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2025 NBA Draft Rumors: Spurs likely to keep No. 2 pick, Draft Combine standouts

This week saw the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, the unofficial start of draft season around the NBA (even if that is almost as year-round as the league itself). Here are the latest news, notes and rumors around the 2025 NBA Draft, taking place June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Spurs likely keep No. 2 pick

The minute the Spurs landed with the No. 2 pick — well, a few minutes after, once everyone got over the shock of the Mavericks getting the top pick — people started drawing a line between Giannis Antetokounmpo and San Antonio. The logic is simple: The Spurs already have De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle at guards so they don't need projected No. 2 pick Dylan Harper out of Rutgers, Antetokounmpo next to Victor Wembanyama make the Spurs instant title contenders, and San Antonio has the additional picks and players to match salary to make a trade that Milwaukee would like.

Just a couple of problems with that. First, Antetokounmpo has yet to ask for a trade out of Milwaukee and may not. His choosing to stay may be the best bet.

Second, the Spurs are leaning toward holding on to the No. 2 pick. Here is what Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote about the Combine in Chicago.

Most of the sources I talk to around the league think the most likely outcome is that the Spurs do just that: Stand pat and pick at No. 2.

If the Spurs keep the pick, they should draft the best player on the board regardless of position. Meaning, take Harper. It's better to have too much talent at one position (a player can always be traded) rather than saying you don't need to draft Michael Jordan because you already have Clyde Drexler. Harper is the clear No. 2 in this class, make him a Spur.

76ers will listen to offers for No. 3

Daryl Morey is open to a trade. Shocking.

That said, Vecenie reports Philadelphia will listen to offers for the No. 3 pick and the right to draft V.J. Edgecombe or Ace Bailey, most likely. This is the smart move by Morey. For Philly, Edgecombe is another smaller guard who would become part of an already small backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, a good fit but not a need. Ace Bailey has upside but is a little more of a project and the Sixers are as win-now as it gets — and considering the Jayson Tatum injury, the 76ers should be aggressive about going for it next season.

It's unclear who it might be, but keep an eye on the No. 3 spot as a potential trade.

Standouts at NBA Draft Combine

From people in Chicago, here are a handful of players who helped their cause.

• VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor. Edgecombe didn't need much help, he was already projected as a top-four pick on most boards, but his athleticism and two-way potential stood out, and he may have put himself solidly above Ace Bailey for the No. 3 spot on a lot of boards.

• Tahaad Pettiford, guard, Auburn. He turned heads with a 42-inch vertical leap and then put up big numbers in the first scrimmage. That caught many people's eyes, but then he struggled in his next scrimmage, tempering the excitement. Still, strong Combine for him.

• Khaman Maluach, center, Duke. In an NBA where more and more teams are looking for big men who can protect the rim and are a vertical threat on pick-and-rolls, Maluach helped himself. He measured at 7'1" barefoot and had a 7'7" wingspan and a 9'6" standing reach — those are the kind of big man numbers NBA teams are looking for, and Maluach fit the role with his combine tests. There are rumors he got a promise from the Raptors at No. 9.

• Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford. The senior big man was the only player to play in the first day of scrimmages, realize how well he played (and helped his cause) and opted out of Day 2. A bubble late-first/early second kind of talent, he showed the shooting and physicality around the rim that might get him to the first round.

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Kerr calls shifting Warriors' offense away from Steph ‘laughable' idea

Kerr calls shifting Warriors' offense away from Steph ‘laughable' idea originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As long as star Steph Curry takes the floor for the Warriors, don’t expect coach Steve Kerr to change his offensive scheme.

Kerr, speaking to reporters Thursday during exit interviews, made it clear Golden State’s offensive strategy starts and ends with the Chef.

“We have Steph Curry on our team, who is one of the greatest players of all time,” Kerr told reporters. “He’s also maybe the most unique superstar of all time. 

“What makes him special is his on-and-off-the-ball prowess. And so the best way to maximize Steph is to put him in pick and roll, and then to have him fly off screens. And I think that’s been proven, you know, over the last decade, how powerful that can be.” 

During the 2024-25 NBA season, Curry, a four-time NBA champion, eclipsed the 25,000-career point mark and became the first player in NBA history to record 4,000 made 3-pointers. 

Despite his dominancy, the Warriors crashed out of the Western Conference semifinals in large part due to Curry’s unavailability after suffering a left hamstring strain. 

It makes sense. The 37-year-old led the team in scoring throughout both the regular season (24.5 points) and the postseason (22.6 points).

So, the idea of Golden State shifting its offensive scheme is nothing short of humorous to the winningest head coach in Warriors’ history.

“He’s our sun. You know, this is a solar system,” Kerr added. “And he’s, you’re not going to duplicate Steph anytime soon. 

“So, any talk of, do we need to change our offensive system, to me, is kind of laughable. Like, what? What does that mean? So, let’s not run Steph off screens? Let’s not put Steph in pick and roll? I’m not even sure how to respond to that.” 

Kerr recognizes that moving the offensive scheme away from Curry would be an act of betrayal to the organization.

“Honestly, it’s like what we’ve done has been incredibly powerful,” Kerr concluded. “Steph is, again, one of the all time greatest players, playing at the peak of his power. Still, I think, or very close to it.

“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, and anything else would be a disservice to our team.”

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Could Cooper Flagg force his way to the Celtics? | The Kevin O'Connor Show

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

On the latest episode of "The Kevin O’Connor Show," Kevin and guest Tom Haberstroh explored the idea of Cooper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 overall pick and Maine native, somehow landing with the Boston Celtics.

As O’Connor revealed, Boston used some of its interview slots at the NBA Draft Combine to meet with Cooper Flagg, as well as Tre Johnson (a projected top-five pick), even though the Celtics hold no pick anywhere near the top of this year’s draft. Teams are limited to 13 interviews at the combine, O'Connor said.

“At the draft combine this week, Tre Johnson openly said the Celtics interviewed him," O'Connor said. "I have multiple sources telling me the Celtics also interviewed Cooper Flagg. Now, this does not mean they’re going to trade up into the top 10, but I do think it’s interesting.”

