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Michigan head coach Dusty May is leaving the Wolverines and heading to the NBA, becoming the Dallas Mavericks next head coach.

Here are the key takeaways from May’s departure.

Current college basketball climate swayed May’s decision

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports had some enlightening insight into a conversation he had with May back in April. Dealing with agents of transfer portal players and all the NIL dealings presently and the roster turnover that goes along with it are just some of the factors that influenced May heading to the Mavericks. Further, May wanted to test his chops in the NBA.

From CBS Sports

I remember how May stopped texting and looked up from this phone when I asked him: “Do you think you’ll be coaching Michigan in three or four years?”

“No,” he admitted. “I can’t see myself doing this for too much longer.”

By that he meant: running a college basketball program when roster prices were increasing by 300% every year. The constant roster churn, the lack of the NCAA’s institutional control over college basketball, the way the system stole some of the fervor and celebration windows from Michigan’s coaching staff after pulling off one of the best seasons of the past two decades. 

May told me he aspired to coach in the NBA someday. He craved to know if he could do it and felt compelled to eventually find out — especially if the state of college basketball was going to be perpetually chaotic. I left him wondering how long it would take for that day to arrive.

Warde Manuel has a habit of losing championship coaches

Jim Harbaugh won a national championship for the football program and then departed for the Los Angeles Chargers after Manuel said a contract was being worked at the podium of the national championship celebration. Manuel then did the same thing after Michigan basketball won the national championship, saying that a new contract with May was agred upon only for May to leave for the Mavericks a little over two months later.

Maize n Brew’s Nick Durand summed up Manuel’s lack of getting deals done perfectly

Yet that’s what the university has become under Manuel’s leadership. In both May’s and Harbaugh’s cases, rumored contract extensions were on the table for them at the time of their departures. In fact, Manuel claimed at the national title celebration that he and May agreed to terms on a new contract. It’s not abnormal for coaches to have aspirations beyond just winning a national title at the college level; Harbaugh’s flirtations with the NFL were no secret, and the same was clearly true for May. It shouldn’t matter, though, when your university is one of the best, richest and historic in the nation.

The Mavericks job is an appealing one

The Mavericks have a young star in Cooper Flagg and a still game-changing veteran in Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks have three picks in the NBA Draft, which starts on Tuesday, and the Mavericks could wind up drafting one or two Michigan players.

From The Athletic’s Christian Clark

In coaching circles, the Mavericks’ job was considered appealing because of Flagg’s presence. The Mavericks are expected to go into next season with Flagg and Kyrie Irving as cornerstones. They control the Nos. 9, 30 and 48 selections in this week’s NBA Draft.

They have discussed a variety of trade-back scenarios, including one, according to league sources, that would net Dallas the No. 16 pick that Memphis currently controls. Three Michigan players who suited up for May last season — Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg — are expected to be first-round picks Tuesday.

A former TCU men’s basketball star is getting involved with his alma mater in a special advisory role.

Desmond Bane, a six-year NBA veteran and former first-round draft selection in 2020, has been named TCU’s chief basketball officer. In this role, Bane will serve as a special advisor to head coach Jamie Dixon and volunteer his time to the men’s basketball program. The role is described on TCU’s website as a mentorship role where Bane will “offer guidance on career management and serve as a liaison to the NBA.”

Welcome to the staff, Desmond Bane!

🤝 CBO @DBane0625#GoFrogspic.twitter.com/zB3KElZAX7

— TCU Men's Basketball (@TCUBasketball) June 22, 2026

Bane, who currently plays for the Orlando Magic, averaged 20.1 points and shot 39.1 percent from 3-point range while starting all 82 games. Bane played his first five years with the Memphis Grizzlies. At TCU, Bane was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and still ranks as the Horned Frogs’ all-time leader in 3-pointers (249), wins (84) and games played (141). Bane also ranks third all-time in points with 1,784, third with 659 made field goals and fifth in 3-point accuracy at 43.3 percent. His No. 1 jersey was retired at TCU on Feb. 18, 2025.

