basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: John Blackwell (Wisconsin). The rich get richer. Not only does Jon Scheyer have another elite recruiting class, he adds a certified bucket-getter in Blackwell. His 19.1 ppg was a major reason Wisconsin had one of the best offenses, with the ability to score from anywhere on the court (38.9% from 3-point land). He expands Duke's offense which has focused on getting to the paint.
• Worst loss: Nikolas Khamenia (Connecticut). In addition to the one-and-done departures, Duke loses another five-star prospect. Khamenia had to come off the bench, but he played all 38 games and came up big against quality opponents in terms of crashing the boards.
• Biggest remaining need: Clutch time. A consistent problem for Duke in March is not having the experience needed to avoid late game crumbles, no matter how talented it is. Does the addition of Blackwell and Drew Scharnowski (Belmont) do enough for the Blue Devils to finally capture a post-Coach K national title?

Florida State basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Sebastian Rancik (Colorado). The Seminoles will enjoy the versatility Rancik brings on the floor, able to lead the offense while take on the tough matchups defensively, no matter if its a guard or big. He put up 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game with the Buffaloes.
• Worst loss:Martin Somerville (West Virginia). Florida State could have used retaining someone with starting experience. Somerville mostly came off the bench, but he had some games where he was just locked in, including a 23 points outing against Virginia Tech.
• Biggest remaining need: Experienced defenders. Luke Loucks wants to keep the momentum going in Tallahassee, and while he's bringing in several talented freshmen, he'll need more help on the defensive side. It was a struggle last season and there are too many question marks on that side of the court.

Georgia Tech basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Colby Garland (San Jose State). One of the top scorers in the country hopes to inject life into Georgia Tech. Garland's 20.3 points per game was 26th in the NCAA, and he specializes in scoring around the 3-point line with a solid mid-range shot. He's also an ironman having played 40 minutes in eight of the last 11 games of the season.
• Worst loss: Mouhamed Sylla (West Virginia). There was a ton of promise with Sylla before he got hurt, and it was very apparent how much the Yellow Jackets missed him. He was a double-double machine and a catalyst for helping control tempo.
• Biggest remaining need: Wings. Scott Cross has brought a good mix of transfers for his first season, but there's more needed with the forwards. There's not a ton of experience there, and it will mean having to shift lineups that are either big heavy or small.

Louisville basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Flory Bidunga (Kansas). The best transfer leads to the best portal class. The Cardinals stacked their roster and have Bidunga ready to command the paint. He's a menace inside by swatting away about any shot near him (2.6 per game, fourth in Division I), but his offense took a giant leap last season, positioning him to be one of the top players in the country.
• Worst loss:Sananda Fru (Marquette). Louisville could have had one of the best backcourts had Fru stayed. The 6-11-inch forward wasn't as effective toward the end of the season appeared in every game and was a solid post presence, leading the team with 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 block per game, along with his highly efficient 9 points per game.
• Biggest remaining need: Putting it together. There's no debating how loaded Louisville is, but the games aren't played on paper. It has to show it can jell together to be a title contender. If it can shed the inconsistencies that plagued last season, this is team is Final Four bound.

Miami basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Acaden Lewis (Villanova). Jai Lucas gets a young guard to lead the offense after showing promise in his freshmen campaign. Lewis was an excellent floor general, averaging 12.2 points along with 5.3 assists, a Villanova freshmen record and the most for the program in the 21st century, leading to a unanimous choice on the Big East all-freshman team.
• Worst loss:Tru Washington (Xavier). Washington was one of the bright spots on Miami's defense, leading the team in steals with 1.8 per game. You've seen the confidence grow offensively as well, making strides each season to make him a valuable player in the rotation.
• Biggest remaining need: Perimeter defenders. Miami wants to improve on its 3-point shooting, but it also needs to get better at defending it after it was last in the ACC in defensive 3-point percentage (35.8%).

North Carolina basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Terrence Brown (Utah). The Tar Heels are meant to have playmakers, and Brown fits the mold of what's expected in Chapel Hill. He was the star for a struggling Utes team, leading them in points (19.9) and assists (3.8). He did have some off-shooting nights, but if this guy gets in a rhythm, he boosts the offense immensely.
• Worst loss:Derek Dixon (Arizona). There's still a chance Seth Trimble returns, so until then, the biggest departure is Dixon. He was a late bloomer, proving to be extremely valuable down the stretch and earning his spot in the starting lineup for the last 16 games. His 3-point shooting was extremely valuable, asserting himself as one of the top shooters in the Power conference ranks.
• Biggest remaining need: Backcourt depth. North Carolina has addressed its frontcourt, but the forwards and centers are a mystery. There's a lot of hope being put into international center Sayon Keita, but regardless if he lives up to the hype, the Tar Heels need more in the post.

NC State basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Christian Hammond (Santa Clara): A guy that knows how to be the No. 1 player on the court, Hammond flourished leading the Broncos with 15.6 ppg to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. He can play through contact and creatively finds ways to score, and stepped up his game in the three meetings with Gonzaga.
• Worst loss:Matt Able (North Carolina). It's rough losing a player to an in-state rival. Able was NC State's top recruit last season and showed why with some notable performances in ACC play, including a 19-point effort against the Tar Heels. He was poised to finally crack the starting lineup, and had big upside with more minutes.
• Biggest remaining need: Interior presence. Justin Gainey had to build an entire new roster at his alma mater, and it still lacks some big men. Kyle Evans (UC Irvine) was an underrated get that can become a valuable asset, but there's plenty left to be desired in the department.