The Dallas Mavericks own the No. 1 pick this year. But O’Connor and Haberstroh discussed the hypothetical: Would Boston put Jaylen Brown (a recent Finals MVP) on the table to move up for Flagg? What would Dallas say? And would Flagg himself (or his camp) try to “pull an Eli Manning” — refusing to play for the Mavs to land in Boston?

“Boston calls [Dallas GM] Nico [Harrison] and they offer Jaylen Brown. And how many first-round picks is it gonna take? … I just wonder if Dallas and their entire decision-making unit would listen.”

Realistically, big trades for the No. 1 pick, especially when a generational prospect is available, are rare. But as both hosts note, it only takes a few phone calls — and possibly a little leverage from the player’s side — to kick-start something dramatic.

To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals

The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The NBA‘s final four is set.

The No. 3 New York Knicks will take on the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the No. 1 overall-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves will battle in the Western Conference Finals.

This is the second straight postseason that Indiana and Minnesota, two title-less franchises, have reached the conference finals. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance in the round since 2000 and OKC its first appearance since 2016.

The East Finals feature a rematch from the second round of last year’s playoffs when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Knicks, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Indiana rolled through the first two rounds of this postseason, bouncing both the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.

Tyrese Haliburton and Co. now look to book the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and just second overall. Indiana has lost eight of its nine conference final series.

The Knicks got past the No. 6 Detroit Pistons in a highly competitive six-game series before beating the defending champion No. 2 Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Co. jumped out to a 3-1 series lead as Boston lost star Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles late in Game 4. The Knicks closed out the series with a Game 6 rout, moving them another step closer to their first championship since all the way back in 1973.

While the East’s top two seeds have been eliminated, the NBA-best Thunder are still standing. After sweeping the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, OKC was put to the test in Round 2. A showdown of the top two MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic went to the distance, with the Thunder taking the decisive Game 7 over the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in blowout fashion. The Thunder haven’t won a title since relocating to OKC, with the franchise’s lone championship coming in 1979.

Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, like Indiana, needed just five games to win their two playoff series, taking down the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, who lost Steph Curry to a hamstring injury in Game 1. Minnesota has never made the NBA Finals as it makes a third-ever conference final appearance.

So, when will the conference finals tip off and what’s the schedule? Here’s what to know:

What are the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?

  • Eastern Conference Finals: No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 3 Knicks
  • Western Conference Finals: No. 6 Timberwolves vs. No. 1 Thunder

Who has home-court advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?

Home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team, which means the Pacers and Wolves will both start the conference finals on the road.

When do the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?

The West Finals begin Tuesday, May 20, followed by the East Finals on Wednesday, May 21.

What is the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals schedule?

  • Game 1: Wolves at Thunder — Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 2: Wolves at Thunder — Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 3: Thunder at Wolves — Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
  • Game 4: Thunder at Wolves — Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Wolves — Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Where to watch, stream the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals

The West Finals will air across ESPN and ABC. Games will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

What is the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals schedule?

  • Game 1: Pacers atKnicks — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 2: Pacers at Knicks — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 3: Knicks at Pacers — Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 4: Knicks at Pacers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 6 (if necessary): Knicks at Pacers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, TNT

Where to watch, stream the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals

TNT will broadcast the East Finals, which can also be streamed on TNTDrama.com and the TNT app.

When do the 2025 NBA Finals start?

The NBA Finals will tip off Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 16.

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The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals

The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The NBA‘s final four is set.

The No. 3 New York Knicks will take on the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the No. 1 overall-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves will battle in the Western Conference Finals.

This is the second straight postseason that Indiana and Minnesota, two title-less franchises, have reached the conference finals. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance in the round since 2000 and OKC its first appearance since 2016.

The East Finals feature a rematch from the second round of last year’s playoffs when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Knicks, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Indiana rolled through the first two rounds of this postseason, bouncing both the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.

Tyrese Haliburton and Co. now look to book the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and just second overall. Indiana has lost eight of its nine conference final series.

The Knicks got past the No. 6 Detroit Pistons in a highly competitive six-game series before beating the defending champion No. 2 Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Co. jumped out to a 3-1 series lead as Boston lost star Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles late in Game 4. The Knicks closed out the series with a Game 6 rout, moving them another step closer to their first championship since all the way back in 1973.

While the East’s top two seeds have been eliminated, the NBA-best Thunder are still standing. After sweeping the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, OKC was put to the test in Round 2. A showdown of the top two MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic went to the distance, with the Thunder taking the decisive Game 7 over the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in blowout fashion. The Thunder haven’t won a title since relocating to OKC, with the franchise’s lone championship coming in 1979.

Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, like Indiana, needed just five games to win their two playoff series, taking down the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, who lost Steph Curry to a hamstring injury in Game 1. Minnesota has never made the NBA Finals as it makes a third-ever conference final appearance.

So, when will the conference finals tip off and what’s the schedule? Here’s what to know:

What are the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?

  • Eastern Conference Finals: No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 3 Knicks
  • Western Conference Finals: No. 6 Timberwolves vs. No. 1 Thunder

Who has home-court advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?

Home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team, which means the Pacers and Wolves will both start the conference finals on the road.

When do the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?

The West Finals begin Tuesday, May 20, followed by the East Finals on Wednesday, May 21.

What is the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals schedule?

  • Game 1: Wolves at Thunder — Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 2: Wolves at Thunder — Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 3: Thunder at Wolves — Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
  • Game 4: Thunder at Wolves — Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Wolves — Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Where to watch, stream the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals

The West Finals will air across ESPN and ABC. Games will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

What is the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals schedule?

  • Game 1: Pacers atKnicks — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 2: Pacers at Knicks — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 3: Knicks at Pacers — Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 4: Knicks at Pacers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 6 (if necessary): Knicks at Pacers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, TNT

Where to watch, stream the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals

TNT will broadcast the East Finals, which can also be streamed on TNTDrama.com and the TNT app.

When do the 2025 NBA Finals start?

The NBA Finals will tip off Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 16.

