Category: Basketball

SAN FRANCISCO — The direction of the Warriors’ offseason waits on Steve Kerr, so with the coach still undecided about his future, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. also put his traditional postseason news conference on hold.

With Steph Curry and Draymond Green already addressing their futures following Friday’s play-in loss to the Suns that ended their season, that meant there wasn’t much of any consequence left as the remainder of the roster took the podium one-by-one Monday inside Chase Center.

Still, here’s one thing we learned about each player in the last time we hear from them before they regroup at the end of summer for a training camp that could look different from years past.

Al Horford: Still contemplating future

Horford described his first year with the Warriors as a “positive experience,” despite not getting the chance to chase a championship like he had hoped when he decided to leave the Celtics.

Horford, 39, possesses a player option for next season but said he’s undecided about his future. He did not rule out retirement and said he would talk it over with his wife, Amelia.

“Fortunately for me, I’m healthy. I feel good. I still feel like I can contribute and play at a very high level still. Those are all things that I’m going to look at,” Horford said. “Now that everything kind of gets quiet, you know, it’s something that I’ll reflect on all that.”

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De’Anthony Melton: Open to returning

Horford isn’t the only player with a decision to make, with Melton also holding a $3.45 million player option for next season.

The 27-year-old guard said he would “love to come back,” but he will take time to weigh his options, which should be more lucrative after re-establishing himself in his first year back from knee surgery.

“You’ve got to give yourself time to kind of decompress and see everything that’s going on, kind of let the dust settle,” he said. “I think that type of stuff is what I’m going to worry about next week.”

Brandin Podziemski: Hopes to sign contract extension

Melton’s backcourt partner won’t be a restricted free agent until after next season, but now that he is eligible for an extension to his rookie deal, the 23-year-old hopes it can get done this summer.

Podziemski, who took on more responsibility with Curry sidelined, said he look lessons away from watching the different ways Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody handled their contract situations.

“I want to be here for the long-term,” he said. “I think both seeing (Kuminga) and Moses do two different things for me helped, just seeing the goods and bads to both sides. I don’t think one is better than the other, but seeing that as a teammate and seeing how they handled both situations, I think is going to help me.”

Podziemski also walked back comments from before the season, when he said his goal was to be better than Curry. The brashness earned criticism inside and outside the organization.

“I know I’m not going to be better than Steph. He’s the only person that can be Steph,” Podziemski said. “So for me it’s just having that confidence, but understanding that I’m just trying to be the best version of Brandin Podziemski I can be, and wherever that kind of takes me in this career.”

Quinten Post: Foot injury won’t prevent him from playing with Dutch national team

An injury to his right foot prevented the 26-year-old center from appearing in all but one of the Warriors’ final 13 games, but he said he was gearing up to be ready for a potential first-round series.

“I kept trying to play through it, and I put myself back,” he said.

Post also lost playing time once Horford was healthy and the Warriors had added another big man in Kristaps Porzingis. Post and Porzingis are set to be unrestricted free agents.

In the meantime, Post said he hopes to continue to improve his defense, get leaner and “play a bunch of basketball.” That includes suiting up for the Dutch national team.

“I think I’ll be back in about two weeks and start ramping it up from there,” Post said of his health. As far as his future with the Warriors, he added: “I would love to be here for as long as possible.”

Will Richard: Plans to play Summer League despite hitting ‘rookie wall’

The Warriors looked like they found a diamond in the rough with Richard, the 56th overall pick in this past draft, but the rookie guard admitted he wasn’t the same player from about the All-Star break onward.

“It’s been a long season just from playing in the (NCAA) National Championship to predraft workouts, Summer League, training camp,” Richard said. “It’s been nonstop.”

Still, Richard said he planned for only a little downtime before getting back to work. He confirmed that he plans to play in the NBA Summer League this July for a second year in a row.

“I know it’s a big summer,” he said.

Joseph Savarino, the grandson of former Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, faces a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired in a crash that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy in North Carolina.

According to WRAL News — an NBC TV affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina — Savarino is accused of hitting a cyclist riding their electric bike at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18, at the intersection of Cole Mill Road and Wyndham Lane in Durham, North Carolina. WRAL reports that the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to online records from the Durham County Sheriff's Office, Savarino, 26, was booked into jail at 2:45 a.m. ET on Sunday, April 19, before posting out on $100,000 bond on Monday, April 20.

REQUIRED READING: Best fits: 10 college basketball transfers who are perfect for new teams

According to a public report of the incident obtained by WRAL News, Savarino told police he had been drinking earlier in the night, and that his blood alcohol content level registered at 0.11 on a breathalyzer test. WRAL also reported that a judge issued an order to revoke Savarino’s driving license.