Notre Dame basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Logan Duncomb (Winthrop). Notre Dame gets the Big South player of the year after he tore up the conference, averaging a double-double during league play. He will try to impose his physical style of play in the ACC, and not only is he good at getting to the foul line, but he's a solid free throw shooter.
• Worst loss:Markus Burton (Indiana). One of the best players in Micah Shrewsberry's tenure is out. Last season was meant to be a big year, but he was limited to 10 games due to injury and Notre Dame really suffered from it. He was the key toward the Fighting Irish getting out of ACC cellar.
• Biggest remaining need: Scoring guards. The top three scorers from last season are all gone, and they were all guards, so Notre Dame needs that guy that can help Braeden Shrewsberry. Braeden Smith is more of a facilitator, and it can't all fall on Dumcomb in the post.

Pitt basketball transfer portal analysis

• Best add: Baye Ndongo (Georgia Tech). Rebound reinforcements are on the way with Ndongo moving to Pitt. Ndongo is a model of consistency, coming off a season where he averaged 11.8 points and 8.1 boards per game, including five double-doubles. He's as experienced as they come with 90 starts with the Yellow Jackets.
• Worst loss: Roman Siulepa (Ole Miss). One of two players that started all 33 games, the Australian native impressed in his freshman season. He was known for his defensive prowess, but he was a huge asset in getting second chance opportunities, leading the ACC in conference play offensive rebounds (3.8).
• Biggest remaining need: Shooting. Jeff Capel replenished the roster that needs all sorts of fixing, but the main problem will be getting consistent scoring after the offense really set the team back last season. The Panthers also got to make their free throws.

Sixers' front office search: Which sort of executive would be a good fit?  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Nothing was narrow about Bob Myers’ description of the ideal candidate to replace Daryl Morey.

As Myers outlined, he’s not searching for a specialist. 

“I’m a big believer in character and leadership and I’m looking for a person that embodies those things,” Myers, the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, said Thursday. “But there’s many characteristics under that which I believe qualify in making a modern GM a success.

“There’s front-facing responsibilities. There’s responsibilities in managing star players. There’s responsibilities in managing up to ownership. There’s contract negotiations, there’s the draft process, there’s evaluating analytics, there’s (working with) the medical staff. 

“You go down the line and these jobs have an enormity to them. So I’m looking to find someone that can check as many of these boxes as possible, but also (someone) that can raise their hands and say, ‘Actually, I’m not good in this space. I’m going to need some support.’” 

So, which front office executives out there would be a strong fit for the Sixers? 

In terms of specific names, Marc Stein reported the following Sunday night on the Sixers’ search: 

• There’s a “widespread belief” that Myers would “want to explore trying to hire (Hawks general manager) Onsi Saleh,” but “the likelihood relayed to me … is that Saleh is expected to remain with the Hawks.”

• “There have also been rumbles about potential Philadelphia interest in (Timberwolves president of basketball operations) Tim Connelly for some time, but the 76ers would naturally face the same obstacles that Dallas did recently if it chose to act on that interest.”

• “Other names that have been mentioned in connection with Philadelphia at this early stage: Sixers consultant Neil Olshey (who has long been close with Myers) and Oklahoma City executive Vince Rozman (who joined Sam Presti’s front office with the Thunder after a lengthy stint in Philadelphia).”

• There’s been “chatter all season about a likely expanded role” for Sixers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson.

Saleh finished second in the NBA’s executive of the year voting for his work in his first year as Atlanta GM. Connelly’s T-Wolves were just eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Spurs. He ran the Nuggets’ front office from 2013 to 2022 and assembled the core of Denver’s 2022-23 championship-winning team. 

Olshey took Damian Lillard with his first pick as the Trail Blazers’ general manager and led the team’s basketball operations until 2021. He was fired after an investigation into a “toxic, hostile work environment in which staff members were allegedly subjected to intimidation and profanity-laced tirades, among other bullying tactics,” according to Yahoo Sports. Rozman worked for the Sixers from 2006 to 2022 before becoming the Thunder’s vice president of identification and intelligence.

On paper, Rozman’s résumé seems like it should naturally draw the Sixers’ interest. 

He’s familiar with the kind of collaboration-heavy dynamic that Myers wants and knows the current ownership group. Rozman spearheaded much of the Sixers’ pre-draft process in 2020 and the team wound up making three excellent selections in Tyrese Maxey (No. 21), Isaiah Joe (No. 49) and Paul Reed (No. 58). 

Rozman’s seen just about every side of NBA life since starting out as a Sixers intern. And it doesn’t hurt that he was part of OKC’s front office as the team rose to contender and then to NBA champion last season. 

“When you’re bad, you can try anything,” Myers said. “And if it doesn’t work, you’re still bad. But if you’re good, you have to risk something to go to great. So that’s why it is harder to go from good to great — because you risk something. You risk making a mistake and falling back to bad. … When you’re bad, if it doesn’t work, you’re still bad.”

One of the essential questions to answer for Myers’ candidates will be just how close the Sixers are to a championship level.

If a candidate has a convincing vision for immediately turning the Sixers into the Eastern Conference’s best team, Myers will surely listen. However, the Sixers were just swept in the second round and the series was bookended by blowout losses.

Being realistic about the state of the team, a win-now move or two might not be sufficient. Regardless, we imagine the Sixers would be glad to add a well-rounded executive with a good draft track record and a sense of how to develop the team around 25-year-old All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey and 20-year-old Rookie of the Year finalist VJ Edgecombe for years to come. 