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Warriors commit to one-season quest to win it all with Steph

Warriors commit to one-season quest to win it all with Steph originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Even as younger teams become NBA adults capable of toppling them, the Warriors remain emphatically committed to three veterans who will enter next season averaging 36.4 years of age.

This is a naked attempt to defy NBA history, which is unkind to aging stars. The Warriors are attempting to do it only because Stephen Curry is a hoops unicorn.

“Here’s what I know: We have Steph Curry on our team, who’s one of the greatest players of all time,” coach Steve Kerr said on Friday.

Curry will be 38 years old when the 2026 NBA playoffs begin. Jimmy Butler III turns 36 in September, and Draymond Green will turn 36 next March. No team with such an aging core has won an NBA championship.

“We’re at the point now where you’ve got to have an eye to the future down the road,” general manager Mike Dunleavy said. “But this league is year to year, and especially with the guys that we have, our focus is mostly 90 percent on next season.”

This approach is a one-year pursuit. The last ride, as coined by Curry when Butler was acquired in February, is postponed until the 2025-26 season. The 2026-27 season is on the books, but Dunleavy’s “90 percent” remark removes it from the current equation.

“How do we make this group better? That can come in myriad ways,” Dunleavy said.

It begins with discovering supporting players capable of generating offense. The most reliable such player on Golden State’s current roster is Jonathan Kuminga, a gifted athlete whose spectacular moments don’t always offset his general impact. He’ll be a restricted free agent in June, and there will be outside interest. Remember this that as much as CEO Joe Lacob likes Kuminga, he loves winning in May and June.

It was abundantly evident during the postseason that the Warriors need a lot more shooting/scoring and a bit more size, in that order. Once Curry went down with a strained hamstring in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, the offense was reduced to Buddy Hield’s fickle shot and not much else.

“But you could see, when Steph went out, the lack of shooting was an issue,” Kerr conceded. “And that impacted Draymond, it impacted Jimmy, impacted JK. Those are things that we have to figure out for sure.”

Figuring it out requires making shooters/scorers a priority, which is not something the Warriors have done in recent years. The biggest blown opportunity was 2018, when they selected Jacob Evans when Jalen Brunson, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Trent Jr. were still on the board.

It was 14 years ago that the Warriors last drafted an NBA-level shooter, and Klay Thompson was essential to four title teams before leaving for the Dallas Mavericks last summer. Dunleavy brought in Hield, a logical move insofar as he has similar skills.

Meanwhile, so many shooters have populated rosters across the NBA that most teams space the floor with at least four. Some, like the Eastern Conference finalist Indiana Pacers and defending champion Boston Celtics, are deep enough to play five-out, with everyone a threat from deep.

In a starting lineup featuring Butler and Green, who can make 3-pointers but don’t stretch a defense, the Warriors can play no more than three such threats. This is another perk of having Curry. It’s also another example of Golden State’s defiance, this one about the current trend rather than league history.

“It’s playing to your strengths, right?” Dunleavy said. “There are multiple ways to skin a cat. I think people complain about the homogeneousness of the NBA, so to speak, where everybody’s spacing is out and playing high pick-and-roll and shooting a bunch of threes and all that.

“I like that we can do things differently, obviously with Steph, he’s such a unique player and creates so much gravity. But Jimmy and Draymond are unique in their own rights. Jimmy’s ability to get to the line, it’s a highly efficient way to score and get to the basket and those things. We’ve got ways to be a really good offense, but it’s just maybe not as traditional in 2025 as some of these other clubs.”

Which is fine – if someone can score effectively from multiple levels. The last Warriors draft pick with that quality was Jordan Poole, selected in 2019. Essential to the team’s success in the 2022 playoffs that ended with a championship, he was traded to the Washington Wizards two years ago and has not been replaced.
Poole at his best could replicate some of what makes Curry special – and was even quicker off the dribble.

It’s not a coincidence that the Warriors reached the top when Curry had a sidekick who was capable of scaring defenses with shooting/scoring. So, it’s reasonable to put that need at the top of the offseason list.

“The biggest thing, who we’re trying to acquire or draft or sign, is how much does that player make us better,” Dunleavy said. “And from there, what all are we giving up? We’re good giving up whatever it takes.”

This offseason amounts to a roll of the dice for 2025-26. The Warriors know their core is exceptional but needs a better supporting cast. It’s up to the front office to find that. And, yes, Kuminga might be the chip in such a deal.

Winning a championship around Curry/Butler/Green will require a superb addition, or at least two very good ones.

The relatively old 2014 Spurs won it all with 38-year-old Tim Duncan, 36-year-old Manu Ginobili and 32-year-old Tony Parker.

But they had 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard, who was voted NBA Finals MVP.

A 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard is not walking through the Chase Center doors.

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What traits Warriors are looking for in offseason search for size

What traits Warriors are looking for in offseason search for size originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Before my question was even complete, Warriors coach Steve Kerr already had his answer. 

Draymond Green is 35 years old. He just finished his 13th season. The incredibly unique defensive star has conquered giants and taken down the beasts of the NBA. But one man can only take so much.

Kerr is not comfortable with Green continuing to be his everyday starting center.

“I don’t want to start next season with Draymond as our starting five,” Kerr said Friday. “I think it’s doable for the last 30 games like we did this year, but you see the toll it takes on him. He’s talked about it too.” 

At his exit interview media availability the day prior, Green joked he is the center of the future for the Warriors. It was said in jest, but it also might be his reality. 

The way the Warriors currently are constructed with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green as their core and everything having to fit around them, Green is their best center. He almost strictly played the position once Butler arrived in mid-February. Whether Green wants to admit it or not, his body wore down in the end. 

There weren’t a plethora of injuries that came out from Green’s grueling job. The miles, though, they caught up. 

Irrational confidence is a strength of Green’s. It’s partly how he went from a second-round draft pick to a future Hall of Famer. Green plays defense with eyes in the back of his head, popping out of his ears and growing from his forehead. He sees everything, including the gluttony of big men he has to deal with. 