As a freshman, Bane guided the Horned Frogs to the 2017 NIT Championship, the program’s first postseason championship. The following season, Bane led TCU to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years while leading the Big 12 in 3-point accuracy at 46.1 percent. As a junior, Bane was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection and an USBWA All-District VII choice.

The right man for the job

🔗 https://t.co/DruesudA42#GoFrogspic.twitter.com/REX7bSsJkm

— TCU Men's Basketball (@TCUBasketball) June 22, 2026

As a senior in 2019-20, Bane averaged 16.6 points, which ranked second in the Big 12. He became the first TCU player to earn All-Big 12 First Team and also earned USBWA All-District VII and NABC All-District 8 honors. He never missed a game in his career and missed just one practice.

Thus far in free agency, I’m absolutely loving what the Phoenix Suns are doing. They entered the offseason prioritizing the returns of both Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, and they’ve successfully brought both players back on what I would consider franchise-friendly contracts. That is important on numerous levels. It sends a message to the rest of the league that if you come to Phoenix, put in the work, and develop within the organization, you’re going to be compensated for it. More importantly, it shows that the Suns are beginning to create an environment where players want to stay.

Gillespie could have chased more money. Goodwin likely had other opportunities available to him as well. Yet both chose to remain in Phoenix. Part of that is financial security. Part of that is opportunity. But part of it is also being part of a franchise that values you and puts you in a position to succeed.

For a team that continues to talk about alignment, identity, and development, these signings reinforce that message. And that’s a very positive place for the Suns to be.

When you look at the Collin Gillespie contract, four years and $48 million, it’s exactly where I felt the contract would land. If you look at who the Phoenix Suns are today and who they might ultimately want to become, the Gillespie contract helps accomplish both the short-term and long-term goals of the franchise.

In the short term, the Suns are still trying to understand what it means to have Jalen Green on the roster. Yes, it’s not ideal to have someone who could be viewed as duplicative of Devin Booker, your highest-paid player. But in the same breath, he really isn’t. Green is less of a combo guard and more of a true two guard than Booker. He also attacks the rim with far more frequency and aggression than Booker does. 

In the modern NBA, where many teams employ two combo guards in the backcourt, having Green isn’t the worst thing in the world. I’d argue Bradley Beal was a much worse fit. A big part of that was the size of his contract and the existence of the no-trade clause.

Jalen Green is owed $72.3 million over the next two seasons, but the unfortunate reality for the Suns is that they only got 32 games to evaluate him last year. That simply wasn’t enough time to fully understand how he fits in Phoenix and whether extending him down the road is the right decision.

Because of those injuries, the door opened for Collin Gillespie to earn more starting opportunities, and he took advantage of them. Make no mistake about it, he earned the contract he just signed with Phoenix. There are plenty of teams around the NBA that would love to have a player of his caliber. He’s a quality three-point shooter, an aggressive defender, and somebody who competes every possession.

Did he begin to fade at the end of the season? Absolutely. It looked like shoulder issues, fatigue, and the grind of a long NBA season finally caught up with him. That’s understandable given the role he was asked to assume. Even so, when you look at the numbers, lineups featuring Gillespie alongside Devin Booker and Jalen Green actually performed well. Three guard lineups featuring that trio posted a +6.7 net rating and were a +46 overall in plus-minus.

I'm not a fan of the PHX 3-guard lineups, as it puts Brooks out of position, shrinks the defense, and limits interior scoring

That said, here is what Booker/Green/Gillespie lineups produced last year:

21 GP
224 MP
+46 +/-
47.0 FG%
42.0 3PT%
118.4 OFFRTG
111.7 DEFRTG
+6.7 NETRTG pic.twitter.com/zeP6YOM1zK

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) June 21, 2026

All that being said, I still believe the best path forward for Phoenix is utilizing Gillespie off the bench and fully leaning into the Booker and Green backcourt. The Suns need to find out exactly what that pairing can become. Doing so also allows Dillon Brooks to slide into his natural position at small forward, while giving the Suns flexibility at power forward. Whether that’s a sophomore version of Rasheer Fleming earning those minutes, or Royce O’Neale once again stepping into the role to provide additional shooting, Phoenix has options.