“The thing I liked … it’s maybe not completely, but we got to see a healthy team, right? At least in the playoffs, for the most part,” Myers said. “Joel (Embiid) came back. And when you’re healthy in the playoffs, the best part is you don’t have any excuses about why you lost. You lost. I didn’t like going into the playoffs with, ‘Well, so and so was hurt, and if he had been healthy …’ Those hypotheticals aren’t helpful. So what is helpful is we played a team, we were mostly healthy, we lost. Let’s just be honest about that. Let’s acknowledge that. 

“After that, leading up to the draft, what are we missing? … And then the question is going to be, with what we have, how do we get better? And then the final question is going to be, ‘We have the mid-level exception. What do we do with that?’ I want to partner with somebody who I can have those discussions with in a meaningful way, and I’m going to have those discussions with potential candidates.”

Mannix: Why Celtics should NOT make a Jaylen Brown-for-Giannis trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly are “open for business” on trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Boston Celtics are believed to be one of the teams in the market for his services.

From a basketball perspective, the Celtics’ interest in Antetokounmpo would make sense. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens recently expressed a desire for Boston to have “more of an impact at the rim,” and Giannis fits that mold to a tee as a former Defensive Player of the Year who leads the NBA in dunks per game over the past two seasons.

Of course, the cost to acquire Antetokounmpo would be high. And considering he’s set to make $58.5 million next season, the Celtics almost certainly would have to include Jaylen Brown ($57.1 million salary in 2026-27) as part of the return package.

While Brown just finished sixth in NBA MVP voting after a career year with the Celtics, Antetokounmpo is still the more talented and accomplished player who will fill a glaring need for Boston in the frontcourt.

But if you ask Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, swapping Brown for the two-time NBA MVP still wouldn’t be worth it for Boston.

“I would not trade Jaylen Brown for Giannis straight up. I wouldn’t do it,” Mannix said recently on NBC Sports Boston. “Giannis is too unpredictable. These soft tissue injuries would terrify me. He’s 31 years old, looking for a max contract, coming off his history of injuries. The injury history of Giannis would scare the crap out of me.”

To Mannix’s point, Antetokounmpo played in just 36 games this past season while dealing with significant calf and knee injuries. He’s missed at least 15 games in four of the last five seasons and will turn 32 in December.

Beyond Antetokounmpo’s availability issues, however, Mannix doesn’t see the need to break up Brown and Jayson Tatum, who won a title together just two seasons ago and have helped the Celtics become a perennial contender.

“Don’t mess with success, man,” Mannix added. “Look what you’ve got here. You’ve got success in Boston. Do not screw it up.

“Everybody in the league is trying to get their hands on versatile two-way wings like Jaylen Brown. Somebody will happily take him off your hands if you make him available. As much as I love Giannis, I wouldn’t take him right now over Jaylen Brown.”

As Mannix reported earlier this month, several teams are expected to have interest in trading for Brown this summer, including Brown’s hometown Atlanta Hawks. Brown’s trade value has never been higher, so the Celtics could get massive offers if they make the five-time All-Star available this offseason.

The counterpoint? The C’s have two top-10 players in their primes in Brown and Tatum and absolutely have a path to title contention in 2026-27 if Stevens can surround them with the right supporting cast.

According to Mannix, Boston’s best path forward is keeping the Jays intact rather than hoping Antetokounmpo can regain his MVP form.

The NBA has arrived at the very best part of the calendar. Four teams are left standing in the race for the 2026 championship, and it should produce the highest possible level of basketball played this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trying to become the first team since the 2018 Golden State Warriors to win back-to-back championships. They’re facing an upstart contender in the San Antonio Spurs who can threaten their potential dynasty. The Spurs have 22-year-old 7’5 sensation Victor Wembanyama. If the mythical Best Player in the World title belongs to Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander right now, it sure feels like Wemby is on the brink of claiming it as its own for the foreseeable future.

In the East, the New York Knicks are rolling, and playing the best basketball the franchise has seen since its last championship in 1973. The Cleveland Cavaliers are standing in their way after surviving a seven-game series against the Pistons.

Let’s rank the four teams still alive by their championships chances.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs and Knicks were expected to be the last two clubs left standing in the East at the start of the year, and that’s exactly what happened even if there were some twists for Cleveland that no one could have seen coming. The Cavs left no doubt in Game 7 against the Pistons despite another clunker from their trade deadline addition James Harden in a big game. It’s a testament to Cleveland’s talent level that Harden can no show and the team can still win a blowout. Harden will have better games against the Knicks, and he’ll need to for Cleveland to keep pace. The Cavs got Evan Mobley more involved in the offense after going down 0-2 to Detroit, and his continued growth represents Cleveland’s best chance to pull off an upset in the conference finals. Mobley and Jarrett Allen have the ability to give Karl-Anthony Towns fits defensively, and Mobley in particular should be able to hold up better than most bigs when switched onto Jalen Brunson. Donovan Mitchell probably has to be the best player in the series for Cleveland to make the NBA Finals, and he’s capable of getting to that level. This will be a huge series for Sam Merrill and Max Strus, the designated movement shooters for the Cavs who need to stay hot to match buckets with a powerful Knicks offense. New York has clearly been the better team in the playoffs, but Cleveland is still learning who it is, and there’s a chance it can still discover its best level in the conference finals.