“I think when you look around the league, yeah, guys are big,” Green said Thursday. “[Nikola Jokic], [Alperen] Sengun, [Ivica] Zubac, a healthy Joel [Embiid], yeah. But I don’t back down from anyone, and if that’s what our organization decides to do, I’ll be right here ready to go. And if they decide that they want to go with one of the 5s on the roster, great. If they decide they want to go after someone, great.

“You know me. I’m always in favor of what’s best for this organization. I can always see past myself when it comes to this organization.” 

The season started with training camp in Hawaii where Green said he’s best with a center next to him, and Kerr was in agreement. Trayce Jackson-Davis served as the Warriors’ starting center alongside Green in 18 of the first 19 games. He took a seat for a few games, was back into the starting five and then essentially was all the way out of the rotation from the end of January to the rest of the season, until he started the final three games of the 2025 NBA playoffs. 

Rookie Quinten Post was expected to spend the majority of the season in the G League, but his readiness as a 25-year-old who spent five years in college gave him a real role sooner than expected. 

The combination of the two checks the box of who an ideal center is in the same frontcourt as Green and Butler in the eyes of general manager Mike Dunleavy. 

“One way or another on the offensive end, that player has got to be able to finish, whether it’s at the rim or shooting a three,” Dunleavy said. “We need, with the way Draymond and Jimmy can create and generally play near the rim, having somebody that they can finish near the rim or make a shot, it’s going to be important in that situation.”

Jackson-Davis is built to be a rim-running lob threat who can protect the basket defensively. He also struggled finishing far too often early in the season. Post is the Warriors’ tallest player at 7 feet and was one of their deadliest shooters from long distance. While playing 16.3 minutes per game, Post averaged 4.3 3-point attempts at a 40.8-percent clip.

Kevon Looney for the second straight offseason is set to be a free agent. He’s one of Kerr’s favorite and most trusted players ever, and Dunleavy says he’d love to have him back.

Size, as Dunleavy said Friday, has been a “buzz word” around the Warriors for years. Their small-ball lineups changed the game. It’s a copy-cat league and teams began to catch up. Plus, there clearly has been a shift to skilled big men. 

Now, 7-footers are roaming the hardwood and launching threes like they think their last name is Curry. The Warriors need positional size across the board: At center, in the frontcourt, on the wing and in the backcourt.

Jackson-Davis will be entering his third season, and Post his second. They have shown promise with much different play styles, but whoever the Warriors add will have to fit the timeline of Curry, Green and Butler, who all are in their late 30s and signed through the 2026-27 season.

“We’re at the point now where you’ve got to have an eye to the future down the road,” Dunleavy said. “But this league is year to year, and especially with the guys that we have, our focus is mostly 90 percent on next season. How do we make this group better? That can come in a myriad of ways.

“I would love to get guys in their pre-prime or prime where they’re going to have more years when Steph and Draymond and Jimmy are gone, but at the same time, if we have to get a bunch of 33-year-olds or 35-year-olds that we think can really help us win a championship, that is the goal, and we will do that, cost permitting.”

Old and small isn’t going to work. Players in between the ages of the Big Three and youngsters like Jackson-Davis and Post are required. The two-timeline plan didn’t bring another title, Curry did, as well as Green and Klay Thompson. 

But that 2022 title team also had players like Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica who brought shooting and size at 28 and 33 years old, respectively, and Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole as bridge players who can contribute to 16 playoff wins and the taxing 82-game season.

Dunleavy will have to strike a balance of size and age up and down the roster. The only question that needs answering is how he can maximize the years of Curry, Green and Butler. A couple of big guys of their own can be a giant first step in shaping the next iteration of these Warriors.

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Warriors want Kuminga back, but contract decision is ‘two-way street'

Warriors want Kuminga back, but contract decision is ‘two-way street' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – After getting bounced from the NBA playoffs earlier in the week, the Warriors immediately changed direction and started making plans for the offseason.

While maybe not the most important decision facing general manager Mike Dunleavy and coach Steve Kerr, a significant summer storyline is what to do with Jonathan Kuminga.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga will be a restricted free agent in the offseason and is likely to garner some attention from rest of the league after a high-profile showing in Golden State’s Western Conference semfinals loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He has the freedom to sign with any of the 29 other NBA teams, although the Warriors have the option to match any offer to keep Kuminga.

Dunleavy sounded optimistic about getting a new contract done but stopped shy of saying it’s a done deal.

“We will look at everything,” Dunleavy said Friday at Chase Center. “It’s hard to know two days after the season’s over where it’s all headed. I know where I see him as a player. I know how it can work with him here. I know how we can work with him better.

“But in terms of guessing how it’s all going to play out or what the contract might look like, I’d be totally guessing at this point to conjecture on anything”

Kuminga didn’t have much of a presence his first two seasons in the NBA, and many around the league began to question his worth.

That talk started changing last season when Kuminga became a regular starter and had career-high averages in scoring (16.1), rebounds (4.8) and shooting percentage (52.9).

The 2024-25 NBA season was more of a bittersweet campaign in a lot of ways . Kuminga averaged 15.3 points with 4.6 rebounds, and was much more aggressive attacking the rim and shooting behind the arc despite missing more than a month due to an ankle injury.

He also had to adjust to the arrival of Jimmy Butler before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. That cut Kuminga’s minutes and forced him to accept a backup role. The situation lingered most of the season, forcing Kerr to continually mix and match his lineups.

Kerr envisions Kuminga playing more with Golden State’s star players if he comes back.

“If JK comes back we will, for sure, spend the early part of the season playing him with Jimmy, Draymond [Green] and Steph [Curry]. To me that would be a no-brainer,” Kerr said. “We did not have the luxury of just experimenting and giving that more of a runway. If JK comes back next year we have to look at that for sure.”

Kuminga’s up-and-down wavering stock soared in the playoffs after Curry limped out of Game 1 against the Timberwolves with a hamstring injury.

Without Curry, the Warriors were desperate for scoring. Kuminga answered the call effectively, proving his value while averaging 20.8 points a night against the Wolves.