Savarino is the son of Krzyzewski's daughter, Debbie Savarino, according to a 2024 article from the Raleigh News & Observer.

Krzyzewski has been retired from coaching since the end of the 2021-22 season. He served as the Blue Devils' coach for 42 seasons and posted a career overall record of 1,129-309.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joseph Savarino, grandson of Mike Krzyzewski, charged with DWI

The NBA held its draft tiebreaker drawings on Monday, April 20. It is worth clarifying what this process actually is, as this is not the Draft Lottery itself. Instead, the league uses these drawings to establish the order among tied teams before the lottery takes place, ensuring each team receives the appropriate odds (for lottery bound teams) or settles tiebreakers accordingly (for the 16 teams picking outside the lottery).

The Sixers do have a first-round pick in play, one that was directly affected by Monday’s tiebreaker. Philadelphia holds Houston’s first-round pick, acquired as part of the Jared McCain trade, and the Rockets finished the regular season at 50-32. Houston found themselves in a tiebreaker situation with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished with an identical record. Following a coin flip, the NBA awarded the Rockets the 22nd pick, which belongs to Philadelphia.

While it is only one slot, winning this tiebreaker is a win. Every position matters, especially in this draft. Most talent evaluators consider this class to run particularly deep, with viable prospects expected to be available as far down as picks 20 to 25. With the Sixers slotted at 22, it is a good place to be whether they keep and use the selection or ship it out for immediate help.

As for the Sixers’ own first-round pick, it will be conveying to Oklahoma City as part of the Al Horford deal that sent him to OKC for Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson. Philadelphia finished the regular season in a three-way tie with the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns, prompting a coin flip to determine picks 16, 17 and 18. While it was always known this pick would head to OKC, Monday’s drawing officially locked in exactly where it will land, slotting in at 17. With that, the long running obligations stemming from the Horford trade are now fully resolved.

Armed with the 22nd pick, the Sixers will have some significant decisions to make in the coming weeks and months. They are right in range to pounce if a coveted name slides down the board, but having a first-round selection also opens the door to moving up or down in ways that simply would not have been realistic without it.

Trading the pick outright remains on the table as well. In the past, I have been bullish on Philadelphia’s ability to move first-round picks mid-draft despite speculation to the contrary. This time around feels different, however. The league has taken notice of this draft class’s talent, and there will be no shortage of teams looking to shuffle their positions and lock up their preferred prospects. The Sixers may find the market for this pick more active than ever.

However it plays out, the 22nd pick gives Philadelphia a legitimate asset and real flexibility heading into one of the more compelling drafts in recent memory. The next few months should be interesting to see play out.

Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III and his fiancée Alex Jean Glover are a sports power couple.

In a recent TikTok video, Glover, who is a professional volleyball broadcaster for numerous networks, explained that she can’t make it to the Knicks’ first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks because “mama’s gotta work” — and she doesn’t want to be a stay-at-home WAG.

“Dont kill me but I’m not gonna be able to make it to those playoff games. Working in sports, I would say, is one of my biggest blessings, but with my fiancé playing in the NBA, I can’t make it to all of the big accomplishments,” Glover, who is a former Division 1 athlete for the SMU women’s volleyball team, said in a “get ready with me” video posted before New York’s 113-102 Game 1 victory at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Glover explained that she scheduled herself to work volleyball games before the Knicks clinched a playoff berth.

“That poses the question of, ‘If you knew it was during playoff time, why would you take it?'” she said. “If I waited for every single time the NBA had something come up… I wouldn’t work at all.”

Glover added that she missed Jemison’s first NBA G-League start with the Westchester Knicks, as well as the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup, where the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the championship game in Las Vegas in December.

“Before Trey got with me, he knew he was getting a working baddie,” she said. “But that doesn’t make it any easier.

“That being said, we’re OK with it. I absolutely love my job down. It actually allows me to see him more than I would if I had a normal 9-5 with being I able to do something that I love, being able to travel and see Trey for weeks at a time. I don’t have complaints. I want to be there… But a girl’s gotta work.”

Glover also explained that she often gets asked why she works so much.

“Because I want to work. It’s OK if you don’t want to work… I will also say this with my full chest: People glamorize the life of a stay-at-home WAG. That is a hard job to have. Basically your whole life is revolving around someone else’s schedule and then you can add another component if you have children.