Perhaps most importantly, they’re all familiar faces. Yes, continuity is part of the short-term process, and bringing back both Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin helps accomplish that. But that’s the beauty of the Gillespie contract.

Right now, he essentially serves in a T.J. McConnell-type role as a backup point guard, and he’s being paid similar money. If he continues to come off the bench, that’s stability for your second unit. It gives the Suns someone who can play aggressively on both sides of the ball, shoot from the perimeter, and help maintain the team’s identity when the starters sit. When you zoom out and look at the long-term landscape of the organization, that’s where the real value of the contract comes into focus.

Let’s play out a hypothetical. Let’s say next season the Suns determine that Jalen Green next to Devin Booker isn’t the right fit. That the overlap is real, and that moving Green with one year remaining on his contract becomes the best path forward. A player carrying a $36 million expiring contract should return assets, whether that’s players, draft picks, or some combination of the two. At that point, you can slide Gillespie into the starting lineup.

Now your starting point guard is making an average annual salary of roughly $12 million. That’s tremendous value. That’s why this deal works for both the short-term and the long-term viability of the Suns. In the present, Gillespie provides stability, depth, and continuity. In the future, he gives the organization optionality if circumstances change. Those are the kinds of contracts good organizations make.

That’s why I like this deal so much. The Suns didn’t simply retain a good player. They retained flexibility. They rewarded development. They reinforced continuity. And they did it without committing star-level money to a role player.

Maybe Gillespie spends the next four years coming off the bench as the steady hand running the second unit. If that’s the outcome, the contract still works. Every good team needs players who understand their role, embrace it, and consistently deliver value. But if circumstances change, and they always do in the NBA, Phoenix now has options. If Jalen Green proves to be a long-term fit, Gillespie remains one of the better backup point guards in basketball on a manageable contract. If Green ultimately isn’t the answer, the Suns already have a proven alternative in-house.

That’s what makes this deal feel different. It isn’t solely about what Collin Gillespie is today. It’s about what he allows the Suns to be tomorrow. Stability now. Optionality later. For a franchise trying to build something sustainable while navigating the realities of the second apron era, that’s exactly the kind of contract you want on your books.

Draft season is lying season.

It’s ill-advised to read too much into the tea leaves.

But everything the Nets do — and everything league insiders say — points toward GM Sean Marks picking the best available player Tuesday at Barclays Center.

And more and more, that’s looking like it could be Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr.

In this generational class with a host of elite lead guards, two among Brown, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. should still be on the board at No. 6.

And of the trio, Brown — with deep range, an elite passing bag and a risk-taking mentality that must get reined in — appears to be the likeliest pick and to have developed the closest relationship with the team.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a relationship built there,” Brown said. “Talking with them constantly, with Mr. Marks and Coach Jordi [Fernández], the biggest thing that he emphasized — if I get selected to go there — is building that relationship with Jordi.

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to have a great connection from point guard to point guard. Head coach [Fernández] played point guard as well. So to be able to pick his brain on a lot of things and learn his system and to be able to come in and make an impact right away was big.”

Speaking of point guards, ex-Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks — now an ESPN insider — told The Post that taking three first-round guards last year shouldn’t deter them from taking another, because that’s where the value sits at No. 6.

While they’ve looked at moving up, getting into the top four may be cost prohibitive, and Brown may have the most star upside outside that group.

Acuff has both visited with and worked out for the Nets and is the most polished offensive guard in the class, but his defense is a concern. 

“Every team you go to make you play defense, so you do different defensive drills,” said Acuff. “You’ve got to show you can defend a little bit.”

Wagler worked out for the Bulls (who have the fourth pick) and the Clippers (who’ll select fifth), then canceled a scheduled workout for Brooklyn.

“I already worked out for the Bulls, and then I was going to the Clippers. That’s four and five. Just hearing from them and kind of just knowing where I stood, I kind of knew I didn’t need to work out,” Wagler said. “Still meeting with teams and talking to them … but I just felt like I didn’t need to work out, honestly.”