Kuminga’s postseason surge was a welcomed sight, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Warriors from getting eliminated from the playoffs.

With all that swirling in the background, the Warriors are staring at the possibility of seeing Kuminga’s growth continue — but in different jersey.

“I thought he had a really good year,” Kerr said. “He was really coming into his own before he got hurt. When he came back he was not in rhythm. He was not the same player he was when he got hurt. That put kind of a little bit of an obstacle in our way as we’re trying to get to the playoffs and advance in the playoffs. It felt [like] square peg, round hole for us. So we went away from JK as part of the rotation and he handled it really well.

“For him to stay ready, stay positive and then get his chance … played well in these last four games of the Minnesota series, speaks highly of JK and his approach. All in all, he’s a guy who’s got a lot of talent and ability. Still growing, still raw in many ways.”

Dunleavy would prefer that growth continue with Golden State, although reports surfaced early this week that the Warriors are actively seeking a sign-and-trade.

“As far as bringing him back next season I think it’s something that we’re very interested in doing,” Dunleavy said. “When I look at things that JK does well in terms of getting to the rim, finishing, getting fouled, these are things we greatly need. We know he can bring those things to the table. It’s not hypothetical, it’s not a guy in the draft that we think can do it. He’s shown for four years he can do that, so for that reason we’ll try to bring him back.

“It’s a two-way street in terms of getting a new contract and all that. We’ll see where that goes.”

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Los Angeles Lakers 2024-25 fantasy basketball season recap: Luka Doncic set to be next Laker Legend

While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.

In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.

The first year with JJ Redick at the helm was cut short by an earlier exit than expected, but with Luka Doncic in town, the Lakers will be contenders for years to come.

Los Angeles Lakers 2024-25 Season Recap

Record: 50-32 (3rd, West, lost first round)

Offensive Rating: 106.7 (29th)

Defensive Rating: 115.7 (24th)

Net Rating: -19.1 (27th)

Pace: 98.22 (23rd)

2024 Draft Picks: 55

There’s always a spotlight on the Lakers, but it felt like it was stronger than ever this season. Former ESPN analyst and LeBron James’ co-host on the Mind the Game podcast JJ Redick was set to make the jump from the broadcast booth to the sidelines. Though he had displayed a knowledge for the game on the microphone, there were questions about how it would translate to a coaching role. From day one, there were comparisons between Redick’s record with the team and former head coach Darvin Ham’s record as the season progressed. Things only got more hectic when they traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic overnight with no warning that either player would even have a chance of being moved. Still, Redick did a good job in the regular season, but there were too many obstacles to overcome in their series against Minnesota, and they lost in five games.

The spotlight isn’t going anywhere, but the chaos of adjusting on the fly should have subsided. They’ll have a full offseason to get Doncic integrated (he missed two months before making his debut for the Lakers), and they’ll try to make moves to build a roster that fits Luka’s strengths. Oh, and they still have LeBron James. Though there was a lot of criticism about the Lakers, the future is looking bright for them, and their timeline to compete no longer runs out when LeBron retires.

Fantasy Standout: LeBron James

He’s not what he once was, but James is still contributing at a high level. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.1 triples in 70 games this season. That allowed him to provide second-round value in nine-cat leagues, which he has only failed to accomplish twice in his career. His 24.4 points per game were his lowest scoring average since his rookie year, but it was still 13th in the league.

Of course, even if it sometimes feels like it, LeBron can’t play forever. He has a player option for next season, but he will be a free agent after that. He’s producing at such a high level that it’s hard to consider, but from this point on, every season could be his last. He’s still among the best players in the league, but to ensure he has a chance to win another ring, Redick could opt to drop his minutes next season. We’ve been expecting that to happen for years, and while it hasn’t happened yet, it’s difficult to imagine a 40-year-old playing 34.9 minutes per game for 70 games, which he did this season.

Fantasy Revelation: Austin Reaves

Reaves has continued to improve every season, and this was his best one yet. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 triples per game across his 73 appearances this season. Those marks were all new career highs for him, which resulted in top-50 value in nine-cat leagues.

After the trade for Luka, Reaves was even better, which is surprising. He averaged 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.3 threes in 26 games alongside Doncic. Despite needing to share touches with another ball dominant star, Reaves was able to have more success late in the season, though it didn’t translate in the playoffs. He struggled in LA’s loss to Minnesota, which does leave some questions about his future value. However, fantasy basketball is played during the regular season, and Reaves was incredible there. He should continue to play a significant role for the Lakers, especially if they want to keep LeBron fresh for the playoffs.

Fantasy Disappointment: Jaxson Hayes

It’s hard to truly be disappointed in Hayes, but the expectations for him to contribute in fantasy after the trade deadline were high. He didn’t really have competition for minutes at center. He started 32 times after Anthony Davis was traded away, and he averaged 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 block in 21.9 minutes per game.

Hayes had a golden opportunity to have an excellent run and earn himself a decent-sized contract this summer. His competition for minutes at center were Alex Len and Christian Koloko, yet it got to the point that Redick opted to use Dorian Finney-Smith at center in a series against Rudy Gobert because he felt it was more effective. Whether or not it was the right strategy, if Hayes had been better, it wouldn’t have been something Redick considered. Hayes was a hot pickup after the trade, but he didn’t take advantage of the situation.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads 

Luka Doncic

Doncic appeared in 28 games for the Lakers after the shocking deal that ended his time in Dallas. He averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.6 threes per game, which is a generational season for most but was considered a disappointment for Luka. He had been sidelined since Christmas Day with a calf injury by the time he made his debut for the Lakers nearly two months later. Before that, he had already been dealing with some other nagging injuries that forced him to miss some time.

Redick has already emphasized the need for everyone to be in championship shape next season, and if you hadn’t heard, part of the reason that Mavericks GM Nico Harrison traded Doncic was that he was out of shape. That report was leaked in numerous ways, though it may have mostly been to justify the deal. Perhaps that adds fuel to the fire for Doncic, but either way, he was never at his best for the Lakers, which can be attributed to the injuries that forced him to miss time. A full offseason with his new team should work wonders for Luka. Expect him to be one of the best players in fantasy basketball again next season.