3. New York Knicks

Remember when the Knicks were trailing the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 in their first-round series and all of New York was ready to fire head coach Mike Brown? Since then, the Knicks have rattled off seven straight wins to look like a realistic championship challenger out of the East. The Knicks have been the favorite in the conference going back to the preseason, but it feels like they’re just starting to hit their stride and play their best ball at the best possible time. OG Anunoby’s right hamstring strain hangs over the team’s ascent, but he’s reportedly in line to play in Game 1 of this series. Anunoby is the skeleton key that makes New York go, providing spacing and three-point shooting around Jalen Brunson’s shot-creation and excellent defense next to two offensively-slanted stars in Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. While lineups with Brunson, KAT, and Anunoby are pretty mid on the season, Anunoby with one star on and the other star off crushes everything in its path. Brunson remains as good as it gets in crunch time: he’s always ready to pick out the weakest defender and attack them relentlessly, and it’s almost impossible to stop him from getting to his spots. This series and potentially the next one feel pivotal for Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson as players who bring unique strengths off the bench. If Anunoby is back and regains the level he’s played at so far in the postseason, the Knicks are a big favorite in the East and could have a decent chance against the Thunder or Spurs.

2. San Antonio Spurs

It’s wild to think that Victor Wembanyama had never played in a playoff game entering his third season this year. All San Antonio did this season was win 62 games (second-most in the NBA), with Wemby ascending to a top-3 player in the world, and posing problems no one has a solution for. Wembanyama isn’t just 7’5 with an 8-foot wingspan, he also plays with an incredible motor and enough skill to hit shots all over the floor. Wemby alone would make this team a contender, the Spurs also moved up into the top-4 of the draft lottery the next two seasons after landing the best prospect of the generation. Put Wemby on the floor with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, and the Spurs outscore opponents by 38.7 points per 100 possessions. Take Wemby and Castle off, and lineups led by Harper are still out-scoring opponents by +4.5 points. I’ll drop the fancy numbers for a second and just say the Spurs are much more than a one-man show. Luke Kornet provides elite rim protection as Wembanyama’s backup, and Julian Champagnie has grown into high-volume and accurate three-point shooter. Oh yeah, De’Aaron Fox is here too, and while he’s often frustrating, his shot-creation is still nice to have in a pinch. The Spurs have three losses throughout the playoffs, and two of them came when Wembanyama was either concussed or ejected. The Spurs already showed they could beat the Thunder in the regular season by winning the season series 4-1. No one should be surprised if this team wins the championship, and then wins a whole bunch more in the coming years.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are 8-0 in the playoffs entering the Western Conference Finals, and six of those eight wins have been by double-figures. The Spurs will be a much tougher opponent than the Suns or Lakers, and in many ways this is the first real chapter of what should be the defining rivalry in the NBA for the foreseeable future. While the Spurs won four of the five games during the regular season, teams usually have to take their lumps before breaking through for a championship. Beyond that, OKC has answers for everything San Antonio can do outside of Wembanyama. The Thunder’s defense is one of the best units in league history, and players like Fox, Castle, and Harper won’t have such an easy time creating looks against them. San Antonio has some good defenders, but they don’t have anyone who can slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA scored 20+ points in literally every game this season on the way to back-to-back MVPs. Chet Holmgren is the closest thing to Wemby the United States has produced, and while he’s not nearly as good as his French counterpart, Holmgren still feels like a top-10 player in the league right now. Jalen Williams will reportedly be ready to go for game one, but he’s missed so much of this season with a hamstring injury that it’s hard to know how much he can be counted on. Of course, Ajay Mitchell has basically replicated the scoring and shot-creation Williams was providing, so the Thunder should be just fine either way. Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player in the world right now, and while Wembanyama will probably grab that title from him soon (maybe even in the next two weeks), I think SGA has enough juice to get the Thunder over the finish line this year. This is an elite team in its prime, and they’re ready to break the NBA’s no repeats streak.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.

Player Snapshot

• Position: SG
• Age: 24
• 2026-27 Contract Status: $36.3 million
• SunsRank (Preseason): 2
• SunsRank (Postseason): 3

*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.

Season in One Sentence

Jalen Green proved that he is who he has always been.

By the Numbers

The Expectation

Jalen Green was supposed to come into the season as an electric athlete who could fill up the scoring column in the box score. He was supposed to be the number two scoring option on this team, who could give Booker a rest when needed.

That said, no one thought it was a guaranteed thing that Green was going to fit seamlessly on this team. In September, when Brandon Duenas played devil’s advocate and put forth three reasons the Suns weren’t going to make the playoffs this season, the number one predicted reason was that Booker and Green wouldn’t fit together. How many times have you heard the phrase, “there is only one ball” during your NBA fandom?

The athleticism of Jalen Green really was the main selling point of adding him to this roster. After years of wing rotations that consisted of Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Royce O’Neale, a true jump out of the gym, hit your head on the rim-type athlete was supposed to be a breath of fresh air.

On top of it all, Green was an iron man. He missed just 21 out of his first 328 games in the NBA.

The Reality

Unfortunately, an offseason hamstring injury resulted in a huge setback for Green. His first game of the year was on November 6th against the Clippers, the Suns’ 9th game of the year. The very next game, also against the Clippers, Green reaggravated his hamstring and returned to the sideline. He would not return until the Suns’ 44th game of the year, in Philadelphia on January 20th. After that, he played just 4 of the next 11 games. Finally, on February 19th, he returned in full. He played in games 56-80 and was finally back for good.