Houston guard Kingston Flemings told ClutchPoints he hasn’t met or worked out with the Nets, who’ve also been linked with Tennessee forward Nate Ament and Michigan behemoth Aday Mara.

But the Ament buzz has the feel of misdirection.

And all the signs point to Brown — as do the mock drafts.

“It’d mean a lot. Big city. It’s the big city, bright lights. A lot of big-time names come out of Brooklyn, so to be able to represent that means a lot,” said Brown, confident of handling the spotlight of being the face of a New York rebuild.

“I would handle it. I’m very calm and down to earth. I’m about this basketball stuff. I keep the main thing the main thing. The focus is to try to win a championship.”

After suffering the ignominy of watching the Knicks actually win a title, Brooklyn needs to move from two years of tanking to building a foundation that can compete.

This pick will be the biggest brick in that foundation.

To that end, the Nets met with Brown at least three times — including a workout in Brooklyn and visiting his family in Orlando.

“It’s definitely unique,” Brown said of the visit. “Obviously there’s definitely been interest there, as there is in almost every single other team. But yeah, definitely, it made an impact. They got to talk to my mom and my dad. It was a great conversation.”

Will it be the start of a great relationship?

Miami Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in blockbuster trade with Bucks, according to reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Greek Freak is relocating.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat, according to news reports.

In one of the biggest trades in NBA history, the Heat acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks, in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and a massive package of draft picks, ESPN and AP reported late Monday.

Milwaukee will receive the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Heat are sending unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 to the Bucks. Miami is also including a 2030 pick swap and a 2033 second-round pick in the trade.

According to ESPN, Milwaukee chose Miami’s offer over Boston’s because it provided more young talent, draft assets, and long-term flexibility.

The trade marks the end of Giannis’ legendary run in Milwaukee and the start of a new era for both franchises.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is one of the highest-profile players to ever be traded. He is a 10-time All-Star, two-time MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, NBA champion and Finals MVP.

Over 13 years and 895 games with the Bucks since being drafted in 2013, Antetokounmpo averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He has played in 84 playoff games, leading the franchise to an NBA title in 2021 after scoring 50 points in the championship-clinching Game 6.

Antetokounmpo has resisted requesting a trade in recent years despite the Bucks’ declining success. The team’s last-ditch effort last offseason was to waive the injured Damian Lillard and sign Myles Turner, which didn’t changed their fortunes. Milwaukee went 32-50 in 2025-26, with Antetokounmpo playing in just 36 games due to injuries.

Now on the Heat, Antetokounmpo will pair with Bam Adebayo as part of a loaded frontcourt. Pat Riley and Co. have plenty of work to do to fill out the roster with free agents, but the core of the team is now locked in.

Antetokounmpo will become eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million supermax extension on Oct. 1, 2026. If he doesn’t sign an extension, he could become an unrestricted free agent next summer in 2027 if he declines his $62.8 million player option.

Miami Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in blockbuster trade with Bucks, according to reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Greek Freak is relocating.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat, according to news reports.

In one of the biggest trades in NBA history, the Heat acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks, in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and a massive package of draft picks, ESPN and AP reported late Monday.

Milwaukee will receive the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Heat are sending unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 to the Bucks. Miami is also including a 2030 pick swap and a 2033 second-round pick in the trade.

According to ESPN, Milwaukee chose Miami’s offer over Boston’s because it provided more young talent, draft assets, and long-term flexibility.

The trade marks the end of Giannis’ legendary run in Milwaukee and the start of a new era for both franchises.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is one of the highest-profile players to ever be traded. He is a 10-time All-Star, two-time MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, NBA champion and Finals MVP.

Over 13 years and 895 games with the Bucks since being drafted in 2013, Antetokounmpo averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He has played in 84 playoff games, leading the franchise to an NBA title in 2021 after scoring 50 points in the championship-clinching Game 6.