Dalton Knecht

Los Angeles drafted Knecht with the No. 17 pick in the draft last summer, and he was quickly able to make an impact. That’s the hope when you draft a 23-year-old in the first round. However, things changed when he was sent to Charlotte for Mark Williams, only for the deal to be rescinded. Though he had a few strong performances after that, he struggled overall and wasn’t part of the rotation by the end of the year. He made 78 appearances as a rookie and averaged 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 threes per game.

The Lakers already tried to trade him once, so it wouldn’t be shocking if they explored moving him again this summer. They need center help, and he’s one of their more valuable trade assets. If he’s back in LA, he’ll be a nice reserve scorer. However, if he ends up elsewhere, and it’s a situation where he starts and sees plenty of shots, he may be able to make an impact next season, especially in points leagues.

Rui Hachimura

Hachimura was a starter from day one for the Lakers and was a consistent producer for them throughout the year. He averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.7 triples per game. Hachimura hovered inside the top 150 in nine-cat leagues for the second straight season, though he hasn’t excelled in any individual category. Unless the Lakers make big roster changes this summer, he should play a significant role as a starter once again next season. However, the 27-year-old won’t have much room for growth, since he won’t see a dramatic increase in usage during a full season with Luka Doncic in town.

Dorian Finney-Smith

The Lakers acquired DFS at the end of December in a deal that sent D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn. Finney-Smith played in 43 games for the Lakers and averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.9 threes per game. He is a solid veteran that can still make an impact on both sides of the floor. He spent the first six seasons of his career in Dallas, which means he is very familiar with playing with Luka. As a starter, he can still be a solid source of defensive stats and triples, but with the way roster is currently constructed, he likely won’t play a large enough role to provide standard league value next season. Still, he’ll hold some upside as a spot starter.

Jordan Goodwin

After originally joining the Lakers on a 10-day deal, Goodwin played well enough to earn a contract for the remainder of the season. They have a team option to bring him back, and while the numbers weren’t gaudy, he played well enough to deserve a roster spot next season. In his 29 appearances, he averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and one steal per game. Assuming he returns, he’ll be a solid depth piece for LA, but he’ll likely only hold legitimate fantasy value as an injury replacement.

Jarred Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt missed the final two months of last season with a midfoot sprain, and then had surgery on both of his feet in the offseason, so he didn’t suit up for the Lakers until January. Still, he played in 36 games and averaged 4.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one steal per game. Vanderbilt is an elite defender, but his offensive game is incredibly limited. If he sees a bump in usage next season, he should be able to provide rebounds and steals, but that will be the extent of his fantasy impact.

Gabe Vincent

His first season with the Lakers was disappointing, but Vincent was more productive in year two. He averaged 6.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 threes in 21.2 minutes per game. Vincent earned a contract with Los Angeles after a strong playoff run with the Heat, but he has never finished inside the top 200 in nine-cat leagues. That is unlikely to change next season.

Restricted Free Agents: Christian Koloko

Unrestricted Free Agents: Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, Alex Len

Team Option: Jordan Goodwin

Player Option: LeBron James, Dorian Finney-Smith

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Draymond recalls how injuries benefited Warriors in previous playoffs

Draymond recalls how injuries benefited Warriors in previous playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green understands that injuries are part of what determines the outcome of the NBA playoffs.

Green was asked if he thought the Warriors could have won the NBA Finals this season had Steph Curry not sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I wholeheartedly believe if Steph was healthy, we could have done that,” Green told reporters on Thursday. “But I once won a championship where Kyrie Irving got hurt in the NBA Finals and Kevin Love got hurt in the [NBA playoffs]. Do I think we still would have won if they didn’t get hurt? I do believe so. But we’ll never know. That’s just the nature of the sport that we play.

“Injuries are a part of it, and they’re unfortunate. So, you can’t take the good and be like, ‘Ah man, we won a championship, and it doesn’t matter that somebody was hurt.’ On the flip side, you can’t sit here and be like, ‘We would have won had Steph not got hurt.’ ”

During the 2015 playoffs, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love sustained a dislocated shoulder that required surgery. Without him, the Cavaliers still made the Finals against the Warriors. Disaster struck again for the franchise when guard Kyrie Irving fractured his kneecap in Game 1. Even with the otherworldly play of LeBron James in that series, Cleveland fell to Golden State in six games.

The nature of competitive sports like basketball is that players will inevitably sustain injuries. Even the Warriors had their fair share of unlucky injuries that derailed championship aspirations during the 2019 Finals.

“So unfortunately, this time luck wasn’t on our side and Steph Curry got hurt,” Green said. “But we’ve delt with it before. Kevin Durant got hurt. Klay Thompson got hurt. So, you start to take a peek. It happens every year somewhere. It may not be here; it may be another team. But when it [doesn’t go your way] you can’t be the guys that go up there and say, ‘Man, we would have won if.’ In a perfect world, probably [we would have won], but the world isn’t perfect.”

Between Durant’s torn Achilles and Klay Thompson’s torn ACL, Golden State lost the 2019 championship to the Toronto Raptors. Green knows that to win in the NBA, you need certain things to go your way, and it didn’t work out for the Warriors this season.

Now, Green, Curry and Jimmy Butler will have a long summer to rest up and refocus on the 2025-26 NBA season. With a full offseason of conditioning and training camp ahead of them, the trio still is optimistic that their title window hasn’t closed.

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Draymond cracks sarcastic joke about Warriors' center situation

Draymond cracks sarcastic joke about Warriors' center situation originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green had a hilarious take on the future of his role as center for the Warriors.

Green, who could see time at the center position again next season depending on the rest of the lineup configuration, was asked what he thought about continuing to play that role for Golden State.

“I am the center of the future,” Green told reporters with a laugh on Thursday. “Honestly, [Kevon Looney] has been here for 10 years. And he has been incredible. He was a key cog in us winning a championship in 2022.