“It’s not as easy as it looks. Running a household while you’re trying to keep everything together is difficult and it can be so easy to lose yourself in the midst of it all… It’s a lot harder than these women are making it look from the outside.

“… Props to all the girlfriends and the WAGs and everybody holding it down for these men. Happy playoff season and go Knicks.”

Glover and Jemison got engaged last August

She previously shared that they met when he slid in her DMs in the fall of 2024.

Glover graduated from SMU in 2023. She finished her SMU volleyball career playing 92 sets and recording 80 kills with a .367 hitting percentage and 93 blocks — and finished tied for seventh all-time for most matches played as a Mustang with 126.

Glover added that she’ll be watching the Knicks while on the road at work.

“Mama’s gotta work, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be SAT during the games,” she captioned her post. “As always GO NY GO.”

Game 2 of the Knicks-Hawks best-of-seven first-round series is set for Monday night at MSG.

With six ties among teams with identical regular season records, the NBA held random drawings on Monday to help determine the order for the 2026 Draft. 

The Knicks were among those teams after finishing with the same record as the Lakers (53-29). 

New York won the tiebreaker over Los Angeles via the drawing, meaning they now own the 24th overall pick. 

That is the first of three selections for the Knicks this year, with the other two being second-rounders, one of which comes via the Washington Wizards. 

New York's last first round selection was Pacome Dadiet at 25th overall in 2024, because they shipped out their first rounder last year as part of the Mikal Bridges trade. 

The NBA Draft takes place on June 23-24 at the Barclays Center. 

With Steve Kerr’s future up in the air, the Warriors are reportedly considering a larger “organizational reset” if their longtime coach opts not to run it back for a 13th season.

While it remains to be seen who will be coaching Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Co. next season and beyond, there is less uncertainty when it comes to Golden State’s front office.

Mike Dunleavy Jr. will be pulling the levers no matter what direction the Warriors go, according to a report from Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne on Monday. Per ESPN, the Golden State general manager quietly signed an extension earlier this season and has multiple years remaining on the deal.

Dunleavy, 45, is a former Warriors player who took over the top job in the front office when Bob Myers departed in 2022 following Golden State’s fourth championship in eight seasons.

Myers saw the difficult decisions coming down the road, many of which will come to a head for Dunleavy this offseason. Top of mind is Kerr, whose contract expired after their play-in loss to the Suns and spoke openly about whether returning for a 13th season was the right choice for him.

According to ESPN, citing anonymous team sources, Golden State would like Kerr, 60, to commit to a multiyear extension if he does decide to come back.

If Kerr does walk away, like Green believes he will, that could lead to larger changes for what has been the league’s most stable organization since he teamed up with Curry and Green in 2014.

Not only would the Warriors be expected to include several external coaching candidates in their search, they could also look to the college ranks, according to ESPN. Florida’s national championship-winning coach Todd Golden, who previously led the University of San Francisco, is one potential name.

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Within the league, former Pelicans coach Willie Green was mentioned by ESPN as a possibility to return to the Warriors’ staff, where he was an assistant under Kerr from 2016-19.

If the Warriors opt to move forward with what team sources described to ESPN as a potential “organizational reset,” it could involve further changes to the coaching staff and the roster.

While Steph Curry stopped short of publicly endorsing Kerr after they were eliminated, he said he wanted “Coach to be happy” and that “he knows how I feel about him.” At the same time, Curry acknowledged Golden State needed to change things up after an injury-riddled 37-45 finish.

“I’ve only been in one locker room for the last 17 years,” he said. “Before you win the title, there’s only like those first two years, you’re building the foundation for what a championship team looks like, even though you have no idea what that really meant, then you accomplish it and everything else is based off of that.

“It’s been that way since 2015. … With how the game is played now, with how fast it is, how young and athletic it is, all those things, we kind of have to put everything on the drawing board and get back to just being competitive every single night.”

Kerr acknowledged after the loss that every coaching job has “an expiration date” and that “sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.” Curry agreed but said he believed Kerr was up to the task.

“You have to adapt and evolve, for sure,” he said. “I think Coach is fully capable of doing that and thinking outside the box as we go. But to his point, your spirit has to be in it. Your mind has to be in it. Your coaching staff. Every dynamic has to be on that journey with you.”

Sixers work through ‘pretty painful' film session going into Game 2 vs. Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers certainly did not breeze through their film session Monday.

In the wake of a 32-point playoff-opening loss to the Celtics, head coach Nick Nurse said the team watched Game 1 “in its entirety.”