Antetokounmpo has resisted requesting a trade in recent years despite the Bucks’ declining success. The team’s last-ditch effort last offseason was to waive the injured Damian Lillard and sign Myles Turner, which didn’t changed their fortunes. Milwaukee went 32-50 in 2025-26, with Antetokounmpo playing in just 36 games due to injuries.

Now on the Heat, Antetokounmpo will pair with Bam Adebayo as part of a loaded frontcourt. Pat Riley and Co. have plenty of work to do to fill out the roster with free agents, but the core of the team is now locked in.

Antetokounmpo will become eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million supermax extension on Oct. 1, 2026. If he doesn’t sign an extension, he could become an unrestricted free agent next summer in 2027 if he declines his $62.8 million player option.

AJ Dybantsa expects to be the No. 1 pick.

Darryn Peterson believes he should be the No. 1 pick.

Cameron Boozer said he deserves to be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick. 

There might not be a right answer for the Wizards in Tuesday’s loaded NBA draft at Barclays Center — three impressive prospects who all have an argument to be selected first. 

“There’s definitely competition. You see what they did. Great players who averaged the same amount of points,” Dybantsa said Monday, as the draft green room invitees met members of the media at Lotte New York Palace in Midtown. “But I’m gonna bet on myself.”

The general expectation is that the 6-foot-9 Dybantsa will go first, followed by the 6-5 Peterson and the 6-8 Boozer. A Western Conference executive broke it down this way: Dybantsa is a safe choice with upside, and the Wizards need a No. 1 scoring option. The Jazz, at No. 2, aren’t afraid of taking risks, and finding an elite guard like Peterson is difficult. That leaves the Grizzlies and Boozer at No. 3. That’s not a consolation prize. 

“He will be a stud,” the executive said. 

Boozer had the most successful season of the three, leading Duke to the Elite Eight and the ACC regular-season and postseason crowns. He became the sixth freshman to be the consensus National Player of the Year after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and shooting 39.1 percent from 3. If not for injuries to his supporting cast, Boozer might have been the first freshman to lead his team to a national championship since Duke’s freshmen in 2015.

Experts, however, see Dybantsa as the top talent in this draft. In his lone year at BYU, he produced 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists, and has been considered the front-runner for quite some time. As early as eighth grade, he was ranked No. 1, and he never lost that spot. 

“He’s the best guy. He’s the most well-rounded player in the first five. There aren’t people who do what he does,” an NBA scout said. “The kid continuously worked on his game and got better. With all the other distractions, he ended up getting better.”

Of the three, Peterson is somewhat of a mystery. He dealt with an assortment of injuries, cramps and illnesses and missed 11 games. Frequently, he played sparingly in the second half of close games. His motor and desire have been questioned. After the season, he told ESPN that high doses of creatine led to severe cramping. 

“The questions that I have are about s–t I can’t answer, and they won’t answer them,” the scout said. 

Despite a recent report that Peterson would only meet with the Wizards, he spent time with the Jazz over the weekend, though he only worked out for Washington. Peterson was adamant he isn’t dodging any team. 

“Whoever takes me, I’m going to come in and be delighted to be there,” he said. 

Asked about the doubts, Peterson responded: “I’m back, period. That’s it. I’m myself again, I’m feeling great. I never felt better, actually.” 

He was impressive when he was on the floor for Kansas, tallying 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and shooting 38.2 percent on 6.9 attempts from distance. Peterson believes he’s the best player in the draft. 

“I’m supposed to [feel that way], I think I prove it all the time,” he said. 

This is far from a three-player draft. North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson would be a No. 1 contender most years and seemingly a lock to go to the Bulls at No. 4. The next wave, featuring guards Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville, Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, Kingston Flemings of Houston and Keaton Wagler of Illinois, wing Nate Ament of Tennessee and center Aday Mara of Michigan, is full of highly regarded prospects. This draft has been talked about for years as not only being elite at the top but impressively deep. 

“I think there are some hidden gems,” Dybantsa said. “When we see ourselves in 15 years, I think a lot of us will still be in the league, and it will be [considered] one of the best draft classes [ever].”