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ESPN's Tim Bontemps dropped a story on Friday featuring a few buzzy items during the NBA Finals, including what he's hearing about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo could be traded soon. Sarr picked up the injury last week while doing an offseason workout. In a story published Tuesday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst outlines six major storylines already shaping the NBA offseason, including the latest in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga, the Lakers' plans, OKC's second-apron conundrum, early buzz surrounding the No. 1 pick, expansion updates and more. On ESPN Cleveland, Brian Windhorst covered what the Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to do this offseason, including what decisions they could make on several veterans. Lendeborg is 24, a week older than Jonathan Kuminga, the fifth-year wing the Warriors traded in February. "Giannis Antetokounmpo is somewhere abroad, ready to be traded," Charania said. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on the Pat McAfee show that after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat are heading into the offseason preparing to have to replace starting guard Norman Powell. Several of the Golden State Warriors' most prominent veterans — including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford — cycled through the team's San Francisco facility last week to get in workouts.
They then cover some big decisions for teams in the Western Conference, including if the LA Clippers should part ways with Kawhi Leonard, potential salary concerns for Oklahoma City Thunder and if the Golden State Warriors should trade their pick for a key player. Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to welcome in ESPN broadcaster Mike Breen to recount the New York Knicks' magical win to the championship. Zach Kram is grading every free agency signing and the most impactful extensions this offseason, breaking down the ramifications for all teams and players involved. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on "Get Up" that the Boston Celtics are "all-in" on acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, including offering Jaylen Brown in a deal for the two-time MVP. Sources also told Charania that if he is traded to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown would remain with the Bucks. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be be traded before the NBA draft on Tuesday and that the two finalists for Antetokounmpo are the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.
Backup big man Jaylin Williams added 18 points on five three-point shots and Alex Caruso added 15 on three 3-pointers. Isaiah Hartenstein scored just 10 points, but had 13 rebounds, including 8 offensive, and Alex Caruso added 17 off the bench, as the team lost forward Jalen Williams in the first half due to a recurring hamstring strain. Due to the absence of star Embiid, Maxey and Paul George played 46 and 42 minutes, respectively, and struggled shooting the ball in the fourth quarter. The Rockets shot poorly throughout the game, shooting just 35% from the field and making just 5-of-28 3-pointers; in particular, Reed Sheppard went 1-for-10 from three. Nikola Jokić had 28 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Nuggets, but Jamal Murray struggled and finished with just 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting.
When Do The Nba Finals Begin?
Jalen Williams returned for Oklahoma City but had just one point in a 10-minute role off the bench. Oklahoma City's bench was still effective, scoring 34 points, but well below their historic 76 points in Game 3. The Spurs, who started 15–0 to begin the game, had De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper activated for the game, but their shot from the field (43 percent) was worse than the Thunder's three-point shot rate (45 percent). 26 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 76 bench points from the Thunder was more than enough for Oklahoma City to take a 2–1 series lead in a 123–108 Game 3 win in San Antonio. This was Oklahoma City's third double-overtime game of the season (including the playoffs), after their first two games against the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers, respectively, both of which ended in a Thunder win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named the NBA MVP for the second straight year, finished with a double-double of 24 points and 12 assists. Victor Wembanyama propelled the Spurs to a thrilling double-overtime victory over the Thunder on the road, posting 41 points and 24 rebounds.
Lendeborg's individual workout and in-person meeting with the front office Thursday will assuredly play a role in whether the Warriors decide to draft him in two weeks. Lendeborg is among a group of prospects expected in the team's practice facility this week, with the NBA draft less than two weeks away (Round 1 is June 23 on ESPN/ABC). This isn't the league's first time down this road in recent years, as the Bucks have ultimately decided to keep their superstar forward each time any trade negotiations materialized. With less than two weeks until the NBA draft, the biggest non-Finals story in the league is the ongoing suspense of the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga. In Los Angeles, the future of LeBron James is the headliner over the next few weeks.