“You’ve got to look at what’s there,” Nurse said following his team’s practice at Harvard University. “Obviously, it was pretty painful to watch. There were a lot of things that we didn’t do very well and a lot of things out of character. So it was long. Lots to look at, lots to talk about.”

Entering the playoffs, multiple Sixers had highlighted the importance of “attention to detail.” The team had a rough Sunday in that regard.

The Sixers’ defense was nowhere near its disruptive best and Boston’s star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 51 points before subbing out for the non-competitive fourth quarter. 

“It was more so a lot of miscommunications, not being on the same page altogether,” Quentin Grimes said. “Nothing crazy, but we’ve just got to be on the same page for 48 minutes. … We watched that and we’ve got a good feel for how can play tomorrow.”

The Game 1 film was full of frustrating misses.

The Sixers were 0 for 12 on three-pointers classified by NBA.com as “wide open” (closest defender six or more feet away). And, according to Cleaning the Glass, they shot just 12 for 22 (54.5 percent) at the rim. The Celtics were 16 for 18.

“It’s a make-or-miss league,” Justin Edwards said. “The basketball Gods weren’t on our side. I expect them to be on our side tomorrow.”

While greater precision with Nurse’s schemes and sharper in-game adjustments will be necessary Tuesday, some of the Sixers’ problems in Game 1 were obviously intangible.

Andre Drummond believes the team will have a better, more focused collective mindset in Game 2. 

“Take some pressure off ourselves,” Drummond said. “I think we were so excited to be out there that we made little mistakes we normally wouldn’t make. We were hesitant on shots that we normally aren’t hesitant taking. Not that anybody’s nervous or scared, I think we’re just so excited to have made it this far and be a part of something bigger than ourselves compared to what happened last year. I think just those jitters kind of took over. 

“So I think we’re going to be fine. … A lot of the mistakes we made, we can control. So just be prepared. We watched film for a little while today, so we understand what needs to be changed and we’re ready to go.”

The Sixers’ hope is that their thorough review of Game 1 leads to a much different Game 2 performance.

“We needed that,” Drummond said. “We could’ve just come here, walked through our sets and prepared for tomorrow. But I think physically watching what we did to kind of beat ourselves, things we could’ve done better and could’ve done more … it was very long and very detailed. There’s a lot of things we wrote on the board that we need to do tomorrow.

“I think we’re ready, I think we’re prepared. … Regardless of what the score was, I think we needed to get that game under our belt to kind of feel what the atmosphere is going to be, and I think we’ll be fine.”

The latest on Embiid

On the injury front, Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) was still the one player listed as out for either side going into Game 2. The Celtics listed Ron Harper Jr. as probable with a right ankle sprain.

A Sixers official said Monday that Embiid has started a strength and conditioning program post-surgery in Philadelphia. He had the procedure on April 9 and was back around his teammates for the first time last Wednesday when the Sixers won their play-in tournament game vs. the Magic.

In case you need reminding, go ahead and rewatch Sunday’s game to see how much the Sixers miss Joel Embiid when he’s out.

The team looked hopeless without the big fella, getting crushed by the Boston Celtics 123-91 in Game 1 Sunday. Sure, the Celtics are the favorites to get out of the East and Nick Nurse didn’t seem to have any answers for anything Joe Mazzulla was doing, but Embiid’s absence was undeniably felt.

Adem Bona and Andre Drummond struggled mightily on both ends of the floor. Bona couldn’t finish anything at the rim and got into early foul trouble. Drummond yet again couldn’t keep up with Neemias Queta and also got into early foul trouble. Dominick Barlow had to play some five and didn’t find any success, either.

Like it or not, the Sixers are stuck in this Embiid limbo, praying there’s any chance he can return for this series. The team is only as good as his health allows them to be — which obviously hasn’t been good for nearly his entire career. Trading him isn’t likely to help the franchise now or in the future. It’s frustrating, but there really aren’t many alternatives other than getting serious about building a roster that can at least withstand his absences.

Embiid’s three-year extension kicks in next season, when he’ll make (an estimated) $57.9 million. That number goes up to $62.6 million in 2027-28. He then has a player option for the 2028-29 season at $67.2 million. Put yourself in the shoes of another general manager — as great as Embiid is when he plays, are you giving up real assets for that cap hit and sorted injury history? Of course you aren’t.

Think about Daryl Morey’s history here as well. He won’t salary dump players, for better or worse. He did so immediately upon his arrival with Al Horford in a move that absolutely had to happen. Since then, he’s held on to players like Ben Simmons and James Harden, despite their desires to be traded. This is a guy who held on to Tobias Harris for the entirety of his contract because he couldn’t get positive value in return. To think he would happily hand over picks to get off Embiid’s contract isn’t based in reality.