If you look at his stats for his age 23 season, you won’t see a leap into superstardom. He scored around the same number of points with a very similar efficiency to his averages with Houston.

He was not Phoenix’s second option this season, like many of us expected him to be. He was third in field goal attempts per game for the Suns. By the time Green was regularly in the lineup, Brooks had already established himself as Booker’s number 2.

What It Means

Jalen Green is who he is. He has been almost the exact same player every single year he has been in the NBA. He is not going to replace Booker someday as the Suns’ star shooting guard. So, with that in mind, why keep him? He is going to make $36 million dollars next season, and this team has no starting power forward.

He’s still just 23, he is on a big contract, and he plays a position that makes him redundant to the team’s game plan. At this point, Jalen Green is the Sun that I think makes the most sense to trade this offseason.

If the Suns do keep Green long-term, then expect him to play more games than he did this season, but expect the exact same production. This is just who Jalen Green is.

Defining Moment

Jalen Green was the hero of the play-in, scoring 35 points against the Trailblazers and 36 points against the Warriors.

I am a sucker for a game-winner, though. On February 21st, the Suns played the Magic without Devin Booker and needed a hero as the clock struck zero in double overtime. Jalen Green stepped up and hit this incredible shot

Grade: B

I give Jalen Green a B. We were all disappointed to start the season without him and even more so to get him for so few games in total this year. When he was on the court, Booker and Green never felt like the dynamic inside-out guard duo that we thought they could be. But, outside of injury, it wasn’t a disappointing year. Green came in and performed exactly as he always had.

Next year, he will probably do the same.

The amount of talent in this 2026 draft has been compared to some of the best draft classes the NBA has ever seen, drawing comparisons to the 1996 and 2003 drafts. The 1996 draft showcased names like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, and Ray Allen. Widely regarded as the most talented class ever, the 2003 draft featured names like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony. With so many comparisons being drawn with this draft, it’s worth taking a deeper look at the peak of this draft, and one of those names is Cameron Boozer.

The basics

Cam Boozer, the 6’9 freshman out of Duke, has widely been deemed a top four pick in this year’s draft, and for good reason. Boozer has been around basketball since birth, being the son of NBA veteran Carlos Boozer. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 18, 2007, while his father was playing for the Utah Jazz. He was touted as an elite prospect in high school as a freshman. He didn’t fall short of expectations, leading Christopher Columbus High School in Westchester, Florida, to four 7A state championships. Boozer won Gatorade National Player of the Year as a sophomore and senior and was also named Florida Mr. Basketball and Mr. Basketball USA. In his senior year, he averaged 22.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.4 stocks (blocks + steals) per game.

His elite talent and winning ways made him a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in a loaded 2025-2026 NCAA class. Ultimately, he committed to Duke and continued his dominance at the collegiate level. Even in such a talented draft, Boozer stood out in his own unique ways, showing he’s capable of dominating at any level. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Boozer led the Blue Devils to a 31-3 record, securing a one seed in the 2026 NCAA tournament. They were eliminated on the infamous turnover at halfcourt that led to a UConn Braylon Mullins three, ending the Duke March Madness run at the Elite Eight. In the 73-72 loss, Boozer had 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

The good

Boozer is an elite offensive player. He stands at 6’9, 250 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan – and plays like it. His game starts on the inside and moves out. He’s about as close to a mix of old-age and new-age big man as you can get. Boozer shot 55.6% from the floor his senior year, 39.1% from three, and 78.9% from the free throw line.

As far as his shot diet goes, 60% of his shots came in the paint, about 13% came from mid-range, and 26% came from three. Boozer was never perceived as an outside threat in high school but expanded his game at Duke. Most notable was his ability to shoot the three. He shot 42 percent on unguarded catch-and-shoot threes, 39 percent on guarded catch-and-shoot threes, 49 percent on spot-up threes, and 44 percent on pick-and-pops. For not being dubbed a natural “shooter,” these numbers are impressive.

Although the three is in his hip pocket, the meat and potatoes of Boozer’s game is inside of 15 feet. He often operates out of the post and uses a flurry of moves to find a way to put the ball in the basket. He isn’t quite as savvy as a guy like AJ Dybantsa in terms of getting to his spot, but he has good fundamentals and footwork that allow him to get easy buckets inside.

The room to grow

The concerns surrounding Boozer mostly stem from his lack of general athleticism.

For the most part, he plays below the rim, and scouts worry his reliance on brute strength likely won’t be an advantage in the bigger, faster, stronger NBA. Boozer is a good athlete but does not possess top-tier explosiveness like an AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. This may affect his ability to finish strong at the rim and could limit his effectiveness in transition or when attacking the basket against more athletic defenders. As the NBA moves away from standard big men and more towards shooting and spacing at every position, there is concern Boozer’s skillset may not translate to the NBA.

Another area for improvement is at the defensive end of the floor. Although he’s a smart defensive player, Boozer may not be as dominant a rim protector at the next level. His shot-blocking numbers dropped notably from high school to college, which suggests he might struggle against substantially more athletic big men in the NBA. Boozer averaged just 0.6 blocks per game with Duke, just 2.0% of total shots taken by opponents. All the more reason for scouts to be concerned about his ability to guard length and athleticism. Additionally, his general lack of speed and lateral quickness puts him in vulnerable positions, especially when guarding on the perimeter. He’s not Daniel Gafford bad, but at best, he looks uncomfortable in space.