“Trayce [Jackson-Davis] has grown a lot over the past few years from being the No. 52 pick [in the 2023 NBA Draft] or something like that. The strides he has made have been incredible. What we do at the position, I’m not sure. That’s not really my role, but what I will say is I think you always have to be looking to get better.”

The Warriors are unique among NBA teams in that they don’t typically rely on a big center like other teams do. Instead, Golden State uses quick passes and motion around the 3-point line to get Steph Curry and other shooters into good spots to make shots.

Looney has played his entire 10-year NBA career with Golden State, morphing his game to fit the unique center position.

“I feel like playing center for the Warriors is a unique spot,” Looney told reporters. “We’re not asked to do the same thing that everybody else does throughout the league. Playing with Steph is unique and a lot of fun.

“Steve [Kerr] wants to play a certain way, so I feel like we have a good group of guys who give different looks at the center spot. And I think that’s kind of what Steve has always had since I’ve been here. He’s always had three or four guys who did different things … I don’t know what he is going to want for the future, but I thought we did a solid job throughout the year.”

Golden State struggled this year against larger lineups, particularly when getting rebounds and stopping opposing players from attacking the basket. This was on full display during the NBA playoffs this season, as the team struggled with the size of the Houston Rockets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the Warriors eventually were able to oust the Rockets in seven games, they ran out of gas against the Timberwolves once Curry went down with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

Finding a big man who can play around the rim and pass will be a challenge for Golden State this offseason, as the franchise seeks to retool its roster around Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler.

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The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals

The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA‘s final four is set.

The No. 3 New York Knicks will take on the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the No. 1 overall-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves will battle in the Western Conference Finals.

This is the second straight postseason that Indiana and Minnesota, two title-less franchises, have reached the conference finals. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance in the round since 2000 and OKC its first appearance since 2016.

The East Finals feature a rematch from the second round of last year’s playoffs when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Knicks, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Indiana rolled through the first two rounds of this postseason, bouncing both the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.

Tyrese Haliburton and Co. now look to book the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and just second overall. Indiana has lost eight of its nine conference final series.

The Knicks got past the No. 6 Detroit Pistons in a highly competitive six-game series before beating the defending champion No. 2 Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Co. jumped out to a 3-1 series lead as Boston lost star Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles late in Game 4. The Knicks closed out the series with a Game 6 rout, moving them another step closer to their first championship since all the way back in 1973.

While the East’s top two seeds have been eliminated, the NBA-best Thunder are still standing. After sweeping the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, OKC was put to the test in Round 2. A showdown of the top two MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic went to the distance, with the Thunder taking the decisive Game 7 over the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in blowout fashion. The Thunder haven’t won a title since relocating to OKC, with the franchise’s lone championship coming in 1979.

Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, like Indiana, needed just five games to win their two playoff series, taking down the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, who lost Steph Curry to a hamstring injury in Game 1. Minnesota has never made the NBA Finals as it makes a third-ever conference final appearance.

So, when will the conference finals tip off and what’s the schedule? Here’s what to know:

What are the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?

  • Eastern Conference Finals: No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 3 Knicks
  • Western Conference Finals: No. 6 Timberwolves vs. No. 1 Thunder

Who has home-court advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?

Home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team, which means the Pacers and Wolves will both start the conference finals on the road.

When do the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?

The West Finals begin Tuesday, May 20, followed by the East Finals on Wednesday, May 21.

What is the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals schedule?

  • Game 1: Wolves at Thunder — Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 2: Wolves at Thunder — Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 3: Thunder at Wolves — Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
  • Game 4: Thunder at Wolves — Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Wolves — Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Where to watch, stream the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals

The West Finals will air across ESPN and ABC. Games will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

What is the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals schedule?

  • Game 1: Pacers atKnicks — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 2: Pacers at Knicks — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 3: Knicks at Pacers — Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 4: Knicks at Pacers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 6 (if necessary): Knicks at Pacers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, TNT

Where to watch, stream the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals

TNT will broadcast the East Finals, which can also be streamed on TNTDrama.com and the TNT app.

When do the 2025 NBA Finals start?

The NBA Finals will tip off Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 16.

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Where do Warriors go from here? Think role players over stars, Kuminga sign-and-trade

After the All-Star break, the Warriors were 20-7 (second-best record in the West), with the best defense in the NBA and the seventh-best offense. They advanced out of the play-in thanks to Stephen Curry.

After that, the Warriors impressed beating a young and athletic Houston team in seven games in the first round, and were up 1-0 in the second round after winning at Minnesota…

Then Stephen Curry strained his hamstring.

Steve Kerr said Curry's injury "changed everything."

"I know we had a shot. I know we could have gone the distance," Kerr said. "Maybe we wouldn't have, but it doesn't matter. Again, everything in the playoffs is about who stays healthy and who gets hot."

After Curry's injury, the Warriors dropped four in a row, a reminder of the thin margins in the West as well as the thin margins for this Warriors roster. Golden State still want to chase a ring while they have Curry as a top-10 player in the league, and with Jimmy Butler locked up on an extension, but where do the Warriors go from here?

Chase another star? Probably not.

Kevin Durant didn't want an encore in the Bay Area, but considering the history of owner Joe Lacob, would the Warriors focus on landing another superstar? We’re looking at you, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Don't bet on it. As Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson II wrote at The Athletic:

"There are no early indications that the Warriors will be at the front of the line of the yet-to-materialize Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, league sources said. As they enter the summer, team sources said, the internal plan and conversation is about how to best reform the role players around the Curry and Butler duo, not chase another star."

Many people around the league took a lesson from what has transpired in Phoenix and thought that three elite stars with not much around them is not a path to success. Golden State may be one of them.

The Warriors are not planning a major shake-up, but they are looking for changes.

Sign-and-trade Kuminga

The biggest trade chip the Warriors head into this summer with is Jonathan Kuminga, who averaged 15.3 points a game this season (in 47 games), showed he can get buckets at an NBA level, but has always seemed to be in Kerr's dog house.

However, Kuminga has always had a backer in Lacob – and it's good to have the owner in your corner. Lacob spoke to The Athletic about him.