Of course, there’s a non-zero chance Morey isn’t running things this offseason. So, you’re then expecting the next executive to trade a guy in Embiid who is a franchise icon and, again, attach assets to do it. It would be the defining move of the next executive’s tenure. That’s a lot of weight to put on a potential Morey successor.

And take into account what the team looks like post-Embiid salary dump. It’s doubtful the players they receive in return will offer any type of upgrade. Those guys are likely to be salary dumps in their own right. Maybe a player like a Nicolas Batum will sneak in the deal like in the Harden trade, but how much better does that make this version of the Sixers? They’ll also have less picks to build for the future, hurting any future team-building around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Again, there’s no great solution here. The best and most logical step is to fortify the center position behind Embiid. The Sixers have done well on the margins in so many other areas. Their inability to find just a decent backup big or two, knowing Embiid’s injury history, is mind-boggling.

Bona is fine as a backup playing 15-20 minutes a night while he continues to develop, but the team needs more. With respect to Drummond, who is giving the Sixers everything he can right now, an upgrade is needed. You don’t need a world-beater, just a big who can do the basics — set good screens, roll to the rim and finish, rebound and protect the rim. There are centers who fit this mold you can acquire without needing premium trade assets or money. Johni Broome is here, but it still could be beneficial to bring in another young big after the 23-year-old rookie couldn’t get minutes before suffering a meniscus injury.

The Sixers couldn’t be in a stranger spot. Embiid is likely too good to salary dump, but can’t be relied upon to stay healthy through a playoff run. There’s no perfect answer, but the team can do better starting this offseason.

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Learn to spell his name. Learn to pronounce his name. Learn to enjoy the absurdities that come when Victor Wembanyama is on the court. They will likely define the next few weeks of the NBA playoffs, to the San Antonio Spurs’ great delight and the Portland Trail Blazers’ great misery.

This same-game parlay for my Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions leans into Wembanyama in Game 2 on Tuesday, April 21.

Our best Trail Blazers vs Spurs SGP for Game 2

Victor Wembanyama may not go 5-for-6 from beyond the arc again, but even by missing a few 3-pointers, he would likely increase his own playing time. Yes, the San Antonio Spurs superstar scored 35 points in fewer than 33 minutes in Game 1. His own dominance lessened the need for more action.

Wembanyama has scored at least 34 points in five of his last six games, clearing 40 in three of those. He has been in a dominant form for a bit now, something that should worry not only the Portland Trail Blazers but also everyone in the NBA.

The Trail Blazers' concern stems largely from an inability to defend Wembanyama. Second-year center Donovan Clingan is actually an imposing defensive presence, but he has neither the quickness nor the agility to keep up with Wembanyama away from the rim.

Portland needs to trim Clingan’s minutes and try a different approach. That approach will still be unlikely to work, but some adjustment is a must.

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.

The Washington Wizards have completed Year 3 of their rebuild, ending a “deconstruction phase” that included countless trades, six first-round picks and 196 losses.

General Manager Will Dawkins said the team will “try to compete” next season, but hesitated to provide greater expectations. It appears Washington will use the 2026-27 season as an evaluation year, one to identify which young pieces to build around, which veterans should stick around and more.

But first comes the 2026 offseason — an important period that could shape the franchise’s next decade of contention. Washington owns a top-five pick in the upcoming draft, which has a 52.1% chance of improving to a top-four pick, plus two others in the second round.

While the draft is important, it’s far from the only marquee event from now until opening night in October. Below is a full breakdown of the key dates surrounding Washington’s rebuild this offseason.

May 10: NBA Draft Lottery

Washington’s pick odds at the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery are as follows:

• 1st pick: 14.0%
• 2nd pick: 13.4%
• 3rd pick: 12.7%
• 4th pick: 12.0%
• 5th pick: 47.9%

The NBA’s worst team hasn’t landed the No. 1 pick since the league switched to its current lottery system in 2019. The last time the worst team got the top pick was in 2018 when the Phoenix Suns selected Deandre Ayton.

May 10-17: NBA Draft Combine

The draft combine is a weeklong event held in Chicago. It’s an opportunity for league executives, coaches and scouts to evaluate players’ weight, height, athleticism, shooting and more while they compete against their fellow prospects.

May/June: Pre-draft workouts

The period between the draft lottery and the draft itself consists of speculation, mock drafts and more. But for teams, it serves as a six-week period to host group and individual workouts with the draft’s top prospects.