The 6-foot-4 lefty out of Louisville averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his three games in the California Classic. Davis is eligible for a contract extension that he can sign for up to four years and $275 million starting Aug. 6. All of Washington's key veterans, including Young, Davis and Deandre Ayton, were on hand for Dybantsa's summer league debut, and the team reassembled for a news conference announcing Young's new contract extension Friday morning. He had 27 points and seven rebounds, including one crowd-pleasing two-handed dunk over a Utah Jazz defender at the rim in the Wizards' win. The broad rule of summer league is not to overreact to single-game shooting lines, which are subject to all sorts of small-sample flukiness. The 6-foot-9 forward made just seven total 3-pointers in 24 games at North Carolina last season, and he never attempted more than three in a single game. "When we first traded for Coby, the priority was to always keep him and that was with or without LaMelo," Peterson said. The Hornets also expect Coby White to help fill the void left at point guard by Ball's departure.
"Financially it's going to be very difficult for them to keep him. They're going to have exceptions to use. They could participate in a sign-and-trade with Norman Powell this offseason, but the Heat are operating as if he's going to end up in a sign-and-trade or end up elsewhere." "This offseason, there's going to be interest in him, other suitors for him," Charania said. All three had in-person workouts for the Warriors last week, as did Washington big Hannes Steinbach and Alabama guard Labaron Philon, two other potential targets. The latest buzz has them more often tied to Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and Tennessee wing Nate Ament, but everything with Brooklyn (including the possibility of a trade) is unpredictable, and it's possible Acuff could be off the board in the sixth slot. "There are multiple teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard right now over the next few weeks," Charania said on the NBA Today Draft Special. ESPN's Shams Charania reports multiple teams have interest in the two-time Finals MVP, who has one season left on his contract. After trading LaMelo Ball, the Hornets prioritized signing White, who will now step into a starting role in the backcourt. James is one of several free agents for the Lakers to consider this offseason.
In their weekly intel file, ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst talked to coaches, front offices and scouts to gauge the growing hype around the San Antonio Spurs' playoff run. ESPN's Jeremy Woo and Tim Bontemps talked to executives across the league about the upcoming 2026 NBA draft, including whom they believe will be taken with the first overall selection, what concerns front offices have with prospects and best fits. Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to go over this season's final edition of the MVP straw poll, including whether Victor Wembanyama still has a chance to catch reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for the award. In the scenario Maxey is named All-NBA this season, he would become eligible to sign a four-year, $300 million supermax extension in the 2027 offseason if he is also named All-NBA next season. The Pelicans, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, have four games left on their schedule. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has reached another financial benchmark for games played. "I don't know who's going to still have their jobs in Chicago by the end of next week," Brian Windhorst said on the podcast.
"Twenty-five points on 15 shots, like I said, 12 assists and a lot of the assists are where he's manipulating the defense and making the reads, and he's making tough passes that, as the guys said, only the really good players can make that read and that pass, and he did it on multiple occasions." They then move on to react to Brad Stevens' Jaylen Brown news conference and the rationale being presented before closing on summer league performances and what they're looking forward to in Las Vegas this week. Then the duo breaks down the Donovan Mitchell extension, including whether it makes sense for the Cavaliers and whether it will impact their pursuit of LeBron James. ESPN's Brian Windhorst discussed LeBron James' free agency on "First Take," including what the superstar could be looking for in his next home and how teams are feeling about their potential hopes of signing him. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on "NBA Today" that teams interested in signing LeBron James this offseason have been sending voice note pitches to Rich Paul, James' agent.
They then move on to the Portland Trail Blazers' late win over the Phoenix Suns in the West before closing on previews of this week's other play-in games. Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to cover the two exciting play-in games from Tuesday night, including the wild ending between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat and whether LaMelo Ball's controversial trip of Bam Adebayo will have ramifications moving forward. Inside the organization, they've long known that, despite stretches of play that remind everyone of their game-changing past, like that fourth quarter against the Clippers, this team, with two aging icons on the wrong side of the actuarial table, is nowhere near good enough to win a title. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater detailed the upcoming summer for the Golden State Warriors, an offseason that could lead to immense change for a franchise that has won four NBA titles in the past 11 seasons. Donovan, who had led the Bulls' bench for six seasons, elected to leave the franchise after extensive meetings with ownership. Bucks management met with Jenkins last week in Memphis and this week in Milwaukee, sources said, to secure his commitment. Kerr's future is the first domino, but management doesn't plan to rush lmct+ casino login australia Kerr, who just finished his 12th season as head coach.