The good news for Boozer is that the concern teams and scouts have about him can be minimized by continuing to stretch his game outside of 15 feet and add some positional quickness. He’ll never be considered athletic, but his reliance on his size and fundamentals keep him in the top four prospects.

Fit with the Grizzlies (third selection)

As the Memphis Grizzlies continue to build around a young core that includes Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Zach Edey, selecting Boozer would add a key go-to offensive threat along with creating one of the more dynamic frontcourts in the league. Although the Grizzlies already have solid options at power forward, including Taylor Hendricks and GG Jackson Jr., Boozer’s talent is a huge tier above those guys. He would be the ideal power forward to add to this dynamic core. The Grizzlies were 25th in the NBA this season in offensive rating at 112.9 points per 100 possessions. Adding Boozer would be an incredible shot to the arm offensively. Memphis would still need a year or two to build into a playoff team, but man this team looks a lot more fun with Boozer.

Fit with the Bulls (fourth selection)

The other destination Boozer could find himself landing in, is Chicago. The Bulls have been a mess for the past decade, and this draft is their chance to significantly right the ship. If the Grizzlies were to take Caleb Wilson with the third pick, leaving Boozer on the board for the Bulls, Chicago should salivate at the idea of adding him to a young core of Matas Buzelis and Tre Jones. Jones showcased his ability to be a solid point guard this past season and Buzelis is an athletic, high-flyer, who can be a threat on both sides of the floor. Chicago was 23rd in the NBA in offensive rating this season at 113.0 points per 100 possessions. Cam Boozer would be the ideal offensive fit for a much-needed revival of Chicago basketball.

NBA comparison

Boozer is frequently compared to Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic for his combination of strength and the ability to finish inside the paint. His ceiling could be a combination of Banchero with a touch of Tim Duncan’s fundamentals and offensive prowess inside of 15 feet. If Boozer doesn’t reach that level, a slightly smaller Kevin Love is also in the cards. At his peak, Love was an offensive juggernaut who sucked up rebounds like a vacuum cleaner. Either way, Boozer will probably have a very solid NBA career.

There hasn’t been a playoff series since the 2018 Western Conference Finals that carries as much anticipation as the upcoming Spurs-Thunder clash, and for good reason. Both teams could upset Adam Silver’s precious era of parity, and the only thing stopping one of them from becoming a dynasty is, well, the other.

OKC has already reached the mountaintop, while San Antonio is nipping at their heels. This is the first matchup of what should be the rivalry of a generation, and whoever comes out on top between Wemby and Shai could also grab the title as best in the world.

So, let’s examine some of the key battles that will determine the war.

Rebounding

Rebounding has been OKC’s achilles heel for a few seasons now, and it could be problematic against the Spurs too. In the regular season, the Thunder’s 25.1% offensive rebounding rate ranked 25th in the league, while their 71% DREB was 16th. Meanwhile, the Spurs placed 9th (29.5%), and 1st (74.1%), respectively, in those categories, which played out in their regular season matchup, too: San Antonio scored 13 more second chance points in those games (+2.6 average).

Overall, the Spurs grabbed 12 more OREBs and 4 more DREBs across those five matches. It’s worth noting that those numbers are fattened by their fifth and final game, when the Thunder rested all their stars, and OKC has also been much better in the playoffs, with a 32.3% OREB compared to San Antonio’s 28.4%. On the other hand, the Spurs’ playoff opponents had much more capable frontcourts than what the Thunder faced, and the regular season’s larger sample should be more indicative of both team’s styles.

In such a close series, San Antonio needs to win on the margins, and that means dominating OKC on the glass.

Free throws

For as much hootin’ and hollerin’ there is around Shai’s foul grifting, he is still just one player. Even with his prowess getting to the line, the Thunder were “just” 9th league-wide in free throw rate, at 21.8% — just slightly behind the Spurs, who were at 21.9%. These two teams are neck and neck on the other end, too, as San Antonio was 1st in defensive free throw rate (17.9%) while OKC was second (18.3%), and none of those numbers have changed much in the playoffs. In the four regular season matchups when both Wemby and Shai played, the Spurs shot 15 more FTs than the Thunder did, though the large discrepancy is skewed by an outlier game that saw San Antonio have 17 more attempts in one night.

This will be a battle of strengths on both sides of the ball, and I’m fully here for the toxic discourse that will inevitably follow.

The Wemby mismatch

Wemby is a walking mismatch for every team in the league, but it was most pronounce against the Thunder due to the level of competition he dominated. In their regular season series, OKC had an abysmal 99.6 offensive rating with Wemby playing, which was largely caused by their shots (or lack thereof) at the basket: the Thunder only attempted 25.3% of their shots around the rim, which would’ve ranked 29th league-wide and was 6% lower than their full season average (31.3%). They had no answer to Wemby defensively, as he was always able to roam the paint by either matching up against a non-spacing big (Hartenstein), or sagging off of a guard who struggles to shoot (like Caruso, who went 2-12 from three in one game).

It’s a high risk, high reward strategy since Caruso (and other Thunder guards) has shown the ability to get hot from deep, but the Spurs have counters to that as well. In the Minnesota series, the Wolves forced Wemby to guard Terrance Shannon Jr. at times in the corners, but the Alien recovers so fast that he’s able to get back in the paint without giving the opposition an advantage, and that’s also aided by San Antonio’s impeccable defensive rotations beside him.

Shai hasn’t passed the Wemby test, either. The Alien allows the Spurs’ perimeter defenders (especially Stephon Castle) to guard the MVP aggressively: if they get beat off the dribble, they know that Wemby’s behind them to provide help, and because of this, Wemby’s presence has detered Shai from driving, forcing him to take difficult shots instead.