Under Dawkins and Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger, the Wizards have been discreet throughout the pre-draft process. While some teams post their workout participants to social media, Washington keeps its information close to the vest.

June 23: Round 1 of the NBA Draft

The Wizards finished with the NBA’s worst record, which means they can pick no lower than No. 5 in this year’s draft. The consensus top-four in this draft have separated from the rest on most big boards, with a cluster of talented guards entering the conversation at the fifth pick.

The consensus top-four prospects, in no particular order, are as follows:

• AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
• Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
• Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
• Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina

Prospects Washington could target at No. 5, should that be their pick:

• Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
• Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
• Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
• Mikel Brown, G, Louisville

June 24: Round 2 of the NBA Draft

Washington owns the following picks in the second round:

• No. 51 (via Minnesota)
  • Acquired from Detroit in a 2024 trade that sent Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala to the Pistons for Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and 2025 and 2026 second-round picks.
• No. 60 (via Oklahoma City)
  • Acquired from San Antonio in a July 2025 trade that sent Kelly Olynyk to the Spurs for Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and a 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of DAL/PHI/OKC).

Fun fact: The last second-round pick the Wizards signed to a second contract before Dawkins became GM in 2023 was Shelvin Mack, who was selected in 2011.

Washington has signed both of its second-round picks under Dawkins — Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic — to second contracts.

• Tristan Vukcevic: 2 years, $6M — team option in 2027-28
• Jamir Watkins: 1-year, $2.15M — team option in 2026-27

June 29: Deadline to pick upoptions

• Trae Young’s player option ($49M)
• D’Angelo Russell’s player option ($5.97M)
• Watkins’ team option ($2.15M)
• Submit two-way qualifying offer to Sharife Cooper

While Young has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, it’s widely expected that the veteran guard will decline that option and instead ink a multi-year extension to remain in Washington.

With Russell’s buyout market reportedly “nonexistent,” the 30-year-old guard could opt into his player option to remain a Wizard next season. A buyout is still possible, as Russell never reported to the Wizards following a February trade that sent him from Dallas to Washington.

June 30: Team negotiation period begins

Teams can negotiate with free agents during this window. Contract terms will be reported but nothing will be official until free agency begins six days later. Expect to see plenty of breaking news by Shams Charania of ESPN during this timeframe.

July 1: Bilal Coulibaly and Cam Whitmore become rookie extension eligible

An extension for Whitmore, who missed most of the 2025-26 season with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, is unlikely. But his fellow 2023 draft pick, Bilal Coulibaly, is poised for a payday.

Coulibaly’s stats — 11.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 31.9% 3PT — don’t stand out. If anything, they were a bit underwhelming for the third-year wing. But Coulibaly’s defensive prowess, an ability to mark the opposing team’s best player while providing switchability in guarding one through four, is coveted across the association.

Dawkins has a history of extending Washington’s first-round picks once they become extension eligible.

In 2023, he gave Deni Avdija a 4-year, $55 million extension that looks like one of the league’s best contracts. Now, Dawkins later dealt Avdija to Portland, but that’s a discussion for another story.

Dawkins also extended Corey Kispert before the 2024-25 campaign, giving the sharpshooting wing a 4-year, $54 million payday. If history repeats itself, Dawkins appears poised to extend Coulibaly, his first draft selection as Washington’s GM, later this offseason.

Should a deal materialize, look for it to be signed closer to opening night in October, as each of the previous extensions were. Avdija was extended on Oct. 22. Kispert inked his extension on Oct. 21.

July 6: Teams can officially announce signings

The Wizards conducted free agency before this year’s trade deadline, acquiring big names like Young and Anthony Davis, among others. Here’s a breakdown of those contracts for the 2026-27 season:

• Trae Young ($49M player option — extension candidate)
• Anthony Davis ($58.5M)
• Jaden Hardy ($6M)
• D’Angelo Russell ($5.97M player option)

July 9-19: Summer League

Summer League is scheduled for July 9-19. Expect second-year players Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Jamir Watkins and Julian Reese to suit up in Las Vegas. Those players will be joined by the Wizards’ 2026 first-round pick, plus any other selections they make on draft night.

Well, even the little sliver of optimism I had for this Sixers-Celtics series evaporated rather quickly on Sunday. Boston was dominant and the Sixers looked out-classed in every facet of Game 1. It looks like it’s going to be a long week for Sixers fans as their team marches their way to inevitable doom. Until then, I’ll hit our loyal readers with a fresh “5 Sixers thoughts” column…

The Sixers’ backup centers continue to flounder

Andre Drummond had a stellar evening during the Sixers’ Play-In win over Orlando that ran counter to how horrific it was to watch him on the court throughout the regular season. That didn’t carry over to the first round of the playoffs in Drummond’s 21 minutes of play, as the Sixers’ big was a negative on both ends of the court.