"I was listening to the guys behind me tonight give running commentary — T-Wolves fans," Lacob told The Athletic. "(Kuminga) 's the guy they talked about all night long. He's the only guy that could really guard (Anthony Edwards) out there. Did a pretty damn good job. He had a tough situation with the DNPs from the last series, and to bounce back from that, I give him a lot of credit. I'm a big fan of his."

Kuminga is a restricted free agent this summer (once the Warriors extend his $7.9 million qualifying offer) and the expectation is the team will help him find a new home via a sign-and-trade. Kuminga is reportedly seeking a deal in the four-year, $120 million range ($30 million a season) but whether that is out there for him remains to be seen.

What would the Warriors want back in such a trade?

Find a center, more size, shooting

The Warriors' core is getting old: Curry is 37, Green is 35, and Butler will be 36 when next season starts. To keep that core healthy through the grind of another marathon NBA season, the Warriors are looking for a traditional center to help in the paint, more positional size and athleticism across the board, and, of course, more shooting. The challenge will be doing that while staying below the second apron of the luxury tax (the Warriors are going to be paying the tax — the repeater tax at that — but that's the price of having Curry and Butler making north of $50 million next season (and Green at $25.9 million).

There are good role players already on the roster: Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post among them. Look for the Warriors to try and re-sign free agent Gary Payton II, who is one of their better perimeter defenders.

However, to be a title threat again, the Warriors need something they had at the start of the Curry-era title runs: A high-level defensive center. Andrew Bogut in the paint was critical for the Warriors' first title, and while everyone remembers Green's suspension as a turning point in the blown 3-1 NBA Finals lead in 2016, Bogut being injured and out for the final couple of games was equally as critical.

The Warriors need a modern defensive center. The challenge is that they are not alone in seeking that kind of big man, even within their own division, which could drive up the price.

The Warriors, like 29 other teams, also would love more consistent shooting on the perimeter.

Whatever moves the Warriors make this summer, the target is to win now and try to get Curry one more ring (and Butler his first). Easier said than done in the West, but the Warriors believe they have the team… with just a few tweaks. And some health.

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Jayson Tatum’s ‘Superman’ Ad Ends $500K Run After Achilles Injury

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rupture forced a quick Hollywood pivot.

An ad promoting the July 11 release of Superman made its debut last week starring the 27-year-old All-NBA player, who rips away a button-down shirt to reveal a red and yellow S on his chest after the titular hero takes the day off and numerous voices ask, “Who’s going to sub in for Superman?”

A follow-up spot explains Clark Kent was shirking his duties to watch the NBA playoffs. 

The commercials were already receiving mixed reactions online, given they landed as Boston faced a 2-0 deficit in a second-round series with the New York Knicks. Now, they’re gone. The campaign has been indefinitely suspended following Tatum’s long-term injury, according to a person familiar with the decision.

From its first appearance on May 5 until its last running during an Around the Horn airing on ESPNEWS Wednesday, the ad received 37 million impressions across 185 showings for an estimated media value of $495,000, according to iSpot.

Movie-hoops crossovers have become a common tentpole of the NBA playoffs as they lead into summer blockbuster season, though Tatum’s injury exposes the risks of tying the ads to a single star. It’s not uncommon for such spots to be pulled following serious injuries. On Wednesday, Warner Bros. Discovery released a new Superman trailer for the movie as part of the company’s annual to pitch to advertisers. That spot—which ran during Inside the NBA on TNT later that day—will likely carry a heavy load over the coming weeks. Superhero movies reportedly cost up to $200 million to create, with marketing spends extending beyond $100 million as well. 

Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav “has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer,” DC Studios co-chairman Peter Safran told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year.

WBD declined to comment. Tatum’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment by press time. 

Tatum’s WBD tie-up included cooperation from Nike, which produced a pair of Superman-themed kicks for Tatum to wear at the beginning of his playoffs run. 

His injury will likely limit his ascent among the NBA’s highest paid players as well. He earned roughly $14 million in endorsements in 2024, according to Sportico’s calculations, good for 11th among NBA players and 14th among all American athletes. Tatum will still earn $54.1 million from the Celtics next season, though he has previously said that he saves the entirety of his NBA contract proceeds while spending only what he brings in off-the-court, as part of a deal with his mother. Beyond Nike, Tatum has been seen representing Gatorade, Google, and Subway. 

Now it appears someone else will have to fill Superman’s shoes, both on the court and on the promotional tour. 

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Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 7 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 18

On Sunday, May 18, the Denver Nuggets (50-32) and Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) are all set to square off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Denver kept its championship hopes alive with a Game 6 home win over the Thunder, 119-107. Nikola Jokic recorded 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists in the win, while Jamal Murray added 25 points and Christian Braun 23.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his first back-to-back 30-plus point games since Games 1 and 2 of the series, but it wasn't enough. The winner of Game 7 will play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.

The Nuggets are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Thunder have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Nuggets vs. Thunder live today

  • Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
  • Time: 3:30PM EST
  • Site: Paycom Center
  • City: Oklahoma City, OK
  • Network/Streaming: ABC / ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Nuggets vs. Thunder

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Nuggets (+241), Thunder (-305)
  • Spread:  Thunder -7.5
  • Over/Under: 212 points

That gives the Nuggets an implied team point total of 104.9, and the Thunder 108.82.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Nuggets vs. Thunder game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Under in Game 7:

"Game 7's are normally tight and after the first round tend to go Under 60% of the time when you go back the last 3, 5, and 10 years. The first and fourth quarters are grinds and role players tend to pass on shots and defer to the stars, so I lean Jokic and SGA Overs, but everything else tends to point toward Unders in Game 7's."

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Nuggets & Thunder game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Denver Nuggets at +7.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 212.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Nuggets vs. Thunder on Sunday

  • The Thunder are 2-2 in this series when SGA scores 30-plus points and 4-2 in the playoffs
  • Nikola Jokic has yet to triple-double in the series after three in the first round
  • Denver is 2-4 on the road during the postseason
  • Denver beat the Los Angeles Clippers at home in Game 7 of the first round (120-101)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)