The one thing OKC can try is using Gortat screens to prevent Wemby from getting in position to contest shots. Minnesota did it multiple times in the first few games to some success, and the Thunder have better personnel to make it a more consistent strategy. It won’t work everytime, but if OKC executes it properly, some key possessions could be swung in their favor.

Offensively, Wemby renders one of the Thunder’s strengths moot. San Antonio made an absurd 70.5% of their attempts at the rim, which is over 10% higher than what OKC normally concedes in that area (60.2%, first in the regular season). Having a 7’5” alien as a lob threat certainly helps, but Wemby’s impact goes far beyond that. His gravity creates open driving lanes for San Antonio’s guards, or cuts that they can make for wide open finishes, like the example below.

In the regular season games, the Thunder used a smaller guard/wing on Wemby, allowing iHart or Chet to roam and provide backline help. This was largely ineffective due to Wemby’s shooting ability, his gravity, and the Spurs off-ball movement, so OKC tried playing Chet straight against him instead. Well, that didn’t even last a half, and OKC seemed lost during all of the Wemby minutes.

Still, Mark Daigneault has had over three months to gameplan against the Alien. He’ll have moree tricks up his sleeve now, and there’s still a wrinkle that was barely employed in the regular season: using one of Chet/iHart against Wemby while the other one acts as a roamer by sagging off of Castle. It’s a risk given that the latter is shooting 44% from three in the playoffs and has dealt with this type of coverage before, but neither Castle nor Wemby has experienced it against an all-time great defense that has had months to prepare for this specific matchup.

If anyone can find an advantage over Wemby and the Spurs, it would be this OKC squad.

X-Factor: Spurs’ 3-point volume vs Thunder’s points off turnovers

As was outlined by Jeje in the series preview, the Spurs allowed much fewer turnovers against OKC compared to the Thunder’s season average, and that resulted in San Antonio scoring more points off TOs than OKC did. Essentially, the Spurs turned off the Thunder’s superpower, which was caused by a few factors. One, OKC’s perimeter defenders weren’t hounding San Antonio’s guards as much as they usually do, instead giving them more space. This is because the Spurs’ guards are the only ones in the league that can match the Thunder backcourt’s physicality and athleticism, so San Antonio could play bully ball and drive past the defense if they were pressed too hard. OKC also wanted to swarm Wemby more, and with none of the Spurs guards being elite shooters, the Thunder were comfortable giving them more space to operate on the perimeter.

Obviously, the drawback to that is the lack of turnovers created. Given the lack of success that this scheme had in the regular season, I expect OKC to go back to their usual aggressive defense, but that would result in more defensive rotations that opens up threes for their opponents. The Thunder have successfully lived with this trade-off for multiple seasons now, finishing tied for first in turnovers forced this past season (16.8%) but also conceding the 6th most threes (40.4% of opponent shots came from beyond the arc) and the most corners threes, too (12.4%). That latter number is especially important because the Spurs generated the most corner threes (12.9%) in the regular season, which increased to 13.8% with Wemby on the floor — one of the highest figures ever.

In other words, the Thunder can either play conservatively on defense and risk losing the turnover battle again, or they can go back to their usual scheme and live with the Spurs shooting threes. This will be the most important stylistic battle to monitor, and whoever comes out on top will have a massive advantage in the series.

After falling to the ninth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks now enter a very different section of the board than they were hoping for a few months ago. The top-end “future franchise centerpiece” tier is likely gone by the time Dallas picks, meaning the Mavericks now have to focus on identifying high-level complementary players who fit around Cooper Flagg long term. That shift makes Dailyn Swain one of the more fascinating names in the Mavericks’ range.

Swain’s breakout junior season at Texas was one of the best all-around wing seasons in college basketball. He became the first player in Texas history to win SEC Newcomer of the Year, earned Second-Team All-SEC honors, and finished as a finalist for the Julius Erving Award. More impressively, he became the only player in a major conference to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and minutes played. Swain averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 54.2% from the field and 81.5% from the free throw line. He also helped lead Texas to the Sweet 16, where he finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists in a narrow loss to Purdue.

The production is impressive, but the way Swain plays is what really stands out.

The good

Swain feels like one of the safest “winning basketball” bets at the end of the lottery or in the middle of the first round because of how many different ways he impacts the game. At 6-foot-6.5 and 211 pounds with a near 6-foot-10 wingspan, he already has NBA-ready size and physicality for a modern wing. He constantly pressures the rim, plays through contact, rebounds extremely well for his position, and thrives in transition.

The downhill pressure is probably the biggest selling point offensively. Swain consistently creates paint touches, collapses defenses, and forces rotations without needing isolations built around him every possession. He attacks closeouts quickly, pushes the ball after rebounds, and plays with a pace that keeps offenses moving. The advanced metrics back that up, too, as Swain graded near the very top nationally in rim pressure and rim assists among wings.

What makes him especially interesting next to Cooper Flagg is how connected his game feels. Swain does not need the ball for 15 seconds to impact a possession. He rebounds and initiates transition offense, makes quick reads, cuts hard, attacks gaps, and keeps the ball moving naturally. Those are the types of players that elevate lineups around stars rather than slowing them down.

Defensively, there is a lot to like, too. Swain generated steals at a strong rate, consistently disrupted actions without gambling himself out of possessions, and projects as a versatile multi-positional defender. Dallas badly lacked perimeter size, physicality, and point-of-attack resistance for much of last season, and Swain could help solve all three problems immediately.