That’s before even getting nominal starter Adem Bona, who, in 14 minutes of play, appeared entirely out of place in an NBA playoff game. He should not be allowed to dribble the ball in transition ever again.

Sure, the Sixers are always going to be at a frontcourt disadvantage whenever Joel Embiid is out, but that’s a problem a dozen years in the making. The team has failed to get competent reserve big men play for the whole duration of the Embiid era even with it being a guarantee that Embiid will miss significant time annually.

All things considered, at least this is far less important than Greg Monroe being a -9 in under two minutes of play against Toronto in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals, right?

Paul George’s effort is awful

From a pure efficiency standpoint, Paul George’s Game 1 performance was passable. He had 17 points while shooting 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from deep and going 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Watching the actual game unfold, however, told a different story.

George’s defensive effort, maybe more than anything I witnessed on Sunday, infuriated me. The Sixers are going against likely the best wing tandem in the league with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. There was no Embiid waiting at the cup to protect the rim. I know he’s about to turn 36 years old and he’s not the All-Defensive guy he once was nearly a decade ago, but how about at least give the appearance of trying?

I know it’s ultimately the fault of the organization for handing George a contract he didn’t deserve at this stage of his star-studded career, but I’d like to see “Playoff P” attempt to live up to it, you know?

I winced in anticipation of a miss whenever Kelly Oubre shot a three-pointer

Kelly Oubre was 0-for-5 from deep on Sunday, including a few back-breaking, open-as-anything looks. That stands out in my mind, yes, but it would be wrong to not share the blame for the Sixers’ overall shooting woes. They were 4-of-23 on threes, clocking in at 17 percent. It’s nearly impossible to win in the modern NBA launching it up that poorly.

That checks out for a Sixers team that shot 34.9 percent from three in the regular season, which came in 23rd in the whole league. They’re also not hoisting enough threes to lean into wild shooting variance that could give them a puncher’s chance at a win against a heavily-favored Boston squad. The Celtics shot 44 threes in Game 1 compared to the Sixers’ 23. George and Tyrese Maxey need to let it fly with reckless abandon!

We meet again, Nikola Vučević

During the Sixers’ seven-game battle against the Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Nikola Vučević was a first-round rookie for the team. He played just three minutes across that series even while starting center Spencer Hawes was completely lost out there while going against Kevin Garnett. I would’ve liked to have seen if he had legitimately anything to give the Sixers instead of watching Hawes!

Anyway, Vučević, who turned into a two-time All-Star over the years, came off the Celtics’ bench in Game 1 and gave them some competent help. It would’ve been nice for the Sixers to be on the receiving end of that 14 years ago!

The “We want Boston!” chants got turned on their heads

As the Sixers pulled away against the Magic in the Play-In, the South Philadelphia faithful began chanting, “We want Boston!” I personally wasn’t doing that at the arena because I knew what would await this team in the first round, but I don’t begrudge those fans too much who were living in the moment and doing that.

Celtics fans certainly took notice of it though.

As Boston thrashed the Sixers on Sunday and built a lead of 30-plus points, Celtics fans trolled Philadelphia with its own “We want Boston!” chants. It is what it is. If you want to dish it out, you have to be able to take it, too.

Maybe they’ll forget about that during Game 2?

Draymond Green hopes Steve Kerr returns for another season as the Golden State Warriors coach. But he's not counting on it.

Green offered his thoughts on Kerr's future with the team, as part of the latest episode of his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show," released on Monday, April 20, less than a week after the Warriors' season ended with a loss to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA's Play-In Tournament.

The game ended with Kerr gathering Green and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry on the sideline for an embrace in which he appeared to acknowledge it could be his final game as the Warriors' coach. Kerr told Green and Curry, according to audio captured by Prime Video, "I don't know what's going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you. I appreciate you."

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The San Antonio Spurs aren’t looking to drag this first-round series out. As admirable as the Portland Trail Blazers’ season has been—especially given the turmoil surrounding their head coach’s arrest just before opening night—it’s likely to end quietly without much resistance in this matchup.

My Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions and these NBA picks welcome our new overlord, Victor Wembanyama, as he continues his dominance in Game 2 on Tuesday, April 21.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction

Who will win Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 2?

Spurs: Victor Wembanyama has officially arrived. Not to overreact to an easy Game 1 win, but this version of the San Antonio Spurs should be feared by everyone in the NBA.

The Trail Blazers had a delightfully surprising season, but it would be an act of mercy by the NBA to shorten this series to best-of-five, if not best-of-three.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 28.5 points (-105)

What of Victor Wembanyama’s resounding playoff debut might not be repeatable? The San Antonio Spurs’ superstar scored 35 points in a dominant win, playing fewer than 33 minutes.

He did shoot 5-for-6 from deep; perhaps he will shoot just 2-for-6 from beyond the arc in Game 2. Those nine points would be costly in pursuit of this points prop. But then again, Wembanyama did not need to stress in that Game 1 win. Missing a few more 3-pointers would create a more competitive game, leading to more Wembanyama minutes.

That would provide enough of a cushion to think Wembanyama should clear this prop in either game state.

Focus on his last few weeks. The Frenchman scored at least 34 points in four of his final five regular-season games. He has been locked in for a bit.

And as Sunday night made clear, the Portland Trail Blazers do not have a defender to slow down Wembanyama. Donovan Clingan may be a massive human being, but he is simply not quick or agile enough to defend Wembanyama outside the paint.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs same-game parlay

Clingan will have a quality NBA career. It should last more than a decade. His size and defensive instincts are assets that contenders will value.

But he is no match for Wembanyama right now. Portland realized that in Game 1, and Clingan played just 21 minutes. Logic would have expected him to be more in the 28-30 range, but with Wembanyama ruling, the Trail Blazers needed to alter their rotation.

Clingan’s minutes may stay limited this whole series, leading to some continued value in the Unders on his player props.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs SGP

• Victor Wembanyama Over 28.5 points
• Donovan Clingan Under 9.5 points
• Donovan Clingan Under 9.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby, Whatever Way

This is not doubt in Wembanyama. I'm merely suggesting that Portland will try a different coverage, because Sunday’s clearly did not work. Forcing Wembanyama off the arc will do only so much to his overall scoring.

The one thing the Trail Blazers should carry over from Game 1 is slowing down the pace. Fewer possessions give San Antonio fewer chances to enjoy its talent advantages, led by Wembanyama, obviously.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs SGP

• Victor Wembanyama Over 28.5 points
• Victor Wembanyama Under 2.5 made threes
• Under 220.5

Trail Blazers vs Spurs odds for Game 2

• Spread: Trail Blazers +11.5 (-115) | Spurs -11.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Trail Blazers +475 | Spurs -650 
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Trail Blazers vs Spurs betting trend to know

As every game became a must-win for Portland, the Trail Blazers became a reliable Under team. Six of their final eight regular-season games cashed their Unders. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Spurs.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 2

Trail Blazers vs Spurs latest injuries

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The Minnesota Timberwolves head into Game 2 down 1-0 after Denver Nuggets protected home court in the opener, and the market isn’t exactly expecting a bounce-back. With Denver now laying -7.5, oddsmakers are pricing in a clear gap as the series stays in altitude.

Our Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions and free NBA picks break down whether that number is justified — or if there’s value on Minnesota to respond before this series gets out of hand.

Who will win Timberwolves vs Nuggets Game 2?

Timberwolves win probability:28% (+257)
Nuggets win probability:77% (-285)

With a 77% win probability, the Denver Nuggets are expected to take Game 2 behind Nikola Jokic’s playmaking and Jamal Murray’s scoring, while the Minnesota Timberwolves will need a big response from Anthony Edwards to beat the odds.

Our prediction:Nuggets to win

Our NBA expert is calling for a Nuggets victory: "I fully expect the Nuggets to go up 2-0 in this series. When healthy, this Denver rotation may be the second-best team in the NBA, something not enough people recognize because it was healthy so rarely this season.

Read more in Douglas Farmer's full Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions.

More Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Nuggets -7.5 spread means the Nuggets will cover, while "No" means the Timberwolves will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Timberwolves vs Nuggets spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Nuggets -7.5 — Yes and Over 230.5 points — Yes

Our projections back the Denver Nuggets to cover the -7.5 behind Nikola Jokic controlling tempo and Jamal Murray scoring efficiently, while the pace and shot-making on both sides push this game Over 230.5.

Other Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets available

• Jamal Murray 25+ points (Yes: 60¢)
• Nikola Jokic 25+ points (Yes: 68¢)
• Anthony Edwards 25+ points (Yes: 65¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Nuggets win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Timberwolves vs Nuggets at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

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.