The bad

Swain’s swing skill is clearly the jumper. While the free-throw percentage at 81.5% is encouraging long-term, the three-point shot itself still feels more functional than truly dangerous. Defenses will likely dare him to shoot early in his NBA career until he proves he can consistently punish teams from outside.

There are also questions about the ceiling of his half-court creation. Swain is extremely effective attacking advantages, but he is not someone you currently project to become a primary offensive engine. He thrives attacking downhill against bent defenses, but creating difficult offense against set NBA defenses remains more theoretical than proven.

That creates some archetype risk. Wings who rely heavily on physicality, transition scoring, and connective offense can sometimes become difficult to maximize if the jumper never fully develops. Dallas also already has several players who prefer to operate inside the arc, so long-term spacing around Flagg remains one of the most important questions the front office must answer.

Player comp

Swain’s game honestly resembles a blend of several different NBA wings. There are shades of Josh Hart and Jaime Jaquez Jr. because of the rebounding, toughness, downhill pressure, and constant activity he brings every night. Offensively, there are stylistic flashes of Gordon Hayward and Evan Turner in the secondary creation and connective playmaking from the wing position.

The higher-end outcome probably looks something like a more athletic version of Jaime Jaquez Jr., where the value comes from versatility, feel, physicality, and two-way impact rather than elite shot creation. Even if he never becomes a true offensive star, Swain feels like the type of wing playoff teams are constantly trying to find because of how naturally he contributes to winning basketball.

Fit with the Mavericks

Swain feels like one of the cleaner fits for what Dallas should be trying to build around Cooper Flagg moving forward. The Mavericks desperately need perimeter athleticism, rebounding, defensive versatility, and secondary playmaking after the roster looked so disjointed last season. Swain addresses all four areas almost immediately.

More importantly, his game complements Flagg naturally. He can defend multiple positions, attack closeouts, rebound, push in transition, and function as connective offensive tissue without requiring heavy usage. That matters on a team where Flagg is clearly going to become the primary offensive engine long term.

He also feels like exactly the kind of player Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz would gravitate toward. Swain checks almost every “winning basketball” box organizations prioritize: effort, feel, versatility, physicality, transition offense, and defensive flexibility. Even if the jumper never becomes elite, the baseline NBA role already feels very real.

And if Dallas is serious about building a tougher, longer, more defensive-minded roster around Cooper Flagg, Dailyn Swain feels like exactly the type of player the Mavericks should be paying close attention to throughout the pre-draft process.

Final Thoughts

Dailyn Swain may not have the flashy offensive upside of some of the guards projected near the top of this class, but he feels like one of the safer bets to become a meaningful NBA player. He already impacts games in multiple ways without needing high usage, and those types of players become incredibly valuable in playoff environments.

If Dallas is serious about building a tougher, more versatile, defensive-minded identity around Cooper Flagg moving forward, Swain feels like exactly the kind of player the Mavericks should be paying close attention to throughout the pre-draft process.

I don’t know if there is a way to write this article on a Spurs site without it coming off automatically as sour grapes, but I am going attempt to do it anyway.

First, I will say congratulations to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s an incredible player who has had an incredible year. For those who remember, he was traded in 2019 from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Oklahoma City Thunder with Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and the rights to swap two other first-round picks.

The trade is considered one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. And the picks the Thunder acquired still haven’t fully conveyed, but the addition of Jalen Williams via the 2022 pick has been an essential piece of their success.

I will also add if I was a fan of any of the other 29 teams, I’d probably be more supportive of SGA picking up the MVP for the second year. Alas, I am a Spurs fanatic and a Wembanyama devotee and have to admit he is my choice for MVP.

But Victor Wembanyama did not start the year with MVP statistics, and the trophy is based on the entire season. I believe Maxime Aubin, who covers the Spurs and Wembanyama for the French publication L’Equipe, said it best. (See translation below.)

“Now that Shams has spoiled the news, I’m revealing my vote for the MVP award:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

2. Victor Wembanyama

3. Nikola Jokic

Victor Wembanyama experienced an incredible surge over the course of the season—to the point where, in my view, he became the best player in the NBA during the final few weeks. However, I believe the MVP trophy is meant to reward the best player over the entire regular season, and SGA demonstrated exemplary consistency, in addition to finishing with the best team record in the league.“

SGA was the favorite all year, and Wemby made his case in the latter half of the season. It was an uphill battle to get the voters to change their minds. I believe his making the top three was a win in an of itself.

The other difficult selling point for Wemby was his playing time. He averaged under 30 minutes compared to SGA’s 33.2 or Jokic’s 34.8. While I believe Victor does more with less time, voters often see the MVP as the player running most of the game.

So maybe Wembanyama wasn’t truly in a position to entice the voting reporters to chose him this year, but should it have been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

These stats suggest Jokic should have earned his fourth MVP award.

Bottom line, the league was not ready for Wemby to be MVP in the same way they weren’t ready for the Spurs to be title contenders.

And yet, here the Spurs are, walking into the Western Conference Finals against the reigning NBA champions, and the reigning two-time MVP.

How will Wemby respond? Will the stats between SGA and Victor Wembanyama in these Western Conference Finals tell a different story?

We know Wemby takes these things very seriously.

Game 1 of Western Conference Finals begins tonight. Expect a fast-paced, competitive, and often heated series.

Nothing else to say, but-

GO SPURS GO!

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